Elizabeth immediately understood the meaning behind New Jersey's awkward yet polite expression. Everything about the Royal Navy faction was excellent… except for their cafeteria.
Even Queen Elizabeth herself was troubled by it. Still, there was nothing she could do but keep her head high and maintain her dignity.
"Miss New Jersey, may I ask if you have some sort of issue with our Royal Navy cuisine?" she asked, her smile calm and composed.
"No... no! Of course not!" New Jersey waved her hands frantically. "It's just that Royal cuisine is a bit too… cough—as they say in the Dragon Empery—truly shocking. A delicacy like this should definitely be left for Miss Bismarck to enjoy..."
While speaking, she shot a subtle, pleading glance at Bismarck.
In her mind, Bismarck was the kind of "workaholic" who wouldn't care much about food.
Unfortunately for her, Bismarck noticed the signal yet remained completely indifferent, simply turning her head away as if she hadn't seen anything.
She might not care much about food quality, but that didn't mean she lacked a sense of taste.
'Please enjoy this delicacy yourself, Miss New Jersey,' she thought, doing her best to keep a straight face.
"You... you all..."
Elizabeth's face flushed red with anger, but when her eyes landed on Jun Hao, her expression suddenly shifted, as if she had found her footing again.
"That's right! Our Royal Navy cuisine is not something just anyone can casually enjoy. You should know that every dish here was personally guided by my servant!"
Her tone grew more confident as she continued, "If you hadn't come across it today, we would have kept it exclusively within the Royal Navy."
Hearing this, Akagi leaned closer to Jun Hao, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"Commander, did you really guide the Royal Navy cuisine personally?"
"Well..."
Seeing Elizabeth stubbornly keep up appearances, Jun Hao couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic.
Originally, he had only asked Belfast to prepare a meeting room. He hadn't expected her to invite everyone to the cafeteria instead.
Still, he had tasted the food himself before. At the very least, it was no longer unbearable.
With that in mind, he reached out and gently patted Elizabeth's head. Her face instantly turned crimson, yet she didn't pull away, her body subtly leaning into the touch.
"Yes, I did," he replied. "More importantly, today is about resolving our issues. What we eat isn't the main point, right?"
After hearing him say that, New Jersey and the others could no longer object and reluctantly accepted the situation.
Belfast, however, looked especially pleased. This was the first time she had seen so many people willingly head toward the Royal Navy cafeteria.
"Thank you for your trust, Master," she said with a graceful bow. "Everyone, please follow me."
She gestured politely before turning to lead the way toward the Royal Dormitory.
Jun Hao followed, with Scylla and Sirius staying close on either side, clearly on guard against any unexpected trouble.
Amagi, Bismarck, and Akagi walked behind them at a steady pace. Only New Jersey remained where she stood, her face filled with complicated emotions.
In the end, she let out a helpless groan and hurried after them.
"Honey… wait for me…"
Soon, the group disappeared beyond the grassy field.
As silence returned to the surroundings, two ordinary-looking haystacks nearby suddenly began to shake.
A soft laugh echoed from one of them.
"Hehe, Yat Sen, it seems Huan Chang's divinations over the past few days have been accurate once again."
As the voice faded, the hay shifted aside, revealing a slender woman dressed in black and white robes, her long hair tied into a single ponytail.
Chen Hai brushed off the bits of grass clinging to her clothes, her movements calm and elegant as she stepped forward.
-CHEN HAI-[1]
Meanwhile, her companion, still hidden within the haystack, replied slowly, "Indeed, Chen Hai. Huan Chang said that if we waited here early this morning, we would encounter a great opportunity."
Hearing this, Chen Hai turned her gaze toward where Jun Hao and the others had disappeared, her eyes deep in thought.
"Yes… and now that I see it, the opportunity couldn't be clearer. But Yat Sen, why didn't we act sooner? Even Miss Amagi from the Sakura Empire knew to take the initiative and come over to 'steal' him."
Chen Hai frowned slightly, confused by their complete lack of action.
"Even if the outcome was a bit embarrassing, at least she received such gentle treatment from the Commander."
Yat Sen's voice drifted out from the haystack once more, calm and unhurried.
-YAT SEN-[2]
"Hehe, Chen Hai, have you ever thought about it… what kind of person would need to 'steal' the Commander?"
Hearing this, Chen Hai was momentarily stunned. She lowered her gaze in thought, and soon, a faint glimmer lit up her dark red eyes.
"Perhaps… someone impatient. Or rather, someone afraid that if they don't act first, they'll be left with nothing. Whether it's status or affection."
A sharp snap echoed from the grass.
"Exactly!" Yat Sen's tone carried a hint of amusement. "There's nothing wrong with striving for the Commander's affection, even using a few tricks if necessary. Although Miss Amagi's plan failed, her intentions are still worth acknowledging."
"But, Chen Hai…"
Her voice lowered slightly, turning more subtle and enigmatic.
"What if… a person, or even our entire faction, holds an advantage that no one else can rival? In that case, would we still need to be as anxious as they are?"
She paused briefly, then added in a gentle, almost teasing tone,
"Don't forget where the Commander… comes from~"
Chen Hai was sharp-minded, and with that hint, everything became clear to her.
A calm, confident smile spread across her face.
"That's true… as the Commander's 'fellow countrymen,' we possess something none of them can replicate. This shared culture isn't just familiarity; it's a connection ingrained deep within us."
She paused, lightly resting a finger against her lips.
"And it's also a gap that, no matter how hard the others try, they can never reach."
The gleam in her eyes grew sharper.
"So, there's no need for us to compete or fight over him. We only need to wait patiently and prepare everything in advance. One day, when the Commander grows tired of the chaos outside, he will naturally return to the Dragon Empery… his true harbor."
"When that time comes…"
She left the sentence unfinished, yet a faint red glint flashed through her eyes. At the same time, a similar presence stirred within the grass where Yat Sen remained hidden.
They were like patient hunters lying in wait. All they needed to do now was wait for their "prey," Jun Hao, to willingly step into their trap.
Having figured everything out, Chen Hai felt her mood brighten considerably.
Before returning to the Dragon Empery dormitory to share the good news and their plans with the others, one small question lingered in her mind.
She turned toward the motionless patch of grass.
"Um, Yat Sen…"
"The Commander and the others are already far away. Why haven't you come out yet?"
There was a brief silence, followed by Yat Sen's helpless, slightly embarrassed laugh.
"Well... Chen Hai, could you come over and help me for a moment? My stockings seem to be caught on something…"
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Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original - P@treon Only Until It Reaches 30 Chapters)
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