192: Chapter 192 Whispers

"Good afternoon, Commander Li Ming!"

"Kano? Why are you here instead of playing games at the Game Club?"

"I'm here to inform you that the patent for your aircraft has been approved. It has dual certification from both the Federation and local Oronia."

"That's good," Li Ming replied, closing his laptop and looking at the surrounding workstations. Professor Auglaya was busy, and the other club members were out. "Let's go, come with me to Baihui Street."

"Eh? Baihui Street?" Kano rested her hands on the workstation partition. "Why go there?"

"To buy some things. After all, the meat and vegetables Z23 stocked at home are almost gone," Li Ming replied. "Anshan is still training, so I have to rely on you."

Kano's golden eyes darted around. "Then let's go."

"Mm."

He stuffed his computer into its bag, carried it, and followed Kano to the seaside.

In the distance, the roar of cannons from the Ship Girls' training formations thundered. It had to be said that the Academy was exceptionally strict regarding Ship Girl training.

Kano deployed her rigging. The heavy rigging of a large cruiser was engraved with exquisite decorations, with golden trimmings and various melee and ranged weapons surrounding the main turrets.

"Commander Li Ming, why don't you sit here?" Kano said, patting Turret A on her right side.

Li Ming looked left and right, then sat down. It was more spacious than he imagined, though it wasn't as massive as Anshan's modular rigging—of course, Anshan's rigging was purely due to the excessive equipment and the racks carrying reserve missiles, but without missiles, it could only serve as a seat.

Kano stepped into the water, pushing the propulsion unit forward.

Compared to Anshan's quiet thrusters, the power system of Kano's rigging seemed much more violent.

Kicked by the powerful thrust, Li Ming's whole body leaned back sharply before he managed to steady himself.

—This girl has some strength.

Today, Kano wasn't wearing her formal uniform, but rather casual athletic short sleeves, shorts, and small sandals. Her ponytail and bangs fluttered in the sea breeze.

"Hmm... what should we buy today?"

"I don't have a plan. We'll buy whatever we see."

"Are you really not making a plan?"

"I'm not Z23. Anshan likes to gorge herself, A6 is afraid of spicy food and prefers light flavors, and Alert has no dietary restrictions but clearly likes sweets. You're actually fine, quite normal except for occasionally liking to eat strange things."

"What do you mean by strange things!" Kano complained.

"...Then tell me, what kind of strange way to eat is melon mixed with chili sauce?"

"That's not that strange... okay, it does seem a bit strange..."

"See?" Li Ming spread his hands. "In the past, I would have shouted 'heresy.' Of course, I won't do that now."

"Hehe..."

Li Ming swung his legs with the rise and fall of the waves. "Kano..."

"Hmm?"

"I seem to have gotten used to you being at home."

Kano turned her head toward the mainland. "What is it, Commander Li Ming?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you'll be rotated out next."

"...I won't. As long as you are on the mainland, I will follow you."

"And what if one day I have to go back?"

"Hmm... I haven't thought about that."

"Well, true. There's still plenty of time; it's too early to think about these things."

"Right, too early..."

It wasn't early.

Kano looked at the mainland to avoid his gaze.

Does this mean we've caught each other's eye? Maybe...

Kano actually wasn't sure how she viewed him.

A long-term meal ticket? A tool for a vacation on public funds? Or a friend?

It didn't seem to be any of those.

With her decades of service, Kano didn't think she should... suddenly take a liking to someone like this.

But just like her old colleagues, one day they suddenly just left with a Commander.

It seemed she was about to follow in their footsteps.

"Kano?"

"Hmm? Commander Li Ming? What's wrong?"

Kano quickly turned her head back.

"We're going to crash!"

"What?" Kano looked ahead and saw a cargo ship. "Waaaaah? Quick, quick, quick, brake!—"

Kano braked successfully, but Li Ming was nearly thrown off.

"Thank you so much, Kano!"

"Sorry, Commander Li Ming TAT"

"Forget it, let's keep going."

"Mm-hmm..."

Rounding the harbor, Baihui Street was already close at hand.

——————

"Yahoo! A perfect landing!"

Li Ming watched her happy expression while twisting his waist; his back was a bit sore from sitting so long.

Rolling up his pant legs which had gotten wet when he almost fell into the water, Li Ming stood up straight again and watched Kano rub the soles of her shoes against the ground to get the seawater off.

"Let's go."

"Coming!"

Kano followed Li Ming into Baihui Street. "I've been here so many times, but this fragrance is still so memorable..."

"It is a snack street, after all."

In every street and alley, various vendors were hawking their wares from carts, while the small and large shops on both sides still held all sorts of exquisite handicrafts.

This was Baihui Street, the final essence of the Xia Civilization.

"Alright Kano, what do you plan to buy?"

"Um... actually, I don't have any ideas either."

"Buy whatever you want?"

"Eh? Is that really okay?"

"Anyway, you'll have to use your rigging space to carry it, so buy whatever you want."

"Okay..."

——————

"Look, that really does look like the child from Li Zhi's family..."

"Indeed, the resemblance is too strong... he's just much thinner."

"But shouldn't he be..."

"Look at the one beside him, isn't that a Ship Soul lady? Maybe he was saved by the Ship Soul ladies."

"That makes sense, that makes sense..."

"In that case... why doesn't he go home?"

"Not sure, apparently his relationship with the family wasn't very good to begin with."

"Hmph... so he's an unfilial son?"

"Sigh, don't say that. He was quite filial; it's just that his features didn't look like his parents."

"Hmm... now that you mention it, it does seem that way. Could he have been swapped at birth?"

"How is that possible? Don't overthink it."

"Speaking of which, how is Old Li's family doing now?"

"Sigh, they say that when the boy went missing, his mother went mad. Now Li Zhi has been sent away too, leaving only a girl to hold the family together. I heard that to make ends meet, that child has gotten mixed up with the Zhongxing Society."

"That underworld gang? This is terrible!"

"Sigh, back when the Li family supported us, we could live a bit better. But now? We can barely protect ourselves; it's good enough if we don't make things worse..."

"Tsk, we can't just watch, can we? Such a good girl..."

"Take care of yourself first... sigh..."

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