Chapter 142: Storms of Delay and Hope
by xennovel“Lady Bilodis, just what exactly is going on here?”
“It’s been five years—forget about the additional 5,000 warships, even the ones we ordered before still haven’t been delivered!”
Tuoba’s expression turned thunderous.
Sure, he had 1,200 Seawolf-class general-purpose warships along with over 400 old warships from the former Pioneer Fleet, giving him a total force of more than 1,600 ships.
But…
The King’s Army had 9,000 warships en route, split into four separate fleets.
Once all of them arrived and launched a coordinated assault, he’d be forced to spread his forces thin across the exits of the four ocean currents.
Which meant…
At each point, he’d be left facing 2,000 or even 3,000 enemy warships with just three to four hundred of his own.
How is anyone supposed to win a battle like that?
Tuoba was running out of patience. He couldn’t take it anymore and rushed straight to the Elf Consulate on Tianyuan IV to get answers from Bilodis.
“Tuoba, I only just received word myself. I was about to reach out to you about this.”
“A short while ago, a super-stellar storm—the kind that happens maybe once in a million years—erupted in the star system the Federation uses to manufacture Seawolf-class general-purpose warships.”
“Because of that, not only have over a thousand finished warships waiting for transfer been destroyed, but the production lines themselves suffered catastrophic damage. It’ll take years to repair them, so there won’t be any new ships delivered for the next three years.”
Hearing this, Tuoba’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He just stood there, stunned.
No new ships for the next three years?
How could something like this even happen…
“Lady Bilodis, you know my situation here. If I can’t get enough warships in the next five years, then…”
“Tuoba, I know you’re anxious, but try to stay calm.”
Bilodis cut him off before he could finish.
“I’ve reported your situation to the Federation. They’ve made adjustments. While delivery will be delayed, after three years, all newly finished ships will be prioritized for you. So…”
“Based on projections, it might be tough to get everything delivered within five years, but sending you around 3,000 ships shouldn’t be a problem.”
Tuoba’s mind started racing with calculations.
3,000 new ships, plus his current 1,200—that would make 4,200 Seawolf-class warships!
With 4,200 ships, he could station over a thousand at each ocean current exit for defense.
And defenders always have the home-field advantage.
Maybe he wouldn’t get the best results due to lack of numbers, but crushing the King’s Army’s four corps…
He could still pull it off.
As long as the Federation resumed regular supply afterward, in just a few years,
He’d be able to launch a counterattack into the inner circle.
“Alright. As long as I get 3,000 warships within five years, then there won’t be an issue. I won’t even ask for a refund on the extra payment from before!”
“Thank you for understanding!”
Bilodis thanked him warmly.
Of course, that warmth was only on the surface. What she actually felt inside…
Who could know…
——
Meanwhile, while Bilodis and Tuoba were discussing the matter,
Lin Yu received a call from Lu Bo.
“Lu Bo, what’s up?”
“Lin Yu, we did it! We actually did it!”
“Did what?”
A line of question marks practically floated above Lin Yu’s head.
After all, Lu Bo was responsible for lots of projects. Who knew which one he’d succeeded on?
“You have to ask? The Gene Enhancer, of course!”
“What? The Gene Enhancer’s finished? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. We’ve manufactured it, finished preliminary human cell trials, and we’re moving to clinical trials. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“So you want to do it within the Fleet?”
Lin Yu immediately got his meaning.
Since this was a high-level Federation secret, it wasn’t something you could just test on ordinary citizens.
“It’s doable, but it has to be strictly voluntary. Have your people come to the Sixth Fleet’s Mother Port later to organize things.”
“Got it!”
The call was quickly disconnected.
To be honest, Lin Yu felt a spark of excitement about all this.
Because…
Mu Qingxue had once told him: anyone with an innate brain domain above 25% would eventually awaken a unique power.
Like Mu Qingxue’s Quantum Resonance.
And the time for this awakening usually came between the ages of 20 and 21.
In the early days, Lin Yu had shown signs of an ability awakening.
Skills like a mind-blowing capacity for calculation.
Or a sixth sense for looming danger.
Things like that…
Though he still couldn’t pinpoint exactly what ability he’d end up with.
The signs kept appearing and growing stronger as he aged.
There was just one problem.
Lin Yu was already 38, but the power he’d been due to awaken years ago still hadn’t surfaced.
As Mu Qingxue had put it, maybe his brain domain was so advanced—maybe even over 30%—that his ability would be even greater, and so it just needed more time to manifest.
Lu Bo had even said himself,
If the Gene Enhancer ever became a reality, only with it…
Would Lin Yu’s power finally awaken.
——
Two days later.
A group of researchers in white lab coats arrived at the Sixth Fleet’s Mother Port with a truckload of gear.
Waiting to greet them, Lin Yu spotted a familiar face at the head of their group…
Right up front, he saw someone he knew all too well.
“Lin Yun?”
That’s right. Leading the way, also in a white lab coat, was none other than Lin Yu’s daughter, Lin Yun.
It was now year 220 of the Federation. Lin Yun was only 16, about three months shy of turning 17.
That meant she wasn’t even legally an adult yet.
“Surprised, Dad? Didn’t expect this, did you?”
At that moment, Lin Yun dropped her usual lab seriousness and grinned playfully.
The researchers who’d come with her all stopped in their tracks, shocked.
After all, inside the lab, Lin Yun—despite being only sixteen—never showed a trace of childishness. She exuded an aura of command.
And when she was working, she was all business…
Which made her playful attitude now all the more surprising.
“So, you’re part of the Gene Enhancer project now too?”
“Not just part of it—I’ve been the lead director on this project since two years ago.”
“Wait…”
Even Lin Yu was caught off guard.
Two years ago—that would make her fourteen. His daughter was running a top-level research project at fourteen?
And not just any project. The Gene Enhancer.
For comparison, when he was fourteen…
He was still in college, not even near the Mars Advanced Military Academy.
Who exactly was his daughter anyway…
Still, no matter how much of a prodigy she was, she was his daughter.
For a moment, Lin Yu just stared, then a proud smile spread across his face.
He reached out and ruffled Lin Yun’s hair.
“Impressive!”
“Hehe…”
Getting a head pat from her favorite dad…
Lin Yun looked like she was in heaven.
She couldn’t help breaking into a silly grin.