It turned out that "pink cutting black" (a phrase meaning expecting something cute but getting something dark) was normal, but the Repair Ship, the Lady Vestal, was a silver-haired, caring older sister—not a pink-haired little sister.
As the legendary Eagle Union repair ship who had fought alongside Enterprise on the battlefield, Vestal perfectly demonstrated what professionalism meant during Lin Lan's physical examination.
After the routine checkup finished, Lin Lan followed the gentle silver-haired nurse to another room, where he finally saw the Wisdom Cube energy devices that would be used for his further physical tests.
There was a machine like an MRI, with a curved mechanical arch over a bed where he needed to lie down; there was also a device shaped like a metal sleeping bag that he had to fully slide himself into.
Besides these, on a table in the open area, several Wisdom Cubes softly glowed inside, along with various other delicate tools of unknown purpose.
"Commander, don't worry. These tests are much easier than the blood draw and other stuff you just did. Just follow my instructions, okay~"
"Mm-hmm~ Don't be afraid, Commander. These devices are the final products tested many times by Ingraham. They're perfectly safe."
Seeing Lin Lan's surprised expression at the equipment, Vestal patiently explained.
"As expected of Eagle Union. If you don't have an in-depth grasp of all aspects of Wisdom Cube technology, you absolutely couldn't produce such devices."
Lin Lan had considerable trust in Ingraham, the earnest little mechanic of the Eagle Union faction who, despite complaining verbally, was very capable.
"Speaking of Ingraham, I just remembered something. When I was still at the port, didn't I approve the construction of the 'Ingraham Repair Workshop'? Has it been completed yet?"
He looked at Vestal with curiosity.
In the game, Lin Lan recalled approving Ingraham's request to build a dedicated workshop at the port and to purchase several devices.
Last night when chatting with Ingraham, he had completely forgotten to ask about it.
"Of course, Commander. Even when we left the port to look for you, she carried all the workshop's equipment with her. Now she's reopened her workshop on the artificial island."
Vestal's words relieved Lin Lan.
The choices he had made during the game's ship girl personal storylines seemed to actually have happened in reality.
Under Vestal's guidance, Lin Lan began undergoing the Wisdom Cube energy device body scans.
In fact, these unfamiliar tests were not that different from the earlier ones, except they included "Wisdom Cube energy" in their names.
When running the tests, he even noticed the machines operated more quietly.
While he was being examined, Vestal recorded and saved the data on the side.
After several test items were completed, when Lin Lan heard Vestal's instructions and held a Wisdom Cube in his hands, the exact same scene he had experienced in the Ironblood faction repeated.
The blue Wisdom Cube in his hands seemed to activate, its white glowing core and countless white light particles spinning rapidly.
"This astonishing Wisdom Cube adaptability... it really is something only the one and only Commander can achieve."
Vestal put on a pair of light blue transparent lens high-tech mechanical glasses—a clear product of Wisdom Cube technology—and stood next to Lin Lan, watching this unfold with amazement.
"Wisdom Cube adaptability, huh?"
Hearing Vestal's words, Lin Lan frowned slightly.
This term was something he first heard in the game's event storyline.
At that time, the player commander, possessing a rare constitution, was treated like a prized asset by the ship girls of all factions, especially Eagle Union and Northern Union.
Because the official storyline was notoriously inconsistent, Lin Lan had thought this was an early official concept that was later abandoned.
But now, it seems there might be something more to it.
Whether it was the Wisdom Cube that only responded to him this way, or the fact that he could convert Wisdom Cube power into hero skill points and magic crystal energy to power his magical armor, all pointed to one thing.
His body truly possessed some mysterious ability that couldn't simply be explained by his identity as a hero.
After all, those powerful summoners of heroes in Liao Continent likely had no contact with Wisdom Cubes.
And the reason the Observers wanted to capture him alive was probably precisely because of his incredible Wisdom Cube adaptability.
Thinking of this, Lin Lan sighed inwardly. These questions would have to wait until he captured a high-level Siren or met Helena meta again to clarify.
After all, he had clearly been an ordinary person before. Suddenly acquiring this constitution was just too strange.
Though it wasn't a bad thing—he was already experiencing the convenience of cheating using Wisdom Cube energy.
Like those hero skills, if he couldn't convert Wisdom Cube energy into skill points to unlock various skills and improve his body, he probably would have died long ago.
After that, the physical examination officially ended. Vestal said she would deliver the detailed report to him tomorrow.
As they walked down the corridor toward the nurse's station, Vestal suddenly asked Lin Lan:
"Commander, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time but never got the chance."
Lin Lan looked at her, puzzled.
"Hm? What is it?"
He remembered Vestal was a ship girl he pledged to long ago; he didn't think he had done anything wrong to her.
Vestal suddenly turned to him, her smile unchanged, then gave a deep bow and sincerely said:
"Commander, thank you for saving Enterprise from the abyss."
"???"
Vestal's words and sudden action made Lin Lan stop in his tracks, staring blankly at the bowing Vestal.
What was she saying? How had he saved Enterprise from the abyss?
"If you hadn't stayed with everyone at the port, using the Type II rig to help Yorktown and Hornet recover and return to Enterprise's side, Enterprise would have carried a heavy burden all this time."
"When I saw meta-Enterprise, I was really scared—so scared that Enterprise would become like that..."
Vestal's voice trembled slightly, making Lin Lan suddenly understand why she said that.
Enterprise meta, commonly known as Black Enterprise, is the leader of the Ashes organization made up of meta ship girls, possessing terrifying powers to create singularities—dimensional rifts.
The Prime World fell into meta-Enterprise's control after everything cherished was destroyed.
She has never joined Lin Lan's port so far.
"I will never let my Enterprise become meta."
Lin Lan understood Vestal's worries and gently embraced her, whispering a vow.
Without the Commander, Enterprise's personality might gradually shift toward meta-Enterprise, eventually becoming a second Black Enterprise.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Fortunately, now that he had returned to the Eagle Union faction, Yorktown, Hornet, Morry, Vestal, and many of Enterprise's companions were all by her side.
If the Ashes or Sirens wanted Enterprise to meta, they would have to get past all of them first.
"I will protect Enterprise—and of course, all of you."
"That is exactly my duty as your Commander."
Lin Lan whispered to the Vestal in his arms, and this was really what he wanted to say to himself.
No matter what changes had happened to his body, there was one undeniable fact: every one of his ship girls was the most important existence to him.
That was the one thing beyond question.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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