Elder brother's garrison

Page 2019

"These ship girl attendants all seem to be at max level and fully trained... I can sense a powerful aura emanating from them."

"Good heavens, any random ship girl here is stronger than my trump card ship girl..."

"As expected of Admiral Haoding... I've finally made it tonight!"

"In the central building of Chapter City, even a small portion of seafood fried rice can cost thousands of merit points. To book land here for a banquet, the expenses for one night would probably be over a million merit points."

"What country bumpkin? Millions? It should be hundreds of millions! Although the banquet hosted by Admiral Haoding only sent invitations to the top 100 admirals, all admirals of Chapter 8 can attend! With so many people involved, it's not going to be cheap!"

"As expected of Admiral Haoding, so generous!"

The admirals chatted amongst themselves, revealing their joy, and stepped into the place before them.

Just as the admirals were having a lively discussion, a particularly lonely figure arrived at the red carpet of the central building like a fallen leaf and walked into the lobby on his own.

The admirals quickly noticed the figure. The moment they saw the lone figure, their eyes lit up, and they hurriedly greeted each other, secretly pointing towards the red carpet.

"Hey, look..."

"Admiral Lu Lin..."

Under the watchful eyes of all the admirals, the white-haired, golden-eyed girl walked into the hall alone.

The girl wore a white dress, the hem of which was as light as a swan's feathers, contrasting beautifully with her snow-white skin, making her indistinguishable from anyone else.

When the admirals saw the girl, they were first amazed, then their gazes became complicated.

"As expected, Admiral Lu Lin has arrived..."

“Of course, Admiral Lu Lin is rumored to be leaving Admiral Nia to work independently. Admiral Haoding’s banquet is a top-tier social event; how could she possibly miss it…”

"Sigh, I remember when she appeared a few days ago, she was accompanied by Admiral Nia and other friends. I never imagined that just a few days later, she would be all alone when she went out again..." An admiral shook his head and said with a sigh, "That's the cycle of fate..."

"They didn't come together for such an important occasion. It seems that what the newspapers said about Admiral Lu Lin and Admiral Nia is true."

"But then again, Admiral Lu Lin has now broken off relations with Admiral Nia and offended Admiral Ke Yuan. She's practically nowhere to go in Chapter Eight. Even if she forces herself to attend social events, the result will likely be..."

"But you know what, Admiral Lu Lin's outfit is actually quite nice... If you didn't look at her at first glance, you'd think she was a ship girl."

"Uh... um... that's true..."

"But after tonight, I'm afraid it will be hard to see again, right?"

"What a pity..."

The admirals outside the arena shook their heads with sighs as they discussed this.

The admirals' chatter seemed to sprout wings and fly into Xiaobai's ears.

As Xiaobai walked into the hall, she squinted one eye, covered one ear, and let out a long breath.

Ok.

Okay.

The content of the discussion was much more pleasant than I had imagined...

……

"Commander, and Admiral Luo Lian, hurry up, we're going to be late."

On the way to the central building, Veneto, dressed in a formal gown, lifted her skirt and called out to Nia and Luo Lian.

Luo Lian walked gracefully in her formal dress, but Nia walked with a limp and very slowly compared to Luo Lian.

"Commander, are your new high heels not fitting properly?" Littorio, dressed in a black tuxedo, stopped and turned around, greeting him with a smile.

"Um... wait a minute..." Nia, supported by Cleveland and Helena, walked unsteadily. She looked up with a wry smile and stammered to the ship girl in front of her, "I... I've never worn high heels before... and I didn't know they were so uncomfortable to walk in..."

"Are high heels hard to move around in? We can even fight in the deep sea while wearing high heels, you know?" Littorio said to Nia with a smile.

“Uh…” Nia gave an awkward laugh.

"Take off your shoes?" the Empire asked, tilting its head.

"You can't take it off..."

“Commander, take smaller steps, walk slower, keep your head up, look forward, and try not to bend your knees.” Roma bent down and gently pressed down on Nia’s back, his heterochromatic eyes sweeping over Nia’s legs, and said softly, “Walking like this will be more natural.”

“Thank you, Rome…” Nia expressed her gratitude.

“Commander… take your time. I’ll be by your side once we’re in the main hall.” Helena smiled at Nia.

“If you want anything to eat after the banquet starts, just let me know and I’ll get it for you,” Cleveland added.

Helena wore a black short dress tonight, looking gentle and graceful, while Cleveland wore a men's suit, looking dashing. The two of them, one on each side of Nia, looked like parents leading their chicks to learn to walk, creating a rather peculiar scene.

"I'm so sorry... Luo Lian... I've taken up your time," Nia said apologetically to Luo Lian.

"It's alright." Luo Lian shook her head. "We have plenty of time."

With the guidance of the ship girls, Nia's walking gradually became smoother.

Soon, the group passed through a narrow alleyway.

"Oh, Commander, you're getting more and more familiar with the path. If you keep going like this, then..." Veneto was encouraging Nia, but she stopped mid-sentence as if she had sensed something.

