Chapter 290: Speculations on the Sirens' Strength

While Qin Ge and his companions were considering the Sirens' intentions, the other major factions also came from the shore to the outskirts of the battle zone, observing the ongoing fight.

"This Purifier seems to have much stronger combat ability than the Tester," said Tierbici.

"Maybe, because the question of how strong their combat power is has always been a mystery—no one knows what their full strength really is," said Prince Ou Gen beside them.

"You Iron Blood have been in contact with them the most, don't you know?" Hood said with a smile, though his tone was tinged with teasing.

Prince Ou Gen chuckled and said, "You can ask the Northern Union about this, after all, this gathering is precisely about them."

Faced with Prince Ou Gen's neither admitting nor denying attitude, Hood furrowed his brows. In fact, everyone among the major factions knows that some factions' high-ranking officials definitely have dealings with the Sirens.

However, this is an open secret, yet also a secret that cannot be spoken; one can joke about it in casual conversation, but it must never be brought up in serious matters.

Because the major factions have always held the front line, resisting the Sirens' attacks. If we were to launch a thorough investigation over merely a trade issue and end up turning against other factions, then there would be no need for the Azure Lane to exist.

When Hood glanced at the Northern Union beside him, the Northern Union's Soviet Russia shook its head, saying, "I don't know; although we have clashed with the Sirens many times, their strength varies each time."

Sometimes they are strong, sometimes weak—what exactly is their true strength? No one can know.

Moreover, don't say you Royals don't know this information; as far as I know, among all the factions, aside from the White Eagle and us, it's the Royals who have fought them the most, right?

George V spoke solemnly, "Precisely because we have engaged them many times, we are therefore not so certain about their strength."

Each time they appear, it seems as if our movements are entirely anticipated by them. Their strength each time is just a notch above what our fleet can withstand, but with a little effort we can still defeat them.

However, after this happens once, twice, we can't help but suspect that they never exert their full strength when opposing us, so we remain curious about just how powerful they truly are.

"Perhaps I now somewhat agree with what Commander Qin Ge said earlier," said the Dragon Cavalry following behind Littorio.

"Oh? What did that miraculous commander say before? Could you tell us so we can hear? After all, we didn't get to participate in your previous opportunity," asked the White Eagle-affiliated North Carolina curiously.

The Dragon Cavalry glanced at Littorio, whereupon Littorio said to North Carolina, "Commander Qin Ge made a very interesting hypothesis: he said this world is an examination hall, and we shipgirls of the major factions are all examinees, while the Sirens are our teachers.

They will pose some difficult problems, thereby stimulating our power, and also provide opportunities to enhance our strength through some transactions.

And their goal is the same as ours—to prepare for the final exam—but what the exam entails, no one can know.

"An interesting hypothesis," North Carolina mused after hearing it, "It's a pity Commander Qin Ge isn't here; if he were, I'd like to ask him thoroughly about this hypothesis."

Upon hearing the topic shift to their own commander, Guanghui gazed into the distance; the command ship floating on the sea surface showed a hint of worry, for at that moment the command ship's position was not too far from the battlefield, and if the Sirens launched a rushing assault, they could easily reach it.

"Don't worry, Commander Qin Ge is under the Sakura Empire's escort; if anything happens, we can also help, so just stay calm," Anshan said upon seeing this, to Guanghui.

"But the distance we are at is somewhat too far," Guanghui said anxiously.

"Not far at all, this is just a little distance," Changchun smiled from the side.

"Rest assured, Commander Qin Ge is the pride of our Donghuang; we will absolutely not allow him any mistake, rest assured," Anshan said confidently.

"Huh..." Guanghui glanced dubiously at Anshan and Changchun beside him; although somewhat doubtful, he said nothing more.

However, the Prince of Wales beside them seemed to recall something, and with a hint of surprise said to Anshan, "Has that been researched?"

"It seems Elder Sister Yixian already told you about that," Anshan said to the Prince of Wales, "but I hope the Prince of Wales can keep it confidential for us."

"Tsk, no wonder Donghuang sent you out this time; now I understand. So we indeed don't need to worry about Commander Qin Ge's safety—this distance really isn't far." The Prince of Wales laughed, "Rest assured, although I am a Royal shipgirl, I am also the Dean of the Donghuang Commander Academy; I know which secrets to divulge and which to keep."

"Then thank you very much, Prince of Wales," Anshan smiled.

Watching the few people speaking in mysterious riddles, Qin Ge's shipgirls exchanged glances; among them, the gazes of Prince Ou Gen, Bisimai, and Weineituo were especially laden with meaning.

Among the current shipgirls, Donghuang has the fewest awakened shipgirls, yet still occupies a seat among the nine major factions; it appears that Donghuang's faction indeed possesses some things that have not yet been revealed.

But what exactly those things are—even the Prince of Wales looks puzzled—several people guessed, yet all shook their heads, because Anshan and the others are merely destroyers, and the armament a destroyer can carry is simply too limited.

For the time being they also couldn't figure it out, so they could only retain this doubt, waiting to examine the concrete situation later.

Meanwhile, the mass-produced Siren warships summoned by the Purifiers are naturally not that simple. Although everyone here is an awakened shipgirl, dealing with these so-called cannon fodder still takes some effort.

Fortunately, the carrier fleet whose first wave of carrier aircraft was completely destroyed has already launched the second wave of carrier aircraft; this time their target is those mass-produced warships.

Evidently, they decided to first clear out the mass-produced warships, then concentrate superior firepower to annihilate the Purifiers.

A sky‑covering swarm of carrier aircraft took off from the flight decks of the carrier fleet's shipgirls, their bodies glowing red as they rushed toward the Siren mass‑produced warships. And upon hearing the engines' howl, the vanguard shipgirls engaged in battle with those warships collectively fell back.

The thunderous roar that echoed across the entire sea burst forth instantly; amidst the spreading flames, the Siren mass‑produced warships turned into one wreck after another…