RNP Chapter 4750 X Royal Newcomer (29)
Chapter 4750 X Royal Newcomer (29)
Chapter 4750 X Royal Family: New Life (Twenty-Nine)
The mutants didn't care at all about being classified as chimpanzees. They'd been bullied to the point of despair, subjected to every imaginable insult imaginable, not just "gorilla." But now, simply acknowledging their chimpanzee identity would allow them to drag those who insulted them down with them, turning them into a bunch of powerless, raging beasts—a rather satisfying prospect.
If mutants are gorillas, then everyone who argues with them is a fool throwing shit at gorillas. If you can disregard international opinion and fight a bunch of rare wild animals for three hundred rounds, then mutants will certainly accept the challenge and see who can throw shit better.
In this situation, Europe was disgusted and at a loss. After all, they considered themselves old-world aristocrats and viewed the United States as unruly savages. If they were to actually fight these gorillas, they would lose all face and dignity, so they had no choice but to give up.
Thus, with internal strife raging in the United States and Europe hesitant to intervene, the entire Western world was essentially crippled. However, receiving substantial aid from China and Wakanda, Clarkia didn't recover overnight; instead, it seemed to have received a shot of super-soldier serum, springing back to life in an instant.
Ship after ship of supplies were delivered. Eventually, ordinary porters could no longer meet the mutants' needs, and even mutants like Magneto couldn't keep up with the loads, so Stark's army of Jaegers had to be deployed.
To store supplies, you need warehouses. In addition to the caves beneath the volcano, the entire island of Krakia has a very complex cave system beneath it, which can be easily modified to serve as underground warehouses. There are also many fresh animals that Namo can store directly in the deep sea, which is both convenient and keeps them warm.
Immediately following was a massive construction boom. First, they built a port that served both military and trade purposes, and then they began building ships at breakneck speed. Mutants didn't need warships as much; they needed merchant ships for trade much more. Fortunately, building merchant ships was relatively simple; basically, all they needed was a hull that could move.
For ordinary people, a large cargo ship is just a cargo ship; no one would use it as a warship. This is because it's too slow and offers no defense whatsoever. It's helpless against pirates in small boats, with the crew forced to hide in the escape pods and watch as they plunder the cargo. Clearly, this ship is only suitable for commercial use.
Therefore, the large-scale construction of heavy cargo ships on Clarkia Island did not attract much attention from many countries. They assumed that mutants were simply trying to haul more cargo and profit from other countries while humanitarian aid was still in effect. However, they overlooked a serious problem: mutants themselves are weapons.
Speed doesn't matter; they can tow it. Lack of defense is irrelevant; they can use magnetic shields. No weapons are a problem either; they can just board. Who can withstand a single hit from those Alpha-class mutants?
In other words, these hastily built cargo ships were actually warships for Clarkia Island. Other countries reacted only slightly slower, and Clarkia Island was already fully armed. Not only were there smaller cruisers, but an aircraft carrier had also been built.
For an ordinary country to build an aircraft carrier is incredibly difficult. First, they need to develop the engines and consider the range; second, they need to design the flight deck and have the technology to launch aircraft; third, the carrier battle group needs escort ships, otherwise, the carrier alone is a sitting duck. In short, aircraft carrier battle groups are something only large countries can afford; small countries can only dream of it.
However, the Krakya carrier strike group is much simpler. First, build a super freighter, the kind of giant ocean-going freighter with a deck area equivalent to several football fields; then build a few smaller freighters, nothing else is needed, just enough to get them running.
Next, Polaris was assigned as the carrier's engine, propelling it at a whooshing speed of 60 knots across the sea; then Pyro was assigned as the main gun, firing wherever it was needed; followed by Shockwave, Sunspot, and other mutants as fighter jets, no need for catapults, they could just fly. A perfect aircraft carrier was thus completed, purely human-powered, consuming the energy of two hamburgers to circle the Earth.
This thing can also haul goods. After you've finished shopping somewhere, you don't need any other boats to pick you up; it can just haul everything away itself. Its practicality is off the charts.
Even better, there's absolutely no maintenance required. These ships are basically just a bunch of metal hulls glued together, and the engine inside is basically just for show; the mutants pedal it. They basically break even after just one cargo trip, and there's no need for maintenance. If something goes wrong, Magneto can just melt it down.
If the ships that travel on the seas today are like high-speed trains, or at least regular trains, then mutants are like donkey carts. The most technologically advanced part is the two donkeys in front, not the wooden carriage in the back. But mutants are like nuclear-powered donkeys, pulling fast and kicking people, roaming the oceans with impunity.
After a few trips, the mutants tasted success. When passing through pirate-infested areas, many merchant ships belonging to ordinary people asked them for help, requesting that they be given a ride. They also rescued some cargo ships that had been invaded by pirates, and the pirates were not only grateful but also gave them food and other gifts as thanks.
On one occasion, three cargo ships were blocked in a strait, unable to pass through no matter what. This wasn't entirely due to piracy; the intense local conflict also played a role. The owner was frantic. Just then, a mutant happened to pass by. The owner gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and gave the mutant a sum of money, saying he'd do anything if the mutant could bring the ships out.
