Chapter 74: Persistence in the Ruins

"Our base is ahead."

The navy man was holding the bowl and introducing it to Olga beside him.

“Ooooooh…”

"So broken..."

Olga looked at the naval base standing on the sea level and felt it was an eyesore.

"Little girl, even though we have a good relationship, I cannot allow you to defame our magnificent naval base!"

The Marine heard what Olga said and immediately refuted it.

In their eyes, the base represents security, represents comrades who fight together, and is also the place where they can settle down.

"But I really didn't expect the navy to stay in a place like this..." Olga said weakly.

The faint light of dawn had not yet broken through the thick sea fog, and an inexplicable silence enveloped the entire area.

Jinan stood on the deck of the warship with others, looking at the naval base whose outline was gradually emerging.

A gust of sea breeze blew by, bringing with it a mixture of salty, damp and rotten smells.

The gates of the naval base were closed, like a dead zone with no one living.

The scars left on the base tell visitors about the disaster that happened here.

The walls were broken, the bunker partially collapsed, and black smoke was still rising in a corner.

What was most shocking was the corpses scattered outside the base.

The corpses are either lying in a mess or maintaining the postures of their final battle, quietly telling people who come here that a tragic battle once took place here.

A senior sailor on the ship pointed at the silent bodies and explained in a hoarse voice:

"These are the pirates who died in the attack on this base. Our navy also suffered heavy losses."

"Outside this base, every once in a while, some pirates would rush into the base to burn, kill, and loot."

The navy clenched his fists and let the sea breeze ruffle his hair.

The ruined base and scattered corpses all constituted a heavy scene before our eyes.

Although the reality before them was brutal and cruel, Jin An knew that as a soldier's duty, he was to face danger at all times. All they could do was to work hard to improve their strength and prevent tragedy from happening again.

The navy waved his hand, signaling the team to follow him ashore.

Tian Yueshi's expression was stern, Olga and Athie nodded silently, and there was no need for words between the four of them, eye contact was enough to convey the message.

As the sun rose and the morning mist dissipated, they walked towards the ruined naval base, and every step was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"..."

The scene inside the base was even more miserable than imagined, with the lingering smell of gun smoke and a sad atmosphere everywhere.

Bricks, broken glass and bullet shells are like a sad song, telling the story of the fierce battle that had just passed in the devastation.

Although the battle was over, every surviving sailor was doing what he could, whether it was carrying supplies, repairing broken walls, or keeping watch all around to guard against the crisis that might come again.

The appearance of Jin'an and his group of four initially caused a sense of vigilance.

These navies established one target defense line after another to guard the remaining territories.

They were exhausted but still maintained a strong fighting consciousness. Any unusual movement could become a new threat.

However, after confirming that the visitor was one of their own, the vigilant look gradually softened.

Some sailors nodded, and some even tried to force a smile, expressing the unspoken comfort and encouragement among their comrades.

Although the base was destroyed, morale was not lost.

Tianyue and the others walked forward along the corridor destroyed by the ruins. Every place they passed made their hearts heavier, but at the same time strengthened their determination to join the navy.

The sailors in the base returned to their posts and continued their busy work.

"Our lieutenant general is in this office. I'll go back to my work first." The navy officer in charge of leading the way explained to Jinan and the others, and then walked non-stop into the depths of the corridor.

......

"Knock knock knock..." Jin An reached out and knocked gently on the door.

An old voice came from the room, "Come in."

A group of people pushed the door and entered the office.

Sitting behind the large desk is an old navy officer, his skin like aged parchment, reflecting the vicissitudes of time.

His eyes were framed by silver-white hair, and through his reading glasses, he gleamed with wisdom.

Seeing someone coming in, the old man smiled, put down the materials in his hand, raised his head, and stared at the four people in front of the table with his bright eyes.

The old man's voice was hoarse and gentle: "Welcome to the G-5 branch. I am Maldo, the head of this branch."

"Please take a seat. You are not the navy of our branch, so there is no need to be so restrained."

His words were brief, but they revealed his friendliness towards Jinan and the others.

Jinan and his companions looked at each other tacitly, then sat down one by one, ready to listen to what arrangements this old navy who had experienced countless storms would make for them.

"You are the little guy that Karp was talking about." Maldo looked directly at Jinan with a hint of interest in his eyes.

Jin An nodded, "It's me."

After establishing good relations with the navy officers on the warship, they told him that Garp had privately asked their vice admiral to help find Jin An and his men.

Now that he had met the Lieutenant General in person, Jin An felt extremely grateful.

There was a hint of barely perceptible anxiety in the old man's eyes. He leaned forward slightly in his chair, placed his hands lightly on the table, and looked directly at the protagonists.

"I have a request!" Maldo said, his voice steady but powerful.

The urgency of the war seemed to be concentrated on his weathered face at this moment. Every wrinkle was like a deep ravine, recording the plight of the base and the urgency of seeking help.

"I know it's a big request."

"But our situation is really not optimistic. We are short of supplies and personnel..."

"We can't hold on any longer. If the Navy Headquarters can give us more support, we can continue to defend this sea area."

His eyes swept across Jinan and the others' faces one by one, as if trying to read a clue of hope from their young faces.

"I believe that your arrival is not accidental. Each of your talents and your performance during this period have proven your worth."

"The Marshal has always been generous in his praise of outstanding soldiers, so..."

Maldo paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued:

"If you can say a few good words for us in front of the marshal, even if it's just a few words, I believe he will consider it. All of us here, young and old, men and women, will be grateful for your great kindness."

Jinan and the others exchanged glances and reached a consensus almost without words.

They knew that this was not just a request from the old man, but also his responsibility for those helpless lives in the war.

Jinan Station