Chapter 324

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

Half an hour later, Lin En stepped onto the bridge of the James Tong.

The damaged hall and access controls were undergoing emergency repairs, yet Dominic still sat in the central command seat.

His left arm was still wrapped in thick bandages, his face remained pale, but his eyes were abnormally bright, filled with a desire for victory.

His uniform was still stained with dust and blood; clearly he had just come down from the battlefield and hadn't even had time to change clothes.

Seeing Lin En, Dominic walked over quickly.

A rare smile graced his face; he was clearly very satisfied with this defense of Kal II.

"Governor Kerry, well done!"

Dominic extended his right hand and patted Lin En's shoulder hard.

"I was originally worried you wouldn't hold Kal II; I didn't expect you not only to hold it, but to eat up those several million Green Skins entirely."

"Truly beyond my expectations."

These words were already tactful; he had originally thought Lin En would run away directly.

Lin En shook hands with him and said with a smile: "Just good luck. If the Green Skin main fleet hadn't suddenly retreated, we wouldn't have had it this easy either."

Mentioning the Green Skin main fleet's retreat, Dominic's eyes grew even more excited.

"Speaking of which, I came to find you precisely for this matter."

He walked to the holographic star map, pointing in the direction of Dolido Planet, and said in an agitated tone:

"Governor Kerry, now is the best time for us to pursue the victory!"

"Look, in this battle only the James Tong suffered minor damage; the rest of the warships are basically intact."

"On the Green Skin side, Lianggenna is dead; they hastily elected a new warboss in a short time, so their foundation is definitely unstable."

"And our intelligence shows the Green Skin fleet is currently very chaotic; many chieftains are rubbing their hands, trying to start internal strife."

"If we lead the fleet in an all-out attack now, we can certainly catch them off guard and seize Dolido Planet in one stroke!"

"As long as we eliminate the Mozu Clan's main fleet, the Green Skin threat in the entire Calixis Star System will be completely resolved!"

The more Dominic spoke, the more excited he became, his eyes flashing with excited radiance.

It was as if he had already seen the Imperial Fleet occupy Dolido Planet and exterminate all Green Skins.

This would not only avenge Ralph and all the sacrificed soldiers, but also add a brilliant stroke to his record of military merit.

Looking at Dominic's impatient appearance, Lin En couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

Someone who didn't know better would think he was the Governor of Breyweis, even more anxious than this Governor himself.

He gently shook his head, the smile on his face gradually converging.

"Dominic Adult, I feel attacking now is still premature."

"Why?"

Dominic fiercely raised his head, looking at Lin En, the smile on his face gradually converging.

"This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity; miss it, and when the Green Skins stabilize, if we want to attack Dolido again we'll have to pay ten or even a hundred times the price!"

"Could it be, Governor Kerry has some other insight?"

Lin En did not answer his question directly.

He walked to the star map and pulled up the surveillance footage of the Green Skin fleet's retreat.

"Before answering you, let me ask you a question first."

Lin En pointed at those Green Skin warships on the screen retreating in "neat, orderly" formation, looked into Dominic's eyes, and said seriously:

"Based on your understanding of Green Skins, when a warboss dies in battle and a new warboss takes power, what would the Green Skin fleet look like?"

Dominic froze, subconsciously replying:

"Of course they'd fall into chaos, chieftains mutually slaughtering each other, seizing power."

"If lucky, a few months to decide the victor; if unlucky, fighting for years is possible."

This is basic common knowledge for the Empire against Green Skins; every Imperial commander would understand it, let alone a general like him who has clashed with Green Skins.

But once these words left his mouth, Dominic seemed to realize something, and his momentum weakened considerably.

"Correct." Lin En nodded. "Then look at the current Green Skin fleet again."

He enlarged the surveillance footage; on the screen, hundreds of Green Skin warships formed a neat formation, flying toward Dolido Planet.

Although there were still warships flying off course, dropping out of formation, or even firing at each other.

They are Green Skins, after all; complete order is impossible.

But this degree of chaos is obviously still within normal parameters.

"Do you think this looks like a Green Skin fleet that just went through a power transition?"

Dominic's brow wrinkled.

He looked at the Green Skin fleet on the screen, a puzzled expression on his face.

It seems, indeed, not quite right.

No matter how powerful the new warboss, it's impossible for him to make all the chieftains and bosses obedient in such a short time.

This fundamentally contradicts Green Skin nature.

"Perhaps, perhaps this new warboss is exceptionally strong?" Dominic's tone was no longer as firm as before.

"Or perhaps, an heir was prepared long ago?"

Lin En shook his head.

"Greenskins have never had the concept of a designated heir; they only respect the fist — whoever's fist is hardest is the Big Boss."

"And even if this new War Boss is powerful, it's impossible for him to make all War Bosses willingly abandon their internal strife and retreat with him."

"Greenskins are born for battle; with Kal II about to fall, how could they possibly give up so easily?"

Lin En looked into Dominic's eyes and said seriously:

"So, based on my intelligence and understanding of Greenskins, I've reached a conclusion."

"Lianggenna is most likely still alive."

"What did you say?!"

Dominic's expression changed instantly.

He rose fiercely, staring at Lin En with a fierce gaze.

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"

His voice suddenly rose several degrees, then lowered again when he realized the loss of composure.

"We've repeatedly confirmed it — Lianggenna died in the Spirit Energy Collapse in the banquet hall, not leaving a single trace!"

"His flagship, that ship like a big pot, was also destroyed by our cannon fire — he had absolutely no possibility of surviving!"

Dominic's emotions were somewhat agitated.

He stared dead at Lin En, his eyes filled with bloodshot.

"Governor Kerry, I know you've always been cautious, but you can't just say this kind of thing out of thin air!"

"Do you know what your words mean?"

This means Ralph and all the soldiers who died to kill Lianggenna — their sacrifices were all in vain.

This is a reality Dominic absolutely cannot accept, absolutely cannot!

His voice echoed within the bridge.

The bodyguards beside him all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

They all knew how great a shock Lianggenna had brought Dominic, and how great a blow Ralph's death had dealt him.

Lin En quietly watched the agitated Dominic, not speaking.

He could understand Dominic's mood.

Put anyone in his place — after experiencing such a tragic battle, paying such enormous sacrifices — no one could accept the fact that the enemy still lives.

Until Dominic's emotions calmed somewhat.

Only then did Lin En speak slowly, his tone calm yet neither servile nor overbearing.

"Dominic Adult, I know it's very difficult for you to accept."

"To tell the truth, I'm also unwilling to believe this conclusion."

"But all evidence points to this one result."

"And you think carefully — Lianggenna's performance in that battle."

Lin En's gaze grew deep, as if recalling that tragic battle.

"He was focus-fired by seven Storm Blades, his entire body about to be destroyed, yet he could still rely on a single mouth to devour items alive and restore his body."

"Have you ever seen such regenerative ability before?"

Dominic's breath caught.

He recalled that mangled ball of flesh, recalled the terrifying scene of it devouring soldiers and even tank wreckage, then regrowing its body.

A chill he refused to acknowledge crawled up his back once more.

That kind of bizarre ability was something he had never seen before.

"Including his flagship, that exaggerated ability to devour a fleet's salvo."

"None of it can be explained by common sense — not even Warp demons could do that, right?"

Lin En's voice continued to sound in his ear.

"So, why would it be impossible for him to return from the dead?"