Shipgirls and Salted Fish Commander, Port Survival Guide

Pure white wings stand proudly behind, like an angel descended from heaven. Accompanied by beautiful and moving music, it makes people involuntarily immerse themselves in the scene.

While others marveled at the identity of this prodigy, Jing Su grinned, inwardly thinking, 'Is this the surprise you prepared for me? Vauquelan?'

Yes, the pristine white attire and ethereal aura almost made it difficult for Jing Su to reconcile her with the mischievous little girl from the previous boat. She exclaimed, 'Is this really the same person? The contrast in their demeanor is so striking! It's not just a pleasant surprise, it's a shock! Absolutely a shock!'

'However, I really enjoyed this performance!'

Jing Su always felt that she didn't know how to appreciate symphonic music; at most, she would say, "Hmm, it's very nice," and then nothing more.

Now I realize that it's not that I can't appreciate it, it just depends on who's performing it.

Jing Su could truly feel the emotion in the performance of her own ship girls.

'This girl is expressing her feelings. Is it longing? I have indeed disappeared for a long time, and I feel truly guilty. But why do I feel there's something else besides longing? It must be my imagination.'

When the music ended, Jing Su was the first to applaud, and then, as if it were a contagious disease, thunderous applause rang out throughout the entire venue.

Walkerland then turned and bowed to everyone—oh, no, actually to Jing Su. Jing Su returned the bow with a satisfied look, gave him a thumbs up, and mouthed, "A perfect performance! I really enjoyed it. I felt the sentiment you conveyed!"

At this point, Jing Su understood why Fu Xi had given her a half-face mask. Although the upper half of her face was not visible, she could still manage to say something using her lips.

"Eeya~ Commander, Commander, he said he understood my feelings! Eeya ahhh~ Hiss, wow, I'm so excited, so happy, but also a little shy. Commander, really, with so many people watching, saying this is so embarrassing."

Hmm, no, the Commander should know what he's saying, right? No, I have to ask.

Then Walkland mouthed a question to Jing Su.

Commander, have you truly received my feelings? Have you truly accepted them?

'Hmm? What is Vauquelin talking about? This mask only shows a bit of the lips. What, do I like it? Are you saying I like the music? Of course I like it! Even someone like me, who has almost no artistic talent, can listen to it with such enjoyment. It's clear Vauquelin put in a lot of effort.'

Jing Su nodded and said, "I know what I'm saying."

'Wow, it really is! Commander, waaaaaah, I, Commander, waaaaaah~'

Then, before Chen Baxian could say anything, Walkerland covered his face and ran away.

"..."

Walkerland's sudden departure left everyone present looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what had happened.

"Ah, cough cough, perhaps our commander is a little unaccustomed to such a large audience. Let's give our handsome little genius a warm round of applause!"

Walkerland's move has left Chen Baxian completely bewildered. The next step wasn't for him to reveal his identity and then, to everyone's astonishment, announce the start of the banquet, and then let everyone go about their business as they see fit, leaving him to his own devices. What's the meaning of him just running away like that?

"Hey, Uncle Chen, let's get to the point. I didn't come here to listen to music. What's the main event?"

As soon as the applause ended, some young people below shouted loudly.

"Yes, yes, Uncle Chen, let's get to the important parts! You know what I'm talking about, are you lying?"

According to Xie Xuan, those qualified to travel to the front lines on this cargo ship are all second-generation members of influential families, each with an inflated ego and a haughty air about them.

In normal circumstances, every family will have carefully cultivated talents to serve in various important positions. However, there are only so many positions, and the family resources are certainly not enough to squander. Therefore, when cultivating talents, large families will give resources to specific groups. If you are a talent, you will be given priority in cultivation. If you are not, you will be given a sum of money every day according to the family trust and go find a place to play, so as not to squander the family's resources.

In this situation, large families often produce a considerable number of spendthrift heirs. However, compared to ordinary people, these individuals are generally just richer, have lived a life of luxury since childhood, and have seen a lot of grand occasions. In essence, the upper echelons of society have little to do with these people. Apart from blood ties and so-called etiquette, these individuals are not much different from nouveau riche, except that they may have a higher level of knowledge and experience.

But being second-generation heirs, their status sets them apart. Many who are unwilling to simply drift through life will try every means to make a future for themselves. And coincidentally, the front lines and ship girls become their greatest hope for realizing their dreams.

The front lines are where the fighting is taking place, and that's the best place to gain merit. As for ship girls, it goes without saying that if you win the favor of just one ship girl, you'll rise from humble beginnings to great heights.

