King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer Chapter 1853: 1531: Explosion in the Famous City

Capítulo 1853: Chapter 1531: Explosion in the Famous City

As Joe Ga’s vehicle entered Odessa from the airport, he noticed that this renowned European city seed sowhat in decline.

Once a sumr resort haven, the city had lost its leisurely urban charm in the face of war.

Everyone on the streets appeared hurried; queues ford outside every bank, and most bakeries and coffee shops displayed ‘closed’ signs at their doors…

Russia had not launched excessively fierce attacks on Odessa, confining itself to missile strikes on the city’s outskirts at the onset of hostilities, causing power outages in so areas.

anwhile, they cut off the road east of Kherson, scattering the scattered Ukrainian garrisons nearby to prevent them from launching attacks from behind during the Russian Army’s siege of Mariupol.

To be honest, aside from high-level officials, even if the dia scread loudly, neither ordinary Ukrainian citizens nor the military’s lower middle ranks were prepared.

When Joe Ga reached Odessa, the war had already been raging for almost a month. Russia’s northern front paid the price for its brashness, and the Kyiv front had reached a stalemate.

With supply lines unable to keep up, coordination across the fronts beca a ss, with so units already showing signs of retreat.

Conversely, the southern front progressed smoothly due to misjudgnts on the part of NATO and Ukraine regarding the war…

When the sounds of artillery and missiles first entered people’s real world, many soldiers in southern Ukraine collapsed even without fighting.

The few remaining still stationed around the city displayed evident anxiety.

Russia’s strategic aim was not Odessa, but rather to rge with the militia in Donetsk, thus relieving ground defense pressure on cities west of Kherson.

And the ordinary people in Odessa, a comrcial port city, faced with occasional bombings from Russia, those who could, chose to flee. Those remaining could only pray that the bombs would not land on them.

The stagnating city atmosphere was sothing Joe Ga found himself unaccustod to…

He had been to many cities embroiled in turmoil, hotspots in the Middle East, and North Africa…

But compared to those places, Odessa’s situation was much better, yet the suffocating sense in the air was far more intense than in Baghdad, Kandahar, or Tubruq.

One could feel that the people remaining in the city, while trying hard to suppress their panic and maintain their dignity, showed no organizational unity; everyone was going about their own business.

The western world’s weak organizational abilities in the face of disaster and war were fully exposed.

So people resembling recruiting officers held up conscription signs, attempting to urge the people of Odessa to stand up and defend their country, but most chose to watch indifferently.

In the Western world, war mobilization is an extrely costly and incredibly complex affair…

Joe Ga watched an old man with a cane loudly curse at a Ukrainian soldier holding a recruitnt sign and said to Sergey in the front passenger seat, “If Russian troops entered Odessa right now, would these people surrender imdiately?”

Sergey listened, shook his head, and said, “Only the military has the right to surrender; ordinary people don’t need to, as no one cares about them, so their opinions won’t be asked either!

It’s only when the war ends, and elections resu that ordinary people are allowed to vote for a few individuals who suddenly appear and accept their leadership.

The process of European integration continues unabated, leaving Europeans unsure of what they should truly fight for.

Left-wing regis do not promote war because left-wing politicians fear that ordinary people will learn what their armies have been doing elsewhere, which could tarnish their images in the eyes of the public.

In the eyes of many from the new generation in Europe, ‘counter-terrorism’ has beco the entirety of war!”

Sergey pointed at a few scattered Ukrainian soldiers by the roadside, shaking his head, and said, “Ukraine’s best troops are all on the eastern front; these second-line soldiers are simply unprepared!”

Joe Ga observed the increasing number of Ukrainian troops in the convoy’s direction and frowned, “Why are these people so close to the port?”

Sergey shook his head slightly, appearing reluctant to discuss these troops stationed near the port. The Golden Eagle Team Leader ‘Battle Axe’, driving, glanced at the rearview mirror and said, “Boss, these people are very afraid. They don’t want to stay in the barracks waiting for rotations out of town because they fear Russia might bomb them.

Staying around UN rcenaries gives them a sense of safety.

Now, they don’t even have basic supplies. By giving them so, they are willing to help defend the port if problems arise there.”

Joe Ga shook his head with a laugh, “The reactions of these people make wonder if they even realize their situation?”

‘Battle Axe’ sighed and said, “For most people, the Ukraine war is rely a ga of taking sides.

So think Ukraine can win with NATO’s support, finally controlling the Donbas area, then joining NATO for complete security.

So believe the Zelens governnt cannot hold out and that new politicians will soon erge, with Ukraine reverting to its past trajectory.

But most people don’t think the war will change anything. Given a chance, most would rather leave Ukraine because all those past transfers of power, even color revolutions, haven’t changed much in the end.

Most don’t even know why they are fighting?

