107: Chapter 107 Aftermath

"...Yes, that's right. I've handled it. Thank you for your understanding, Dean." Li Ming gave a slight bow.

"There's no need for that. After all, this is the first time I've encountered a situation like this." Axiom's gaze kept shifting between Anshan and Li Ming's faces.

Anshan looked utterly nonchalant, as if she didn't care about anything, while Li Ming wore a serious expression.

"Alright, that settles it then... The bills for the medical and repair costs will be sent to you tomorrow. Please remember not to act so rashly in the future."

"Understood, Dean. Sorry for the trouble."

"It's fine. As long as the matter is resolved." Axiom turned around and told everyone to go back and rest.

A Ship Girl with such immense power was no joking matter.

Where did Kano run off to? Why isn't she here at a time like this?

"Coming, coming... What's the situation?"

Oh, finally here.

Kano ran over, sweating profusely. After skidding to a stop, she looked around. "Is the matter settled?"

"Settled." Axiom shook her head. "I'll leave the rest to you."

"Alright."

Watching the others disperse, Kano glanced around.

"So, who's this pink-haired girl?"

"Anshan." Li Ming answered. "Sorry for causing you trouble."

"No problem, no problem. Although the commotion was a bit big, thankfully the lockdown was timely." Kano waved her hand. "Let's get out of here quickly. I know you don't like becoming the center of attention."

"Okay... What about Anshan?"

"I have no objections." She stuffed her hands into her coat pockets. Her pristine white naval uniform was spotless, as if the earlier fight had never happened.

She didn't care about what had just happened because she had already gotten the answer she wanted.

Following Kano, they distanced themselves from the construction zone before any onlookers could swarm in. Although Li Ming knew there would be no shortage of trouble ahead, there were more important things to deal with now.

Alert and Z23 hurried back, just running into the three of them as they arrived downstairs at their building.

"Commander!..."

"Comrade Commander!"

"Hey!" Li Ming responded and waited for them to approach.

Arriving in front of the trio, Kano looked around. There should be quite a few people around here at this time.

"We rushed back as soon as we got the notification... What happened?"

"Well... It's nothing. Just a little... conflict? between our new companion and the school authorities." Li Ming glanced at Anshan, who had just taken her hands out of her pockets and was removing her gloves.

"Hello, Z23." She extended her hand. "I am Anshan, though I'm not quite the same as that Anshan. I'm her... junior. You can call me Pink Anshan or Big Anshan."

"Hello, Anshan... What exactly happened just now?" Z23 shook her hand but still wanted to know what had transpired.

"Hmm... Basically, I beat up the teacher on duty."

"Huh?!"

"Don't worry, I only damaged her rigging. She herself wasn't injured." Her gaze shifted to Alert. "This one is from the Red Navy? I don't think I've seen you before..."

"Hello, I am Alert, Project 1135.1. Pleased to meet you!" Alert immediately stood at attention and announced her name. "But I believe you must apologize for injuring someone!"

"A petrel battling the storm? Hello." Anshan tilted her head, then looked at Li Ming. "Aren't you quite lucky?"

"Huh?" Li Ming pointed at himself. What did this have to do with him?

"What I mean is, I'm very pleased to meet everyone." Anshan finally smiled, shedding her previous scrutinizing demeanor.

Kano's gaze shifted back, only to meet Anshan's peripheral vision directly.

There was no threat, just a simple, appraising look.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Kano spoke up: "Li Ming — I'm heading upstairs first. Weren't you all planning to go out for dinner today? Isn't it about time?"

"Alright then." Li Ming replied. "Shall we get ready to go?"

"I won't be going." Anshan shook her head.

"Uh... Why not?"

Facing everyone's puzzled, and even Z23's somewhat questioning gaze, she answered:

"I'm a bit tired, just a little... worn out."

Li Ming's brain started processing. "Is it because of earlier..."

"Pretty much. Forcibly activating my rigging was a bit draining... I plan to get some sleep. Remember to bring me some late-night snacks." Anshan stretched. "Which floor do you live on?"

"Third floor. There's a little white fox at home, she's one of us." Li Ming took out his keys to give to her, but she refused.

"No need, I'll go up by myself."

She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A flash of light followed. When Li Ming opened his eyes again, where Anshan had been standing was only a small pink cat.

"Meow..."

Letting out a soft cry, it turned and climbed up the wall towards the upper floors, slipping in through a third-floor window.

"...Incredible..." Li Ming muttered under his breath, then patted Z23's hair.

"Commander?" Her hair was very soft.

"Let's not keep Royal Fortune and the others waiting. Alert, I'll take you to meet our other companions."

"Oh... Okay!"

Alert was still puzzled about how Anshan had done that, but she was soon distracted by Li Ming's words.

The three of them set off, heading towards the coast.

For Ship Girls, taking the water route was indeed faster.

"By the way, which restaurant are we going to today?"

"Let me see... Miss Royal Fortune said the Oronia Blair Hotel..."

"Why do I always have a feeling something will go wrong... Wait, where's A6? Call her down too!"

——————

"...So that's your reason for not going?"

Kano squinted at the TV, seemingly unconcerned about the 130mm naval gun poking the back of her head.

"What does that have to do with you?" Anshan retracted her rigging. "You're not like that Tank Girl who just went out. Using guardianship as a pretext for surveillance — I'm not satisfied with that."

"I can't help it. And what kind of person your Commander is, don't you know yourself?" Kano sighed. She truly hadn't expected something like this to happen. "And you, looking at it this way, supervision is becoming increasingly necessary, isn't it? Would you let a walking bomb roam around your house?"

"Wow... More guts than I imagined. Not bad." Anshan retracted her naval gun.

"If I weren't sure you had no intent to kill, I'd probably be scared out of my wits." Kano gave a bitter smile, watching her sit down on the other side of the sofa. "But I still have to report what needs to be reported."

"As long as you don't hurt him or them, I won't do anything either." Anshan grabbed a nearby cushion, hugged it, and closed her eyes. "As for me, you can't do anything to me."

Kano took out her phone and started sending a message to Verres.

Can someone else take over this job? I'd like to live a few more years...

...

...