Chapter 61: Rumors at the Dock

Lin Lan's yacht sailed upstream along a wide river, and along the way, he noticed many ordinary people living their daily lives. 

Most of them watched the yacht cautiously, while many fishermen only dared to fish along the riverbanks, avoiding the center of the river.

This scene was unlike what one would expect from a technologically advanced alternate world. Instead, it reminded Lin Lan of the remote rural areas he had visited back on Blue Star.

"Without a port area commander to clear out the nearby Sirens, the residents here have fallen into such a miserable state," Lin Lan thought as he observed the cautious residents dismantling old ruins and fishing along the banks.

Because the county was so far from the core city, communication was often controlled by the Zhu Hai Commercial Association within the inner district of the county. 

The signal towers were usually located in the inner district, so people living in the outer district of the county had to rely on information passed down from the inner district to learn about what was happening in other parts of Orlan.

After all, very few people, like Lin Lan, would take the trouble to clear out Sirens along the way and visit these remote counties.

In a world without satellite networks, such a situation wasn't surprising.

When Lin Lan first arrived in this world, he read in books that before the Siren disaster, the United States of Orlan had achieved full network coverage even in the counties.

However, after most cities were destroyed by the Sirens and the Zhu Hai Commercial Association took power, the primary means of spreading information was taken over by the association and controlled by them.

Only those living in cities and the inner districts of counties could continue to live in an information-rich environment.

As for those in the outer districts, they gradually became disconnected from the times.

Lin Lan understood one thing from this:

The Zhu Hai Commercial Association wanted a stable Orlan, not a prosperous one.

And monopolizing information was undoubtedly the best way to control the common people.

Speaking of Orlan, the reason it once prospered was its advanced technology and strong navy, which enabled it to trade with other countries.

However, Orlan also had its own rival.

The Natlan Empire, located across the ocean to the south of the United States of Orlan, was its arch-enemy.

In many ways, the United States of Orlan was the country most similar to and normal from Lin Lan's perspective, who had come from Blue Star.

Other countries, on the other hand, were entirely unfamiliar, strange alternate world nations to him.

An hour passed quickly, and more fishing boats began appearing along the banks, along with some proper buildings finally showing up on the shore.

"Commander, we're almost there," Z23 said, looking ahead at the docks where many ships were anchored.

Straightening his military hat and uniform, Lin Lan stood up from the sofa.

"Commander, I won't be going into the county with you. I'll stay here and deploy my carrier-based aircraft. If you need air support, you can call me anytime using the short-range communicator," Weser said to Lin Lan as she stood up.

As a carrier, she was naturally more skilled at controlling the entire battlefield from the rear and providing air support.

Lin Lan nodded, agreeing with Weser's plan.

The short-haired, confident young woman with red hair smiled slightly, and this fourth sister of the Hipper class leaped into the river, deploying her rigging.

The river leading to Lihu County was wide, and since there were no people in the center of the river or on the opposite bank, Weser could deploy her rigging without drawing attention.

"Wow, that sister is so cool! And so is the dragon!" Riko exclaimed in amazement, her eyes wide as she watched Weser deploy her rigging.

"Riko, can you find your way home from here?" Lin Lan asked with a smile as he looked at the little cat-eared girl.

"Yes, yes! I come to this dock often, but those bad people who caught me are here too..." Riko replied with some worry.

Hearing this, Lin Lan chuckled, "Don't worry, I'd like to see who dares to come after you today right in front of me."

As a naval commander, Lin Lan didn't believe anyone would have the nerve to cause trouble in his presence.

Not to mention, commanders were revered protectors in their port areas, and no ordinary person would dare to offend them.

Moreover, the ship girls following a commander were far from harmless.

Encouraged by Lin Lan's support, Riko smiled happily, "The commander really is a good person!"

Before long, the yacht slowly docked, and Lin Lan, along with his ship girls, disembarked, keeping Riko in the middle of their group.

There were dozens of Lihu County residents on the dock, dressed in clothes that were noticeably more worn than those of the people in Dongyun City.

When they saw Riko walking behind Lin Lan, who was wearing a white naval uniform, they all stared in shock.

"It's the source of the Siren disaster! But why is she with the commander?"

"Look at those beautiful girls—they must be ship girls!"

"Definitely! That man must be the commander, but I hope he doesn't leave after just a few days like the others..."

The residents of Lihu County whispered among themselves, while Lin Lan confidently walked through the crowd with Riko.

Even though many of them had heard rumors, their lingering trust in commanders and fear of the ship girls' power kept them from causing any trouble.

