Sorry for the late update but cheers~ (I wasnt expecting that little who chose "Stop Both" option tho lol)
I will post 6 chapters today and 5 on sunday (the rest get the usual) as compensations.
Also to compensate my tier, on p@t I will slowly increase the chapters gap between here and there, I will get it done at least by sunday. How many? You will see.
Sorry for disturbing your time, enjoy.
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Lin Lan glared at Agir, the troublemaker, with annoyance.
"I wasn't ignoring Zeppelin," Lin Lan said. "She was just reminding me of things to keep in mind while traveling."
Afterward, he looked at the girl in front of him, who had come up to him so boldly, and a mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Speaking of which, you haven't been around much these past few days. Were you avoiding me on purpose?"
Seeing the smile on Lin Lan's face, Agir suddenly had a bad feeling and tried to step away.
But before she could, Lin Lan caught her, pulling her close with a quick motion.
"Huh? Commander, your fingers..." Agir's voice softened into a shy murmur, her face instantly flushed red.
She smelled faintly of mint, probably from the iron-blooded mint tea she brewed earlier that morning.
"I'll head inside," Zeppelin said with a sigh, looking at the pair with mild exasperation before stepping into the cabin.
Lin Lan watched her cold figure retreat. He made a mental note to talk to Zeppelin again later.
Even with all the girls around, Lin Lan didn't intend to do anything inappropriate with the excited Agir.
After a brief playful moment on the deck, they both returned to the cabin.
As soon as Lin Lan entered, several iron-blooded ship girls turned their attention toward him.
Fortunately, all of the ship girls on this mission weren't the type to cause much trouble.
Zeppelin leaned against the window, gazing at the riverside scenery, while Mainz, the silver-haired patrol girl, sipped coffee quietly.
Both were women of few words.
Seated on a sofa in a black-and-red dress was the stoic heavy cruiser Spee.
She glanced up at Lin Lan but remained silent.
Then there was Weser, the smiling, short-haired girl with red eyes, who offered Lin Lan a playful grin.
Unlike her more boisterous siblings, she was calm and dependable.
Brunhilde, the tall, black-and-white Valkyrie with short hair, was busy slicing fruit at a table.
When she noticed Lin Lan's gaze, she smiled warmly at him.
She had already changed into the iron-blooded faction's signature black-and-red uniform, replacing her usual one-piece black dress.
Meanwhile, Lützow, a curly-haired battle-cruiser, was sound asleep on a large sofa, clutching her cute black-and-red shark plushie, softly snoring.
Lin Lan admired her ability to sleep soundly despite only being on deck for ten minutes.
Also asleep was Akashi, the long-haired, cat-eared girl who curled up on the sofa next to Spee, a sweet smile on her face.
She looked like she hadn't slept well the previous night, though Lin Lan had no idea what she had been up to.
Lastly, there was Z46, sitting quietly beside Lützow with a book on her lap—one Lin Lan had given her. She, too, was silent, her expression focused as always.
The only lively one among them was Agir, still standing beside him.
Lin Lan took a seat next to Z46, but the quiet little girl suddenly whispered, "My beloved commander, please hold me."
Her words took him by surprise, and he froze for a moment. Then, before he could respond, Z46 got up and sat on his lap.
Lin Lan glanced down at her. The petite silver-haired girl nestled into his arms, reopening her book without another word.
She wasn't heavy, and the warmth of her presence made Lin Lan feel a sense of peace after returning from the deck.
Brunhilde soon approached with a plate of freshly sliced pears.
In the cabin, there was a comforting silence, but Lin Lan felt an overwhelming sense of warmth.
It seemed like today would be a tranquil and peaceful day.
As the yacht sailed past Lihu County, the river became more turbulent. The surrounding scenery shifted from endless plains and abandoned buildings to woodlands.
Though not as dense as a primeval forest, the woods were substantial, showing how remote they had ventured.
With the woods came a change in the terrain. Hills appeared on both sides of the riverbank, and Lin Lan spotted various wild birds and animals.
The wildlife of the United States of Orlan reminded him of Blue Star, giving him a sense of familiarity and friendliness.
At that moment, Z46, still nestled in his arms, was engrossed in a book about the known creatures of Liao Continent—a gift Lin Lan had purchased for her.
He looked down at the top of her head, reading alongside her. The creatures and races described in the book were things he'd never seen on Blue Star.
There were dryads that transformed from plants into humanoids, cute gelatinous slimes, and mushroom monsters with limbs and faces...
Lin Lan couldn't help but imagine how incredible it would be to travel to Liao Continent and other exotic lands.
In many ways, Liao Continent felt like a fantasy world straight out of a Japanese light novel, where brave heroes were summoned.
By afternoon, the hills along the river had turned into towering mountains. It was late autumn, and the trees were draped in golden leaves, painting the mountain range in a golden hue.
Lin Lan knew Yalang City lay at the end of this Fengcang Mountain Range, nestled between the mountains and the sea.
As dusk approached, the river forked, and boats finally appeared on the water.
At this juncture, near Lin Lan's port district and the river leading to Yalang City, a variety of vessels sailed.
Some were private yachts, even smaller than Lin Lan's, while others were medium-sized ships.
Along with passenger ships bearing the Tianou Group's logo, there were numerous Battleaxe military cargo ships, marked with their distinctive black axe symbol.
Gazing out at the bustling river traffic, Lin Lan suddenly remembered something and took out his phone.
Sure enough, they had a signal now.
"This would be a great place to launch an ambush. If controlled, it could yield significant results,"
Weser remarked, admiring the sunset-streaked river.
"Exactly," Lin Lan replied.
"If someone blocks this route, Yalang City's ships would be forced to brave the dangerous sea routes."
He had studied the area's geography before, so he was well aware of how vital this river was to Yalang City's economy.
"But I don't think these ships realize that 'others' have already set their sights on this shortcut,"
Weser added with a cryptic smile.
Lin Lan froze, confused.
Suddenly, Z46 shifted in his arms, and Lützow, who had been napping, sat up with a yawn, stretching lazily.
The other ship girls also stood or moved to the windows.
Akashi, having awoken earlier, perked up as her cat ears twitched.
"Is there something wrong?" Lin Lan asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Agir, brushing her long silver hair, approached Lin Lan with a confident smile.
"Commander, you're right."
"This river is being stalked by sirens."
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25+ advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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