Hikaru's five shipgirls were sitting above the dark sea, chatting.
"I think our conditions were too harsh, and our tone was too strong," Helena said with some concern. "What if the other side refuses?"
"On the contrary, I think we should've been even tougher!" Saratoga raised her delicate fist emphatically. "Look, last time my sister spoke with Yamato, she was too refined, too elegant. Only a beast-type like brother-in-law can wrest the biggest gains!"
Ranger crossed her arms. "Hmph, I'm going to tell the Commander you just called him a beast!"
"Isn't he though? He's like a tiger—ahhwu—taking the juiciest bite of meat right off Yamato!" Saratoga opened her little peach-red mouth and made a biting gesture.
Helena cut in mischievously, "Hey, and where exactly is Yamato's juiciest part?" She gave her shoulders a subtle shake as she spoke.
Bitch! Saratoga ground her teeth in frustration.
Out of the five of them, if you counted carefully, only she and Bismarck had merely average figures. And in Bismarck's case, she was the type whose body looked far more voluptuous when undressed—so the one with the poorest figure here was her!
In truth, Saratoga's body was just right, but compared with monsters like Helena and Prince of Wales, she looked pitiful.
She cast a glance at Helena, silently cursing her. Shameless! And she still dares to try dating the Commander? Thick-skinned slut. Just because she's a bit better built? Useless baggage!
At that moment, Bismarck spoke calmly.
"Yamato's coming."
Yamato arrived with great sincerity.
She came piloting a yacht. Though she called it "small," it was still over ten meters long—plenty of space for a few shipgirls to soak comfortably in its cabin bath.
Yes, Yamato had actually brought supplies and bathing tubs with her. After their great battle earlier, the group badly needed a chance to rest.
"Nothing soothes fatigue better than a hot bath," Yamato said, lifting up a jar in her hands. "You can take a bath here, and of course, get some food."
The shipgirls boarded the yacht. Prince of Wales gave a once-over and asked, "Is there wine?"
"The finest red wine," Yamato pointed to a wine cabinet set against the bulkhead near the stern. "But not much, just two bottles."
Prince of Wales went over herself to rummage through the cabinet. She badly needed a little red wine to ease the sting of winning no credit in the last battle.
Meanwhile, Saratoga and Ranger ran up and down, poking and prodding things here and there, offering their commentary: "Just so-so."
"Don't relax your guard yet," Bismarck ordered. "Helena, you check the back of the boat forward. I'll check from the front back. Be thorough."
Her hands were already running inch by inch over the yacht's railing.
"You're kidding, right? What do you take me for?"
Yamato glared, furious, as Helena hurried off toward the stern to check. She felt insulted, as though her goodwill had been spat on.
What, did they think a harbor princess would stoop to planting dirty tricks on a yacht?
"We're just trade partners—don't talk about friendship," Bismarck said coolly, brushing past the angry Yamato. "Prince of Wales, check the cabins."
Prince of Wales hadn't even opened the bottle yet, but the moment she heard that, she realized she'd already fallen behind Bismarck again.
She had only thought of drinking, without once considering the safety of the team.
Silently, she set the wine back into the cabinet, closed it, and went inside to inspect the cabins.
"You people really don't know a good heart when you see it!"
Yamato was fuming, plopping down on the sofa at the bow with deep grievance.
They didn't trust her skills, nor her character.
"Alright, alright, Yamato, don't be angry. After all, trust has already been broken once before. Bismarck's just being cautious for everyone's sake."
Ranger slid close and affectionately hugged Yamato in comfort, though Saratoga looked on with utter disdain.
Do you even believe the nonsense you're spouting?
Ranger shot Saratoga a sidelong glance and smiled meaningfully, then leaned to whisper in Yamato's ear. "Do you know what Saratoga was just saying? It was about you. She said the Commander was going to bite the juiciest meat right off your body."
"Big-titted bitch!"
Saratoga was never one to back down, but clearly Ranger had twisted her meaning. Enraged, she lunged forward to wrestle with her.
Yamato instinctively clutched her chest, feeling like she'd just been hit by friendly fire.
Still, thanks to those two troublemakers stirring things up, much of her earlier resentment over being distrusted had already faded away.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]