Elder brother's garrison

Page 1174

At this point, Nagato scratched his head.

“…I’ll start from the beginning then.” Nagato pondered for a moment and said to Missouri, “At four o’clock yesterday morning, I led the ship girls of the naval base through this waterway in order to reach the target city.”

“Yes.” Missouri nodded.

The time that Nagato chose was exactly the time when Luo Lian speculated that the ship girls at the Nanxing Naval Base had encountered an accident.

"As we passed through this area, our fleet of ship girls quickly sensed the presence of a deep-sea amphibious vessel—well, since it wasn't safe waters, detecting the deep-sea amphibious vessel didn't surprise us too much," Nagato said. "So I led the ship girls, following the normal procedure, first conducting reconnaissance and preparing to annihilate them—"

"Did something happen?" Missouri asked.

"No, the search results came back as expected," Nagato said. "It's a large deep-sea fleet."

“A huge number…” Missouri nodded, looking thoughtfully at the mountains of wreckage from deep-sea ships piled up on the surrounding sea.

“Well… because this area is too close to human cities, such a large number of Abyssal Fleet ships could easily threaten the surrounding cities if left unattended. So I led my companions to launch an annihilation operation against this group of Abyssal Fleet ships that appeared on the water.” Nagato said, a troubled and puzzled look on his face. “Then… probably after that, the unexpected happened.”

"What kind of accident was it?"

“Initially, during our search, we didn’t detect the Abyssal Commander or any of the Abyssal escort ships—we genuinely didn’t detect them. Even for us, this was the first time we’d made such a major oversight in our search,” Nagato said. “But just as we were clearing out the surrounding Abyssal fleet, a massive vortex black hole suddenly appeared on the surface of the sea. That vortex black hole was truly enormous—larger than the one we’d encountered before, covering an entire area…”

As Nagato finished speaking, she looked around and pointed to the mountains of deep-sea debris piled up around her.

"Look, don't these deep-sea debris surrounding the area create a large circular area of ​​sea in the middle?"

“Indeed.” Missouri nodded.

“Actually, this circular area in the middle wasn’t formed by deep-sea debris,” Nagato said to Missouri, “but rather by being hollowed out by that super-sized vortex black hole.”

"Huh? It's so big?!" Little White, who was clinging to Missouri's back, exclaimed in surprise.

Nagato looked at Shiro with a look of shame on his face.

“Indeed… I am deeply ashamed,” Nagato said in a low voice. “The enemy’s methods were far beyond my expectations. I had not made any preparations for these actions, so we barely had time to react before we were engulfed by the supermassive vortex black hole…”

"And then what happened?" Xiaobai asked curiously. "Were you hurt?"

"We weren't injured... The vortex black hole connected to another strange tunnel. It was very large and wide, surrounded by black and white colors, and filled with huge deep-sea frigates. The orange-haired deep-sea dean who had just emerged from the sea had been waiting for us inside for a long time," Nagato said. "As soon as we were sucked in, the vortex black hole disappeared, and the orange-haired deep-sea dean shouted that we had been captured and could never go back."

Xiaobai listened blankly to Nagato's words.

"Have the seniors considered contacting their admirals?" Missouri inquired.

“That strange tunnel was filled with an unsettling black current, and cell phones had no signal inside,” Nagato explained.

“What happened in the tunnel?” Missouri continued to ask.

"After entering the tunnel, we took advantage of its relatively easy-to-defend terrain and kept fighting the enemy from a corner," Nagato said. "The Orange Abyss Director said we were already trapped. She didn't want to sacrifice too many Abyssal ships, so she didn't increase the pressure of the attack. Instead, she squeezed us into a corner of the tunnel and kept bombarding us with firepower, engaging in firefights with us, and constantly depleting our resources, waiting for the moment when we ran out of resources and were unable to resist."

“…We had actually given up, and we were only barely holding on by our last breath.” Nagato sighed. “But just when our resources were almost depleted and we were about to surrender, coincidentally, the vortex black hole behind us suddenly reappeared. Although this vortex black hole was much smaller than the previous one, it was at least enough for us all to retreat—and then what happened next was just like what happened.”

Nagato said with some shame.

—After that, the ship girls of Nanxing Naval Base escaped the black hole, but with their resources almost exhausted, they could not put up a strong resistance. Under the bombardment of the serious Abyssal Ryujo, even with their best efforts, they could not escape being bombed to pieces.

Chapter 1503 Welcome to Hell

Nagato has finished speaking.

