Chapter 321: A Critical Decision Over the East Sea

“I don’t agree with establishing the Fire Net!”

“And didn’t you see?”

“After Yenir planned the Fire Net, he even intended to detonate the Spirit Energy Node in the East Sea directly!”

“What the hell is he trying to do?! Is he not causing enough damage already?!”

Bang!

With a forceful push, a short, stout Political Department official strode in, his face as unpleasant as pig’s liver.

Before anyone could register his arrival, he panted and quickly added:

“I’m Wang Kān, Director of Division Three of the Political Department and representative for the Dongqing Safe Zone!”

“My Safe Zone is the closest to the East Sea—I know its terrain and conditions better than anyone!”

“Once the Fire Net goes up in the East Sea, our troops will be forced to retreat from the waters! And both flanks are high-risk zones—many died during the cataclysm, and there’s even talk of a meme incident!”

“Withdrawing now is as good as courting death!”

“Not to mention, the fuel needed for the Fire Net is astronomical! To blockade the East Sea, we’d need at least twenty thousand tons of napalm! With ordinary fuel, that number would be over ten times higher—we just don’t have that kind of reserve!”

“Destroying the East Sea, wasting so many resources, and losing countless soldiers—isn’t that just as bad as failure?!”

After unleashing his premeditated arguments, Wang Kān’s eyes briefly flashed with deep unease before he forced a calm facade.

Damn it!

At first he hadn’t cared about the disaster looming over the East Sea, but seventeen minutes ago, when his aide informed him that the Military was pulling resources from his Safe Zone, he realized he had to stop them—fast!

There was no other reason!

Though the Dongqing Safe Zone, with its oil wells, seems flush with fuel, its reserves have long been exhausted!

If they actually transfer supplies, where would this fuel come from? Once exposed, he’ll be facing life imprisonment!

Moreover, several senior figures from his faction are beside themselves with anxiety!

As high-ranking members, who hasn’t handled the Safe Zone’s resources? And with the East Sea Safe Zone right next to Dongqing, they have significant assets at stake.

If the East Sea is destroyed, their painstakingly built industries would vanish!

So, upon hearing of Yenir’s plan, Wang Kān rushed over without a moment’s delay!

What a joke!

“Cutting off funds is like killing one’s own kin, and Yenir asking for fuel is practically a death sentence for us!”

Compared to the East Sea civilians, who mean nothing to him, he’d rather see these wretches wiped out than let this leak!

Hearing Wang Kān’s accusations, many Military representatives were taken aback.

Frankly, the Political Department shouldn’t meddle in military decisions, but given the status of their committee member, it’s hard to offend him.

“Committee Member Wang, if we don’t use fire, once the Sea Beast gives chase, we won’t be able to withdraw faster than it.”

“For the sake of the East Sea civilians, we have no other choice.”

“As for blowing up the East Sea…”

He let out a bitter laugh.

“Maybe Yenir fears the Fire Net won’t stop them effectively…”

“The East Sea Safe Zone sits at the main exit to other safe zones. Blowing up the East Sea would most effectively stop the Sea Beast’s spread.”

“But admittedly, that’s a bit crazy…”

“The East Sea really doesn’t need to be blown up…”

As they spoke, several of them furrowed their brows deeply.

Truth be told, they weren’t really in favor of destroying the East Sea.

Everyone knew the astronomical cost it took to establish the East Sea Safe Zone—the manpower and resources were unimaginable.

For Yenir to obliterate the East Sea over a mere possibility is unquestionably excessive…

Seeing discontent among the Military ranks, Wang Kān exhaled in relief and hurriedly added:

“That’s right!”

“Everyone, think about it! We lose the East Sea troops, squander a massive amount of fuel, and then destroy the East Sea!”

“For a mere beast swarm—the price is far too high!”

“Seriously, can’t we stall a bit longer?!”

“If the civilians aren’t allowed to die, should our soldiers or Awakeneds be sacrificed?”

