Not far from the residence of Aiven and Gary, in the Third Fleet Navy Base.

Fleet Headquarters.

This is a solemn Gothic marble building, primarily white, perfectly suited to the Navy. It's five stories high, with a tower as tall as two floors rising on each side, topped with spires that pierce high into the sky.

In the main conference hall, a debate concerning Aiven's personal interests and future has been ongoing for a long time.

"Although the Kingdom has promised 'Navy New Star' a special promotion, there must be limits to such promotions. Young people still need more experience; forcing growth might ruin a good seedling!"

"Exactly, a sixteen-year-old, newly appointed Navy Captain is already a testament to the Kingdom's attention to this exceptional young person.

Directly promoting him to Battleship Captain within three months not only lacks precedent in our Navy, but our peers in other alliance nations would mock us, saying Phaletis has no talent!"

Led by a silver-haired elder in a general's uniform, several high-ranking Navy officers from the Staff Room discussed passionately. Their words all conveyed concern for Aiven, worried that excessive accolades might "affect" the growth of this young officer.

In reality, Aiven's qualification as the "Navy New Star" is undisputed, and not something these few from the Third Fleet can meddle with.

However.

The ownership of the seized battleship "Storm Horn" was the focal point of contention!

Phaletis, despite its booming national strength in recent years, has made significant progress in both economic and naval power compared to previous years. Yet, it still lags behind old maritime powers like Hilus.

This is evident in naval equipment, with Phaletis Navy's ships having smaller displacement and fewer cannons. Particularly, compared to Hilus, Phaletis pitifully lacks the powerful Level 1 Battleships, which are crucial in securing victory, and can only make up with more cost-effective, weaker lower-level battleships.

A simple example, if the Navy truly enjoyed prosperity and had sufficient battleships, they wouldn't have "exiled" Peak Knight Gel.

Hence, in Phaletis and most maritime Kingdoms' navies, a Level 4 Battleship can become part of the fleet's backbone "main battle line," crucial in large-scale fleet engagements, becoming a pivotal gear in determining the final Battle of National Destiny!

Because, at least in this era, once the main battle line is mobilized, it marks an ultimate gamble that could decide national destiny and maritime supremacy for decades or even centuries!

Though, even in the entire history of navigation, such Battles of National Destiny are rare, the number of battleships itself is a significant deterrent!

Considering the cost of a battleship, we can see how precious it is.

For instance, a Level 3 Battleship, the most cost-effective in the Navy, with a perfect combination of firepower, speed, and cost, equipped with seventy-four cannons, requires over 2000 premium oak trees planted a century ago just for the timber, taking six years to complete construction.

These oaks must be specially cultivated in private estates, along rivers, and roadsides, ensuring they grow freely with sunlight, warmth, rain, and dew, unlike forest trees that compete for sunlight and only grow taller.

Only by quietly growing for a century until reaching over 20 meters high can an oak provide trunk wood suitable for constructing a battleship's ribs.

One can easily imagine how many sturdy timbers are needed, the long growth cycle required, and the astonishing procurement prices necessary to form such a Battleship Fleet!

Therefore, the saying that a large-scale naval battle can affect national destiny is not exaggerated! If the foundation is lost, even money can't quickly replenish it!

Of course, if one wants to use inferior pine and fir like cheap merchant ships to build so-called battleships barely stronger than cardboard, then forget what I said.

Corresponding with its worth is its status.

No matter the previous rank, becoming a Battleship Captain marks stepping into the ranks of mid-level officers, fulfilling the prerequisites for further advancement in the Navy, with distinct treatment and status.

This is a tangible benefit!

"Regarding the matter at hand, although we've captured a pirate's battleship, our Major Aiven ultimately lost the Third Fleet's fine ship 'Conch' after all.

Moreover, military regulations state that everything seized during wartime, excluding parts allocated to the crew, essentially belongs to the fleet and the Kingdom's public assets.

It ought to be redistributed by the Fleet Headquarters; I think it should be placed in more suitable hands to maximize its value!"

At this moment, seeing the atmosphere well-prepared, the silver-haired elder stepped forward, righteously summarizing with a public-minded appearance. Simultaneously, he subtly revealed his own little calculations.

