Chapter 493: Sleepy Xinong (Asking for Recommendations)

Although the sky above was overcast with dark clouds, seeing the command ships gradually increasing in number on the waterway, Qin Ge couldn't help but smile and said, "Now there are more command ships; it seems we are getting close to Minghai City."

"Hmm, according to the parameters on the autopilot, we are indeed close to Minghai City," said Zhende.

"But speaking of which, Commander, which port are we planning to dock at? Is it the civilian port or the Maritime Affairs Bureau's port?" Zala asked.

Qin Ge smiled and said, "Naturally it's the Maritime Affairs Bureau's port; with so many of us coming here we need to register and log in, and we also need a place to live and resupply—that's exactly why the Maritime Affairs Bureau exists."

"Then, are you familiar with the commander of the Maritime Affairs Bureau in Minghai City?" Zala asked.

"Not familiar." Qin Ge shook his head and said, "Although I stayed in Minghai City for over a month, to be honest, back then I had no contact with the Maritime Affairs Bureau or its commander, so I'm not really familiar with this place.

Even when I occasionally did missions escorting merchant ships here, it was merely to escort the merchant ships to the port, then after receiving the mission completion slip I would immediately leave.

I had never stayed here for a long time, nor had I ever visited the Maritime Affairs Bureau here.

However, when I arrived I heard Hu Feng say that the director of the Minghai City Maritime Affairs Bureau is Pennsylvania, a very serious person, and also has a good relationship with Arizona from the Shenhua City Dossier Center.

"Could it be that they're related because they're both of the Pennsylvania class?" Washington said from the side, "Just like when we were stationed, the White Eagle's envoy Essex often came to our fleet to look for Bunker Hill and the others, right?"

Qin Ge chuckled and said, "I actually thought you would say that North Carolina also came to look for you."

"She did come to look for me, but that's only because we're sister ships," Washington said.

"Hehe, Commander, do you have the idea of recruiting that North Carolina into our fleet? After all, she's a fully trained shipgirl." Zala asked, "I see she still cares about Washington, often coming over to say hello."

Qin Ge chuckled and said, "What does Washington think?"

"I don't mind; as long as I can fight, that's fine." Washington said indifferently.

"But otherwise I'll go back and ask, see if North Carolina has that intention; if she does, I wouldn't mind." Qin Ge laughed.

"Isn't that unnecessary? Don't you think it would be better to summon them yourself?" Washington said somewhat unnaturally.

"No, Guanghui, Akagi and Kaga are all ones I fished out; look, aren't they still pillars of our fleet?" Qin Ge smiled.

"Ugh..." Washington was suddenly at a loss for words.

Qin Ge looked at Washington's appearance and chuckled, then turned to the few people nearby and said, "By the way, what about Heinrich? Isn't she usually the most active? And what about Xinong?"

"Heinrich climbed up to the top deck early this morning; as for Xinong, she probably hasn't gotten out of bed yet," said Zhende.

"Hmm, I got it. Then I'll go check on Xinong; we're almost ashore, and it's not good to keep sleeping for no reason." Qin Ge said.

"Okay, Commander."

After a few people exchanged greetings, Qin Ge headed toward the bedroom at the rear of the ship.

He came to Xinong's door and knocked, but there was no response from inside. So he didn't knock again, but instead pushed the door open and walked in.

All he saw was Xinong lying on the bed in her clothes, her body curled up into a ball, then she covered herself with her large tail, looking somewhat cute and lazy.

Qin Ge couldn't help but smile as he walked in, and then, as usual, he poked Xinong's face.

"Zz… huh? … Is it you? … Have I fallen asleep again?" Under Qin Ge's poking, Xinong opened her hazy eyes and, somewhat dazed, said to Qin Ge.

"Did you perhaps wake up this morning?" Qin Ge asked with a laugh.

"I… probably did wake up, after all I saw the sunlight." Xinong said lazily to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge was speechless and said, "But today it's overcast outside; where did you see the sunlight from?"

"Overcast? Then earlier I saw sunlight… could it be that I was still in a dream?" Xinong said slowly.

Qin Ge chuckled and said, "Nine times out of ten, that's what happened, but whatever you do, don't fall asleep again—we're about to reach Minghai City."

"Are we there already?" Xinong said, and her pair of white big ears also twitched.

Seeing this, Qin Ge spoke while reaching out to pinch that pair of white big ears, saying, "Exactly, we've been sailing for two days now; we're about to arrive at the Maritime Affairs Bureau district of Minghai City."

After Qin Ge finished speaking, his hand was already pinching Xinong's ears. That soft, pliable feel with a slight toughness made Qin Ge somewhat reluctant to let go.

"Com… Commander, the ears are a bit…"

Xinong's voice sounded low and low, making Qin Ge, who was kneading her ears, involuntarily shiver. It wasn't that Xinong was angry; rather, that slightly shy yet somewhat alluring voice truly made Qin Ge unable to bear it.

So Qin Ge immediately let go of Xinong's ears, saying with a bit of embarrassment, "Uh, I didn't expect your ears to be your sensitive spot… sorry."

"Mm." Xinong shook her head, "If Commander wants to touch, please let me know in advance so I can prepare. Otherwise, with this kind of sudden attack, I have no defense and can easily lose control…"

"All right." Qin Ge quickly nodded and then said to Xinong, "But honestly, why have you become so sleepy lately? Although you used to like sleeping before, it's never been this frequent."

"I feel that over these few days we've been out, aside from when you're awake during battles, you spend most of your time sleeping in your room, or otherwise in the ship's cabin."

"I'm not entirely sure either; I just feel that my body has been more fatigued lately, and I've been dreaming more often—perhaps some changes are occurring," Xinong said.

"Could it be that you're about to awaken?" Qin Ge asked in surprise.

After all, when other shipgirls awaken they dream; perhaps Xinong, who usually likes to dream, might dream even more when she awakens.

"I'm not sure either, but I've been dreaming about bits and pieces of the past. Perhaps this is my awakening; in the future I could become stronger and no longer be bound by fate—"

"Most importantly, I could be of help to you." Xinong said.

"Hmm." Qin Ge nodded and said, "In short, if anything feels off or abnormal lately, please let me know right away. You are the first maritime legend of our harbor district, so obtaining your experience will become a benchmark."

"I also hope for that."