Elder brother's garrison

"Sigh..." Commander Lin sighed helplessly upon hearing this. He looked at Xiaobai and said, "It's not the Repair Pool that offended the Fire Blaze Mercenary Group, but our Pure White Wings Mercenary Group."

"Oh?" Little White smelled the melon.

Commander Lin glanced at the office door.

Outside the room, the sounds of the ship girls preparing could be heard one after another, indicating that it would take some more time.

Commander Lin then rested his elbows on the table and continued speaking to Xiaobai.

"This matter is rather complicated," Commander Lin said to Xiaobai. "Our Pure White Wings Mercenary Group used to be just an ordinary, decent ship girl mercenary group. But probably when we were in charge of the repair pool, some of our good reputation spread spontaneously among the ship girls, which led many moved civilian ship girls to voluntarily join us. As a result, our size has grown larger and larger, and now we have become one of the top mercenary groups, standing shoulder to shoulder with behemoths like the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group."

"So... the Li Huo Mercenary Group is afraid that you will threaten his position?" Xiao Bai asked rhetorically.

"Yes, in just two years, we have grown from an ordinary first-line mercenary group to a top-tier mercenary group." Leader Lin sighed. "What if we wait another two years? No one can underestimate the publicity effect of this free repair pool... By then, even the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group might not be able to oppose us."

"Sigh, the struggle for power..." Xiaobai sighed.

"Actually, our mercenary group poses no threat to them at all," Captain Lin said. "In the end, the only purpose of our Pure White Wings Mercenary Group is to manage this repair pool. After my daughter finishes her studies and becomes an admiral, our Pure White Wings Mercenary Group will join her naval base and become official military ship girls. As for the mess in the civilian ship girl community, we'll leave that to them."

"If that's the case, then they're going to target you too?"

"Because they don't believe it," Commander Lin shook his head.

“Okay.” Xiaobai changed her tune. “So how did the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group initially cause you trouble? I heard a rumor that the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group caused you trouble because you stole their ship girls. Was that reason just a lie?”

"It's not entirely made up," Commander Lin shook his head.

"So you really stole their ship girls?" Xiaobai's eyes showed some surprise.

"No, that's not it." Commander Lin continued to shake his head, spreading out one hand and slowly saying, "The reason the Li Huo Mercenary Group gave for stealing the ship girl... in the end, it's just a high-sounding excuse to target us. Of course, that excuse isn't entirely false. In fact, based on what I know, the Li Huo Mercenary Group once had a front-line battleship ship girl who came to Kyoto two years ago. Someone saw her address before she came into contact with the repair pool, and then she suddenly disappeared."

"disappeared?"

"Yes, this really has nothing to do with us." Commander Lin expressed his innocence. "Two years ago, the Pure White Wings hadn't even been established yet... We were still the Obsidian Mercenary Group. What did this have to do with us... But the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group doesn't care. Their leader believes that since the ship girl disappeared in Kyoto, it must be inextricably linked to us, especially since before her disappearance, many people saw her visiting the ship girl bar in Kyoto and the ship girl clinic before the repair pool was built... So the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group seems to have seized an opportunity and has been demanding an explanation from us."

"What's the explanation...?"

"Pay them money, and give them a replacement," Commander Lin said. "We not only have to give them a large sum of money, but we also have to give them an equally top-tier ship girl as compensation."

"Top-tier ship girls...?"

"They specifically asked for Hancock."

"Wow..." Xiaobai's brows immediately furrowed in disgust.

"Even I know this is absolutely impossible to agree to," Commander Lin said seriously. "Putting aside the environment of our mercenary group, the ship girls and the commander are just ordinary superiors and subordinates. We have no right to control the ship girls' wishes... In the end, this is just a reason for the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group to persecute us... The ship girls who went missing two years ago... If they were really worried about the ship girls, why did they wait two years to come looking for them? In fact, this is clearly just a random motive. If they don't have this reason, they can come up with another one. If I satisfy their unreasonable demands every time, taking one city today and ten cities tomorrow, this matter will never end."

“Indeed.” Xiaobai nodded. “If my ship girl went missing, I would definitely find her a long time ago, and I would never wait until two years later.”

"Your home?" Commander Lin looked at Xiaobai with a puzzled expression.

