Lexington turned to ask Glowworm, "What did the Commander say?"
Of course, she was asking how to handle Franya's plea for help.
Glowworm recited Hikaru's reply word for word:
"The Commander said: 'You may issue a warning to China in my name, but the decision rests with the Madam.'"
Yamato blinked. "What warning?"
Lexington considered for a moment, then said: "Marshal Takeyama Takeshi is currently leading two level-100 shipgirls on a special mission. During this time, he suspects that Fleet Admiral Gorou's new aide might actually be an Abyssal spy. Because of that, their entire plan may already be compromised. He lacks evidence, so he hopes to borrow my husband's influence to alert China."
Yamato hadn't expected the matter to be so complicated. She immediately thought of the Eastern Sea District's long-planned counteroffensive. "Could it be… the operation to retake the First Island Chain?"
Lexington nodded. "Correct. Do you think Takeyama's suspicions are reliable?"
"It's hard to say. But if he wasn't forced, he'd never ask for your help," Yamato replied firmly. "I request that you lend your influence in this matter."
Even if Yamato spoke up, it would do no good. As a senior officer from the southern front, the military would immediately question where she got her intelligence.
And even if Hikaru agreed to help, he couldn't phrase it as "Takeyama asked me to deliver this." The military wouldn't take it seriously—if anything, they'd investigate Takeyama first.
Lexington knew this well. She said to Yamato: "Go with Helena and send the transmission. In the Commander's name, warn military headquarters—just tell them that aide is an Abyssal spy."
That was the difference in influence. Hikaru didn't need reasons; a single sentence from him would force the military to take it with utmost seriousness.
It was an enormous favor, because Hikaru had no obligation to do this—his relationship with the military was still strained.
Yamato understood the weight of it. She bowed her head gratefully. "On behalf of the shipgirl headquarters, I will remember this! I'll thank Commander Kuramoto personally later."
Last night she had been scolded harshly by him, and she still felt a little unsettled. But now, that irritation completely melted away, replaced by respect.
At least on matters of great importance, Hikaru stood firmly on the front line against the Abyssals—and that was enough.
Helena led her to set up the communications set. Among the supplies Yamato had delivered was a four-star piece of equipment: the [Communication Radio]. Hikaru had some in his warehouse too, but with this, they could establish long-range wireless contact.
Smiling as she watched Yamato leave, Lexington's brow suddenly furrowed.
She turned northwest.
"The Abyssal flagships are moving two hundred nautical miles that way… Strange. What's there?"
Quickly, she directed her carrier planes across the Black Sea. Moments later, Lexington's expression changed.
"There are four shipgirls coming from that direction—the Abyssal flagships are preparing to ambush them!"
Bismarck cautioned, "Most likely a trap, a bait-and-rescue. Otherwise the Abyssal flagships would've struck earlier, not waited for us to notice."
Prince of Wales spoke coldly: "I lean toward not rescuing them. We're already under enormous pressure ourselves."
"This needs the Commander's judgment," Lexington said with a deep breath. "Among them are people he knows. The tavern owner Alaska, who once invited him to record music; Blücher, who kept pestering Tirpitz to take her as big sister; plus one shipgirl who seems to be a destroyer and another who looks like a battleship."
Bismarck and the others exchanged glances. They understood immediately—trouble.
This was clearly a pit dug by the Abyssal flagships, forcing them to decide whether to jump in.
Meanwhile, Hikaru respectfully handed Veneto a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee.
California, beaten black and blue, curled up pitifully in a corner of the warehouse, biting her sleeve, too afraid to make a sound.
If Veneto had arrived just one day earlier, she wouldn't have been able to enjoy this coffee at all—the base hadn't had any.
By sheer coincidence, Yamato had brought fine coffee beans in her supply shipment. Hikaru carefully counted out sixty beans, ground them into powder in a freshly opened, washed grinder, and brewed them using Veneto's instructions.
The fragrance was rich and thick—even the aroma was enough to lift Hikaru's spirits.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]