Ashiru had been captured by Sean?
What had happened? Had she been exposed while transmitting intelligence?
"According to the liaison, Vice-Captain Ashiru and one of her subordinates infiltrated a merchant ship delivering routine supplies to the 16th Branch."
"Initially, everything went smoothly. However, just as the merchant ship finished unloading and prepared to depart, it was detained by the 16th Branch. Everyone on board was taken away and interrogated separately."
"Ultimately, the 16th Branch detained Vice-Captain Ashiru and released everyone else."
"This news was just delivered by the soldier who had infiltrated the merchant ship alongside her."
"Furthermore, according to his report, the three moles currently embedded within the 16th Branch are fine and have not been discovered."
The undercover agents hadn't been exposed, and the soldier accompanying Ashiru had been released. Only Ashiru herself had been captured.
Where exactly did things go wrong?
"Dammit!"
A sudden realization hit Belo Betty, and she cursed under her breath.
"It's that portrait!"
"Regardless of which faction produced that portrait, they certainly distributed it widely. Sean Campbell must have a copy."
"That explains why the three moles and the soldier on the merchant ship were untouched, while Ashiru alone was singled out!"
"I had a feeling that portrait would cause problems, which is why I told you to contact her and have her return immediately, but it seems..."
"I was too late!"
Belo Betty's expression was grim. Ashiru wasn't just anyone; she was Betty's second-in-command and a second-tier officer of the Revolutionary Army.
She couldn't just let this happen. She had to find a way to get her back.
"Find a way to contact our sleeper agent inside the 16th Branch. Confirm Ashiru's current condition and her precise location. At the same time, call an emergency meeting for all East Army officers."
"Yes, Army Captain!"
'''
The three moles embedded in the branch were left untouched by Lucci's design, and Sean had agreed to it.
Undercover agents weren't the problem; the problem was not knowing who they were. Once their identities were known, arresting them immediately was rarely the best course of action. Often, the most effective strategy was to play dumb and let them remain.
By doing so, one could use the moles to transmit... exactly the kind of intelligence they wanted the enemy to receive.
Just like now.
"Rear Admiral, it has been confirmed that the three of them have sent the message out."
"I see. What method did they use?"
"A drift bottle!"
"A drift bottle?" Sean blinked. The Revolutionary Army certainly had a variety of tricks.
"Yes. Captain Sanders arranged for the recruits to spend the day doing a general cleanup of the branch, and those three were specifically assigned to the defensive walls."
"So, they took the opportunity to put the intelligence in a bottle and cast it into the sea?"
"Correct. And late last night, we confirmed that someone approached under the cover of darkness to retrieve it. Of course, that was only possible because we intentionally cooperated."
"Very good. Proceed according to plan. In three days... we set out to lure in the East Army Captain, Belo Betty!"
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
'''
Three days later.
Ashiru was brought aboard a mid-sized warship. The vessel soon departed from the branch, heading toward the Calm Belt.
For the first few days, everything seemed normal. However, as they reached the open waters of the East Blue—an area devoid of any large islands—and passed near a deserted isle, several mid-sized ships suddenly emerged from the side of the island, charging at full speed toward the warship.
Days prior, Belo Betty had received intelligence from her sleeper agent within the 16th Branch.
According to the report, Ashiru would be transported to Marine Headquarters in three days. The escort consisted of a single warship and a company of forty-eight marines, commanded by a branch Lieutenant Captain.
Once the warship left the 16th Branch, the Revolutionary Army deployed numerous vessels, posing as ordinary ships or merchant craft, to cross paths with the warship. They used these encounters to observe the situation.
Belo Betty was extremely cautious. When the results matched the intelligence—a single company of ordinary marines and one Lieutenant Captain—she finally felt at ease and prepared her ambush.
Four ships were deployed, carrying every mid-to-high-level combatant of the East Army, along with over three hundred soldiers.
To deal with one Lieutenant Captain and forty-eight ordinary marines... this was more than enough.
Betty had even implemented multiple layers of security. She stationed several surveillance ships in the surrounding waters to ensure no other Marine warships approached the ambush zone. Even if another ship appeared, these scouts could stall them, buying Betty enough time to rescue Ashiru.
Everything seemed perfect.
'''
Inside the lower deck of the warship.
Ashiru was gagged, unable to make a sound. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared straight ahead.
A mysterious portal of light had suddenly appeared before her.
One by one, figures began to step out from the light. Leading them was the man who inspired a deep-seated fear in her heart: Sean. Behind him followed a succession of Field-grade officers.
It didn't stop there. Once the Field-grade officers arrived, Company-grade officers began to emerge.
More and more of them.
Nearly a hundred Company-grade officers stepped through the portal.
It was absurd for a single East Blue branch to have so many Field-grade officers, but for the number of Company-grade officers to be this astronomical was beyond comprehension.
'Could they have been deployed from Headquarters?'
"Wait here for a bit. You'll have company soon," Sean said with a smile to Ashiru.
He then looked toward Kaku, who was stationed by the hatch.
"Kaku, what's the status?"
"Four ships in total, with over three hundred personnel. We've confirmed that Belo Betty and several suspected East Army officers are on one of them."
"Ho, they've brought their entire nest. You go up first—don't let them realize anything is wrong. Once the engagement begins, we'll move. We won't leave them a single second to escape."
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
Hearing this conversation, Ashiru, her hands and feet bound in shackles, immediately understood what had happened.
She was the bait. And Belo Betty had taken the hook.
Not only had Betty fallen for it, but based on their conversation, she had brought the entire mid-to-high-level strength of the East Army with her.
It was over. The East Army was finished.
A thought suddenly flashed through Ashiru's mind, and she slumped over, completely drained.
'''
Out on the open sea.
Four Revolutionary Army ships, packed with combatants, closed in from four different directions. The Marine warship was completely boxed in with nowhere to run.
A few moments later, after a series of heavy thuds, the four ships slammed against the sides of the warship.
"Marines! Hand over your prisoner! If you cooperate, there's no need for us to fight!"
"You have one minute to decide!"
Confident in her overwhelming advantage, Belo Betty issued the ultimatum. It was true that slaughtering every Marine on board would bring them no real benefit; if anything, it might trigger a full-scale, frenzied retaliation from the Marine. If she could use intimidation to force the Marines to release the prisoner, that would be the ideal outcome.
However...
"I have a counter-proposal," a voice rang out. "I'll give you one minute to surrender—all of you!"
"Otherwise..."
"You can deal with the consequences!"
As Sean stepped out from the cabin, followed by a large contingent of field-grade and company-grade officers, Belo Betty stood there, completely stunned.