"Cough cough cough... Imagine it, imagine it..." Xiaobai coughed.

The silent smile of Changchun behind me.

"In short, I think I understand now. This whole thing was just the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group coming to cause trouble," Xiaobai said to Captain Lin. "It's all because of the battleship girl who went missing in Kyoto two years ago...they...they..."

As Xiaobai was talking, she suddenly seemed to realize something. She muttered the last two words thoughtfully and then fell silent.

"What's wrong?" Commander Lin asked Xiaobai with concern.

"..." Xiaobai pondered for a moment, then looked up at Commander Lin. "Commander Lin, I have a question for you."

"Hmm...what's the problem?"

"Did the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group give you information about the ship girl who went missing in Kyoto before?"

"Huh?" Commander Lin was taken aback. "If it was given... it was indeed given."

"Could I take a look at that document?"

"...It's not confidential information, feel free to look at it." Commander Lin casually rummaged through the documents on the table, quickly pulled out a folder, and handed it to Xiaobai. "This document was given to me a month ago, and I've kept it on my desk ever since."

Xiaobai accepted the folder and opened it.

Changchun and Chaoda huddled up to Xiaobai and looked into the folder.

I only glanced at it.

"Eh?!!" Changchun exclaimed, covering her mouth. "This, this isn't..."

"..." Kazuya's eyes widened, revealing a look of surprise.

Looking at the familiar names and faces on the data sheets in the folder, Xiaobai felt a sense of exhilaration, as if the cause and effect were all connected.

"I see, that's how it is... I finally understand, I understand everything."

Xiaobai reached out and touched the ship girl photos on the data sheet.

"Mutsu... So the mercenary group you and Shropshire used to belong to was the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group..." Xiaobai murmured to himself.

The ship girl in this table is none other than Mutsu, whom Shiro met in Kyoto two years ago!

Xiaobai clearly remembered that Mutsu had told her that after her beloved junior, Shropshire, suffered a major defeat, Mutsu became disillusioned with the mercenary group. In a fit of anger, she left the mercenary group and came to Kyoto, where she met Xiaobai.

Ah……

They were the ones who couldn't be kept, but now they're saying they're missing ship girls...

That's shameless.

Xiaobai tapped her finger on the data form and clipped down Mutsu's photo.

Considering the Fire Mercenary Group's actions today, and speculating a little maliciously... the reason for the massive defeat and attack in Shrop County back then... might have some deeper meaning.

Shiro put Mutsu's photo into her ship equipment space.

Commander Lin was somewhat bewildered by Xiao Bai's actions.

"Miss, what's wrong with you...?" Commander Lin asked blankly.

"Commander Lin," Xiaobai answered crisply. She put down the folder in her hand and gave Commander Lin a refreshing smile. "I have completely figured these things out. From now on, leave this matter to me."

Chapter 3427 This is fire!

"Huh?" Commander Lin looked at Xiaobai, his mouth agape in confusion. Then, as if realizing something ominous, he quickly stood up and said nervously, "What do you mean? Miss Ship Girl, don't do something foolish! The target of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group is ultimately our Pure White Wings Mercenary Group. The three of you are just one of their excuses. Even if the three of you personally go up to apologize and even accept punishment, they will never let us go!"

"Commander Lin, please don't worry, I'm not stupid." Xiao Bai shook his head.

"..." Commander Lin looked at Xiaobai and slowly sat back down. "So, what are you planning to do..."

"As the saying goes, professional matters should be left to professionals." Xiaobai shook her head. She didn't intend to explain anything to Commander Lin. She simply released the Admiral Network slowly, influencing his emotions while saying to Commander Lin, "Commander Lin, the three of us won't stay here with you. You can continue with what you need to do tonight. But rest assured, I won't let Miss Yueyue's mercenary group get into any trouble."

After saying that, Xiaobai smiled slightly at Commander Lin, then turned and led Changchun and Chaoda towards the office door.

Commander Lin instinctively reached out to call out to Xiao Bai and the other two.

But for some reason, even though Xiaobai's back view was still so petite and delicate, it filled Commander Lin with a strong sense of security.

It was as if someone kept whispering in Commander Lin's ear, "Leave it to her, she'll handle everything."

what……

Why do I have this... strong urge to believe them...?

