Chapter 253: Wish

"So I asked the lord, if they two later join our fleet, would you agree or disagree?" Tiancheng said with a smile.

Qin Ge frowned. "This isn't a matter of agreeing or disagreeing; rather, Akagi and Kaga are currently the rulers of Sakura Empire. If they join our fleet, the impact would be huge."

"It will greatly affect both Sakura Empire's morale and our fleet's future, so this is no joke."

Tiancheng nodded. "So I asked the lord, if they someday step down as rulers of Sakura Empire and become free shipgirls, would the lord accept them?"

Qin Ge gave a wry smile. "Tiancheng, you really do like to give me tough problems."

"As a commander, I naturally want them to join my fleet, because they are already awakened shipgirls, possessing greater strength than ordinary shipgirls."

"But if we do that, Donghuang will surely incur Sakura Empire's hostility, after all, if their faction leader joins another faction commander's fleet training, no faction commander would feel good about it."

"Hehe, then what is the commander's decision?" Tiancheng ignored Qin Ge's words and directly asked him.

"Yes." Qin Ge nodded.

"Why did the commander earlier express so many concerns, yet now tell me 'yes'?" Tiancheng laughed.

"Because our fleet needs strong shipgirls to join in order to explore deeper secrets."

"I want to know why I came to this world, what happened here, and what they are actually up to; understanding all this requires power." Qin Ge said.

"So as a normal commander, one might worry about this and that, but as for me, I can only keep looking forward, only keep strengthening our fleet's strength."

"With the commander's guarantee, I can rest easy." Tiancheng said smiling.

"Could it be that they really want...?" Qin Ge asked Tiancheng doubtfully.

"Not for now, but their thinking is too unrestrained; perhaps someday they will indeed do that, so I'm saying this now just to have the lord prepare in advance, lest it affect our plans." Tiancheng laughed.

"All right." Qin Ge nodded. "Let's not talk about this for now; having finally come here once again, let's go out together and see the sights—experiencing foreign customs is also nice."

"Although you know this place better than me, speaking of which, you haven't yet explored this world."

"The lord has extended a gracious invitation; how could Tiancheng dare to refuse?" Tiancheng said with a smile, then stood up, gave a light cough twice, and left the room together with Qin Ge.

By the time the two walked to the living room, the others were already ready.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Tiancheng said apologetically to everyone.

"No problem." Biyu smiled.

At that moment, Xianghe and Zuikaku looked at Qin Ge, and Zuikaku asked, "Why did the two seniors Akagi and Kaga just leave?"

Qin Ge shook his head. "Their identities aren't suitable for acting together with us."

Zuikaku suddenly realized. "Right, you are Donghuang's representative in this competition. Shall we set off now?"

"Yes." Qin Ge nodded.

"All right, let's go." Zuikaku smiled and took the lead, walking forward.

Xianghe lagged behind a bit, seemingly talking with Guanghui beside her; the others closely followed, and Qin Ge likewise followed Tiancheng.

Today's weather is likewise not bad, since Sakura Empire lies in the north, so summer isn't as sweltering as what Qin Ge felt in Shenhua City; it's still quite pleasant.

Therefore, everyone, in this pleasant temperature and accompanied by the cherry blossoms blooming on the trees beside them, still had a very good mood.

However, while strolling the streets, Qin Ge suddenly noticed a problem and thus asked the leading Zuikaku.

"Why did I see some commanders at the shrine yesterday during the festival, yet today there are hardly any commanders to be seen on the streets?"

Zuikaku smiled. "Because our commander academy isn't on this island, and the headquarters is also near the seaside, so there are usually few commanders on the streets."

"Yesterday's festival, you mean the rites of prayer conducted by Lady Zhang Men? At that time some commanders stationed on the island would go to participate, and after it ended they would each return to their own posts or to other islands."

"Thus, most of the shipgirls living on this island are from Sakura Empire's main base, namely the first batch of Sakura Empire shipgirls to appear in the world."

"I see, that's what I meant." Qin Ge nodded.

Zuikaku sighed. "But this situation also stems from orders from above and our Sakura Empire's tradition."

"After all, in their view this island is where the divine maiden resides, so they normally have no other business and generally won't come here."

"Perhaps this is just a cultural difference between the factions." Qin Ge nodded; he could also somewhat understand this behavior.

At that moment, a group of little girls wearing yellow hats, kindergarten uniforms, and carrying backpacks ran past everyone. They cheered excitedly and screamed; when they ran past Qin Ge and the others, they turned their heads, smiled at them, then started running off into the distance.

Qin Ge looked at those children and involuntarily said, "They must be destroyers, right? The ship equipment in those backpacks doesn't look like a model."

"Yes, they are the sisters of the Mutsuki class." Zuikaku smiled. "Although compared to the earlier River Wind, they appear much younger and more childlike, yet on the battlefield they are in no way lacking."

As Zuikaku said this, Qin Ge couldn't help but glance at Si Peng Si, who was playing together with Biaoqiang nearby.

"War is still too cruel for them." Qin Ge, recalling Si Peng Si's tearful appearance, said.

"This is our mission; we have come into this world to end the war." Zuikaku chuckled. "Qin Ge, commander, what is your dream?"

"Me?" Qin Ge glanced at his shipgirls, who were scattered in various street-side shops, looking at the items they liked.

Upon seeing this, Qin Ge couldn't help but smile. "My dream used to be to go home, but gradually I realized my dream is quickly changing."

"Now, if you ask me, it's that I hope this war ends soon, so they can enjoy such wonderful times every day just like ordinary girls."

"What a naive dream that is." Zuikaku laughed, then looked at her sister and added, "But I feel the same way."