Cottage
Queen Elizabeth entered the torn cottage where the 'simple raid' had occur, her presence flanked by Warspite, Cruiser Belfast, and Sheffield. Their mission: to confront the network of moles that had infiltrated her Royal Navy command. The scene inside was chaotic – a shattered door lay askew, bullet holes pockmarked the walls, and broken windows served as entry points for ropes that still swayed slightly.
Despite the rough surroundings, Queen Elizabeth moved with regal poise. Her dress and the casual hoodie she wore created an odd yet distinctive ensemble. The hoodie and her attempt at blending in were rather unsuccessful against the backdrop of her inherent majesty – but it was clear she possessed a certain flair.
She halted, standing before the apprehended traitors who had endangered her nation's security.
"My... my..." she began, her voice carrying the weight of a monarch about to deliver a sentence. "I hadn't anticipated a mole emerging from his hole in such a... humbled position."
The captured Officers of her Navy were on their knees, heads bowed, their hands secured behind their backs with cuffs. Beside them, their similarly restrained associates, figures seemingly plucked from a Bond Movie Rejects.
Queen Elizabeth fixed her gaze on one man. "My, Rear Admiral," she said, a hint of disbelief in her tone, "I confess, I did not foresee you betraying your nation and its people for mere pocket change. What words do you have before the court decides the fate of a traitor such as yourself?"
The man offered a dry chuckle. "My last words? To hell with you. You never acted the part of a leader, more like a spoiled child! I still can't fathom why Parliament chose you; there were far worthier Shipgirls to lead the Navy."
"That is quite enough," Warspite's voice resonated, her blade flashing as it hovered dangerously close to his neck. "You are not permitted to speak to Her Majesty in such a manner."
The Manjuu Marines surrounding them tensed, the muzzles of their Rifles trained on the kneeling man.
"Lower your sword, Warspite," Queen Elizabeth interjected, her curiosity outweighing her anger. "I need to understand his reasoning for this betrayal, this selling out of his country and the Crown."
"That's one of the reasons..." the man continued, a bitter edge to his voice. "That's one of the reasons... you're too soft. The world, politics – they won't simply kneel before you. You're just a placeholder, they're waiting for someone new to take your place."
"Then why sell your country's secrets?" she asked directly, the formality in her voice dissolving.
A smirk played on the man's lips. "That's how politics works. Why not turn a profit while you're at it?"
Queen Elizabeth's composure began to fray at his nonchalant admission, but before she could speak, Arizona's voice cut through the tension. "He's not entirely wrong though..."
Every eye in the room, even those cast down in shame, turned towards him.
"America used the war to profit, and advertised... selling information to the enemy. Yeah, you're lucky Her Majesty didn't order a long-range lobotomy – saves a few dollars on your
forehead. Treason means death. Lucky you can even spit those words. You hate the brat? Me too."
Queen Elizabeth visibly winced at the blunt remark. "What?"
Arizona lowered himself, his gaze intense as he addressed the traitor. "But your actions caused the deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands of lives. Our agreement was to capture you alive for a fair trial, but for my part... I'll skip that trial and head straight to the penalty."
An eerie silence descended upon the room, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. Skipping the trial meant a swift and certain end.
He stood, looking down at the man with cold finality. "Take him away."
The Manjuus swiftly moved, grabbing the man roughly by the arms, lifting him just enough to drag him out of the cottage. As he disappeared through the broken doorway, the silence in the room deepened.
"Okay," Madjuu Matis's voice boomed, shattering the oppressive quiet. "Now that bastard's gone, let's greet our reject Bond villain over here." He gestured with his knife-edged hand towards the figure in the trench coat and fedora.
"Guess this bastard had been lying low enough that our sensors didn't pick him up," Arizona commented, his gaze sharp.
Cruiser Belfast's eyes narrowed in recognition. "I believe he was one of Iron Blood's top spies. This man seems to possess a particular set of skills for evading detection, far beyond the norm."
The man let out a low, growling chuckle. "Leave it to the head maid to unravel the more... unusual things."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Cruiser Belfast replied smoothly.
The Manjuu Marines then presented a briefcase, revealing stacks of gold bullion bearing the mark of the iron cross. Several of the Manjuu Marines leaned in, their eyes wide at the sight of the gleaming Toblerones.