Bah! The way you eat is so ugly, it's like you don't even care about your face!

You brag about the lowest-ranked Level 6 Battleship as if it's some fine warship, that's just an offshore cruiser! How can it compare to a battleship?

If anyone can take a Level 6 Ship out and bring back a battleship, we'll all unanimously elect them as the Fleet Commander! Give all the so-called "fine" battleships of the fleet to them!

Around the conference table, representing various interests, most of the fleet's senior officers watched his performance with expressionless faces, cursing him internally.

However, the advantage of navigating the officialdom is here.

Even if your fists are harder and your strength is greater, with the layers of systemic suppression, you can't use force to solve problems even if you're unwilling, and you won't be able to solve them with force.

Seeing the high-ranking officials remain silent, casting inexplicable glances at him, the silver-haired elder who had gone all out in person coughed lightly and continued:

"Of course, Major Aiven is indeed a rare naval talent with considerable merit, having earned honor for the kingdom and the fleet.

According to the combat strength allocation system, we can absolutely proceed according to the highest standard by converting a battleship into a Golden Lion for Captain Aiven and the crew of the 'Conch.'

Moreover, I propose, given that our 'Navy New Star' currently has no ships available, the fleet can make an exception to assign him a Level 5 Ship. I heard the fleet just launched two brand new Level 5 Ships last month?"

'Bah, shameless!'

On hearing this, Vice Admiral Snite, also present, wanted nothing more than to punch this shameless old fool in the face. The belonging of those two Level 5 Ships was decided before they even launched, a result of power play among various factions.

Moreover, onshore, there are more than half again as many "half-pay captains" eagerly waiting for vacancies, eager to go out to make their fortune... ahem, serve the Queen!

This proposal comes out, isn't it clearly trying to make me, who's in charge of the Logistics Department, incur a great many people's wrath?

Trying to benefit yourself, while generously giving away the fleet's resources, what a brilliant plan! Besides, who doesn't know in the fleet that Aiven is one of my people, who are you looking down on by leading your gang of small fries here?

However, it's not suitable for me to directly confront this old advisor, so I signaled to a Major General from the Logistics Department beside me.

The Major General immediately caught on, stood up, and straightforwardly pierced the silver-haired elder's guise of "public spirit" with "public power for private gain," with implied sarcasm:

"Lord Mainsen, it's been over two years since the Third Fleet had any vacancy for battleship captains. Now with the return of the 'Storm Horn,' you're not planning to allocate this battleship to your 'exceptional' grandson, are you?"

The silver-haired elder was somewhat of an acquaintance of Aiven's; to be precise, his butler had met Aiven once. That same Mainsen Clan that almost intercepted the "Blue Flag Demon Shark" Extraordinary Traits from Gel in the Logistics Department.

Although the Major General's words did not show it, he felt that the old General, out of touch due to age, was perhaps senile.

Though the high-ranking officials in the fleet stood silent out of a sense of not being involved, their thoughts were much aligned with the Major General's.

Anyone with clear insight knows that although Major Aiven is young and not particularly high in the Extraordinary level, from the appointment orders sent by the Military Department, it's clear this one has caught the eye of the Crown Prince.

As long as he does not make a major mistake, rising to great heights is merely a matter of time.

Hearing the Major General's unrelenting questioning, the silver-haired elder's face momentarily stiffened, yet he could not summon the words to deny it.

In fact, as an old bureaucrat, how could Mainsen possibly misread the situation?

Yet in the matter of the Extraordinary Traits before, he had already thoroughly offended this uncle-nephew pair. Even if his effort failed, the enmity was forged. In another's shoes, if I were wronged when weak, I'd surely seek serious revenge when rising!

Since it was bound to be impossible to become friends, even if no big move could be made, any opportunity to suppress or delay his progress would not be missed.

And he didn't use any underhanded tactics, relying entirely on the fleet's military regulations and laws; on the official surface, no one could find fault with him.

Moreover, his only grandson serving in the military has already surpassed thirty years old. He didn't pass the Navy Academy's entrance test and couldn't even meet the minimum qualifications for a short training course, so far only an ordinary Level 5 Ship captain.

In a few years when I retire, who will the family rely on for support?

It's a well-known fact that Mainsen lacks a sense of security!