Unicorn still shook her head. "No, I can't!"
"Still no? Ah, you're afraid Azuma will find out and take revenge. If we're exposed, just say I forced you—I'm not scared of her." Ayanami really wasn't.
"Fine, I agree!" The instant she heard Ayanami would shoulder all blame, Unicorn accepted without hesitation.
Ayanami was speechless at the speed of the surrender. Are you that terrified? Even if Azuma noticed, what's the worst she could do?
Had Unicorn heard, she'd have cursed: You're a gold-rarity ship, of course you're not afraid. I'm only a tiny, helpless Purple-rated Ship Girl.
"Good, it's settled then. I'll be off." Ayanami sealed the glass in an energy shield, stuffed it into her rigging space, and hurried away.
Someone waved a hand in front of Unicorn, breaking her reverie.
"Were you listening to a word I said?" Ayanami demanded.
Drifting off while someone speaks is terribly rude; a Royal Navy Ship Girl must mind her manners. "Y-yes! I heard every word!"
Ayanami scowled. "You—ugh, whatever. Insult me if you like, but never insult my Sage Elixir."
Knowing Ayanami wanted praise, Unicorn rattled off, "Absolutely, Master! My admiration for you is like a mighty river, endless and overflowing, like the Yellow River in flood—impossible to hold back."
Hearing Unicorn praise her like that, Ayanami resumed her emotionless expression and said, "Alright, since you know how amazing I am, I won't hold it against you!"
..."Illustrious Main Hull—Activate!" Illustrious shouted loudly.
In the harbor of the Naval Base, Illustrious loudly summoned her main hull. Countless cubic light particles flew out from her body, forming a glowing Aircraft Carrier on the sea surface. Gradually, the light faded, and the first ship of the Illustrious-class armored Aircraft Carriers appeared before Illustrious and Azuma.
The Aircraft Carrier by the shore slowly extended a boarding ladder to the ground.
"Then, honorable Azuma, please!" Illustrious made an inviting gesture toward Azuma.
"Mm, thank you, Admiral!" Azuma reached out her hand, letting Illustrious lead her up the boarding ladder.
After boarding the Aircraft Carrier, the ladder was slowly retracted. Once they reached the flight deck, the Aircraft Carrier began to set sail.
Riding the wind and waves, the Aircraft Carrier sped across the sea at a cruising speed of 30 knots. Illustrious took a table and two chairs from her rigging space, setting out desserts and black tea for a tea party.
"Come, sit! Azuma!" Illustrious took Azuma's hand and invited her to sit down.
After Azuma sat down, Illustrious also took her seat. "It will take an hour to reach Tianhai Island. Let's have some black tea and desserts first!"
"That sounds good! But Admiral, why are we going to Tianhai Island?" Azuma asked while sipping her tea.
"Because Tianhai Island is a super-metropolis, of course! Our Naval Base island is quite empty, without any shopping districts or anything like that," Illustrious explained thoughtfully.
"Oh! In that case, Tianhai Island really is a better place for a date!" Azuma laughed.
"Hmm...! We won't reach Tianhai Island for another hour. Since we're free, how about I tell you a story?" Illustrious said to Azuma, tapping her chin with her index finger.
"Sure! Sure! Admiral, tell me quickly," Azuma said excitedly.
Illustrious began to tell the story with sincere emotion, and Azuma listened intently.
Long, long ago, in a certain Naval Base, there was a very, very Unlucky Admiral. He always pulled white-tier ships, so he was surrounded by nothing but white-tier ships. This time, he planned to use up all of this month's Wisdom Cubes, resources, and supplies for Heavy Construction, regardless of what he and his Ship Girls would eat once everything was gone.
He didn't know, and he didn't want to know. That's right, he had gone mad; he was sick and tired of being surrounded by just a bunch of white-tier ships.
This time, he was determined. He would fight against fate, struggle against the heavens, change his destiny, and burn his bridges—it was success or death. He wanted to break the curse that "metaphysics can't save the unlucky, and money can't change fate." He wanted to escape the "African continent."
"I sacrifice ten Admiral friends from my phone; please, heavens, grant me a Gold-Plated Ship Girl." Having said that, he began to pour in Wisdom Cubes, resources, and supplies. He pressed the "Heavy Construction" button, then the "10x Build" button, and finally, the "Start" button.
Clang! The doors of the construction machine opened.
Ten consecutive white lights appeared, and all of them were torpedoes. Heavy Construction has a high probability of yielding torpedoes and only a small chance of yielding a Ship Girl, unlike Light Construction which guarantees a Ship Girl 100% of the time.
Ten heavy builds and all were torpedoes—not even a single white-tier ship. He really was incredibly unlucky. As expected, metaphysics can't save the unlucky, and money can't change fate; the "African continent" welcomed him.
So, why would an Unlucky Admiral go for Heavy Construction? Isn't the 100% chance of getting elementary schoolers from Light Construction better?
He wasn't afraid. He believed he could still be saved. He had enough for one last Light Construction, and this time, it would definitely be a gold-tier ship!
There it was! The greatest delusion of an Unlucky Admiral: "This time, I'll definitely get something good!"
For his final Light Construction, he put Wisdom Cubes, resources, and supplies into the machine, pressed the "Light Construction" button, and finally, the "Start" button.
Clang! The doors of the construction machine opened.
It was a golden light! He wept—tears of joy. He had finally escaped the "African continent"! He had become what Unlucky Admirals call a "seal"! He had finally smuggled himself into "Europe"!
This Gold-Plated Destroyer had smooth, lustrous silver hair, twitching cat ears, brown eyes, a midriff-baring sailor uniform, and white over-the-knee stockings covering her petite, cute legs.
"Hmph hmph hmph! Congratulations, my dear Admiral! You have built the lucky Yukikaze-sama. Feel honored that I'm joining your fleet!" the proud and confident Yukikaze said happily.
"Yukikaze, welcome aboard!" He smiled and patted Yukikaze's head.
Wooooon... Woooooon... Woooooon... It was the Abyssal attack alarm.
The happy moment was interrupted. With a click, the door to the construction room burst open, and a panicked Ship Girl rushed in. "Admiral! There's an Abyssal attack! Within the abyssal mist, radar has detected an Abyssal Princess!"
He panicked too. An Abyssal Princess? He didn't have any Gold-Plated Ship Girls! Wait, didn't he just build one? He was saved! His expression steadied as he said, "Yukikaze, I'm sorry. You were just built, and before I could even hold a welcome party for you, all Ship Girls have to head out to intercept the Abyssals."
Yukikaze shook her head and said, "Admiral, it's okay! Yukikaze will protect everyone!"
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