Chapter 464: Difference

Commander, what do you think is the biggest difference between us and the Royal?

The command ship was sailing on the sea when Qin Ge, resting inside it, was suddenly asked this question by Ou Gen Qin Wang.

Qin Ge thought for a moment, glanced at Tierbici sitting on the sofa nearby, Qibolin, and Bisimai steering the ship, then answered Ou Gen Qin Wang.

Just the atmosphere.

"Huh?" Peter Strasse, sitting on the other side, smiled and said, "Atmosphere, how do you put it, Commander?"

Qin Ge smiled and said, "Overall, the Royal gives a more relaxed feeling—like when there's nothing happening at sea, most people sit together drinking afternoon tea, so even if a fierce battle occurs, the tense nerves will quickly ease."

But after spending these few days with Iron Blood, I feel you're not like that. Your conduct makes me recall my time in the troops—although we joke around sometimes, overall it's still quite stern.

Ou Gen Qin Wang couldn't help but smile slightly and said, "So this is why you arranged two Royal shipgirls in our fleet, Commander?"

Qin Ge looked at Ou Gen Qin Wang's half-smile, rolled his eyes, and said, "Enthusiasm itself has the special skill of firepower interference, which can reduce the firing rate and damage of enemy elite targets—it's a very useful skill."

Chong qing, on the other hand, has a special skill that gives extra damage against lightly armored enemies, greatly increasing our fleet's killing efficiency against such foes.

Besides, if I wanted to experience a more leisurely atmosphere, I could simply assign Belfast to our fleet—my head maid is very capable.

After Qin Ge said that, even Ou Gen Qin Wang nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed, if the port area were looking for a shipgirl best at taking care of people, there's no doubt it would be Belfast."

"That said, Commander, that's not entirely true either," Peter Strasse said. "Take Heinrich, for example—that kid is quite lively."

Qin Ge glanced at the deck not far off, where Z23, Enthusiasm, and Ou ruo la— the long-haired girl there—were standing, and he smiled. "Her nature is rather innocent, or you could say very clumsy, just like a child."

But her individual performance doesn't represent all of Iron Blood. In contrast, your conduct is very rigorous; your usual style is also quite decisive, and on the battlefield you're… well, efficient.

Even Z23 has a strong Iron Blood style.

"Hehe, then Commander, do you like this style, or do you prefer the Royal's style?" Ou Gen Qin Wang asked with a laugh, and the question drew the attention of several nearby shipgirls.

Qin Ge smiled and nodded. "I think each faction has its own traits, which is a good thing. And for me, a stricter style like Iron Blood's is what I'm most accustomed to."

"Huh?" Wei Xi, leaning by the window with a cup of coffee, turned his head and asked, "Why do you say that, Commander?"

Qin Ge chuckled, a touch nostalgic, and said, "Back when I was in another world, I was in our nation's troops. No, that couldn't be called troops—it was more like the vanguard station before entering the troops, inside the command academy."

Our nation's troops are a force with very strict discipline, full of many rules—a place that really hones a person. Even when we were in school, we acted according to the troops' standards.

That's why, thanks to that experience, when I'm with you few major factions, only Iron Blood can let me relive those moments.

Before Wei Xi could follow up, Ou Gen Qin Wang smiled and said, "The commander's recent changes have been significant—no, I should say they've been big ever since he returned from the Sakura Empire last year."

I remember when you first introduced us to that previous world of yours—it was all your world, but now it's become that former world again.

Qin Ge froze at that, then his smile slowly faded. "Perhaps… maybe I truly can't go back, or perhaps I've already grown accustomed to the rhythm of this world."

People must grow, and the price of growth is learning how to let go; so I have gradually let go.

"Hmm, that's quite good." Wei Xi nodded. "Just like I'm no longer the Si Pe'er Navy Admiral-class fourth ship Seydlitz, but rather the auxiliary carrier Wei Xi."

No matter what environment we're in or what we become, as long as we don't forget our original intent, we should choose how to live ourselves, rather than let life decide for us.

Exactly." Qin Ge smiled at Wei Xi and said.

"Hmph, what's there to miss about this foolish world? I choose to live by destroying it all." Qibolin said slowly.

Qin Ge gave Qibolin a somewhat speechless look—she's also a big troublemaker, though she's much better than Akagi; at the very least, she still listens to what I say.

"That said, the reason Qibolin turned out this way—could it also be related to Akagi? After all, when Qibolin was built, they referenced Akagi's blueprints."

Just as Qin Ge was pondering these questions, Bisimai, who was steering the ship, suddenly said, "Everyone, enemies have appeared."

Upon hearing that, Qin Ge immediately stood up and went to Bisimai's side.

How many enemy fleets are there in total?" Qin Ge asked.

Bisimai immediately pointed at the radar and told Qin Ge, "Directions 84, 97, and 103—we've detected three Siren fleets."

"Tsk, this isn't bad; presumably there was only one Siren fleet here originally, but because we showed up it became three—though running into six this morning would have been worse."

So, Commander, what's our next move?" Bisimai asked.

Qin Ge looked at the radar and chuckled, "Of course we'll annihilate them—we've wiped out six Siren fleets one by one; what's there to fear about three?"

Bisimai nodded. "Then shall we stick with this morning's tactic—using our speed advantage to engage them in a long-range fight?"

Qin Ge blinked and told Bisimai, "First we'll launch carrier aircraft to have Qibolin and Peter Strasse scout what kind of fleet it is; if carrier strength isn't strong, we can just charge straight in."

If carrier strength is strong and it'll take time to seize air superiority, then we'll use this morning's tactic.

"Yes!" Bisimai replied crisply, then turned and led the Iron Blood personnel down from the command ship.

After landing on the sea, all they saw was her hand raising an Iron Blood flag; she then turned to face everyone and said, "In the name of iron and blood!"

Victory!