Chapter 57: Ägir, Did You Deliver It Yourself?
"Commander, Spee, you're back."
Ulrich, with her black short hair, was right at the door. She wore a black sweater and a coffee-colored pleated skirt that reached her knees, and she stared straight at Lin Lan.
With this outfit, Ulrich had a poised and intellectual demeanor that almost made Lin Lan not recognize her.
"Commander, you look very stylish in that outfit."
Ulrich looked Lin Lan up and down, and a hint of a smile appeared on her cold face.
Lin Lan blushed and was about to speak when a commanding woman's voice interrupted:
"I was thinking that if you didn't return, I would blow that city to ruins as the opening act of the final symphony."
In a black coat, short black skirt, and high black boots that matched perfectly, Zeppelin played with her loose white curls, still carrying a desire for world destruction in her tone.
Her towering chest, combined with her fashionable black attire, gave her an air of elegance and sensuality, akin to a glamorous movie star at the Oscars.
The queen-like visual impact made Lin Lan swallow nervously.
He awkwardly said to Zeppelin:
"I was planning to come and pick you up if everything went well, but yesterday…"
"Little Deutsche already told us everything. We're not blaming you, Commander~"
A lazy, sweet voice interrupted Lin Lan's explanation.
It was white-eyed Emden.
Emden had changed into a white spaghetti strap dress, a short skirt with a transparent white lace trim up to her thighs.
Still sprawled on the sofa, playing with her silver long hair, Emden smiled at Lin Lan.
Her pure and elegant demeanor resembled a graceful white swan.
"Cough, cough, cough... I need to step outside for some fresh air. Sorry, everyone."
Not wanting to linger in the reception room any longer, Lin Lan turned around, bypassing Spee, and strode out the door.
The shipgirls, who had once always worn iron-blooded military uniforms, were enough to make him mentally falter.
Wearing the clothes he bought yesterday, their impact on him had multiplied, making his face feel uncomfortably hot.
If he continued looking, he might really...
"Hey, Commander, what a coincidence you're out here getting some fresh air too."
As Lin Lan tried to calm himself by walking to the edge of the ship, he suddenly heard a cheerful female voice.
He looked toward the sound.
On the deck's edge, a tall girl with silver long hair dyed with red streaks, wearing a black short-sleeve T-shirt, black pleated skirt, and black stockings, was smiling at him with golden eyes.
It was Ägir.
Seeing the Commander's gaze on her, Ägir approached with a smile and casually moved closer to Lin Lan.
"Thanks for the new clothes. But as the goddess of the wasteland, though this outfit looks cute, it's still a bit lacking in dominance."
The devilishly attractive silver-haired girl teased, gently taking Lin Lan's hand.
Ägir was completely unaware of the dangerous edge she was walking on.
"Aren't we getting close to the new port area?"
Lin Lan took a deep breath, looking out at the blue ocean, trying to shift his focus and stay calm.
He remembered telling Ägir the port area's location last night. If all went well, they should arrive today.
"At this speed, we should reach our destination by this afternoon."
Ägir didn't notice Lin Lan's discomfort. She looked at his outfit, grinning as she teased:
"Commander, I didn't expect this outfit to look so good on you. It's quite nice to see you without your uniform."
Lin Lan struggled to control his desire, trying not to focus on Ägir.
"Commander, are you too shy to make eye contact with me? Hmm?"
Ägir wrapped her arms around Lin Lan's, not minding how close they were. Instead, she leaned in even closer.
The girl's provocative closeness finally drove Lin Lan to his limit.
Ägir, why do you have to add fuel to the fire?
I know you have this proud yet delicate personality. Since you're so eager to get close, you can't blame me for taking advantage of the situation.
Moreover, the pent-up frustration from yesterday had Lin Lan at his limit. If it continued, he'd surely end up sick!
Lin Lan finally made up his mind and took bold action.
He glanced at the silver-haired girl deliberately teasing him, then suddenly reached out and took her pale hands in his.
Noticing Ägir's body tense up slightly, Lin Lan took a deep breath, smiled, and looked directly into the demon-like gold eyes of the silver-haired girl.
"Ägir, don't put away my yacht yet. Come up with me."
"C-Commander, is there something you need to discuss privately? We can talk here…"
Ägir instinctively felt that something unpleasant might happen if she went up to the yacht with Lin Lan.
"You're the goddess of the wasteland. Aren't you brave enough to talk to me alone?"
Lin Lan feigned surprise.
"Fine, I'll go. I'm curious to hear what you have to say."
Ägir, provoked by Lin Lan, agreed but had a hint of red on her cheeks, sensing what might happen.
So they went up to the yacht. Once Ägir entered the cabin, Lin Lan locked the door behind them.
"Commander, you can say what you need to now."
Lin Lan looked at the silver-haired girl sitting on the spacious sofa with her golden eyes.
Her long legs in black stockings and a black skirt created a perfect curve as she sat down.
Ägir, naturally tall and fit, wore a mischievous smile as she looked directly at Lin Lan.
Lin Lan stepped in front of her and sat down.
Smelling the refreshing sea breeze-like scent from the girl, Lin Lan sighed inwardly. No wonder she was the goddess of the wasteland.
"C-Commander, what exactly… Huh?!!"
The silver-haired girl, still trying to act tough, couldn't look at Lin Lan.
Before she could finish her sentence, her mouth was silenced…
…
An hour later.
"Do you understand your mistake now?"
"What did I do wrong?"
…
Another hour passed.
When they returned to the transport ship at noon, both of them kept their heads down and avoided eye contact.
The other Iron Blood shipgirls, being no fools, naturally knew what had happened between Lin Lan and Ägir.
At lunch, Ulrich and Z23 kept serving Lin Lan sea cucumber and giant shrimp.
"Health is important, so eat up."
"Commander, even though... you still need to make up for it."
Lin Lan noticed the Iron Blood shipgirls around the table weren't showing any disdain. Instead, they were all looking at him with intense and thoughtful expressions.
He suddenly realized he might have set a very bad precedent.
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