53: Chapter 53 Traction

"...Well, that's how it is."

Fujian rubbed her forehead. She never thought she'd encounter such a thing—a group of "pirates" accidentally running into the Commander because the port's electronic systems were being interfered with by the natural environment.

Fortunately, they were their own people; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Seeing everyone clinging to Li Ming, Fujian felt a strange sensation but suppressed it.

"Anyway... welcome back," Fujian said. "But please give the Commander some space; he's about to suffocate."

Hearing this, Golden Deer, who was leaning against Li Ming, immediately moved away a bit.

Though she left Li Ming covered in slime. Because of her tentacles, she was always slimy, but Li Ming gave up resisting.

He didn't want to experience that overwhelming resentment again from when Royal Fortune pounced on him.

"Report. Electromagnetic anomaly has disappeared, communications restored." A6 had been staring at the electronic system; now, noticing the ship's radar was working again, she reported immediately.

"I see, thank you, A6." Fujian nodded. "Then Commander, we won't disturb you all."

"Um, Fujian..." Li Ming rubbed his nose. "I'll be back a few days late."

Fujian understood his meaning half a second later. "I understand. Remember to stay safe, Commander."

"Okay..."

Fujian left with Z23 and Ayanami. Before leaving, Z23 glared at Li Ming, making him shrink back.

After they left, Li Ming finally caught his breath. "By the way, where are Saint Martin and Vida?"

"Saint Martin is busy over at Gang Yishawa's side and didn't have time to come this time. Vida is still guarding the ship."

"So you mean you forgot her on your ship?"

"Uh..." Royal Fortune's expression froze. "I was too excited, ahaha..."

"Take me with you... A6, I'm going to prepare a late-night snack in a bit. Can you help me prepare the ingredients?"

"Query: what is a late-night snack?"

"An extra meal at night."

"Query: extra meals after dinner are not healthy behavior."

"Because they haven't eaten dinner, and neither have we."

"Affirmative."

In the end, Li Ming followed Royal Fortune off the cruiser alone, while the others stayed on the ship.

It wasn't because they didn't want to spend more time with Li Ming, but because Li Ming had clearly shown he was uncomfortable.

"Commander, who is that child named A6?"

"I picked her up on a deserted island. Based on the bits and pieces she said and Fujian's observations over the past two days, she's a... Tank Girl, or rather, she should be called a DOLLS."

"Tank Girl? You mean those big iron cans with cannons?"

"Yes, but she's much more advanced than those." Li Ming paused. "Of course, that's not important. She should be a creation of an experiment on the compatibility between human bodies and Wisdom Cubes by the Iron Blood in some parallel world."

"Oh... human body?" Royal Fortune's eyes widened. "You mean she used to be a human?"

Li Ming nodded. "Most likely."

"Are those Iron Blood people crazy?!"

"In fact, the Iron Blood Ship Girls in our port are from a truly normal world. According to my memories, in worlds without Ship Girls, most of the Iron Blood are much crazier."

"Hmm..."

Li Ming jumped onto the speedboat and pulled Royal Fortune up too. "The speedboat is much faster than us walking slowly."

"Haha, that's true..." Royal Fortune stood at the bow, and then the Manjuu crew started the engine. "Woohoo~"

Li Ming felt the sea breeze and suddenly heard Royal Fortune ask:

"Commander has changed a lot too! Now you're like a child who just hit puberty!"

"That's a long story!" The speedboat's engine was a bit noisy, so Li Ming had to raise his volume. "Let's chat slowly..."

——————

No one else was around, there was an unknown engine sound outside, and here was only herself and the "little ones." If it really was some big danger, she might...

The sound of the anchor chain being pulled up.

???

The ship's swaying seemed to increase a bit...

No way, a hijacking?

Voices... gone...

Never mind, I must protect the ship!

Although she was lazy, it didn't mean she was weak... although she really wasn't strong.

She deployed her rigging, and with her black and white "little ones," she cautiously opened the door and came to the second deck...

Then she saw a man.

The man she had been dreaming of... a boy?

"Vida?"

The rigging and the "little ones" were all hidden away. Vida took two steps forward and flopped onto him.

"Where did you go?"

"It's a long story."

"Then don't say it, just stay like this and don't move..."

"Alright..."

——————

Li Ming leaned against the railing; it was his first time on this kind of ship.

"How is it, Commander? How does a sailing ship feel?" Royal Fortune pressed her hat and asked.

"It's very novel, but..."

"It is a bit slow, but don't you feel that's the charm of a sailing ship?"

"True, ahaha..."

"Sigh, Commander, are you just humoring me like that? I'm heartbroken~"

"Don't, my mistake..." Li Ming made a gesture of surrender.

"Pfft, I'm just teasing you..."

Relying solely on the sailing ship's own power was indeed a bit slow, so Li Ming brought two speedboats to help, which made things much faster.

Holding Vida, Li Ming suddenly realized he seemed to have gotten used to this weight.

"So Commander has been in this place all this time?"

"Yes, luckily Fujian was here, otherwise I'm afraid I would have broken down long ago..."

"That Miss Fujian is also quite an extraordinary person."

"I think she's more like a poor kid I dragged onto my sinking ship." Li Ming smiled. "But in a sense, she was probably willing?"

"It clearly looks like she's the one in the dominant position."

"True... otherwise, you might still be seeing a big fat guy."

"Chubby is also cute, could be used as a sky lantern..."

"Don't say such scary things!"

Vida curled up and found a comfortable position, but Li Ming's arm suffered for it.

"...Report. Initial processing completed. Inquiry: return time?"

Since the signal tower had just been built tonight, short-range headset communication was now possible. At this moment, A6's voice came through.

"Soon, I'll be back shortly."

Li Ming could already see the pier; it would indeed take about ten minutes to arrive. Next, while the ship was stopping, could Li Ming try jumping over from the yardarm?

Forget it, better not take risks. Messing up and losing face is a small matter, but getting scolded is a big one...

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