Azur Lane: Traveling through time and becoming a Siren!

Chapter 974 Marco Polo's Failure or "Success"

......

It was only then that Marco Polo realized that his most trusted friend had betrayed him.

She still finds it unbelievable.

"This was something that could only be accomplished through long-planned and meticulous preparation..."

"You've been planning this all along?!"

Clemenceau sighed, "It's only now that we've realized it..."

"As expected, you're not suited for this kind of thing, Marco Polo."

Clemenceau's admission puzzled Marco Polo greatly.

This also caused Marco Polo great distress.

"Lord Clemenceau, I never imagined that even you... would betray me."

"Clearly, we share the same dream...the same ambition."

"Aren't we...friends...?"

Clemenceau sighed again on the other end of the communication.

“I completely understand your dream and I sincerely thank you for your help with my plans.”

"Our friendship is genuine... Even now, I still consider you my friend."

"Therefore, as a friend, I have an obligation to stop you from going down the wrong path."

"Only in this way can we preserve the future of the Sardinian Empire, and your life..."

With his Daoist heart shattered, Marco Polo's mind was now in complete chaos.

Only my friend's incomprehension and one question remain clear.

"Why, why do you do this?"

Clemenceau said, "That's why I said you're not the kind of person who would do that..."

"Your actions have betrayed the country and the people."

"Therefore, all responsibility for this incident will be borne by Marco Polo alone, who acted arbitrarily and recklessly."

"The international standing of the Sardinian Empire will not be affected by your actions."

"On the contrary, their positive response in resolving this incident might even lead to an increase in their popularity."

"It's a pretty good step as a revival, isn't it?"

Marco Polo sneered, his heart gradually filling with despair.

"Ha...in the end...you're just like all ordinary mortals..."

Clemenceau continued, "As a friend, I assure you that I will clean up the mess you've caused."

"I will not allow the 'god' behind you, the one who has already influenced your mind and turned you into a pawn, to descend into the world."

"It will not let Him destroy everything you truly cherish in your heart."

"And we certainly won't let you become a sinner for all time because of something irreversible..."

But by this time, Marco Polo was no longer able to listen to Clemenceau's words.

"It's meaningless...it's meaningless now..."

"Why...did this happen...?"

"Clearly... just one step away..."

"My ideal..."

"My World..."

Muttering to himself, Marco Polo gave up resisting and let himself and the shattered throne fall into the water.

Immediately, the whole world fell silent.

......

Under the deep water.

A few memories seemed to flash before Marco Polo's eyes.

"Frederick the Great, answer me."

"Since the situation is already so precarious, why add fuel to the fire and let the various factions fight each other endlessly?"

"If we don't unite, we will die."

Marco Polo recalled the time when she asked him that question.

Frederick the Great's disdain for her.

She recalled how she used to think Frederick the Great was "arrogant".

Does that really make sense?

However, Marco Polo now feels like a clown.

"I will make the world marvel at my great achievements! And cheer for me!"

But now, it's impossible...

......

With the fall of Marco Polo's throne, the world changed dramatically in an instant.

Under the purple light curtain, every face within sight was filled with shock and unease.

Clearly, Marco Polo's sudden defeat did not signify the end of the story.

In the darkness, something even greater is brewing.

Clemenceau took the initiative to contact Xiaomeng.

It informed Marco Polo of his final act.

As the ship girls grew suspicious, Clemenceau offered a smooth and effortless explanation.

Only then did everyone realize that Clemenceau had been acting all along.

Relocating the fleet is to protect everyone in the venue, so that Marco Polo won't give an order that causes internal fighting to break out first.

The dispatch of the Tribunal's fleet was also a ruse; the attacks by those outdated models had little effect on the fleet at the venue.

It also allowed Marco Polo to trust Clemenceau.

Clemenceau then explained the mech.

Many people saw the mecha; after all, it was not something to be underestimated.

It can fly and has powerful firepower; if it becomes the enemy of everyone at the event, it will be quite difficult to deal with.

