"Hmm~ Sister Sara knows exactly what the Commander is thinking. You're definitely wondering why we're not setting out today, right~"
After assigning tasks to Intrepid and South Dakota, Saratoga once again beamed brightly at Lin Lan:
"After all the trouble you went through to escape and come back, everyone surely wants to celebrate. You should also take a good rest tonight, heeheehee."
Lin Lan couldn't help but smile wryly. He had been worried that bringing up this topic after going downstairs might dampen the spirits of Cleveland, Laffey, and the others.
But Saratoga had picked up so sharply on the hint of worry on his face that it lightened the burden of guilt in his heart a little.
"Well then, Sister Sara is off to notify everyone to prepare for departure. If all goes well, we should see you again the day after tomorrow~"
"By then, Commander, you must comfort all the Eagle Union girls who've been so worried about you, okay?"
Lin Lan nodded with a smile, and Saratoga ended the communication with a look of reluctant farewell.
There were still many things he hadn't had a chance to discuss in detail with Saratoga—such as how he had gained the power of a Hero, and also matters related to the Goilia Conglomerate.
But the thing he was most worried about, according to Saratoga, hadn't happened—Sui Qiong hadn't been captured by the Observer.
Even so, Lin Lan found something odd in this matter.
He had encountered Sui Qiong in the Mirror Sea near Dongyun City.
For the Sirens to create a Mirror Sea as large as the one in Huaiwu City, it clearly showed how much they valued Sui Qiong—an experimental mecha girl born from the original Wisdom Cube.
Yet, after the Observer successfully ambushed him in Yunhai City, she had only taken him, leaving the already weakened Sui Qiong to the Iron Blood faction.
What did that imply?
That in the eyes of the Observer, his value surpassed even that of Sui Qiong, the first mecha girl created by the Wisdom Cube.
And the Observer was the highest authority within the experimental mechanism, second only to the Siren mainframe—Observer Zero—in any experimental world.
Although the Observer didn't seem intent on killing him outright, from what he experienced in the Siren base, her intent seemed to be imprisoning him in a dream world as a living specimen on display.
Damn it, could it be that I have some rare constitution? Even rarer than a Wisdom Cube mecha girl?
It's not the thief who steals that you should fear, but the one who fixates on you.
A fragile human like him being targeted by the entire Siren experimental mechanism was definitely not something to be happy about.
"Wait a second… Now that I think about it, in the game I was also targeted by the Sirens. So in that sense, what's really changed?"
Just as Lin Lan grew more anxious the more he thought about it, he suddenly slapped his forehead and cursed with a laugh.
Come to think of it, the Sirens had always been his main enemies in the game. Thinking about it that way, there wasn't much difference at all.
"Commander, what game are you talking about?"
Intrepid looked at Lin Lan in confusion, not understanding why his expression had shifted so quickly—one moment clouded with worry, the next as if nothing had happened.
Lin Lan stood up from his seat and smiled at Intrepid:
"Oh, nothing. I just remembered something that made me happy...
But it looks like we'll be moving out first thing tomorrow. And here I was hoping to enjoy the scenery around Anna City."
"Commander, there's not much fun around here. The city occasionally hosts speedboat races and freestyle competitions, but you can find those in cities near HQ too."
Seeing Lin Lan in good spirits, Intrepid smiled as she described the local features of Anna City, while motioning for South Dakota to help shut down the communication equipment.
"Well, that's true. Anna City is just an ordinary small city, not even ranked among the major cities of the Eastern Continent."
"But if we leave, what happens to the surrounding oil fields? If none of you are here, won't they be vulnerable to Siren attacks?"
Lin Lan glanced at the two elegant Eagle Union shipgirls as they shut down the meeting room and asked casually.
Intrepid confidently flipped her bluish-gray hair and replied with a smile:
"Don't worry, Commander. Those oil fields are now Eagle Union property.
There's no way we'd just abandon them. Even when we return to HQ, we'll still rely on those resources to show off to the other factions."
"Actually, the defense work around here wasn't handled by us to begin with, but by the Navy Department's pawns in Anna City…
Oh, right, Commander—do you know about those Navy Department pawn shipgirls in this world?"
Lin Lan nodded:
"Of course. I already learned about that while I was in the Iron Blood faction."
Upon hearing this, Intrepid continued:
"Their rigging is just too weak—completely incapable of resisting the Sirens."
"That's why we later decided to provide the most basic equipment to Navy Department Commanders who signed treaties with us, so they could resist the Sirens and help protect our oil fields across various regions.
At the same time, this helps restrain their local city administrators."
"Commander… you don't mind that we did this, do you?"
Seeing the slightly concerned look on Intrepid's face, Lin Lan suddenly understood.
No wonder neither the Eastern Continent's Navy Department nor the Goilia Conglomerate had ever exposed anything about the Eagle Union to the media.
Not only had the Eagle Union taken over the entire headquarters of the Goilia Conglomerate, but they also secretly provided equipment to Navy Department Commanders in each port city on the Eastern Continent—using them to protect Goilia's oil fields spread throughout the region.
The Navy Department of the Eastern Continent had long been at odds with Goilia, one of the Zhu Hai Business Alliance's members.
This way, both sides were busy counterbalancing each other, and neither could muster the will or means to resist the Eagle Union. They'd completely lost any ability to stir up trouble.
You had to admit, the Eagle Union was scarily talented at these kinds of strategies. They'd firmly rooted themselves on the Eastern Continent.
"Of course I don't mind. In fact, your decisions have made my job a whole lot easier."
After all, the equipment they gave to the Navy Department must've been standard blue-and-white gear, and the Navy Department was unlikely to become an enemy.
More likely, they'd become allies in the fight against the Sirens.
Having sorted it all out in his head, Lin Lan chuckled and spoke to Intrepid, reaching out to pat the head of the Dumpling-class third sister who was diligently shutting down the equipment.
"Ah! C-Commander… you're messing up my hair…"
To his surprise, Intrepid let out a bashful, girlish squeal at the sudden affectionate head pat and lowered her head even further in embarrassment.
Oh, right—Lin Lan finally remembered.
The Dumpling-class carrier girls in his port, led by Essex, all had the charming contrast of looking cool and composed, but being unexpectedly shy and cute underneath.
Intrepid was no exception, it seemed.
Shutting down the equipment didn't take long. Soon, both Intrepid and South Dakota had finished everything.
"Commander, it's time to head downstairs for the party. The Sea Knight and the little ones are probably waiting impatiently."
South Dakota's usually stern face softened into a rare smile as she looked at Lin Lan waiting for them at the side.
"Okay then, let's see what kind of delicious food they've prepared for me—and how it compares to Iron Blood's, hehe~"
Filled with anticipation, the three of them walked out of the meeting room together.
And the moment they stepped outside, a long-missed, deliciously crispy aroma wafted into Lin Lan's nose.
"This smell… Could it be…"
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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