“In my opinion, we should scrap the Fire Net—withdraw while resisting the Sea Beast, and once our main forces arrive, after an A-Level disaster, we’ll manage!”

“This way, we conserve supplies, save the East Sea, and preserve our more valuable troops!”

After laying out his proposal, Wang Kān couldn’t stop himself from cursing Yenir under his breath.

Damn little bastard! I’d heard he loved stirring up trouble—if it weren’t for Yenir meddling, he wouldn’t even have to get involved!

“Stall until reinforcements arrive?”

He frowned gravely.

Tang Yi’s heart stirred, and his expression showed a hint of hesitation.

In truth, the biggest problem in the East Sea now is the lack of manpower.

All the high-level forces around have been dispatched, but with such tight time constraints, mobilizing the main force isn’t nearly as swift as the Third-Stage mid-level units—it takes at least six hours.

And to take down the pursuing Sea Beast, ideally a Peak Third-Stage unit is needed.

However, every Peak Third-Stage in the Huaxia Battle Zone is a regional commander busy suppressing their own sector. Even if they rushed in at full tilt now, it would take at least four to five hours. With time running out, they only agreed to let Yenir set the Fire Net.

The same logic applies to both Third-Stage Advanced and Mid-level units.

There just isn’t enough time to get forces in position.

Once the Sea Beast catches up, ordinary civilians could perish multiple times over in just four hours.

“Representative Tang, don’t hesitate any longer!”

“Yenir hasn’t faced a major crisis before—this is his first encounter with an A-Level disaster, so of course he’s overreacting! Haven’t we weathered worse? Are we really waiting for him to teach us what to do?”

“Think about it—the Sea Beast won’t be around forever. Even if we eliminate this swarm, without the East Sea, we’re finished!”

“The cost is just too high! Too high!”

“If you weigh the pros and cons, sacrificing a few lives is acceptable when what we save is far more. Surely the East Sea civilians wouldn’t want to see their home destroyed, right?”

Tang Yi felt torn as Wang Kān’s words echoed.

Yenir might very well be overestimating the terror of the Sea Beast, given that the Military has handled every disaster imaginable…

This time, the rush led to the current predicament.

But now the higher-ups have handed command over to Yenir, leaving him no room to intervene…

In his hesitation, he sighed internally:

“Here’s what we’ll do, Committee Member Wang.”

“I’ll confer with the top Military brass to see if we can reach a compromise and persuade Yenir…”

“Wait until the reinforcements arrive—it might just work…”

…………..

Outside the East Sea Safe Zone.

Amid the city’s cries, Yenir stood expressionless as he watched the survivors—those who could only abandon everything and retreat—silently listening to the Military’s response.

“So, the Military can only supply a limited amount of fuel to test if it can hold back the Sea Beast?”

“The East Sea cannot be blown up; they’ll soon send a Peak Third-Stage unit for support, right?”

Though Yenir showed no outward displeasure, his calm retort sent an inexplicable shiver through the Military Awakeneder on duty.

“Yes, Committee Member Yenir.”

“The Military hopes we can hold on a bit longer…”

“And they’re not opposed to providing fuel. Perhaps the Military also doubts the Fire Net’s effectiveness and prefers to test it first…”

“If it really fails, the Military will follow your orders.”

With a pained tone, the Military Awakeneder muttered, glancing down at the survivors with a trace of sorrow.

At this rate, even more lives would be lost…

But the Military believes they could save even more…

Once he finished speaking, silence fell.

In the quiet, Yenir listened with neither joy nor sorrow before suddenly letting out a light laugh—as if someone had told a joke.

“Good, very good…”

“Excellent…”

Turning, Yenir’s smile faded as he slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, a surge of bone-chilling murderous intent flared in his gaze.

He thought to himself.

It seemed he had made a mistake.

He had grossly overestimated the Military—and the performance of some individuals in prolonged peace…

Some people are hopelessly stupid.

If he doesn’t eliminate these losers, he’ll eventually be dragged to death!!