The sky has become a graveyard for carrier-based aircraft, and the difficulty of dealing with it will only increase exponentially.

To everyone's relief, Clemenceau had absolute control over the mech.

And afterwards, the mechs will become a great help to everyone at the event.

but.

Veneto still found it somewhat hard to accept.

The appearance of Clemenceau was indeed unexpected by everyone.

Veneto accused Clemenceau of knowing the plan but allowing things to develop to this point.

It was also pointed out that the casualties outside were already astronomical.

Indeed, even the ship girls at the venue were overwhelmed.

How long can humanity resist the white substance covering the continent of Europe?

The army has been annihilated, and only the navy is barely clinging to life overseas.

The pursuit of humanity by the mechs and the white substance has not stopped.

Clemenceau explained helplessly why she had waited until now.

Marco Polo, possessing immense power, was capable of doing things that were far too exaggerated.

If Marco Polo had been careful to guard against Clemenceau, the incident of the throne being knocked down would never have happened.

Everything was just a necessary sacrifice.

Xiao Meng also took the opportunity to ask about Toulon Port.

Intelligence indicates that the fleet at Toulon is still engaged in a fierce battle.

The Royal Fleet sent to provide support was delayed due to being blocked and was unable to arrive in time.

Xiao Meng then asked if she had any way to help.

Fortunately, everything was going according to Clemenceau's plan.

Including Jean Bart's reaction.

Clemenceau had already made ample preparations on his home soil.

After calculating the time, Clemenceau told Xiaomeng that the battle at Toulon Port should have ended by now.

Afterwards, to avoid being asked more miscellaneous questions, Clemenceau made up an excuse and hung up the call.

Shortly after Clemenceau hung up the communication.

Richelieu then sent a new round of communications.

Richelieu led the main fleet of the Free Iris to Toulon.

And they saved the fleet there.

The situation is now under control, and Toulon Port and the Iris Fleet are all safe.

Richelieu was a little happy when he gave his report.

Recalling what just happened.

Jean Bart's true self revealed during the arduous struggle.

And the footage of Jean Bart confirming that it was indeed Richelieu who came to provide support.

"Why can't you just call me 'older sister' obediently?"

"Didn't you just say it quite smoothly?"

"I really like it, call out to me a few more times."

"Come on, repeat after me, Richelieu sister—"

"Then I'll forgive your offense."

Richelieu can then use this incident to better strengthen her sisterly bond with Jean Bart.

Moreover, after that, Jean Bart genuinely began to call her "sister."

......

After that, they were unable to get an answer from Clemenceau.

Richelieu provided a full answer.

Why would Richelieu, who was originally in Saint Helena, travel such a long distance to appear here?

After that, Xiaomeng heard something that sounded very familiar to her.

Doorway Network!

After Richelieu took over the Tribunal fortress in Saint Helena, he found a secret laboratory there.

Inside is the network of doors being studied.

The name Doorway Network was given to it by the court.

This thing was originally a siren mobile facility built from a semi-permanent micro-layered mixture left by the builder.

It can be viewed as a "highway network".

It's also gender-neutral, so even ship girls can use it.

Of course, this information was obtained with the help of research materials from the court.

During this time, Richelieu and the others were researching how to use this thing.

She then received news that a fierce battle was taking place in Toulon and that a major upheaval had occurred on the European continent.

So Richelieu rushed to support Jeanbart.

......

The emergence of Doorway Network surprised and delighted Xiaomeng.

Xiao Meng had experienced it firsthand at the β test site, and the commander's explanation at the time was exactly the same as Richelieu's.

Xiao Meng then wanted to come back and ask about the Gate Network.

But she was so busy with other things that she forgot about it for a while.

Richelieu's explanation brought back Xiaomeng's memories.

Xiaomeng knew how convenient this thing was.

But we cannot show our desire now; how can we covet our allies' possessions during wartime?

I need to write it down first, then I can reach out to them later.

All I can say is, he truly lives up to his reputation as the commander of the White Eagles.

True White Eagle style.

After temporarily suppressing their desire for the door network.

Xiao Meng pondered.

