Hughes stared blankly at Alan who was playing with the little tiger.
The most important person he was going to take away this time was dead. He didn't know if he was really dead, and he didn't have the courage to question Alan. Anyway, if he said he was dead, then he was definitely gone.
…
"What's wrong?"
He slapped Dahuang on the forehead just as he was about to bite him. The little thing's eyes, which had been fierce just now, instantly became clear after being slapped. Alan nodded with satisfaction. After having Dahuang, his life became more fun. At least he had the pleasure of beating tigers in his daily life.
Looking up at Hughes who hadn't gone to pick up the people, Alan knew why Hughes didn't leave, but he had ordered someone to kill the man from his hometown last night, not for anything else... just to disgust their security department!
As for whether this old guy is of any use, he doesn't care.
…
"Uh... uh... Your Excellency, this Clements..."
"I suggest you go pick them up quickly. If you go a little later, you might not even be able to pick up five people."
“…”
Xius gritted his teeth and thought, forget it… He couldn't afford to offend this person. If there was anything, he would go back and report it first. Everything would be decided by the leader. He was too weak to get involved in this.
"Well...Okay, sir. Sorry to interrupt your afternoon tea time. I'll go get the person now."
"Go ahead!"
…
It's the end of November and it's almost December, but Boss Cha has not made any arrangements yet, but there are new changes on the EU side.
Alan went to Strasbourg happily for the meeting.
First of all…the biggest event, of course, is the celebration of several new Swedish members joining the European Union.
At the meeting, Allen heard the leader on the stage specifically express appreciation for the team that conducted an investigation into human rights in Sweden, saying that the Swedish human rights investigation team had acted with a fully responsible attitude, had not listened excessively to rumors in the outside media, and had worked tirelessly to investigate human rights issues in Sweden for several months.
This investigation also helped the Swedish officials discover many small details that they had not noticed before.
For example, some titles used on key issues, and specific words that are not too strict in gender definition, etc.
Some older lawmakers in the audience looked confused as they listened to the speeches. Some of the words they had never heard of before today. These uncommon words... even gave people the illusion that they were out of date.
But seeing the sincere praise from the spokesperson above and the expression of approval from the Swedish spokesperson, several people who knew the inside story kept looking in Allen's direction.
“…”
Alan looked ahead expressionlessly. He felt very embarrassed about this group of unsophisticated people. He was causing trouble for them and even showing them some sympathy, praising them and giving them examples.
What should he do in the future?
In just two days, the smile on Allen's face never faded. The Human Rights Council gave him a formal director position, and the European Women's Association, because of his heroic deeds in rescuing fallen women in the United States, also gave him a director position and a certificate of commendation.
In a very good mood, Alan took the initiative to make an appointment with someone. He is now in France, where he has an old lover who he hasn't contacted for a long time, the famous ballet prima ballerina Sylvie Guillem.
…
Evening, on the banks of the Ir River.
This is a tributary of the Rhine that runs directly into the city of Strasbourg. Allen's temporary river view villa is located beside the Ill River.
Looking through the window at the neighbor opposite, he is only about ten meters away, very close.
Living here, ignoring the architectural style, the overall layout has a feeling of a Jiangnan water town, with small bridges and flowing water. This kind of occasion is very suitable for bad boys to bully decent women.
Several soft ropes were tied to the reinforced horizontal bars on the balcony.
Alan was wearing a bathrobe and sitting on a large soft chair, on which Sylvie Guillem was showing him artistic exercises.
This old-style rope art is not very common here. Now, if we talk about who is best at it, it should be the island country. But for a choreographer in a dance troupe, even though she doesn't know how to do rope art, she knows yoga. Anyway, the effects are similar, so it's not a big problem.
The feeling of spiraling upwards made Alan, who had never experienced such a feeling before, gasp.
…
"Eh? What's going on?"
Alan had just come out of the bedroom and was planning to drink some water to calm down his nerves and cool down, but he didn't expect that Xiao Shitou was sitting on the sofa at the door playing Snake with his cell phone.
"Hey, Master? I just got a call... I wanted to notify you, but I saw you were busy, so I'll just wait here for a while."
