The USS California had a completed displacement of 32,000 tons and a designed horsepower of 26,800.
That may sound abstract, but in metric terms, that power could move a 2.145-million-ton object by one meter every second.
So even though 250++ units of resources were heavy—amounting to several thousand tons—it wasn't a problem for Yamato. She carried it with ease.
The real issue was volume. The container was huge and cumbersome, and sailing long distances meant she'd inevitably encounter Abyssals. Carrying too much would only be risky.
Still…
Hikaru couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He could guess what was going on—this was probably part of shipgirl headquarters' strategy.
They couldn't feed him too well all at once. If they did, he might grow too ambitious—or worse, stop depending on them.
The facts were obvious: Hikaru had gone off to carve out his own path at sea, and resources were his greatest weakness. If he wanted to survive, he had only two options—cooperate with shipgirl headquarters or turn to another human nation.
Shipgirl HQ intended to be his resource provider.
"All resources confirmed, Commander!" California reported after inspecting the container. She was following Bismarck's orders.
After all, it never hurt to be cautious. Who knew if there were five hundred axe-wielders hiding inside?
With the contents confirmed, Hikaru grabbed Yamato's hand with a grin.
"Anyone who comes here is a friend. Yamato, a friend in need is a friend indeed. I'm seriously touched. Come on, let me treat you to something delicious—it's so good it'll make you want to swallow your own tongue!"
Yamato awkwardly tried to pull her hand away. She wasn't one of Hikaru's shipgirls and wasn't comfortable with physical contact.
But most of her focus was still on her mission.
Shipgirl headquarters had sent her to win Hikaru over.
After Tirpitz's overwhelming display of power, the entire Earth had been shaken.
It was obvious that other continental nations would love to recruit such a guardian. What were a few resources, anyway? Any nation could afford that.
And Hikaru's strength was even more unfathomable. Bismarck had just casually popped out next—how terrifying was that?
If they wanted to convince Hikaru to cooperate with HQ, it was essential that Yamato build a relationship with him.
Hopefully, Hikaru was the sentimental type. After all, she'd done quite a bit for him today.
So Yamato pulled her hand away and forced a stiff smile, doing her best to make small talk.
It was obvious she rarely smiled—her facial muscles twitched from the effort.
Poor girl.
Meanwhile, Hikaru was in high spirits. He pulled Yamato along toward the base and gave orders to the shipgirls nearby.
"Cali, move the resources to the warehouse. Pull out 3++ units and drop them in the construction bay—I'll need them soon."
"Glowworm, go tell Lexington that Yamato's here. Ask her to come meet her. Oh—and let her know that we'll be summoning Saratoga tonight."
Yamato's eyes widened in surprise. So Hikaru didn't just have the Bismarck sisters—he also had the Lexington–Saratoga pair.
Vampire forgot all about her brewing project and trotted over to Hikaru's side, looking up at him.
"Commander, commander! Besides Sister Saratoga, who else are you summoning?
Hikaru chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"There's one from the E-Class—and she's very close to you."
Yamato frowned. E-Class, and very close to vampire … could it be—
—
Dream Naval District
"I didn't expect the first to reach the Commander's side from our Z-Fleet would be Vampire."
Inside a dorm room styled like a medieval lord's castle, two shipgirls were talking.
The room was decorated with stone walls, a built-in fireplace, and banners covering the walls. Mounted on the wooden panels were trophies: a bear's head, a snow tiger's head, a piranha's head.
But what stood out most were the weapons.
Everywhere were melee weapons—swords, spears, axes, halberds—from massive greatswords to long-handled moon-blade axes. The whole place looked like a personal armory.
Logs blazed in the hearth, and a tall woman sat in a cushioned chair before the fire, sipping a glass of red wine.
A maid stood nearby, speaking to her—but the woman said nothing.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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