Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 172 Breaking the Door

"While the First Scouting Fleet and the Liam Fleet were fighting to the death, what were the adults in the Navy doing? Attending balls and gatherings? While tens of thousands of soldiers of the Ocean Fleet were fighting for the fate of the Drake Empire in the North Sea, were the adults who were hostile to Leo worried about the Ocean Fleet?"

Nicolas von Muller, deputy captain of the battleship King of the Ocean Fleet, strode into the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff with a roar, ignoring the obstruction of the Admiralty staff and guards.

"The Battle of the North Sea swept away the Empire's decline. The Navy's greatest contributor was Leo. The bigwigs who couldn't even fart normally were hiding under Leo's glory, but they still wanted to kick Leo out?"

More and more people gathered in front of the Chief of Staff's office. After they heard Nicolas's loud statement clearly, they no longer rushed to the door blocked by Vasir and Lawrence. Instead, they stubbornly followed Vasir and Lawrence and stood firmly behind Nicolas.

"Yes, we made some minor mistakes during the operation, but the opportunity is fleeting. If we don't seize the opportunity to fight back, not to mention the Imperial Navy, even the Drake Empire will slowly die in the noose of the Allies!"

"Kid, keep talking, I'm listening carefully!" The elderly Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Bollinger took a sip of water to moisten his throat, pushed another glass of water to Nicholas, and then continued to listen to the young man's complaints.

"Some bigwigs in the Navy Department may not be able to see the plight of the Empire, but they only know how to evade responsibility! Let others take the lead while they reap the benefits! If they cannot tolerate some small mistakes made for victory, ignore the achievements of the Navy's bloody battles, and ignore the wishes of hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers, then the Navy will have to make necessary counterattacks!"

"So, what do you want to do? Nicolas, I know you. Is this how your family taught you? They want you to take the lead in causing trouble in the Ministry of the Navy?" Admiral Bollinger stood up and stared at Nicolas. The veteran's eyes were sharp and his expression was kind, but his words were aggressive.

"General, I am a Drake first, a marine second, and a noble last!" Nicholas insisted without hesitation. His words were agreed upon by many staff officers of noble origin in the Navy Department.

"I should throw you back into the army and let your uncles teach you a lesson!"

"I am a navy man in life and a navy soul in death! I will not go back!"

"What on earth are you doing here?"

"Mr. Chief of Staff, we came to you because we want to attend the emergency navy meeting! Maybe we can't help Leo restore public opinion and facts, but that doesn't mean we will stand idly by!" Vasir stepped forward and said loudly.

"Vashir, Deputy Captain of the Bilo, that's great! Have the nobles and civilians in the Ocean Fleet united together?" Bollinger sneered.

"General, there are no so-called nobles or civilians in this incident, only Drake navy soldiers!" Vasir stood with Nicolas and looked at Bollinger.

"You are all in your early forties and have a lot of experience, so why don't you know how to avoid suspicion? You must have been rejected by Aperven and Piltz, so you remembered me, a disgusting royalist in the navy!" Bollinger shook his head and put on his admiral uniform, "Don't you think deeply about the problem? Who doesn't know that Piltz is Leo's mentor? Who doesn't know that Aperven supports Leo?"

Those who can graduate from the Naval Academy and serve in the Navy Department or the Ocean Fleet are not stupid. Once prompted, they can remember many overlooked issues.

Under the bombardment of more than a dozen media outlets, the flaws in the North Sea decisive battle were infinitely magnified, and most Drakes remained silent on the matter. The naval officers and soldiers who participated in the North Sea decisive battle that shocked the world were aware of the actual situation, but they had no channels to make their voices heard. Coupled with the deliberate or unintentional indulgence of some bigwigs, in a very short period of time, public opinion for punishing Leo was overwhelming.

The situation was so unfavorable. Leo's original supporters in the empire included not only some civilians and naval officers and soldiers, but also professors of the Drake Imperial University who had always supported Leo, Pan-Drakists, the Kaili Daily and the Drake Economic News which were close to Leo, and Marshal Piltz who had been in the imperial political arena for half his life, Marshal Ingenol who still had a say in the navy, and Marshal Apeven, commander of the Ocean Fleet, the three most important people in the Drake Navy. They all remained silent in this naval political storm.

It is true that the North Sea combat operation led by Leo and the First Reconnaissance Fleet did not obtain the approval of the Naval General Staff, nor was it reported to the Navy Department in advance. In the face of national systems and procedures, no rhetoric can change the facts, but this matter can be big or small, and it is not impossible to conceal it from the people!

But this matter has become such a big deal, that is..., everyone is guessing.

"Congratulations, boys. You will have to get involved in a fight! This is a very important lesson in your life!" Bollinger said helplessly, looking at the young faces of Nicolas and Vasir.

The young man has passion, and his blood is not cold, just like the day when the Ocean Fleet went out to sea, when Bollinger watched the fleet passing by, his whole body trembling with excitement. When he was young, he also swore to fight Drake's enemies to the end.

The high-level limited meeting originally planned by the Navy turned into a large-scale political show after the manipulation of the Emperor and the Navy Minister.

Emperor William, Navy Minister Holding, Prime Minister Hohenlohe, Foreign Minister Arthur, Speaker of the Reichstag, and leaders of various parties sat in the gallery on the left side of the conference room, while reporters from a dozen newspapers in the Drake Empire sat in the gallery on the right side. The gallery directly in front of the rostrum was empty.

The senior commander who rushed over from Wilhelmshaven, Prince Otto, commander of the Sarmatian Fleet, and Major General Wadrick, commander of the Laplace Bay blockade fleet, sat in their seats and did not communicate with others. They just glanced back and forth between the Minister of the Navy and the reporters with hateful eyes.

"Gentlemen, I did not see any regret in Vice Admiral Leo's resignation. He did not realize his mistake. Instead, it seemed that he was using his resignation to threaten the empire!" Navy Minister Holding stood in front of the podium, looking down at the speech he had already written from time to time, throwing dirty water on Leo word by word.

Reporters from more than a dozen newspapers were very considerate, flashing their cameras to capture Holding's wanton expression.

"The content of Leo's resignation letter has been evasive about his mistakes. His lack of sincere repentance is a disrespect for the naval system! Resignation cannot atone for his sins. In order to maintain the dignity of the law, I suggest that the naval prosecutor's office intervene in the investigation!"