Xiao Shitou quickly put down his phone without any embarrassment on his face. As a personal butler, what had he not seen?
As soon as he heard the strange sound when he entered the door, he wisely sat down to rest and prepared to wait for Alan to finish. He didn't expect that his young master was in a bad state today?
…
"What's the matter? Tell me."
Alan sat down next to the small stone and took a few deep breaths, and his heart rate slowly dropped.
"Master, I just received a call from home. It was Butler Capel. He said... His Highness has made arrangements. We will visit Portsmouth at noon the day after tomorrow and go to the sea to board the ship in the afternoon. Please be prepared."
"Hmm? Has it been arranged? Did Butler Capel tell me which ship it was arranged for?"
Alan blinked. He had been talking about it for a few days, and finally Boss Cha summoned him. It was not easy.
"No, maybe it needs to be kept secret."
Little Stone shrugged, stood up and said, "Then I will go down first, Master. Call me if you need anything."
"Well... go ahead and call home and ask the crew to get ready. I'll be back tomorrow and you can arrange the rest."
“Okay, I understand!”
…
Portsmouth Port, as the main base of the British Navy, is famous and has a long history.
In the past, this place was the busiest when the warships returned to the port after each expedition. This port has also witnessed the rise and fall of the British Royal Navy.
From the thousands of ships covering the sea in the past, to now... just two or three big cats and small cats.
Today, in Portsmouth Harbor, there is still a legendary battleship, which is theoretically the mascot battleship of the British Royal Army - the HMS Victory.
…
Alan, dressed in a navy uniform without a rank, followed Boss Cha and boarded the Victory, which was docked in Dry Dock No. 2.
This battleship once served as the flagship of the famous Admiral Nelson and participated in the Battle of Trafalgar. It was in this battle that Britain defeated the French combined fleet in one fell swoop and established its position as the overlord of the sea.
Its background is very legendary. Even after it was retired, it has always been the mascot of the British Royal Navy. It has been permanently preserved and converted into a museum for military education.
Before going on board the ship to pay his respects, Mr. Cha's business team specially arranged a visit for him on this ship.
The meaning behind it is a bit like reminiscing about the good old days and recalling the past.
Standing in the former combat command room and looking at the replica combat command map above, Alan could already imagine the battle at Cape Trafalgar in Spain in that era.
No matter how numerous the crimes of the Ansars are, they are still of some significance when it comes to naval warfare. It's like raising a Gu, the more you fight, the stronger it becomes. You try to survive in the early stages, and when you are well developed, you can take down the opponent in one wave, leaving no chance for the opponent to rise again.
But... with the changing times, things are unpredictable...
It is hard to guard against thieves at home no matter how hard you try. The external enemies are gone, but a rebellious son has appeared.
I secretly glanced at Boss Cha's face and watched as the commentator gave each item of the explanation. Boss Cha simply nodded and did not say anything. He just walked and watched along the way. The camera crew brought by Alan followed behind and filmed the whole process.
…
"Let's go. We will have an hour's sailing time and have dinner on the Royal Ark."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Finally knowing where to go, Alan could not hide his excitement. To be honest, they have never been on the British aircraft carrier. This time, with Boss Cha, they can go up there openly, take a walk around and take pictures. Just thinking about it makes him a little excited.
…
The English Channel is on the British side.
A Navy Sea King early warning helicopter was flying over the sea, with two helicopters of the same model following on both sides of the helicopter. In addition, five escorting Sea Harrier carrier-based fighter jets were following in formation in the sky a little higher.
Alan was wearing noise-proofing earmuffs, holding the handrail with one hand, and holding a telescope with the other hand, looking at the Royal Ark with its lights on on the sea in the distance.
…
Many people may have a cognitive misunderstanding. In many cases, the decline of Britain is considered to have occurred after World War II, as if after World War II, the presence of the British Navy was no longer obvious.
Some people even think that the British Navy has completely declined after World War II.
In fact...this kind of cognition is too one-sided and too superficial.
After the end of World War II, Britain had 52 aircraft carriers!
Fifty-two aircraft carriers!
Not to mention how many of them are modified, nor how advanced they are, just looking at the number, how weak can fifty-two aircraft carriers be?
