When Wei Ying arrived with the branch's two warships, what she saw was a jaw-dropping scene.
Anti-Entropy's five ships had been brutally chopped into more than a dozen pieces, which were slowly tilting and sliding into the ocean. On the largest piece, a man in red armor sat enthroned, and at his feet sat a burly, middle-aged man with an anxious expression.
In the sea beside the ship fragments, a dense crowd of Anti-Entropy soldiers bobbed up and down like dumplings in boiling water. They were either holding onto floating debris or staying afloat through their own swimming skills, but all of them stayed far away from the largest piece of wreckage, as if some great monster resided there.
The stronger ones supported the injured and the weak, and every Anti-Entropy soldier struggled to survive in the seawater.
But even though there were plenty of lifeboats floating on the water, not a single person dared to climb aboard. Even when a lifeboat was carried to them by the waves, the soldiers would only push it away in a panic, not daring to hesitate for a moment.
After witnessing the previous person who climbed onto a lifeboat being driven off by that monster in red armor, everyone realized that they were only allowed to soak in the seawater, simply because that monster forbade it.
And those few fellows who had climbed onto the lifeboats were shot at by the monster, who single-handedly held a submachine gun and emptied an entire magazine from dozens of meters away. They ended up with several new holes in their bodies before finally returning to the seawater when the lifeboat was blown up.
After seeing that scene, everyone understood the consequences of trying to leave the water.
As for resisting, no one had the courage to raise a gun to that monster after seeing those two massive sword qi attacks.
Fortunately, the monster did not stop the soldiers from helping each other, otherwise, all the injured would have been sentenced to death.
Seeing the arrival of the branch's ships, Ming Yu grabbed the middle-aged man's collar with his right hand as if he were an eagle grabbing a chick. With a light tap of his toes on the ship fragment, he leaped towards the nearer warship.
Landing lightly on the deck, Ming Yu casually threw the middle-aged man aside and his gaze fell on Wei Ying, who was wearing black armor. The Valkyrie's armor had multiple scorch marks, and even her hair was disheveled, showing the intensity of the recent battle. Even Wei Ying, the commander, looked quite battered.
Ming Yu's eyes flickered with emotion. He sighed and said in a deep voice, "You've all worked hard."
His gaze shifted to the neatly dressed Higokumaru nearby, and he relaxed slightly, giving the girl a gentle nod without saying much more.
That Wei Ying and the others had managed to protect the combat-ineffective Higokumaru so well already made him feel both satisfied and a little ashamed. As the commander, he had to be mindful of his words and actions. He couldn't show his personal feelings in front of so many people, ignoring the entire branch to care only for Higokumaru. Otherwise, it would be too disheartening for everyone.
Higokumaru, knowing Ming Yu's position, also understood this and didn't speak rashly. A barely perceptible smile touched her lips as she winked at Ming Yu, signaling that she was fine.
Wei Ying looked at the wreckage of the warships in the distance and the struggling Anti-Entropy soldiers in the sea, and she quickly waved her hands, saying, "Not at all, not at all. It was all thanks to the Captain's strength."
Having experienced the pressure of the Anti-Entropy warships' full firepower, Wei Ying clearly understood the disparity in their equipment. If not for an extraordinary existence like Ming Yu, it was likely none of the branch members would have made it back.
Even though the direct reason they were here was because of Ming Yu's mission request.
But judging by Anti-Entropy's posture, as long as the branch accepted the support mission for exploring Jiu You, a direct confrontation was inevitable. But without Ming Yu, the outcome of the battle would have been completely different.
Her gaze shifted to the middle-aged man Ming Yu had brought along, and Wei Ying asked with confusion, "And this is?"
"Oh." Ming Yu only then looked at his captive, as if just noticing his existence. "This is their commander, a Major, I believe. As for his name... you can ask him yourselves later."
Glancing at the expressionless Ming Yu, the Major felt a flicker of anger, but his face showed an understanding smile, as if it were perfectly normal for Ming Yu not to remember his name. As the loser of the war, especially after witnessing this man's power, he didn't dare show any temper.
After all, the fate of his soldiers rested entirely with the man before him.
After briefly explaining the captive's situation, Ming Yu scanned the two battle-worn warships and asked in a solemn voice, "What are our casualties?"
Hearing Ming Yu's question, Wei Ying lowered her head, her eyes turning slightly red. In a sorrowful yet calm tone, she slowly said, "Out of four hundred and six personnel, thirty-five are dead, forty-seven are heavily injured, eighty-nine are lightly injured, and two are missing."
To Ming Yu, these people were just subordinates he had known for a few hours. But to Wei Ying, many of them were sisters she had been with for years.
"I... see."