The other ship girls also stopped talking.

Everyone stood still and looked towards the entrance of the alley.

"Who goes there? Come out!" Veneto's expression turned cold in an instant, and she opened her mouth and shouted coldly at the dark alley entrance.

The alleyway was unusually quiet.

But after a few seconds, a crisp clapping sound came from the alley entrance.

Snapped!

Snapped!

……

Then, a familiar figure emerged from the darkness, leading two ship girls, and left the alley, stopping in front of everyone.

The moment they saw the figure appear, the ship girls present turned cold and alert, including Nia, who was being supported; her face turned pale and showed signs of rejection.

"Ke Yuan!"

"Admiral Nia, I didn't expect to run into you here." Admiral Ke Yuan smiled and clapped at Nia. After clapping, he paused for a moment, glanced around at the people in the crowd, and then a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Haha... Admiral Nia, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

"Peaceful my ass! Do you know that because of your mistake, my commander..." As soon as Veneto saw Ke Yuan, she angrily raised her hand and scolded him.

“Veneto… calm down.” Littorio reached out and took Veneto’s hand, whispering to her, “It’s no use saying this now.”

"But, but..."

"We're the Commander's ship girls now, right?"

"……hateful……"

Veneto lowered his head, his snow-white fists clenched tightly.

Admiral Ke Yuan watched this scene, his eyes narrowed, as if he were enjoying the fruits of victory.

Chapter 2836 An Irresistible Proposal

"Admiral Nia, you and your ship girls may have a good relationship, but out of a sense of professional responsibility, I would like to offer you a small piece of advice." Admiral Ke Yuan crossed his arms in front of him, his face full of gentle smiles. "We were taught at the Naval Academy that ship girls are not slaves of the admiral. As admirals, although we are their superiors, we must never use our personal interests to override the human rights of ship girls... Even so, disciplining some ill-mannered ship girls and giving them a slight punishment is still within the scope of our responsibilities and obligations as admirals."

"Who are you calling ill-mannered!" Upon hearing Ke Yuan's words, Veneto of Nia's family glared angrily with her beautiful silver-gray eyes wide open. Infected by her emotions, her heavy chest heaved with rage.

"Since when can ship girls arbitrarily interrupt and intervene in conversations between admirals?" Admiral Ke Yuan's voice remained calm, but his gaze towards Veneto was arrogant, like a superior being looking down on an ant. "Miss Veneto, please don't make me remind you again, this is the third time you've interrupted my conversation with your admiral."

"you……"

Just as Veneto was so angry she was about to grind her teeth to powder, a soft voice slowly came from behind her.

"Veneto...that's fine."

Upon hearing the voice, an angry Veneto quickly turned around and saw Nia being supported by two ship girls, looking at her with gentle eyes.

“Let me do it,” Nia said.

“…” Veneto looked at Nia’s expression, his face changing for a moment, then he lowered his head and silently stepped aside.

Nia emerged from the support of Helena and Cleveland, slowly walking to the front of the group. Her gaze towards Admiral Ke Yuan was filled with intense rejection.

"Admiral Ke Yuan... I think there's nothing more for us to talk about."

"Admiral Nia, I believe a mature admiral should learn to control their emotions, preventing them from being swayed by feelings and acting impulsively." Admiral Ke Yuan smiled kindly at Nia and said slowly, "Admiral Nia, this is for our sake, and for the sake of the ship girls who fight with their lives. Don't you agree?"

"..." Nia was silent for a moment, then a hint of annoyance appeared in her eyes as she looked at Admiral Ke Yuan. "You mean... you plotted against me just a few days ago, but now you expect me to have a calm and peaceful conversation with you?"

“Admiral Nia, I don’t deny that my actions did cause some minor misunderstandings for you and your friends.” Admiral Ke Yuan put one hand on his shoulder and bowed to Nia. “But Admiral Nia, all I did was recount what happened between the two of us. I believe that’s nothing to true friends. Unfortunately, your friends don’t seem to trust you enough.”

"Are you saying it's Xiaobai's fault—"

“Admiral Nia, don’t forget that you insulted me severely during our conversation back then,” Admiral Ke Yuan said to Nia with a smile. “But I’m still greeting you amicably today because I’m here to put aside past grievances. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

"..." Nia's eyes twitched. She lowered her head, took a few slow breaths, and then her breathing calmed down. When she looked at Admiral Ke Yuan again, her expression was as dry as a dead pool. "...I still have nothing to talk to you about. You can leave."

"Oh? What if I told you that I'm here this time again for Admiral Lu Lin?"

"...What are you trying to do now!"

