Just then, a lookout on deck suddenly shouted a warning, "Captain, a speedboat is rapidly approaching!"
Nelson tensed up immediately. "All combat personnel, on alert! Prepare for battle!"
A single speedboat was no real threat to the River Bird Fleet, even with its ships full of sick crew members.
But there was no telling if more ships were following in its wake.
RRRING~
Nelson’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was a video call from Hansen.
He answered, and Hansen’s voice came through immediately. "Captain, it’s me! I’ve come to escort you!"
Nelson paused, stunned. "That speedboat up ahead—that’s you?"
The two vessels were still some distance apart. The lookout could only vaguely make out an approaching speedboat, but couldn’t discern any details. That’s why he hadn’t recognized it as one of their own.
"Yes!" Hansen nodded, then flipped his camera to show the River Bird Fleet behind him.
Nelson breathed a sigh of relief. "You could have said something sooner! I thought we’d run into another fleet."
"I requested permission from Captain Wang at the Aircraft Carrier Base to come meet you today. He not only agreed but also had me bring some medicinal soup. I got so excited I forgot to report back to you!" Hansen quickly explained.
At these words, Nelson’s eyes lit up. "The medicinal soup you mentioned... is that the special medicine for this unknown virus they’ve been talking about on the regional channel?"
"That’s the one. I was infected too, but I recovered after just one dose. The effect is incredibly clear!" Hansen nodded.
"That’s wonderful! Some of the infected on board are on their last legs!" Nelson exclaimed, overjoyed.
The two vessels soon rendezvoused. Seeing Hansen, who had grown a bit gaunt, Nelson sighed. "You’ve been through a lot."
"You’ve all had it much worse," Hansen said with feeling.
Nelson and his crew had all lost a noticeable amount of weight, a clear sign that the River Bird Fleet’s food supplies were running low.
In truth, things were similar at the Aircraft Carrier Base. For the past few days, Hansen and the others had been on reduced rations. The food wasn’t plentiful, but it was just enough to stave off hunger.
Nelson shook his head. "We’ll talk later. Get the medicinal soup out now. We need to save our people."
Hansen nodded and immediately signaled for the others to start unloading the medicinal soup from the speedboat.
"I only brought two hundred doses this time," Hansen continued. "Prioritize the most critical patients. Once we reach the Aircraft Carrier Base, we can request more from Captain Wang."
Nelson paused, slightly taken aback. "Are you saying the Aircraft Carrier Base has a large supply of this soup?"
"Not a huge amount, but it should be enough," Hansen replied. "The Aircraft Carrier Base produces a new batch every day, which means they have a steady, ongoing supply!"
"I see," Nelson nodded, then fell into deep thought.
The doctors aboard the River Bird Fleet had already heard about a special medicinal soup from the Aircraft Carrier Base, but now that they were seeing it in person, they remained skeptical.
"A single bowl of this murky, black liquid can really handle this virus?"
"We’ll know once we try it. Let’s just hope this medicine isn’t a fraud."
"It has to be real. The Aircraft Carrier Base developed the Evolution Potion, after all. That proves how advanced their technology is!"
Within just one hour of drinking the medicinal soup, the symptoms of the most seriously ill patients began to subside.
All the medical staff stared, wide-eyed.
"It’s incredible! That mysterious eastern superpower is truly something else."
"It looks like the captain was right to have the whole fleet come here."
"Yeah. No matter how much this medicine costs, at least now we have a hope of survival."
They immediately reported the condition of the critical patients to Nelson. Nelson nodded. "Good. Tell everyone we’re about to reach the Aircraft Carrier Base. Once we’re there, I’ll purchase more of this special medicine to treat you all."
"Yes, Captain!"
Soon, the River Bird Fleet reached a point five kilometers from the Aircraft Carrier Base. But their ships had run out of fuel, and they came to a dead stop.
Nelson sent an embarrassed message to Wang Jun.
"Captain Wang, our fleet has run out of fuel. We’re currently stranded about five kilometers from your position. Would it be possible for you to help tow us in?"
Seeing Nelson’s message, Wang Jun chuckled. "And here I thought you’d stopped on purpose!"
