Devil May Cry Naval District – Command Room
A strange tension filled the air. Dante sat at his desk, his expression a mix of exhaustion and exasperation, staring at the cheerful girl before him.
"Pan-paka-paan!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up with boundless enthusiasm.
Dante remained silent, lips pressed tight, offering no response.
"Pan-paka-paan!" she repeated, her grin unwavering, as if the world revolved around her odd chant.
Dante sighed, rubbing his temple. "Atago, right?"
"Yep, that's me, Admiral! And once more, pan-paka-paan!" Atago, the Takao-class heavy cruiser, sister to Choukai and Yokosuka's Maya, beamed with unrelenting energy.
Dante felt his head might explode. This girl was a whirlwind, and he was at a loss. "You're… just gonna keep this up?"
Atago tilted her head, smiling brightly. "Come on, Admiral, join in! Pan-paka-paan!"
He fought the urge to bolt. Something about "pan-paka-paan" felt like a challenge to his patience. No way he'd give in.
Atago persisted. "Admiral, pan-paka-paan!"
Shifting focus, Dante glanced at the other girl. "You're Asashio?"
"Yes, Commander. Your orders?" Asashio, the Asashio-class destroyer with no sisters at the base, stood ready.
"Get pan-paka-sis out of here," Dante said.
"Understood. Atago-san, outside." Asashio pushed Atago out and shut the door.
Dante thought that was it, but Asashio stayed, staring at him. Just like Shiranui. Her gaze unnerved him.
"Not leaving?" he asked.
"No orders," Asashio replied.
(Knew it…) Dante groaned inwardly.
"…"
"When there's no orders, do what you want," he said.
"Understood." She didn't move.
Like Shiranui, she lingered, making him uneasy. Ooyodo entered, freezing at the sight of their stare-down. "What's going on?"
"Ooyodo? What's up?" Dante asked.
"Sortie and expedition plans," she said.
"Send whoever wants to go," Dante replied.
Ooyodo sighed. "Fine."
The phone rang. Dante listened, then hung up.
"Demon?" Ooyodo asked.
"Meeting someone," Dante said.
"I'll join you, Commander," Asashio interjected.
It was a solo errand, and Dante couldn't take a Kanmusu. He refused, but Asashio insisted, citing reasons like "can't leave you alone." He shouted for Shiranui, who appeared swiftly.
"You called, Commander?" Shiranui asked.
"Keep Asashio here. I'm heading out," Dante ordered.
"Out? I'll join," Shiranui said.
*(You too!?) * Dante groaned internally.
Both stared, eager to follow. Thinking fast, he recalled the destroyers' hide-and-seek games.
"We're playing hide-and-seek," Dante announced.
"Hide-and-seek?" Asashio asked.
"Play?" Shiranui echoed.
"Not play—training. Enemy detection," Dante clarified.
"Got it!" Asashio nodded.
"Understood," Shiranui agreed.
"You're it. Count to 100."
Ooyodo, seeing his trick, gave him a deadpan look. Asashio and Shiranui counted, backs turned. Dante slipped out, dodging Atago's "pan-paka-paan" ambush outside.
The Admiral stood alone in a secluded spot. A car pulled up, and Dante stepped out.
"You're late," the Admiral said.
"Kanmusu troubles," Dante replied.
The Admiral chuckled, handing him an envelope. Dante checked its contents—something secretly requested.
"Others from your world, huh?" the Admiral remarked.
"Shocked me too. You okay? If this leaks, you're toast," Dante warned.
"I'm old. They can't touch me," the Admiral said.
"Maybe," Dante conceded.
"Trustworthy?" the Admiral asked.
"Skilled. Your end?" Dante countered.
"Same. No leads on the mole," the Admiral replied.
"Leave it to me," Dante said.
Courtyard
At night, with the Kanmusu asleep, Dante summoned Lady and Trish.
"Here's what I mentioned. Don't lose it," he said, handing them the envelope.
They took it without checking, already briefed.
"Nice prep," Lady said.
"When do we start?" Trish asked.
"Morning. Don't screw up," Dante ordered.
"Who're you talking to?" Lady snapped.
"Got it," Trish said.
They dispersed. By morning, Lady and Trish were gone from the base.
Office
Two days later, their absence raised eyebrows.
"Admiral," Kaga said.
"Yeah?" Dante replied.
"Where's Lady and Trish?" Kaga asked.
"Gave them a job," Dante said.
"Devil-hunting?" Akagi asked.
"Something like that," Dante dodged.
Akagi and Kaga, helping with paperwork, pressed, but he brushed them off.
