Chapter 214

Chapter 214. Protect Each Other From Now On (1)

It’s already been two days since Marian arrived.

Just as the repairs on the three cruiser battleships that got wrecked last time were completed, the construction of an additional heavy cruiser, two light cruisers, four destroyers, three patrol ships, and two resource mining ships also wrapped up…

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<<<Additional Docking Facility Construction Complete!>>>

<Fleet Points 550⇒650>

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**Fleet Status**

Total Points: 488/650 Points

– Aircraft Carrier: 1 ship, 70 points each = 70 points

– Special Battleship: 1 ship, 65 points each = 65 points

– Aetheric Submarine: 1 ship, 50 points each = 50 points

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

– Cruiser Battleships: 3 ships, 30 points each = 90 points

– Heavy Cruisers: 5 ships, 10 points each = 50 points

– Light Cruisers: 4 ships, 6 points each = 24 points

– Destroyers: 24 ships, 3 points each = 72 points

– Escort Ships: 5 ships, 1.5 points each = 7.5 points

– Patrol Ships: 13 ships, 1 point each = 13 points

– Resource Mining Ships: 27 ships, 1.5 points each = 40.5 points

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While I was busy checking the fleet status and handling miscellaneous tasks after receiving the message about the completion of the base construction, the long-awaited event message finally popped up in front of me.

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<Global Announcement>

<The ‘Capital of the Ancient Empire’ event map has been opened.>

<You may now participate in the ‘Capital of the Ancient Empire’ event.>

˪<Time remaining until participation closes: 47 hours 59 minutes 12 seconds>

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“Finally, the promised day has come, Jessica.”

“You mean the event participation day?”

“Exactly that.”

It’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t reach 500 points, but I still felt like I’d done enough. So, I started organizing the fleet to participate in the event.

Of course, by “organizing,” I mean that once the event starts, the entire base and area become invincible. So, I left 20 resource mining ships to naturally gather minerals and rare resources while I’m away.

And except for 5 transport destroyers modified for resource transport, I gathered *all* the remaining ships.

One regret was that when I tried to use the ‘Mercenary Corps’ for this event, it was blocked.

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<Additional Announcement Notice>

<Only the Commander’s fleet may participate in the ‘Capital of the Ancient Empire’ event.>

<‘Mercenary Corps’ or ‘Faction Dispatch Fleets’ are not allowed to participate. We appreciate your understanding.>

<‘Superhumans’ from mercenary corps or factions are allowed to participate.>

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“Ah, no wonder there was no mention of it.”

It seems they’re strictly focusing on PVP. By completely blocking the participation of any fleets other than the user’s own, the strategy of dumping all resources into creating a mercenary corps was rendered impossible from the start.

But that doesn’t mean I’m feeling down or anything.

“If we can’t use the mercenary corps, does that mean this event is tailored for the Commander?”

“Hmm… Not really? They’ve always restricted mercenary corps and faction fleets in this event.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, plus we don’t have that many resources right now.”

“…Even though we have over 300,000 minerals and 40,000 rare resources?”

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<Special Design Management Bureau Under Construction...>

<Time remaining until completion: 21 days 8 hours 4 minutes 58 seconds>

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“…Not anymore.”

“Ah.”

Can’t use the mercenary corps?

Well, it’s a shame that I can’t advocate for the ‘100,000 Mercenary Recruitment Plan’ by opening all the resource boxes I’ve accumulated from auctions, trading, or gacha pulls…

But honestly, by the time users are entering this event, unless they’ve done absolutely nothing, they’ve probably upgraded their base to at least level 7.

Accordingly, they’d likely bring a fleet worth around 400-500 points, with a maximum of 600 points.

So, it’s not like…

Even with just 5 people in a team, a fleet worth 2000 to 2500 fleet points emerges.

10 people? That’s over 5000 points.

If you seriously pull out all the stops, the number of ships could easily reach the thousands. And in the midst of a battle involving a thousand-ship fleet, a mere 10 to 20 mercenary ships?

Even if you hire a few more mercenary groups mostly made up of small ships like light cruisers, it probably won’t make much of a difference.

“Commander, the mercenary office says a mercenary group with 3 cruiser battleships is asking about a contract.”

“…”

…They shouldn’t exist.

Really.

How is it that right after I mentally prepare myself, such an insane mercenary group pops up out of nowhere?

It feels like the heavens are playing a cruel joke on me, and for a moment, intense irritation starts to shake my heart.

But that’s that, and this is this.

“Jessica, how much does it cost to hire them?”

“1,000 minerals and 200 rare resources per day.”

“Hmm… Alright, let’s sign the contract.”

“Okay, I’ll get the contract done through the mercenary office right away.”

By hiring this mercenary group in advance, I decided to survive the potential battle royale (?) that might come after the event.

==========

Anyway, with all that done, the preparations are almost complete… about 98% done.

All that’s left is to load the resources needed for repairs onto the transport destroyers and wait for the resource mining ships to return from the resource zones.

“Commander, the rest of the superhumans are also ready.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, of course. Rain, who’s half-integrated with the base, and… Gryanarr said they’ll put the D-class into their own modification system.”

“…Hmm.”

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected news, but only for a moment.

Anyway, now that almost all preparations are complete, I decided to open the gallery one last time to check on other users’ activities.

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Title: The clan leader, clan executives, and clan members all left for the event.

Author: ㅇㅇ

Content: [Empty clan chat window]

It feels oddly apocalyptic to be the only one left in the chat.

Haha.

Comments:

-[Meanwhile, at that moment, the clan realizes a certain loser is missing]

-[This loser is a useless private who didn’t follow his unit and is panicking]

-[LOLOLOLOLOL]

-[Dude, you should hurry up and join the event too]

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Title: The gallery is quiet, it’s nice.

Author: ㅇㅇ

Content: [Thumbs-up toad image]

Not participating in the event… might actually be okay?

Comments:

-[While everyone’s busy with the event, what are you planning to do alone in the gallery?]

-[Someone’s gotta stay, right? (Author)]

-[Hehe, comrade]

-[Ah, crap, suddenly I feel like I should join the event (Author)]

-[As soon as a weirdo shows up, they instantly turn on event participation]

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Title: Going to the event, bye.

Author: ㅇㅇ

Content: [Participation proof shot]

Dreaming of ranking 1st, let’s go.

Comments:

-[Congrats]

-[Everyone’s starting to go]

-[Let’s go too]

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Most of the users who were hanging out in the gallery were leaving after posting their event participation proof shots.

While I was observing the gallery situation, the resource loading onto the transport destroyers was completed.

At the same time, I heard that the resource mining ships—also repair ships—from the resource zones had arrived.

I decided to gather the entire fleet and head straight to the event.

But just at that moment, Marian, who had been stuck somewhere, suddenly ran over…

“Oppa! I wanna go too!”

“Huh?”

She insisted on following me to where the event was happening, clinging to me and refusing to let go.