171: Chapter 171 Quality

"Good morning, Commander."

"Morning... Terrible." Li Ming crawled up and stretched. "What time is it now?"

"Nine o'clock." Terrible was kneeling on the bed, looking like she had just woken up too. "You promised to spend the day with me today."

"Of course... I haven't forgotten. So, what are your plans for today?"

"No plans," she replied. "I just simply want you to keep me company."

"That works too." Li Ming was naturally happy to be idle, as this would give him some time to rest.

Terrible was wearing a nightgown this time; she hugged Li Ming and then lay back down with him. The young church messenger was a sleepy child, and before long, she drifted off into dreamland once again.

"Commander, I have some new findings. Would you like to take a look?"

In the consciousness space, Logic suddenly said this. Ever since the Personnel Contract Agreement was passed, it seemed more active than before.

For Li Ming, this was a good thing.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember the meta-world of the Personnel Contract Agreement that I mentioned to you before?"

"I remember. What about it?"

"The space we visited twice before can also be considered a type of meta-world. Although it is actually still a parallel universe, it has been captured by some entity in this world for other purposes."

Logic continued, "Although I haven't determined who this entity is or whether it has any hostility towards you, there is no doubt that its world causes you no harm on either a physical or mental level... or rather, it cannot cause you harm. At most, there might be a little... PTSD? But it's quite clear that you haven't developed PTSD."

"So... do you think that world is safe?" Li Ming began to ponder.

"You don't need to worry about that. Once my central computer over there is ready, it will immediately begin seizing control of the world." Logic didn't seem to care much about this. "Although I can't conveniently disclose the process, and those technologies cannot be shown to you, you don't need to worry about the safety."

"Understood, protocol restrictions."

"It's good that you understand. We strictly prohibit any behavior that seeks growth by pulling on seedlings." Logic seemed to chuckle. "However, we can let you mess around with some new things."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"I received news that the Central Governing Body is preparing to open a batch of parallel meta-space-times for simulating historical deductions, while adding variables to observe developments. The main base host has applied for a spot for you. If you want to go, we can find a time when you enter a dream."

"As for me... actually, I'm not very interested. And isn't giving me a spot just a complete waste of an opportunity?"

"You can get close and cuddly with 2D beautiful girls."

"Aren't I already getting close and cuddly with 2D beautiful girls every day?"

"You can bring them home, you know."

"...Are there not enough 2D beautiful girls in my home already? Besides, according to the agreement, I still have to be polite."

"You can bring their memories over together, and then get close and cuddly. Besides, how many of your Ship Girls have you already sworn oaths to? What's wrong with having a few more human girls?" Logic retorted. "What, are you scared? Afraid of a fire in the backyard?"

"...You're really something, I'm telling you." Li Ming was speechless.

"I'm joking. What I mean is, I think you need some girls with special skills to act as a bridge between your port area and the combat personnel. I know you don't like those rough men having direct, close-range contact with your Ship Girls, even if it's just for communication—am I right?"

"...I have nothing to say."

"Very well, I will remind you when there is time later. Let's wait until October when we have the long-distance antenna dish connected to the main base set up."

Logic calculated the time. After all, once Li Ming entered a long-term coma, it would take time if he didn't respond on his own turf. The previous two times were in absolutely safe environments, but what if something happened? Once the communication system was set up, even if it couldn't keep the Commander in stable communication with the main base, it could still transmit and receive instructions quickly.

"Go back to sleep, Commander, and enjoy your weekend."

"Then, good afternoon."

"It's raining, Commander."

"Sounds like a light rain." Li Ming glanced out the window.

Yesterday, when he came to Dunkerque's place, he had originally intended to just sleep on the sofa, but everyone wouldn't allow it, so he very decisively sought out Terrible.

Naturally, it wasn't that he disliked the romance and enthusiasm of Dunkerque and Strasbourg, nor did he dislike the styles of the other Destroyers; it was simply because this Miss Terrible had gotten a head start.

She had made a bet with him that looked like he had a great chance of winning, but in reality, he had lost everything.

The result of losing was being required to spend the day with her. So, as soon as it hit 12 o'clock, she clung to him and refused to get off, and everyone else had to give up.

However, it didn't seem like a bad choice now.

Terrible was somewhere between an adult and a child; even though her stature was on the smaller side, she was still a reliable big kid.

She sat up. "Commander, do you still remember the questions I once asked you?"

"Hmm... I have some recollection."

"Between life, love, and freedom, which one is most important to you?"

"When it comes to someone you care about, Commander, do you prefer to bind them, or do you prefer to be bound by them?"

"If one day Terrible were to head towards certain death, would you stop me?"

Seeing Li Ming's expression freeze, Terrible did not choose to gloss over it this time.

"Commander, I hope to get an answer." She had waited for a long time and did not wish to wait any longer.

"Let me think..." Li Ming slowly sat up. "For the first question, I'm not too sure. But I just remember seeing a line somewhere: Life is precious, love is even higher, but for freedom, both can be discarded."

"Is that Sándor Petőfi's 'Freedom and Love'? An unexpected answer, Commander. What about the second question?"

"I might be more inclined to bind you. You know, I hope to control everything... There's a lyric that says, everyone wants to control the world. But... if you are not willing, I will not do so." While I can still control my own actions, Li Ming said in his heart, but Li Ming still remembered that line; at that time, Terrible also had a follow-up: There is no third answer.

"Not bad, Commander... Then what about the last question?" Although Terrible still wore a mysterious smile, her sleeping attire and the slightly nervous single eye, along with the white iris that occasionally twitched in her other eye, significantly weakened her sense of mystery.

"Listen, Terrible." Li Ming didn't find his glasses, and his somewhat chaotic eyes seemed terrifyingly serious at this moment. "I will make sufficient preparations to prevent such a situation from happening. If there really is such a day, it will be my dereliction of duty. I will go in your place."

Terrible was stunned.

"That... that's really a cheating answer." She laughed dryly. "But you didn't answer that question."

"I answered. I will go in your place."

"That sort of thing is just not allowed..."

After a good while, Terrible moved closer and gripped his left arm with both hands. "That sort of thing will not happen, I promise. I will not leave you, never, I promise..."

"Actually, you felt it, didn't you? That's not what I wanted to say... Gang Yishawa has sworn an oath with you. So I want... I also want to get your reply. Thank you..."

By the time of the last question, Li Ming had already felt that choice.

And because of this, when he replied to her, the oath had already been completed.