151: Chapter 151 Drowned Chicken

Hua Yun felt like he was a dead man walking.

It started when he was chosen as a "proxy" for being "obedient," then when his fellow villagers turned hostile toward him, and finally when he was sent onto this ship.

After several years of enjoying so-called wealth and glory while trembling with fear, the judgment had finally arrived.

It wasn't that he didn't want to run away, but what would happen to his family?

In order for his family to survive, he had to die.

Probably.

At least during these two days on this ship sailing southeast, despite the poor food and the cold, there were quite a few interesting people on board.

Even though they were all "proxies."

Playing chess with others, listening to sung ballads, or scrounging a snack secretly brought along by a fellow countryman next door were all decent options.

He only had a few days of life left. Although some people still didn't seem to understand the situation, he was at least somewhat happy for now—if finding joy in sorrow counted.

The crew on the ship was quite unfriendly. Some female compatriots who were also brought on board were carried out of the cabins just two days later.

And then they were thrown into the sea.

There were no more operas today.

Because those multi-colored haired bastards thought it was too noisy, they hacked the old man who sang the ballads with some kind of axe.

He could only sit in a gap below the deck and daze off with a middle-aged man who also liked listening to the songs.

He had seen him every day for the past two days; the man liked to shake his legs incessantly to the beat of the music.

"Hey, brother, what do you do?"

Hua Yun was truly a bit bored, so he nudged the middle-aged man with his elbow.

"Me?" The middle-aged man smiled. "I just ran a small business, nothing prestigious."

"Heh, how could truly prestigious families end up here? They're cash cows..." Hua Yun laughed.

"True. As for me, maybe... it's because it was too big," the middle-aged man smiled. "For the sake of my surviving family, I can only go to my death."

"Surviving?" Hua Yun looked at him.

"Yeah..." The middle-aged man lowered his head, unwilling to say more on the subject.

Hua Yun smiled and looked out the window.

That was a Federation warship. If anything went wrong on this ship, it would be immediately sunk by that warship.

Vroom vroom vroom—

The sound of the ship's engine was exceptionally loud today.

Maybe the engine was broken? If so, maybe they could live for a couple more days?

"Brother, looks like we'll have to suffer for a few more days..." Hua Yun said with a laugh.

"No, that's not the sound of the engine!" The middle-aged man suddenly sat up straight. "Something's happening!"

Hua Yun also seemed to hear the commotion on deck and stood up. "I'll go see what's going on."

"I'm coming too." The middle-aged man stood up. "By the way, young friend, what's your name?"

"Hua Yun."

"Li Zhi."

The two followed the crowd onto the deck. It was already packed with people, all looking up at the sky.

Vroom vroom vroom—

The sound became clear. Hua Yun looked up to see a giant iron bird, spreading long, strange wings, soaring above them.

"What kind of bird is that?" Hua Yun asked.

"No, no, that's not a bird. It's a... flying machine?" Li Zhi wasn't quite sure, squinting against the sunlight to observe.

This aircraft wasn't flying high. Li Zhi was certain it wasn't as big as an airship, but it was much faster.

The aircraft skimmed at low altitude over the convoy consisting of five cargo ships and three Destroyers.

And did the back of it... just open a door?

People were jumping out of that door, falling into the water... and deploying rigging?

Ship Girls? What were they going to do?

They saw them quickly surround the convoy, and then...

An hour later, Hua Yun sat on the ship drinking porridge, watching the Ship Girls serving food to everyone, feeling like he was in a dream.

Was this right?

Were these those high-and-mighty Ship Girl ladies? This couldn't be right, could it?

——————

"The First Air Transport Task Force reports that the detachment led by Ayanami and the Deputy Director of the Plata Port Ship Girl Bureau has successfully taken control of the Southeast Route convoy and is closing in on the flagship," Golden Deer reported to Fujian.

"Understood." Fujian looked at the electronic sand table. "Dispatch an interceptor squadron equipped with rockets from the Northern Outpost Airfield to provide escort and take over aerial reconnaissance from the C-54."

"Understood... Also, the flagship fleet reports that they have successfully taken over the Middle Route convoy. Director Ishtar has driven off the Federation Destroyers."

"Understood. Check the condition of the vessels, detain the involved personnel, and ask the medical department of the Plata Port Ship Girl Bureau to help check the health status and living conditions of the people on board."

"I'll go notify them." Golden Deer put down the data pad in her hand. "I must remind you, this group of people is going to be a big trouble moving forward."

"This trouble is unavoidable. If we can't stop it successfully, the trouble will only get worse from here." Fujian stood up. "I'll leave things here to you. I'm going to the Ship Girl Bureau to notify them in person, and by the way, pass on a message: I intend to talk with Verres personally."

——————

"Tsk tsk, look at this rain."

Li Ming opened his umbrella.

He definitely wasn't going out for dinner tonight; it was too much of a hassle.

During today's club hours, he had immersed himself in the Industrial Society.

For no other reason than having some new ideas and coming over here to mess around with blueprints with Logic.

The specific result could only be described as...

He didn't finish drawing today.

But Li Ming didn't want to work overtime, so he slipped away.

Anyway, with the shipping container patent, he had already earned full credits in the Industrial Society; he could do whatever he wanted.

A6, Anshan, and Alert should still be playing in the Game Club, but he didn't plan on calling them for now.

It was hard on Z23 to handle three meals a day alone, not to mention she needed to help Logic analyze information. So today, he'd just go to the cafeteria. The academy cafeteria was actually quite good; he'd pack a few portions and take them to the Game Club.

What? Finn and Ronan? If they want to eat, they can go get it themselves, unless they pay.

"Professor Auglaya, I'm leaving now!" Li Ming looked back.

"Oh! Okay!"

Professor Auglaya was tinkering in front of a new semi-finished product.

This was the biplane Li Ming had requested. To avoid taking up other people's production lines, Auglaya chose to complete all the processes herself, except for ordering the parts.

Believe it or not, Auglaya was quite interested in this thing. Once all the parts were ready these past few days, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to the assembly work.

Li Ming turned around, left the Industrial Society, and walked toward the dormitory area.

Because of the rain, the beach was completely deserted at this time.

There was a light mist on the sea, making it impossible to see clearly into the distance.

Li Ming entered the dormitory area. Just as he was about to turn and go upstairs, he saw a blue-haired Ship Girl emerge from the mist.

She was soaked like a drowned rat, but why did she look a bit familiar?

...Kano?

"Commander Li Ming! I'm back!"

She quickly stepped onto the sand and jogged under Li Ming's umbrella.

"Why didn't you bring an umbrella?"

Li Ming pulled her into the hallway and closed the umbrella.

"How can you use an umbrella with such a strong sea breeze..." Kano's clothes were completely soaked, water dripping down bit by bit.

"Tsk, go upstairs first."

Li Ming went upstairs first to open the door. The air conditioning inside made Kano shiver.

"Hurry up and take a shower, you silly girl," Li Ming grumbled.

...

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