Northern Anchorage Waters
Meanwhile, Yuubari, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Akebono, and Murakumo patrolled the northern fishery, ensuring the fishing boats' safety.
"Peaceful," Akebono said.
"Yeah," Murakumo agreed.
"No Abyssals lately," Ikazuchi noted.
"Patrol's still vital," Inazuma said.
"A lady handles this easily," Akatsuki boasted.
"Don't slack off," Yuubari warned.
The mission went smoothly, but the fleet relaxed. Then, thick fog engulfed them.
"What?" Yuubari gasped.
"Fog?" Ikazuchi said.
"Why now?" Akebono asked.
Cannon fire struck the fishing boats, sparking panic.
"Enemies!?" Akatsuki exclaimed.
"How'd we miss them!?" Yuubari shouted.
"Where are they!?" Akebono demanded.
Radar showed nothing, blinding them in the fog.
"Evacuate the area!" Yuubari ordered, prioritizing the fishermen's safety.
"Any radar hits?" she asked.
"None!" Murakumo replied.
Cannon fire continued. Helpless, they radioed the base.
Devil May Cry Naval District – Command Room
Ooyodo called Dante, reading a message.
"Third Fleet, flagship Yuubari: Under attack by unknown enemy, retreating. Request support," she reported.
"Unknown? Not Abyssals or demons?" Dante asked.
"Unclear. A sortie now might not make it," Ooyodo said.
"Second Fleet?" Dante asked.
"Returning from Northern Strait patrol," she replied.
Northern Anchorage Waters
"Why no radar!?" Murakumo shouted.
"It's broken!" Akebono snapped.
"No way!" Murakumo retorted.
Akashi had checked the radar—it was fine. Yet, no signals appeared.
"Look there!" Inazuma pointed.
"What's that…?" Akatsuki gasped.
A massive shadow loomed in the fog, growing closer, firing cannons. The fleet returned fire to protect the boats.
"This is bad…!" Yuubari muttered.
Their attacks hit, but the shadow wouldn't sink. Fishing boats couldn't withstand the barrage. Prolonging the fight was dire.
"Port side, prepare for combat!" Choukai shouted.
"Fire!" Kumano yelled.
"Let's go!" Tenryuu roared.
The Second Fleet—Choukai, Kumano, Tone, Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Kisaragi—arrived, diverting from their return to aid after the base's call.
"Everyone okay!?" Kisaragi asked.
"Who wants to die~?" Tatsuta teased.
"Is that… a ship?" Tone wondered.
The shadow revealed a tattered-sailed pirate ship with a black flag.
"No way…" Yuubari gasped.
"Could it be…" Tone muttered.
"A pirate ship!?" Tenryuu exclaimed.
A wooden ship enduring their barrage was unnatural. As it retreated, the fog cleared, revealing skeletal crewmen.
"Ugh…" Akatsuki whimpered.
"A ghost ship!?" Kisaragi gasped.
"Incredible sight…" Kumano murmured.
"Back to base, now!" Tenryuu ordered.
"Escort the boats to port first," Choukai said.
Pale-faced, they escorted the fishermen and returned.
Devil May Cry Naval District – Office
Dante and Ooyodo heard chaotic reports, everyone talking at once.
"Quiet! Can't hear you!" Dante barked.
They didn't stop. He fired a shot at the ceiling, silencing them.
"One at a time, damn it," he said.
"S-skeletons…!" Tenryuu stammered.
"Calm down, then talk," Dante ordered.
Scanning faces, he picked Choukai to explain, with Yuubari adding details.
"Abyssals, demons, now ghost ships? Never dull," Dante said.
"Why so excited!?" Tenryuu snapped.
"Thoughts?" Ooyodo asked.
"Don't know everything. Could be demon-related," Dante said.
"Can't rule it out," Ooyodo agreed.
"If they attack, we fight," Dante concluded.
"I don't wanna go…" Kisaragi whimpered.
"Let's hunt pirates," Dante grinned.
"Let another base handle it?" Akatsuki suggested.
"Miss this fun? No way," Dante said.
The Kanmusu wished he'd solo it—he survived bullets and loved fighting demons. No luck.
"Tenryuu, let's go," Dante said.
"Go where?" Tenryuu asked.
"Ghost ship hunting."
"Why me!?"
"Scared?"
"Hell no!"
"Then you're fine."
Pride kept Tenryuu from backing out, though Dante wouldn't have forced her. She joined him and a few others, but they couldn't find the ship. Ghost ship attacks later spread across other bases.