While Commander Lin hesitated, Xiao Bai and the other two had already left the office.

The office door closed again.

Commander Lin sat back down, scratching his head in bewilderment.

The strong sense of security I felt seemed like it wouldn't dissipate anytime soon.

He didn't chase after her out the door, but instead turned his head to look at the scenery outside the window, lost in thought.

After a while.

Commander Lin suddenly exclaimed "Ah!"

Commander Lin lowered his hand, a faint look of doubt appearing in his eyes.

"...Speaking of which, did I...tell them my daughter's name before?"

The sound was faint and elusive.

Finally, it dissipated into the night sky.

……

After leaving the office, Xiaobai and the other two returned to the main hall of Pure White Wings.

The once peaceful lobby of the building is now completely occupied by the tense and anxious figures of the ship girls.

One by one, the ship girls quickly dressed and ran out of their dormitories with tense expressions. More and more figures appeared in the lobby on the first floor, gradually becoming a dark mass.

The ship girls tied white handkerchiefs around the bodies of their companions.

"Sisters, today is the most solemn occasion. We have received news that the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group will launch its final assault on us within twenty-four hours." A ship girl who looks like the captain stood at the front of the hall, addressing the ship girls with a serious expression. "As the Pure White Wings mercenary group, we yearn for peace, but that doesn't mean we must be bullied! Our enemies have repeatedly crossed our bottom line, and we will no longer tolerate this! Sisters, look at the handkerchiefs on your arms! They represent our beliefs. Pure white represents our justice, our dreams, and our determination! In the past, our constant forbearance only led to greater violations. From now on, the Pure White Wings mercenary group will risk everything! Fight! We will let everyone in this circle know the power of the Pure White Wings!"

"The power of pure white wings!"

“Ohhhhhhh!!!”

"..."

Below the hall, the ship girls, lined up in neat rows, raised their arms with handkerchiefs tied around them, filled with righteous indignation and united in their hatred of the enemy.

The sound was so loud that the entire building seemed to tremble.

Xiaobai stood on the railing on the rooftop, looking down at the ship girls giving speeches, and had a clear view of the ship girls below the stage.

really……

Xiaobai recognized many familiar faces among these ship girls.

Those were the ship girls that Xiaobai saw following Lin Yueyue when she last met her.

Xiao Bai withdrew her hand and walked down the stairs.

Xiaobai, who was going downstairs, soon saw Hancock hurrying upstairs.

The two groups stood facing each other in the stairwell.

Although Hancock's steps were swift and sharp, her expression remained cold and calm. As she looked at the three of them standing on the higher stairs, Hancock spoke.

"Where are you going?"

"Miss Hancock, thank you for your help today." Xiaobai smiled slightly at Hancock. "I won't cause you any more trouble from now on."

"..." Hancock looked at Little White, seemingly lost in thought.

Xiao Bai led Changchun and Chaoda down the stairs, passing by Hancock.

Changchun bowed slightly to Hancock.

Chao Yamato's gaze lingered on Hancock for a few more seconds.

Hancock stood motionless on the stairs.

After a while, Hancock suddenly turned around and quickly caught up with Xiaobai and the other two.

She didn't call out to Xiaobai, but silently followed behind him, as quiet as a tail.

"Hancock, what are you doing following us?" Little White slowed down and looked back at Hancock.

“You need to find the Fire Mercenary Group,” Hancock said.

"I never said that."

"This afternoon, you had someone ask about the location of the Fire Mercenary Group's base," Hancock said, staring at Xiaobai.

"..." Xiaobai looked at Hancock helplessly.

So... people with keen intuition are really quite scary.

"So... are you going to stop us?" Xiaobai asked back.

“No,” Hancock shook his head. “I’ll go with you.”

"...?" Xiaobai was surprised. "Huh?"

"I'm partly to blame for how things have turned out this way," Hancock said coldly. "If you're going, I'll go too."

"Hancock, we're not going there to apologize."

“I know you’re looking for trouble,” Hancock nodded. “The people here won’t let you leave, but if I’m here, they’ll think I’m taking you out for refuge, and they won’t stop you… Besides, if you take me with you, I know their exact location, which will save you time.”

"……"noob.