72: Chapter 72 Casual Chat

"...So, Li Ming, is that your real name?"

"You're quite sharp about whether someone is lying. I could manage with half-truths when facing Miss Olena, but..."

Li Ming tilted his head to look at her. "I don't think I stand a chance if I'm alone with you."

"Please don't say that, you make me sound like some kind of interrogation bully..." Verres chuckled. "Even if you did lie, there's nothing I could do about it."

"It's better to be honest." Li Ming shook his head. "The cards are already on the table, lying again wouldn't be good. So, apart from classified matters, I should be able to tell you everything?"

"It's not exactly that..."

He wasn't naive, but he wasn't very mature either.

Verres seemed to understand why Fujian was the one who appeared, not him.

In a formal negotiation, he would absolutely not be a good choice to represent.

"Commander Li Ming, what are you thinking about sitting here?"

"Thinking about... some things." He hesitated for a moment, then patted A6, who had been sitting beside him, on the shoulder, signaling that it was about time to head back, as they were exceeding the daily safe maintenance period.

However, A6 just glanced at Verres and didn't move.

Li Ming's shoulders slumped briefly, then straightened again. Forget it, I'll let her sleep in more tomorrow.

Verres looked at her. This girl... seems to have some Cube reaction, but she doesn't seem like a Ship Girl.

"Hmm... May I ask what things you're thinking about?"

Li Ming fell silent for a moment, considering his words.

"When we came here, we got separated from our other companions. While I'm sure they're not in immediate danger, still..."

"I understand what you're thinking." Even though Li Ming didn't finish, she already understood. "So, is that also the reason you established this... port, or created this force?"

"Not at the beginning." Li Ming stroked his chin. "But later, I found them, or perhaps they found me?"

Verres narrowed her eyes. "Even so, under your leadership, Horizons Edge has developed into a force that even we need to take seriously."

"Me? My leadership?..." Li Ming gave a bitter laugh. "It doesn't have much to do with me..."

"It's them." He pointed at the Yellow Chickens patrolling below the lighthouse.

"Them." He pointed towards the office building, meaning the Ship Girls. Then he gestured towards A6, who had reached out to steady his hairpin in advance. "And her."

"Without them, I am nothing." Li Ming paused. "That's how it is."

Verres opened her mouth but couldn't find words for a moment.

She looked back at the ceaselessly operating Industrial Zone and shipyards, then at A6, who seemed to want to refute him but didn't know what to say.

From Fujian's introduction, she could confirm that this development wasn't led by her, but by him.

For now, she didn't press the issue to the very end, deciding to change the subject.

"What are your plans going forward? I mean, how do you personally intend to lead Horizons Edge?"

"Me?... I don't know. I'll take it one step at a time." Li Ming's legs, which had been swinging slightly over the breakwater, paused. "Probably still centered around finding the others."

He wasn't lying. His confusion was genuine, without a doubt.

Verres temporarily abandoned more pointed questions. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, re-examining the boy before her who looked mature in appearance but was likely just past the age of adulthood biologically.

His eyes lacked focus. Although he seemed energetic, it couldn't hide that his mental state didn't seem good. It wasn't a nearsightedness issue; the dullness from nearsightedness improves noticeably with glasses, but he didn't wear any.

Even though she had been looking directly at him, while his gaze briefly met hers, he quickly looked away.

It wasn't fear, but... shyness?

"Miss Fujian is your fiancée, right?"

"Uh, probably?" Li Ming sounded uncertain.

He can't even be sure about that? Verres felt increasingly that something was off. It either is or it isn't. What does 'probably' even mean?

"Do you like her?" Verres pressed. "Or is it just that she has feelings for you?"

"I... uh, I should... like her, right?" Li Ming lowered his head, appearing to find this question particularly difficult.

Like. But Verres sensed an affirmative answer.

Though she didn't know what was going on between them, she suddenly wanted to know about his past.

But for now, she needed to take a roundabout approach.

"This child, she's not a Ship Girl, is she?"

"Uh, right, she's not a Ship Girl." Li Ming was taken aback for a moment, glancing at A6.

A6 showed no expression, just watching the two of them.

Verres noticed that her eyes also lacked luster, but the feeling she got from the two of them was completely different.

"A6, can I tell her?"

"Affirmative. Denying one's own history is unnecessary."

"Alright..."

This way of speaking... Verres raised an eyebrow.

Li Ming gave a brief account of her story. Although she hadn't told him everything, he still tried his best to recount her past as accurately as possible.

Verres listened quietly, then simply nodded calmly.

Both of them had rather significant issues.

Li Ming had no problem articulating matters unrelated to himself, but he showed clear difficulty when it came to his own issues.

She needed to consult an expert to understand what this condition was, but for now, she still had some things she wanted to ask.

"Commander Li Ming, I feel your state isn't particularly good. Has your work been going smoothly lately?"

"Me?" Li Ming was stunned for a moment, then looked torn between laughter and tears. "I've been on mandatory leave lately, just lying around every day. I'm doing great."

Mandatory leave.

"Why mandatory leave? Were you ill?"

"Ah, it's nothing, nothing..." Li Ming waved his hand. "Just a minor issue, needs some rest."

To force the highest leader into mandatory leave, that's no small matter, Commander Li Ming.

"One last question, hmm... What's your view of the Federation? Or rather, of us?"

"I'm sitting down to look."

"Huh?"

"I mean, I don't know enough to comment." Li Ming shook his head. "I don't discriminate against others. How Federation people view me doesn't affect how I view them. At least for now, I remain neutral."

"As for you all..." Li Ming hesitated. "I've always been rather fond of Ship Girls. After all, unless we're hostile, no matter what, you wouldn't harm me, right?"

"Hmm..." Verres stood up. That was enough.

"Well then, see you tomorrow, Commander Li Ming. I'll visit you tomorrow."

"?" Li Ming scratched his head. What a strange woman.

The sun had finally set, leaving only street lamps illuminating the land.

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