“Admiral Nia, I’ve been very well-behaved these past few days, but some things can’t be resolved simply by being well-behaved. For example, even while I’ve been staying at home, I’ve still heard a lot about Admiral Lu Lin.” Admiral Ke Yuan shook his head at Nia. “For instance, Admiral Lu Lin stole your resources to feed the research and construction machines, and she betrayed you, preparing to leave the naval base and join one of the other top ten admirals to start her own business… These stories are truly disheartening. Admiral Nia, you treated her with such sincerity, and all you got in return was endless estrangement and suspicion.”

“Isn’t that all because of you!” Nia shouted.

"Admiral Nia... I'm just an ordinary person. I don't know hypnosis, mind control, or manipulating people's hearts." Admiral Ke Yuan said with a smile, his arms crossed. "I don't deny that my actions have had some effect on your friendship... But in reality, do you really want to pin all the blame on me for making Admiral Lu Lin so distant from you? Just because of... a letter?"

Nia opened her mouth, then shrugged, seemingly speechless.

"So I've come to discuss a deal with you, Admiral Nia," Admiral Ke Yuan said with a smile, raising his hand to Nia.

“...Even if...even if Xiaobai wants to break off our friendship...I will not collude with someone like you to target her.” Nia said to Admiral Ke Yuan.

"Admiral Nia, please rest assured, this time, I am not targeting Admiral Lu Lin. I am just here... to help you." Admiral Ke Yuan seemed to have anticipated Nia's reaction, and his smile widened as he slowly spoke.

"Help me?" Nia frowned.

“After what happened last time, I’ve come to a complete understanding of one thing: no matter how Admiral Lu Lin treats you, you will always have a strong affection for her…” Admiral Ke Yuan raised his hand and clapped for Nia. “Hmm… this feeling… should we call it a one-sided pursuit… or unrequited love, or perhaps… unrequited love? Hehe, I have no interest in romantic relationships, but even I do admit that Admiral Lu Lin, as a human, possesses a beauty comparable to that of a ship girl. She may not be mature enough yet, but given time, this belated beauty might even make Governor Ringo give way to her…”

"What's the point of saying all this..."

"What I'm trying to say is, of course, that I want to ask Admiral Nia." Admiral Ke Yuan looked at Nia, smiled, and extended his hand. "Do you really want to... just watch Admiral Lu Lin leave your side?"

“…” Nia was stunned.

"Admiral Lu Lin is like a gust of wind; she's almost gone from your side," Admiral Ke Yuan said with a smile. "In a few days... no, perhaps after tonight, Admiral Lu Lin will no longer belong solely to you. She might use this banquet, relying on her beautiful and innocent face, to squeeze into the garrison of some of the top ten admirals, or perhaps..."

"Shut up! I won't let her leave!" Nia's shoulders trembled, and she quickly shouted to interrupt Admiral Ke Yuan.

Upon hearing Nia's words, Ke Yuan's lips curled into a smile.

"So...do you need help?" Admiral Ke Yuan asked sincerely. "Consider it my apology for what happened last time, Admiral Lu Lin. I will help you win it back tonight."

"……what are you up to?"

"Hehehe... It's very simple. Besides the almost impossible way of getting Admiral Lu Lin back to your side, there's another way." Admiral Ke Yuan clenched his fist and smiled slightly at Nia, "...Just destroy all her places of refuge, wouldn't that solve everything?"

"No!" Nia's eyes widened, and she shouted immediately.

"Admiral Nia, I didn't mean to harm Admiral Lu Lin, but you must understand that Admiral Lu Lin isn't a powerful admiral. Her constant maneuvering within the world of the upper-ranking admirals is like a beautiful little bird being played with; she'll eventually suffer the consequences," Admiral Ke Yuan said regretfully. "So what I did was simply... to bring her safely back to your side, Admiral Nia. Admiral Nia, imagine this: when Admiral Lu Lin is ostracized by all the admirals, crying helplessly alone in that cold banquet, and you step forward to protect her at that crucial moment, bringing her home—what a wonderful future that would be for both of you! After this, Admiral Lu Lin will never leave your embrace again. She will belong to you forever, at your beck and call, at your mercy. If you were to abandon her, she would kneel on the ground, crying and begging you not to... Isn't that wonderful?"

"..." Nia stared blankly at Admiral Ke Yuan, her body swaying weakly.

“Commander, don’t listen to his sweet talk, he…” Veneto hurriedly called out to Nia.

"Commander, calm down... Don't listen to him!" Helena clutched her chest and quickly said to Nia.

Nia snapped out of her daze and looked at the ship girls in front of her, her blank stare gradually returning to normal.

but.

Nia, now back to normal, didn't glance at the ship girls again. Instead, she looked at Admiral Ke Yuan, who was smiling in the distance, and then at the glittering Central Building in the distance.

The Central Building resembles a sun in the night, radiating dazzling golden light.

Nia took two breaths into the night sky, and finally seemed to have made up her mind.

“…What do I…want to do?” Nia swallowed hard and asked Ke Yuan.

"commander--"

The ship girls turned pale and hurriedly grabbed Nia, calling out to her.

But when Admiral Ke Yuan saw this scene, his smile became exceptionally bright.