196: Chapter 196 Reliable Logistics

Su Mei didn't join in the complaints, she simply began handling the aftermath for Jun Lintian with a calm expression.

"Core fleet, close formation."

She began to speak, her precise orders transmitted into the command cabins of every core warship.

"Damaged vessels on the outer perimeter, enter the repair queue."

"Any ship with more than three hull fractures, withdraw from the picket line."

"If black smoke is coming from the engine room, shut down immediately."

"Don't try to tough it out."

"If the ship sinks, no one is going to pay out your pension."

The channel went silent for a moment.

Then, a wave of responses followed.

"Understood!"

"Rest assured, Mistress!"

"Seventh Squadron is closing in!"

"Maintenance teams have already entered the lower decks!"

Su Mei's fingers never stopped moving as she fired off command after command.

"All personnel who came into contact with black water contamination are to be quarantined for twelve hours."

"No leaving your cabins during that time."

"If anyone tries to wander off, lock them down immediately."

"Medical bays are to prioritize those with Tide Mark residues."

"Light injuries, get in line."

"Serious injuries, skip the line."

"Those faking death, throw them to Shen Xiu."

On a distant deck, several Crew Members who were just about to lie down and slack off turned pale.

Hearing his name, Shen Xiu immediately shouldered his blade and turned around.

He grinned, a fierce and savage look on his face.

"Mistress is right."

"Whoever plays dead, I'll personally give them a finishing blow."

Those Crew Members shuddered and scrambled up faster than four-legged beasts.

Su Mei continued her orders.

"Shen He will be responsible for recording military merits."

"Purple light orbs are to be inventoried according to ship numbers."

"Kill contributions, rescue contributions, and maintenance contributions—record them all."

"Anyone who dares to make a false report will be docked triple."

In the distance, Shen He immediately cupped his fists.

"Understood!"

His face was covered in blood, but his back was ramrod straight. Just moments ago, the black tide's pressure had nearly crushed his bones, but now, at the Mistress's command, it was as if his spine had been reinstalled.

"Shen Xiu is in charge of inspections."

"Catch those hoarding private loot."

"Catch those taking things they shouldn't."

"Catch those spreading panic."

Su Mei paused.

"Especially catch the gossips."

Shen Xiu's eyes lit up.

"Now that's something I'm good at!"

He set off with his blade, the tip dragging across the deck and leaving a trail of sparks.

Several new captains who had just reached for a crate saw Shen Xiu approaching and immediately hid their hands behind their backs, looking more disciplined than if they had just seen a sea monster.

Shen Xiu sneered.

"Don't let me see that a second time. It won't even take one swing of my sword to cut you down."

The newcomers nodded frantically, their heads moving so fast they left afterimages.

Su Mei didn't look at them.

She opened the warehouse permissions again.

"Lock down the third level of the warehouse district."

"black tide materials are to be stored separately."

"black tide contaminated crystals, broken sealing chains, and palace vertical pupil fragments—all of them go into the forbidden vault."

"Without Li Taiping's orders,"

"no one is allowed to touch them."

"Including me."

As soon as these words were spoken, the channel fell briefly silent, then all warehouse personnel responded in unison.

"Understood!"

In the lower decks of the Many Children, Many Blessings, layers of rune lights flickered on and mechanical arms extended. Purple light orbs were opened, materials scanned, blueprints recorded, and contaminants sealed into black containers.

Su Mei's voice remained steady. With every order she gave, the fleet that had just endured a natural disaster was stitched back together piece by piece.

Damaged ships returned to position, the wounded entered medical bays, resources were logged, merits were locked in, and patrols resumed.

This was the Wan Si Fleet. As long as Li Taiping didn't fall, and as long as Su Mei was still giving orders, these people could stand back up and continue to serve as his blades.

He Yushui hesitated for a moment: "You're not going to ask him?"

Su Mei's fingers paused.

"Ask what?"

He Yushui counted on her fingers.

"Who is Su Jie?"

"Who is that future version of him?"

"Is the Former Dynasty World a trap?"

"And that black tide remnant key—it looks like someone literally shoved a ticket into his face."

Yun Jinxin stood nearby.

Holding a stack of newly recorded blueprints, she also looked up.

Bing Yu even quietly pricked up her ears. Her nine tails were tucked behind her, the tips twitching uncontrollably.

She wanted to hear too, but she didn't dare ask.

Su Mei finally let out a small smile.

"When he wants to talk, he will."

He Yushui pinched the tip of her nose.

"You really are a virtuous wife."

"It's not about being virtuous."

"It's because I know that when a man wants to carry a burden alone, the more you press him, the less he'll say."

He Yushui thought about it.

"Then what do we do?"

Yun Jinxin also looked toward her.

Su Mei sent out the final repair order, and the holographic panel retracted before her.

She turned around, her wine-red nightgown clinging softly to her waistline in the night breeze, but her tone held not a hint of softness.

"We do our jobs."

"Fix the ships."

"Build the cannons."

"Manage the people."

"Fill the storehouses with supplies."

She looked toward the closed door of the captain's quarters. Behind that door, the lights were off, and only the faint sound of a ticking clock could be heard.

Su Mei's voice lowered slightly.

"He wants to enter the abyss."

"The least we can do is hand him the ladder."

As those words fell, the balcony went quiet. He Yushui looked at Su Mei, then back at the door.

"Fine."

"I'll head to the medical bay then."

She started to walk away, but after a couple of steps, she turned back.

"If anyone starts calling out for their mother, should I just knock them unconscious?"

Su Mei said calmly: "Knock them out."

He Yushui nodded.

"Got it."

"Family-based fraud, Ghost Sea edition."

Yun Jinxin clutched the blueprints tightly.

"I'll go organize the Floating Power Core proposal."

"The structure of the gravity suppression batteries is complex."

"But we should be able to make three of them first."

Su Mei looked at her.

"I'm opening up Level 2 material priority for you."

Yun Jinxin nodded.

"That's enough."