147: Chapter 147 I want to sleep!

Li Ming only felt incredibly sleepy.

He hadn't slept well on Thursday to begin with, and then on Friday night, he was dragged to a parallel world, which meant he basically didn't sleep all night.

Last night was also a chaotic mess, and when he was woken up by a phone call today, he realized he had slept for less than three hours.

"Hello, what is it..."

"Li Ming, where did you run off to? It's been two days! Two days! Are you trying to starve me to death at home?"

"Can't you find something to eat yourself if you're hungry?" Li Ming rubbed his swollen eyes. "I'm not your Commander, why are you mooching off my meals every day?"

"Because it's delicious."

"Wait until Z23 goes back next month, then I'll see what you eat."

"No—" Kano wailed on the other end of the phone. She looked at the instant noodle cup on the table; she hadn't even stepped out of the house for the past two days, doing nothing but playing games. "Commander Li Ming, you can't treat me like this..."

"Alright, alright, why are you calling me so early?"

"Ahem... I'm going out to handle some business for the next two days. If you need anything, you can call me." Kano became a bit more serious. "Remember, don't cause any big trouble while I'm not watching you."

"So you're admitting you're here to monitor me?"

"I didn't admit that! ...No, no... sigh, fine, yes..." Kano was silent for a moment. "Anyway, don't cause any trouble, or I won't be able to help you."

"Got it. As long as I stay at the academy, what trouble could I possibly cause?" Li Ming rolled over. It seemed A6 had also been woken up by the noise and was now scrolling through her phone. "Roughly when will you be back?"

"Three days at most... Oh right, Zhen Li is coming to see you today. She should arrive in the afternoon; she's stopping by on her way." Kano said, "I heard she's in a bit of a bad mood, so be careful."

"Okay, I got it."

Li Ming naturally remembered that milky-white lady.

Really... she was white from head to toe.

She was a good doctor, but according to the records, she was extremely busy every day. After all, managing both the Medical Department and the Logistics Department simultaneously, it would be a miracle if anyone's temper was good.

But stopping by to see me...?

I'm quite fortunate to be held in such high regard by the Ship Girl Bureau.

Smiling, Li Ming hung up the phone and climbed out of bed.

Having stayed on Captain Royal Fortune's ship for two days, it was time to head back.

With an earth-shattering groan of a stretch, Li Ming finally opened the door and ducked into the bathroom to wash up.

"Morning, Commander. Up so early today?"

Mary was up early cooking as usual. Last night, Dunkerque and the others had already returned to the shop, so the ship was much quieter.

"Yeah, woken up by a phone call."

"Do you want to sleep a bit longer?"

"No need, we have to head back in a while." Li Ming shook his head. "To handle some business."

"Okay."

Without asking further, Mary lowered her head and continued with her work.

—The Commander is more capable than everyone imagined; this was the consensus reached while the Commander was away.

While the others were still asleep, Li Ming quickly finished washing up and then took down the shirt and jacket that were drying on the deck.

Mary is so thoughtful; she even cleaned off the oil stains I couldn't get out, even though they weren't very noticeable...

Looking out from the ship, the distant docks were still bustling with activity.

He suddenly thought of his containers.

Perhaps before long, many dockworkers would be laid off...

Shaking his head, he turned and walked down the deck.

——————

Bidding farewell to the Hurricane Fleet, Li Ming and A6 sat on either side of Anshan's rigging.

Alert looked like she hadn't woken up yet; he hoped she wouldn't stay up so late next time.

After twenty minutes, they returned to the academy's dormitory area.

This stretch of beach was still quiet.

But Li Ming really just wanted to sleep now. He couldn't exactly use class time to catch up on sleep tomorrow, could he? Teacher Stuart would kill him...

Do you like chalk bits with force measured in Joules and a built-in aimbot? That's what disobedient children deserve.

Li Ming didn't want to take a second hit.

Yawning, Li Ming walked at the front and used his key to open the door.

It looked like Kano had already gone out? But that was none of his business.

Under Anshan's speechless gaze, he turned and collapsed onto his bed, seemingly having completely forgotten that Zhen Li would be coming in a while.

Seeing that he wasn't moving, Anshan poked her head in. "Hey, you dead yet?"

No response.

Life is hard, the kitty sighs.

Tossing the equally drowsy Alert back into her own room, Anshan turned and flopped onto the sofa, turned on the air conditioner, and narrowed her eyes.

Fine, I'll sleep for a bit too...

A6 looked at Z23.

"Aren't you sleepy?"

"Response: Combat units do not require long periods of sleep..."

"A6," Z23 suddenly became serious, "you can actually speak normally, can't you?"

"...Yes."

"Why?"

"I want to understand him more."

"You avoided the core question."

"I didn't mean to. Sorry."

"No need to be so nervous..."

"I am not nervous..." A6 looked directly into Z23's eyes for the first time. "This is my survival strategy, nothing more."

"Survival..." Z23 was momentarily stunned.

A6 quietly walked into Li Ming's room and returned to her equipment.

Plugging her phone into a data cable on the side, she looked at the bits and pieces placed on her equipment.

An enamel mug, a game console, and a jacket that was far too large for her.

At least for now, she wasn't satisfied with just survival.

She wanted more, but he needed to rest.

——————

"...Kano."

"Ah, Director Zhen Li..."

"I remember giving you a copy of all the relevant precautions before you set off..."

"Um... right..."

"Then what is this? This is information I only received halfway here. Commander Li Ming has been incredibly busy this week."

"Well, it's like this..." Sweat beads formed on Kano's forehead, and she kept poking her index fingers together. "But I respected his right to free development! And it's not like I can easily interfere in his family matters, right?"

"Then tell me what this is?" Zhen Li pulled out a document; it was a copy of a patent certificate. "Container technology patent and dividend terms... I believe I said to try and keep him out of matters related to the Industrial Society as much as possible?"

"Then... then what could I do! Drag him back and not let him go!" Kano put on a wronged expression. "I'm the supervisor, you're the doctor."

Zhen Li was stunned for a moment, then sighed, her tone softening. "My mistake, I was a bit hasty. You're right, Kano, but I hope things for him will be a bit quieter from now on. Hurry back to Edenia; I'll take over here."

Kano, as if granted a grand pardon, fled the deck of the transport ship like an arrow.

...

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