Chapter 45: The Poor Group Leader

Lin Lan originally planned to first go to Dongyun City, the final destination of the passenger ship he had taken. 

He intended to purchase the necessary living supplies there before heading to the port district. 

His port was in a remote area, far from Dongyun City, located on the outskirts where the rivers of the Eastern Continent spread out, leading to the sea through a branch that ran through Dongyun City.

If needed, he even considered checking in with the Naval Department in the city to get to know the superiors he would be working with in the future.

However, before he was even halfway to Dongyun City, Zeppelin's reconnaissance planes detected the appearance of Leviathan and a convoy from the Sky Gull Group being attacked. 

Lin Lan had heard that the Sky Gull Group, due to its business needs, had close ties with the Naval Department and frequently offered side jobs to port commanders.

So, after a brief discussion with Ulrich, he decided to help.

Building connections could be quite beneficial for future cooperation.

But what Lin Lan didn't expect was that there would be a "big shot" from the Sky Gull Group in this convoy.

"Excuse me… Are you the one who just helped us?"

Orlan Union's phones have a built-in feature that can detect nearby signals. Lin Lan wasn't surprised when the other party sent a communication request once he turned on his phone.

"Do you have any idea how much ammunition I wasted? How did your Sky Gull Group manage to provoke a Leviathan here?" 

Lin Lan didn't answer their question directly but instead started with a demand.

He wasn't particularly interested in the answer; he just wanted to gauge their attitude.

"...Sir, the Sky Gull Group will surely repay your life-saving kindness. We would like to thank you in person. Would you be willing to give us the honor?"

The other party's unexpectedly understanding response made Lin Lan very satisfied.

Dealing with smart people has this advantage—less talking is needed.

"Then make the necessary preparations. I don't want to see too many people."

With that, Lin Lan ended the call.

He had long learned through years of work that saying less is better than saying more.

Talking too much only makes you prone to mistakes.

"Hehe, servant, your tone was pretty intimidating. Not bad," said Deutschland with a grin after eavesdropping on Lin Lan's call.

"When dealing with strangers, you have to be like this. You never know what they're plotting."

After a moment of thought, Lin Lan asked Deutschland and Spee to wait while he returned to the transport ship.

The modest lounge inside the ship was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.

Aside from Z23 and Z46, two small destroyers who stood up from the sofa when he entered, there were three more Ironblood ship girls.

"Commander, how did the battle go? Do you need us to engage?"

The one who spoke was a spirited woman with silver hair and blue eyes, dressed in a white military uniform with a short skirt and a black and red short cape. 

She had a black naval sword hanging from her waist. She placed her coffee cup down and stepped forward.

Her figure was nothing short of perfect, and the combination of white suspenders and black thigh rings on her long legs would make it hard for any man to look away.

However, her face bore a serious and unsmiling expression, radiating an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

This was Mainz, a third-phase Ironblood research light cruiser and a staunch black coffee enthusiast.

(Mainz)

Historically, she was originally designed as the fourth ship of the Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers. 

But due to Ironblood's concessions to the Royal Navy, she was classified as a light cruiser because, despite having heavy cruiser armor and displacement, her main gun caliber didn't meet the heavy cruiser standards.

When Ironblood rose and saw the Royal Navy as an enemy, this compromise was no longer necessary. 

The Ironblood leadership decided to scrap Mainz's design and instead produce Weser and Tallinn.

Thus, poor Mainz was abandoned even before she came into existence.

It was only through a collaboration between the game developers and the Minsk Shipyard that she was given a chance to exist as a ship girl.

If no players invest time and effort into her, she would never have the chance to come into this world and experience its beauty.

"No need, Ulrich and the others have already taken care of it," Lin Lan said, looking at Mainz, who stood before him with a serious expression. 

Suddenly, he remembered something.

In the game, Mainz wore the same military uniform she was wearing now. 

Due to the artist's design choices, even though Mainz was a research ship with both strength and beauty, she never received even a single outfit change before Lin Lan was transported to this world. 

Because of this, the poor Mainz earned a (permanent) title among the player community: "Group Leader Without a Skin."

But now that Lin Lan had crossed over, he naturally intended to take that title away from her.

"Commander, would you like me to make you another cup of coffee?" 

