Yu Lian was a little touched. Marshal Paris was indeed seriously thinking about covering for him and Eleanor, and he truly regarded him as a very close junior to protect.

Otherwise, with his uncompromising nature, if he really wanted to deal with him, would he still be eating here with him? It was more likely that three thousand axemen would have been ready outside the door.

Moreover, if one were to seriously consider it, his and Eleanor's actions actually had a hint of unauthorized action. To put it bluntly, the Thirteenth Guard Fleet of the New Continent, currently under her command, already had three cruisers, and she had also recruited many people in Gibraltar, and even incorporated a considerable number of pirates.

More importantly, the funds for buying and maintaining ships, as well as recruiting people and ships, were all raised by Eleanor herself. When the time comes for a change, couldn't Eleanor simply say, "Whose grain do you eat, whose pay do you receive?"

That scene was too beautiful; just thinking about it made one feel refreshed.

Of course, to strengthen the New Continent's armaments, the Command HQ could turn a blind eye. After all, in places far from the Central Government, lacking supervision and communication, the militarization of the army into warlords was an inevitable problem.

However, this did not mean that the Central Government had to let such matters go unaddressed. Otherwise, why would Marshal Paris himself go as a special envoy?

"I've read all of that girl's battle reports..." The Marshal was about to continue, but then he saw Yang Xiyi suddenly cough lightly and look towards the girls.

"Ladies, I'll order another hotpot for you," he said with a smile.

Feifei pulled Ina, who was still bewildered, to her feet: "You're so thoughtful, Teacher Yang. Then I won't be modest."

"Ah, do I have to leave too?" Eleanor pointed to herself.

"I'm just afraid you two will collude with your eyes!" Yang Xiyi spread his hands.

"Hehe, collude... with eyes..." Feifei chuckled ambiguously, then unceremoniously pulled Ina directly out the door.

Elinore also gave two lukewarm laughs and followed them out.

It had to be admitted that even when these two girls were being sarcastic, their smiles were still very beautiful, so Yu Lian watched them leave the room, then looked at Yang Xiyi with a resentful gaze.

Major General Yang Xiyi scoffed, pretending not to see, exchanged a glance with Marshal Paris, and seeing no reaction from the latter, he said: "Colonel Elinore Bonaparte's Thirteenth Guard Fleet's proper function is to maintain clear navigation from New Yumen all the way to the Burkhara Star System. However, with the combat power she currently commands, it's already more than just a peacekeeping force. Furthermore, although according to the battle report submitted by Colonel Bonaparte, she is upholding the glorious tradition of the Community Fleet to destroy the enemy upon sight... However, pursuing pirates nearly a month's journey off the original course, that's truly interesting."

He paused, then smiled: "Yu Lian, why do I feel that Colonel Bonaparte's advance route has a very clear objective?"

"Because the RX46 Star Region is there!" Yu Lian said in the same tone as George Mallory.

The so-called Rx46 Star Region, which is currently a large star region of the Commonwealth adjacent to the New Continent Star Region, has not yet completed the most basic exploration and colonization, so it theoretically still belongs to the "high seas." Naturally, there would be no formal administrative division names, but rather unappealing numbers.

"The Commonwealth will eventually expand in that direction, so from now on, some initial preparations must be made. And the pirates entrenched in that star region have what we need."

The pirates of the New Continent indeed might possess more detailed star maps than the major powers.

It should be known that all nations are conducting their exploration of the New Continent with great caution and steadiness. After all, there is no Origin Qi wave center there, so ships, people, and mail are slow. They can only slowly Explore while building large gravitational wave transmission stations, just like building beacon towers in ancient times to gradually construct the New Continent's communication network. If they were too aggressive, the colonies there would be unable to contact the Central Government for long periods, and it might truly lead to an unmanageable separatist force.

However, pirates do not have this problem. Whenever they are forced to flee to an unfamiliar star region by the imperial authorities, they will naturally think of fleeing to another star region. Of course, there are no theoretical problems with this.

"On one hand, training soldiers through pirates maintains an objectively capable combat force in the New Continent. In the future, it might produce miraculous results."

"Miraculous results?"

"A cunning rabbit has three burrows," Yu Lian said. Then, he had a logically sound and well-argued discussion about the current situation in the New Continent, the current international situation, and the importance of the Gibraltar Star System.

For example, he mentioned that the Empire and the Alliance had already built large shipyards in the New Continent. Another example was that many pirates now were clearly hired or personally cosplayed by various nations. And yet another example was that the galaxy was too crowded for everyone to directly break ties, so going to the New Continent to resolve things privately seemed like a good idea.

"All of the above, I have actually completed a full investigative report and sent it to your office mailbox. This way, it will be easier for you to account to Congress, right?"

