Seeing Zuikaku so downcast, Shokaku hugged her sister's head and gently stroked her hair. "Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, Big Sister will protect you."
Feeling that gentle caress, Zuikaku's gloom lifted a little. No—she couldn't always rely on her sister for protection; she had to protect Shokaku too. A resolve hardened inside her: if someone had to walk into the abyss, let it be her.
Shokaku had already formed her own plan, one that might spirit Zuikaku out of danger. If one of them had to descend into hell, let it be the elder sister.
Resistance was pointless; it would only drag them both into utter ruin. Below Epic, all are ants—no idle boast.
"Finished whispering, you two Abyssal spies? Then be good and surrender. Once I haul you back to my room I'll inspect every inch of you, top to bottom, inside and out, to see if you're really Abyssals—heh-heh-heh!" Lin Zhentian's son laughed, his gaze raking over Shokaku and Zuikaku from head to toe.
Lin Zhentian's son admired the sisters' curvaceous figures and slim waists, cheering inwardly: Who knew Ship Girls could be this gorgeous?
His father used to warn him: "They're not our kind; their bodies are different. Stay away from my Ship Girls." The lecture had sounded reasonable, and he'd taken it to heart.
But staring at these budding beauties, his mind swarmed with lust; every warning felt like utter rubbish. All he wanted now was to drag them to his room and pick their petals.
The sisters squirmed under that lecherous stare, feeling as though his eyes could pierce their clothes and strip them bare.
"Sigh... Those two Ship Girls are done for today."
"Exactly. Of all people, they had to meet Lin Zhentian's only son, one of the East Pacific's three top Admirals. That spoiled brat is infamous here."
"I bet they'll walk in wearing clothes and walk out without any—makes you envi—ahem—makes you furious."
The crowd sympathized with what would happen once the girls were dragged away.
What that would be needed no explanation; every mind was already replaying an R-rated clip titled "Sleaze and Two Ship Girls Alone in a Room."
Someone had almost said "envious," hadn't they? The onlookers turned to stare—and gasped—
Holy crap, what blinded us? So big, so white, so perky—and that face, that figure...
"Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my face?" Illustrious blushed under the attention, squirming and speaking shyly.
"N-no, it's just... the wind's a bit noisy today." The onlookers quickly turned away to admire the scenery; keep gawking and they'd be branded creeps.
"A-anyway, we can't stand by and watch these two Ship Girls be shoved into the fire pit—we have to help them!" Illustrious puffed out her chest, hands on hips, righteous and bold.
"Miss, have you thought of a way to save them?" A spectacled youth looked at Illustrious hopefully; he didn't want Lin Zhentian's son taking the pair either.
"You are...?" Illustrious eyed him, puzzled.
"Ah, sorry—I'm Chen Xiaoqiang, graduate of Tianhai City's naval academy, currently a cadet Admiral." He scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Oh, a cadet! I'm an Admiral too—Illustrious. This is my starter Ship Girl, Azuma. Pleased to meet you!" She flashed her Admiral's certificate and smugly slipped an arm around Azuma's waist.
"H-hello there..." Chen forced a smile. He didn't doubt her; the photo on the ID matched, and forging an Admiral's certificate carries a death penalty.
But this damn European had already pulled a big sister on her first build—three quick attempts, all torpedoes. He was still a cadet with no Ship Girl.
A cadet Admiral, after all, is an Admiral without a Ship Girl. Three builds, three torpedoes.
Should've done small builds—hundred-percent Destroyers. Who doesn't love a primary-school airfield?
So Chen had to take jobs to earn resources for another build; only Admirals with Ship Girls receive a Naval Base from the Governor-General's Mansion.
One more month and his sixth as a janitor at Tianhai's Ship Girl Association would end; the Governor-General would grant one last build's worth of resources.
Part-time gigs for cadets are assigned by the Governor-General—some easy, some filthy, every kind.
Chen drew the short straw: six months scrubbing floors.
He'd rather die or jump off a roof than gamble that single build on a big project again.
"Of course I have a plan—it's called Money Power!" Illustrious declared.
"S-superpower? What superpower?" Chen blinked.
"I said Money Power—ugh, never mind, you'll see."
"Alright... let's see this superpower of yours."
A metallic ring snapped everyone's gaze to Zuikaku.
Zuikaku whipped out her rigging katana and slashed at Lin Zhentian's neck, glancing at the female bodyguard who merely smiled, mocking the attempt.
Zuikaku gritted her teeth; the guard still didn't move.
Fine—she'd take the pig's head. She tightened her grip and swung.
The bodyguard burst forth in blue Ship Qi, blindingly fast.
That speed was all anyone could think.
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