Madjuu Matis perched, pushing his aviator glasses up his nose, his brows raised. "Hmm... that's gotta cost more than a Rolls-Royce."
"Two or three... I guess?" Arizona mused.
The Royal Navy contingent exchanged bewildered glances. The comparison of gold bullion to a luxury car from the 1940s, a vehicle that could command millions in their time, seemed utterly incongruous.
"Ahem, gentlemen..." Queen Elizabeth's voice cut through their appraisal. "Such monetary matters are hardly the concern of the moment."
The briefcase was quickly snapped shut, preventing any further temptation from swaying any potentially greedy souls. The Manjuus reluctantly averted their gazes from the alluring Toblerones.
"We will hold this as part of the evidence in this treasonous transaction," Cruiser Belfast stated, securing the briefcase in her hands.
"Guess it's better to have the Maids handle the golds," Madjuu Matis chuckled.
"So... what is to be done with him?" Arizona asked, gesturing towards the captured spy.
"It would be best to hand him over to the Alliance. As an Iron Blood spy, he could provide valuable intelligence regarding other agents hiding within the Eagle Union mainland," Queen Elizabeth decided, sealing the man's fate.
"Take him away, and contact the OSS about the fish we caught... they're going to have a field day with this one," Arizona said, motioning for the Manjuus to escort the spy away.
The room now felt empty, the targeted individuals apprehended. Only lingering dust motes danced in the air, illuminated by the light filtering through the broken windows and the hole in the ceiling where the Manjuu Marines had made their dramatic entrance.
"Sweep the area for any hidden evidence that could be used against the detainees. Move! Move! I want this place thoroughly searched!" Madjuu Matis bellowed his orders.
The Manjuu Marines dispersed, beginning their search. Some produced crowbars, the Magical Tools ready to pry open any stubborn hiding places with a single swing.
Outside the Cottage
Under the shimmering starlight, the two figures walked out into the gentle breeze that carried the scent of the nearby shores of Oahu. The air was calm, but a certain tension lingered between them.
"Guess this is our last team-up. Mission accomplished," Arizona said, lighting a cigar. His tone was flat, devoid of emotion, as if reciting a post-mission debriefing.
"It would seem so. To be frank, I don't particularly enjoy missions with you... you have a preference for chaos over stealth," Sheffield replied, smoothing a stray strand of hair as the wind rustled through it. Her tone mirrored his, equally detached.
Arizona let out a dry chuckle at her observation. "We do tend to make a bit of noise, don't we?"
A moment of silence stretched between them, broken only by the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore and the soft whisper of the wind. The cool breeze seemed to have no effect on them, as if they held dominion over the very climate. It was a quiet end to their temporary alliance.
"I believe I should depart. The Head Maid has requested my presence," Sheffield said, turning towards a waiting car.
Arizona didn't turn to watch her go, offering only a dismissive wave. They both knew this wasn't truly the end, not of the night, nor of the missions that lay ahead.
"Guess I won't have to wear another Royal Navy uniform," he muttered to himself, his head slightly bowed.
Before stepping into the car, Sheffield glanced back. In the dim light, she saw the vague gesture of his wave, but the message was clear. A faint smile touched her lips before she slid into the vehicle.
Indian Ocean
July 6, 1942
8:00 AM
Beneath the scorching sun of the Indian Ocean, Laffey-200 and her fleet cruised, their mission to patrol and eliminate Siren Raiders that had been preying on Royal Navy shipping routes near the Royal Raj Colony.
For two days, their deployment had been monotonous, a tedious vigil awaiting any Sirens dumb enough to "fuck around and find out" near the vital shipping lanes. Boredom hung heavy in the air as they languished on the decks of their ships.
"How much longer do we have to wait for a Siren to show its face...? This boredom is going to be the death of me..." Honolulu complained, sprawled on a folding chair aboard the Battleship South Dakota.
"Just bear with it... it's only been two days since we arrived. Try to relax a little," St. Louis advised, reclining on another folding chair, her glorious bikini catching the sunlight.
"Well... at least our 'Resident Drunk Bunny' here isn't causing any trouble. I dread to think what she might do with this much downtime," Bremerton said, similarly lounging and soaking up the sun.
"Yeah... right...? Speaking of which, where is she?" Honolulu asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Right over there," Bremerton pointed casually towards the stern of the ship.
