55: Chapter 55 "The Great Captain Li Ming Inspects the Pirate Ship"

Watching A6, along with her equipment, hanging on the hoisting platform like a salted fish that had been hung on a drying rack for half a year, Li Ming felt an inexplicable sense of amusement.

Fortunately, however, she still managed to navigate past the dense tangle of ropes on the sailing ship and landed safely on the deck.

"Okay, the valuable supplies are loaded," Li Ming said, hands on his hips. "Did you find what you wanted?"

Vida had taken the backup generator and all the batteries from her command ship, plus several laptops.

Is that how you're supposed to use your rigging space? Whatever, I'd probably do the same.

Golden Deer didn't take anything. Apart from those valuable industrial products, nothing interested her, but those had little to do with the upcoming journey.

Gary Adventure was similar; she wasn't short on money.

Marie, however, snatched up the seasonings and fresh meat and vegetables. Looking at it, she seemed like the only normal person...

Royal Fortune had adjusted the production line herself last night to make some necessary adventure gear. Considering her Commander was a complete novice at exploration, any precaution was necessary.

Li Ming traveled the lightest: an overcoat, a stylish hat for show (with goggles mounted on top like Rommel), a pistol, a han sword, a Horizontal Sword, and a Thompson...

Li Ming looked at their flintlock muskets, then at the G36C A6 carried herself, and fell into deep thought.

It was a case of 'not up to par with the best, but better than the worst.'

"Alright, Commander, we're ready to board!"

Royal Fortune patted him and was the first to climb aboard via the gangplank.

Following the pirates onto the ship, it felt much livelier today than yesterday, probably because everyone was present?

The cabin was a bit cramped. Royal Fortune carefully compared the space and looked at A6's equipment, which, while not tall, was somewhat wide.

It seemed she wouldn't fit...

A6 stepped forward, adjusted her gear to make herself as narrow as possible, and, with some effort, squeezed in.

Huh? You're asking how she got into Li Ming's room before?

It was pretty much the same—she inched her way in bit by bit.

"...Impressive." Royal Fortune gave a thumbs up.

"Query: Reason for praise not understood."

"Haha, you'll understand someday!" Royal Fortune laughed, glancing at Li Ming. "So, Commander and A6-chan will be bunking with Vida then!"

"I have no problem with that... I think?"

Me? My dear Captain, aren't you afraid I might make a move on these two kids?

Alright, if I did, she'd probably be thrilled.

"Alright, Commander, do you know how to handle the sails?"

"No, how do you do it?"

Li Ming walked to the base of the mainmast and looked up at the spot he needed to climb.

It was a bit high. He was actually somewhat afraid of heights, but the training had helped a little.

"You have to climb up there, and then..."

Following the instructions, Li Ming climbed up and let down the sail.

"Don't let it all out, Commander! We're not sailing with the wind right now!"

"Wait a moment!"

After some struggle, Li Ming finally managed the mainmast.

"Well done, Commander!" Royal Fortune praised.

Li Ming didn't slide down using a rope like the other Ship Girls; he didn't have the guts for that. He could only climb down the ladder.

Royal Fortune patted him. "Now you're a qualified sailor, Commander!"

"Sailors don't get seasick," Li Ming said helplessly. Apart from clothes, his luggage for this trip consisted of various medicines.

"Ah, seasickness is human nature! You'll get used to it after more trips!"

"I used to be a landlubber."

Royal Fortune's expression stiffened. "Ahaha, is that so..."

"So I'm still adjusting now."

"Right, right. We're setting off! Commander, be careful not to get thrown overboard!"

"Is the old sea-driver about to floor it?"

——————

No one sang a sea shanty, as everyone knew Li Ming couldn't sing them, but this actually showed they didn't know him well.

Li Ming had heard many sea shanties, but the problem was his foreign language skills were practically zero.

For Li Ming now, however, his attention was drawn to another matter.

"So, what do you mean by 'not getting seasick on a cruiser, but getting seasick two hours after boarding a sailing ship'?" Looking at A6 who was down for the count, she seemed to be in a state where her CPU had completely crashed, unresponsive no matter what.

Li Ming scratched his head. Generally, she should lie down and rest, but she couldn't lie down properly. Having lost mobility, Li Ming couldn't even help adjust her gear's position. He could only trouble Vida to help him laboriously shift her a bit, and also get a pillow to prop her up.

Li Ming and Vida looked at each other.

Taking out seasickness medicine, Li Ming tried to feed it to her. After some effort, he succeeded.

She has biological instincts; she's definitely not an AI.

"Here, drink some water."

After dealing with her issue, Li Ming wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow. "She should be better in a while."

Vida withdrew her gaze. He really is gentle, she thought. That part of him never changed.

"I'll go prepare lunch. Is there anything you'd like to eat, Vida?"

"Anything edible will do..."

"Okay." Li Ming took off his overcoat, started to throw it, hesitated, then gently hung it on a coat rack. He opened the door and left the room quietly.

"How is she, Commander?" The girl with dark green hair appeared like a shadow, but Li Ming had already figured out her personality.

"Not bad, at least she hasn't thrown up. When I got carsick before, I was vomiting all over the place," Li Ming replied. "What would you like for lunch?"

"Are you planning to cook again today, sir? I'll be very satisfied with anything you make." Marie glanced at his face. She had heard about the issue from Royal Fortune, so she paid extra attention.

He seemed energetic enough for now, but his complexion wasn't very healthy, like someone recovering from a serious illness, even though he appeared full of vitality.

"Alright then—I'll go ask the others."

After some running around, Li Ming finally started preparing lunch.

It didn't need to be too troublesome, but considering a certain unlucky kid was seasick, it would be good to give her something nourishing and not too greasy.

Clear noodle soup? Never mind, let's make century egg and lean pork congee instead. Don't ask where the century eggs came from; Li Ming did set up a livestock farm alongside the vertical hydroponic farm.

But as everyone gradually returns to the port, the previously established farms and livestock pens probably won't be enough?

I'll expand them later. They'll come in handy eventually.

Considering the sailing ship wasn't designed with electricity in mind, Li Ming had to honestly use firewood. Fortunately, before Fujian arrived, he was dragged by the giant yellow chicken to learn everything from earthwork to battlefield first aid—he'd done it all.

So, there was a reason he was half-dead during that period. Even a special forces soldier would sleep like the dead every day.

"The me you see, the me you see, what color am I? Cheerful or slow to warm up..."

There was no internet here, so the music player was useless. Li Ming could only hum a song to himself as he started working.

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