The Divine Throne of Shipgirls

After waiting for a while longer, Tirpitz finally returned with Cumberland, rubbing her eyes sleepily as if still half-asleep.

Before Hikaru could speak, Tirpitz threw herself into his arms and started whining.

"Commander, I want to sleep. Can we not sortie today, please?"

"Nope! What took you so long?"

Fletcher quickly tattled, "Commander, Tirpitz refused to get out of bed. I was the one who helped her into her coat and boots! I even had to wash her face and brush her teeth. The one stalling wasn't me, I swear!"

Hikaru gave Fletcher's cat ears a rub in praise, then leaned in close to Tirpitz's ear and said coldly, "You're not staying up all night gaming tonight. Got it?"

Tirpitz squirmed lazily and let out a few sleepy whimpers. Whether she actually heard him or not was questionable. She simply extended her arms to wrap around Hikaru's waist.

"Carry me."

Josephine, the shipgirl form of HMS King George V, had a sneer nearly frozen on her face as she scoffed, "So the rumors were true. Shut-in Tirpitz can't even be considered a proper warrior. What a waste of talent."

Tirpitz ignored her completely, continuing to act spoiled and clingy.

Hikaru wasn't the type to care much about others' stares anyway. He picked up Tirpitz and nodded to Lexington.

"Sorry to trouble you, ma'am."

Lexington linked arms with Hikaru, holding Fletcher with her other hand. Fletcher, in turn, grabbed the confused Cumberland.

Suddenly, a violent gust of wind kicked up out of nowhere, strong enough to make nearby people squint. By the time they opened their eyes again, Hikaru's group was already drifting thousands of meters away, as if riding the wind through the sky.

If Josephine hadn't been so hostile, Lexington might've been willing to give them a lift too—but now, that was clearly off the table.

Wakayama winced and patted Josephine on the arm. "We better get moving. If they complete the mission and come back before we even arrive, we'll be a total joke."

Josephine, still reeling from Lexington's display of power, snapped out of it at his words. She quickly grabbed her commander and, with a leap spanning dozens of meters, landed on the sea surface, charging across the waves in pursuit.

Each step she took shattered tens of thousands of tons of seawater, using the force to launch herself forward in a mad dash. Though it was an exhausting method, it barely allowed her to stay within a dozen kilometers of Hikaru's group. As for elegance, dignity, or pride—those were all long gone.

Kazeharu's garrison was on a small island, over two hundred nautical miles away.

When Hikaru and the others arrived, just over an hour had passed—all thanks to Lexington's abilities.

Descending gracefully from the sky, they saw that the camp on the beach was already filled with a silent crowd—both commanders and shipgirls.

Standing front and center with arms behind his back was presumably none other than Kazeharu.

"You arrived faster than I expected."

Kazeharu looked up. He was a thin, elderly man with a sharp and gloomy expression. His hair and beard were streaked with white, and the downturn of his lips gave the impression he was perpetually sneering.

Hikaru took out the warrant and held it up. "Since you already know what this is about, then pack up and come with us."

Kazeharu didn't even glance at the authorization. His voice turned cold.

"What's this? They think they can send a mere Captain, and I'll just surrender like some obedient dog?"

"I wasn't sent over casually," Hikaru said, glancing at the silent crowd. "You want to give a farewell speech or something?"

"I don't need one!"

At that moment, an orange-haired woman stepped forward from behind Kazeharu and gave a timid bow.

"Military police officer… I am Hiei, a Kongo-class battlecruiser. I would like to speak."

Kazeharu waved his hand impatiently. "I told you to leave! Stop jabbering—it's annoying!"

Hiei's eyes turned red as she lowered her head and spoke softly, "While the Commander may have gone too far… it was Marshal Arata who attacked first. All of this—all the disaster—was my fault. If I hadn't accidentally killed Marshal Arata, his shipgirls wouldn't have been so heartbroken… and everything that followed wouldn't have happened. If someone has to be arrested, then take me. I'm willing to pay with my life."

Lexington responded sternly, "Even if that's true, it doesn't change the fact that your Commander made a grievous error in judgment. Especially forcing other commanders to risk their lives to compel his own shipgirls to fight. Isn't that the truth?"

Hiei panicked, her tears falling freely. She stammered, "N-no… that's not… The Commander, he… he feels terrible too! He… he didn't have any other choice!"

"Enough!"

Kazeharu bellowed and struck Hiei hard across the face, sending her tumbling to the ground.

[End of Chapter]

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