This was also one of the key reasons why the Tian'ou Group had canceled flights between the Eastern and Western Continents on such a large scale—it wasn't just about preparing for war.
"I understand. You'd better mark the locations of all the ships attacked by Leviathan on the map and see if there's any pattern."
"If you find anything, inform me immediately."
After confirming there were no other issues, Lin Lan finished explaining everything to Jian Qian'ou and hung up the call.
Compared to Battleaxe Heavy Industries, he was more concerned about Leviathan's recent movements.
After all, there was a high probability this was yet another scheme by the Sirens. Anything involving the Sirens could never be good.
After ending the call, he instructed Spee to invite Bismarck, Ulrich, Brunhilde, Count Zeppelin, and Peter to the conference room.
It was time to discuss a decapitation plan against Battleaxe Heavy Industries with the think tank of the Deutschland faction.
According to intelligence from the Tian'ou Group, Ye Zhanke was currently in Haifeng City, but who knew if he might suddenly go inland for an inspection or something similar?
While Ye Zhanke was still in a coastal city, it was best to send this war maniac to hell as soon as possible.
In recent days, Lin Lan had also asked Bismarck whether anyone in the Naval Department had been mentally controlled by them.
As expected, the answer didn't surprise him.
During the final battle, Bismarck and Friedrich der Grosse had already allowed August to control more than half of the Western Continent Naval Department's upper echelon.
In other words, the moment Lin Lan gave the order, more than half of the Western Continent Naval Department's top brass would immediately be his.
No wonder the Western Continent Naval Department had so readily signed treaties to supply all kinds of materials to them.
As expected of Ironblood. As expected of the witch August.
That said, considering the current relationship between the Western Continent Naval Department and him, there truly didn't seem to be any hostility.
And given the current situation in the Western Continent, the Naval Department had no choice but to align itself with the Tian'ou Group in order to resist Battleaxe Heavy Industries.
Once the time came for Lin Lan to personally visit the Naval Department fortress and speak with its upper echelon, he believed they would not refuse future cooperation with the Tian'ou Group.
After all, a country couldn't rely solely on the Naval Department to develop its economy and manage administration.
Soon, Spee brought Bismarck and the others to the conference room, where Lin Lan informed the Ironblood shipgirls about the news he had just received.
"Since the Commander has decided to implement the decapitation plan, we can act quickly.
Let's dispatch a fleet to Haifeng City tomorrow," Bismarck suggested after briefly considering the situation Lin Lan had explained.
"Since you'll be heading to Yunhai City soon, Commander, you shouldn't participate in the Haifeng operation personally.
Let Brunhilde and Peter Strasser serve as the operation flagships," she added.
"That won't do…"
Lin Lan had just started to object when Brunhilde, the short-haired black-and-white Valkyrie, calmly spoke up:
"Commander, rest assured. Leave this kind of blitz operation to us. We'll be more efficient on the move and can return quickly."
"Hehehe, with me around, Commander, are you really worried we won't carry out the mission efficiently?"
Peter Strasser, the time management expert, elegantly crossed her legs and looked at Lin Lan with wine-red eyes, a supremely confident smile on her face.
"Commander, this kind of blitz mission is indeed best left to them. As for Yunhai City, it's better if you go personally," Ulrich added, earnestly advising Lin Lan.
Since everyone was in agreement, Lin Lan had no choice but to abandon his plan to go to Haifeng City himself.
If he were to go to Haifeng personally, he would have to travel on a mass-production ship.
Meanwhile, the shipgirls could march across the sea at high speeds, far more mobile than the mass-produced units.
The plan to decapitate Ye Zhanke was finalized quickly. Brunhilde and Peter were the first to leave the meeting room to prepare the sortie team for tomorrow.
At that point, only Lin Lan, Spee standing behind him, and Bismarck, Ulrich, and Count Zeppelin remained in the room.
"Bismarck, Friedrich and the others should be arriving here next week, right? You should be able to return to the old port by the end of this year?"
Lin Lan looked at Bismarck and asked seriously.
The "old port" he referred to was the one currently occupied by the Royal Navy.
Over the past week, he had already calculated the current oil reserves, which were sufficient for the Ironblood faction to return smoothly.
"Yes, Friedrich has already reached the final stage of preparations. She should be arriving next week," Bismarck replied, then looked at Lin Lan with a pleading gaze:
"Commander, won't you come back to the old port with us first?
As for the Eagle Union, with their strength and capabilities, they should be able to gather enough oil to return on their own."
Her meaning was clear—she wanted Lin Lan to return with them.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Lin Lan to lead a few Ironblood members to the Eagle Union—Eagle Union shipgirls were undeniably strong.
She simply couldn't bear to part with the Commander.
"That may be true, but this is the closest place to the Eagle Union base. They're probably missing me like crazy. If I don't go, wouldn't they be terribly disappointed?"
Lin Lan, of course, understood what Bismarck meant. He smiled faintly and comforted her:
"It's not like I won't come back to see you. If you miss me, you can always reach me with the comms."
"Besides, the Royal Navy faction needs you to explain the situation too. After I visit the Eagle Union, I'll definitely come back soon."
As the Grand Flagship of the faction, Bismarck was understanding. Since Lin Lan had said so, she didn't try to stop him further.
After agreeing to set out for Yunhai City three days later, the four discussed how the Tian'ou Group and the Naval Department would take over the cities under Battleaxe Heavy Industries' control.
Once news of the destruction of Battleaxe Heavy Industries' headquarters in Haifeng City spread, Bismarck would immediately contact Jian Qian'ou and the Naval Department leadership.
Those two forces would then begin persuading the local representatives of Battleaxe in each city to surrender.
Without Ye Zhanke as the backbone, Battleaxe Heavy Industries would collapse into a loose, disorganized mess, and most of the city representatives would choose to defect out of self-interest.
Any stubborn holdouts would be in the minority—not worth worrying about.
After bidding Bismarck and the other two goodnight and seeing them off from the office tower, Lin Lan stood in the courtyard, looking up at the night sky.
Although it hadn't snowed recently, the sky was often covered by thick snow clouds.
Tonight was no different. The stars had already disappeared behind heavy clouds—there would be no clear skies anytime soon.
"Commander, Sui Qiong should still be there for a while. Let's head back to the office first."
A girl with short white hair dyed red at the tips, a heavy cruiser, held a cotton coat in her hands and gently draped it over Lin Lan's shoulders from behind as she spoke.
"Mm, thank you, little angel Spee."
Lin Lan turned around, smiling at the adorable Count Spee in front of him, reaching out to gently pat her head wrapped in a black-and-red scarf.
As he patted her, Spee squinted her eyes, clearly enjoying the moment, burying her face in the scarf and sticking to Lin Lan like a baby quail.
"Commander, everyone's been talking lately about you making a vow with Sui Qiong. Is it true?"
Back in the office, as Spee prepared hot tea for Lin Lan, she curiously asked him.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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