It is approaching the end of the month, and the North Atlantic, which has been roaring for more than half a month, has finally quieted down.

The rising morning sun shone on the dark green and deep sea, covering every wave with a golden coat.

A few fat seagulls chirped happily, as if celebrating the end of the difficult monsoon season. They glide lightly across the sea, their black wingtips splashing with sparkling water and glowing in the sun.

Looking at the dreamlike and enchanting scenery, no one would believe that just yesterday it was a nightmare place.

The world is flooded with the monsoon winds and the mountains of waves, and the North Atlantic flaunts its terrifying and primitive might.

No one dared to doubt the power of that power, for there had been too many fools who wanted to desecrate that power with their swollen bodies floating to prove themselves wrong.

Two fat seagulls floated comfortably on the surface of the sea, the two largest and strongest seagulls in the flock, and now their stomachs were filled with small fish snatched from the mouths of their weaker companions, and they happily enjoyed the feeling of the warm sun shining on their white feathers after a long absence.

Suddenly, something alarmed the two fat robbers, who flapped their wings and kicked their short legs off the water, and then swayed to join the group of their companions who were flying wildly.

In the distance, just as the sun rose, two plumes of smoke appeared, followed by two towering masts, then the bridge, and in a few moments, the black silhouettes of two battleships appeared on the horizon.

As the ship approached at a rapid speed, the black shadows revealed their true colors in the golden sunlight.

These are two destroyers, with sleek hull lines, a square bridge, and a tall nose floor. The sharp bow of the battleship easily cut through the waves, stirring up bursts of snow-white waves. Pearl-like droplets fluttered and splashed onto the battleship's hard gray shell, then coalesced into strings of crystal droplets and slid into the turquoise sea. The white Royal Navy flag flutters in the wind on the rear mast.

Any Englishman who witnesses this scene will proudly admire that this is the glorious Royal Navy of the British Empire, and as long as the Red Cross flag on a white background is still waving on the sea, the sun will never set on the empire.

The two destroyers were moving side by side, one on the left and one on the right, and the distance between the two ships was only a hundred meters. The battleship on the right flank was slightly behind the one on the left by half a bow distance.

It is very obvious that this is a standard formation of the Royal Navy destroyer patrol formation, with the one on the left being the longship and the one on the right being the wingman. ]

Although the two ships maintained a very high speed, they did not appear to be in a state of high combat readiness. Several sailors washed the deck shirtless under the supervision of an officer, while the sailors on duty in the battle position were also lazily wiping their weapons.

A few officers were leisurely lounging on the deck, and a group of sailors who looked like they had just changed their guard were leaning against the aft railing smoking and chatting. Like the officers, they wanted to enjoy the rare good weather on the sea.

But no one would have imagined that the bridge of this battleship was now a different scene.

"What's the speed now?"

"Twenty-five, sir."

The navigator reported to the captain in a loud voice.

"Twenty-five ......"

The captain lowered his head and studied the chart carefully, then nodded slightly.

The first mate on the side hurriedly drew a route on the chart with a pen, and then picked up the slide rule on the side and began to calculate quickly.

"Looks like we've caught up, gentlemen."

The captain turned to the officers on the bridge and announced loudly, a satisfied smile on his lips.

"Until then, our actions should have been very smooth, now it depends on how this last step goes. If we succeed, we will add a new dimension to the glorious history of the Navy, and you will be witnesses and participants in this history.

Remember, now that the entire Imperial Navy is looking at us from behind, I absolutely cannot tolerate a single stupid blunder that would affect the success of this operation.

Therefore, I hope that in the coming battles, each and every one of you will fulfill your duty and contribute all your strength to the glory and future of the Navy and to our great motherland. ”

"Yes. Sir! ”

All the officers and soldiers on the bridge puffed out their chests excitedly and saluted the captain.

"Ship spotted ahead!"

The lookout shouted loudly.

"Where is it!"

The captain picked up the binoculars.

"Fifteen degrees to port, twenty-eight thousand away, and she's coming across from us."

The lookout replied loudly.

"Oh?"

The captain lifted his binoculars and looked ahead.

"Looks like she's her, what do you think?"

The captain put down his binoculars and turned his head to look at the first mate.

"I'm not sure, hopefully she's her, sir."

"Stay on course, slow down to twenty knots, and we'll get over. Contact H17 and follow the original plan. They should have seen the boat too. ”

"Yes, sir."

As time progressed, the outline of the steamer in the distance began to slowly become clear.

"It's her, it's her!"

The first mate shouted happily.

"Are you sure?" The captain asked.

"For sure, it's her. It's the same as touching it in a book. Alexander Reich bulk carrier with a displacement of 8,500 tons and a maximum speed of 18 knots. The registered company is the Canadian Ferry Steamship Company. ”

"Great, gentlemen, success and failure are here, order the whole ship to be ready for battle."

