Chapter 108: Want to Be Vice Commander? Recruit!

"Formal awakening?" Qin Ge said doubtfully.

"Yes, awakening is a very mysterious thing; it can't be explained in a few words. It requires not only opportunity but also ability."

"In this world, very few people in each faction can actually awaken, just like me, someone who's been stuck at this stage for many years." Glorious said.

"I actually heard from Senior Mikasa that she has started to awaken gradually." Qin Ge said to Glorious.

"Hmm, I know that Mikasa senior you mentioned. She was also a free shipgirl before, and one of the earliest batch, including your academy's Avrora, Lady, Assaulter, and Langley, who were among the first to awaken along the Donghuang coast."

"Of course, the Prince of Wales, the president of the Naval Academy, is also among them. And the most famous is the current commander-in-chief of the Donghuang Navy Headquarters, Yixian, who was the first shipgirl to reach full readiness and the first to begin awakening."

Glorious said to Qin Ge, "Moreover, to this day, no shipgirl can clearly explain how she began to awaken. In short, it's a profoundly mysterious thing that one must comprehend for oneself."

"Is it that difficult? Glorious senior?" the Centaur said, somewhat surprised.

"Actually, it's even more difficult than I said, but some people awaken very easily, just like Yixian of the Donghuang Navy Headquarters I mentioned earlier." Glorious shook his head and let out a self‑deprecating sigh.

"Perhaps I don't feel the depth of what you're saying yet, but someday my Centaur and Belfast will also walk this path. Then I will study this issue in depth, and if I gain something, it will benefit all shipgirls." Qin Ge said to Glorious.

"I hope so." Glorious's tone was very clear; she held no hope for Qin Ge's success in researching awakening.

Because many people before Qin Ge had similar thoughts, but they all failed; although Qin Ge is outstanding, Glorious does not think he will necessarily succeed.

Rather than being full of hope now, it's better to keep a calm mind. Then, even if the research yields no result, it won't cause too much disappointment; but if it succeeds, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Afterward, Qin Ge, Glorious, and the Centaur chatted about many things, such as music and art. Although when discussing art, Glorious did most of the talking while Qin Ge and the Centaur listened, Qin Ge could still interject a sentence or two at times.

After all, he is a youth of the 21st century; war and art are interconnected, and he still has the proper insight.

As time passed, everyone gradually approached the academy's harbor. After docking the command ship at Pier No. 4, Qin Ge and the others disembarked.

Looking at the sunset gradually appearing on the horizon, Qin Ge couldn't help but smile, "When we left it was morning, but by the time we returned it was already afternoon—what a fast day."

From now on, it'll pretty much be like this: we go out with the commander in the morning and return to the port together at night." the Centaur also said with a smile.

"Hmm." Qin Ge nodded, "But I remember this time is exactly when the cafeteria opens. After we return the key to Cologne, let's go eat together."

Although we just had some snacks on the ship, I still feel like I haven't eaten enough.

"Hmm." Everyone nodded, and the group headed toward the room where Cologne was.

After chatting with Cologne for a while and handing over the key, everyone walked together to the cafeteria, since the task was already completed and could be done again tomorrow.

After arriving at the cafeteria, Qin Ge, the Centaur, and Glorious sat to one side, while Belfast went to serve everyone a meal. During the wait, two figures appeared opposite Qin Ge.

"I say, did you go on a commission today?" Li Chenming said to Qin Ge.

"Yes, didn't I just tell you a few days ago? I reached an agreement with the dean, and starting today we can undertake commissions." Qin Ge said.

"Tsk, impressive!" Li Chenming exclaimed, then glanced at Glorious, his eyes full of admiration. "By the way, is this your newly summoned shipgirl?"

Qin Ge shook his head. "No, this is Glorious, a free shipgirl, but she's currently with me."

After Qin Ge finished speaking, Li Chenming's eyes lit up, and he turned his gaze to Glorious: "Hello, I'm Li Chenming, 21, unmarried, a first‑year student at the Naval Academy, aspiring to become an excellent commander. May I get to know you?"

"Hehe, Commander Qin Ge, is this your classmate? Really quite interesting." Glorious completely ignored Li Chenming's intent and instead said to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge smiled and nodded. "That's right, he's my first friend at this school."

He will also be the first fleet member of his future great fleet!" Li Chenming added, but then his face fell: "Looks like I no longer have a chance."

Li Cheng Ming's goofy expression made the Centaur and Glorious laugh, and his shipgirl Z1 patted his back, saying, "Don't worry, Commander, you still have the invincible Z1!"

Li Cheng Ming looked gratefully at Z1, but Qin Ge always felt a hint of bitterness in that gratitude.

"Do you want to do a large build? I have supplies and cubes here, and I won't run out for a long time, so you don't need to return them for now." Qin Ge said to Li Chenming.

Li Chenming's eyes lit up, and he quickly turned his gaze to Qin Ge: "Really?"

Qin Ge chuckled, "As I told you before, I still have hundreds of thousands of supplies."

"I know you're a big spender, but using your resources to build shipgirls always feels off." Li Chenming said.

"But you still need to develop your own fleet, right? Although it's a bit tough now, in the second half of next year it will be much easier, and with two or more shipgirls, I believe your commission tasks will become much easier." Qin Ge said.

"And you didn't say you advised me to form a great fleet? I think perhaps in two years we could really form a great fleet! At that time you would be the first to join my great fleet, as the fleet's deputy commander; if your ability were lacking, that wouldn't make sense."

"Really?" Li Chenming said.

"What's real or fake?" Qin Ge asked.

"I mean, is it true that you're going to form a great fleet?" Li Chenming asked quickly.

Qin Ge glanced at Glorious beside him, who gave a faint smile, then turned to Li Chenming and said, "Of course it's true; I am the fleet commander, and you are the fleet's first member."

"But whether you can become the fleet's deputy commander later depends on whether you can recruit fleet members in these two years."

"I'll do it!"