After Reapers confirmed that no unidentified flight was sneaking up into Davy Jones, Vex immediately breathed a sigh of relief before exiting the Operations Control Room for some fresh air. He was about to sit in the Main Building's lobby when one of his bodyguards came over with an eight-year-old girl.

The little girl bowed elegantly before introducing herself, "Ser Vex, my name is Erlin Issel."

Vex looked at the little girl in front of him dumbfounded. Shiny straight black hair, clear eyes, and a very sweet face.

If Vex didn't know that she was a member of the noble family, he would have already pinched her cheek gently.

However, Vex realized he could not act normally in front of members of the noble family, even though they were still children. He immediately stood up before bowing slightly.

"Lady Erlin, where is your sister? I mean Lady Erien."

"Big Sis is at the Guest House, Erlin snuck out of there this morning before sunrise and went over here to meet with Ser Vex."

In an instant, Vex looked at Erlin with a complicated expression, considering that the distance from the Guest House to the main building was 5 km. A distance that was not easy for a child of Erlin's age.

"How did Lady Erlin know I was here?"

"Last night, Erlin asked Uncle who was on duty at the Guest House, and he told Erlin that Ser Vex is here most of the time."

Erlin then took out a tattered piece of paper from his shirt pocket before continuing.

"The uncle also drew maps and directions from the Guest House to this place, and after arriving here Erlin then met this Uncle who accompanied Erlin to wait here."

Vex nodded slightly before signaling to his bodyguard that he could return to his place, then motioned for Erlin to sit down before asking, "Is there anything I can do for Lady Erlin?"

Erlin firmly nodded, then thrust a hairpin in front of Vex. The hairpin was made of gold, in the form of a small stalk, in which ten blue gems form two rows as if it's Nouel's grains.

At a glance, Vex could see that the hairpin was not a random item, but he realized that the children of noble families were far different from normal children. Since childhood, they have been educated with a way of thinking like adults. So Vex also realized Erlin wasn't acting aimlessly.

"Ser Vex, this hairpin is a memento from Erlin's mother before she died, and Erlin wants to use it as a token of sincerity as Erlin wants to be friends with Ser Vex.

Right now Sandhur Region is on the verge of collapse. Therefore Erlin wants to befriend Ser Vex so that Sandhur Region can be saved."

Erlin might still be a child, but Vex could clearly feel the sadness and sincerity in her words and gaze. Vex also believed that Erlin would definitely cry if he refused the hairpin, even though it was for her own good. So Vex received the hairpin which was the only memento that Erlin received from her mother.

"Lady Erlin, from now on you are my friend, and your enemy is my enemy."

The same promise that Vex made when he formed a gang with his friends in grade 2, was said firmly without the slightest hesitation.

But the promise that to adults sounded very childish, to Erlin sounded like the most beautiful poetry. Erlin nodded her little head three times before smiling cheerfully.

"Lady Erlin, starting from now on please call me Lucan and I will call you Little Erlin."

"Mhm."

Erlin once again nodded, and Vex immediately carried her. Since they were now friends, Vex felt there was nothing wrong if he treated Erlin as a normal child.

One thing that was on Vex's mind was, he had to get food as soon as possible. Erlin left the Guest House before sunrise, so it wasn't hard to conclude that the child hadn't had breakfast.

- - - - -

With moderate speed, a landing ship equipped with a white flag moved closer to the gap flanked by two cliffs. Apart from the 20 oarsmen, there were only four passengers on the landing ship. The four passengers were Admiral Errez and his three bodyguards.

In the air raids on foreigner strongholds, Buriek Navy was assigned to provide logistical support and the operations were led directly by Admiral Errez. Therefore, when Admiral Errez received orders for initial talks with the foreigner's leader, it didn't take long before he arrived at the entrance to the foreigner's port.

In addition to stalling for time by using the initial talks, Admiral Errez was also asked to assess the foreigner military capacity and potential. Meanwhile, Buriek Navy would prepare some landings for elite personnel. They would infiltrate the rear lines of foreigner's strongholds and conduct interference operations.

If the battle with the foreigner was decided to continue, then the landing operation would be launched immediately after sunset, in small units and spread over the coastline to avoid enemy detection.

Therefore, Admiral Errez had less than half a day to obtain the intel needed by Grand Commander Keraz to make a judgment, whether the war with the foreigner would continue or the actual peace talks should begin immediately.

"May the gods who live in heaven side with Kingdom Buriek," muttered Admiral Errez just before the landing boat entered the foreigner port.

- - - - -

As soon as Operation Crystal was launched, Captain Kasino immediately evacuated the vital assets that were not needed in the mission to ambush Buriek Riders to Davy Jones.

As for buildings and other constructions, Captain Kasino didn't bother with them. Almost all buildings at Bluefin Naval Station were semi-permanent which were made manually by Frogman Platoon personnel. Even for sleeping, Frogman Platoon personnel did not use a bed, but a simple hammock.

So, if Buriek Riders wanted to burn the entire Bluefin Naval Station to the ground, Captain Kasino and Frogman Platoon personnel would actually cheer them on. As more ammo was spent on destroying Bluefin Naval Station, equal to less ammo could be used for more important targets.

After they finished moving vital assets, Captain Kasino and Frogman Platoon personnel then dug dozens of defensive holes along the cliffs near Bluefin Naval Station. Inside the defensive hole they placed M1151 Rippers which were covered in a camouflage net.

The Frogman Platoon's mission was to ambush Buriek Riders who were returning to reload ammunition. Of course, the ambush could only be done once, and once their positions were known, the Frogman Platoon personnel must immediately leave and join the Point Defense elements.

However, Captain Casino and Frogman Platoon personnel's hopes to shoot down some Riders were evaporated to thin air, for at the last second Buriek Riders turned back for unknown reasons.

Not long after that, a wooden boat with several oars on each side entered Bluefin Naval Station. After the four passengers stepped out, the wooden boat then returned to the open sea.

Without delay, Captain Kasino reported to the operations control center.

"Froggie 0-0, Charlie Chip, come in."

[Charlie Chip, Froggie 0-0, go ahead.]

"Four people have just entered Bluefin, one in flashy attire and the other three in armor, we need your wisdom."

A minute passed before Captain Kasino got an answer.

[Receive them respectfully, and escort them to Davy Jones.]

"Understood, Froggie 0-0, out."

Without delay Captain Casino then started the M1151 engine.

*****