"Yes, Captain." The first mate replied excitedly.

The distance between the two sides slowly approached, and by this time it was clear that the Canadian flag was flying on the freighter.

"Signal!" The captain coldly gave the order.

"This is the destroyer HMS Echo of the British Royal Navy, please inform me of your identity, origin and destination, and the cargo you are carrying."

The British destroyer sent an inquiry to the Canadian freighter with an international signal.

"The Canadian freighter Alexander Imperial, departing from Halifax and destined for Port Grimsby, England, was loaded with five hundred tons of aluminum ingots, forty tons of rubber and five thousand tons of iron ore. It's a pleasure to meet you. ”

The Canadians had never encountered such a thing, and although they were puzzled, they still answered honestly, and in the end they did not forget to get close to these Englishmen.

By this time, the distance between the two sides had reached nearly a thousand meters, and it was already possible to distinguish the silhouettes of the sailors working on the other deck.

"Canadian freighter Alexander Imperial, please stop the ship immediately for inspection."

The British destroyer gave the order to stop the ship.

This order made the Canadians completely confused, how to say that Canada and Britain are allies, and the goods loaded on their own ships are used to support Britain to continue to resist, why do they need to stop the ship for inspection.

The Canadian captain was so angry that he almost scolded on the spot, these arrogant Brits, still holding their damn shelves. I knew that I would be treated like this, even if the boss of the company gave me more salary, I wouldn't go on this trip.

It is unreasonable that you should be afraid that you might be sent by German submarines to feed the fish at any time to bring these valuable supplies to England, and that you should not send escort ships, and even ask me to stop the ship for inspection.

While the Canadian captain was trying to suppress his anger and consider what to do to reply to the damned British, the British destroyer sent another signal.

"Alexander Imperial, stop the ship immediately for inspection, this is the final advice, stop the ship immediately for inspection."

"Stop the boat!"

The Canadian captain angrily gave the order to stop the ship, and as the engine stopped, the huge freighter slowly taxied forward for some distance before stopping.

The depressed captain of the cargo ship stepped out of the bridge and looked angrily at the two British destroyers that were slowly approaching him.

"It's an E-class destroyer of the British Navy."

At this time, the first mate of the cargo ship, who was also indignant at the scene in front of him, walked up to the captain and said that this first mate had worked in the navy for several years before and knew more about British naval ships.

"I don't know what's going on in the minds of these Britons, and they're still in the mood for this kind of inspection in the current situation. Do they think we Canadians are smugglers? "The captain felt that his personality had been insulted.

"They're not here to check on smuggling, captain. They won't be rich enough to do that kind of work with such fleet destroyers, there should be other reasons. Still, it's uncomfortable that we've made such great sacrifices for their war that they're wary of us. The first mate said angrily.

The two British destroyers slowly approached the Canadian freighter, one of which came to a slow stop a hundred meters from the freighter, while the other came to a stop from the stern of the freighter to the other side of the freighter, and the two destroyers sandwiched the huge ship in the middle, one left and one right.

The two British destroyers each lowered a motorboat and a lifeboat, and the two motorboats towed two lifeboats full of sailors towards the Alexander Reich.

The Canadians depressedly lowered their gangways and waited for these pesky Britons to board the ship for inspection. But when the British sailors stepped onto the deck of the freighter, the Canadians felt that things might not be as simple as they thought.

These British sailors were all heavily armed, and Lee in their hands. The Enfield rifle was also hung with a shiny bayonet, and there was a chilling ferocity in his eyes.

It was a complete way of looking at the enemy, and the Canadians suddenly felt a little overwhelmed.

Seeing this situation, the captain of the freighter also felt that the situation was a bit serious, maybe these Britons really had some special reason to check their ship.

The captain of the cargo ship had now put his anger behind him, and he was ready to cooperate fully with these British guys to complete this inspection as soon as possible, so that these arrogant fellows could leave their ships as soon as possible, and the eyes of these British sailors really made him feel uncomfortable.

"Who is the captain of this ship?"

A young British naval officer asked lightly while holding the pistol holster around his waist and glancing at the Canadian crew on deck with a cold gaze. ]

"I am."

The Canadian captain replied loudly as he hurried down the ladder on the bridge.

"I'm the captain of the Alexander Empire, David. Hadvin. What can I do for you, Mr. Captain. ”

"Captain Huck of the British Royal Navy. Rothbert, Dear Mr. Captain. The captain saluted the captain of the cargo ship in a dashing manner.

"It's this annoying hypocritical British politeness again." Captain Hadwin cursed inwardly, but a big smile spread across his face.

"Dear Mr. Captain, I dare you swear that I have only those on board that have been declared, and absolutely nothing prohibited. If you don't believe me, I can take you to the hold for inspection in person. ”

The captain took out a full set of sailing papers from his pocket and handed them to the British captain.

