"Hello, Admiral Lan Qing." Sylva sighed in relief when he saw that it was Lan Qing.
Lan Qing was famous. His military prowess was second to none in the younger generation of the Major League.
Now that he was here, they didn't have to worry about the aliens chasing them.
"Hello, Admiral Austin.
Where are you and your fleet headed? "Lan Qing asked calmly.
Sylva's face was pained. "The alien planets ambushed our forces and destroyed two of our bastions.
The Western Alliance has fallen, and Europa has been taken over. We had no choice but to leave our homeland.
It's good to run into you.
You've come to reinforce us? "
"From the looks of your ships," Lan Qing replied, "it doesn't look like you've been in a fight.
Did you see the aliens invade Europa?
What's the situation on Europa? "
Sylva Austin was taken aback by the question. After leaving Europa, to avoid unnecessary trouble and public criticism, he had cut off all contact with the planet. He really didn't know the exact situation on Europa at the moment.
"The aliens are everywhere, and Europa has fallen. We were lucky to escape, but we don't know what's going on there.
All communications had been cut off by the aliens.
Admiral Lan Qing, how many troops did you bring with you? Will you be able to help us reclaim our homeland? "Sylva Austin lied without blinking.
Lan Qing nodded. "We have one bastion and five fleets.
We'll fight the aliens with everything we have. "
Sylva Austin's face lit up with gratitude. "That's wonderful.
We'll move out of the way.
I wish you victory, Admiral Lan Qing.
When the time comes, please allow me to offer my most sincere respect when you return in triumph. "
"No need," Lan Qing said coolly.
"Huh?" Silva was stunned for a moment. He saw a faint chill in Lan Qing's eyes.
Lan Qing said, "What I mean is, you don't have to give way. From now on, your fleet is being requisitioned."
"Huh?" Sylva Austin was shocked. He never expected Lan Qing to say something like that.
"Not good, Master Austin, we've been surrounded."
Only then did the colonel beside Sylva Austin notice that the fleet belonging to the Eastern Alliance had already surrounded them.
Previously, because they were all allies, they did not realize this problem. They did not expect the Eastern Alliance to make such a deployment.
Silva Austin said angrily, "Marshal Lan Qing, this is the Western League. What are you trying to do?"
Lan Qing said coldly, "So you do know that this is the Western League.
As the manager of the Western League, shouldn't you be on your way out?
We can't fight the aliens on our own. We need to unite all the forces that can be united.
Your fleet is being requisitioned.
I will ensure your safety, but you must hand over control of the ships to us. "
"That's impossible."
Sylva Austin slammed the table in front of him. This fleet was the foundation of the Austin Family's future.
How could it be requisitioned? How could it ever be returned?
Not to mention all the resources the Austin family had accumulated over the years were invested in this fleet.
Lan Qing said, "It's not up to you whether it's possible or not.
Activate the shields and cease all resistance. If you do, you will be treated as an enemy.
That's all. "With that, he hung up.
Sylva Austin stared at the darkened screen in front of him, dumbfounded. He couldn't even curse anymore.
Never in a million years would he have imagined he'd run into someone as overbearing as Lan Qing.
Resist?
How could he resist?
He had five fleets under his command, and he was the commander of the Eastern Alliance's elite An Lun forces.
Lan Qing also had a Bastion ship with him.
How would they, a lone universe fleet, be able to fight back?
But he wasn't willing to give up his fleet like this!
If he did, the Austin Family would be finished.
A ferocious look appeared on his face as he turned to look at the colonel beside him. "If we break out of the encirclement, what are the chances of us making it out?
Even if only the mothership manages to do it. "
The colonel was startled. He hesitated, opening his mouth to speak.
Suddenly, Sylva Austin let out a muffled groan and slowly fell to the ground.
"Young Master Richard, you …" the colonel gasped.
Li Cha reached out to support his fallen father. He retracted the hand he'd used to knock him out.
His expression was calm. "We've already committed crimes against the Western Alliance. We can't afford to make any more mistakes.
I can't stand by and watch as more of my people die at the hands of humans.
Let's do as Admiral Lan Qing says.
If our fleets can contribute to the recovery of Europa, we can at least atone for our sins.