Honolulu followed Bremerton's gesture and her eyes widened at the sight of Laffey's utterly inebriated state. "The hell?!" she exclaimed, aghast at the limp, sprawled form.
"See... told you, nothing to worry about," Bremerton murmured, settling back into her relaxed position.
For the past two days, Laffey-200 had been steadily consuming copious amounts of alcohol to combat the oppressive boredom. The sheer volume she'd managed to imbibe would make even the most hardened Eastern European drinkers look like amateurs.
"Why do I always get stuck babysitting this one...?" Alabama grumbled, her task to ensure the 'Residential Drunk Bunny' didn't roll off the edge of the Battleship.
"Sorry, but those were the orders. We're not to let her out of our sight for even a second. If we do, who knows what kind of collateral damage she might cause," South Dakota reminded her sister, both keeping a watchful eye on the seemingly unconscious Laffey.
"Still... this is the most mind-numbingly dull assignment," Alabama sighed.
"Just endure it. This is the only way we get to observe the 'Residential Drunk Bunny' in her natural, drunken habitat," South Dakota quipped.
Perched atop one of the Battleship's main turrets, Baltimore stood, her gaze sweeping the horizon. She scanned the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean and the clear sky above.
Suddenly, a distress call crackled through her comms, originating from one of the merchant ship convoys en route to Hawaii. "Guys, I just received a distress call from one of the convoys heading to Hawaii."
The moment Baltimore's words reached them, everyone on deck focused on the radio frequency. "The Convoy... static... number four-three-two... static... we are currently under... static... attack and... static... of booze."
Laffey-200's bunny-ear antenna twitched, perking up instantly at the garbled mention of "booze" in the transmission. With surprising speed, she scrambled to her feet, her drunkenness seemingly evaporating as a sudden surge of energy coursed through her.
She uttered a single, focused word. "Booze."
Alabama and South Dakota exchanged astonished glances. The transformation was remarkable; one moment she was a drunken mess, the next she stood with surprising sobriety.
Without a moment's hesitation, Laffey-200 leaped off the deck of the Battleship, summoning her rigging and her MQ-9D Drone aircraft in a fluid motion.
The South Dakota Sisters blinked in unison, utterly surprised by her swift sortie towards the origin of the distress signal.
Bremerton watched the departing 'Bunny' with a knowing look. "Well... there she goes."
"What in the world just happened?" Baltimore asked, still slightly stunned as she watched the Drone Aircraft fly away with Laffey-200 clinging to its side.
"Sh-she answered the distress call," South Dakota stammered.
"Shit!" Baltimore cursed under her breath. "Alright, everyone to your riggings! We cannot let her out of our sight!"
"Right!" came the chorus of agreement.
...
Convoy
One of the merchant ships was taking heavy damage, listing precariously. The crew had already deployed the life rafts, abandoning ship to avoid going down with their vessel.
Huddled in the rafts, they watched in horror as their ship was repeatedly struck by shells from a Siren warship. They had always known this was a possibility, but they hadn't anticipated a Siren attack on what was considered a relatively safe Royal Navy Shipping route.
A wave of dread washed over them as they spotted an Executor Class Siren leading the assault. One of the Sailors squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to look directly at the dreaded Siren, knowing the legends of their hypnotic gaze that could turn a person into a mindless slave.
The Captain, however, felt no fear, only a burning rage. He swiftly drew his handgun, his eyes locked on the Siren, ready to fire.
"Die, you Siren scum!" he roared at the top of his lungs. His crew, though surprised by his audacity, knew their captain had a certain... boldness. But still, it was a Siren.
Explorer MK-I, the Executor Class Siren, smirked at the futile attempt of the merchant ship captain. "Fascinating."
The hail of bullets harmlessly impacted the shimmering force field surrounding her as she observed their desperate efforts.
Then, as the Captain fired his last round, something inexplicable happened. Whether by miracle or sheer chance, the Siren exploded in a violent, fiery burst.
The Captain was thrown backward by the ensuing shockwave. His crew rushed to help him to his feet, dazed but alive.
"What in the... what happened?" the Captain stammered, utterly bewildered by the sudden destruction of the Siren.
He looked around at the scene of chaos, witnessing several other Siren Warships ablaze from an unseen attack. He could only gawk in astonishment.
Suddenly, one of his Crew tugged at his uniform, pointing upwards. "Captain, look!"
