Chapter 254: Zhang Men

While Qin Ge and them were strolling on the street, Mikasa arrived outside the shrine located at the center of the Sakura Empire's main island.

Jiang Feng, who was guarding outside the shrine, also saw Mikasa's arrival, saying, "Mikasa, you've come; Zhang Men has been waiting for you for a while."

"Hmm, is she still in her own room?" Mikasa asked with a smile.

"Yes." Jiang Feng replied.

"What about Mutsu?" Mikasa asked.

"Mutsu and Yamashiro just went out." Jiang Feng said.

"Hmm, thank you." Mikasa nodded at Jiang Feng with a smile.

"No need to thank me, this is what I should do." After saying that, Jiang Feng resumed his previous stance, standing before the shrine's gate like a diligent guard.

Seeing Jiang Feng like that, Mikasa couldn't help but shake her head, then walked into the shrine.

Although this shrine appears as a shrine on the outside, inside it actually serves as Zhang Men's residence. After bypassing the hall enshrining three million deities, Mikasa didn't linger at all and headed straight down the side corridor.

Following the corridor's path toward the rear of the shrine, which is where Zhang Men rests.

Because the shrine lies beneath the great Divine Tree, the cherry blossoms along the path Mikasa walked fluttered in the wind, appearing very evocative; one could say this is the most beautiful place in the entire Sakura Empire archipelago.

At the end of the corridor there are two rooms; outside their doors are two signs, one bearing the two characters "Zhang Men" and the other bearing "Mutsu".

Evidently, this time Mikasa's destination is here; she came to the side of Zhang Men's quarters and lightly knocked on the door.

"Please come in." As the knocking sounded, a relatively deep voice of a girl came from inside the room.

Mikasa couldn't help but smile, then pushed open the door. There she saw the girl who had been standing on the worship platform outside the shrine that day, now kneeling on the tatami, her gaze toward the door filled with anticipation and delight.

"Senior Mikasa, you've finally returned." Zhang Men said to Mikasa.

Mikasa gave a slight smile, saying, "Although every year your first greeting to me is like this, I still feel an unexpected warmth."

"Senior Mikasa..." Zhang Men's face flushed a bit, evidently embarrassed by Mikasa's earlier words. Mikasa smiled faintly, then moved forward to sit kneeling opposite Zhang Men.

"How did you know I was coming back? Normally I should return the day after tomorrow or the day after that." Mikasa smiled.

"Akagi and Kaga came here before; they told me." Zhang Men said to Mikasa.

"So it was them." Mikasa chuckled.

"Yes, they said that this time you didn't come just to rest, but to undertake a mission for Donghuang?" Zhang Men said.

"Yes, you know I'm currently in charge of the battleship course at Donghuang's Commander Academy." Mikasa said.

"Senior Mikasa, you could completely return to the Sakura Empire's Commander Academy to teach the battleship course." Zhang Men whispered.

Mikasa couldn't help but shake her head and laugh, "Sakura Empire has already been entrusted to you young people, so even if I'm not here, there's Kongou and them, Hyouga and them. Valley"

Moreover, you know that Donghuang's Yixian saved my life; out of emotion and reason, I should also do something for her.

Coincidentally, the Northern Union's A Furore is also there; we two were previously old rivals, and now we've become old friends fighting side by side, so staying in Donghuang makes things go more smoothly."

"But I..." Zhang Men wanted to say something, but couldn't get it out. Because many times before she had said the same thing, but it had no effect.

Mikasa smiled slightly, "You are currently the flagship of the Sakura Empire, you need to bear your own responsibility."

"Yes, Senior Mikasa." Zhang Men nodded, saying, his expression revealing a bit of seriousness. After saying that, he then showed an admiring little face, telling Mikasa, "Senior Mikasa, could you tell me about your experiences and observations in Donghuang this year?"

"Good." Mikasa smiled faintly, but also felt a pang of heartache. The child before her, like a little girl, could have enjoyed a happy life like others.

But it's a pity that she is the flagship of the Sakura Empire, must constantly display the dignity of the Sakura Empire. Therefore she has no friends; the only ones she can speak her heart to are herself and her sister.

Whenever I return from Donghuang, she pesters me to talk about outside affairs. Previously I would tell her amusing things happening inside Donghuang, but this time it seems there is a lot to talk about.

Mikasa thought for a moment, then looked at the expectant Zhang Men and smiled, saying, "Actually, since leaving Sakura Empire last year to return to Donghuang's Commander Academy, I have encountered a very remarkable person."

"A remarkable person?" Zhang Men asked curiously.

"Yes." Mikasa nodded, "He is the Donghuang competition representative who came to Sakura Empire this time, Commander Qin Ge."

"What could be remarkable about a human?" Zhang Men asked.

"His military expertise is extremely high, and his luck is exceptionally good, to the point of being incomprehensible." Mikasa sighed.

"Good luck? Is that what you previously called those humans Euro Emperors, Senior Mikasa?" Zhang Men said.

"He is not like those people I mentioned before; his remarkable trait is that each time he builds, it seems destined to succeed. So far, after entering the Commander Academy, in one year he has built twenty times, failing only once."

Moreover, he has built two flagship vessels of their factions: the Iron Blood's Bisimai and the Sardinian Empire's Weineituo. These two are certainly not inferior to your existence." Mikasa praised.

"No way, according to what we know so far, this world doesn't allow more than one flagship per faction to exist, does it?" Zhang Men exclaimed in surprise.

"But he has built them, that's the fact." Mikasa said, "Therefore, the Prince of Wales believes he can no longer be explained merely by good luck; he seems to be some kind of fated existence."

"Fate?" Zhang Men whispered, "If it truly is fate, then he might possibly change the entire world's situation afterward."

"Yes, he has already begun altering Donghuang's form." Mikasa said.

"But why would Donghuang, having obtained such a talent, expose him?" Zhang Men asked.

Mikasa smiled, "Because his existence has already exceeded the limit that Donghuang can accept."

Rather than keeping him hidden and exposing him later, it's better to expose him now so that the other major factions know Donghuang has such an existence.

This way, Donghuang can secure a certain bargaining chip in future interests disputes."