At this moment, Alaska had already slipped fully into the role of mission planner. Resting her chin in one hand, she pondered.
"If just the two of us go, not getting shut out would already be a victory. No, that won't work… let me think. Blücher, that idiot, has to come along. She's part of the German line, so she can naturally get close to Tirpitz. Should I bring Deutschland as well? If I bring Deutschland, then Göta Lejon will have to stay behind. But Göta Lejon is someone who could use music as common ground to build a connection with Hikaru."
Turning the options over in her mind, Alaska clapped her hands. "Music-wise, I'm enough on my own. We'll bring Deutschland and Blücher, and also some local specialties. Saint George, I'll need you to clear the crowds. The tavern must be shut down."
Saint George gave a slight nod. "No problem."
After a round of exhausting bustle, with the help of the military police from the shipgirl division who rushed over after hearing the commotion, they finally managed to disperse the crowd.
The shipgirl division also wanted to suppress any news about Hikaru, which meant their goals temporarily aligned with Alaska and the others.
Still, an investigation was unavoidable.
"Tomorrow, you are requested to come to the division headquarters and cooperate with questioning," said Ying Rui, the stern-faced military policeman in a wide-brimmed cap, handing Saint George a written notice.
Saint George casually tore the slip to shreds and tossed it away, tilting her nose skyward. "If you've got nothing else, you can leave."
Ying Rui gave Saint George and Alaska a long, deep look, then turned with her men and left.
Soon, the housekeeper-maid Deutschland came out, gasping for breath as she lugged a bag taller than herself. "Alaska, I brought out the best black beer, cigars, and ham."
Blücher, still clueless about the details, slammed a ground anchor into the flowerbed and plopped herself down on it, kicking her feet with a sulky air.
"What is this? It feels like we're refugees… or like we're selling ourselves for favor."
Alaska chuckled. "You're going to meet your idol—Tirpitz."
Whoosh!
A gust of wind slapped her face as Blücher instantly darted up in front of Alaska, stars sparkling in her eyes.
"When do we leave? Oh no, I didn't even have time to dress up. This won't do—I have to bathe and purify myself first!"
Watching Blücher vanish back into the tavern in a streak, and then looking at little Deutschland's equally dreamy expression, Alaska suddenly felt a strange premonition.
It seemed like this trip of theirs wasn't going to be about abducting Hikaru at all, but more like throwing meat buns to a dog—sending themselves as gifts right to the doorstep.
"Almost at the Naval District," Bismarck said, lowering their altitude slightly.
She had been wrapping the warship in her power throughout the flight.
She couldn't drag it, nor could she lift it. Ships might look sturdy, but if she had actually hauled it along with ropes all this way, it would've fallen apart long ago.
So instead, Bismarck enveloped the vessel in her strength—like a baby safely secured in a car seat.
Yamato had been dying to make a snarky comment all the way, but she held back.
Small impatience ruins great plans, she reminded herself.
Helena gazed at the layers of dark storm clouds piled high over the northern skies, looking uneasy.
"It's strange. We've come all this way, and not a single Abyssal has harassed us."
They had prepared for sudden ambushes along the route, but after flying thousands of miles with utmost caution, not one Abyssal had appeared—not even the usual scattered raiders that prowled the seas.
It was so abnormal it bordered on the uncanny.
"They've been hurt badly by us," Saratoga said brightly, clenching her delicate little fist. "I made a huge contribution! Big Sister better reward me properly!"
At the side, Ranger rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn't stick.
Sometimes, even she couldn't figure out if Saratoga was a Commander-obsessive or a Sister-obsessive. If you said she adored the Commander most, she kept calling Lexington's Commander 'brother-in-law.' But if you said she loved her sister most, she never stopped fighting Lexington for the Commander's affection.
Back at the Naval District, Saratoga even used to disguise herself as Lexington every couple of days to cause mischief, until Lexington had no choice but to give her one lecture after another.
"Maybe they're preparing an even larger offensive," Prince of Wales said, resting a hand on her chest in thought. "Especially after such a massive defeat."
She wasn't wrong. The Abyssals weren't stupid. After losing three flagship-class Abyssals in one counterstrike by Bismarck's group, they would surely raise their threat assessment of the Naval District forces higher than ever before.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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