Chapter 114: Past Events

After finishing resupplying the supplies, since the merchant ship was still loading cargo, Qin Ge brought his shipgirls into the command ship to wait.

"Commander, if we go by what that person said, after we finish this mission and head back, it'll be tomorrow morning." Banrenma looked at the cargo ship not far away that was loading goods, and said to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge nodded. "That's right. From here we escort the cargo ship to Hezhou City, then sail back from Hezhou City to the Commander Academy; it will take about a full day."

"Have you ever been on a ship this long before, Commander?" Banrenma asked curiously.

"Well, I took a ship from Minghai City over, then stayed in Shenhua City for a day and a half or two days." Qin Ge said to Banrenma.

Upon hearing Qin Ge mention the name Minghai City, Banrenma perked up and asked Qin Ge, "Is your hometown, Commander, in Minghai City?"

This question sparked more people's curiosity, including those who wanted to know about Qin Ge's Guanghui, as well as the usually stern Nengdai.

For Banrenma and Nengdai, their commander rarely mentions hometown matters. Moreover, their commander seldom talks about where he came from before joining the Commander Academy, as if the past only concerns strategy and tactics.

This time, Qin Ge unintentionally brought up Minghai City, naturally piquing Banrenma's and others' curiosity.

Qin Ge shook his head, his eyes filled with memories, and said, "Linhai City is the place I stayed before entering the Commander Academy; it could be considered my home, but in fact it isn't."

"Why?" Banrenma pressed.

Qin Ge smiled and said, "I once lived in Minghai City for over a month; I originally didn't want to become a commander, but it was there that my mind changed, leading me to enroll in the Commander Academy."

So for me, that place counts as my second hometown. But my real home isn't there; I may never be able to return home in this lifetime.

As Qin Ge spoke those words, his voice carried a hint of sadness.

Minghai City holds very important memories for him; there he met Lao Wan and Wan Da Niang. When Qin Ge first arrived in this world, everything was unfamiliar to him.

Thanks to the elderly couple's shelter, he was able to get by. Having lost his parents since childhood, Qin Ge cherishes such family-like bonds deeply.

The elderly couple, having lost their son early on, took a strong liking to the diligent and enthusiastic Qin Ge, and they supported each other for over a month.

Such feelings are strange; some people may know each other for over a year or two yet feel no closeness, while others who have known each other just over a month can already be trusted completely.

To Lao Wan, Qin Ge was like his own son, which explains why Qin Ge flew into such a rage when he left Ninghai City, preparing to go to Shenhua City to become a commander.

But despite their deep affection, Minghai City is not considered home to Qin Ge. His home is the land he swore to protect—9.6 million square kilometers—and the nearly 3 million square kilometers of sea.

"Commander..." Upon hearing Qin Ge's words, Banrenma hurried forward and stood beside him.

"It's fine." Qin Ge shook his head at Banrenma, "I was just a bit flustered."

"It's okay. If you're willing, Commander, you can tell us and we'll share the burden. If not, you can keep silent and speak whenever you're ready." Banrenma comforted Qin Ge.

"Don't worry, your commander isn't that fragile." Qin Ge smiled and said, "We can still talk about what happened in Minghai City."

"Well then, Commander, since there's nothing else going on, could you tell us a bit?" Banrenma said to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge nodded. "Alright, I'll tell you."

"Actually, back then I didn't even know how I ended up in Minghai City; when I woke up I was already on a sea island, and I encountered a mass-produced Siren destroyer. When its gun barrel was aimed at me, I thought I was about to die."

"Ah!" Banrenma instinctively covered her mouth, since Qin Ge isn't like them—if his flesh were hit by ship artillery, he'd be left without a whole corpse.

Qin Ge chuckled, "Obviously I didn't die back then, otherwise I wouldn't be here as your commander."

At that time it was also my first encounter with shipgirls; I met the first commander. His name was Xu Xin, a very straightforward person who helped me, letting me return from the defense zone's sea island to land. He also gave me a recommendation letter for the Commander Academy—though his motives weren't pure, I'm still grateful.

Later I arrived in Ninghai City, using up all my savings to nurse my injuries. I tried to find a job, but many employers wouldn't hire someone with injuries. In the end, an elderly couple reached out to help me.

That's how I spent my time, helping the elderly couple run their shop while recuperating my body. Later, due to certain matters, I prepared to come here to become a commander, but I didn't want to get drenched in dog's blood by Lao Wan—haha.

Saying this, Qin Ge couldn't help but laugh, telling the astonished Banrenma, "His son had also been a commander before, but he was Buried at Sea with his shipgirl while on a mission."

Thus Lao Wan was highly sensitive to the profession of commander, and since my relationship with the elderly couple was pretty good at the time, he reacted strongly and lashed out.

Listening to Qin Ge's laughter, everyone also sensed a hint of helplessness. Especially Guanghui, who had seen too many partings and deaths; this is also the helplessness of shipgirls and commanders.

"But later he saw me off, boarding the passenger ship from Minghai City to Shenhua City. As for what happened afterward, you all know: I entered the Commander Academy, became an assistant instructor of the Strategy and Tactics Course, and summoned you all." Qin Ge smiled.

"Commander, have you ever thought about returning to Minghai City to see them?" Banrenma asked.

"Of course I have, but not now." Qin Ge smiled. "Isn't there a saying about returning home in glory? So I plan to go back once I've achieved something."

"Hmm, I believe that soon we will definitely go back with the commander to see the Lao Wan you just mentioned." Banrenma said firmly to Qin Ge.

"Hehe, I also believe." Qin Ge smiled.

At that moment, a steady voice came through the communications device: "Qin Ge Commander, we're ready over here. We can depart anytime; how's your side?"

Qin Ge took the communicator and said, "Our side is all set; we're ready to depart at a moment's notice."

"Alright!"