Chapter 421: On the Road

"Commander, are you comfortable?" Guanghui said with a smile.

At this moment, Qin Ge closed his eyes, lying on Guanghui's thigh, basking in the sunset on the horizon, while several shipgirls surrounded him.

Looking closely, beside Qin Ge were Belfast, a few Banrenma, and at this moment several people were lying on the upper deck of the command ship. They were also wearing the swimsuits Qin Ge had bought for them in the Sakura Empire, looking quite content.

Feeling Guanghui's gentle massage, Qin Ge opened his eyes and said, "Mm, very comfortable, thank you for your hard work."

"It's nothing; it's rare to have such leisure time, being able to bask in the sun together with the commander makes me feel very happy." Guanghui said with a smile.

Qin Ge chuckled, "I didn't expect Dean Qinglong of the Maritime Affairs Bureau to act so quickly; after reporting in, she sent people to take us to Sun-Moon Island."

"I think it's definitely arranged by the Donghuang Headquarters; that's also good. Once we reach Sun-Moon Island, we can set up defenses quickly, easing the pressure there a bit." the Banrenma beside him said.

Qin Ge smiled, noncommittal, "Besides, we still need to thank the other major factions for donating command ships to our fleet; otherwise, a fleet of over forty people all crammed onto a single command ship would be terribly crowded."

Hearing Qin Ge say that, Guanghui couldn't help but turn his head to look behind. At that moment on the sea, besides the command ships of the other vessels in the Star Sea Grand Fleet, there were four larger command ships closely following Qin Ge's command ship.

Those four command ships were each piloted by Qin Ge's three faction commanders-in-chief, and the last one was piloted by the envoy shipgirl of the Eight Major Factions.

The Royal members who usually followed Qin Ge on sorties had smoothly boarded his command ship. Since the course had been set beforehand, this scene came to pass.

"However, this situation is a good thing for us; at least they chose cooperation, rather than suppressing us based on their strength." Luodenni beside him said with a smile.

"I heard from the Prince of Wales Dean that, according to news from Commander-in-Chief Yixian, in this summit of the nine major faction leaders, Iron Blood and the Northern Union put in a great effort." Qin Ge looked.

"Although the Northern Union is strong, when it comes to matters of principle they see things clearly; they believe our existence can help the Azure Lane, so that's probably why they said that." Guanghui said with a smile.

"Heh, maybe." Qin Ge exhaled, "From now on, the road ahead is ours to blaze. I don't know when we'll be able to return to Shenhua City."

"But when the commander left, why didn't you tell Elder Lady and Wan Lao?" the Banrenma questioned.

Qin Ge recalled the two old men and involuntarily said, "Although Sun-Moon Island isn't too dangerous for us, it's still very dangerous for ordinary commanders, so the news Wan Lao and Elder Lady usually receive is that the place is dangerous."

"And now we're heading to Sun-Moon Island; if we told them, they'd surely worry. Moreover, before graduation we had been there, right? At that time I told them we might go to other cities, so they shouldn't worry, and if we have time we'll come back together to visit them."

"Mm, I understand, commander." The Banrenma nodded and stopped asking.

"Besides, I didn't expect them to be quite excited when we left." Qin Ge glanced at the fleet not far from his command ship and smiled.

"Maybe it's because they trust the commander, so no matter where the commander says to go, they won't worry too much." Ou ruo la sitting beside him said to Qin Ge.

"Trust?" Qin Ge chuckled, "Although this feeling is great, I still hope they can become independent later; I think we need to change our plan starting from Sun-Moon Island."

"What plan? Are you preparing to separate them from us?" Luodenni asked.

Qin Ge shook his head, "No, I intend to hand over the nearby seas to them; that area is a Level 3 erosion zone, enough to train them. Our goal is the Level 4 erosion zone, to go to a more distant place."

"But for them just having graduated, isn't a Level 3 erosion zone somewhat difficult for them?" Guanghui asked worriedly.

Qin Ge shook his head, "I think you've forgotten a very crucial point; we are no longer at school but are about to go to the garrison.

"At that garrison there's not only our grand fleet, but also the stationed free shipgirls. So we need to coordinate the free shipgirls, letting them practically use the shipgirls' joint combat method."

"With the help of the free shipgirls, if they still find the Level 3 erosion zone challenging, then they truly won't be able to keep up with our pace."

Guanghui nodded with a smile, "How did I forget them? Perhaps it's because I've stayed with the commander too long, and I've long forgotten that I was once a free shipgirl."

"Heh, I remember when Senior Guanghui first arrived at the Commander Academy, before joining our fleet, Senior Ou Gen Qin Wang once said that Senior Guanghui would definitely become a great threat." Banrenma said with a smile.

"Is there more like that?" Guanghui said with a smile.

Qin Ge said with a laugh, "Ou Gen Qin Wang usually sees things very accurately; I think she's right. Now I'd say I've stepped into Guanghui's gentle countryside, no, I should say I've stepped into yours."

Guanghui gave a slight smile, showing no anger. Instead, he curiously asked Qin Ge, "Then commander, do you regret it?"

Qin Ge shook his head, "I don't have any regret; I think this might be the greatest comfort for me."

"Having been here for two years, I've grown accustomed to this world's rhythm, and to being with you. Although I still remember certain things from that world very clearly, I no longer feel the urgent need to return as before."

"With you by my side, I feel this place is my home; perhaps this is the power of the contract—when I summon the first shipgirl again, it's destined to be this day."

"Perhaps in the future we might really find a way back to my world, but if that time comes and I have to choose between returning and staying with you, I will hesitate not at all to stay."

"Then commander, if your previous wish was to find a way home, what is your wish now?" the Banrenma asked with a smile.

Qin Ge chuckled, then rose from the deck, gazing at the boundless sea ahead and the slowly setting sunset, "What is my dream now?"

He turned his head to look at the shipgirls all around, "Being with you, and then growing old slowly..."