The Tyrant Billionaire

At dawn the next day.

All three air force bases in Hardy’s dominion were abuzz with activity as planes took off one after another, heading in three different directions.

Simultaneously, Hardy’s warships were put on high alert, ready to mobilize at any moment.

The three bomber squadrons were targeting two Indonesian naval bases and an air force base.

Indonesia, unaware that Hardy would dare to attack their homeland’s naval and air force bases, was completely unprepared.

At Jakarta’s naval base, as the first light of dawn broke, a formation of 50-60 bombers and fighter planes descended on the base.

At the time, three frigates and over a dozen smaller vessels were docked there. However, Indonesia’s navy was notoriously weak; even in modern times, their naval capabilities remained limited.

The sudden blaring of alarms jolted the base awake.

Some confused soldiers rushed outside, only to be greeted by a barrage of bombs.

Explosions erupted throughout the base.Warships anchored in the port were engulfed in flames.Even the smaller vessels were obliterated.

The planes relentlessly bombarded these stationary targets, dropping their entire payloads before departing.

Although the base’s defenders scrambled to deploy anti-aircraft guns, they could only manage a token resistance as the bombers had already completed their mission and were heading back.

At the shore, all the ships were ablaze. One vessel was teetering on the verge of sinking, ready to slip beneath the waves.

Another Indonesian naval base suffered a similar fate. Bombers destroyed two large ships, over a dozen smaller vessels, and two Soviet-era submarines docked there.

The submarines, left in the base for maintenance, were sitting ducks. In reality, Indonesia’s defense forces had been outmaneuvered by Hardy’s intelligence network, which had pinpointed the submarines locations days earlier, ensuring precision strikes.

The air force base near Jakarta, about 20 kilometers from the city center, was also hit. At dawn, a massive formation of bombers appeared on the horizon, led by B-29 heavy bombers escorted by fighters.

The officer on duty was initially stunned by the sheer size of the formation but quickly realized something was amiss.

However, by the time pilots were summoned and planes were readied, it was too late. The bombers unleashed a torrent of bombs.

Explosions roared as the Indonesian air force, already limited in strength, lost its entire fleet—fighters, bombers, and trainers—all reduced to rubble.

In a single day, Indonesia’s air force ceased to exist.

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Meanwhile, in the waters outside Malacca.

Two submarines silently approached the Indonesian warships enforcing the blockade. The warships were anchored relatively close to each other.

Four torpedoes were launched simultaneously, streaking toward their targets.

Explosions tore through the water.One warship, weighing over 1,000 tons, was split in two by the impact, sinking rapidly.

The second warship, struck at the bow, was critically damaged and left barely operational.

The submarines, having completed their mission, disappeared into the depths without surfacing.

This operation resulted in the complete destruction of Indonesia’s naval and air force capabilities.

The Indonesian president, roused from his sleep by the shrill ring of a phone, was informed of the massive airstrikes on their naval and air force bases. The losses were catastrophic, and his subordinates sought his guidance.

Shaking with anger, he realized that it must have been Hardy behind this. How could he dare to destroy Indonesia’s naval and air forces? Those were painstakingly built assets.

A few hours later, confirmed reports painted an even grimmer picture. Over 30 naval vessels were sunk or severely damaged, including seven main ships. The air force had lost almost all its aircraft, totaling over 60 planes, including fighters, bombers, and trainers.

This event spread like wildfire across the globe and dominated newspaper headlines, shocking the world.

"Hardy Mercenary Group mobilizes hundreds of aircraft to destroy Indonesia’s naval and air force capabilities, sinking over 30 ships and obliterating 60 aircraft. Indonesia’s naval and air forces are now virtually wiped out, leaving only their army intact."

"War looms in the Far East as Hardy retaliates, launching a preemptive strike against Indonesia’s military."

Hardy dispatched forces to bomb Indonesia’s naval and air force bases, obliterating them overnight. @@novelbin@@

The Indonesian president was furious, threatening to deploy troops to attack Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. Suddenly, tensions in Southeast Asia escalated sharply.

However, within Indonesia, opinions about waging war against Hardy’s Dominion were divided into two camps.

One faction, the hawks, argued that being bullied required retaliation. Since Hardy’s Dominion was just across a narrow strait, even without a navy, they could use fishing boats and cargo ships to transport troops. With a population advantage, sending 100,000 troops would be enough to devastate Hardy’s Dominion.

The other faction held a different view. Firstly, Hardy’s Dominion occupied former British territory, and sending troops could equate to declaring war on Britain—a risk Indonesia might not be able to bear.

Secondly, although Hardy’s Dominion’s army was smaller in number, Indonesia’s navy and air force had been entirely wiped out. Meanwhile, Hardy possessed over a dozen destroyers and frigates, as well as dozens of fast torpedo boats. These vessels now patrolled the Strait of Malacca. Any military action by Indonesia would be swiftly intercepted by Hardy’s naval forces, making it impossible for transport ships to reach the opposite shore.

The hundreds of miles of strait now formed an insurmountable barrier.

There was also the matter of the air force. Hardy’s Dominion had deployed over 200 aircraft for the strike, showcasing the strength of its air force. If Indonesia could not secure a decisive victory against Hardy’s Dominion, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Additionally, the British troops stationed in Malaya, numbering 7,000, along with two warships, posed another challenge. Even if Indonesia sent 100,000 troops across the strait, victory was far from assured.

Persuaded by his advisors, the Indonesian president calmed down slightly.

Half a day later, the Indonesian government announced that Hardy’s Dominion had launched a surprise attack on Indonesia, destroying 34 warships and 67 fighter jets. They declared a state of emergency between Indonesia and Hardy’s Dominion, accusing Hardy of challenging Indonesia’s sovereignty.

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