Blackstone Code

The weather was getting hotter. As midsummer approached, even stray dogs were rarely seen on the streets.

Inside the room, the television was broadcasting reports from the frontlines of the joint military exercises.

Ever since preparations for the joint military drills began, global attention had been drawn to this major event. International trade was affected as well, with transaction volumes clearly dropping.

There was no way around it. The joint exercises, held in the waters of the Western Ocean—one of the world’s most critical shipping hubs—had blocked several key routes. During the drills, both cargo ships and passenger liners were strictly forbidden from passing through these areas.

Technology had not yet advanced to the point where radar could automatically distinguish friend from foe. In fact, even standard radar was lacking.

Any unidentified vessel entering the exercise zone could be treated as a “target ship” and come under fire.

These drills weren’t just ships sailing around aimlessly; they were meant to showcase military capabilities, especially offensive power.

A strong offensive capability is the best deterrent against greed. At the request of the Joint Exercise Command, all participating nations had prepared target ships—decommissioned vessels—anchored at designated spots for live fire practice.

With key shipping lanes closed, trade volume naturally dropped. But at the moment, nobody cared. All eyes were on the drills.