Chapter 73: The Delightful Breakfast Feeding

Before Lin Lan could react, he felt a warm, soft sensation on his lips.

Feeling the warm breath of the usually aloof Ulrich on his face, Lin Lan's attempt to explain was silenced by the kiss.

After a brief kiss, Ulrich quickly withdrew, sitting back at the edge of the bed.

As Lin Lan looked at Ulrich, still savoring the moment, he heard a series of footsteps coming from outside the door.

Within seconds, the door to the hospital room swung open, and a number of familiar faces rushed in.

"Commander! You're finally awake!"

Leading the charge was a small girl with dark blue eyes, wearing a black and red cap and sports outfit, who excitedly reached Lin Lan's bedside.

"U101, slow down; don't scare the commander! Ah, Commander, long time no see. Your loyal underwater knight U556 reporting for duty!"

Following her was U556, a blue-haired girl with twin tails, who also had a cheerful smile on her face as she saluted Lin Lan.

"Hmph, I wonder which 'underwater knight' was seen crying like a baby when the commander was in trouble."

A girl dressed in a black and white Iron Blood military-style outfit, with silver hair and colorful eyes, approached Lin Lan's bed with a teasing grin.

Looking at the energetic U556, she couldn't help but tease.

"Elbe, you're no better. I clearly remember you crying with a tear-streaked face while being dragged back by Sister Zeppelin."

U556's words made Elbe's mischievous smile freeze on her face. She awkwardly huffed, then turned to Lin Lan with a smiling expression and proudly declared:

"Commander, you're a troublesome kid with a headache. I, Elbe, am back by your side, and now I'm going to make sure you get plenty of headaches. Prepare yourself!"

Lin Lan looked at the smiling girl in front of him and tried to suppress his laughter.

This Elbe appeared to be a mischievous little devil, always playing the role of a troublemaker.

But in reality, she was a sharp-tongued yet kind-hearted girl who sought more attention by being scolded.

"Step aside, Commander hasn't eaten for three days. Let him have breakfast first."

Nimi's voice came from outside the door, and two adorable little girls walked in carrying a bountiful breakfast.

It was Z23 and Z46.

The smell of cheese, milk, jam, bread, and ham made Lin Lan's stomach grumble again.

My dear Nimi, you've finally arrived.

Elbe quickly joined U556 and U101 in helping to set the breakfast on the folding table beside the bed.

The hearty Iron Blood breakfast made Lin Lan's eyes widen. He tried to sit up but found he was still unable to move.

After Nimi adjusted the head of the bed, Lin Lan was finally able to sit up.

However, he suddenly remembered an important question.

He would definitely need someone to feed him breakfast. Who would that person be?

It seemed that this question had already been settled among the little girls on their way here.

Each of them picked up a different item of food, looking at Lin Lan with smiling faces.

"Seriously, just one person could have helped me. This is quite a spectacle..."

Lin Lan looked at the five cute girls, each holding a breakfast item and gazing at him eagerly. He swallowed nervously.

He also noticed the shocked expressions of the nurses passing by in the hallway.

This didn't seem right.

His face turned a bit embarrassed.

"Click."

Ulrich thoughtfully closed the door to the room, then leaned against the doorframe with a gentle smile, looking at Lin Lan:

"Alright, Commander, please enjoy your breakfast. Don't let everyone's good intentions go to waste."

Ah...

Lin Lan was stunned.

"Nice job, Ulrich!"

Elbe and the two submarine girls cheered for Ulrich in unison.

Even the usually serious Nimi and the quiet Z46 gave Ulrich a thumbs up.

"Hmph, Commander, open your mouth and enjoy the breakfast that Iron Blood prepared for you~"

Looking at Elbe's mischievous smile as she extended the cheese, her beautifully colored rainbow eyes were filled with anticipation.

Unable to move, Lin Lan could only smile wryly and let the group of Iron Blood girls take turns feeding him delicious food.

Since he couldn't refuse, he had no choice but to enjoy it.

After savoring the delicious Iron Blood food, Lin Lan finally felt a sense of vitality return to his body.

With the deep hunger finally satisfied, he felt that being alive was truly wonderful for the first time.

Elbe, U556, and U101, who were by the bedside, watched Lin Lan with happy faces, occasionally reaching out to gently touch his cheeks and smile foolishly.

After searching for Lin Lan for so long, they were finally back with their beloved commander, overflowing with happiness.

"By the way, there should be others in the fleet that went to the Eagle Union base, right? What about Brunhilde and the scheming... Akashi?"

Lin Lan, now feeling his strength returning, asked U101, who had taken off her hat, with her dark blue hair cascading over her shoulders.

"Brunhilde and the others are currently working on the reconstruction of the Commander's new port area," U101 replied cheerfully.

Little U556 also looked at Lin Lan happily and added:

"When the Commander gets home, he'll be in for a big surprise, hehe."

Well, you've already started major construction, huh?

Thinking of the imposing Iron Blood fortress, Lin Lan suddenly felt a bit uneasy and quickly asked:

"What have you done to the port area? You haven't turned it into another Iron Blood fortress, have you?"

Hearing this, Elbe, sitting on Lin Lan's right side, let out a giggle, brushing the ends of her silky silver hair and leaning closer to him.

She seemed completely unconcerned about her prominent chest being fully visible to Lin Lan.

The beautiful light carrier girl with silver hair and rainbow-colored eyes, wearing a provocative smile, looked confidently at the seemingly immobile Lin Lan and said:

"Worried about your port area, Commander? I suppose I could tell you if you really want to know~"

As Elbe continued to tease her immobile commander, she didn't notice the slight smile curving at the corner of Lin Lan's mouth.

Nor the arm slowly emerging from under the covers.

Lin Lan had regained quite a bit of strength.

When he found that he could now move his hand, he immediately lifted it and gently grasped the cheek of the cheeky girl in front of him.

"Eek!"

Elbe was caught off guard as Lin Lan lightly pinched her cute little face with one hand, freezing in place.

The once provocative smile on her face also turned to a look of shock.

"Little Elbe, you now have a chance to rephrase what you just said."

"I didn't quite catch what you said earlier. Could you please repeat it to your esteemed commander?"

With a kind smile, Lin Lan looked at the mischievous girl who dared to tease him.

He felt the soft and plump touch of her cheek under his fingers and spoke teasingly to the silver-haired girl whose face he was pinching.

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