After a long silence, Ming Yu responded softly.
He had already anticipated this outcome. Although the battle lasted less than half an hour, Anti-Entropy's equipment and firepower were strong. It was impossible for the branch to have no casualties.
This was war, always accompanied by death and sacrifice. Ming Yu had long been prepared for this, and the Valkyries of the branch never lacked such resolve.
But the irony was that these Valkyries, whose mission was to fight the Honkai and protect humanity, ultimately died at the hands of their fellow humans.
The conflict between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy was far from being just ideological. When it came time to fight, both sides would not hesitate to tear a chunk of flesh from the other.
And the most direct manifestation of that was the battle that had just taken place, brief as it was.
Suddenly, the middle-aged Major's knees went weak, and he dropped to the ground, his forehead hitting the deck with a particularly crisp thud.
"I know this is an outrageous request, but please save my soldiers!"
Seeing this tall, burly man kneeling humbly before him, Ming Yu's lips were sealed, and he didn't say a word. His dark, deep eyes stared coldly at the middle-aged Major, devoid of any warmth.
One moment they were fighting to the death, wishing nothing more than to kill each other, and now that he had lost, he was begging for his enemy's life. Where in the world could one find such a good deal?
Seeing Ming Yu's silence, Wei Ying didn't dare to speak either. She just glared at the kneeling man, expressing the resentment in her heart.
Just moments ago, their cannons were firing in unison, wanting to annihilate everyone on their side, and now he was thinking of kneeling and begging for mercy. If you wanted to live so badly, what were you doing just now!
"The order to fight was mine alone. Those soldiers are innocent. They're all just young men. Please, save them!"
Seeing no one respond, the Major kowtowed again, pleading.
He could accept the outcome of a lost war, but he didn't want to watch all his soldiers die, especially now that the fighting was over.
Hearing the Major take the blame, a cold sneer appeared on Ming Yu's lips.
When an avalanche happens, not a single snowflake is innocent, let alone these soldiers armed with weapons.
"If we had lost, how many of us would you have spared?"
His eyes slightly downcast, Ming Yu asked coldly.
"This..." Hearing Ming Yu's words, the Major faltered, unable to answer.
For Anti-Entropy, only Schicksal's high-ranking personnel were valuable, but these people were usually incredibly powerful, and as ordinary troops, they lacked the ability to take them alive. As for the regular personnel, their value as prisoners was too low.
"So... why should I save you!"
Ming Yu's Honkai Energy erupted as he roared.
The violent wave of Honkai Energy instantly sent the middle-aged Major flying several meters, and even Wei Ying had to take a few steps back, unable to withstand it.
Ming Yu could not turn a blind eye to the sacrifices made by the branch's Valkyries. If he lightly chose to rescue them, how could he face the Valkyries who had died, and how could he face the living Valkyries on the ship.
"I..."
The Major was stunned, but he knew he couldn't answer. He could only crawl back before Ming Yu and kowtow forcefully, not even caring that his forehead was a mess of blood.
The only valuable thing he had was Anti-Entropy's intelligence, but that was something that went against his principles. He could never do such a thing.
Otherwise, even if those soldiers could return to Anti-Entropy, they would only end up as cannon fodder.
"Big Bro Yu!"
Seeing the stalemate, Higokumaru suddenly shouted.
Meeting Ming Yu's gaze, Higokumaru shook her head firmly and slowly.
From what Higokumaru knew of Ming Yu, she was well aware that he was not the type to be indifferent to life. Even if he chose not to save them out of anger now, he would surely fall into deep self-blame and guilt afterwards.
Looking up at the still clear blue sky, Ming Yu slowly closed his eyes, suppressed the boiling emotions in his heart, and said, word by word, "In one hundred and seventy-three minutes, begin the rescue of those people."
Ming Yu didn't want to save those people, but he couldn't bring himself to watch them die. Although he ultimately chose to compromise, he was unwilling to let it go easily. At the very least, he wanted these people from Anti-Entropy to remember the pain they had caused.
"Notify the personnel remaining at the branch to send a transport ship to collect the prisoners."
"After we regroup, the mission continues!"
After giving his orders, Ming Yu didn't spare the middle-aged Major another glance and walked straight towards the ship's cabin.
"Yes!" Hearing Ming Yu's order, Wei Ying was slightly taken aback, but she still chose to carry it out. Even she couldn't turn a blind eye to so many lives, even if they were once enemies.
With a cold glance at the Major who was still kneeling on the ground and thanking him profusely, a trace of disgust flashed in Higokumaru's eyes. Although she had persuaded Ming Yu to let go of his anger and hatred, it didn't mean she would forgive what these people had done.
With a cold snort, Higokumaru turned and followed Ming Yu.