Mainz asked as she picked up the empty cup Lin Lan had left on the table, a faint trace of disappointment crossing her face since she hadn't been needed in the battle.

Looking at this poor "group leader," Lin Lan made a silent decision. As soon as they arrived in Dongyun City, his top priority would be to buy her a new outfit.

However, on this journey, Lin Lan had already drunk several cups of the black coffee brewed by Mainz. 

Although the coffee she made was rich and flavorful, drinking it like water was starting to take its toll on him.

Just as Lin Lan was about to decline, a soft and lazy voice called out, "Mainz, please don't give our dear human too much coffee. Everything should be enjoyed in moderation."

Lin Lan turned to see a silver-haired girl lying lazily on a red sofa, propping up her chin with her hands. She was looking at him and Mainz with a graceful smile.

The girl was dressed in a white Ironblood military uniform and white knee-high boots, her tight-fitting attire accentuating her perfect curves. 

Her left eye was covered by a white rose eyepiece, and her right eye, a clear blue like a lake, shone with an exquisite beauty that made her seem almost otherworldly.

This was Emden, the second ship of the Dresden-class light cruisers, known as the Swan of the East.

Emden's every movement exuded an air of elegance and nobility, with a lock of white hair draped over the left side of her forehead, making her look like a celestial being descended to earth.

"Emden is right, I've already had several cups of coffee, so I need to take a break," Lin Lan said, giving Emden a grateful look and patting Mainz on the shoulder to comfort her.

He then turned to a silver-haired ship girl draped in a black cape, who was standing with her back to him and looking out the window. "Ägir, could you release a mass-produced destroyer for me?"

"…"

Ägir didn't want to respond to him.

"Um, Ägir, are you still mad?" Lin Lan asked helplessly, walking over to her side. 

Ägir, with her silver hair, golden eyes, and devilish horns, was wearing an Ironblood formal military uniform. She puffed out her cheeks in anger, clearly upset.

(Agir)

"Not every companion is as willing to change clothes as Emden," Emden said with a soft laugh, elegantly covering her mouth.

Lin Lan instantly understood what Emden meant. 

Emden originally wore a white dress-like gown, while Ägir's outfit was a tight, black bodysuit that exposed a lot of skin. 

This kind of attire was fine for life in the port district, Ironblood fortresses, or even for battles at sea, but it would cause problems if they went out in public. 

Walking down the street in such outfits would attract everyone's attention.

So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Lin Lan, at Bismarck's request, had both Emden and Ägir change into Ironblood's black and red military uniforms before they set out.

"You made me, the mighty God of the Abyss, wear such common clothes, and you dare ask if I'm still mad?" Ägir huffed, crossing her arms and continuing to stare out the window.

This was a tough situation. 

But since he was the one who upset her, Lin Lan knew he had to be the one to make it right. 

He racked his brain, drawing on his nearly nonexistent romantic experience and his memory of love game strategies, to think of a way to appease her.

Just then, Z23, the cute little destroyer, cautiously tugged at his sleeve. His first secretary ship, Nimi, pointed to her Ironblood uniform, then mimicked throwing it off and holding a bag.

After a moment of confusion, Lin Lan understood what Z23 meant.

When they get to the city, they wouldn't wear these uniforms—he'd buy her new clothes.

No wonder she's my first secretary ship! I get it!

"Ägir, since that maid outfit incident, I haven't bought you any new clothes, have I?" Lin Lan said with a smile.

The silver-haired, golden-eyed girl's body trembled slightly, and she looked over at him.

"I can't let you all keep wearing Ironblood uniforms forever. When we get to Dongyun City, I'll buy you several new outfits. You can choose whatever you like," Lin Lan promised.

This time, not only did Ägir turn around with a surprised look, but even Mainz, who had been pouring coffee beans into the machine, brightened up upon hearing Lin Lan's words. 

She was so distracted that she poured too many beans without noticing.

"Hehe, it's rare for you to be so considerate. In that case, I'll reluctantly keep wearing these clothes for a little while longer," Ägir finally smiled, flipping her cape dramatically as she headed outside the ship.

Lin Lan secretly gave Nimi a thumbs-up, and Nimi returned a cute smile.

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