"T-This is the big thing Captain was talking about? That's terrifying!"
"Yeah… compared to it, our wooden ships look like toys."
"It's floating in the sea—so it's actually a ship?"
"You've got to be kidding! A ship this big?!"
"This thing was brought back by Captain… do you think it'll become part of our Crux Fleet?"
"Damn! If I could sail on a ship like that, my life would be complete!"
"I've never seen a vessel this massive and cool before!"
Seeing the aircraft carrier suddenly appear at the harbor, the members of the Crux Fleet were completely stunned.
They stood frozen in place.
Only by witnessing it in person could one truly feel the presence of a carrier.
Its sleek design.
Its seemingly endless length.
Everything about it radiated overwhelming power and appeal.
Naming the Ship
"This ship is called an Aircraft Carrier.
Today, I'm naming it the Southern Cross."
Beidou raised her voice proudly.
"From now on, it will be the flagship of the Crux Fleet!"
Looking at her shocked and excited crew, she felt a surge of satisfaction.
Owning such an impressive vessel and not using it would be a waste.
From now on, the aircraft carrier would serve as the fleet's main ship.
It would showcase their strength and expand their reputation across the seas.
As for their original wooden ships, Beidou had no intention of abandoning them yet.
Instead, they would act as escorts for the Southern Cross.
If she obtained more ships like this in the future, she would gradually replace the old ones.
This strategy was something she had learned from the manga.
Thus, Teyvat's first carrier strike group was born.
The Crew Reacts
"Did you hear Captain? That ship belongs to our fleet now!"
"Haha! Joining this crew was the luckiest decision of my life."
"Captain is incredible—she actually managed to get something this huge!"
"Yeah, it must have cost a fortune. At least hundreds of millions of Mora!"
Hearing that estimate, Beidou laughed.
"It didn't cost hundreds of millions. I got this ship as a reward from reading manga at a shop. It only cost 100,000 Mora."
She deliberately promoted the manga shop to her crew.
She wanted them to understand where this miracle had come from.
When they returned from Inazuma, she planned to bring them there.
If they could obtain even one or two more powerful rewards, the Crux Fleet would become unstoppable.
"What?! An aircraft carrier for only 100,000 Mora?!"
"Didn't Captain say it was a reward?"
"My goodness—what kind of place is that shop? They even have ships like this."
"It definitely isn't an ordinary store. And the owner must be extraordinary."
"If Captain respects it, then it must be something special."
"Now I want to go there myself!"
"Yeah! Imagine getting another ship like this!"
Turning to Ningguang and Keqing
Amid the crew's excited discussion, Beidou turned toward the two women standing nearby.
"Well? Not bad, right?"
"It's certainly impressive."
After regaining her composure, Keqing nodded slowly.
Even after years as one of the Liyue Qixing, this was the first time she had seen a ship of such scale.
It completely overturned her expectations.
So ships could be built this large and this magnificent.
As expected, rewards from Boss Han were extraordinary.
She couldn't help thinking:
If Liyue had several ships like this, trade and fishing would become much more efficient.
After all, Liyue Harbor's maritime commerce was thriving.
Beidou Targets Ningguang
"Ningguang, what do you think?"
Beidou asked with a playful smile.
Suddenly, she felt the urge to show off in front of her long-time rival.
After all, she had once been deeply shocked by the Jade Chamber.
Now, it was Ningguang's turn.
"It is impressive," Ningguang replied calmly.
"But that's all. It still can't compare to my Jade Chamber."
She spoke with complete confidence.
When enhanced by the temporary Fake Peace Star, the Jade Chamber had been even larger than this carrier.
This vessel was merely a giant ship.
But the upgraded Jade Chamber had been an entire floating island.
They weren't on the same level at all.
That was why she remained so composed.
"True—your Jade Chamber is extraordinary. A rare marvel in this world."
Beidou nodded.
That much was undeniable.
Just as a satisfied smile appeared on Ningguang's lips, Beidou suddenly changed tone.
"Too bad the fake Peace Star expired. Now the Jade Chamber is back to normal—and it was almost destroyed recently."
Ningguang's smile froze instantly.
She finally understood.
Beidou hadn't been praising her at all.
She had been setting up the punchline.
Even though Ningguang felt annoyed, she couldn't argue.
Because it was true.
In its normal state, the Jade Chamber might not surpass the aircraft carrier.
A trace of envy quietly surfaced in her heart.
Beidou Keeps Pressing
Seeing Ningguang's expression shift, Beidou continued with deliberate enthusiasm.
"Oh, and Boss Han said this carrier comes equipped with a huge amount of firepower. That might be a bit troublesome—we may not even have enough crew to operate everything."
She paused, then added:
"And there are fighter jets too—machines that fly through the sky and can attack targets on the ground. Absolutely incredible."
Her tone grew increasingly animated.
Beidou and Ningguang were partners— friends and rivals at the same time.
Beating Ningguang in a wager once had made her happy for a long time.
Now, being able to show off an aircraft carrier in front of her felt immensely satisfying.
Keqing Notices the Tension
"Beidou, honestly…"
Keqing's mouth twitched.
That tone was blatant bragging.
But bragging was one thing—dragging the Jade Chamber into the comparison was another.
That structure represented Ningguang's life's work.
Putting it down like this was bound to sting.
Keqing was right.
Ningguang's mood had indeed turned sour.
If it were anyone else, she might not have reacted so strongly.
But this was Beidou—the one person who had ever beaten her in a financial wager.
Their relationship was friendly, yet competitive.
Even though irritation bubbled beneath the surface, Ningguang maintained her elegant composure.
After all, she was one of the Qixing.
She had faced far greater storms than this.
Ningguang's Resolve
"The Jade Chamber's current state is only temporary,"
she said with a graceful smile.
"When it is upgraded again, you will be the one feeling shocked."
She had already made up her mind.
After this, she would go straight to the manga shop.
No matter what it took, she would find a way to upgrade the Jade Chamber.
There was no way she would allow Beidou to keep showing off like this in front of her.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Beidou replied with a grin.
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