38: Chapter 38 Dining Room

...So, you brought them into the kitchen?” Z23 asked, her face expressionless as she looked at Li Ming, her arms crossed.

Li Ming awkwardly rubbed his head, essentially admitting it.

“...Sigh!” Z23 let out a pained sigh, then nodded. She glanced at Finn, who was eating ravenously, and Olena, who was subtly observing them, then gestured for Li Ming to return to the head seat. She sat opposite them.

“Hello, Miss Olena, I am his Ship Girl, Z23.”

“Z23-chan,” Li Ming quietly added, then Z23-chan subtly kicked him.

“Hello, Miss Z23.” After repeatedly confirming that Z23 was indeed a Ship Girl, Olena actually felt relieved.

A Commander with a Ship Girl? It seems he really doesn't have any ill intentions, does he?

“Thank you, Commander Lin, for your help. You were willing to assist the cruise ship even in such terrible weather. Also, may I ask where you were just now?”

“My companions and I were fighting the Sirens. The Flagship said the Commander was in trouble, so she sent me back first,” Z23 replied. “Is rescuing the cruise ship your mission objective?”

“Yes.” Olena nodded, glancing at Finn, who was wolfing down food, and Li Ming, who was savoring his own creation and preparing to do the same. She suddenly felt a kinship with Z23.

“Regarding the Federation, could you tell us about yourselves?” Z23 asked.

“Although I can, I also hope to learn more about you.”

“Of course, no problem...”

Li Ming watched the two of them converse. Seeing that he wasn't needed, his shoulders slumped, and he began to eat on his own.

Z23 reached into a nearby cabinet and took out fruit drinks and cups. She first poured a cup for her unreliable Commander (Li Ming nodded wildly in thanks), then for Finn (who mimicked Li Ming, his mouth never stopping), Olena, and finally herself.

Olena once again showed a troubled expression and gave Z23 a look. Z23 smiled, but did not respond to her, simply continuing to be a listener.

Li Ming suddenly had a mischievous thought. He took out a pair of chopsticks and gestured to Finn. Finn looked at him doubtfully, took the chopsticks, then looked at him again.

“What are these two wooden sticks?” Finn’s eyes seemed to ask. Li Ming smiled, simply holding the chopsticks skillfully (though it looked unrefined, full of his self-taught, unconventional style), and began picking up food.

Finn tried to imitate him, but eventually turned his gaze to Olena, who was still explaining. He leaned over and poked her.

Olena turned her head and saw Finn holding the chopsticks in his other hand (like holding a wooden stick), while signaling Li Ming with his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Olena said, “These are chopsticks, a common eating utensil used by the Remnants on Baihui Street. Did you forget?”

“I haven’t been there... I’ve never seen them, so how would I know they’re chopsticks?” Finn scratched his head.

“That’s true...” Olena gritted her teeth. “I don’t know how to use them either...”

“Alright...” Finn went back to figuring it out himself.

“Miss Olena, what are these Remnants you just mentioned?” Z23 asked opportunely.

Li Ming tilted his head and glanced at them.

“Remnants refer to the former citizens of the Xia Empire, once the sole superpower on the continent...”

Li Ming lowered his head and continued eating, subtly kicking Finn under the table and quietly asking, “How’s this drink?”

Finn gave a thumbs up. “Coconut?”

Li Ming nodded. “Freshly squeezed a while ago, from coconuts found on a certain island.”

Actually, Li Ming was very curious where these coconuts came from at this time, but Finn clearly wasn't surprised, so he could only believe it was a characteristic of this world.

“Good, better than the industrial saccharin-added ones on the mainland.” Finn thought for a moment. “Natural is definitely better.”

“Hey, my brother and I used to prefer the industrial ones, they were sweeter after all.”

“You have a brother?”

“Two, cousins,” Li Ming replied. “I wonder how they’re doing.”

“Lin, you’re so amazing, your brothers must be good too.”

“They are indeed good, even better than me...”

This was true. One got into a top high school in the city, even the country, and the other was very strong physically. As for himself, just an ordinary vocational high school graduate, supposedly a future engineer, but in reality, an electrician welding chip components on an assembly line...

I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing? I hope they won’t be sad because of my unannounced departure...

“Commander?”

Li Ming came back to his senses. “Hm?”

Looking at Z23’s worried eyes, Li Ming grinned, revealing an astonishingly ugly smile.

Poor Z23’s expression stiffened for a moment, then she turned her head back.

“...That’s pretty much it, Miss Z23.” Olena also turned her head back. “Now it’s your turn.”

“Alright, we are the Azur Lane, jointly established by eight major nations and dozens of smaller nations or organizations. Our goal is to fight the Sirens and...”

Finn gently kicked him. “Lin, your... plane, that mustang, how much does one cost?”

“?” Li Ming tilted his head. “Why, are you planning to buy one?”

“It’s so cool,” Finn replied. “I want to fly a plane in the sky and show Olena...”

“Absolutely not!” Olena struck hard, and it was as if Finn had another large bump on his head.

“Why not, though...” Finn clutched his head and crouched defensively.

“It’s not really feasible. Pilot training requires hundreds, even thousands of hours, and also an excellent trainer aircraft and an instructor. Wanting to fly directly is like wanting to fall into the water yourself,” Li Ming shook his head. “Moreover, the mustang is quite difficult to master. The main reason they’re here is that their loadout can be specialized. If you want a plane that’s easier to handle, I personally recommend... the Hien.”

“Hien? What’s that?” Finn was curious.

“If I get the chance, I’ll show you,” Li Ming shrugged. “And the plane itself, considering various factors, is not cheap.”

“Roughly how much? I still have some savings!”

“Then I’d need to understand your currency’s value... and when currency values differ, gold or similar equivalents are the best choice.”

“Oh, right...” Finn wilted.

Li Ming shrugged, just about to signal Z23 and Olena to continue, when his eyes caught a flicker on the tablet on the kitchen counter. Standing up to take a look, Li Ming recoiled as if he’d seen a monster, knocking over his chair, and rushed to the porthole, pulling open the curtain, under the gaze of the others.

“Damn it! You two immediately go back and command your Destroyers! A Waterspout is coming!”

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