I've never wanted to be a man who runs away.
What about you? "
The colonel looked at Richard in silence for a long time before speaking in a low voice, "I've never liked you very much in the depths of my heart.
But now I have to admit I was wrong. "
After saying this, he quickly returned to the main control panel and loudly said to all the staff officers in the control area around him, "Order all the warships of the Ninth Fleet to open their protective shields and welcome friendly forces to board. Remove all weapons and equipment. No friction is allowed."
The Ninth Fleet came to a halt at his command. The shields that had been activated when they'd been surrounded were retracted, revealing their ships.
The hatches of the ships opened to welcome the boarding ships.
Two hours later, the Western Alliance's new Ninth Fleet became a new fleet under Lan Qing's command.
To Li Cha Austin's surprise, Lan Qing hadn't sent all of his men away. Instead, he'd sent a few Eastern Alliance soldiers to each ship to supervise and direct them.
They knew that even the Ninth Fleet's capital ships were still under the command of the colonel.
Li Cha Austin took Sylva Austin, who had just regained consciousness, to the boarding ship. Together with other members of the family, they boarded the ship and headed for Middle Heaven.
That place was safe, but it also meant that the Austin Family's control over the fleet was over.
Sylva Austin was silent. He looked much older than before.
Li Cha sat across from his father, silent.
He didn't know what to say to his father, but he didn't regret what he'd done.
If he could do it all over again, he'd do the same thing.
Now that this was over, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
Sylva Austin lifted his head to look at his son.
Li Cha sat up straight. He thought his father was about to explode in anger, but Sylva Austin only laughed bitterly. "Perhaps you're right.
I cared too much about profit. About the family. About myself.
But I forgot how to be human.
Things have come to this, and I'm a sinner of the family.
From now on, the Austin family is yours.
You will be the next head of the family. "
"Father, I …" Li Cha tried to explain, but Sylva Austin held up a hand to stop him.
"Don't say anything.
I don't blame you, and I'm not acting out of spite. I'm telling you the truth.
You had the courage to knock me unconscious today, and that makes me look at you in a different light. That courage gives you the right to take over the family.
Don't think this is the end of the family.
We are a family that has struggled for a hundred years in the Western League. As long as you live, we will rise again.
All of the blame belongs to Sylva Austin. My son, Li Cha Austin, will be the hero of the family. "
Li Cha was stunned. In that moment, he felt like a speck of dust in front of his father.
But at the same time, he felt a weight on his shoulders.
It was as if that blow had changed his life.
The landing craft arrived at Middle Heaven without incident. He'd heard about it, but seeing it with his own eyes was like seeing a remodeled planet. It was an eye-opening experience for Li Cha.
The An Lun officer was courteous to them. After making arrangements for the rest of the Austin family, he led Li Cha and Sylva Austin to the control room at the heart of the bastion.
As soon as they entered, the father and son's eyes fell on a single figure.
Tall, straight, cold, resolute, but there was an indescribable gentleness to him.
Two completely different temperaments appeared on the same person, yet they seemed so harmonious, without any sense of contradiction.
Lan Qing. Peerless Radiance Monarch of Middle Heaven. General of the Eastern Alliance. Admiral of Middle Heaven. God of Wisdom!
Resounding names flashed through their minds one after another.
In front of him, Li Cha suddenly felt small and insignificant. It was like he was dwarfed, and had to look up to look at the man.
The officer who led the way quickly walked to Lan Qing's side and said something in a low voice. Only then did Lan Qing turn and look at the father and son.
He strode forward, not threatening in the slightest, but Li Cha instinctively took a step back. Sylva, on the other hand, straightened his back. "Hello, Admiral Lan Qing."
Lan Qing nodded. "Hello, Admiral Austin.
Thank you for your cooperation. Don't worry, we'll do everything in our power to help you reclaim your planet.
In a moment, I'd like you to gather some information and update us on the situation on Europa. Then you two can go and rest. "
He didn't say a word about who owned the fleet.
Although Silva had already anticipated this situation, he couldn't help but feel bitter in his heart. The Austin family had operated for so many years, and this could be said to be a heavy blow. But now that they had fallen into the hands of others, there was nothing more important than staying alive. Only by staying alive would they have a chance.