"Fellow residents of Lihu County, I am the newly appointed port area commander," Lin Lan announced loudly as more and more people gathered.

With his declaration, the surrounding crowd fell silent, turning their attention to him.

"I know the commanders who came before didn't stay long, leaving you to live in constant fear of Siren attacks."

"But today, I want to prove to you that I have the power to protect you."

After speaking, Lin Lan turned to Mainz and said, "Have Weser send a group of carrier-based aircraft to fly low over us."

The efficiency of the Iron Blood ship girls was remarkable.

Within seconds of Mainz relaying the order, seven or eight roaring Iron Blood aircraft broke through the clouds, appearing directly overhead.

"They're carrier-based aircraft! That means there's a carrier ship girl!"

"Fantastic! We finally have a carrier ship girl! We don't have to worry about those damned Sirens attacking us anymore!"

"Finally! We can fish in the middle of the river again, and safely clear and rebuild those ruined buildings along the shore!"

The crowd at the dock erupted in cheers as they gazed up at the aircraft soaring in the sky.

Some of the older people even knelt down, crying tears of joy.

To these ordinary people, the arrival of a carrier meant the Sirens would no longer be able to easily invade the county, which brought a sense of safety.

Only those who had lived in constant fear could truly understand the value of a safe life.

More and more residents of Lihu County arrived as they saw the carrier-based aircraft, shouting joyfully as they learned that a new commander and ship girls had arrived.

Soon, a crowd of hundreds gathered around, their eyes filled with respect and excitement as they looked at Lin Lan and his group.

At that moment, Lin Lan called Riko to the front and lifted her up in his hands.

"Huh? What?" The cute little cat-eared girl looked confused as she was suddenly lifted, becoming the center of everyone's attention.

"Isn't that Old Li's child who was taken away?" "Why is the naval commander holding the source of the Siren disaster?"

"Doesn't he know that people from Liaozhou attract Siren attacks?" 

"How could that be? He's a commander who fights against the Sirens. I've always said those Liaozhou people must be innocent."

Seeing Lin Lan's actions, the surrounding people were puzzled and began to murmur among themselves.

"My fellow citizens, I think you've all misunderstood something," Lin Lan said as he glanced around at the crowd. 

Once they quieted down, he paused and then spoke loudly and clearly:

"The Liaozhou people have never been the source of the Siren disaster. They are, and always have been, a part of Orlan, just like us."

The crowd was stunned for a moment before a young man in his early twenties gathered the courage to speak up:

"But, Commander, the officials in the inner district have always said that the Liaozhou people bring the Siren attacks..."

"That's pure nonsense! I was just in Dongyun City yesterday, and there were Liaozhou people all over the place! Nowhere else in the United States of Orlan do people believe such things!" 

Lin Lan's tone was firm and unwavering.

"Someone here is clearly trying to sow discord between the people of Orlan and Liaozhou! I will personally go to the inner district today, find out who is behind this, and give everyone an explanation!"

Hearing Lin Lan's confident words, the crowd was completely taken aback.

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Only now did the residents of Lihu County's outer district realize that they had likely been manipulated.

After all, their only source of information was the inner district of the county.

Previously, without a port area commander, they had been left in fear and frustration due to the Siren attacks.

When the rumors started spreading, they instinctively blamed the Liaozhou people as scapegoats to vent their anger.

Now, with a legitimate naval commander publicly debunking the rumors, the falsehoods were quickly dispelled.

"We've been so foolish these past few days..."

The residents of Lihu County finally woke up, reflecting on the unjust treatment they had inflicted on the innocent Liaozhou people.

"This is not the time for remorse. Tell me where the Liaozhou people have been taken. You should apologize to them properly, not just stand here in a daze!" 

Lin Lan knew he had gained control of the situation, and that his words would soon spread to other parts of the outer district.

The urgent task at hand was to free the Liaozhou people who had been taken and detained.

"Commander, those people have been taken to..."

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a building not far away in the outer district of Lihu County, a strong man in a yellow vest was lying on the edge of the roof.

In his hands was a large-caliber sniper rifle.

And through the sniper scope, he was aiming at...

The innocent, black-haired, cat-eared girl—Riko—who was being held up by Lin Lan.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... To keep everyone safe from Siren attacks... the source of the Siren disaster must die..."

"It doesn't matter if it's the commander or the ship girls... In the end, they'll leave us. We still have to protect ourselves..."

The man's finger on the trigger trembled slightly, his face contorted with the pain of a guilty conscience.

He kept muttering these words to himself as if trying to ease his own guilt.

Finally, his expression became resolute, and he made up his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly squeezed the trigger.

"Bang!"

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