Reuel heard Akashi's suggestion to recruit the Sirens and fell silent for a moment. That idea… might actually not be a bad one.
"All right, I'll think about it again. Keep it up, Akashi. The future of the shipgirls is in your hands."
"Nya~~~! This Commander is a dictator, squeezing every last drop of strength from this poor little cat… so pitiful, nya~~~!" Akashi complained as she ran off, holding back tears, feeling as though every heavy burden had been dumped on her shoulders.
Richelieu and the other shipgirls quickly went after her to comfort her. They knew Akashi was the most crucial figure in realizing the dream—turning the shipgirls into Imperial Navy starships.
Reuel simply watched the scene in silence. It wasn't that he didn't feel sorry for Akashi, but whenever the Tech-Priest Mechanicus helped the shipgirls become starships, their designs were always required to include a massive church atop the vessel—as a tribute to the Master of Mankind.
Once the dock business was done, Reuel brought the Heroic Spirits and Gudazi to his palace in the Imperial Palace to meet his women.
The moment they entered the living room, they saw Reuel arrive with a group of new women. Angie immediately ran toward him, followed by Airi and Marina.
"Big brother! You're home already? That was fast! Are they… going to be Angie's new big sisters again?" Angie asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
Her look at Reuel seemed to say, "You've brought more pretty girls again, haven't you?"
"Ahem, Angie, you've got it wrong. Let me introduce you—these are famous Heroic Spirits from history. This one—Altria Pendragon, King of England. This is Black Jeanne, and this is White Jeanne—both key figures in the Hundred Years' War in France. This is Mash Kyrielight, and in front of her is Fujimaru Ritsuka."
Reuel introduced them one by one.
"Wow… big sisters are so pretty. But… really the King of England? Why a woman? Isn't the original history supposed to be a man?" Angie asked innocently.
"Will you become Alice's big sister too? And are you really the King of England?" added little Alice, followed by Airi and Marina, all of them looking curious.
"Then… who exactly is Jeanne? I don't think I know her," Angie said.
Bonk! Reuel lightly smacked Angie on the head.
"Ouch! That hurt! Why did you hit me, big brother?!" Angie protested.
"Do you even go to school? Never heard of Jeanne d'Arc? A famous historical figure from France, born in 1412. I think I'll be cutting down your playtime later," Reuel replied, half-irritated.
"No! Don't! Angie will study hard now!" Angie said in a panic.
Reuel then explained the origins of the Heroic Spirits from Naruserve to Angie and the other little girls.
That night, all of Reuel's women from the Resident Evil and High School of the Dead worlds returned. They were surprised to find that the King of England was actually a woman. Conversation flowed into dinner, where everyone gathered, exchanged stories, and occasionally tossed in jokes about the day's surprises.
The next day
Reuel took Dafeng, Richelieu, and five people from Chaldea for a stroll through the streets of the Imperial Palace in Terra Aeterna.
As the Master of Mankind in the Imperium of Man, it was important for him to familiarize new members with the world they would be living in. Besides, after being away for several months, his curiosity about the developments in the capital of the Imperium of Man was impossible to contain.
"Wow, your buildings are truly impressive."
Gudazi looked left and right, taking in the majestic structures lining both sides of the street. The city was filled with towering buildings, some rising so high they pierced the atmosphere. In the distance, Universal Bulins and Mechanicus Tech-Priests were constructing colossal pillars around the Imperial Palace.
The city's architecture blended massive, sky-reaching Gothic style with the advanced technology of Warhammer and StarCraft. The building surfaces gleamed, intricate ornaments adorned the facades, and the streets bustled with liveliness.
If not for the distinctive attire of the Imperium of Man's citizens, Gudazi might have thought she had traveled to a medieval cathedral era injected with steroids, merged with a giant factory, and wrapped in a war-and-cult aesthetic.
"This is all thanks to the Commander. The city was designed by the Supreme Commander," said Dafeng, walking loyally at Reuel's side with a proud expression.