Moreover, such a proposal, if put forward by himself, would not receive much attention, but if Marshal Paris put it forward after half a year of "investigation," it would appear more natural and well-founded.

"However, I feel that even if this proposal is sent to Congress, the old men may not approve it. Even if they do, I don't know when that will be."

"So, you unilaterally started expanding the military without the approval of your superiors?" Marshal Paris sneered.

"Uh... this, isn't this the traditional art of nations in the New Continent?" Yu Lian blinked, showing an innocent expression: "I am fulfilling the due obligations of a conscientious and responsible Commonwealth officer!"

Yang Xiyi shrugged noncommittally and looked at Marshal Paris next to him: "You see, I guessed it all, sir, didn't I? This kid has already prepared a full excuse! And, I actually think he makes a lot of sense!"

"After I return to Earth, I will remove Colonel Bonaparte's fleet from the Command HQ's sequence and redefine its organization as a mobile fleet directly under the Navy Command. Its main function will still be to combat pirates and maintain order, but its authority can be more proactive, and of course... it also includes the exploration of unknown star regions. This way, neither Colonel Bonaparte nor the New Continent Command HQ will be too difficult, right?"

Yu Lian looked at the Marshal with some doubt.

He was naturally very grateful for the Marshal's protection and help, but was this something a retired researcher could do?

Marshal Paris must have seen Yu Lian's confusion and said directly: "Marshal Alvin has already decided to resign next month. The Defense Committee Chairman has already spoken with me and hopes that I will temporarily take over the Military Command Headquarters."

Yu Lian was truly stunned this time, while Yang Xiyi on the side sighed deeply.

The old guard from the era of Victori Li were truly withdrawing from the stage of history one by one!

"Heh... That old fellow can finally go home and enjoy his retirement with his grandchildren, while I, these old bones, still have to keep toiling away!" Marshal Paris snorted, then said: "However, I will directly transfer new Chiefs of Staff, Naval Commanders, Judge Advocates General, and Science Officers from the Central Government. This is the last concession I can make, and also the last limit the Central Government can reach."

"Thank you for your support. You will not regret today's decision."

I'll send a message to Wien and the others in a bit, telling them to send someone to help Eleanor. If I think about it carefully, besides Wien himself and William Banner, the others all seem capable of helping.

Incidentally, this will also allow us to extend the reach of our Lionheart Society 2.0 into this most powerful combat force in the New Continent.

“I'm already starting to regret it now,” Marshal Paris sighed. “...It's just, I also know that the country needs to change. You young people, who still have a lot of passion, don't trust the decision-making ability of the higher-ups. I understand your feelings, but I don't like your radicalism and self-righteousness. So, I can only let this old man persist a bit longer and try my best to keep a tight leash on you little rascals.”

Old man, you're really conflicted! Yu Lian subtly glanced at the old man, then quickly reined in his slight guilt.

“So, during this period, Colonel Bonaparte's fleet will undergo training near the Gibraltar Star System, awaiting reinforcements... Tsk, this little girl actually recruited several thousand people in the Past two months, plus the pirates assimilated in the New World. It's completely a bunch of anti-establishment criminal groups! There must be enough officers.”

“They've started to become anti-establishment! Haven't they caused any trouble here?”

“Commander specifically allocated a small space station as their temporary base,” Yang Xiyi shrugged. “You're overly worried. Besides a small number of elite troops, do you think the quality of most soldiers can be much better than pirates?”

Yu Lian thought for a moment and felt that Teacher Yang was indeed right! He had indeed overthought it.

“Now you can tell me, what exactly are you planning to do in Runa? How is it related to what you did in the New World?”

“Sir, you are truly perceptive, but your subordinate dares to swear by the universe spirit that this truly has no relation to the New World.”

At least no direct relation.

Seeing Marshal Paris and Teacher Yang both looking unconvinced, Yu Lian reluctantly explained, “We all know that the Luna Star System belongs to the Commonwealth's Far Shore Star Region... Across two small nations, it's the territory of the Bakerville Republic. For so many years, the Ruminar separatists have always been able to obtain guns, artillery, and even small warships. If you say they have no external support, I certainly don't believe it. However, the Far Shore Border Fleet's jurisdiction in the Far Shore Star Region has always maintained very strict surveillance over the Luknar Corridor and the I Earl Star Gorge. So, what exactly is the reason for this?”

The Far Shore Star Region and the Imperial sphere of influence are connected through the “Luknar Corridor” and the “I Earl Star Gorge” (abbreviated as I Earl). These two are stable jump channels formed by gravity wells between young, active star systems, also known as “star highways.”

And then, there's the “natural border” between the Blue Star Commonwealth and the Imperial sphere of influence, formed by variable stars, red giants, and anomalous gravitational fields. Of course, even in these areas, usable gravity wells can still be found, but the difficulty of passage is like going from a highway to a single-lane mountain path that could be buried along with the car at any moment due to a landslide.

