Illustrious licked the tear away. It was bitter yet sweet, symbolizing that after a young girl falls in love, even though it is painful, she still holds onto hope.
Looking at the crying Shokaku, Illustrious consoled her, "Shokaku! Calm down. We can't do that kind of thing, at least not right now."
"Enough! Since the Admiral is unwilling to take the initiative, I'll do it myself." Shokaku grabbed Illustrious's clothes, trying to strip her.
To protect her purity, as Shokaku was about to strip her, Illustrious shouted, "Azuma! Why are you here? Wait! It's not what you think!"
No one had entered the room; this was merely a lie Illustrious made up. Her goal was to make Shokaku turn her head so she could knock her out with one strike.
Illustrious couldn't help but mock herself internally: How could someone as smart as Shokaku fall for such a low-level trick?
However, the next moment, Illustrious was shocked, because Shokaku had actually fallen for it.
"What! Azuma! I clearly told them they could only take turns after two hours! Damn it! I was so close to succeeding!" Shokaku immediately turned to look at the door, only to find that there was no Azuma at the door or in the room.
Just as she was about to turn around and curse Illustrious for lying to her, Shokaku felt a pain in her neck and fainted.
After using a hand strike to knock Shokaku out, Illustrious immediately caught her and gently placed her on the bed.
Looking at the unconscious Shokaku, she began to ponder. "Shokaku's behavior today is definitely strange. You have to know that she usually acts and speaks like a Yamato Nadeshiko, but today she not only attacked Zuikaku and Azuma, but now she even wanted to attack me."
After thinking for a while, Illustrious guessed a possibility: Shokaku was being controlled by someone.
Looking at the empty room, Illustrious sensed something unusual. "Come out! I know you're here."
Illustrious was only guessing; she wasn't sure if there was really someone else in the room, but trying wouldn't hurt, so she shouted into the room.
Seeing that no one came out, Illustrious used a provocation. "What? You dare to do it but not stand up and admit it? Hmph! I hate cowards like you who hide their heads and show their tails more than anything."
"..."
After a while, no one came out of the room. Just as Illustrious was about to give up and assume it was an illusion, she saw a white-haired loli appear out of thin air.
"I didn't expect you to be able to find me when I was hiding so well. As expected of our number one enemy of the Deep Sea—Illustrious." The white-haired loli said in a childish voice.
"Who are you? Is everything that happened to Shokaku your doing?" Illustrious asked coldly.
"I am the tenth of the Ten Calamity Abyssal Entities, Northern Princess. You guessed right; everything that happened to Shokaku is my doing." Northern Princess raised her head and said with great dignity.
"Originally, you and I had no grudges, and theoretically, I shouldn't lay a hand on you Ship Girls."
"You made me almost lose my virginity! Since I have no grudge against you, why would you do that?"
"That's because you are an enemy of the Deep Sea. As an enemy, how could I let you have it easy?" Northern Princess said with a gloomy expression.
Illustrious was stunned for a moment. "That makes so much sense, I have no argument against it."
"Right! To prevent you from hindering our great plan of the Deep Sea to eliminate humanity and save the world, I have decided to assassinate you." A powerful aura suddenly erupted from within Northern Princess. This aura shocked Illustrious; this strength must have reached the level of a four-star Calamity Abyssal Entity!
Illustrious was panicking inside, but she remained calm on the surface. "What kind of assassination is this? You just blurted out the plan like that—is that really okay?"
Northern Princess became embarrassed and angry. "Shut up! Just stand there obediently and let me assassinate you!"
Watching Northern Princess charge over with the strength of a four-star Calamity Abyssal Entity, Illustrious instantly took out her Noble Phantasm against lolis—a lollipop. "Northern-chan! Look at what this is!"
"Wow! It's a lollipop! Stupid Ship Girl, hand over the lollipop obediently, and I can temporarily spare your life." Northern Princess immediately stopped in front of Illustrious and threatened her.
"Here! Have it!" Illustrious gave the lollipop to Northern Princess.
Northern Princess was overjoyed. Just when she thought she was about to get the lollipop, Illustrious suddenly took it back.
Northern Princess was furious. "Weren't you going to give it to me? Why did you take it back?"
Illustrious said earnestly, "I can give it to you, but after you get it, you must remember to thank me! When you thank me, you must call me 'Big Sister', do you hear me? Otherwise, I won't give you the lollipop."
Northern Princess, who had eyes only for the lollipop, immediately nodded frantically in agreement. "Okay! I swear as the Tenth Calamity Abyssal Entity, as long as you give me the lollipop, I will thank you."
Seeing that Northern Princess actually swore an oath, Illustrious was surprised but very satisfied. "Alright! Here you go."
Just as Northern Princess was about to get it, Illustrious took it back again. Northern Princess's expression turned sad. Seeing Northern Princess like this, Illustrious once again held the lollipop out to her, and Northern Princess immediately became happy.
Seeing Northern Princess go from happy to sad, Illustrious thought Northern Princess was truly adorable.
After doing this three times, Northern Princess was enraged. "Stupid Ship Girl, how dare you tease the great Northern Princess! I want you dead!"
Just as Northern Princess was about to destroy Illustrious with one punch, Illustrious instantly held the lollipop out to her.
Northern Princess stopped, stared intently at the lollipop for a moment, then finally raised her head and shouted angrily, "You're trying to trick me again! When I try to take it later, you'll definitely take it back, won't you!"
"I'm really giving it to you this time. If I take it back, I'll be a little puppy, how about that?" Illustrious said with a sincere face.
Looking at the lollipop, Northern Princess immediately said, "Fine! I'll believe you one more time."
Just as Northern Princess was about to reach out to take it, Illustrious, as expected, took it back.
This time, Northern Princess sat on the floor and started crying. "Waaaah! You're bullying me! I'm going back to tell Middle Princess."
She had played too much. Scratching the back of her head, Illustrious felt a bit troubled. Looking at the crying Northern Princess, Illustrious held the lollipop out to her again. "I'm sorry! I was wrong. I will never bully you again. Will you forgive me?"
"Wuuu... You, you're trying to trick me again?" Northern Princess looked at the lollipop and raised her head.
"This time it's real. How could I dare to trick someone as great as you, a Calamity Abyssal Entity!" Illustrious said earnestly.
"Fine! This is the last time I'll believe you. If you dare to trick me again, I'll let you witness the terror of the Destiny Abyssal Entity." Northern Princess reached out her small hand and took the lollipop from Illustrious's hand.
This time Illustrious really didn't trick her. Northern Princess successfully got the lollipop and started eating it deliciously.
"Northern-chan! Did you forget something?" Illustrious reminded her.
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