Therefore, even though all the major families have openly and secretly stated that the ship girls are impossible to manage, and countless predecessors have been thoroughly defeated, there are still a large number of second-generation descendants rushing to the front lines one after another.

Completely bewildered, Chen Baxian suddenly seemed to hear something. His expression turned serious, and he whispered something before shouting, "Everyone, calm down! I know what you're thinking. Now, I can tell you definitively, the Valkyries are hidden within the venue. Now, the ball begins! Music, start!"

Chapter 186 We Lost the Initiative

As soon as Chen Baxian uttered that word, the crowd in the hall scattered like birds and beasts.

To be precise, it was the second-generation players who went looking for ship girls based on their own feelings.

Since Chen Baxian said that the ship girls were hidden in the venue, he naturally wouldn't lie to them. First of all, there was no need for it. These people, to put it nicely, are second-generation rich kids, but to put it bluntly, they are marginal figures in their families. Secondly, Chen Baxian himself is a big shot, and these kinds of people care a lot about their reputation. There's no need to make such a joke about them.

"Oh, madam, even through the mask, I can still feel your unparalleled and captivating charm. I wonder if I may have the honor of inviting you to dance with me?"

"my pleasure."

Similar sounds echoed throughout the venue.

"So, you haven't actually seen the ship girls before, I mean, the ship girls outside of the posters, right?" Seeing the situation at the venue, Jing Su suddenly had an idea and asked Chen Tai.

Upon hearing Chen Baxian's words, this guy immediately looked around the venue, selecting his favorite target. In contrast, Xie Xuan was much calmer, simply picking up a glass of red wine from the patrolling guards and sipping it by himself.

This stark contrast made Jing Su realize that even if all of her ship girls were willing to expose themselves to the public eye, their numbers would still be limited. Moreover, a large number of ship girls were unwilling to let others come into contact with them.

There are definitely people willing to expose themselves. When Jing Su first arrived at the Royal Camp's base, she saw the company's posters hanging on the street. It has to be said that the company is indeed worthy of being called a corporate entity; even in a poster, one can still feel its heroic spirit.

Jing Su could understand the company's approach. By placing the key ship girls in the most prominent positions on the street, she would naturally seek them out if she ever returned and saw the company.

However, there are still a considerable number of ship girls who do not want others to see them. Their charm alone is enough to make them do so. Even if they repeatedly express that they have someone they like, there will still be countless so-called second-generation rich kids who will try to get close to them for various reasons.

If the leaders of each faction hadn't released a few of the more irritable ship girls into waters where they wouldn't have much contact with people, things would have escalated into a major incident long ago.

Due to various factors, even these second-generation ship girls rarely get to see any real ship girls. They can hardly see any photos of them, let alone the real ones. There are restrictions at the front lines, and taking photos is not allowed unless absolutely necessary. To be precise, the use of electronic devices is also prohibited.

The Sirens are masters of electronic warfare. If you violate the ban on using electronic products, you might get bombed by the Sirens from a distance. So, on the front lines, apart from the safe zones set up in the port area, the use of electronic products is strictly prohibited, not even radios. As for the ship girls, if they want to rest, they usually stay in their own small circles and rarely go to the activity areas of humans.

Therefore, aside from the ship girls that have been publicly revealed on the posters, the second generation of ship girls' knowledge is mostly based on hearsay. Those who have actually seen them can't take pictures, and those who haven't seen them can only guess based on existing images.

Of course, just seeing these things is enough to make one scratch their head; these are enterprises, after all, and even within the port area, they are absolutely impressive.

That patriotic and concerned expression (actually, longing for Jing Su), that resolute gaze, that graceful figure, and that terrifying combat power—combined together, would captivate not only men but even women.

Yes, in the general public, the male-to-female ratio of corporate fans has always been about 50/50, and there may even be more women than men.

"Hey, I haven't really seen them much. If you haven't seen them, you can guess. I'll guess ship girls, and I'll be right every time." Chen Tai smiled confidently.

"Oh, please begin your performance." Jing Su chuckled upon hearing this. You actually have this talent?

"Sir, listen to me! Although I've only ever seen ship girls on posters, I still know their most prominent characteristic—their aura!" Chen Tai said confidently. "The ship girls' appearance is secondary; the key is their aura, their aura. Sir, no matter which ship girl is older or younger, they all have a very special aura that makes them stand out even in a crowd."

This is a perfect example of standing out from the crowd.

“That’s interesting, continue.” Jing Su nodded, acknowledging Chen Tai’s explanation.

