Elder brother's garrison

"..." Nia took two steps back after being scolded, her face pale and her breathing labored.

"If I hadn't discovered it in time and seen through your trick, if Admiral Lu Lin had really kept wearing that necklace, she would have been in grave danger tonight!" Ke Yuan stepped forward and angrily rebuked, "Admiral Nia, you are caught red-handed in front of everyone! The top ten admirals are also watching you! Do you know what crime you have committed!"

Nia swayed violently, her mouth wide open, gasping for breath.

"No...no...that's not how it is...I..."

"Hey! You bastard, try yelling at my commander again!" Below the stage, Nia's ship girls were blocked by the other admirals' ship girls. They clenched their fists, their eyes flashing with anger, and while desperately trying to break free from the other ship girls' obstruction, they shouted angrily at Ke Yuan.

The admirals and ship girls below the stage looked at Nia on the stage with a variety of expressions.

There was anger, confusion, regret, and heartache...

Hundreds, even thousands of gazes, like sharp swords, pierced Nia's chest.

Nia's eyes were wide open, tears streaming down her face. She covered her mouth and shook her head in front of everyone.

Seeing Nia's expression, Admiral Ke Yuan smiled.

Just a little bit more...

Just a tiny bit more...

"Surrender now!" Ke Yuan took another step forward and shouted angrily.

Nia instinctively took a step back, staggering as she went.

Ke Yuan smiled as he watched Nia's figure slowly fall.

Then, the next second, Ke Yuan's smile vanished.

Because a figure caught Nia before she collapsed.

Xiao Bai took Nia's arm and gently pressed her head into his chest, patting her back as if caressing a frightened little bird.

"Admiral Ke Yuan, it's not right to bully a girl like this." Xiao Bai raised her head and looked at Ke Yuan calmly.

"...Sorry, it seems I was a bit hasty." Ke Yuan smiled apologetically at Xiao Bai, then returned to his original spot and continued, "However, Admiral Lu Lin... I must remind you, the person in your arms may have been your friend, but now she's plotting to kill you. You'd better not sympathize with a criminal suspected of murder..."

"Is that so?" Xiaobai asked.

"Hehehe, Admiral Lu Lin, don't tell me you didn't even notice what just happened?" Ke Yuan laughed.

"...Hmm?" Xiaobai laughed too. "Admiral Ke Yuan...I saw everything that just happened. Your performance...I can only give you three points. It was really a bit ridiculous. It wasn't as realistic as the two times you fell on the beach that day."

"Admiral Lu Lin, what do you mean by this?" Ke Yuan's smile vanished.

“Nia didn’t hurt me.” Xiaobai hugged Nia and said to Ke Yuan, “We’re back together.”

"Heh, you think you can just make up like that?"

“We’re back together now, just now…” Xiaobai said, hugging Nia. “When Nia and I went to the guest room, we had a heart-to-heart talk and were completely honest with each other. Then we cleared up our grudges and prejudices and made up. Isn’t that right? Look at the necklace around my neck. It’s a gift from Nia that made up with me.”

"Hehehe... Well, no matter what, the necklace was a gift from Admiral Nia, right?"

"That's true."

"The witnesses and physical evidence are all there..."

"What physical evidence?" Xiaobai asked again.

"The physical evidence is, of course, the necklace sealed with deep-sea metal," Ke Yuan said.

"Report to the Admiral! I'm done dismantling it!" Just then, Elizabeth, who was dismantling the diamond necklace while lying on the side of the platform, shouted. Then, blushing, she returned to the group with a small box full of diamonds in her arms.

"Elizabeth, have you found the deep-sea metal?" Admiral Haoding asked hurriedly.

“Yes, I found it!” Elizabeth nodded and reached into the jewel box.

Admiral Ke Yuan looked at Elizabeth and laughed.

However, the next second, Admiral Ke Yuan's smile froze.

“However, I did find it, but this deep-sea metal is a piece of deep-sea metal that has exhausted its energy.” Elizabeth took out a dark metal block from the gem box, held it up, and said to everyone, “So there is no deep-sea aura on it, it’s just an ordinary, harmless metal block!”

"—What!" Ke Yuan's eyes widened in horror.

“That’s right, it’s just an ordinary metal block. The deep-sea energy inside has been completely extracted, so it won’t harm the human body.” Elizabeth explained to everyone with a frown. “I knew it! With my sensitive senses, how could I not detect the presence of the deep-sea energy!”

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze shifted to Xiaobai.

“As I said, this is a gift to reconcile,” Xiaobai said to everyone. “So, is it strange that Nia would put a piece of deep-sea metal in the necklace to commemorate the safety of our friendship?”

"...It doesn't seem strange." The admirals looked at each other.

Deep-sea metal products that have undergone safety treatment are already quite popular, and even admirals often enjoy playing with these little trinkets.

