244: Chapter 244 Cherry Blossom Rebirth...

Qianhe Empire, Main Island.

The capital, Tian'anjing.

"Thank you for taking care of us during this time, Ms. Jinghe."

Amagi held her teacup, but her gaze remained fixed on the Ship Girl across the table.

Jinghe was a battleship Ship Girl of the Qianhe Empire. In terms of position, she could be called... uh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"You all have helped me a lot as well, haven't you? Consider this my way of repaying the favor..." She was wearing a light gray kimono today and had specifically applied makeup. Her fox ears, somewhat similar to those of the Sakura Empire Ship Girls, twitched slightly, indicating that she definitely had other intentions for today's visit.

"Ms. Jinghe, let's not beat around the bush." Amagi picked up her teacup. "Is there something you need our help with?"

"Since Ms. Amagi intends to lay her cards on the table, I won't hide anything either." Jinghe chuckled softly. "I hope you all will join us."

Amagi raised an eyebrow.

"Yes..." Seeing that the other party remained unmoved, Jinghe continued, "I do indeed covet your technology and abilities, but we are also willing to promise to help you find your missing companions... You have come from afar and have no deep roots here. With our help, your efficiency should be much higher."

Amagi closed her eyes and nodded gently. "That is true. However, Ms. Jinghe..."

Amagi reached out her hand, revealing the Oath ring on her ring finger. "We are Ship Girls who already have a master, so I cannot accept your invitation."

"That is... unexpected." Jinghe looked at the ring on her hand. Although a bit disappointed, she still nodded with a smile. "Then I shall trouble you no further. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me..."

"If you ever wish to come, you are always welcome..."

While exchanging pleasantries, she saw Jinghe out. The waiting room finally fell silent.

Amagi shook her head.

There were many problems at the moment.

First was the issue of survival. This was actually easy to solve; if there were no other people around, it would be simple to re-establish a self-sufficient system using the units of the Sakura Empire that hadn't drifted away. However, in the presence of a society... and a nation possessing equivalent military power (in a sense), it had to be handled through communication.

Furthermore, the ultra-high-power communication device developed in the Port had malfunctioned in this world—"possibly due to errors in certain physical laws and technical rules caused by the different worldview." It still couldn't be started normally. The technical team was already doing their best to maintain this urgently crafted device, but undoubtedly, this would take time.

Secondly, the current Sakura Empire Combined Fleet was incomplete. Yamato was wandering off somewhere, and many companions had been lost in the spatial turbulence. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the command level was all concentrated together.

The unfortunate part was that although the others had the ability to survive, the lack of organization might turn them into a scattered mess. Heaven knew where they might have ended up...

Finally, the recent situation.

Some time before arriving at this continent, Ikazuchi and Inazuma had fallen into a coma for unknown reasons. This had worried Akatsuki and Hibiki greatly. Nagato and Musashi had tried many methods, combining medicine and miko rituals, but all were to no avail.

According to Nagato...

"Their consciousness seems to have been taken... I don't know who did it..."

Amagi shook her head. Before her most recent slumber, Shinano had told them that she seemed to have found their consciousness through dreams. Now she was still sleeping, attempting to find them.

"Drrrring..."

"Hmm...?" Amagi took out her phone... naturally, it was the phone from the Port; she had another one for external communication.

Shinano? Was she awake?

"Shinano?"

"Those two children have been... released."

Shinano's words were concise. "And I've obtained information regarding the Commander."

"...I understand. Go notify the Miko, Senior Mikasa, and Musashi."

"I know."

Amagi put down her phone and immediately left the waiting room, heading toward her quarters.

"Akagi?"

"Dear Sister?" The red fire fox was boredly arranging flowers. Seeing her sister rush in, she immediately perked up.

"Come with me for a moment; it's urgent."

——————

"...That is the situation."

Shinano still looked a bit listless... though she was always like that.

The time flow rate was about a tenfold difference. That is to say, since they fell into a coma four months ago, they had spent over a year in the other world.

"To put it simply... we are characters in a game, right?"

Though a bit surprised, Musashi quickly accepted this.

Shinano nodded.

"That isn't important." Nagato shook her head. "It's enough that they returned safely. It seems that... The Governing Body did not make things difficult for them, but..."

"The Commander..." Mikasa massaged her temples. "How is his current situation?"

"According to Ikazuchi, The Governing Body sent him to another world," Shinano replied. "However, before they were separated, the Commander had already exchanged information with them... Currently, the Commander himself is living in Oronia of the Edenia Federation."

Amagi pressed Akagi back down. "What is the Lord's specific situation?"

"Intuitively, not very good," Shinano replied. "At the very least, he is no longer just the Commander in our memories."

"Is it certain... that it's him?" Nagato asked cautiously.

"I am certain," Shinano replied. "My consciousness saw him, but for some reason, my awareness was intermittent, and I didn't communicate with him... His situation is somewhat strange."

"In what way?" Musashi, who had been reflecting, asked.

"Have you heard of an ability to merge one's body and consciousness into vehicles and control them?" Shinano said.

The Ship Girls looked at each other in surprise.

"You mean the Commander achieved that, in that... world?" Musashi tilted her head.

Shinano nodded. "Besides that, in terms of temperament and demeanor, he is closer to an apprentice or an ordinary warrior rather than a Commander. His interactions with the two Destroyers... according to them, were clearly somewhat unnatural and reserved, as well as... overly concerned. On the few occasions I could see his face directly, I could also feel... that he is very young."

This was a sign of immaturity.

Amagi closed her eyes. "Our Lord now... his abilities have regressed, or perhaps... this is who he truly is now, right?"

"It's very possible," Shinano replied. "This is all the information I have for now... Ikazuchi and Inazuma are still organizing the information about that world. Once they have finished..."

"Leave it to me," Nagato said, looking at Mikasa, who hadn't spoken yet. "We need to send someone to contact the Commander immediately."

"Based on what Ikazuchi recounted, although the Commander's situation isn't difficult, it will be quite complex. Therefore, it's better to act discreetly." Shinano looked at the somewhat impatient Akagi and said.

"Naturally. Then, who should we send?"

"Considering the relationship and situation between the Federation and the Empire, we need to send someone whose features aren't too obvious and who has competent professional skills," Musashi said. "Azuma is a good choice."

"She it is." Amagi nodded in agreement, while once again suppressing her dear sister.

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