Indeed, the ship girls, regardless of the size of their bridges—oh, no, I mean regardless of their ship types—all possess a very distinct and peculiar quality. For example, Vanguard is a Royal Knight, and glory is her symbol, but in private, Vanguard is also a bit of a goofball, with a kind of heroic spirit that reveals a touch of silliness.

In short, avant-garde is the kind of style you can't forget once you see it; its characteristics are extremely distinctive.

"The second characteristic is naturally their appearance." Seeing Jing Su nod, Chen Tai was very happy. He had been keeping this theory in his heart for a long time and wanted to confide in someone. "I don't know how these ship girls grow up, what they eat to grow up, how they are all so beautiful. It's one thing to have a good temperament, but their figures and appearances are also superb. Really, after seeing the ship girls, those ordinary human beings can no longer be impressed."

Ah, I could have endured the darkness if I had never seen the light!

As he spoke, Chen Tai even put his hands behind his back and gazed into the distance, like an ancient sage, leaving Jing Su stunned.

What could Jing Su say? She could only give this guy a thumbs up.

Xie Xuan, standing to the side, silently drank heavily, not wanting anyone to know that he and Chen Tai were on the same side. It was too embarrassing. No, it wasn't just embarrassing. Chen Tai, do you know who you're talking to like that? How dare you?

'However, this marshal, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was surprisingly easy to talk to. But I've never heard of a new marshal in the Maritime Bureau, especially one so young. Even though the Dawn Port Area is involved, and the marshal's position is merely nominal, it's not so easily bestowed. Could it be...? That can't be!'

Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through Xie Xuan's mind. In an instant, the way he looked at Jing Su changed, and his whole body began to tremble. He reached out and tried to pull Chen Tai away. This guy seemed to have drunk a bit too much, and the alcohol was taking effect. He dragged Jing Su to become sworn brothers. Jing Su was looking at Chen Tai with an embarrassed expression.

"Hehe, is it so lively here? I wonder if I may have the honor of inviting this young man to dance with me?" Just as Jing Su was thinking of a way to escape, a lively and cheerful voice came, interrupting Chen Tai who was pushing and shoving.

Looking in the direction of the sound, the three had very different expressions. Jing Su looked relieved, Chen Tai was completely dumbfounded, and Xie Xuan stood there in a daze.

The speaker had long, pink hair and wore a black cat ear. The fluffy cat ear complemented her smooth, silky hair, adding a touch of allure. Although she wore a mask, her amber eyes sparkled, as if conveying her joy. The girl's graceful figure, accentuated by her black short skirt, stood out from the crowd, captivating all who saw her. On her feet were matching black stockings with suspenders, her long, slender legs hidden beneath the alluring black stockings. Combined with red and black high heels, the girl's charm was on full display.

For a moment, Chen Tai and Xie Xuan were both mesmerized, especially Chen Tai, who practically turned into a lecherous man, even spilling wine on himself in a moment of shock.

Chen Tai's embarrassment brought Jing Su back to her senses, and she replied with a smile, "I'm a terrible dancer, I might step on your foot."

"I can teach you." Chen Tai was excited when he heard Jing Su's words. He wanted to say that he could dance, whether it was waltz, ballet, or Latin dance, he was a master among masters. Chen Tai had just spoken to indicate that he could do it, but before he could say it, he was interrupted by the girl.

"In that case, it's hard to refuse such kindness." Since things have been said to this extent, if Jing Su hesitates any longer, it would be ungrateful and could even be considered hurtful.

However, the person in front of Jing Su was also a free-spirited person. If the procedure were followed, after Jing Su agreed, the girl would pretend to be shy, cover her face and blush, then extend her hand, and be led by Jing Su, swaying and dancing as she walked to the venue.

But the girl didn't give Jing Su that chance. As soon as Jing Su agreed, she grabbed his hand without saying a word and dragged him towards the venue.

"Phew, slow down~ Be careful not to fall." Jing Su suppressed the urge to exclaim, but still whispered.

"Hehe, don't be shy, Commander. Come on, let's dance to our hearts' content. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time." The girl's cheerful and light voice rang out.

"Haha, I'm so happy to dance with you, Galissonier. You looked beautiful tonight!" Jing Su's cheerful voice rang out.

Yes, the person who just pulled Jing Su over was La Gallisonière of the Vichy Vatican. The outfit she was wearing was actually a modified version of the Black Cat and Pumpkin Night collection. The dress was the same dress, and the black stockings were the same black stockings, but the overall look was more suitable for a banquet setting.

The original "Black Cat and Pumpkin Night" was more like a romantic little scene between two people in a mysterious room. It was nice to watch alone, but not quite appropriate to show it to the public. This version, however, is much better. It not only showcases Galissonier's captivating figure but also adds a lot of charm.

