The choice of formation represented two entirely different strategies. If Changchun was assigned to the carrier fleet, then in order to make up for her "short range," Lexington and the others would have to allow the Abyssal army to come closer before striking.
Naturally, this meant the battleships would face much greater pressure.
"No matter how we arrange things, the burden will be heavy. After all, we have just over ten shipgirls, while the enemy numbers in the hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million."
As she spoke, Bismarck gripped Hikaru's hand firmly. "But I will deliver victory to you!"
Her declaration rang with steel, though behind Hikaru came a sharp click of the tongue.
He didn't need to turn around to know it was Prince of Wales. Her entire aura clashed with Bismarck's.
"Then I'll entrust it all to you, Bismarck. I'll be waiting for you to bring me victory."
Hikaru pulled her into a tight embrace.
That earned him hisses from Saratoga, while Ranger and Changchun actually jumped up at his side, begging for hugs of their own.
Hikaru was never stingy with such things. He squeezed the busty Ranger and the bunny-eared Changchun both, then Lexington spread her arms too, so he simply hugged them each in turn.
Yamato stood dumbstruck, pointing at herself. "What about me?"
Hikaru blinked. "What about you? You want me to hug you too?"
'Could it be… Yamato, a wandering shipgirl, is asking for a hug? Has she been moved by my charisma and wants to join my Naval District?'
It wasn't an unreasonable thought. Wandering shipgirls were usually very reserved. That handshake earlier had already been a big deal; Hikaru had never dreamed of an embrace.
Yamato clutched her chest, flustered and indignant. "Who wants you to hug me! I mean—how is it that you've given everyone else assignments, but not me?!"
"Oh, that's it." Hikaru suddenly understood, then added with a pained smile. "To put it politely, you're just too weak. And besides, you're a guest—it wouldn't be right to send you into battle."
Yamato nearly spat blood. That's your idea of polite?!
She swallowed the insult and said through gritted teeth, "Then at least let me handle some support work."
Bismarck nodded. "Fair enough. Help with moving the supplies off that warship. They must all be transported to the warehouse front within an hour. Leipzig, Ranger, you two will check and log everything as it comes in."
Inspection was essential—there was no ruling out the possibility of Naval Headquarters tampering with these resources. Better safe than sorry.
Warehouse manager Leipzig patted her flat chest. "I can handle it alone! No need for Ranger to mess things up!"
She was a complete miser, treating everything in the warehouse like her personal treasure hoard, and hated letting anyone else touch it.
Bismarck, of course, saw through her instantly and glared. "Don't cause trouble."
One glare was enough to deflate Leipzig, who muttered weakly, "No need to be so fierce, I was just making a suggestion…"
Yamato, however, hadn't expected to be sent to do manual labor. She hesitated.
What she most wanted was to corner Hikaru and ask about breaking the level cap—and those so-called tactics.
Hikaru noticed her thoughts and, with a tug, pulled the quiet Ella forward. "If you want to know about tactics, ask her. Ella's the tactics instructor."
Ella flushed with embarrassment. She'd been hugged by Hikaru earlier as well, and her heart was still beating too fast.
As a non-combat instructor, she usually only handled odd jobs around the Naval District. She'd never been valued by the Commander before. To be hugged today had left her flustered—should she expect him to take responsibility?
Yamato was even more shocked. The bespectacled Ella was visibly weak, yet this frail little thing was actually the tactics instructor? Truly, appearances could deceive.
Marveling, Yamato forced a smile and leaned in close to question her about tactics.
But Hikaru gave her a shove. "Supplies first. We're at war—time is short and the task is urgent!"
Yamato snapped, "You just said I was a guest!"
"No work, no food. Decide for yourself."
Waving her off, Hikaru headed for the dining hall.
Grinding her teeth, Yamato had no choice but to stomp off toward the harbor.
She wasn't the only one moving supplies. Ella, California, Fletcher, and several others joined in, while the rest busied themselves with their own tasks.
Still, Yamato could hardly wait until mealtime. She grabbed Ella along the way and pressed, "So, what exactly is a tactic?"
"It's just like a skill," Ella explained, "except you have to meet certain conditions."
"What conditions?"
"First, each tactic has restrictions on who can learn it—big ships can't learn small-ship tactics. Second, you need the proper warship core. And third, there's a training-level requirement."
[End of Chapter]
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