The Captain followed his crewman's gaze and saw a torpedo-shaped object slowly descending, a small parachute fluttering at its tail.
The torpedo splashed into the water without detonating. The crew and the Captain watched the peculiar projectile sink beneath the surface.
"Why would a torpedo do that?" the Captain exclaimed, utterly perplexed.
A few tense seconds later, a massive column of water erupted in front of them. They instinctively braced themselves, thinking it was a depth charge.
The merchant ship's crew and Captain were familiar with the sight of depth charges exploding whenever they were escorted by Shipgirl convoys.
But this explosion was different. It wasn't a depth charge; it was a torpedo detonating underwater. As the churning water subsided, the wreckage of a Siren Submarine surfaced amidst the debris.
The Captain and his crew stood with their jaws agape, witnessing the swift and efficient elimination of the Siren Raiders within mere minutes. They were accustomed to seeing groups of Shipgirls struggle for half an hour or even an hour to neutralize such a threat.
But this... this method was utterly baffling. They hadn't heard the drone of any propeller aircraft, ruling out an attack from an Aircraft Carrier.
"Wha-what just happened, Captain?" one of the crew asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"I-I don't know..." the Captain admitted, as bewildered as his men.
As the confused crew and Captain debated the impossible events, a peculiar chopping sound drew their attention. They all looked towards the source of the noise and saw an aircraft unlike any they had seen before rapidly approaching.
Their confusion deepened as they saw a Bunny Girl with ship rigging clinging to its side.
"Is she the one who did this?" another crewman ventured.
"Maybe...?" the Captain replied, uncertainty lacing his voice.
The peculiar aircraft hovered just a few meters away, and the Bunny Girl leaped off, landing gracefully in the water before sailing towards their life rafts. She then posed a question that would likely stump the greatest minds.
"The 'Booze,' where are they?"
The Captain blinked, taking a moment to fully comprehend her bizarre inquiry. "Umm... the cargo and the booze went down with the ship."
"Why is the booze gone?" Laffey-200 repeated, striking a dramatic pose reminiscent of Jack Sparrow.
"The ship sank... along with its cargo and the booze," the Captain reiterated.
Laffey-200's head drooped, her bunny-ear antenna also sagging with the devastating news. Her face now bore an expression of profound disappointment.
The crew and Captain in the life rafts exchanged bewildered glances. This sudden concern for their cargo, specifically the booze, was utterly perplexing.
One of the crew muttered under his breath, "Did she just come all this way... for the booze?"
~Time Skip~
The Azur Lane Shipgirls arrived at the location of the distress signal. The scene that greeted them was one of significant destruction: wrecked Siren warships and a few damaged cargo ships being patched up for towing. Debris littered the water's surface.
Bremerton pushed her sunglasses up her nose, surveying the devastation. "What in the hell happened here?"
"We only took our eyes off her for a minute, and this is what happens," Honolulu said, her brow twitching in exasperation.
Baltimore sailed closer to the life raft where the Captain and his crew awaited rescue. "What happened here?"
The Captain answered her question. "We were ambushed by Siren Raiders, and..." he gestured vaguely at the surrounding destruction. "and then that Bunny Girl did all this... before she even arrived." The Captain's voice held a note of bewildered admiration.
Baltimore pondered. "This has to be Laffey's handiwork... a Tomahawk strike, no doubt..." she then take a deep sigh. "Admiral Nimitz was right, we truly need to keep a constant watch on her, twenty-four-seven."
She then directed her question to the Captain. "Where is she now?"
The Captain and his crew exchanged glances before looking back at her. "Over there." The Captain pointed towards Laffey-200's current location.
Baltimore's mouth fell open at what she witnessed. She knew Laffey had a penchant for alcohol, but this level of dedication was beyond anything she had imagined.
Laffey-200 was diligently collecting the floating bottles of alcohol that could be salvaged, and promptly consuming those that were beyond saving.
This alcoholic Bunny clearly prioritized the recovery of booze over the well-being of the crew and Captain of the Merchant Ship that had just been sunk by Siren Raiders.
Laffey-200's priorities were, to put it mildly, unconventional.
The Captain and his crew could only watch in stunned silence as she spent a good ten minutes meticulously gathering the floating bottles of alcohol, carefully inspecting each one for viability.