"So, Admiral Nia didn't harm Admiral Lu Lin?"

"Is Admiral Ke Yuan perhaps possessed...?"

Whispers rippled through the audience.

"So, the whole thing about Nia wanting to harm me was completely fabricated." On stage, Xiaobai hugged Nia, stroked her head, and said to Ke Yuan, "But Admiral Ke Yuan... you have to compensate me with a necklace, you know that?"

Admiral Ke Yuan's face turned ashen.

its not right……

its not right……

That deep-sea metal, I clearly put it in there myself... how could this be...?

“I…” Admiral Ke Yuan’s forehead was covered in sweat.

He doesn't understand.

Why did his plan fall apart in such a strange place? He had clearly considered all the blind spots in the plan, he had clearly...

Ke Yuan's hands trembled involuntarily.

Xiao Bai smiled at Admiral Ke Yuan.

"Admiral Ke Yuan," Xiao Bai called out.

"W-what is it?!" Admiral Ke Yuan exclaimed in surprise.

"You've finished telling your story, haven't you?" Xiaobai smiled and released Nia. "Then... it's my turn, okay?"

Chapter 2844 Little White's Turn

"Is it Admiral Lu Lin's turn? What does Admiral Lu Lin mean by that..."

"Didn't Admiral Lu Lin already state that Admiral Nia did not harm her and that it was all a misunderstanding?"

"Huh? Is this melon still not finished?"

As Ke Yuan stood on the stage, staring blankly and stunned, the admirals watching below began to discuss among themselves, raising a series of questions.

Tonight's banquets seem to be coming one after another...

"Admiral Lu Lin, here is your diamond!" On the stage, Elizabeth came to Xiao Bai and handed her a small box full of loose gemstones with an apologetic expression. She said to Xiao Bai, "I am very sorry for taking apart such a beautiful necklace of yours, Admiral Lu Lin. Um... I don't know if this can make up for my mistake, but I will replace the necklace for you as soon as possible."

“It’s alright, Elizabeth.” Xiaobai shook her head. She didn’t even glance at the gems in the small box. She just smiled faintly at Elizabeth. “If you hadn’t removed this necklace, Nia wouldn’t have been able to clear her name. So the person who should compensate for this necklace isn’t you, it should be Admiral Ke Yuan.”

While laughing, Xiaobai secretly winked at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth paused for a moment, then suddenly understood.

“That’s true!” Elizabeth nodded heavily to Xiaobai, then turned to Ke Yuan, whose forehead was sweating. “Admiral Ke Yuan, you should have seen it just now. This necklace is not a murder weapon at all. It was a gift from Admiral Nia to Admiral Lu Lin. Putting aside the value of the necklace itself, it is also a testament to their friendship! Now, such a wonderful gift has been destroyed in public by your subjective framing, forcing me to destroy it to prove Admiral Nia’s innocence. Now, as you wished, the truth has come out. Shouldn’t you also take responsibility?”

"..." Ke Yuan looked at the aggressive Elizabeth and felt an immense pressure as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

This wasn't a gift from Admiral Nia to Admiral Lu Lin at all; it was clearly a murder weapon he had prepared himself. Although he didn't know how the deep-sea metal inside the necklace had malfunctioned, these two women were actually going along with his line of thinking and demanding compensation—

Admiral Ke Yuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but he also knew that he could not tell the truth now.

In the eyes of the top ten admirals and the admirals below the stage, this necklace was a gift from Nia to Lu Lin.

"...I...I understand..." Admiral Ke Yuan gritted his teeth, lowered his head, his shoulders trembling, and slowly said in a suppressed voice, "It seems that today...I misjudged Admiral Nia. This necklace...I will be responsible for compensation until Admiral Lu Lin is satisfied..."

"Is compensation all there is to it?" Elizabeth said, holding the jewel box. "As a man, you have slandered an innocent lady. Where is your due apology?"

Upon hearing Elizabeth's words, Ke Yuan trembled violently, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Ke Yuan raised his head, staring at Xiao Bai with bloodshot eyes.

Ke Yuan's gaze was truly frightening, so much so that Elizabeth subconsciously frowned and subtly protected Xiaobai and Nia.

Xiao Bai met Ke Yuan's gaze calmly.

"...Admiral Nia, I'm so...sorry." Ke Yuan opened his mouth with difficulty, his eyes glaring fiercely, as if his eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets. "Today...I have offended you greatly, not only causing you two admirals a bad mood and making the top ten admirals worry, but also making my colleagues laugh at me...I will realize my mistakes in the future..."

"Admiral Lu Lin, are you satisfied with this?" Elizabeth looked at Xiao Bai. "I feel that Admiral Ke Yuan doesn't seem to be sincere."

