"Every decision you make, every deployment you order, could affect the lives and deaths of billions of officers and crew, and the safety of countless planets."
He paused slightly, a hint of warning in his gaze.
"I hope you conduct yourself accordingly."
Hearing this, Raphael let out a sneer, his laughter filled with disdain and mockery.
Seeing this, Strauss said no more. He turned and walked toward the office door.
His back was straight and resolute, without a trace of lingering regret.
Bradley followed closely behind, his actions making his stance clear. No matter what situation Strauss found himself in, he would follow him all the way.
Raphael watched as the heavy office door slowly closed. His face remained expressionless, and his heart remained undisturbed. It was as if the two people who had just left were nothing more than insignificant specks of dust.
He slowly turned around and walked toward the holographic star chart standing to the side.
The star chart glowed with a pale blue halo, clearly outlining the layout of the entire Opal Star Sector and the surrounding star systems.
He raised his hand, his fingertips gliding lightly across the surface of the chart.
Raphael looked down, a cold curve forming at the corner of his mouth as he murmured to himself.
"I will not repeat the mistakes Strauss made."
He paused, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.
He locked onto the direction of the Ten Stone Starfield on the star chart, his tone filled with obsession and resolve.
"Leaving reserves on the battlefield is a desecration of victory and an act of irresponsibility toward the soldiers under one's command. If it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to hand over the entire Savis Star System, as long as it secured the final victory."
As he spoke, his finger pressed heavily onto the location of the Savis Star System on the star chart.
"When the Ares and Erebus Fleets broke the deadlock, the four Sequence Fleets of the Savis Star System should have been mobilized immediately to strike the heart of the Ten Stone Starfield with the force of a thunderbolt. By then, even if the Federation realized what was happening and tried to send reinforcements, it would have been too late! Unfortunately, Strauss lacked such boldness. Only those who fear loss end up with nothing!"
Shortly after, at the anchorage of the Apollo Fleet in the Savis Star System.
Inside the bridge of the flagship Helios, the atmosphere was starkly different from the oppressive silence of the Opal Star Sector Command.
The air was vibrant; indicator lights on the control consoles flashed incessantly, and the officers and crew were each attending to their duties, though they could not hide a secret sense of anticipation.
Just as Strauss and Bradley stepped onto the bridge, a loud and enthusiastic voice greeted them, carrying unmistakable joy.
"Teacher! You've finally arrived!"
Eli Cross strode forward to meet them.
His face was filled with genuine smiles, and the reverence in his eyes was undisguised.
He grabbed Strauss's hand with a firm, warm grip and, without further explanation, led him toward the command seat in the center of the bridge.
"Those straw-men in the high command simply don't recognize your talent. They've put you through far too much!"
As they walked, Cross complained indignantly, his tone full of dissatisfaction with the higher-ups.
Then, softening his tone, he comforted him with a smile.
"But rest assured, now that you're with my Apollo Fleet, no one dares to slight you in the slightest!"
Reaching the command seat, Cross stopped.
He patted his chest, his expression solemn.
"From now on, you are the Commander of the Apollo Fleet, and I will serve as your deputy. Wherever you point, I will strike!"
Strauss was completely stunned. His body stiffened slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He had originally thought that after stepping down from the position of Theater Commander-in-Chief, he would inevitably face the plight of a fallen tiger being bullied by dogs—to be looked down upon and marginalized.
He had never imagined he would receive such sincere courtesy and trust from his former subordinate.
After a moment, he snapped back to his senses and hurriedly waved his hand.
His tone carried a hint of self-deprecation and refusal.
"There's no need, Cross. I am already a useless old man; I am no longer fit to command a fleet."
He raised his hand and lightly patted Cross's shoulder, his eyes shimmering with a long-lost emotion.
"You remain the Commander of the Apollo Fleet. Just treat me as an ordinary staff officer. If I can be of some help, I will be content."
Cross did not respond. He simply turned around in silence.
He stepped behind Strauss and placed both hands firmly on his shoulders.
Before Strauss could react, a steady and powerful force pushed him forward.
The young man's raw strength left him with no way to resist.
In the next second, with a gentle press, Cross settled Strauss firmly into the wide command seat.
Then, he took a step back and stood tall beside him.
Looking at Strauss seated in the command seat with reverence, he spoke slowly.
"There is an old saying from the ancient East..."
He paused, speaking each word clearly and emphatically.
"A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime."
Hearing these words, Strauss's eyes instantly grew warm.
The endurance and grievances of the past few days seemed to be completely smoothed over in this moment.
Cross continued.
"If you hadn't recognized my potential back then, provided your careful guidance, and taught me with patience, I would probably still be struggling at the bottom of a mother-class fleet, unable to make a name for myself for the rest of my life."
He looked up, his gaze steady as he looked at Strauss.
"How could I have achieved what I have today, becoming the fleet commander of these hundred thousand starships? Your kindness is something I can never repay in a lifetime."
Seeing this, Strauss no longer pushed back or refused.
He simply nodded slowly, his voice low and gentle, carrying a sense of relief.
"Very well."
Cross continued.
"I had specifically sent people to invite Brooks and the others over so we could hold a meeting together. I wanted to properly discuss the upcoming battlefield deployments and make preparations in advance."
He paused, his tone growing more resentful.
"As it turns out, those fellows were utterly rude. They rejected my proposal outright without showing the slightest bit of courtesy!"
"They even had the audacity to say that they only need to follow the orders of the Theater Command and that there is no need for further consultation with us. They are simply stubborn and obstinate!"
The "Brooks" Cross mentioned was none other than the commanders of the other three Sequence Fleets in the Savis Star System—the leaders of the Zeus Fleet, the Hades Fleet, and the Poseidon Fleet.
All of them were figures who held significant military power and operated independently.
Strauss listened quietly, his face remaining calm, his expression as indifferent as if he had already expected this.
Having navigated the military world for decades, he had long since seen through human nature and the ways of the world; he understood all too well that when a person leaves their post, the tea grows cold.
Now that he had relinquished the actual power of the Theater Commander-in-Chief and become a jobless, powerless idle person, those who fawned over power naturally saw no reason to waste effort flattering him.
He spoke slowly, his voice calm and ripple-less, carrying the indifference of one who had experienced the vicissitudes of life.
"When the person leaves, the tea grows cold. It is as expected."
After a pause, he waved his hand lightly.
There was not a hint of resentment in his tone.
"Let them be."
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