"It seems that you have all the formalities, my captain, but we are not inspecting your cargo."

Captain Rothbert flipped through a few pages of the papers, looked up and said coldly to Hardwin, he folded the papers and handed them to a British lieutenant next to him.

"That'...... Can I know what you want to check? ”

"Please order the entire crew of this ship to assemble on deck immediately." Rothbert continued to speak in that cold tone.

"What do you say, let my crew assemble on deck, may I take the liberty of asking, why?" The captain of the cargo ship asked suspiciously.

"Give your orders, Mr. Captain."

"Is it all?"

"All crew, I don't want to repeat it a second time." It's still a cold tone.

"Mr. Sanders."

Hardwin felt that he had had had enough of the captain's nasty attitude and pretense, and he yelled at the first mate.

"Order all crew members to assemble on deck, remember, it's everyone."

"Yes. Mr. Captain. ”

The first mate glanced at the British captain with disgust, and then walked briskly to the cabin behind.

"Mr. Captain, can you come over for a moment?"

The captain slowly walked to the side of the ship and beckoned to Hadwin.

"Something else, Mr. Captain." Hardwin asked as he walked up to the captain with a calm face.

"This matter is very important, and it is not easy to say it in front of so many people."

Rothbert whispered mysteriously, "Actually, we are here to arrest German spies. ”

"German spies!" Hadwin exclaimed.

"My honorable captain, you can't be quiet, do you want everyone to know about it?" Rosbert said with a frown.

"Oh, yes, yes. I'm really sorry. Not sure what I can help you with. ”

"We have ample evidence that a high-ranking German spy is hiding on your ship. I do need your help. Can you take me to your captain's quarters? ”

"Of course, you can come with me."

German spies were in Hardwin's mind of cold-blooded killers and dangerous saboteurs. The thought of having a German spy on board sent chills down his back.

"Please go this way."

Hadwin hurried towards his captain's quarters, Rosebert following closely behind him with two armed soldiers.

"This is my captain's room, Mr. Captain."

Hardwin opened the door, and Rosbert walked in with two sailors.

The captain took a slow turn around the captain's room, then stopped at Hardwin's desk.

"Is this the ship's logbook?" Rothbert asked, picking up a thick notebook from his desk.

"Yes, Captain, this is the logbook of the Alexander Empire. Shortly after I took over the ship, it was the first time I had sailed her to sea, and this log was recorded by the previous captain who had been in an unlucky car accident the day before he went to sea, what a tragedy, the poor man ......"

"Then these charts are also left by him." Rothbert then asked, pointing to the dozens of scrolls of charts on the chart shelf.

"Yes, Captain. This is all left by the previous captain. ”

"Good, take it all." Rosebert ordered to the two soldiers.

"Captain, these ......" Hadwin was puzzled, but was interrupted by Rothbert before he could finish his question.

"This is important evidence, Mr. Captain, and I beg your pardon for not being able to tell you the real reason now. But I assure you you'll figure it out soon, definitely much faster than you think. After saying this, Rosbert walked out of the captain's room with the two sailors carrying a large pile of information.

When Hadwin followed them to the deck, it was already full of his sailors.

"Is the whole crew here?" Rosbert turned to look at Hardwin.

"It's all here...... Yes, all of them are here, sixty-two people in all. Hadwin replied with a nod.

"Good." The captain nodded.

"Have you checked them all?" Rothbert asked the ensign.

"It's all checked, and nothing is missing."

"Let's get started, then." Rothbert said with a smile. ]

"Yes, Major!"

The lieutenant pulled a flare gun out of his holster and fired a flare into the air.

In an instant, a piercing sound of fine news sounded on the sea. The Canadians were taken aback by the sudden sound of the news, and they all looked to the sides of the ship in horror, but then they were stunned by what they saw.

I saw that the sailors on the two British destroyers were running around busily, and those terrifying guns were also turning quickly in their own direction.

Seconds later, the Canadian freighter Alexander Imperial was pinned to the head by two H-class destroyers with a total of ten 120 mm guns.

"What a matter of time, Captain." The first mate shouted to Hardwin in panic, looking horrified at the black muzzles of the destroyer and the flat-ended rifles of the British sailors in front of him, who could not understand what was going on.

The Canadian sailors had already been terrified, and it seemed to them one thing to be a brave man at sea, and quite another to brave the muzzle of more than thirty rifles with ten cannons.

"Captain, what's going on?"

The first mate screamed, but he didn't know that the person he was asking had already entered a state of dementia.

Hardvin heard the second lieutenant's last words to Rothbert, and he swore he had heard...... A word of German.

Hadwin slowly turned his face to look at the destroyer, the snow-white Royal Navy flag was slowly lowering, and a fiery Red Iron Cross flag was flying high above the mast.