Chapter 1433 - 466: Damn Italians! They’ve Betrayed Germany Again!

Everything happened just as Family Joy expected; the players in Pig Bay moved, and the Europeans immediately knew.

Deng deng deng...

The hard military boots stomped down the corridors inside Admiral Scheer, emitting a compact and urgent sound, attracting the frequent sideways glances of soldiers along the way, who actively made way upon approach.

"Morrison! Morrison!"

Staff officer Cavendish pushed open the door to the ship's command room, interrupting Morrison's communication with German headquarters, and hurriedly placed the terminal on the table.

"The Horizon Mercenaries are up to something; look at this quickly."

He magnified a satellite photo again and again; the content of the photo was the remodelled Pola, and the clarity was quite substantial. The image had been processed and restored by AI, allowing even the two cannons at the ship's bow and stern to be seen clearly.

For critical nodes in player-occupied zones, Europeans didn't need to find any company insider; they could see everything clearly through global satellite surveillance, 24/7.

Morrison knew that Horizon Corporation was attempting to remodel Pola or crack its technology, but he hadn't taken it seriously.

In this rundown place called Cuba, there's no industry, not even a dock or shipyard. Horizon Corporation can't possibly achieve any real results, though if they want to waste their energy and time, it's fine; at least he could buy himself more time.

"They installed... two cannons?"

Morrison found it somewhat amusing; could the Horizon Mercenaries possibly have nothing better to do?

"Are they going to use them for fireworks?"

Cavendish, unlike Morrison, dared not underestimate these Horizon Mercenaries at all.

"Right, after AI analysis, these two cannons should be electromagnetic railguns. Given their large size, the power is likely not small; they could pose a serious threat to us."

"Cavendish."

Morrison thought for a moment and said,

"I admit your concerns about them have some merit, but I believe your analysis should be grounded in reality, not wild imaginings."

"Two months ago, we already enacted a technology blockade against Horizon Corporation; even under European Community restraint, neither military technology nor Huang Ban dare openly sell restricted items to Horizon Corporation."

"I'm just asking, how much superconducting material does such a scale of electromagnetic weapon need? Are they going to perform magic?"

Cavendish said nothing because he also felt his thinking wasn't very reasonable, but he had a gut feeling those lunatics couldn't be underestimated.

"So... what do you think?"

Morrison held the terminal, his expression turning somber.

"This is a form of deterrence, or intimidation."

To him, this was simply the style of bandits or pirates from centuries ago: torturing captured warriors to death, hanging them on masts or walls to dry, as a way to terrify their enemies.

"They want to use this barbaric and insane behavior to warn the whole world of the consequences of opposing Horizon Corporation, just like what we witnessed on the battlefield with their piled-up heads."

"Two cannons... I suspect they dismantled the materials from Pola's main gun, cobbled together two electrochemical cannons to bluff and scare us."

The Italians' complaints were nearly driving them crazy; initially, they didn't want to get involved in this, since Cuba had nothing to do with them. Sending Pola was purely for show, for the sake of getting accolades, yet unexpectedly it was seized by a bunch of American savages. Tell me, isn't that infuriating?

Now with this, the Black Hand Company might as well sue the European Community.

The idea of splitting the great European Alliance Army with this approach is truly abominable, and their conscience is greatly tarnished.

It's all the inherently evil American brats; watch as I...

Cavendish thought for a moment, Morrison's account was more aligned with conventional logic, but the enemies they were facing didn't seem like 'regular folks' at all.

"You mean, their current activation of Pola is a parade demonstration?"

"What?"

Morrison froze, thinking he must have heard wrong, and he sprang up from his chair.

"They've started Pola?"

Are you pulling my leg?

How could Horizon Corporation possibly have the skilled personnel to activate a frigate?

Military technology hasn't even opened related technical training to Horizon Corporation.

Cavendish quickly nodded,

"Yes, the satellite just detected Pola has set sail."

How is it possible?

Morrison was first shocked, then puzzled, before his expression turned suspicious.

Horizon Corporation indeed couldn't possibly activate Pola, and neither had there been intelligence about massive personnel movements from spies planted within the two security giants.

So how did Pola start moving?

What could be the reason?

Morrison lashed out,

"Those damn Italians! They've betrayed Germany again!"

Indeed, the traitors had revealed themselves.

Under these circumstances, the only group capable of activating Pola must be the original ship's crew, meaning the Italians had defected from the European Alliance Army, pledging allegiance to Horizon Corporation to save themselves!

As for why 'again'?

Only those who know, understand.

Morris wishes he could shove those Italians' heads into pizzas and cook them alive.

"In which direction are they moving?"

"As of now, the Bolla is moving northward, seemingly trying to cross Cuba to reach the Gulf of Mexico?"

"Do our fleets have any risk of exposure?"

"No radar detection signal has been found yet. After the last engagement, our fleets won't approach within two hundred kilometers of the coast unexpectedly."

