With the reinforcement of Jun Lie's fleet, the stalemate between the two factions immediately tipped in one direction. Ziye's side had initially been at a disadvantage, only holding on through sheer stubbornness, but once Jun Lie joined, the strength of the Wolf Den surged, instantly overpowering the Allied Forces.

This eased the pressure on the rear battlefield, and the front lines also found breathing room.

Jun Lie was a commander of considerable talent, directing his fleet with tactical precision, keeping the Allied Forces in disarray.

Ziye finally set aside the heavy burden of command, spending her days nestled beside Jun Lie, watching him direct operations—she had truly become a different woman.

Everyone else watched in utter bewilderment. Where was that fierce, capable powerhouse of a woman when Jun Lie wasn't around? The transformation was too rapid!

Of course, the most jaw-dropping revelation was that Jun Lie had entirely taken on the role of Ziye's caretaker.

He made sure to eat with her at mealtimes, reminding her to eat if he was busy, or personally cooking for her if he wasn't. When bedtime arrived, he would stay with her until she slept.

In four words: a full-time caregiver.

Once the situation in the rear sectors stabilized and his adjutant completed the battlefield reconnaissance, Jun Lie convened Tang Jing, Jiu Shou, and Ziye to present a strategic proposal that was important but not immediately urgent.

The plan was to deploy Bubble Cloud arrays behind the stargate in the Xi Ji Galaxy.

The adjutant prepared a feasibility report covering three main points: the installation conditions were suitable, specialized personnel could be dispatched for setup, and the devices could be procured from the Angel Domain at a friendly discount.

Tang Jing sneered, "Is this taking advantage of a crisis?"

Jun Lie frowned briefly.

However, Tang Jing was merely a field commander, and Jun Lie paid him little mind, choosing to ignore him outright.

Tang Jing's dislike for Jun Lie deepened. Just as he was about to mock further, Jun Lie's adjutant countered, "The Angel Domain is not a charity. We can offer aid, but we won't subsidize the costs. Furthermore, we are not overcharging the Hope Legion; our conscience is clear."

This matter did not concern Jiu Shou.

Jiu Shou was only there to assist the Wolf Den, so he remained silent, studying the adjutant’s feasibility report. The report contained meticulous analyses, with data precision extending to two decimal places—accurate and eloquently presented.

The only one truly frustrated was Ziye.

She shot the adjutant a look, then turned to Tang Jing, "That's enough from both of you! You have time to argue when you should be planning the next steps! The Hope Legion signed an agreement with the Wolf Den; they will cover the costs for essential wartime supplies."

Therefore, even if the high-ranking officials of the Hope Legion were dead or fled, and their leader was locked away in the Kelai Hotel, the funding for this device would remain secure.

Jun Lie watched her with a gentle smile before his expression turned serious. "The location we've designated is a critical supply route for the Allied Forces, and it's also a major thoroughfare for other legions attempting to exploit the Hope Legion's situation. Crucially, it sits directly behind our fleet's operational zone. If we allow them free passage there, it will inevitably compromise the safety of our forces. By placing a Bubble Cloud array there, turning it into a fortress, we can sever that artery. If they cannot pass that way, we can crush that segment of the Allied Forces between our front and rear lines, and victory will be ours."

"Clap, clap, clap!" Jiu Shou couldn't help but applaud enthusiastically. "As expected of the Angel Corps leader; to think of using our exclusive pirate technology as a blockade! Jiu Shou is impressed!"

Bubble Cloud arrays were devices that prevented all starship jumps within a certain radius. Regardless of the vessel—even a star-liner—it would be trapped, waiting to be extorted.

The Tamma Pirates had deployed such devices in several star systems near Tamma specifically to intercept passersby.

Besides Jiu Shou, Ziye was also completely convinced and immediately gave Jun Lie another thumbs-up.

She knew about the Bubble Cloud technology but had never considered using it defensively in combat. Her breadth of knowledge was clearly too narrow!

As for Tang Jing, he despised Jun Lie even more!

Tang Jing was a straightforward fleet commander who never considered using such large, fixed installations to support operations. Hearing Jun Lie’s comprehensive analysis, he realized Jun Lie's perspective was wider and deeper than his own, which only soured his mood further.

He was not inherently petty, but he was a loyal supporter of Tang Wen. Discovering that Jun Lie surpassed Tang Wen in certain aspects filled him with profound aversion.

Regardless of Tang Jing’s distaste, the deployment of the Bubble device was ultimately confirmed.

Ziye accompanied the specialized construction crew to the stargate in the Xi Ji Galaxy. After countless bombardments, the Xi Ji stargate was reduced to a blackened, residual frame, standing starkly alone in space.

Ziye looked at the designated position on the report and gave Jun Lie another silent endorsement. Too thoughtful!

There were three types of Bubble Cloud arrays. The first were small bubbles launched from starship catapults, which, once deployed, could intercept enemy vessels. This method was low-cost and easy to operate, but vulnerable to destruction by sustained artillery fire. With large numbers of enemies converging on the Xi Ji system, these small bubbles could quickly cordon off incoming ships, securing the Wolf Den’s rear operations.

The second type was a space-anchored bubble. This device was slightly more complex and larger than the small launchable ones. It was much harder for artillery to target the core mechanism quickly, making it more suitable for long-term interdiction.

The largest and most specialized device was the Heavy Interception Field. Erecting this massive field generator next to the stargate was like placing a mountain in a doorway; no starship, regardless of class, could pass through it. Even if the gate itself was destroyed, the mountain would remain, immovable. Most impressively, even if the device was removed or powered down, its field effect would persist for half a month before normal passage resumed.

The adjutant’s feasibility report proposed using all three types simultaneously: the heavy field generator as the central anchor, with medium-sized, anchored bubbles deployed around it to prevent tampering with the core field, and finally, small external bubbles to capture any smaller invading ships lingering on the periphery.

The Angel Domain personnel moved with extreme speed. Once the equipment was prepared, they immediately organized transport of the tools and arrays to the Xi Ji system, anchored them at the designated spot, installed the devices, ran tests, and began obstructing enemy entry.

All of this occurred in absolute secrecy.

By the time the Allied Forces realized what was happening, it was too late!

The supply route was cut off. Ahead of them lay the Wolf Den's border, held fast by their main army. Behind them were the forces of the Angel Domain, the Tang Clan, Tamma, and a contingent of the Wolf Den fleet, trapping them in a vice.

Odo's usually composed face finally cracked!

-RS