Since their relationship had been confirmed, Dafeng had become a sweet, obedient girlfriend. The only trace left of her yandere side was her playful flirtatiousness.
"Master, do you still have this ability? Truly an awe-inspiring capital," commented Burger King (Altroria), noting that Reuel seemed to possess many "Wise King."
"It's the result of everyone's hard work, giving their best," Reuel replied, waving his hand as he led the group forward.
The shipgirls' naval base continued to produce Universal Bulins, causing the city's population to soar. Most of the labor was handled by Universal Bulins and Servitors.
In addition, residents from Minato Port often came to visit. Children from various colonies arrived to study in the Imperium of Man. Mysterious "little yellow chickens" appeared in different corners of the city, adding to the vibrant, lively atmosphere.
Barely a few steps into their walk, a shipgirl or Universal Bulin was already greeting them.
"..."
"The chickens here can not only farm, but also carry goods? Some are even traffic police, driving big trucks, working as taxi drivers, and more?" Gudazi asked in astonishment, watching a little yellow chicken strut proudly.
"Is this a magical route? Magical, right?" she continued.
"Can they be eaten? They look plump enough to taste good roasted," quipped Black Jeanne.
Without hesitation, she caught a little yellow chicken, ignited dragonfire in one hand, and prepared to roast it.
"Chirp chirp?!" protested Manjuu, the Azur Lane mascot, struggling in her grip.
For a moment, the air turned tense. The surrounding shipgirls and Universal Bulins glared sharply at Black Jeanne, freezing her in place.
"I was just kidding," she said quickly. Her mind immediately recalled the time she was beaten by a group of shipgirls. She promptly released the chicken.
"Manjuu are for shipgirls… if you eat one, you'll get beaten up," Reuel explained curtly.
"Your talent for finding trouble is truly remarkable, and I respect that," he added flatly.
Reuel knew that among the four Heroic Spirits—Mash, Black Jeanne, White Jeanne, and Altroria Pendragon—three were good-natured and orderly. Only Black Jeanne was chaotic and prone to villainy. No wonder she always courted trouble.
I find it easier to live law-abiding, Reuel thought.
The friendly shipgirls continued to surround them. Along the way, shops were open, futuristic vehicles passed by, the Ecclesiarchy preached in the square praising the Master of Mankind, Astra Militarum troops patrolled the streets, and Mechanicus Tech-Priests walked by with groups of Universal Bulins.
In the market, shipgirls and Universal Bulins placed various strange items on the counters. Warhammer folk traded paintings and holy books to worship the Master of Mankind.
There were fuel cans, warship coolers, fresh fish, wild fruits, and even mysterious boxes delivered by Akashi.
"What currency do they use here? Can we pay with Japanese yen? Or gold coins?" Gudazi asked curiously.
"There's the Throne Gelt currency. Every job is paid in points valid for all transactions here," Reuel replied.
"Everyone gets what they need, everyone does what they can. Just get whatever you want with Throne Gelt."
"Huh?" Gudazi exclaimed.
"Is this… the legendary dictator system?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka froze in place, stunned. For ordinary human society, such a system sounded like a dream too good to be true. In the past, the Red Northern Empire had tried and failed due to flawed concepts.
But here, even though Reuel ruled like a dictator, all citizens of the Imperium of Man seemed happy—unlike what Japanese history books described.
"You can think of it that way. But that's because our population in each colony is large enough, and there's no need yet to issue mass currency. Many planets still use their own local currency. Eventually we'll unify it," Reuel explained.
"Also, the per capita quality of life is high. That's the reason."
Reuel explained briefly, then without saying much else, he grabbed some fresh fruit from the roadside and handed them out to everyone in the group.
The Ecclesiarchy standing nearby only watched in silence, saying nothing, even as they saw the Master of Mankind take fruit from one of their own shops.
The shipgirls never had any strange demands. As long as there was a naval base, a supply of energy, and adequate ammunition, they could live happily—extremely happily.
Not to mention the existence of universal bullion, which made meeting their logistical needs much easier.