Unfortunately, Russia’s performance has been abysmal, and NATO doesn’t dare include Ukraine in its system during a state of war.

Once the war drags on, people will begin to truly feel the pain!”

Joe Ga listened, nodded slightly, and looked at ‘Battle Axe’s’ expressionless profile, “What about you?

With assigning Golden Eagle in Odessa, is there any opinion within Golden Eagle?

If you were to have conflicts with Ukraine or Russia, would you…”

“No!”

Before Joe Ga finished speaking, ‘Battle Axe’ resolutely responded, “No, boss, we wouldn’t…

Only those who have truly experienced our situation can understand how much pain the Golden Eagle soldiers feel ntally.

To Ukraine, we are traitors.

To Russia, we are forr Ukrainian special forces.

If it weren’t for P.B., we wouldn’t have any honor to speak of!”

Speaking in a slightly hoarse, sorrowful tone, ‘Battle Axe’ said: “For the Golden Eagle soldiers, money doesn’t solve all problems.

Initially, everyone wanted to leave this hopeless place, but whenever there is a chance, we still want to reclaim the honor that belongs to us; otherwise, it’s hard for us to live at ease for the rest of our lives.”

Joe Ga listened, waved his hand, and said: “I don’t an not to trust you. I’m entrusting Odessa to you because I trust you and you are the ones most familiar with this place.

I’m just worried that forcing you to hold a neutral stance might make you feel anguished!”

‘Battle Axe’ paused for a mont and said earnestly: “Protecting civilian safety, helping those who want to leave to do so safely, why should we feel pain?

A soldier’s duty is to protect; civilians need to be protected!

From the mont those people forced us to kneel, we gave up our nationality and identity…

Sir, you’ve told us that you would lead us to do the right thing!

You keep your promise, and so do we!”

Joe Ga nodded in agreent at ‘Battle Axe’s statent…

Just as he was about to ask Sergey about the number of intelligence organization personnel within the city of Odessa, the convoy ahead suddenly stopped…

Sergey, the mont the car halted, picked up the radio and swore rudely: “What the hell are you doing?

You are carrying out a military task, who the hell told you to stop?”

“Sir, there are several stranded military vehicles on the road, and mbers of the Territorial Defense Forces are trying to fix them…”

Sergey listened and decisively said: “Send people to disembark and remain vigilant, push the stranded vehicles to the roadside…”

“Understood, sir!”

While the convoy ahead was following Sergey’s request for vigilance, a truck blocking the lane exploded…

With a loud “boom,” about 500 ters from Joe Ga’s position, the front of the convoy erupted with dark gray smoke, and people nearby began shouting and scattering…

Sergey calmly coordinated the convoy’s movents…

The newly arrived Bradley Fighting Vehicles all started up, seized the left lane, and maintained a certain distance. Using large-caliber weapons in concert with the convoy’s military vehicle firepower, they began establishing a defensive line.

Perhaps the convoy’s reaction was too swift; the enemy did not continue the assault…

A few minutes later, the convoy resud movent, speeding through the explosion site…

As Joe Ga passed the explosion site, he saw several Humvees stationed at both sides of the intersection, completely blocking east-west traffic. The Golden Eagle Soldiers on the vehicles rotated the large-caliber machine guns on the cars, solemnly watching the surrounding situation.

Several ragged bodies wearing Ukrainian military uniforms were discarded by the roadside, and so mbers of the Territorial Defense Forces, also in Ukrainian uniforms, dropped their weapons, panicked and sought hiding behind cover to avoid being mistaken by the angry Golden Eagle Soldiers.

“Did we suffer any losses?”

Sergey picked up the radio, asked, then turned to Joe Ga and said: “Caution saved their lives; the lead vehicle was nearly 50 ters from the exploding truck, severely injuring one driver and lightly injuring four soldiers.”

Joe Ga frowned and said: “Does this kind of thing happen often?”

Sergey shook his head and replied: “No, since we took control of the port, such incidents have never occurred.”

Then Sergey looked at Joe Ga and said: “Boss, I think this is more of a warning than an attack.

Your whereabouts aren’t exactly a secret, but it’s almost impossible for the attackers to determine which car you’re in.

This kind of attack, without subsequent coordination, actually carries more intimidation value than a real threat!

But for those who understand your personality, this kind of action would only provoke you!”

Joe Ga nodded slightly and said: “Who would have the most difficulty accepting that I’ve taken control of Odessa’s port?”

Sergey replied calmly: “Theoretically, Russia would. Odessa is a key city for them to completely encircle Ukraine and control its fate.

However, their current focus is on Mariupol. Attacking a UN-authorized team at this ti would only bring more sanctions upon them.”

Just as Joe Ga nodded and was about to say sothing, a call ca through to his satellite phone…

“Hu Lang, did you suffer a Russian bombardnt in Odessa?”

Joe Ga hesitated for a mont…

“What? Bombardnt?”