Chapter 252: If

Upon hearing Jiang Feng's words, Mikasa showed no surprise, as if she had already anticipated this.

"Okay, I got it, Jiang Feng. Go tell Zhang Men I'll be right there; have her wait a moment." Mikasa nodded.

"Yes!" Jiang Feng saluted Mikasa, then turned and strode out of her house.

"Well, why is Jiang Feng always like this, so stern, as if she can't muster any enthusiasm for anything else?" Zuikaku watched the departing figure and muttered quietly, not at all angry that Jiang Feng had ignored her earlier.

This child has indeed experienced many battles, and because she is more introverted and thinks a lot, compared to other juniors she is more mature, but also more silent and reticent.

But they are all outstanding juniors; I hope she can become friends with Xie Xu in the future and not be as lonely as she is now. Mikasa said to Zuikaku.

"That's true." Zuikaku nodded.

Qin Ge then spoke up to Mikasa, asking, "What does Heavy Sound's flagship Zhang Men want from you, senior? Moreover, I saw your expression regarding Jiang Feng's arrival—you seemed to have realized it long ago; there's no surprise or anything like that."

Mikasa gave a faint smile without answering, and Xianghe beside her said to Qin Ge, "That's because Sanli Xianbei was also the previous flagship of the Sakura Empire United Fleet, so as the current flagship commander, Zhang Men naturally looks up to Mikasa greatly."

Every time Mikasa returns to the Sakura Empire, she is specially invited to the Shrine for a lengthy chat.

Qin Ge suddenly realized, "Oh, that's how it is."

Mikasa chuckled, "Although I say that, that child has qualities surpassing mine. I believe the Sakura Empire will, under her leadership, regain its former glory and even exceed it."

But from now on I can't take you out to play; however, you can follow Xianghe and Zuikaku out, as they know the Sakura Empire home islands much better than I do.

Qin Ge hesitated a little, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for the two of them?"

Zuikaku laughed and waved her hand, "No trouble at all, and we have nothing else today, so it's settled—I'll take you around the home islands with my older sister."

"Well..." Qin Ge hesitated, then agreed, "Then we'll have to trouble you."

Although I was worried about bothering them, here I and my shipgirl are completely clueless; without a guide's direction, we wouldn't know where to go.

Zuikaku smiled and said, "Then it's decided—once you're ready, we'll set off together."

"Hmm." Qin Ge nodded.

At this point, seeing that things were settled, Mikasa relaxed and told Qin Ge, "Then you go out with Xianghe and Zuikaku; I'll head to the Shrine."

"Hmm, Sanli Xianbei, take care." Qin Ge, Xianghe, and Zuikaku said to Mikasa.

After exchanging farewells, Mikasa left her house and headed toward the Shrine.

Qin Ge, however, did not immediately set out with Xianghe and Zuikaku; instead, she walked toward a room where one of her shipgirls was. valley

She lightly knocked on the door, and after hearing a response from inside, Qin Ge opened it. She saw Tiancheng sitting on the tatami, with Akagi and Kaga lying on her thighs.

Qin Ge saw Akagi and Kaga's current state, and naturally they also noticed her arrival. However, the two paid no heed, still lying on Tiancheng's legs.

Qin Ge stared for a moment, then heard Tiancheng's laughter: "My lord, did you come here to find me?"

Seeing Tiancheng pose the question, Qin Ge recovered and replied, "That's right, because I and the Autobots are preparing to go out for a drive around the island, so I came to ask whether you'd like to join."

Tiancheng nodded and said, "Since everyone's going, I naturally won't miss it. Moreover, I haven't toured the Sakura Empire home islands in a long time, and I'd like to see what differs between the Sakura Empire here and the one in my memory."

"Eh." Upon hearing Tiancheng say that, before Qin Ge could respond, someone else spoke up.

Akagi and Kaga sprang up from Tiancheng's legs all at once, saying, "Tiancheng sister, let us go with you too. We're very familiar with the home islands here and can show you around."

Seeing Tiancheng shake her head slightly at Akagi and Kaga's request, she said, "No, you two shouldn't follow me. Your identities are different now, and so is mine."

Now, as the Sakura Empire is the host inviting the eight factions to compete here, if the representative of the Sakura Empire's ruler and the Donghuang commander's shipgirl were seen getting too close, people would suspect something.

Even if my lord later gains victory, some would still consider it illegitimate. So you can still come to Sanli Xianbei's place from time to time, but going out together is out of the question.

Tiancheng's words were sound and reasonable, leaving Chi Cheng and Kaga unable to utter another word in that instant.

They are the Sakura Empire's public leaders, with all matters to be decided by the interests of the fledgling hawks; if such a situation arose, the various factions' condemnations would leave the Heavy Sound in a passive state.

No one wants to see that, so the two also had to give up that seemingly beautiful wish.

Qin Ge couldn't help but nod at the sight, then told the somewhat dejected Akagi and Kaga, "We're just going to take a quick turn around the area; it won't take long. If you're free later, you can still come to Sanli Xianbei's place."

"Thank you, Commander Qin Ge." Akagi said very steadily, "Then I'll ask you to look after our older sister while touring the Sakura Empire; her health is not good."

Qin Ge smiled and nodded, "Tiancheng is my shipgirl, so I will certainly pay attention to these matters."

"Then it's a bother." After saying that, Akagi and Kaga began to bid farewell to Tiancheng.

Since they can't accompany Tiancheng out to play in the Sakura Empire home islands, naturally they must return to their own posts. After all, from morning until now, the two of them have yet to appear in the Sakura Empire's command headquarters.

Seeing Chi Cheng and Kaga leave the room, Qin Ge involuntarily stepped inside and approached Tiancheng, saying, "Am I coming at a bad time?"

"It's fine," Tiancheng said with a smile, after a brief pause, looking at Qin Ge, "My lord, I say, if one day my two younger sisters join our fleet, would you be willing or not?"

"Huh? I recall our plan didn't include this clause, did it?" Qin Ge wondered.