"It's alright, this is enough." Xiaobai smiled at Elizabeth. "Let's put this matter behind us."

"Hmph..." Elizabeth looked back in Ke Yuan's direction, drawing out her words, "Did you hear that? Since Admiral Lu Lin is so magnanimous and has forgiven your offense this time, then let's leave it at that. Hurry up and thank Admiral Lu Lin!"

"...Admiral Lu Lin, thank you." Admiral Ke Yuan almost ground his back teeth to powder.

"Phew." Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Xiaobai and smiled. "Admiral Lu Lin, tonight was really a false alarm."

“…Yes.” Little White said to Elizabeth with a smile, “Oh, by the way, Miss Elizabeth, could you do me a favor?”

"As you command."

"Take care of Nia for me, she seemed really frightened just now." Little White pushed Nia towards Elizabeth.

“I understand, sigh… Admiral Nia did nothing wrong, yet she was falsely accused of murdering her friend and forced to endure public condemnation. Such psychological trauma won't heal overnight.” Elizabeth looked at Nia with heartache. She gently stepped forward, hugged Nia, and patted her back lightly, mimicking Xiaobai's earlier actions, saying to Xiaobai, “Admiral Lu Lin, you can rest assured and entrust Admiral Nia to me. I will take good care of her.”

"I can rest assured that."

Xiao Bai smiled and nodded, then glanced in Ke Yuan's direction.

At this moment, Ke Yuan was walking step by step off the stage with his back turned, his hands clenched tightly, as if he were carrying some deep-seated hatred.

Xiao Bai first patted the dust off her dress, then silently took a step toward Ke Yuan and took a deep breath.

"Admiral Ke Yuan, don't rush off."

Xiao Bai said in Ke Yuan's direction.

Xiao Bai's voice wasn't loud, nor was his tone sharp, but it inexplicably possessed a strange penetrating power, directly spreading into the minds of everyone present, causing the admirals who had been discussing among themselves to suddenly shut their mouths.

Ke Yuan, who had almost reached the bottom of the stage, stopped. He slowly turned around and stared at Xiao Bai with anger in his eyes.

"...Admiral Lu Lin, what are you up to now!" Ke Yuan asked through gritted teeth.

"Admiral Ke Yuan, why are you saying such things? Wasn't it you who was doing all along?" Xiao Bai asked Ke Yuan suspiciously. "You were the one who suddenly called me and Nia out, you were the one who slandered Nia as a murderer, and you were the one who pressured the top ten admirals to severely punish the criminals. So who are you trying to impress with this victim act now?"

"...You yourself have said that this matter is over!" Admiral Ke Yuan roared, like an enraged lion. "I apologized! I said I would compensate you!! I lost face in front of everyone! What else are you dissatisfied with!!! Do you expect me to kneel on the ground and kowtow to you all!!!"

"No need for kowtowing, I have no complaints anyway." Xiaobai pursed her lips and said with a smile, "It's just a coincidence that I wanted to tell everyone something today, and it happens to be related to you. It's rare that we're both on stage, so... why don't you just wait until I finish what I'm saying before you go down?"

"...?" Ke Yuan was stunned by Xiao Bai's angry gaze.

For some reason, looking at Xiaobai's calm and smiling face, Ke Yuan felt a strange sense of panic.

This is a fear that things have completely spiraled out of one's control and are heading towards a seemingly irreversible situation.

Ke Yuan's breathing began to become erratic.

"Admiral Lu Lin, do you also have something to say?" Admiral Hao Ding on the stage asked Xiao Bai curiously.

“Yes, may I say?” Xiaobai looked up at Admiral Haoding and asked, “This may not be a pleasant thing.”

"Admiral Lu Lin, please speak freely." Admiral Hao Ding gazed intently at Xiao Bai and nodded.

Compared to when he previously allowed Ke Yuan to speak in public, Admiral Haoding's attitude towards Xiaobai was noticeably more lenient.

"...Then, I also want to report." Xiaobai closed her eyes, paused for a moment, and raised her palm. "I want to report Admiral Ke Yuan for forming cliques, engaging in favoritism, coercing and bribing ordinary admirals, attempting to harm his colleagues, and...acting arrogantly in Chapter 8, seriously hindering the Holy Construction Day activities, and attempting to use despicable methods not recognized by the Admiral Guild to engage in malicious competition for special ship girls!"

A series of words came out of Xiaobai's mouth.

The hall fell silent instantly.

The onlookers fell silent, and the ten admirals on the stage blinked.

Everyone was looking at Xiaobai, who was raising his arms high.

The silence lasted for a few seconds.

Finally, the atmosphere was broken with a cold "heh heh".

Standing at the edge of the platform, Ke Yuan forced a cold smile and spoke to Xiao Bai.

"I thought you kept me here to discuss something special, but I didn't expect it to be a report of this level?"