"How long has she been doing that?" Baltimore asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
The Captain shrugged helplessly. "Maybe half an hour? She asked me about the booze's whereabouts. When I told her it went down with the ship, she started picking up whatever was left floating."
"Texas was right," South Dakota muttered, shaking her head. "She truly prioritizes alcohol above everything else. She even sent a bunch of idiot Rookie Commanders to the infirmary for disturbing her drinking."
"Wait! She did that? I mean, is she really crazy enough to send a Commander to the infirmary?" Honolulu exclaimed in surprise.
"Are you living under a rock or something? That incident is widespread rumor around the Base," Alabama stated matter-of-factly.
"Huh! I am not living under a rock!" Honolulu retorted, bristling at the accusation.
St. Louis picked up one of the floating bottles and read the label. It was a popular brand of alcohol from Pearl Harbor. "Guess everyone on Pearl will miss this shipment," she muttered to herself with a sigh.
She positioned herself between the two, attempting to prevent an argument from erupting. "That's enough, Honolulu. Don't start a fight here."
Just as St. Louis intervened, they heard another familiar chopping sound. They recognized it as the distinct whir of a Seahawk Helicopter used by the Modern Kansen.
Above the horizon, an MH-60 Seahawk skimmed closer, gradually reducing its speed as it approached. Laffey-459, Javelin, Vampire, Charles Ausburne, Eldridge, and Lafayette disembarked from the aircraft. Lafayette carefully assisted a lightly bandaged Unicorn as she exited the Seahawk.
Baltimore squinted at the arriving Seahawk and its passengers. Their planned rendezvous was in this operational area, but the sudden distress call from the convoy seemed to have expedited their arrival.
Baltimore sailed closer to greet them and assess the situation. "I didn't expect you to arrive so much earlier than our scheduled rendezvous."
"We heard a distress call, so... we rushed to help. I suppose our assistance is no longer required," Lafayette replied.
Baltimore noticed a subtle shift in Lafayette's manner of speaking. "My... you sounded just like Lucas then."
Lafayette froze, realizing for the first time that his speech patterns were beginning to resemble Lucas's. "What?"
Baltimore chuckled. "Guess you're growing up now, huh?"
"Yeah..." Lafayette then surveyed the scene of devastation. "What happened here?" he asked, seeking clarification on the situation.
"Oh... this is the handiwork of Laffey," Baltimore explained.
"Did you let her off her leash?" Lafayette asked, knowing that if Laffey-200 was allowed to roam freely after hearing about alcohol, the potential for chaos was immense.
"Well..." Baltimore's eyes shifted to the side, a clear indication of her culpability.
Lafayette's expression conveyed a sense of weary resignation. "Did you let her loose... after she heard about the booze?"
Baltimore closed her eyes and nodded, fearing the inevitable report she would have to file with Azur Lane HQ about losing Laffey-200 at the mere mention of alcohol.
Lafayette sighed, understanding her predicament. "Where is she now?"
Baltimore gestured towards Laffey-200's current location. Lafayette's brows furrowed as he saw the two bunny-eared Shipgirls diligently picking up floating bottles of alcohol in the ocean.
Laffey-200 and Laffey-459 were collecting the bottles with the same focused determination one might have while gathering fallen apples. They were prioritizing the salvaged alcohol over the well-being of the surviving sailors from the sunken Merchant Ship.
Laffey-459 produced a sack to store the free-floating alcohol. This wasn't considered looting; they were merely 'strategically acquiring' resources in the ocean for their personal consumption.
The crew and Captain of the sunken Merchant Ship, along with the rest of the arriving Shipgirls, watched the two Bunnies calmly collecting their liquid treasures.
"Umm... sir? Do you think the company that sells that alcohol will be upset if they find out their shipment is being... collected?" one of the crew members ventured to ask.
"I don't know... I'm not paid enough to report this kind of... situation," the Captain of the Merchant Ship replied dryly.
Another crew member spoke up. "I heard that shipment of alcohol belongs to a Green Cat."
The Captain and crew had only heard rumors about this "Green Cat," and most of them were not good.
~At the Looting Site~
"Javelin, hold this," Laffey-200 instructed, handing her the rope attached to two lifebuoys, each stacked with two crates of alcohol.
"Ehh???" Javelin looked utterly bewildered by the unfolding scene.
Once the two bunnies had finished gathering all the floating booze into the sack, Laffey-200 summoned her ship to store their acquired treasures.
