Azur Lane Under the Stars

Page 449

Upon seeing Pennsylvania's return, a group of ship girls surrounded her, chattering excitedly.

"How is it? How is it? Is your little cutie back?"

"Why is nobody here?"

"Chief! Where is our little Eugen?"

Facing her chattering colleagues, Pennsylvania snapped, "What are you all up to? Are you rebelling?"

The scene fell silent instantly. A senior ship girl chuckled, "Isn't this just showing concern for Eugen? What? Did she go back to her dorm first?"

"Little Eugen isn't coming back; she's become a ship girl in someone else's port." Pennsylvania was a little depressed. What's so good about such a terrible port? Why do all the free ship girls go to the port and refuse to leave?

"What?!" A ship girl slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

"Little Eugen, little Eugen, how can I live without you?" A ship girl who had watched too many TV dramas started wailing again.

"Really? Today isn't April Fool's Day, you're not kidding."

“Really…” Pennsylvania said sullenly, “Otherwise, why do you think I came back alone? Little Eugen has recognized Commander Ren Shuo as his commander and won’t be coming back.”

"Damn it, there won't be any more cute girls to suck up to..." The group of ship girls seemed uninterested, and even didn't want to work, wanting to take a day off as a group.

"By the way, what about luggage? Did Little Eugen forget to take any daily necessities with him?"

As soon as one of the ship girls spoke, everyone turned to look at Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania said, "No, we don't need it. The port area has everything, and they even have a big Eugen taking care of it... They don't lack anything."

"Ahem, um, Chief, I remember I left the gas on in my dorm room... I'll head back now."

As soon as she finished speaking, a ship girl ran out.

"Nonsense! There's no gas stove in your room!" Pennsylvania was stunned.

Everyone suddenly realized: "I forgot to turn off the water!"

The water will be shut off during the day today due to pipe repairs!

My house is on fire!

Hey, how far is your dorm from here? If your place catches fire, we'll be watching the smoke from all over!

"I... I had my blanket confiscated because it's raining."

You're talking nonsense! It's perfectly sunny and clear outside!

"What did they all go to do?" Pennsylvania looked at the suddenly empty office with a blank expression and pulled someone aside to ask.

"If we're late, those perverts will take everything Little Eugen left behind! Don't hold me back, Chief! I have to go stop those perverts!"

Beneath her righteous facade lay a drooling, lewd expression. After breaking free of Pennsylvania, the girl stormed out the door.

Pennsylvania stood there for a moment, lost in thought, then suddenly realized what was happening and ran out as well.

"You bunch of bastards, leave me something!!"

If Ren Shuo were here, he might understand why Eugen wanted to take a small revenge on the director.

…………

After a fierce battle, Eugen's room was in a state of utter devastation, completely barren.

Looking at the empty room in front of her, Pennsylvania breathed a sigh of relief, but a warm smile appeared on her face.

Through her tireless efforts, even though she was the last to leave, she managed to snag the little pillow that Eugen loves to hug and drool over while sleeping...

Hmph, just as I thought! I'm going to hug you while I sleep from now on.

After settling her spoils, Pennsylvania strolled triumphantly through the Maritime Bureau's office area. Although there was still a lot of work to do, the thought of the treasures left behind by Eugen filled her with immense excitement and boundless energy.

Okay! Time to get back to work!

"Director! Here is an invitation from headquarters, requesting that you personally deliver it to Commander Ren Shuo's port area." The secretary handed Pennsylvania an envelope.

Pennsylvania instinctively took it and then replied with a "okay".

The next moment, he realized what was happening and immediately grabbed the clam again.

Where should I send it?! Should I deliver it myself?!

Pennsylvania felt as if she were receiving an invitation from the devil, not an envelope...

To retract my previous statement, I don't want to work anymore. Can I take my annual leave? I don't want to work anymore...

Pennsylvania was devastated; was this what they called being offered up again?

