168: Chapter 168 Oath

"Behind here is... the underground core area..."

"Are you not done yet?"

"Hmm? Anshan? Why are you here?"

"Nonsense." Anshan stepped onto the shore, "Everyone was scared to death, yet you're still wandering around here."

Li Ming looked at Kano.

Kano raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

"She had the speakerphone on when she answered the call." Anshan said expressionlessly.

"Alright..." Li Ming's shoulders slumped, "I made everyone worry, it's my fault."

"Apologizing isn't what you need to do, Li Ming." Anshan retracted her rigging, stood before him, and leaned down to sniff him, "You killed someone?"

"Yeah."

"Given your temper, that person probably deserved to die." Anshan straightened up, "Are you done with everything you needed to do?"

"Yes, it's finished."

"Then let's go." Anshan redeployed her rigging, tossed Li Ming onto a section of it, and stuffed A6 into the other side, "Kano."

"Coming."

Kano deployed her rigging and followed Anshan into the water.

Hey, if the others saw this, they'd be dying of envy. Anshan thought for no reason; others didn't even have the chance to go out to sea with their Commander.

However, Li Ming's current state wasn't suitable for treating her like a supercar on the sea, so Anshan continued to sail at a low speed.

After a while, Anshan suddenly said to the dazed Li Ming: "If you're tired, you can lean on me and sleep for a bit."

"I'm fine..."

Anshan reached out and gently covered his nose and mouth, "Sleep for a bit."

Li Ming froze for a moment, then he closed his eyes, leaned against Anshan's rigging, and fell into a deep sleep.

After adjusting Li Ming's posture so he leaned against her and wouldn't fall into the sea, Anshan finally looked at A6.

A6 was also looking at her, seemingly analyzing why she had done that.

"Just a little bit of sedative, it's better than letting him stay awake." Anshan said, "He'll be fine after a nap."

——————

"It seems this is the first time you've done something like this. Taking the fall for a kid you've only met a few times—I truly cannot understand what you're thinking."

Axiom stood by the window, looking at the moon outside.

For some reason, the sky of this world, despite the wash of industrialization, remained bright.

The light spilled over her back, and from outside the window, only a blurred silhouette could be seen.

She didn't turn back to look at the girl lazily enjoying her snacks on the sofa, "Is he worth it? Worth you gambling your reputation, prestige, and the credibility of the Ship Girl Bureau?"

"I don't know?"

The girl looked up at the chandelier and the ceiling, "Maybe it's not worth it. Maybe one day he'll suddenly go crazy and kill us all, that's possible too."

"I'm not joking." Axiom turned around, her golden hair shimmering under the light, but it couldn't hide the seriousness on her face, "What you're doing now will greatly provoke those councilors; they'll definitely use this to their advantage."

Although she had used a disguise, those familiar with her would inevitably recognize her. She had used makeup, not a complete facial reconstruction.

"You know, I've always been indifferent."

"If you were truly indifferent, you wouldn't be traveling back and forth to the Senate alone." Axiom looked at her, "The truth of what you say has always been subject to verification—it was true before, and it still is now."

"I've never lied to anyone." The girl closed her eyes, "Never."

"..." Axiom sighed, "It's better that way."

Aussie opened her eyes and sat up, "You're quite concerned about me; I thought you disliked me very much."

"Regardless, you are Vow." Axiom turned her head back to the window, "The flagship, the leader, the symbol of the Federation's maritime power."

"Yes, a symbol of maritime power..." Aussie laughed, "A premature freak assembled in the worst possible way, just to fight the Empire, forced to piece together so-called newest, most excellent, and best equipment ahead of schedule."

"Vow..."

"Serving ten whole years beyond her limit to fight the Empire, suffering one hundred and thirty-five major accidents in thirty-five years of service due to an extensive use of riveted structures and immature designs, causing over five hundred non-combat casualties among the crew—that is Vow." She stood up.

"..."

"Unable to evacuate during the first Siren tide due to technical failures, pointlessly sacrificing herself and two escort Destroyer squadrons, leaving not a single survivor in the entire fleet and forcing the fleet Commander into retirement—that is Vow." She began to pace in Axiom's office.

"Weak for a long time after becoming a Ship Girl, forced to appear only at critical moments, thus adding many casualties to her comrades, not recovering full combat power until the second Siren tide passed and the fourth large-scale Siren tide arrived. Flagship, standard-bearer, leader, and symbol?"

Aussie sighed, "Old Four, I'm already outdated, as old as they come. It's just that I'm very conspicuous now, with a big enough name, like a towering tree that has been hollowed out by termites. But I just can't fall. It's not that Verres or the others lack ability, it's that I've been in this position for thirty years."

Axiom did not look back at her.

"I also want to retire and teach like you, or run off to Plata Port to be a diplomat like your second sister, Conviction, or travel everywhere like your third sister, Justice? But forget it, even if I had free time, I wouldn't know what to do..." Aussie reached the door, "You probably still have to work overtime? I won't stay to keep you company, goodnight Old Four~"

"Goodnight, Big Sister." Axiom closed her eyes.

The room remained quiet, with only the half-eaten snack plate proving that someone had been there.

——————

"Director?"

"Kano, how do you feel?"

"Um, what do you mean?"

"I mean him, Li Ming. How do you feel about him?"

"...He is very good, Director."

"Don't be afraid of me; I don't intend to do anything to him. You should understand the previous kill order; I didn't really intend to make him disappear, otherwise I wouldn't have taken the blame for him, would I?"

"Um..."

"Alright, Kano. You don't need to hide your thoughts from me. If you really think he's not bad, I support you in pursuing him."

"But, Director..."

"I'll speak with Verres as well. Besides, she deliberately sent your file over here; isn't her meaning obvious enough?... Oh~ I see, you haven't made up your mind yet, right?"

"...Yes, Director."

"It's okay, I believe Li Ming has enough patience to wait for you... but only if you leave some hints yourself. He might be very dense and not necessarily know your feelings, haha..."

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