The Europeans have learned their lesson and are understandably cautious.

Morrison paced back and forth in the command room. He didn't believe that the Horizon Mercenaries were moving their ships simply for a show of force. There must be another plan!

What could it be?

What could it be?

Anxious, Morrison tried hard to activate his brain, looking for answers from the data the players had recently demonstrated.

But no matter how he thought, he couldn't understand the players' motivations and goals.

Cavendish's mind stirred slightly, and he spoke up

"Could it be...related to the maintenance of the Hood ship?"

"What?"

"The British Hood ship is being maintained in the Bermuda Region, but that is at least seven to eight hundred kilometers from shore. Not to mention radar, the Horizon Mercenaries couldn't possibly know about this."

Morrison took a deep breath

"Currently, there's no better explanation, but anyway, we must be vigilant against Horizon Mercenaries' next move to prevent them from pulling off something crazy again."

"Notify the British to activate their shields and be on high alert. Let the other guard ships expand the air defense area and be careful of a sudden attack by the enemy."

"Also, inform our guard ships to prepare for a joint action to blockade the sea."

Morrison initially wanted to say to surround them; if the other side tries to go to sea, they would sink them immediately, but Horizon Corporation's radar technology made him uneasy.

He doesn't want his vehicle to be boarded and captured by this group of crazies in such a bizarre manner.

If...

If the other side truly has designs on the British, then perhaps some manipulation can be done here.

Though this might bring some grievance to the British.

But it doesn't matter, after all, it's usually the British who have others at a disadvantage; this time, it's their turn, as heaven has its cycles.

"Oh... by the way, have Velt lead his troops to reinforce our army's flank defense; Horizon Corporation's land forces must not break through."

'Velt's' troops are one of the few highlights on the Cuban battlefield. He has defeated the Horizon Mercenaries' attacks several times, drawing frequent glances from European generals and gaining tireless publicity as a legendary Cuban hero locally.

They even granted Velt an honorary European identity; his popularity in Europe is also high, and logistics supplies will account for a share for him; they value him considerably.

"Yes!"

A small modified frigate took off, instantly triggering the sensitive nerves of the European Alliance Army.

Last time, they attacked valiantly, even employing space-based weapons, but were still caught off guard by Horizon Mercenaries, even losing an Italian frigate.

Their previously unstoppable fleet deterrence, unbreakable space-based weapon strikes, and invincible propaganda assaults all sank at the feet of Horizon Mercenaries.

They became a laughingstock, if Lin Miao hadn't left them a bit of dignity, without broadcasting the entire battle directly on the Voice of the Horizon but only allowing players to record a few segments, they wouldn't have had anything left.

But whether it's the Family Joy or other players, this action is aimed at delivering a decisive blow to experienced masters.

This battle can no longer be dragged out. According to estimates, within a mere half-year, the local Cuban population will have halved. If this continues, Cuba will be completely cut up by Europe and will become a historical term, disappearing in reality.

Moreover, Europeans have clearly reached their limit; they have already transferred space-based weapons to Cuban airspaces, occasionally firing at the ground, with several offensives being repelled, and players can't withstand such bombardments.

Therefore, the next strike might hurt Europeans deep down, causing internal damage.

————

Wheelchair Sprint has achieved his greatest dream in life—becoming a well-known influencer; now there isn't anyone in Cuba who does not know about him.

In the eyes of the local soldiers, Velt is like an angel sent by God to save Cuba!

They eat the high-grade military rations Velt brought, use the European military supplies Velt secured, and even have doctors hired by Velt replace their battle injuries with combat prosthetics to avoid disabilities.

Wheelchair Sprint, YYDS!

Conversely, while the Cuban regular soldiers are fiercely loyal to Velt, they harbor much hatred for Europeans.

The rumors about Europeans harvesting Cuban brains have spread among the lower-level soldiers, along with witnesses of Europeans manipulating Cuban women in Havana and casually shooting civilians on the streets.

Previously, no matter how the warlord soldiers killed people, they were strangers unrelated to themselves. But these Europeans are killing their kin in Havana, and most of these victims are poor conscripts. They know how painful it is when the knife hits their own bodies.

Velt also deliberately disseminated certain channels of the Voice of the Horizon within the army, allowing the regular soldiers to see Cuban locals fleeing to Pig Bay being taken in by Horizon Corporation instead of suffering from arbitrary executions by warlords while working diligently and earning money.

So, under the intentional media direction, Cuban soldiers targeted their hatred at Europe rather than Horizon Mercenaries.

Currently, there is no mutiny, just Wheelchair Sprint and other players within the military camp suppressing public opinion.

However, this pressure-cooker might soon become uncontrollable.

(Too busy with relocation and social engagements, drinking, and needing to wake up early the next day; truly can't keep up, will try my best to make up the remaining 5000 words this week.)