Chapter 503 Backstabbing a Good Friend

Ren Shuo was surprised when Pennsylvania came to visit again, but after explaining the purpose of their visit, he quickly handed over his work.

To Pennsylvania's relief, Ren Shuo did not persecute her, so this trip back to Ren Shuo Port was a close call.

"But it's really troublesome. Why do I have to go on another business trip as soon as my vacation ends?"

Ren Shuo sighed, feeling that even the black tea in his hand no longer smelled good.

"Why did the commander use 'again'? I don't remember the commander traveling that many times."

"Where are there not many? Look, in order to find you all, I've practically run all over the entire map, except for a few places I haven't been to," Ren Shuo shouted, protesting his innocence.

“Strictly speaking, this doesn’t count as a business trip, does it?” Yorktown said.

Ren Shuo said seriously, "If I say it's okay, then it's okay."

"Alright, whatever you say goes... But this time it's not far, just around the Royal Naval Academy." Yorktown looked at the invitation. "Why is it another exchange meeting with Ironblood?"

"Will there be a lot of interaction with Ironblood?" Tirpitz asked.

“I remember it happening almost every month or two. Last time, many of the gatherings were unnecessary small parties, so the Commander turned them all down. This time it seems to be some kind of school anniversary celebration, so the number of people invited has increased considerably,” Yorktown said.

"The Commander is a graduate of that place, isn't he?" Hood asked.

Ren Shuo was astonished: "No, how long have I been in that academy? And didn't the Queen Dean there say that I was just a figurehead and going through the motions?"

“But Commander, if you look at your own career record, it already bears the seal of the Royal Naval Academy. That’s an undeniable fact,” Hood said.

"Furthermore, Commander, your current port is unparalleled. Although you don't go out often, everyone in your circle has heard of your great name, so it wouldn't be appropriate for you not to go," Yorktown said.

“Alright, it’s not far anyway, let’s go. Queen Elizabeth has been quite kind to us before,” Ren Shuo said. “But who’s coming with me? You can bring two ship girls…”

"The competition has suddenly become extremely fierce?" Yorktown laughed.

"Yes, right? Commander, you really need to choose your candidates carefully, otherwise it could easily turn into a chaotic mess."

Chapaev rested his chin on his hand, looking on with amusement.

Seeing the way the secretaries were acting, Ren Shuo said irritably, "You guys are just looking for trouble."

Hu Deqi said, "Commander, we can't go as the secretary ship, but are we not allowed to watch the fun?"

“Exactly, exactly, Hood is right,” Tirpitz chimed in with a smile.

Zhenhai urged, "So tell me quickly, who is the commander planning to take?"

"This issue..." Ren Shuo pondered for a moment, "I think you should discuss it."

"Playing football is prohibited, but that's your decision."

Duke Abruzzi made an "X" with his arms in front of his chest, indicating that this time his secretariat only wanted to watch the show.

My wife looked left and right, then remained silent. She had originally wanted to volunteer, but now it seemed that if she dared to speak, her days in the office would be incredibly difficult, so she withdrew her head.

"Well, even if you say that..." Ren Shuo was also a little conflicted. Unlike other port areas, where there are very few people and everyone can take turns, his port area has so many people, plus him being a lazy bum who refuses to go out. If they take turns, it might take hundreds of years to get a turn.

This is so troublesome.

Ren Shuo was extremely distressed, even though he knew that if he told anyone about his distress, he would be chased and beaten up.

"Then let's draw lots, the simplest way," Ren Shuo said.

"Draw lots every time? Show some thought, please?" Hood rejected the idea.

"Then it's Yixian and Belfast!" Ren Shuo made the final decision.

When in doubt, these two are the best choices. They are both highly qualified, have made significant contributions, are efficient, and have good personalities.

There's nothing anyone else can say about it.

