Chapter 653: The Prince of Wales's Lecture

After saying it and doing it, and leaving the corresponding defense personnel behind, Qin Ge took his shipgirls and headed toward the port of the Commander Academy.

But just as everyone had returned to the pier, they saw a group of officers wearing the insignia of privates and lance corporals standing there. Beside them, a shipgirl wearing Iron Blood uniform was saying something.

"What's going on? Could they be here to welcome us? In wartime, it's better not to make a fuss..." Qin Ge asked doubtfully.

"Eh, I think you're mistaken; these kids probably just want to go to the battlefield." The Prince of Wales said helplessly.

Qin Ge smiled. "Understandable—youthful and reckless, striving for one's ideals; that spirit is indeed admirable."

"Heh, if they had your strength, I'd be very pleased, but look at what they have now—"

"All they have is hot blood, yet they see no gap between themselves and the battlefield; calling this going to the battlefield is nonsense—they're clearly marching to the execution ground, dying the moment they show their heads." The Prince of Wales said bluntly.

"Heh, Prince of Wales, your standards are too high; if everyone were like Qin Ge, the world would have changed long ago." Mikasa smiled.

"Now is a critical moment; Prince of Wales, you should still transfer these students to a safe place—they are Donghuang's hope.

Even if this counterattack fails, we have at least left a spark for Donghuang. They can continue to fight the Sirens, rather than let all of Donghuang lose its ability to resist." Qinglong said.

"I know; I told Koln before that she could use force to deter if necessary." The Prince of Wales said, "but looking at the situation now, Koln's heart is still soft."

Qin Ge smiled. "But for now we can relax—at least the fighting here is temporarily over."

"Still, we can't let our guard down; although you're here holding the fort, the Siren Fleet might possibly make a comeback. Moreover, you can't stay here forever; later I'll arrange for them to withdraw to a safe place." The Prince of Wales shook his head and said.

As the fleet approached, the movements of the crowd on the shore gradually grew larger; from far away, Qin Ge could hear the cheers from the shore.

As the ships moved forward, the cheers grew louder, until the command ship docked at the pier.

When everyone disembarked from the command ship, they saw a group of students and his own shipgirls swarming over, seemingly wanting to celebrate the hard-won victory, but what awaited them was a scolding from the Prince of Wales, head to toe.

"What are you all crowding here for? Earlier I issued an order to arrange your retreat to a safe place—didn't you hear it clearly? You are officers, and more importantly, soldiers.

Soldiers ought to regard obeying orders as their duty; are you trying to defy orders?"

The Prince of Wales's words left the entire scene instantly silent; all the trainee officers were momentarily unable to react.

"You think you're capable, right? Summoning your own shipgirl makes you a true commander, right? Do you know how many commanders Donghuang lost in this great battle?

Even that elite grand fleet on the front lines has already lost more than seven or eight; how do you think you compare to them? Do you think your shipgirls can withstand a single salvo from the new-type Siren?"

The Prince of Wales's successive rhetorical questions made all the officers on site involuntarily lower their heads. Even Qin Ge was somewhat speechless before such a Prince of Wales; he unconsciously touched his nose, feeling a bit relieved.

"But, but we can't let only the instructors fight; we want to contribute our share, even if it's very weak, we won't shirk it."

A feeble voice came from the students, and this voice seemed to speak their hearts; immediately it was met with agreement.

"Heh, do you think saying such things will earn you my forgiveness? Don't you know what you represent?

"Now I'll speak frankly: Donghuang currently faces a tremendous crisis, one could say unprecedented. You are Donghuang's tomorrow and also its spark; even if Donghuang's torch is extinguished and burned out, as long as you exist, we can rebuild Donghuang—understand?

"So do you now know what responsibility rests on your shoulders? You are Donghuang's tomorrow; you are Donghuang's future.

"And this statement is no longer empty talk; it's a fact. I hope you can carry out the orders I've given, temporarily avoid the brunt of this great war, and wait until your wings are full, then you can lead Donghuang to glory."

The Prince of Wales looked at the students before him and spoke, his tone full of solemnity; even Qin Ge couldn't help but nod.

"Understood?"

"Understood!"

The two short words turned into a thunderous roar, making the Prince of Wales involuntarily smile. "Very well. Then before you withdraw, please allow me to introduce another instructor you have never met—he was our Commander Academy's former tactics instructor, and also our Commander Academy's lifelong honorary instructor.

"At the same time, our successful resistance against the Siren Fleet's attack this time was also thanks to his aid."

The Prince of Wales's introduction made the students involuntarily lift their heads and look in her direction; only to see the Prince of Wales step aside, revealing Qin Ge behind him.

"Isn't that inappropriate?" Qin Ge looked somewhat embarrassed at the Prince of Wales.

"What's wrong with that? You're a member of our Commander Academy; since you're back, just take the opportunity to meet the juniors and go up to say a few words." Mikasa smiled.

"Eh." Qin Ge startled, then gave a wry smile, and walked to the Prince of Wales's side under the gaze of all the students.

"Hello, I'm Qin Ge." As soon as Qin Ge finished speaking, a huge buzz erupted among the crowd.

"So he's Qin Ge, the author of the tactical teaching materials we're currently studying—he looks quite young!"

"I know Instructor Qin Ge; he graduated from the Commander Academy two years ago, and during his time there he was our school's tactics instructor, and Instructor Koln has always held him in high esteem."

"……"

Qin Ge looked at the students' murmurs, involuntarily smiled, feeling a hint of closeness, as if seeing his former self. Yet at the same time he felt a sense of distance, as if he could never return to such an innocent era.

"This is my first meeting with all of you, but the current situation doesn't allow me to speak too much; however, please rest assured, the situation isn't that bad, and Donghuang will continue to exist. Only, we will soon face an unprecedented battle, so for everyone's safety, to meet force with force is also a sensible choice.

"Your future time is still long, the road you must travel is still far, and the enemies you will face are many. Although this battle does not involve your participation, the next battle, the one after that—you will be the ones who experience them firsthand.

"So what you should do now is strive to protect your safety, diligently train your shipgirls, strive to make yourselves stronger, so that in future battles you can fight to the end.

"Thank you."