Otherworld Bone Dragon Operation Guide

Chapter 331 Night at the Port
As the distance between units increased, Su Ming launched the "Rainbow-3" drone. It quickly climbed above the clouds, entered a low-fuel-consumption hovering mode, and provided communication relay for the entire battlefield.

Soon, a report came through the communication channel from the squadron stationed on the first "Dawn Pioneer" class ship.

While they were repairing the ships, they were also interrogating prisoners. One captured high-ranking officer revealed during interrogation that Admiral Theodore was in the eastern battle group, but he did not know which warship he was on.

Su Ming sighed. Even if the captured officer knew the exact location, it was meaningless now. Given Theodore's consistently cautious approach, he must have changed his flagship again after the escape began.

Su Ming stared at the radar screen. There were still four enemy ship signals remaining in the eastern sea area, all of which were Dawn Pioneer-class cruisers.

"This is totally like opening a blind box," Su Ming murmured.

The chase lasted nearly four hours, and the Pansy finally caught up with its target. After routinely clearing the enemy's weapons from its deck and destroying its resistance capabilities, the second Dawn Pioneer-class warship of the day decisively raised a white flag and surrendered.

The massive boarding fleet launched another attack and quickly completed its suppression mission.

"Cease pursuit, all troops return to base." Su Ming decisively issued the order, ending this long chase.

The ships of the Light Fleet scattered and fled, making the pursuit extremely difficult. Whenever a target was locked onto and pursued, the other ships took the opportunity to desperately increase the distance.

Although theoretically the pursuit could continue, given the limited manpower and the already limited capacity to process existing prisoners and capture ships, the ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances is becoming increasingly weak.

Furthermore, although the blizzard has weakened somewhat, it hasn't completely stopped. Night will fall in a few hours, and if the captured ships aren't dealt with quickly, it will become a huge problem.

The Pansy turned around and began its return journey. It used thick cables to link its spoils, the Dawn Pioneer I and Dawn Pioneer II, with the precious magical warship, the Redemption Thorn, and slowly sailed behind it as if dragging three enormous prey.

Finally, they returned to the "Purification Whip," the ship most severely damaged and riddled with holes by the violet magic. Everyone immediately threw themselves into the intense work of repairing it.

As darkness fell, the situation on the "Purifying Whip" was finally stabilized thanks to everyone's efforts, and the fatal leak was completely plugged. The high-powered water pumps that Su Ming had set up began to roar and operate at full capacity, and the water level in the cabin began to drop noticeably.

Su Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief—today's battle had finally come to a successful end.

There wasn't much on-the-spot adaptation this time; it was mostly about executing pre-planned strategies and simulations, and there weren't many tense moments. However, correspondingly, the pre-battle objectives were largely achieved.

A skilled strategist achieves victory without seeking glory. Intelligence gathering and thorough preparation are the true keys to a successful war.

Su Ming walked onto the deck and exhaled a long breath. The snowflakes in the air had lessened, and the blizzard was about to end completely.

Next, all we need to do is wait for the damage control team's report, and then we can complete the final cleanup.

Stacy's voice suddenly came through the earphones, tinged with a hint of caution, "Su Ming, are you there?"

"What's wrong?" Su Ming replied.

“Um… I brought some ‘guests’ back…” Stacy’s voice trailed off.

"Guests?" A very bad premonition flashed through Su Ming's mind.

Almost simultaneously, Beanie, on the bridge, shouted and waved urgently to Su Ming on the deck below, signaling him to come up immediately, "Su Ming! Large aerial targets have been detected approaching at high speed! All are over fifty meters in length! There are twelve of them! They are rapidly closing in!"

Su Ming was silent for a moment, then exchanged a helpless look with Zi Jin on the other side.

He responded into the communicator, "You... bring it back."

****
Grodno port, evening.

After braving wind and snow all the way from Giant Horn Island, Rupert led the damage control team of the Bone Mage and finally arrived at this transit port serving the Light Fleet.

The port is small, and many facilities show signs of hasty expansion. It is just a temporary transshipment point for supplies, with a dozen or so small supply ships moored in rudimentary berths.

Not far away in the deep waters of the open sea, two larger transport ships were anchored—a situation common in small ports where the berths near the shore are not deep enough, forcing large ships to anchor in the deep waters and rely on small boats to ferry personnel and supplies back and forth.

Some simple grease torches and lanterns flickered and burned in the biting wind, illuminating key locations such as the docks and warehouse entrances, casting long, constantly swaying shadows. The pungent air was filled with the salty smell of the sea, the strong odor of wood tar and burning cheap grease, drifting along with the snowflakes.