For the shipgirls, opening a stall in the capital was nothing more than a hobby, not a way to make a living.
In contrast, other merchants came here to earn their livelihood for the sake of their families.
Not far from where Reuel stood, a cat-headed maid was selling homemade food.
"Royal specialty! Look at the stars!! Free samples! Free samples!" she called out enthusiastically.
On the table in front of her sat a stack of pie-shaped foods, each topped with a fish head jutting out from the surface.
"Amazing… this is like heaven on earth…" someone murmured in awe.
"Do you plan to keep doing this in the future… as a Dictator?" asked Gudazi, who couldn't resist joining the others in calling him Master of Mankind.
"I'm not sure," Reuel replied casually.
"If the city is fully populated later, there might be mass issuance of currency. But I'm not too familiar with finance or sociology."
"These matters are usually handled by the women of Resident Evil and the Adeptus Ministorum," he added after a moment's thought.
Then, with a seriousness that contrasted sharply with his earlier tone, he spoke one clear word:
"Food."
Artoria couldn't care less about the political discussion. The only words that pierced her mind were "free food," written on the signboard of Cheshire's shop.
She had never had the chance to enjoy delicious meals during her lifetime. Even after becoming a heroic spirit, she rarely found food that truly made her happy.
Now, after following Reuel into this other world, she had been looking forward to the feast there.
"Hey~ Miss, do you want to see the stars?" Cheshire greeted cheerfully.
"Commander, would you like to try some too?"
Reuel, Dafeng, and Richelieu immediately refused without hesitation. They knew all too well just how lethal the royal chef's cooking skills were.
Unfortunately, the five others with them were unaware of this reputation and each accepted a portion.
Five minutes later, one person and four heroes lay flat on the floor of Cheshire's shop, their faces pale and their eyes spinning.
"Ugh… Ma'am, I want to go back to Chaldea…" Gudazi groaned weakly.
"Sir, have we won the Holy Grail War? It feels like I'm back on the day of the royal selection…" Artoria muttered in a daze.
"Lord, I entrust this body to You…" White Jeanne whispered faintly.
The shipgirls who saw this could only gape.
Richelieu smacked her forehead, walked up to Cheshire, and hung her from the side of a building as punishment for serving food that was clearly toxic.
"How is this possible?!" Gudazi exclaimed.
"How can the spirit of a hero dead for centuries be eroded?!" Black Jeanne protested.
"Black Jeanne is going to self-destruct after you made her eat her precious ghost, huh?!" Mash snapped.
After their souls were "baptized" by the royal cuisine, Gudazi, Mash, White Jeanne, and Black Jeanne all agreed never to recklessly try dishes from the shipgirls again.
However, there was one exception—Burger King herself, Artoria Pendragon—who didn't remember the bitter experience at all thanks to her boundless appetite.
"What's this? Let me taste it," she said, picking something up from the table.
"Ugh—battleship fuel?! Your drink tastes awful…"
"What's this? Let me try again."
"Ugh—coolant?! Is this even drinkable?!"
"What's this? Bread shaped like a torpedo? I'm curious, I'll try it."
"Hah?! That's an actual torpedo?!"
Artoria even sampled food from stalls run by Warhammer and StarCraft immigrants, which tasted more like military rations than actual cuisine.
After being fooled repeatedly by various vendors, she began to doubt the cooking standards of this world entirely.
"Take her to Yat Set and give this Knight King something truly delicious to eat," Reuel ordered one of the Astra Militarum officers.
He couldn't bear to watch Artoria's taste buds suffer any longer.
After sending Artoria away, Reuel continued his tour of the capital with a few others.
They stopped in front of a grand Gothic-style building resembling a church.
"This is the great library, used to store technology and magical materials obtained from other worlds," Reuel explained.
"In the future, this place will be expanded and transformed into a repository of knowledge from across the universe—accessible to anyone."
After entering the library, they found an antique building with sturdy yet simple architecture. The number of books inside wasn't that many, only filling a small portion of the shelves lining the walls.
