CHAPTER 153: CHAPTER 143: MAIN QUEST CAUSALITY

"Right now, the oceanic warlords have already dispatched troops toward the Southern Island Sea Region, preparing to seize resources like Sea Ore Island."

Upon hearing their words, Fang Yu suddenly understood, and an odd feeling arose in his heart.

It seems...

After he handed over the route of the firearm transportation line to Mr. Kong, Mr. Kong followed the trail and clarified the strategic significance of this line.

As a result, Mr. Kong’s investigation thoroughly touched the sensitive nerve of the oceanic warlords.

No matter the battle, supplies and logistics are the most valued concerns for both sides of the war.

As they say, "An army marches on its stomach."

The West Qinghai Sea Region is exhausted in terms of sea ore, no longer providing raw materials for the oceanic warlords to manufacture military equipment.

But on this side of the Southern Island Sea Region, there are numerous Sea Ore Islands, with extremely rich resources, plus the military factory painstakingly managed by the Ji Clan Trading Association’s vice president.

Looking at it all together,

the Southern Island Sea Region is practically a natural arsenal.

As long as they can seize the Sea Ore Island resources in the Southern Island Sea Region, it’s like having a continuous supply of military equipment resources.

Thus, the issue of supply on the battlefield is readily resolved.

This is exactly why the oceanic warlords, despite the vast distance, are determined to set part of the battlefield in the Southern Island Sea Region.

This is also why, once Fang Yu submitted the transportation line information from the military factory to the oceanic warlords, he triggered the main quest.

The oceanic warlords’ actions are significantly rooted in Fang Yu’s cracking of this transportation line.

Thinking of this, Fang Yu curiously glanced at Lu Kun beside him and then asked, "Mr. Lu, where is the vice president? His military factory illegally selling firearms to the oceanic warlords is surely enough to convict him, right?"

"It is enough to convict him!"

Lu Kun didn’t speak, but Wang Xiaohu spoke up first.

However, Wang Xiaohu shook his head: "As Lu Kun mentioned to you before, changes have also occurred within the Ji Clan Trading Association."

"After the incident, the vice president had long taken his associated merchants and left Qiyun Port, fleeing to the island where the military factory is located."

"Our side dispatched an enforcement team, cooperating with the military from the Duorong Federation for a joint operation to arrest him."

"But the vice president had prearranged this; the island with the military factory had oceanic warlords stationed there long ago, and it has now become a base for their assault on the Southern Island Sea Region."

"That area is easy to defend and hard to attack. The military has attempted two attacks, both ending in failure with severe losses."

Upon hearing Wang Xiaohu’s words, scenes of the terrain surrounding the military factory involuntarily appeared in Fang Yu’s mind.

He nodded slightly.

The vice president’s military factory was situated at the center of an archipelago.

Surrounded entirely by islands.

To attack the military factory, one must navigate through the waterways between numerous small islands to reach it.

However, the small islands around are already filled with military forces, and from the first day the vice president started this business, he anticipated the consequences of exposure.

So, he had already prepared in advance, welcoming the warlords into the archipelago to settle long before.

Turning the island encircling the military factory into a solid fortress.

The current vice president is no longer a law-abiding businessman.

But is now a member of the oceanic warlords, ready to stir turmoil in the Southern Island Sea Region and control the major Sea Ore Islands.

"Alright, I get it."

Having sorted this out, Fang Yu also vaguely realized the ins and outs of the matter.

As for the entire main quest, if the ultimate goal is to settle it completely, one needs to know which step is necessary.

Simply put, conquering the military factory and severing the oceanic warlords’ tentacles would complete this main quest’s settlement.

The target seems significant, and Fang Yu is aware of how strong the defensive forces around the military factory are, which is not something Fang Yu and others can handle at the moment.

But every journey begins with a single step.

In the bigger picture, the military’s control over the war situation is far superior to that of a group of Blue Star captains.

The military will divide the main quest into small tasks, executing them bit by bit.

For Fang Yu and the others, what they currently need to do is accomplish these small goals.

With this in mind, Fang Yu nodded, chatted briefly with the two of them, and then got up to leave, wasting no more time.

...

That night, Fang Yu met with Shi Jun, who had always wanted to team up with him for missions.

Also present were Guan Xinxue, Yuan Qing, and a young man in a black hoodie.

Fang Yu glanced at the young man in the black hoodie, vaguely remembering that he was also one of the standout captains in this Star Removal Association, once killing a Star Beast within seconds, a formidable strength.

If Fang Yu remembered correctly, this young man should be called Chan Junzhe.

And after the leaderboard update, Chan Junzhe was impressively ranked 54th on the combat power list.

Counting Shi Jun and Fang Yu, there were five people in total, each listed among the captains on the cargo ship-level combat power list.

Besides Fang Yu, the others’ sea ships were already large cargo ships, with Levels ranging from 25 to 28.

Upon seeing Fang Yu’s arrival, everyone nodded slightly at Fang Yu, greeting him without any pretense.

Kidding? Considering Fang Yu’s performance at the Star Removal Association, how could they put on airs in front of Fang Yu?

During the earlier incident with the Star King at the Star Removal Association, they all introspected whether they could have survived against the Star King like Fang Yu, or even turned the tide against it.

The answer is... no!

Although the combat power list arrangers deliberately labeled Fang Yu’s defeat of the Star King as "bug exploitation,"

none of them genuinely took the explanation on the leaderboard seriously.

Bug exploitation?

Even if they were given the chance to exploit a bug, they probably wouldn’t have the skill to do so.

"Here? Fang Yu, introduce yourself?"

Shi Jun appeared open and casual as he ordered some cocktails and pointed at the gathered group, saying, "You should know the names of these people, they are rookie captains with names on the combat power list, partners we’re teaming up with to execute a mission this time!"

Upon hearing Shi Jun’s words, Fang Yu was a bit surprised: "So many people? What mission are we executing?"

He knew these people’s temperaments well.

If they could enjoy the mission rewards alone, they would never be willing to share with others.

This was evident when they competed for the first Star Beast at the Star Removal Association.

But this time, Shi Jun surprisingly invited several people to execute a mission together, and judging by the others’ expressions, rather than rejecting, they seemed eager to have more participants.

Exchanging glances, Shi Jun chuckled and said, "Of course, it’s a mission that only vessel-level captains can execute."

"A mission exclusive to vessel-level captains?"

Fang Yu squinted his eyes, leaning slightly forward to display a highly interested demeanor: "Can you be more specific?"

"The military has designed many sub-tasks for the first-phase conflict,"

"Cargo ship-level missions are basically intelligence reconnaissance, supply transport, etc."

"Very boring."

Shi Jun shook his head, lowering his voice: "Even if offered to me, I wouldn’t take these missions; we need something more exciting."

The corners of the others’ mouths slightly curved into a smile, their eyes filled with a spirit of ambition.

Famed captains from the combat power list, none would settle for cargo ship-level scouting, transportation tasks.

And their target is...

"Sea Ore Island Defense Battle!"

Shi Jun spoke softly, word by word, "Only vessel-level captains can undertake such battle-class missions. Defending the territorial rights of a small Sea Ore Island secures the mission settlement."

"Though also vessel-level in terms of danger, once completed, the mission rewards are drastically rich, far surpassing cargo ship-level mission rewards."

"How about it? Are you in?"

Their gazes instinctively turned to Fang Yu.

Yet before Fang Yu could respond, an eager voice chimed in:

"Hey, can you count me in for this mission, guys? I’m also on the combat power list."