A well-equipped and disciplined army of paladins was deployed here to strictly guard the port.

Having rushed here at breakneck speed, the damage control team members were somewhat exhausted, but Rupert did not intend to let them rest for too long.

"Take a half-hour break, then attack immediately!" Rupert wiped the ice crystals from his face and announced in a loud voice, a sly smile on his face. "We'll be there just in time for their dinner! Let's hurry and have a hot meal ready, saving us the trouble of cooking!" As a former sheriff of a small northern town, he knew the local schedule like the back of his hand!
But the cautious Hanster frowned, took out his binoculars, and scanned the soldiers on duty and patrolling: "This Holy Knights order looks well-trained and disciplined. Are we just going to charge in like this?"

“It’s alright, we’ll launch the attack promptly in half an hour.” Rupert stood up from the snow where he was sitting, patted Hanster heavily on the shoulder, and then called to Gerald, “The three of us will sneak in now and create some ‘fun’ inside!”

This port is not a closed military restricted area; a large number of convoys transporting fresh water and food frequently enter and exit, among which are many merchants and porters.

None of the three, including Rupert, are necromancers: Rupert is a native of the North, and Hanster and Gerald have also lived in the North for quite some time.

Their accents were flawless, giving them a natural advantage in blending into the port.

Just then, Rishiri stood up as well. "Take me with you. Otherwise, if Jelus gets too carried away, she might lose control."

“I can do it,” Gerus replied immediately. “I’ve basically gotten used to this power by now.”

“It’s safer with me around,” Rishiri insisted.

“But you’re a necromancer!” Jelus said. “Those paladins are extremely sensitive to the presence of the undead; they’ll definitely find you!”

Ruixiu didn't say much, but silently took out a dark gray cloak covered with intricate anti-magic array patterns from his bag, neatly put it on, and pulled the hood down to cover most of his face—it was the anti-magic cloak that Su Ming and Zijin had previously seized from the Bell of Calamity, which could conceal their own magical fluctuations.

"Let's go!" he said succinctly.

Seeing this, Gerald stopped insisting and nodded. The four of them then headed towards the brightly lit port town.

****
At the simple wooden fence entrance, the guards indeed stopped them.

Rupert, Hanster, and Gerald's impeccable Northern accents hardly aroused any suspicion. Rupert, all smiles, offered to explain: they were from a nearby town; someone there had fallen seriously ill, and they had specially gone to the temple to fetch this healer lady, rushing back to treat her.

However, the snow and wind on the road are too heavy, making it unsuitable for traveling at night. We earnestly request to stay overnight in port.

Rishiri kept his mouth shut and didn't say a word. Rupert quickly explained that this was his poor "brother" who had unfortunately suffered a severe fire when he was a child, which had damaged his voice.

The guard looked suspiciously at the miserable face peeking out from under the hood of Risheri, then at the honest and anxious Rupert, the gentle priestess Gerus, and the "old father" Hanster shivering in the cold wind beside them.

The guards questioned the group for a while, but couldn't find anything suspicious. Finally, they impatiently waved their hands and let them enter the town.

Once out of the guards' sight, Rishiri lowered his voice and asked, "Why not just bribe the guards? It would save time."

“In this dilapidated, makeshift port town,” Hanster explained immediately, “offering money to get in would actually suggest that someone has something to hide!”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Rupert wholeheartedly agreed, grinning. “Money is something you can’t just spend recklessly!”

His gaze swept over a run-down little tavern by the roadside, emanating noise and the smell of cheap beer, and he subconsciously licked his lips. "Especially wasting time on things that shouldn't be wasted!"

The town was much more crowded than usual, even creating a somewhat bustling and lively atmosphere. It wasn't just the sailors from the ships; many laborers had also flocked in to do manual labor.

As soon as it got dark, all the simple restaurants in the town were packed to capacity, and many fishermen even turned their houses into temporary food stalls.

“Alright,” Rishuli said. “The paladin's garrison at the town entrance is yours to me and Jelus.”

"Good luck to you!" Hansster said in a deep voice.

The four nodded to each other.

The figures of Rishiri and Gerus disappeared silently into the depths of the narrow, dimly lit alley, as if blending into the shadows.

Hanster and Rupert looked at each other.

"One ship per person?" Hanster gestured with his eyes to the two large transport ships anchored in the open sea.

“I’ll go left, you go right!” Rupert grinned, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

(End of this chapter)