However, compared with America, this force seems much weaker, but in the whole of Europe, it is still the undisputed number one!
…
Later, with the Labour Party coming to power, Britain's naval strategy changed and the navy suffered an epic weakening.
Because its dominant position is gone, the navy no longer has to take on more overseas pioneering wars as before. It has shifted from taking the initiative to regional conflicts, or to put it more directly, it has become the gatekeeper of the Atlantic. Aircraft carriers are basically useless, and it is too expensive to maintain so many aircraft carriers!
So...all the aircraft carriers at that time were either sold or retired.
The naval leaders at that time argued with reason and refused to comply, and only then did they manage to retain another alternative to aircraft carriers - helicopter landing ships, also known as helicopter carriers or light aircraft carriers.
This period of time was when the British Navy was at its weakest.
With the finalization of a new vertical take-off and landing fighter, the Harrier, in the late 1960s, the British Navy saw new hope.
According to the requirements of the navy, the Harrier fighter was upgraded and modified in all aspects, and then the famous naval Sea Harrier fighter was born and put on board... Britain's aircraft carrier can be said to have been reborn with fixed-wing fighters, and it has a certain combat capability.
Next... was the battle for the Falkland Islands. Britain's only two remaining aircraft carriers "heroically" participated in the battle, carrying a small number of Sea Harrier carrier-based fighters, and dealt a devastating blow to the Argentine Air Force.
When talking about the Falklands War, people say that it was a tragic victory for Britain and that the empire was in decline.
Although... this is true, many people cannot see the core of this war.
Britain fought an expedition over a distance of more than 12,000 kilometers, while Argentina fought a defeated battle more than 400 kilometers away from its own doorstep.
One side was sending troops on a long expedition, while the other side was defending its own home, and in the end the war ended up like this.
This result... compared with the previous image of the British Navy, can definitely be regarded as the "decline of the empire", but in essence it is an expedition of tens of thousands of kilometers forward to win the battle at the doorstep of another country.
…
With the victory of the Falklands War, the Vulcan bomber became famous overnight, but even more famous than the Vulcan was the Sea Harrier fighter.
This fighter jet, developed entirely by Britain itself, has pure British blood and a special take-off and landing method. In close-range dogfights, its combat effectiveness is even stronger than the current American F15!
Later, America became itchy and bought a batch from Britain, bringing it back for its own use while making improvements.
…
After the Falklands War, Britain suffered a tragic victory and, after learning from the painful experience, accelerated the process of updating its aircraft carriers.
Throughout the second half of the 1980s, three Invincible-class aircraft carriers were put into service continuously!
The aircraft carrier that Allen and his companions are going to board today is the last new ship of the three Invincible-class aircraft carriers to be put into service - the Ark Royal.
…
This ship is also a light aircraft carrier. Each aircraft carrier can only carry eight Sea Harrier fighters plus several helicopters, but this carrying capacity is enough!
Looking around these days, how many countries have three aircraft carriers in service?
Can this be called weak?
If we add in the aircraft carriers owned by other member states of the Commonwealth, Britain could, if pressed to the limit, get three or four more.
…
As they were getting closer and closer to the Ark Royal, the Sea Harrier fighter squadron that had been escorting the helicopter left two planes behind to continue the escort, while the other three formed a smaller triangle formation and flew towards the aircraft carrier from a distance.
Alan watched the three fighter planes fly low over the area, and the entire Ark Royal erupted in loud cheers. Even with his noise-isolating earmuffs on, he could still hear it faintly.
"Did you take the picture? Did you take the picture?"
This is the benefit of following Boss Cha. The ceremony was very grand. In order to welcome Boss Cha's visit, all the sailors on the deck of the Ark Royal, except those on duty, had already lined up and were waiting. Alan excitedly patted the photographer next to him.
"It was filmed, boss. Don't worry, the camera was on the whole time!"
“Hahaha, okay!”
Alan looked at the aircraft carrier in the distance. Just thinking about the scene of nearly a thousand people standing on the deck to greet them was exciting. If he was not afraid of the bad influence, he would have cleaned the deck of his yacht another day and set up a welcoming mode like this to satisfy his own pleasure.