Chapter 442

「Aim……bang! 」

Fanji made a shooting gesture, and immediately the turrets behind her fired in unison, bright shells arced across the sky, accurately landing on a Siren warship.

「Boom! 」

The explosion roared loudly, accompanied by splashing firelight, and that Siren warship was directly torn apart and sank into the sea.

「Hooray! I won, quick battle quick decision is the truth, haha! \" Fanji said excitedly over the comms.

「But you're not the MVP of this battle, oh. \" Hao said with a laugh.

「Huh! \" Fanji glanced at the distant Monarch, 「She's too strong; only by fighting together can we realize just how strong she is. 」

「Yeah, that kind of sky‑covering barrage instantly tore through the enemy's defense line. \" Hao, recalling the endless barrages he'd seen, couldn't help but exclaim.

「However, I was the one who destroyed the last Siren warship; roughly speaking, I still made a major contribution. \" Fanji said with a laugh.

「Hehe. \" Hearing that, Hao couldn't help but laugh.

As they chatted and laughed, a Siren vortex appeared in the sea before them.

「Here it comes; I wonder what good stuff the Sirens will give this time. \" Fanji asked.

「Well, why do I feel like this is turning into a stage‑clear treasure‑hunt plot? \" Hao couldn't help but shake his head.

「Haha, isn't this kind of battle more fun? \" Fanji said with a laugh.

Hao nodded, 「That's right. 」.

As a box fell from the vortex, that alluring voice appeared again.

「Congratulations on passing the third stage; it was an overwhelming battle, I'm looking forward to you more and more, hoping you can maintain this advantage inside the fourth stage wall.

This is your reward for passing the third stage, Command Meow. As for the fourth stage, it will open in ten hours; good luck」

After hearing the alluring voice's announcement, Qin Ge quickly told everyone, 「Gather the spoils and retreat completely. 」.

「Yes, Commander! \" All the shipgirls quickly replied over the communicator; immediately Belfast stepped forward, retrieved the box, and together with the other shipgirls returned to the command ship's position.

Thick fog rose again, the sea surface became invisible. At this moment, everyone looked at the box before them, which was unlike any before, and felt some doubt.

「Hao, have you Royals researched this Command Meow? \" Qin Ge asked Hao.

Hao shook his head, 「I've never heard of Command Meow; it's probably an unknown project similar to the research shipgirls. But judging by the name, it should be similar to the Commander. 」.

「I think it's impossible; the Commander is irreplaceable. As for Command Meow, I feel it's like the ship equipment we swap, having the effect of boosting our various abilities. \" Monarch said, 「Otherwise, if Command Meow were the same as the Commander, what would the Commander be for? 」.

「That's also true. \" Hao nodded.

Qin Ge told everyone, 「No matter what its effect is, rather than discussing it here, we'll know once we open it. 」.

「That's right. \" All the shipgirls nodded.

Belfast, just as before, walked forward to prepare to open the Command Meow box, but found she couldn't open it at all.

"No, I can't open this box; it seems like some kind of seal." Belfast said.

"Huh? Let me try." Guanghui said doubtfully, then she walked forward, reached out to open the box, but found she couldn't open it either.

"No, I can't open it either." Guanghui shook her head and said.

At that moment, Qin Ge nodded and said, "Then let me try."

Immediately, under the gaze of all the shipgirls, he stepped forward, pulled on the box, and in an instant the box opened, releasing a golden beam of light from inside.

Amid everyone's astonishment, the light gradually faded, the box opened fully, and what appeared before them was a very peculiar creature.

She looked like a shrunken person, the size of a cat, with beautiful pink hair, wearing a Royal Navy cap on her head and a naval uniform similar to the formal dress Fearless wears, and she had a pink tail behind her.

"Meow?" As everyone watched her, she opened her eyes, glanced at Qin Ge, then leapt onto his arm, climbed up to his shoulder like a lively cat, and sat down.

"Pond, meow!"

Qin Ge looked at this scene somewhat surprised, saying, "So this is the commander cat? And she just called herself Pond?"

"Yes, or maybe this little guy's name is Pond?" Guanghui said with a smile.

"Pond?" Qin Ge pondered carefully, then suddenly thought of a person: "Dudley Pond? The crafty old badger?"

"Meow!" Pond let out a meow, then affectionately rubbed against Qin Ge's face.

"Hehe, Commander, it seems this little one really likes you, but who is this Dudley Pond you just mentioned?" Guanghui said with a smile.

Qin Ge smiled and said, "Nothing, I just suddenly recalled a name."

In fact, Qin Ge's heart was greatly shocked at this moment; he seemed to understand what a commander cat was. If warships can become maidens as shipgirls, then what would the commanders aboard those ships become?

At the moment he saw the commander cat and thought of the name Dudley Pond, he already understood.

The so-called commander cats are those generals who once achieved great feats in naval battles; these adorable feline creatures are their incarnations.

Dudley Pond, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, nicknamed the crafty old badger. He had once been a Royal Navy officer and admiral, called Churchill's anchor, and played a major role in formulating and executing maritime strategy during World War II.

Thinking this, Qin Ge gave a slight smile and said to Pond, who was smoothing her pink hair on his shoulder, "So what abilities does this little one have?"

"Meow?" Pond first looked at Qin Ge doubtfully, then her eyes lit up. She then stood up from his shoulder and said, "Meow!"

After that meow, the first to respond were several battleships.

"I feel my firepower has increased, though not very noticeably, but there is still a clear sensation." Monarch said in surprise, "So is this the little one's ability?"

Seeing Monarch's surprised expression, Pond proudly crossed her arms, then sat back down on Qin Ge's shoulder and began toying with her hair again.

Qin Ge nodded and said, "It seems her ability is to assist you in battle and boost your combat effectiveness."

"Yes."