Chapter 223: Hinamoto's Alliance Expedition!
A clean and tidy room, with bright Sunlight spilling in from outside the window.
"This is..."
When Bullet opened his eyes again, he was first a little dazed by the piercing light, then he clearly saw the white ceiling, but he was immediately awakened by the burning pain on his Body.
Looking around and at his own Situation, the thick white quilt on his Body, the smell of Disinfectant in the Air, and the Bandages wrapped around his upper Body, all seemed to prove it was a hospital room.
Bullet endured the pain and sat up, his thoughts, however, sinking into memories. Soon, the Magma land filled with Gunfire Flash appeared in his mind.
"Did I still lose?"
A low, unwilling murmur sounded in the room. He still couldn't withstand the continuous pouncing and biting of the Magma Hounds, and Sakazuki's immensely powerful Magma Fist strikes.
"There are actually so many guys Stronger than me in this World..."
All this time, Bullet always felt that the only Monsters in this World who could defeat him were those from the same Era as Roger, such as Garp and Whitebeard.
The one he met at Pangaea Castle back then was just an old Monster from an even earlier generation in his eyes.
But now, the appearance of Sakazuki, this Former Navy Admiral Candidate, now an Army Admiral, made him realize that he might have truly been a frog in a well before.
Thinking carefully.
There are three Navy Admiral Candidates. Besides this 'Akainu', there are also 'Kizaru' and 'Aokiji'. This means there are two more people who can defeat him.
Who knows how many such Powerhouses there are in the World Government, and how many are Overseas?
"Damn it, I'm not Strong enough yet, but I will definitely catch up. Sooner or later, I will knock down every single one of these guys above me!"
[Knock knock knock]
Just as Bullet was gritting his teeth and swearing, the door was suddenly knocked on from the outside.
Immediately after, Senior Director Addison walked in and smiled, "It seems you're recovering well. We can finally send some good News to Marshal Raymond."
"How long did I sleep?"
Bullet asked in a deep voice with an ugly Expression. His voice sounded very hoarse, because the previous scorching High Temperature had even injured his throat.
"Only three days."
Senior Director Addison sat on the chair by the bed and casually picked up an Apple, throwing it to Bullet. "Have one, it'll moisten your throat."
The latter took the Apple and bit into it without ceremony. With that one bite, he directly bit off more than half of the fruit's flesh. His eating was truly terrifying.
"Did you know, when Marshal Raymond heard you were beaten to near death, he flew into a rage and fiercely cursed Admiral Akainu in front of all of us."
Bullet asked, "Where is he?"
"He left, returned to the Homeland. Said he'd curse him again after going back..." Senior Director Addison smiled.
"Heh—"
Bullet curled his lip in disdain. He was almost beaten to death, and then Sakazuki was just cursed twice. How perfunctory.
"Alright, what do you need me for?"
Perhaps even he didn't notice that his temper now was much more restrained compared to before. At least the arrogance on his face had significantly decreased.
Addison was naturally happy to see this change. He had always felt that Bullet's personality was too impulsive and too arrogant.
"It's like this. The News that the Shogunate replaced the General with a Female Shogun has spread. Now, the Chief Stewards in Various Places of this Country, in the name of restoring Amatori Orthodoxy, have sent an Alliance Subjugation Order to Kongokaku."
When speaking of serious Matters, Senior Director Addison's Smile disappeared, and he looked at Bullet with a very serious Gaze.
Although the latter's appearance, completely wrapped in Bandages, wasn't very pleasant to look at, no matter what, the other party was also a Military Commander representing the Army.
"Huh? A Subjugation Order?"
Bullet was immediately amused by these words. He laughed so hard his whole Body trembled, even irritating the Wounds under the Bandages, but this bit of pain was nothing.
"Tell me, what is their Influence/Power like?"
Senior Director Addison recalled the Intelligence he had seen before and introduced it to Bullet with a serious Expression.
