Ch.314The Man Who Takes Down Level 5 Strongholds Like It’s a Piece of Cake

After witnessing such an ugly conclusion…

Since the bearded old man’s help was quite appropriate last time, and Leonard’s honor guard fleet had arrived to escort Marian, I subtly suggested using the pirate alliance fleet again this time.

But the moment I casually expressed this opinion.

“Of course, oppa!”

“Absolutely. Not.”

“Ah.”

While Marian naturally nodded in agreement, Leonard, the actual fleet operations manager, flatly refused.

Our Marian immediately went into empress mode and began grinding Leonard’s head under her boot for defying her.

“Leonard, are you daring to ignore the words of me, your Empress?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Despite his blonde curly hair becoming stained with red blood, our reliable Leonard maintained an attitude befitting the word ‘loyal retainer’ and continued to express his firm opposition to Marian.

“But Your Majesty, if you keep giving Commander Icarus excessive special treatment, the alliance could collapse.”

“…”

“If it were about saving Commander Icarus from danger, that would be one thing, but helping with the Commander’s expansion is truly unreasonable.”

As he glanced at me while saying this, Jessica and I just looked away and whistled innocently.

Turning his attention back to Marian, Leonard continued:

“Just as Your Majesty wishes to help Commander Icarus, other pirates also have one or two commanders they particularly want to support.”

“…”

“If you continue acting this way, those individuals might start using troops and resources as they please, likely causing the alliance to collapse.”

“Tsk.”

“I might tolerate it from that bearded guy Liran, but I can’t stand to see that happen.”

“Tssssk.”

Despite bleeding from his head, Leonard made his logical argument, causing Marian to show a rather displeased reaction.

But since his words weren’t wrong, she reluctantly nodded while letting out a hissing sound.

And finally…

“Moreover, Commander Icarus.”

“Yes?”

“After Liran helped you and turned into a sow, I’m too scared to do the same.”

“Ah.”

“Ah.”

‘I can’t believe he brought that up here.’

I couldn’t argue with Leonard pointing out how bearded Liran had been in a self-described “my whole body feels like nipples” state until he recovered.

Since Leonard wasn’t wrong about how I’d turned the manly bearded guy into a “female,” I decided to respond with a “well, can’t be helped” attitude and make a new operation plan.

———-

After discussing with our top intellectuals…

“Alright, now we’ve decided for sure.”

“It was quite a confusing situation, Commander.”

Our fleet’s future plans were determined as follows:

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1. First, capture a new level 5 base, specifically one specialized in ‘supplies’ with fleet points and resource storage.

2. Through this, increase both my fleet and total resource storage capacity.

3. The goal is to double the mercenary forces from the original plan and overwhelm with sheer numbers.

—————————————-

The reason users failed despite investing nearly 1 million points was ultimately the insufficient absolute “number” of ships.

While our points might be fewer, we would express our determination to massively increase ship numbers through mindless mercenary hiring.

With such a massive increase, we calculated we could mindlessly push through Tannhäuser’s defensive forces.

But regardless of that…

“Once we take this base, we won’t gain much from it.”

I was sighing at the thought that apart from the ‘resource storage’ role mentioned above and the buffs gained from holding the base, there wouldn’t be much else to gain.

Naturally, Jessica expressed doubt at my reaction.

“Commander, what do you mean we won’t gain much?”

“Ah, Jessica doesn’t know about this.”

Seeing her reaction, instead of showing her the gallery wiki tab, I decided to just explain it briefly myself.

“When you think about it, it makes sense. Most base functions can only be obtained when our base ‘docks’ with the outpost.”

“Ah…”

“So apart from the inherent buffs from owning the base and the physical resource storage, the rest is meaningless.”

“I see, so that’s why you said that, Commander.”

After nodding at my explanation, which made her large black rabbit ears bob up and down, I began making concrete plans.

We decided to set the attack date for the new base one week later, when my fleet and the ‘Avalonia Security Fleet’ would be fully prepared.

———-

Finally, one week later.

“The day has finally come, Jessica.”

“Indeed, Commander.”

—————————————-

Fleet Status

Total Points: 850/850 points

Aircraft Carriers: 4 ships, 70 points each = 280 points

Special Battleship: 1 ship, 65 points = 65 points

Battleships: 3 ships, 40 points each = 120 points

Subspace Submarine: 1 ship, 50 points = 50 points

Light Aircraft Carrier: 1 ship, 40 points = 40 points

Cruiser Battleships: 7 ships, 30 points each = 210 points

Medium Cruisers: 0 ships, 10 points each = 0 points

Light Cruisers: 10 ships, 6 points each = 60 points

Destroyers: 5 ships, 3 points each = 15 points

Escort Ships: 0 ships, 1.5 points each = 0 points

Patrol Ships: 10 ships, 1 point each = 10 points

Resource Mining Ships: 30 ships, 1.5 points each = 45 points

—————————————-

My main force was fully equipped with 850 points, including two Krakens and Hresvelgr.

Along with the newly constructed ships of the base mercenary group, the ‘Avalonia Security Fleet’ of Aquarius.

And the ‘Rhodes Mercenary Group’ of Lepan, with whom we had an exclusive employment contract.

—————————————-

<Mercenary Group Employment Status>

<Currently employing 525 mercenary groups>

<Rhodes Mercenary Group and Avalonia Security Fleet are excluded from the total ship count>

<Total Ship Types>

<Battleships: 36 ships>

<Aircraft Carriers: 15 ships>

<Cruiser Battleships: 91 ships>

<Medium Cruisers: 221 ships>

<Light Cruisers: 1,001 ships>

<Destroyers: 3,508 ships>

<Escort Ships: 15,592 ships>

<Patrol Ships: 34,250 ships>

<Daily Resource Consumption: 832,694 Minerals, 100,079 Rare Resources>

—————————————-

After devouring 2.7 million minerals and 500,000 rare resources for the lump-sum hiring cost.

And looking at the combined mercenary fleet of over 50,000 ships that consumed over 830,000 minerals and 100,000 rare resources in daily contract costs…

“This mercenary gacha was successful.”

“I-Is that so?”

Compared to when I mindlessly hired 512 groups before, the numbers of aircraft carriers, light cruisers, and escort ships had decreased.

But in exchange, the numbers of other ships had increased, which would actually be more helpful in a head-on power struggle like this base siege.

“By the way, Commander, the ‘Barracuda Logistics Support Base’ you’re trying to occupy is quite far from here. Are you planning to just go straight there?”

“It is far, but both our base and outposts have long-distance teleport functions.”

Besides, as Jessica mentioned, though the distance was somewhat far.

By alternating between the teleport functions of our base and outposts that I just mentioned, all fleets could reach the target base within a few hours at most.

Thinking this would be sufficient, I nodded and decided to immediately dispatch the fleets toward our target, the Barracuda Logistics Support Base.

And about two days later…

The Barracuda base fell victim to the orange disease of quantity spam and was thoroughly conquered by me.