This is child's play for mutants. What regional conflict would dare provoke them? Even if the other side is incredibly audacious, they can't possibly lose. And even if they really can't win, they can always use Atlantis. Who dares to mess with the sea creatures in the ocean? One water arrow and they'll be obedient.
So they led the fleet across the strait with ease. This made the other ships stuck in the strait very envious, and the owners of those ships were making a killing. In just a few days, the mutants made millions of dollars; it was really easy money.
Actually, the most important thing on a cargo ship isn't the cargo, but the crew. Reputable companies have contracts in place, and if the ship sinks, the death compensation for the employees would be a huge expense, far more valuable than the cargo. Moreover, if someone dies, the company itself could be sued, and if the lawsuit isn't won, someone could go to jail.
Therefore, most large cargo ships have shelters. The training employees receive is also that if they encounter pirates, they should never engage them in combat, but simply run into the shelter. The pirates can take whatever they want, as long as no one gets hurt, otherwise it will be troublesome.
Based on this principle, many business owners have stated that as long as the mutants can bring the people out, all the goods will be given to them. At most, it's just a wasted trip, and large international trading companies can afford this loss. Moreover, settling debts with goods is quite cost-effective.
At first, the mutants accepted everything without question because they were indeed short of all kinds of supplies. However, later, when supplies became more plentiful, they started to be selective in what they bought, and then charged a small fee as a token gesture.
The reason for not charging more is also to gain a good reputation. This move has indeed enhanced the international prestige of mutants, and many sailors even regard them as guardians of the sea. Regardless of whether it costs money or not, the company's money is the company's, but the lives saved are their own; most people understand this.
Especially mutants like Storm, whose every move is earth-shattering, like a sea god descending. Not to mention Namor, the true sea god, whose few appearances have earned him many followers, even making him famous among Atlantis's sailors.
The mutants rampage through the ocean, which naturally displeases some people, especially the US aircraft carrier fleet, since they were the ones who used to run rampant in the ocean.
In fact, the United States has almost always had unlimited maritime power. Except for the inland waters of a very few countries, and not even all of them, but the more peripheral ones, the US fleets can come and go freely, and no one can do anything about them.
However, the emergence of the mutant fleet completely overturned this situation. Because they were truly free to go wherever they wanted; with their magnetic field shield activated, their location was impossible to detect on any radar. They could reach not only the edge of the inland sea, but also its core areas, and even the bays within the inland sea—they were a true ghost ship fleet.
And that's how they ended up colliding with a US aircraft carrier fleet in the Pacific Ocean. Of course, it wasn't a direct collision, but being several nautical miles apart was practically the same. Luckily, the mutants braked quickly, otherwise they would have been right in front of the US aircraft carrier.
The instant they appeared on radar, the entire US carrier strike group nearly had a heart attack. What's the difference between that and encountering a ghost in broad daylight?
But since they'd already bumped into each other and were at engagement range, they had no choice but to fight. They immediately prepared to eject the plane, but precisely because they were so close, the mutant swung his large arm around their neck.
First, a magnetic storm destroyed the radar, blinding the enemy; then, Storm summoned a typhoon on the spot, creating weather conditions that prevented aircraft from taking off; then Namor caused waves, preventing ships from leaving safely and completely trapping the formation.
Of course, they also knew their limits and didn't actually open fire. They just trapped the other side and then began to use the emperor to command the other countries, contacting the United States to prepare to negotiate terms.
In reality, thanks to the local Iron Man's actions, the sanctions have become virtually ineffective. Although not completely lifted, they are practically non-existent, and trade has returned to normal. However, the United States' continued refusal to recognize normal diplomatic relations with Clarkia has created considerable unspoken pressure, hindering progress in many areas.
Logically speaking, it's not necessary to engage in diplomacy with them, but the mutants just can't swallow this insult. They won't be satisfied until they slap the culprit behind these sanctions.
Because most mutants believe that the volcanic eruption was orchestrated by American agents, and they feel that if they don't get something out of them, their suffering will have been in vain.
After touring the ocean for so many days, we finally caught them red-handed and must extort them to make them pay back their pants.
Unfortunately, the US is truly left with no choice but to negotiate. The carrier strike group is already under control, they have no power to retaliate, and the mutants are enraged and could very well sink them. Once the carrier strike group is completely destroyed, America's maritime hegemony will be utterly over.
All hegemony is the hegemony of public opinion, and vice versa; the hegemony of public opinion is all hegemony. The hegemony of public opinion that has already been established has great inertia. No matter how much actual strength has declined, as long as the image of invincibility is maintained, hegemony can still be preserved.
Once the undefeated image is shattered and the hegemony of public opinion cannot be maintained, then all other forms of hegemony will be affected, or even completely crushed. Therefore, victories and draws in confrontations are acceptable, and even slight losses can be smoothed over through propaganda. However, a crushing defeat that cannot be corrected by public opinion is absolutely unacceptable.