84: Chapter 84 Blitzkrieg!

Clearly, Li Ming's preemptive request for help from Verres had not achieved the intended effect.

Or perhaps, she simply couldn't have stopped it.

After all, she had returned to Eden, the federal capital, while Royal Fortune had come from Oronia, a first-tier city near the border. They were in completely opposite directions, so Verres could do little to help.

Therefore, when Royal Fortune's pirate ship appeared at the Plata Port outpost, Li Ming broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

The family was coming home.

It was obvious they had come in quite a hurry.

After all, the notion that 'the family was about to fall apart' was simply too shocking.

The border Radar Station and communication station had already received their signals, making it impossible to avoid them. Though uncertain what would happen next, Li Ming had no choice but to brace himself and face it.

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Is this just the Commander's border outpost?

Although she hadn't brought her own ship, considering her vessel was large, conspicuous, and not very fast, it was more sensible to travel with Royal Fortune under these circumstances.

Leaving affairs to Pearl, Saint Martin, and Lime, who could handle them, Gang Yishawa herself returned with the Hurricane Squad.

...Yes, returning. It felt a bit... absurd, like a wanderer suddenly hearing their elderly parents were about to get a divorce.

Gang Yishawa found it somewhat amusing. Back at the port, there had been far stranger things than this, but this was the first time she felt so personally invested.

Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen him in so long? Or maybe back then, all the Ship Girls were there, and everything could be handled efficiently by the management, whereas now the Commander was holding the fort alone.

"Gang Yishawa, what are you thinking about?" Royal Fortune slid down from the mast.

"I'm thinking you might have omitted telling me a few things," Gang Yishawa said, turning her head after looking at the massive complex of buildings on the island ahead.

The sea breeze ruffled her pale blue-to-pink hair. Although she no longer belonged to any church... or perhaps the so-called 'church' had long since lost contact.

"I don't know either," Royal Fortune clicked her tongue. "In less than two months, this place has sprouted so many things out of thin air."

Although Li Ming had once explained his principles of industrial expansion to her, it was still difficult for an 'ancient super-senior' from the 18th century to comprehend.

"If it's the Commander, it's not impossible, is it?" Gang Yishawa wasn't surprised at all. After all, at the port, anything could happen, especially around their Commander.

From an adventurer's perspective, this was indeed an excellent transit point, capable of self-sufficiency and even exporting means of production.

And the Commander had at least two more islands like this.

"The Commander's ambitions are vast," Gang Yishawa said softly, shaking her head slightly, looking quite pleased.

Then she took a few steps, walking a circle on the deck.

She had only played the role of a mermaid; she wasn't actually one.

"Hey, Royal Fortune, what do you think the Commander likes?" Gang Yishawa asked. "Do you think I should prepare a little surprise for him from my treasury?"

"He really just likes getting close to Ship Girls," Royal Fortune said expressionlessly. "He doesn't seem to care much about money or treasures."

"Then what do you think about me giving myself to him as a gift?"

Royal Fortune imagined it for a moment. "He probably couldn't handle that right now. It would scare him."

"Alright then," Gang Yishawa said, slightly disappointed, but then suddenly thought of something and teased, "Don't you want to do that too?"

"W-what are you talking about!" Royal Fortune instantly started steaming. "Although I do want to... but..."

"Don't you want to receive a ring?" Gang Yishawa narrowed her eyes.

"Mmm..."

Of course she did.

Thanks to Li Ming's past deeds of grinding affection points in the game, the Ship Girls at the port generally had affection levels above 90, not even sparing the blank slates.

Let alone those who had seen battle, most of whom had reached 100...

Thinking of the Ship Girls at the port who had waited endlessly for rings, weren't Royal Fortune and Gang Yishawa just like them?

Li Ming actually still had some rings left, purchased with a bit of his living expenses.

Back then, Royal Fortune couldn't understand it. He clearly liked... *that* so much, yet he was so stingy with giving out tokens of vows.

Now she seemed to understand a little, even though Li Ming hadn't had the chance to tell them everything.

Promising to spend a lifetime together required courage and came at a cost.

Seeing Royal Fortune's embarrassment, Gang Yishawa didn't continue to tease her.

They couldn't return to the port. Barring any accidents, these islands would likely be the main base for their Commander's forces for a long time to come.

This not only meant she had a reliable rear to depend on, but also indicated that her own work focus needed to shift.

Based on their Commander's intentions, it was inevitably... to find the others.

She already knew the reports from the four Destroyers. The port had collectively evacuated, and everyone was now scattered and missing. Therefore, Li Ming's primary course of action had to be this.

Gang Yishawa interrupted her own train of thought, turning to see Royal Fortune continuously signaling with flags to a patrolling Destroyer not far away. Soon, the Destroyer approached.

What was this? Boarding action?

The Destroyer pulled alongside. Royal Fortune was the first to jump onto its deck, then started chirping something to the ship captain.

After everyone boarded the Destroyer, several gunboats arrived and began towing the sailboat toward Plata Port.

"Everyone, let's disembark and head straight to the airport!"

"How can you be so sure there's an airport here?" Gang Yishawa asked curiously.

"I know the Commander's personality all too well! He would never build a base without aircraft!"

With that, Royal Fortune was already the first to jump off the sailboat, heading at full speed toward Plata Port.

Faced with this captain who acted on every whim, Gang Yishawa felt helpless, but she still followed along with the other members of the Hurricane Squad behind Royal Fortune.

A short while later, a B-25 took off from the airport.

Li Ming probably never dreamed that they, who should have arrived in about two days, would launch a blitzkrieg against him by plane, leaving him as flustered as Poland.

Fortunately, the two of them had already reconciled, otherwise who knows what might have happened next.

Although even so, he would likely be run ragged by them for a while to come. After all, he was the one who had stirred up trouble and unsettled everyone.

This was just retribution, coming sooner or later.

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