She then encountered a lightly bandaged Unicorn, whose innocent face was etched with concern. "Are you alright?"
Unicorn nodded. "Why are you looting, Big-Sis? Looting is bad..." she said, her puppy-dog eyes wide.
"No, I'm not looting; I'm just saving these," Laffey-200 corrected her, then pulled out a particularly expensive-looking bottle of wine. "Here's yours."
Unicorn looked at the bottle of wine in her hands, then back at Laffey-200. "Big-Sis Illustrious will be upset if I have this."
Laffey-200 shook her head dismissively. "No, this is good emotional support." She offered a smile and then headed towards her ship.
Unicorn gazed at the bottle of wine, a small smile forming on her lips. "Maybe I should use this as decoration on one of my shelves," she mused, an idea taking shape in her mind.
Lafayette sailed towards Unicorn to check on her well-being. "Are you alright, Unicorn?"
Unicorn turned to face him, holding up the bottle of wine. "Yes, Big-Brother," she replied with a cheerful smile.
Lafayette's mouth fell open in astonishment. He didn't react to Unicorn's smile; his attention was solely fixated on the bottle of wine in her hands.
"W-where did you get that?" he stammered, his eyes wide with alarm at the sight of the alcoholic beverage.
"Oh... this?" Unicorn held out the bottle of wine. "Big-Sis Laffey gave it to me," she explained, hugging the bottle as affectionately as she hugged her pet unicorn. Well, she hugged them both with equal enthusiasm, anyway.
Lafayette felt a wave of despair wash over him. He was already in enough trouble for letting Unicorn get hit by a 500-pound bomb during their encounter with the Iron Blood Shipgirls. Now, he had inadvertently allowed this precious, innocent Unicorn to acquire a taste for alcohol.
He couldn't simply snatch the bottle from Unicorn's hands; that would be a terrible idea. He also couldn't let Illustrious see her with it. He scratched his head frantically, searching for a way to prevent Illustrious from discovering this potentially corrupting influence.
Unicorn looked at him with concern, noticing his sudden distress. "Are you alright, Big-Brother?"
Lafayette stopped his internal panic and looked down at her. He sighed and spoke to her directly. "Sorry, Unicorn, but I can't let you have that... that vile drink. It's bad for your health."
Unicorn tilted her head, as if contemplating a complex puzzle, before a smile of understanding dawned on her face. "No... I'm not going to drink it... I'm just going to use it as decoration in my room."
"Oh..." Lafayette was genuinely surprised by her honesty. "Okay, just... don't drink it. Drink it when you're old enough... okay?" He offered her a warm smile.
Unicorn returned his smile. "Right."
...
Akashi's Store, Pearl Harbor
"What do you mean my shipment of alcohol from Royal Raj was attacked by Siren Raiders? What about the cargo? Is the Cargo alright, nya?!"
Akashi was frantically speaking into the telephone, her voice shrill as she conversed with the CEO of the shipping company responsible for transporting her precious cargo from Royal Raj to Hawaii.
"Yes, Miss Akashi, our shipment of alcohol to Hawaii was indeed raided by Sirens. According to the surviving sailors, the alcohol went down with the Merchant Ship itself."
"Nyo!!!!!" Akashi wailed, slamming the telephone down on its base, abruptly ending her conversation with the unfortunate CEO.
Shiranui, who was present in Akashi's office, watched the greedy Green Cat descend into a dramatic meltdown upon receiving the devastating news about her lost shipment of alcohol.
"Perhaps the Gods are punishing you for your avarice," Shiranui commented, adding a touch of salt to Akashi's already gaping wound.
Akashi lay sprawled on the floor, throwing a full-blown tantrum. "Akashi is just doing business, why, Kami-sama... why... wahhhhhhh..."
"You can still recover your initial investment," Shiranui pointed out, ever the pragmatist.
Akashi suddenly sat up, a cunning glint in her eyes. "That's it, nya! I'll simply have to raise the prices of my goods to recoup the lost revenue... I'm a genius, nya... hahaha!"
"Even the price of gasoline?" Shiranui inquired, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Yes, even the gasoline prices will be tripled, nya hahahahahaha..."
"You're setting yourself up for disaster, Akashi," Shiranui warned, worried about her friend's audacious scheme.
"Don't care, nya... hahahahahahaha..."