Chapter 42: Chapter Forty-Two: The Cadets

"Have you heard? The instructor of the Strategy and Tactics Course, Instructor Deng, went back inland due to some family changes. Who do you think will teach our Strategy and Tactics course this year?"

"In the cafeteria, several obviously second-year commanders sat together with their own shipgirls, discussing the Strategy and Tactics Course."

"I estimate it should be Instructor Mikasa or Instructor A Furore; they have the highest seniority in the academy and have experienced many battles." One commander said.

"That's not certain; I feel Instructor Malilan could also do it." Another commander argued.

"Come on, with Instructor Malilan's reckless vigor, I estimate all the objectives of the Strategy and Tactics Course in her mouth are just one word: Charge!" The commander at the edge said helplessly.

"Haha, you're just asking for a stern talking-to, saying that about Instructor Malilan?" The commander who first raised the question laughed.

"No, I just feel Instructor Malilan's style suits my taste; you think it's Chuannei?" This commander said to his shipgirl Chuannei.

"Exactly, whether it's a Sirens mass-produced type or a fallen shipgirl, one punch and it's wrecked!" A shipgirl with blond hair and fox ears said.

"You two really click." The others laughed helplessly.

"At that moment, a person ran over quickly, with a shipgirl holding a camera following behind him."

"I say, brothers, do you know what I just saw?"

"The four present shook their heads; one of them said, 'Wu Hao, just say what's up, stop being all mysterious all the time, making it seem like you're a spy.'"

"The commander called Wu Hao rolled his eyes, 'Fine, it's just professional habit; let me tell you, I just saw a new commander.'"

"Isn't that normal? School starts tomorrow; we're already second-years, so the newly arrived commanders are all new commanders, everywhere. You don't believe me? I'll point them out over there—you'll see several sitting there." That commander said helplessly, thinking it was some important news, but it turned out to be nonsense.

"I hadn't finished speaking when you cut me off." Wu Hao said, "The new commander I'm talking about isn't like those."

"Oh, what else is strange about it?" These few people became interested and said to Wu Hao.

"Of course there is." Wu Hao said, "That current commander has two shipgirls following behind him: one is Sakura Empire's Nengdai, the other is Royal's Banrenma; his rank is still Private Rank, and his chest also bears an identity badge that instructors often carry."

"Wu Hao, are you joking?" The several people present exclaimed in surprise. After all, what Wu Hao said was truly unbelievable—a newcomer who hasn't even attended the entrance ceremony having two shipgirls? Moreover, among the second-years, who are generally familiar with each other, no one has ever had Sakura Empire's Nengdai or Royal's Banrenma, let alone that person also carrying an instructor's identity badge.

"How would I joke about something like this? You should know my temperament; the news I report is absolutely news, absolutely factual—how would I spread rumors?" Wu Hao said helplessly.

"I can prove Wu Hao is indeed telling the truth—you all look over there." At that moment, a commander facing the cafeteria door, his expression stiffening, lowered his voice to say to everyone.

"Following his voice, everyone turned to look at the cafeteria door, and saw a commander wearing the commander's uniform, with a Private Rank on his shoulder and an identity badge on his chest walking into the cafeteria, and indeed behind him followed Sakura Empire's Nengdai and Royal's Banrenma."

"Seeing a figure exactly as Wu Hao described, the several second-year commanders were stunned. They could be certain this person was absolutely not a second-year, because they had never seen this person before."

"Moreover, as everyone knows, aside from the first batch of commanders, all other commanders only enter the Donghuang Navy System after graduating from the Azure Lane Commander Academy. Therefore, someone with a Private Rank can only be a new commander from the Commander Academy, not from anywhere else."

"And the group that shocked them was none other than Qin Ge and his shipgirls; along the way they had already attracted many strange glances, and even inside the cafeteria Qin Ge had grown somewhat accustomed to those looks."

"Ignoring the astonished gazes of everyone—after all, tomorrow they'll know what they're here for—Qin Ge headed straight toward the operating table where Yixian was, and today there were three additional female workers beside Yixian, presumably the miscellaneous workers mentioned."

"Commander Qin Ge, from today onward you'll have to do things yourself." Seeing Qin Ge approach, Yixian smiled at him.

"Hehe, I'm actually quite used to this, and I've always been bothering you before, which is really embarrassing." Qin Ge smiled and said.

"It's fine, but if you want to eat the dishes I specially prepare, you can give me a heads-up in advance, and when the time comes you can just come over and I'll have them ready." Yixian smiled.

"That would be too embarrassing; just like them is fine." Qin Ge smiled.

"That's fine too; anyway, I've told you this much—if you want to eat later, just give me a heads-up in advance." Yixian smiled, "The trays are over there; you can add whatever you want. Moreover, I have specially prepared Naval Curry here; the school will distribute some petroleum supplies each week, and to quickly train your shipgirls, I recommend you buy a portion for your shipgirl every day—this will raise their proficiency faster."

"Qin Ge nodded, 'No problem, thanks, Yixian senior.'"

"It's fine; then go get your meal—if anything comes up, just find me anytime." Yixian laughed.

"Hmm." Qin Ge nodded, then took his two shipgirls to the tray area. After obtaining the utensils, each person prepared their meal according to their own preference.

"Qin Ge looked around, saw that a corner was empty, and said to Banrenma and Nengdai, 'Let's go there.'"

"All right, Commander." Banrenma and Nengdai nodded and followed Qin Ge in that direction.

"Not long after the three sat down, a person arrived with his shipgirl at Qin Ge's side—none other than Wu Hao, who had just informed the few of them."

"Hello, sorry to bother you—I'm Wu Hao of this Commander Academy, this year I should be considered a second-year, and this is my shipgirl Gelidelii." Wu Hao said to Qin Ge, who was eating.

"Qin Ge raised his head, looked at Wu Hao whose rank was Private First Class, smiled and said, 'Hello, I'm Qin Ge, a newcomer at this Commander Academy; these two are my shipgirls, namely Sakura Empire's Nengdai and Royal's Banrenma. May I ask what you need?'"