Intelligence on the River Bird Fleet’s approach had been on his desk for some time. Ever since fuel had ceased to be a concern, the Aircraft Carrier Base had deployed numerous speedboats to patrol the surrounding waters.
The River Bird Fleet had been sharing its location ever since receiving the medicine from the base. Their thinking had been to make it easier for the Aircraft Carrier Base to lend a hand and pull them in if needed.
"Alas, we were just too far away. We squeezed the last drop of fuel from our tanks just to make it this far," Nelson replied, shaking his head in resignation.
"I understand. Wait there, I’ll arrange for a vessel to come assist you right away," Wang Jun replied with a smile.
After all, the River Bird Fleet was carrying the seeds Ren Yuanyang needed. Wang Jun dared not neglect them.
Soon, a supply ship departed from the Aircraft Carrier Base and approached the River Bird Fleet.
"By order of the Captain, we are here to provide you with fuel! Please open your refueling ports!" a soldier shouted from the deck, speaking in their foreign tongue.
Hearing the soldier’s call, Nelson was stunned. He had expected Wang Jun to send a tugboat to tow them to the Aircraft Carrier Base.
That would have made the River Bird Fleet meat on the chopping block, completely at the mercy of the Aircraft Carrier Base.
’But Wang Jun had sent a supply ship to refuel them instead?’
’Wasn’t he worried they’d just refuel and run for it?’
’Or did the Aircraft Carrier Base have so much fuel they couldn’t even use it all?’
Though his mind was reeling with questions, Nelson still called back a confirmation and ordered all ships to open their refueling ports.
Once the supply ship’s fuel lines were connected, the refueling began immediately.
The aide at Nelson’s side was equally stunned. "They... the Aircraft Carrier Base is actually giving us fuel?"
"They’re flexing on us," Nelson replied in a low voice.
The aide nodded. "I see. So, what’s our next move?"
"Surrender," Nelson uttered a single word.
The aide wasn’t surprised in the least. "It’s the best option we have right now."
Soon, all the ships of the River Bird Fleet were refueled. They started their engines and resumed their course toward the Aircraft Carrier Base.
Upon entering the Aircraft Carrier Base, they found Wang Jun already waiting for them on the deck of another vessel.
As their ship drew near and came to a stop, Wang Jun smiled and extended a hand. "Welcome to the River Bird Fleet!"
Nelson quickly shook Wang Jun’s hand. "Captain Wang, you’re too kind!"
"Come, let’s talk somewhere more comfortable." Wang Jun led Nelson to his office.
"Please, have a seat." Wang Jun sat on a sofa, gesturing for Nelson and his aide to make themselves comfortable.
Nelson, however, remained standing. "Captain Wang," he began, "we came to deliver the seeds, but there is another reason. The River Bird Fleet wishes to pledge its allegiance to the Aircraft Carrier Base. I hope you will accept us."
Wang Jun smiled broadly. "Captain Nelson, there’s no need to be so formal. We’re already friends. We can support each other through these flooded times."
Nelson gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "You can probably guess the state of our fleet without me spelling it out. Forget the food and water shortages—this unknown virus alone has nearly wiped us out. Pledging ourselves to you is our only chance of survival."
"Is this your decision alone? Or does it represent the will of the entire fleet?" Wang Jun asked, still smiling.
"I speak for the entire River Bird Fleet," Nelson said gravely. "And if anyone objects, you won’t have to lift a finger. We’ll deal with it ourselves."
Wang Jun nodded slightly, then rose to his feet and extended his hand once more. "Welcome aboard, River Bird Fleet."
Nelson was completely stunned. ’He hadn’t expected Wang Jun to accept their allegiance so easily.’
’He had prepared so many arguments, and anticipated all sorts of reasons for refusal... but none of them were needed!’
Hansen, standing to the side, was just as shocked and excited. "Captain Wang, you’re truly taking in our fleet?"
"Why not? Should I have refused?" Wang Jun retorted with a smile.
Nelson quickly waved his hands. "No, no, that’s not it. We’re just surprised. Taking on so many of us will put immense pressure on your food and water supplies, and it doesn’t seem like the Aircraft Carrier Base is short on people. It’s just... a bit confusing. You’re not planning to use us for human experiments, are you?"

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