Since Richelieu was able to take over the Inquisition fortress in Saint Helena intact, it means...

Richelieu and Clemenceau, the de facto ruler of the inquisition, had already secretly joined forces...

Xiao Meng raised questions about this.

And he received a reply from Richelieu without reservation.

Richelieu was indeed aware of Clemenceau's plans.

Richelieu claimed that both the Vichy Church and the Free Iris were part of the Iris Theocracy.

Faced with the crisis in Europe, and even a crisis that threatens the whole world, we will naturally choose to work together.

Richelieu's words silenced Veneto and the royal family's glory.

This completely whitewashed Clemenceau.

Clemenceau had been planning this for a long time, and now, with the frank statement from his ally Richelieu, they could no longer criticize Clemenceau's actions.

Therefore, the people from Beilian stepped forward and gave them a way out.

We should now seize this favorable shift in the battle situation.

Instead of wasting time on unfounded suspicions and letting the situation worsen.

Veneto and Illustrious had no choice but to agree to what the Northern Alliance ship girl said.

Finally, Xiaomeng asked Richelieu what his plans were.

Richelieu's side had no plans because they were busy fighting enemy reinforcements.

However, Richelieu had already entrusted the situation at the venue to Clemenceau.

Xiaomeng believed that Clemenceau must have a good plan.

Therefore, they had to reply to Clemenceau.

......

Before Clemenceau launched his surprise attack on Marco Polo, a strike fleet consisting of Sakura Empire and Iris Liberty had already set sail.

Therefore, after the anomaly occurred, this fleet became the armed force closest to the center of the anomaly.

After their original target, Marco Polo, disappeared, the fleet decided to switch to reconnaissance missions in order to quickly ascertain the current situation.

The ship girls quickly approached the location where Marco Polo's throne had fallen.

The closer you get, the darker and deeper the surrounding darkness becomes.

The few remaining rays of light also vanished completely around there.

Shimakaze from the Sakura Empire picked up a huge searchlight and shone it in all directions.

However, the bright light from the searchlights could only illuminate the water surface around them, but could not penetrate the darkness that was right next to them.

Shimakaze was greatly shocked by this.

"Whoa?! It absorbed all the light?!"

"It's like a black hole!"

Although the light could not pierce the darkness, it allowed everyone to roughly see its outline.

An arc-shaped hemisphere protrudes above the water, while more is surely hidden beneath.

The ship girls discussed the matter.

It is believed that this black sphere, the cloud that becomes the enemy, and the white mycelium on land all share similar principles.

Different "cocoons" will generate different enemies.

The enemy is born from these "cocoons".

They judged that the thing inside the black ball had not yet fully hatched.

Therefore, the ship girls attempted a probing attack on the black sphere.

The Sakura Empire's White Dragon launched the first attack.

The bombs dropped by her carrier-based aircraft successfully triggered a series of explosions on the surface of the "cocoon".

Then, a black shock emanated from the inside of the cocoon.

It devoured the flames, and also the Shinano group who hadn't had time to escape.

......

???

In an unknown area.

A person sat in front of an incredibly luxurious desk, looking utterly dejected.

That was Marco Polo.

"Failed..."

"Failed, failed, failed, failed, failed..."

"I actually...failed..."

"Heh... what's with this Sardinian Empire...?"

"There are so many versions of a revival, you could never even dream of the same thing..."

"Plus, their despair-inducing drive..."

"...Ha, I'm out of options...I'm truly at my wit's end..."

Marco Polo simply slumped back in his chair, disregarding his image, and casually picked up a small ornament from the table.

Was this antique cross on this table yesterday?

Marco Polo stared intently at the cross.

At that moment, the cross in her hand seemed to be the most important thing in the world for her to focus on.

"Ok?"

"and many more!!"

"Could it be...? A divine revelation has occurred?!"

Marco Polo was overjoyed.

"The army of the gods... routed the Sirens?!"

"Aha... Ahahaha... Ahahahahahahaha————!"

"So... the gods are actually the enemies of the Sirens!"

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

......