"We shipgirls were born from history. How could we ever forget it?"
Repulse chuckled and winked. She knew Prince of Wales was just being tsundere.
Historically, the Z-Fleet hadn't achieved much before being decimated by a formation of J-Faction aircraft. The sinking of Prince of Wales had become the symbolic moment marking the end of the battleship era and the rise of air power.
Prince of Wales had always considered that a humiliation. She wanted the world to once again recognize the might of the Z-Fleet.
That was the burden of a flagship—glory and responsibility, both carried alone.
Repulse, by contrast, was glad she didn't have to lead. In the fleet, she was a support ship; in the naval district, a maid; and within the UK-Faction, the younger sister of Renown, the head maid. She'd never had to be the one to carry everything on her shoulders.
That made her character much softer—not like those brave, tough flagship types.
And yet… her sister Renown—regarded as the perfect head maid, capable of excelling in both combat and service—still hadn't received the Commander's ring.
Repulse felt a little indignant on her sister's behalf.
As she was mulling this over, a wine glass was suddenly offered in front of her.
"Have a drink."
Repulse accepted the red wine from Prince of Wales with a smile and stood up. "Red wine is good for digestion, they say."
"Alcohol just ruins your body," Prince of Wales said, raising her swan-like neck and downing the glass. "But it helps people forget their worries."
"He said… he's going to summon Saratoga?"
Lexington stared wide-eyed at Glowworm, who had come to relay the message. She was sure she'd misheard.
Maybe her expression was too intense, because Glowworm—usually fearless—took a step back and said in a small voice, "That's what the Commander said. He also mentioned someone from our UK-Faction."
"…That's not fair," Lexington muttered, rubbing her face. "No, wait, I should be happy for Sara."
Having delivered her message, Glowworm turned to run. "Big sis Lexington, the Commander said to hurry to the dining room!"
Lexington glanced back at the four-poster bed that had nearly been destroyed by jumping. Her heart was in chaos.
She had just coldly and firmly told Saratoga that it was impossible for her to be brought over anytime soon by switching secretary ships and then "accidentally" remaining in the real world.
Saratoga's plan had been simple: get her big sister to whisper in Hikaru's ear and persuade him to appoint her as his secretary ship. That would let her cross over to this world. And once she was here, she'd just… stay. Like an illegal immigrant who never leaves, clinging and wheedling whenever the Commander wanted to rotate assignments.
After all, Saratoga was a wife-tier shipgirl too, wasn't she?
For the greater good and harmony of the naval district, Lexington had sternly rejected the plan. To avoid suspicion, she even declared she wouldn't nominate Saratoga as secretary ship at all for the foreseeable future.
Saratoga had been heartbroken. She cried, "You've lost your little sister forever!" and treated Lexington like a tyrant hoarding the Commander for herself.
And now, in the blink of an eye, the Commander had decided to summon Sara anyway.
Did that mean all her efforts had been for nothing?
Once Sara arrived, she might even pick a fight with her.
The Commander was already urging her to hurry. Lexington, mind a complete mess, gritted her teeth and grabbed a piece of paper. She scrawled:
"Sara, don't worry. I'll go talk to the Commander. I'll find a way that works for both of us."
She placed the note on the table, glanced at the now-silent four-poster bed, and rushed out the door.
Moments later, the note was picked up, read and reread, gripped tightly in a trembling hand.
In the dining room, Yat Sen—who had just finished cleaning—had to start cooking again.
The menu was simple: sliced sashimi, a bowl of fish soup, and grilled fish.
Yat Sen felt a little embarrassed.
In traditional thinking, a proper cook was supposed to bring pride and face to her Commander. But these salt-and-oil-deprived dishes might seem like a poor showing to a guest.
Yamato, however, didn't feel slighted in the slightest.
In fact, she was overwhelmed.
Not because of Yat Sen's strength—Yamato was clearly the more powerful of the two.
But because Yat Sen was too beautiful.
Even more beautiful than the Yat Sen from the Academy.
When someone is that beautiful, it stops mattering whether you're male or female. Even as a fellow shipgirl, Yamato found herself stunned by her appearance.
How could someone this gorgeous exist in the world?
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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