"How could this happen? Mingming, I'll go first..."

"You're drunk and looking for trouble, don't drag me down with you."

After Jing Su followed Galissonier into the venue, Chen Tai watched helplessly as the two stared at each other and circled around, feeling like crying. In his mind, he had just been the lecturer, explaining his views on ship girls to Jing Su, but in the blink of an eye, Jing Su was dragged away by someone who was clearly a great beauty.

Clearly, he—okay, Jing Su is indeed very handsome—but I'm clearly the one with more charisma. The world is going to the dogs these days!

"Brother Xie, what are you doing? What happened to me? I was just chatting and joking with some rich kid. My old man told me to take advantage of this banquet to make more friends with rich kids, and the one I saw earlier was just my type." Chen Tai grinned at Xie Xuan.

"Don't you want to listen to what you're saying? And how do you know... well, never mind, good luck. Here's a suggestion: either fawn over that person or stay far away. Pray that what you said didn't offend them, otherwise, even your father might not be able to save you."

Xie Xuan gently patted Chen Tai on the shoulder, shook his head, picked up a glass of red wine, and silently left.

"Hey, Brother Xie, don't go! What are you saying? Isn't that guy supposed to be easy to talk to? I've met all the active second-generation members of the big families in Kyoto, and he's not among them. No matter how big a family is outside of Kyoto, how big can it be? Is it as big as my Chen family? Even the biggest family has to give my second uncle face."

"But that girl I just saw, she had such a great figure and presence! When did such a stunning beauty appear in the second-generation rich kid circle? I've never heard of her before!"

Chen Tai muttered to himself.

"Wait! Something's wrong."

Suddenly, Chen Tai seemed to realize something, and his eyes widened instantly.

"She has an exceptional temperament and a top-notch figure. Even if you can't see her face, you can clearly feel that she is no ordinary person!? These characteristics, why, why are they so similar to what I was just arguing about?"

No way, that's impossible! What a coincidence!

No, it's not like those guys are all arrogant and proud, and they don't want to see anyone except their commanders.

Could it be that the rumor, that rumor, is true?

"What did I just do? What did I just do?!"

"Plop~"

Chen Tai suddenly knelt down on the ground, his face pale and his expression desperate, as if his back had become a black and white line.

......

"Hehe, it seems that our Vichy Church is still superior, Miss Avant-garde."

"That's because it was a gift from our royal faction to you."

In a corner of the banquet, a girl dressed as a butler was talking to another elegantly dressed, spirited young woman.

These two were Fuxi and Qianwei, who had just returned from touching up his makeup.

'Damn it, what happened while I was touching up my makeup? Did time fly by? It's already started? This banquet isn't following any schedule at all.' Watching Jing Su and Galissonier dancing gracefully in the hall, Qianwei was furious, especially with Vichy Papacy members watching!

"As expected of the proud royal camp, even in defeat, they still know how to find excuses for themselves." In terms of labels, Bok-hee is the caring older sister type, but that's only her attitude towards her own people. When facing people she doesn't like, Bok-hee's fighting power is undeniably strong.

When Warspite saw Galissonie before, although he was annoyed, he didn't take her seriously. She was just an energetic girl, how much of a threat could she pose? But after seeing Foch, he immediately became serious. In the entire dual-magic faction, Foch alone could definitely rank in the top three in terms of threat level. She was very strong in both appearance and aura.

Even if I were to step in, I wouldn't dare say I could handle such a being. Perhaps only someone of Belfast's caliber could possibly defeat him.

Well, Belfast just enjoys being a maid and is proud to be part of the Royal Maid Corps, but in reality, Belfast's combat strength is among the best, not only in the Royal Army but also in the entire port area. Of course, the strongest fighter in the Royal Army is Glorious, who has a strong identity, ability, and prestige. If either of these two were alive, things wouldn't be like this now.

But there's nothing we can do. After all, we're in someone else's venue now, and losing the initiative is a fact. No matter how angry we are, we can only watch helplessly and see if we can catch up later.

"This charming young lady, I wonder if she could..."

"roll!"

Chapter 187 Hands Touching Each Other

The venue was unusually quiet, with only melodious music and the dancers' movements audible.

However, as time went on, people began to notice something amiss.

To be precise, I was drawn to the pair of dancers in the middle of the venue.

What an amazing pair of dancers! Although they wear masks and their identities are unknown, their temperament, their graceful figures, and their irresistible charm are so captivating that once you see them, you can't take your eyes off them.