Normally, only desperate fugitives and risk-taking smugglers would take such routes.

However, the enemy's military aid to the Ruminar separatist rebels was neither a highly profitable venture nor a last resort, yet it was surprisingly stable. What could be the reason for this?

“...So, Marshal, Teacher Yang, it's not just The Myriad Souls Heresy and the Ruminar separatists. In that small, remote star system, there are simply too many things worth my attention.”

Men's conversations always involve eating, drinking, and chatting, and as they ramble, they often shift from trivial matters to national affairs, even if these “affairs” don't necessarily concern them. However, for girls, it's often the opposite.

Thus, in another private room, the three girls had barely touched the hotpot in the middle of the table, with Ina eating most of it, but their conversation was already nearing its end.

“...Yu'er is doing fine, eating well and sleeping well, he even got a tiger amulet. He made a big splash on Navy Day and is almost becoming a youth idol for the entire Commonwealth. And both the military and political high-ups think highly of him. Eleanor can completely rest assured.”

Eleanor's mouth twitched. “Tsk... If he would just be a proper Tiger Amulet Group member and stay at the General Staff Headquarters or the Solar System Fleet, then I'd truly be at ease! But he somehow ended up running off to some Luna Star System... That godforsaken place is not simpler than New Yumen! Fina, you should have kept an eye on him!”

“Eleanor, what right do you have to scold me? Can you explain to me what a field supply station is? And what it means to have your spine broken?”

Although Feifei was still smiling, Eleanor's mouth twitched, knowing she was in the wrong, and she took a big gulp of wine.

“Oh, so, Commander, you and... um, Miss Li are already in such a relationship?” Ina had just swallowed a large piece of snake meat and hadn't even had time to drink some soup when she couldn't help but ask.

“Shut up and eat your meat!” Eleanor shouted.

“Anyway, thank you very much, Miss Ina! I heard from Yu'er that without you, he would have died in the sand sea of New Yumen long ago.”

She's a good girl! Pretty, gentle, and speaks nicely, much better than the fierce Commander Elinore. Ina thought so.

Feifei added, “Besides, Eleanor, no one can dissuade Yu'er from doing what he wants to do. Is this our first day knowing him?”

“...Yes! He's just that kind of guy!” Elinore sighed.

Feifei giggled and handed over an anonymous Libra Bank card. “Yu'er asked me to give you this.”

Elinore blinked, but didn't act coy, taking it directly. “I won't ask where this money came from, will I?”

“Yu'er also said that if the plan proceeds as scheduled, although your fleet shouldn't lack money in the future, it's still better to be prepared,” Feifei paused, then added, “However, I feel that Yu'er's intention is not just to have a privateering and treasure hunter fleet causing trouble in the New World, right?”

“He wants an Iron Army from the Age of Independence, composed of battle-hardened heroes.” Elinore chuckled, sighing with vexation. “Yuli thinks too highly of me! If I could so easily train a group of pirates to that level, then please call me Empress Ivannya the Second right now!”

“Now, we can only use deception and strict military law to force them to obey orders. Commander Elinore has done perfectly, I can't imagine anyone who could do better,” Ina said fairly while drinking her soup.

“But, we have to try, don't we? What if it succeeds?” Fina said.

You brat, you're typically talking without feeling the pain! Why don't you come and try it yourself?

Elinore was about to say that, but then she heard Fina say, “Yu'er once told me that there are five types of armies in this world... The one he most hoped to have was like the Volunteer Army from Marshal Li's era. That was an army with ideals!”

Elinore and Ina were slightly startled, deep in thought. The former said, “...Then what about my Thirteenth Fleet now?”

Feifei chuckled, “Probably the second tier, the so-called bandit-type army. Of course, because Eleanor is excellent, Ina is also excellent, and the officer corps Eleanor personally assembled is also excellent, so currently they're still fierce bandits, and their combat effectiveness should be very strong. However, as the scale expands, the decline in combat effectiveness and military discipline are inevitable. In the end, Eleanor will at most become a local warlord who carves out territory in the New World.”

“This, all of this was said by that kid Yuli?” Elinore admitted that these points made sense, but the more sense they made, the more jealous he became.

Feifei nodded, smiling sweetly.

“He didn't even tell me, and he had you relay it?”

“He's busy.” Feifei nodded again, her smile even sweeter.

Ina looked at the two of them, quickly scooped several large pieces of meat into her bowl, and moved back a little.

Fortunately, before Eleanor flipped the table, Ina said, “Yu'er also told me that to build an army with ideals, the officers must first have ideals... Eleanor, don't you think this universe is a bit strange? Our world has stagnated. It's time to make some changes!”

“...”

“We've put together a group, do you want to join? Oh, by the way, Miss Ina, and you too, please make sure to join!”