Chapter 81

Gordon: "I see, the three of us are not familiar with the actual terrain and roads of Paradise Island. Please don't take our foolish words to heart, Your Highness. We will certainly pay more attention to your advice in the future." — He said loudly, so everyone present could hear.

Sailor A: "Your Highness? That girl is the princess of Paradise Island? I thought she was just an ordinary guest on the ship. I never noticed." — Surprised

Sailor B: "Me too. She was very approachable and never put on any airs while on the ship."

Sailor C: "Indeed..."

The sailors began to whisper and speculate about Daly's identity and her actions on the ship.

Daly: "...What do you mean by this? Do you want them to abandon us in a crisis?" — Softly, suspiciously

Gordon: "Of course not. You've been approachable and behaved well, not revealing your true nature, and you've made a good impression on these sailors. I must take advantage of that." — Softly

Cheshire Cat: "You can use that?" — Softly

Gordon: "Of course. By doing this, I give them a reason to fight, creating an illusion that they are knights protecting the princess in a 'Princess Revenge' story. With this false mental support and the material incentive of money, they won't easily betray us." — Softly

Lin Youde: "So your method is to do their ideological and political work, making them self-hypnotize and follow the organization's commands... This is a traditional approach in our army. Why didn't you let me know? I would have cooperated and wouldn't have opposed it." — Softly

Gordon: "This isn't my final plan, of course you wouldn't oppose it..." — Muttering to himself

Gordon: "Ah, I was just being paranoid. Follow our previous plan and explain it to them. You play the good cop, I'll play the bad cop." — Softly

I (Voiceover): "Old man, your final plan must be really despicable if you don't even dare to let them know in advance. Their mental resilience is stronger than mine."

—

Lin Youde: "Yes. (To the sailors) Everyone, quiet down, quiet down, listen to me... (Omitted several hundred words) If we can successfully pull this off, we can return home in glory!" — Encouraging, persuading

The sailors: "..." — No one cheered, no one spoke

Lin Youde: "Why is no one speaking? Do you doubt my word? There's no need to worry. Even if I die later, the organization will never renege on its promise." — Pounding his chest, making a guarantee

Sailor A: "This money might be earned, but we might not live to spend it..." — Muttering softly

Sailor B: "The money is indeed a lot, but living to return home is more important. I have people I can't bear to leave at home..." — Normal volume

Gordon: "Bastard!! Don't forget you're speaking in front of a young lady. Is this what a real man should say? You're making excuses and shirking responsibility. How shameful!!" — Grabbing him and scolding

Sailor B: "This isn't an excuse..." — Feeling wronged

Gordon: (Interrupting) "What isn't an excuse? You're just being cowardly. This task isn't that difficult. It's not like we're sending you to the front lines to fight. You're just helping to escort Her Highness back to the capital of New Siron. How can you refuse?" — Pointing at Daly, encouraging the sailors

Sailor B: "..." — Speechless, looking at Daly

Daly: "Please, kind sirs, help this weak woman return home to be with her family..." — Looking pitiful

Cheshire Cat: "Ugh~~~" — Nauseated by Daly's act, but the mask hid it from the sailors

Gordon: "..." (Glaring at Cheshire Cat) "She's begging you, what's your answer?"

The sailors: "..." — Weakly

Gordon: "Louder!! Are you men or not?!" — Shouting

The sailors: "Yes!!" — Shouting, but still looking hesitant

Lin Youde: "Good, that's the spirit. You're all true seafarers. Now, you are officially employed by the organization. We won't let you down after the mission. We will reward you according to the contract (the new contract). Now, follow my orders, let's go!!" — The group set off

I (Voiceover): "Finally, I've convinced these civilians to join the band of thieves. The old man's ideological and political work is quite skilled, befitting his military background."

—

Fifteen minutes later, with Daly acting as a guide, they met the secret escape party of the Empress and her entourage (about a dozen people) on the way.

Empress's Guard A: "Who are those people up ahead? Identify yourselves quickly, or we will attack!" — Shouting

Daly: "Mom! It's me, Enyo." — Stepping forward to identify herself

Persephone: "Enyo? What are you doing here? Weren't we supposed to meet at Diana Trevor's shore?" — Stepping out from the group

Daly: "The situation has changed dramatically. The escape ship was sunk by the enemy, and the original plan is no longer feasible."

Persephone: "What? We can't escape? What do we do now?" — Surprised, panicked

Daly: "Our only option is to return to New Siron and hold out for reinforcements."

Persephone: "Hold out for reinforcements? How long will it take for the reinforcements to arrive?"

Daly: "..." (Gesturing to Gordon)

Gordon: "Why are you looking at me? I can't accurately determine when the reinforcements will arrive. It depends on the weather, the speed of personnel and material allocation, the condition of the ships, and many other uncertain factors."

Daly: "I don't need an exact time, just a rough estimate."

Gordon: "Conservatively, the fastest would be forty-eight hours, the slowest would be seventy-two hours."

Persephone: "The slowest is seventy-two hours, which is three days? Well, well." — Sighing in relief

Gordon: "Well? Aren't you worried about the slow arrival of reinforcements?" — Surprised

Persephone: "Of course I'm worried. I wish the reinforcements would arrive in the next second."

Gordon: "So your 'well' means..."

Persephone: "Before I secretly left New Siron, I checked the current battle situation. Ares has successfully gathered the troops dispatched to various regions and is holding the enemy at the first line of defense around New Siron. According to his judgment, the capital is temporarily safe, and the first line of defense can hold for three to five days. They are now urgently building the second and third lines of defense to drag the war into a protracted conflict."

Daly: "That's great. This will definitely hold until the reinforcements arrive, and we will be saved." — Overjoyed

Everyone, except Gordon and Lin Youde, was elated and ecstatic at this good news.

Lin Youde: "No way? The U.S. military is just a name change (volunteers) and has become so useless?"

Gordon: "They are urgently building the second and third lines of defense, and the capital is temporarily safe... Who is building the second and third lines of defense? Are they temporary laborers from the city or..."

Persephone: "It seems to be the city's reserve forces."

Gordon, Lin Youde: "We're doomed." — In unison

I (Voiceover): "Based on the previous spoilers, Ares is doomed. But for a mighty god of war to be taken out by the U.S. military's decapitation operation? How stupid would he have to be to fall for such a ploy? The scriptwriter must have given Ares a stupidity aura."

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