When Lin Lan first saw Emden in the game, he was deeply captivated by their beauty and demeanor.
The fact that they could change appearances while being the same body was like having two wives with one ring.
So, what was there to say? He embraced the opportunity.
Now, faced with an invitation from a woman he had fallen for at first sight, Lin Lan had no reason to refuse.
He gracefully sat beside Emden, who, with a satisfied smile, leaned in and gently wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Emden, aren't you worried he might act as he did before, touching you all over?"
Seeing Lin Lan sit next to Emden, Zeppelin, leaning by the window and adjusting her long hair, teased, "Hehe, don't worry. Human dear is firmly under Emden's control now."
The black Emden was much more direct and forceful in her methods compared to the white Emden.
After speaking, the silver-haired, red-eyed girl caressed Lin Lan's neck and lay her body on his lap, looking up at him with a contented smile.
The mass-produced transport ships had started to set sail again.
"Human dear, weren't you always touching me and showing affection in front of others? Now Emden is right here in your arms, you know?"
Seeing Lin Lan's stiff expression, the black Emden seemed to find something amusing and laughed while resting her head on his lap.
Ägir also came over, sitting on the other side of Lin Lan, crossing her legs and leaning against him. She watched him with a golden-eyed gaze, whispering with a mischievous smile:
"You were always scheming to bother us by appointing five secretary ships at once in the game. We already know who you are."
That was from the game! There's no way I'd really act like that in front of others!
Surrounded by the two silver-haired ironclad ship girls, Lin Lan's mouth twitched as he internally complained. But when he looked up, he saw that everyone else was ignoring it.
Z23 even gave him a serious nod, then blushed and turned away. Lin Lan felt completely numb.
…
Even late at night, the core dock of Dongyun City was bustling.
Despite approaching midnight, the dock, crowded with cargo ships, passenger boats, and yachts from afar, continued its lively rhythm.
Beast-eared laborers from the Fire Continent were still working hard to earn more wages, unloading cargo from the corporate freighters.
Passengers carrying suitcases, either departing or returning, moved about continuously.
Aside from the coast guard personnel maintaining order and occasionally checking identities, numerous vendors were selling Dongyun City's local specialties.
However, some coast guard officers carrying submachine guns seemed to have their own unique "interpretations" of identity checks.
"Coast guard officer, I really don't have much money left. My mother is seriously ill and waiting for me in Yangtai City to see her one last time. My yacht docking fee has never been overdue. Please, I beg you…"
"Who cares about your problems? Either pay up or come with us to the maritime office. We suspect you have a record of violations and may be trying to flee the city."
By the public docking area, two fierce-looking coast guards stopped a suited man with a suitcase.
The surrounding passengers avoided these troublemaking guards, some showing angry expressions.
Typically, yachts docked in the public area were from honest Chinese families.
But now, with the rise of the Zhuhai Commercial Association, power departments like the coast guard were replaced with internal members of the consortium.
This led many who relied on the consortium for their positions to exploit residents for profit. It was common to see coast guards demanding bribes in public docking areas.
At this moment, a white yacht from the distant sea slowly approached the public docking area.
This mid-sized yacht, which had no Zhuhai Commercial Association insignia and seemed never to have docked here before, immediately caught the attention of the two coast guards.
"Hey, lucky for you, get out of here quickly."
The two guards let the unfortunate man go, exchanging sly smiles. They both had cunning expressions on their faces.
A big fish had arrived.
In the United Orlan Republic, wealthy and influential people typically have their own exclusive docking areas at the harbor.
Only those of ordinary status use the public docks and pay docking fees for their yachts.
To prevent criminals from escaping or smuggling, the coast guard in the public docking area is required to conduct identity checks on incoming vessels.
This regulation has also created a way for those with connections to the consortium to make money.
If you want to dock, you need to provide a complete set of clean records and then wait in line at the maritime office for information verification.
As for the wait time, due to high volume, don't expect to get through in less than ten days or more.
Food? The maritime office has it, but you need to pay. Drinks? They have those too, but again, you need to pay.
As for accommodation, once you're in the maritime office, don't expect to leave until your information is verified. You'll stay in the office's detention room.
Oh, and spending the night in the detention room also incurs a charge.
Therefore, to avoid being taken to the maritime office and going through this process, yacht owners often bribe the dock's coast guards to avoid these troubles.
This is also why, despite the low cost of yachts in the United Orlan Republic, many people prefer to crowd onto the Tengu Group's passenger ships.
"Attention everyone on the boat! Please prepare your identification and related documents for inspection immediately!"
"If you can't produce them, then come with us to the maritime office for a thorough check. Stop dawdling and come out quickly!"
The coast guards shouted through loudspeakers, drawing the attention of many around them.
"Hey, another poor soul has fallen victim to these bullies." "Hurry up and leave; watch out they don't take you to the maritime office too."
People at the dock were discussing the situation, with many eager to see how the yacht owner would handle the coast guards.
Most people were enjoying the spectacle, taking pleasure in the coast guards' predicament.
The yacht's hatch slowly opened, and a handsome young man in a white naval uniform, wearing an Orlan naval cap, stepped out.
"Naval… Navy?"
Upon seeing the young man's attire, the two previously arrogant coast guards gasped in surprise, their voices trembling.
The onlookers also fell silent, though many still held a sense of schadenfreude. However, their amusement now shifted to the two coast guard bullies.
The Navy is the only force in the United Orlan Republic that isn't afraid of the Zhuhai Commercial Association.
Due to the threat from Sirens, the Navy's role in fighting them is also seen as a prestigious and revered position by the common people.
Even though there are ongoing covert conflicts and rumors of key Navy figures dying under mysterious circumstances, the two sides have yet to openly clash.
Therefore, even a regular naval soldier is not someone these two lowly coast guards can afford to offend.
If the coast guards dared to take a naval officer to the maritime office for interrogation, the media outrage the next day would be enough to drown the maritime office.
Everyone watching hoped the young naval officer would teach the coast guards a lesson.
…
Fuming with anger, Lin Lan stood on the yacht's deck, glaring impatiently at the two coast guards on the dock.
In the year since his arrival, he had already learned the nature of these coast guards who had entered through the consortium connections.
Hearing the blatant threats from the dock just now, Lin Lan's anger flared up, even making him laugh with rage.
Even though he hadn't yet found his girls and couldn't deal with that consortium's young master, how could two petty coast guards disrespect him, a future naval commander of a naval port?
Suppressing his anger, Lin Lan looked coldly at the coast guards, a frigid smile on his face as he said:
"I just heard that you want to inspect me?"
"Do you think the Navy is giving you too much face?"
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