"Wuhu! It's really the Commander!!!"
As Lin Lan reached the edge of the ship, a lively and excited shout came from below.
Accompanying the shout were three Iron Blood dragon rigging ship girls, riding what looked like motorcycle-like riggings, who leapt directly from the sea surface below.
Just as they were about to reach Lin Lan, their riggings deactivated, and the three little girls in Iron Blood swimsuits, still wet from the sea, launched themselves into Lin Lan's arms with the momentum from their riggings.
"Not again!"
Lin Lan inwardly groaned as he was once more knocked down by the three wet little girls who had just come out of the sea.
Iron Blood's U-shaped submarines, Iron Blood's wolf pack.
Lin Lan swore he wasn't a loli fan.
But it was hard to resist how adorable the Iron Blood Z-class and U-boat girls were.
On the mass-produced transport ship prepared by August, Lin Lan sat in the lounge.
Besides Tirpitz and August, who were sitting nearby, he was surrounded by excited little girls who clung to him and didn't want to let go.
Especially the three U-boat girls, who, after drying themselves off, boldly leaned against Lin Lan, sitting on his lap.
"Hey, Commander! Were you scared by us just now? Heeheehee!"
The pink-haired, golden-eyed girl looked up at Lin Lan with a happy smile.
U81 was as playful as Lin Lan remembered. This little one was known as the "Happy Prisoner Ship" because, historically, the Royal Ark from the same faction was sunk by her torpedoes.
Another girl with black hair and red eyes, adorned with two red streaks, lifted her hand and touched Lin Lan's cheek with her black leather-gloved hand.
"Why is the Commander still so dazed? It looks like we need to poke your bottom with a big fish's tail!"
Her black arrow-shaped tail wriggled restlessly behind her.
This black-haired girl was U37, known historically for sinking countless merchant ships.
She was also quite playful and, along with U81, was an active member of the U-boat division in the Iron Blood dormitory.
The last U-boat girl, with a blue short-sleeve jacket and beige short hair in twin tails, simply smiled at Lin Lan.
Her identity was marked on the side of her right leg—U96.
(U81)
(U37)
(U96)
This little girl was also a heavyweight U-boat, having sunk a total of 180,000 tons of ships in history. Moreover, she was a movie star.
The famous anti-war film "Attack from the Deep," made by Country G after WWII, featured her, U96, as the submarine protagonist.
These three little girls were the strongest U-boat fleet in the game.
The U-boat wolf pack tactics were exceptionally powerful, representing the peak of submarine warfare.
Therefore, each Iron Blood U-boat ship girl in the game had a unique wolf pack tactic squad buff.
The 3U wolf pack, forever excellent.
Looking at Lin Lan being teased by the three U-boat girls, August said with a smile:
"My familiar, you really should thank them."
"If they hadn't happened to be on a voyage near this passenger ship and got pulled into the mirror sea by the Sirens, you would have been finished."
So that was it.
Hearing this, Lin Lan finally understood why August and the others managed to support him even after he entered the mirror sea.
It turned out that these three little girls had also been dragged into the mirror sea to alert August and seek help.
Iron Blood technology often came from the Sirens, and Lin Lan had fought countless Sirens in the game. Entering the mirror sea was routine for his port's ship girls.
"Commander, did you hear? You need to thank us properly!"
U81 happily shouted, following August's words. She was the first to discover the passenger ship was under attack, and finding the Commander was her greatest achievement.
Lin Lan, being action-oriented, leaned down and gently kissed U81's cute cheek.
After all, she was his ship girl, and a sworn one at that. Lin Lan swore this was absolutely legal.
Probably.
"Com-Com-Com-Com..."
U81, surprised by the kiss, seemed overwhelmed. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple.
U37 and U96, seeing this, didn't run away; instead, they blushed and leaned their faces in for their own kisses.
"U81 is so shy; I want a reward too!"
Grinning widely, U37 got the second reward.
When Lin Lan turned to U96, she proactively kissed him on the cheek.
"Heeheehee, Commander, I've been wanting to do this for a long time!"
U96, blushing and smiling at Lin Lan, stuck out her tongue.
Lin Lan, stunned, couldn't believe this little girl would take the initiative.
Meanwhile, the Z-class ship girls nearby watched with envy.
"Hey, hey, hey, this is a big crisis! None of our Z-class sisters have been kissed by the Commander!"
Z1 whispered urgently to her cunning little strategist, Z2.
"If you want one, just ask the Commander directly. He'll definitely give it to you."
Straightforward Z16 was about to go ask Lin Lan for a "reward" herself but was pulled back by Z1.
"Stay back. It's different from asking him directly."
Z1, exasperated with Z16, adjusted her hat and explained:
"This is a reward given by the Commander himself, not the same as us asking him."
"Besides, other factions will also be vying for the Commander's attention. How can we make sure the Commander rewards our Z-class sisters?"
As the leader of the Iron Blood Z-class, Z1 felt unprecedented pressure.
"I propose we consult Z23 when we get back."
Although Z2's face showed no expression, her eyes betrayed her envy.
Hearing Z23's name, Z1 felt much lighter.
Z23, the Commander's favorite, the first secretary ship, the meticulous top student.
When Z23 meets the Commander, everything should turn out well.
Once back at the base, she must immediately call all the Z-class sisters to discuss strategies for winning the Commander's rewards!
Little Z1 made up her mind.
Meanwhile, August and Tirpitz clearly heard the Z-class girls' quiet conversation.
They just smiled, knowing that the real competition for the Commander's affection had not yet begun.
Lin Lan, unaware of all this, looked out at the mass-produced transport ship speeding through the darkening sky.
"Tirpitz, how much longer until we reach your base?"
Lin Lan checked his phone, only to find it had no signal.
This meant they had left the country's waters and entered the open sea previously occupied by the Sirens.
"We'll arrive soon, Commander. Trust me, you'll be amazed when you see our base."
Tirpitz smiled confidently at the mention of their base, sparking Lin Lan's curiosity about the Iron Blood base.
He had heard Iron Blood technology was top-notch. He wondered what their base would look like now.