"We have discussed with Yotsugawa Ayame and Mima Amatori. So far, a total of twelve regional Chief Stewards have joined this Alliance Army: Hitachi, Musashi, Kozuke, Shinano, Echigo, Kaga, Hida, Mino, Mikawa, Kai, Dewa, and Noto."
"Mima Amatori specifically pointed out that the Torai Army from Echigo and the Genro Army from Shinano have the strongest Military Power. Their Military Strength both reached five thousand."
"Among them, the Genro Army's Strength is even greater because they possess a Garrison Cannon called 'Narukami'. It is said to be the Cannon with the largest Caliber in all of Hinamoto and was once used for the Elimination of over three thousand Kabaneri World in the Musashi region. It is very famous!"
Speaking of this, he paused for a moment before speaking again.
"In other words, we will have to face at least twelve Iron-Armored Trains, over forty thousand Military Strength, hundreds of Cannons and Mortars, and one 'Narukami Cannon' said to be able to blast through the City Wall of a 'Station' with a single shot..."
"The reason I say 'at least' is because more regional Chief Stewards might join later, and the final Total Military Strength could exceed fifty thousand!"
However, Senior Director Addison found himself speechless, realizing that despite speaking so heavily and seriously.
Bullet, sitting on the bed, had a smile on his face that grew brighter and brighter, and the Excitement in his Gaze almost turned into Flames, because the War he wanted had finally arrived!
"Isn't this great News!"
"These rabble have gathered together and delivered themselves right to our doorstep. It's perfect for sweeping them all clean!"
As he spoke, he tore apart the Bandages binding his Body, revealing his bare Chest covered in burn Scars. These Scars brought an even stronger burning pain as soon as they came into contact with the Air.
"From this perspective, it is indeed good News. But we currently only have five thousand Army soldiers. Mima Amatori estimates that the Alliance Expeditionary Force will reach the vicinity of Kongokaku in five days at the latest."
"It also takes over a day to travel from this Base to Kongokaku. Even if we immediately transfer more people from the Homeland, the Star Gate's Width is only enough to send in a few thousand more Soldiers."
As a High-Ranking Official of the World Government, Addison's worry was naturally not because he hadn't seen Powerhouses from the Homeland, but because he deeply understood that the Army's purpose was Troop Training.
Under special circumstances, Combat Power of too high a Rank would not be deployed. There wouldn't even be many Officer Level Combat Power.
So, basically, they can only rely on the lower-ranked Soldiers to deal with this Alliance Expeditionary Force!
In this Situation, fighting against an army of over fifty thousand with a Military Strength of less than ten thousand, the uncertainty is indeed very high...
Because facts have proven that even Army Soldiers will still be injured and die if hit by a Steam Gun, not to mention the hundreds of Cannons and Mortars over there.
The Physical Ability Advantage can only be demonstrated when both sides engage in Close Combat. In the Gunfight and Artillery Battle before that, there's a Feeling of uselessness?
If they lose in the end, that would be a huge joke.
Good heavens, the World Government's first War against an Otherworld ended in defeat?
In that case, even if Bullet takes action and wipes out the other side, it would be useless. The Reputation that has already been lost would be more or less stained even if picked back up.
"Hmph hmph, War isn't a game for Children. We must wait for both sides to set up their Situation!"
Bullet, standing up again, his sturdy Body nearly four meters tall, truly brought considerable Pressure to Senior Director Addison, who could only subconsciously take a few steps back.
"Oh right, where's that guy Crocodile?"
Only then did he remember that Defeated Foe.
"Vice Admiral Crocodile has already returned to the Homeland to undergo Training at CIPHER POL Headquarters," Senior Director Addison said helplessly.
Bullet snorted coldly, "It's better that he's gone. What about that Mima Amatori? Did he go with him?"
"No, he didn't. Original Copy, Vice Admiral Crocodile wanted to take him back to the Homeland, but he chose to stay, citing that he didn't want to miss this opportunity to Obtain Military Merit."
"Heh heh, what a smart kid. I thought he was just another idiot who only knew how to play petty tricks!"
It seems I only managed to write two chapters today. I'll see if I can write four chapters tomorrow to catch up on updates. Sorry!