This should be uploaded yesterday, sorry.
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On the top floor of the Battleaxe Building in Yalang City, the luxuriously decorated hall was filled with tables laden with delicacies and precious decorations.
Dozens of Battleaxe agents, who ruled all aspects of Yalang City, were gathered here. They all wore suits and leather shoes, each one a person of power.
Melodious piano music played in the hall as the agents engaged in friendly conversation under the warm orange light, glasses in hand. The atmosphere was congenial.
All the agents attending this banquet were diehard loyalists of Ming Muhan, their loyalty surpassing even that toward the Battleaxe military industry.
As Ming Muhan, Li Banan, and others entered the hall, all conversation ceased. The protagonists of the banquet had arrived.
"Everyone, let's welcome the special guests of this banquet, who are also your old acquaintances: the commander of the port area of Yalang City, Master Li Banan!"
As Ming Muhan walked through the crowd and approached the center stage, he waved and loudly introduced Li Banan to those around him.
Everyone smiled at Li Banan, each of them aware that the Admiralty was their common adversary.
The commander of Yalang City had long been regarded as one of their own.
Once Ming Muhan finished speaking, the entire hall erupted into applause. Li Banan, expressionless, waved back to acknowledge the crowd.
He no longer thought about Luo Tao; since the thoughtful Ming Muhan had spoken, it was certain that Luo Tao would be dealt with.
He had already given that kid a chance.
"Master Li, this is your seat," Ming Muhan said with a smile as he accompanied Li Banan to the front of the stage.
The other accompanying agents had already taken their seats at a table laden with delicious food, and Ming Muhan motioned for Li Banan and his fellow shipgirls to sit there.
After Li Banan and the others settled in, Ming Muhan, who was thin, slowly stepped onto the stage.
The surrounding lights began to dim, with only a few beams illuminating the stage, making Ming Muhan stand out in the dim surroundings.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to be here with you tonight on this special day."
After coughing twice with a smile, Ming Muhan began his speech.
Li Banan listened to the man's verbose remarks with boredom, eating the food on the table by himself.
If it weren't for his old friend's involvement, he would have preferred to spend his time elsewhere.
This kind of high-end occasion was not suitable for a rough man who had endured many years of war.
Finally, when Ming Muhan concluded his speech, Li Banan applauded helplessly along with the others, who were enthusiastic in their support.
"Alright, now I have two major announcements to make tonight."
To Li Banan's surprise, Ming Muhan did not immediately step down but continued speaking in a high tone.
"The first announcement is that from today onwards, Yalang City will officially break away from the Six Cities Alliance of the East China Sea and become a city directly under the jurisdiction of the Battleaxe Military Industry."
This news caused the chopsticks Li Banan had been using to freeze mid-air. He looked at the general agent on stage in shock.
He hadn't received any prior notice about such a significant decision.
The Six Cities Alliance of the East China Sea had been established five years ago as a coalition of cities jointly divided by the Admiralty and the Zhu Hai Commercial Association for mutual defense.
The port areas of these six cities formed a united front against Siren attacks. If any city was threatened, the port commanders of the other five cities were expected to come to their aid.
Li Banan scoffed at this concept. Before the alliance was formed, his port area had already been completely destroyed, rendering the notion of mutual assistance a joke.
Yalang City had faced remarkably few Siren attacks, which he could manage alone. As for supporting other cities, he either delayed assistance due to distance or simply ignored requests.
Yalang City's withdrawal from the alliance and transition into a city governed by the Zhu Hai Commercial Association meant nothing to him.
He was just a little surprised that Ming Muhan had not informed him of this decision in advance and had announced it so suddenly.
The surrounding agents erupted into enthusiastic applause, their faces filled with excitement.
For these Battleaxe military agents, Yalang City becoming a municipality directly under the central government meant they would receive more attention and favor from the Battleaxe military industry headquarters.
The authority of the general agent of a municipality was far greater than that of a regular city's general agent.
Ming Muhan's enhanced power within the Battleaxe military industry signified that they would have more opportunities for growth in the future.
After a moment, Ming Muhan raised his hand slightly, signaling for silence. As the voices in the hall died down, a smile appeared on Ming Muhan's face as he slowly spoke.
"As for the second announcement, please keep your eyes open."
Li Banan, who had been lowering his head to pick at the food on the table, was suddenly enveloped by a gray mist that burst from the ground.
The pungent smell made him cough violently.
"Ahem, ahem... What is this, Ming Muhan, you..."
He was furious and wanted to slam his hands on the table but suddenly caught sight of something that sent chills down his spine.
The muzzle of a black cruiser's main gun was aimed directly at his head. The owner of this ship's outfit turned out to be... his ship girls!
As the gray mist dissipated, the four ship girls at his table revealed their ship forms without his permission, all aiming their weapons at him.
"The second announcement is that in our base laboratory in Yalang City, we have finally mastered the method of controlling the ship girls."
Ming Muhan's gentle voice made Li Banan feel as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.
How is this possible?
Something must have gone wrong!
Li Banan's pupils dilated sharply as he looked into the glowing red eyes of the ship girls aiming their weapons at him.
He couldn't believe that this perverse scene was unfolding before his eyes.
All the Battleaxe military agents surrounding them were also stunned, having never expected such a turn of events at the banquet.
"How dare you aim your cannons at me? Stand down, now!"
"I built you; how can you resist me?"
Li Banan erupted, yelling as if he had lost his mind. But all his ship girls remained indifferent, seemingly unable to hear him at all.
"It's useless, Lord Li."
Ming Muhan finally descended from the stage, a smile on his face as he observed the scene.
"Thanks to you, we have finally developed a means to completely control the ship girls through extensive testing."
The elegant general agent approached Li Banan's table and poured a glass of red wine into a tall glass.
"Your port area, your ship girls, will become my property in the future."
"And the entire Admiralty of Orlan will also be utterly destroyed by my own hands."
Under the round-framed glasses of Ming Muhan, the general agent of Battleaxe Military Industry in Yalang City, his elegant pupils—once always squinting—finally revealed the edge of ambition that had been concealed for many years.
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25+ advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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