Mash walked over to one of the shelves and randomly picked up a book. After reading the title, she frowned.
"Flower Breathing Method? What is this?!" she asked in bewilderment.
"Oh, that… things from other worlds," Reuel replied casually. "Most likely it was compiled by Kanae herself when she had nothing better to do. She stored all her notes in this library."
Reuel glanced at the book's cover, his eyes settling on a small signature scratched into the corner of the page—Kanae's signature.
For now, the library's collection mostly consisted of technology from Azur Lane, Gundam, Warhammer, and StarCraft, along with some magic books recently brought in from Chaldea, plus materials gathered directly by their members.
However, all other important information was stored elsewhere for security reasons.
"If you want to learn about other worlds, this library is free and open to anyone," Reuel said.
"Whoa—" Fujimaru Ritsuka and the Heroic Spirits exclaimed in unison. They looked up, their eyes sparkling as they took in the sight of the grand library.
For them, this was a treasure trove of cross-field knowledge—its atmosphere far more majestic than Chaldea.
"I'll talk to Dr. Roman when we get back," Gudazi said with determination. "I'll ask him to move all of Chaldea's books here."
It sounded almost like a betrayal of his own base.
Reuel gave a faint smile. "No, no, no. Let's be reasonable. We can cooperate gradually in the future."
He added, "If Chaldea is rebuilt, that would also benefit my side."
Reuel clearly prioritized cooperation with parties that could be negotiated with. For those who couldn't be reasoned with or had no strategic value, he preferred to send a fleet to "discuss" it in other ways.
After leaving the library, Reuel took the group around the imperial palace. They visited the administration building, medical center, combat laboratories, and other structures that formed the backbone of the city.
Some looked amazed. Even though the population here wasn't large yet, various functional facilities had already been fully built.
True, there were some buildings the ship girls couldn't use for the time being, but eventually, once new residents were recruited, all these facilities would be fully operational.
Once everyone had seen enough, they packed up, checked their belongings, and prepared to continue their journey.
Next destination: the city outskirts—Akashi's workshop.
"This is where the ship girls conduct their research and scientific discoveries. You've met the ship girl stationed here before," Reuel explained as he looked at the massive building in front of him—its size comparable to an entire city block.
At the entrance, there were pink cat paw prints—the unmistakable icon of Akashi. As her scientific research projects expanded, the naval base could no longer accommodate her studio. She decided to relocate the facility to the coastline, with part of her operations even moving up to a space station.
Once the doors opened, the interior looked exactly like a fully integrated mini industrial complex. Everything was there: from mineral smelting, precision processing, to weapon assembly lines. Dozens of people were busy working, the hum of machinery filling the air.
"Commander nya~?" a cheerful voice called out from behind a piece of machinery. The green-haired maintenance girl poked her head out, her ears twitching slightly.
"What are you doing here nya~?"
"Checking on your research progress… and picking out a toy for him," Reuel replied, patting Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulder.
Gudazi immediately caught on. His eyes lit up, instantly locking onto a row of Gundams displayed along the wall—Zaku, Unicorn, Barbatos.
"I want that one!" he shouted, pointing enthusiastically at the Unicorn Gundam.
Reuel shook his head. "Just give him a Zaku… and remove the propellers."
He had no doubts about his decision. Even rookie Astra Militarum pilots could get themselves killed piloting a Gundam, let alone Gudazi. Giving him a Unicorn straight away would probably end his life before take-off.
"Eh, hey? It's fine, better than nothing!" Gudazi protested.
Before long, with the help of a universal bulin, he was already zooming around in his modified Zaku. His voice could be heard in the distance, brimming with excitement like a kid who'd just found a new toy.
"Oh-oh-oh-oh—!"
"This machine gun is way stronger than jewel magecraft!!! —Ton!"
"Next time I go to a Singularity Point, I'm riding a Gundam!!!"
Reuel simply stared at him in silence, as did several of the Heroic Spirits.
"Why do I feel like he's starting to lose his way…" he muttered. "Forget it. We'll send him back later and let Caster give him magic lessons."