"I'm sorry, Master, Miss Yixian and I have other work to do these days~" the head maid immediately said. You can't only think of me and Yixian when there's trouble, can you? They have their own little tempers too.

Ren Shuo was stunned for a moment: "No, aren't you still on a month-long vacation right now?"

"So, work and all that has nothing to do with me," Belfast said with a smile.

"What about Yixian?"

“Yat-Sen has recently been in charge of teaching our royal ladies kitchen matters; she’s very busy, and it’s a very demanding task,” Belfast said earnestly.

Without even knowing it, Yi Xian found himself inexplicably in this job.

But Ren Shuo believed him and could only say dejectedly, "Okay, let me think about it some more..."

"Then please make a decision quickly, Commander. It'll be in a few days~" Hood continued to stir things up.

"Okay, drink your tea!" Ren Shuo glared at Hu De.

The secretaries watched Ren Shuo's troubled expression with great satisfaction. This was a little spice in their spare time, seeing their commander looking so distressed.

…………

"So, the equipment in your port area is really amazing."

Under the guidance of Exeter and the Duke of York, York had tried out all the equipment he could use during this time. He loved all of this equipment and even felt that he could easily defeat two or three of his former selves.

Moreover, the food and lodging in this port area are top-notch. Even the Governor's Mansion, when I went there on official business before, I felt that it couldn't compare to this port area.

After all, the Ironblood Governor's port was full of Ironblood ship girls, and only a few of them could cook, and not even the best ones. The food there was better than what you'd find in the Maritime Bureau, but comparisons are always better.

York even felt that he was starting to succumb to decadence. He had asked for leave to come over, relax, and spend time with Lützow, but now he felt like he didn't want to go back.

This feeling wasn't a delusion; York genuinely felt reluctant to return the equipment.

These past few days, Exeter and the others have been subtly hinting to themselves that if they stay, all of this is theirs.

And the cute little fox from the R&D department also said that these things are the simplest things in their port, and there are even more powerful things that the girls in the port can use.

This is practically an implication; every sentence is about how great the welfare benefits are in our port area...

Although it was shameful, York was somewhat tempted.

But she felt a little embarrassed that she had been dealt with in less than two weeks, and that the commander hadn't even made a move.

But if others knew what she was thinking, they would definitely pat York on the shoulder and say, "There's nothing shameful about it. Look at Ren Haitian, he was taken care of in just a few days."

You're way more shameful than me.

Some were even dragged into joining the port area without really understanding what was going on.

Two weeks is not a short time, and our port area's ship salvage techniques are unique.

A fake ship salvage operation: The commander works hard but may not succeed in the end, wasting a lot of manpower and resources for the enemy port.

The real ship salvage: the commander sits calmly, while the ship girls take action, using resources that are extremely limited for the port area to successfully lure the enemy.

"By the way, I heard the Commander is going out again? On a business trip?" the Duke of York said.

Exeter added, "Yeah, it seems to be an invitation meeting between Ironblood and Royal or something. I heard that your Ironblood Maritime Bureau is also sending people over."

York, who was trying out the new equipment, said, "Are we Ironbloods going to send people too? Maybe some of my friends will come too."

The Duke of York gave York a strange look: "Didn't you know? Emden and Seydlitz will be coming. Didn't you see the group chat?"

Upon hearing this, York felt a little embarrassed. He had been so engrossed in the high-tech equipment and the delicious food in the port area that he had completely forgotten about checking the group chat.

"Ahem, so perhaps after this event we'll have to..."

York was about to say "goodbye" when he felt a pang of sadness, knowing he was about to say goodbye to all this good equipment.

But the Duke of York said quietly, "I heard that Lützow was planning to surprise Seydlitz with his resignation, and then he stayed... Oh, what were you going to say?"

“…It’s nothing. I just said I wanted to wander around here after this event.” York changed his tune.

“Take a stroll…” The Duke of York gave York a deep look. “It’s good to take a stroll and learn more about the outside world.”