Missouri and Shiro exchanged a glance after hearing Nagato's words.

—It seems that Nagato is unaware that the vortex black hole that released them was actually created by Shiro unintentionally.

But that’s fine.

Anyway, Xiaobai doesn't know how to explain this to Nagato.

“Perhaps… that vortex black hole that swallowed you all had a time limit.” Missouri smiled at Nagato. “Thanks to you all for your determination to fight and buy time, even when you were in dire straits, you managed to delay until the black hole expired and you gained a chance to leave that place. Your willpower is truly admirable.”

Missouri wasn't exaggerating.

After all, if Nagato and the others hadn't persisted, by the time Shiro and the others arrived and opened the vortex black hole, they would probably have been dragged to the bottom of the sea by the deep-sea ships and wouldn't have been able to come out.

“But speaking of which, that vortex black hole… didn’t Akagi-senpai mention that she encountered it before?” Missouri asked Shiro.

"Eh? You encountered your companions too?" Nagato exclaimed in surprise, somewhat flustered. "Then where are your companions now..."

"Ah, please rest assured, the enemy that came to harass us has already retreated, and Akagi-senpai and the others are safe and sound," Missouri said to Nagato with a smile.

"..." Nagato looked at Missouri awkwardly and shrank back.

“It seems that the vortex black hole must be the special power of the Deep Sea Fleet this time.” Xiaobai pondered and said to Missouri, “If that’s the case, it also explains what Akagi told us before about the Deep Sea Amphibious Ships being able to teleport instantly.”

“Nagato-senpai.” Missouri looked at Nagato.

"I'm here!" Nagato replied quickly.

"Thank you so much, Senior Nagato, for the information you selflessly provided. Knowing about the enemy's abilities has been extremely helpful to us," Missouri said sincerely.

"Uh...no, you're welcome...it's my pleasure." Nagato said in a low voice with an embarrassed look, his eyes unconsciously glancing at Missouri's shoulder.

The Deep Sea Dragon on Missouri's shoulder had actually caught Nagato's attention for a long time, but Nagato hadn't had time to ask about it until now.

"Speaking of which... excuse me, who is this person on your shoulder...?"

“She’s one of Missouri’s ship girl seniors.” Missouri lied without even writing a draft, her expression completely unfazed.

"Uh... is he also your companion?"

"Exactly."

“It feels subtly familiar…” Nagato looked at Ryujou with a strange expression.

Since Abyssal Ryujo was always perched on the giant ship-mounted creature, she naturally didn't have the chance to face the ship girls of the South Star Naval Base. Nagato and the ship girls of the South Star Naval Base had a vague impression of Abyssal Ryujo as "the Abyssal Dean with orange-glowing antelope horns." So when Nagato looked at Abyssal Ryujo perched on Missouri's shoulder, she couldn't recognize her for a moment as the arrogant Abyssal Dean who had just attacked her.

Nagato looked at the Deep Sea Ryujo, who was lying quietly unconscious on Missouri's shoulder, with a puzzled expression.

—Hmm, speaking of which, this ship girl feels subtly similar to the previous Deepsea Dean.

Nagato carefully examined the head of the Deepsea Ryujo, but did not see any conspicuous orange antelope horns. She then carefully sensed the aura emanating from the Deepsea Ryujo and discovered that it was exactly the same as Shiro, belonging to a mysterious state that was neither like a ship girl nor like a deep-sea creature.

Eh?

Could this one be the same type of ship as that one?

Nagato shrugged, remembering how Xiaobai had just dominated the sky, and immediately dared not offend Deep Sea Dragon again. She quickly lowered her head.

“Miss Nanxing has been waiting for you in the city you’re heading to for a long time. Seniors, please hurry up and set off to find her.” Missouri smiled at Nagato.

"Uh... okay, okay!" Upon hearing the name Nanxing, Nagato's eyes softened, and she gratefully looked up at Missouri. "Anyway, thank you all very much for your help this time. Please allow us to properly entertain and thank you when we return..."

"Ah, we're not going the same way as Nagato-senpai," Missouri said with a smile to Nagato.

"Huh?" Nagato was taken aback. "Not on the way?"

"Yes."

"I... our destinations aren't all..."

"As for Missouri, we'll actually have to set off a little later." Missouri smiled at Nagato. "After the abyssal debris disintegrates, a large amount of abyssal metal will fall. Also, after the recent battle, Missouri doesn't know if there are any abyssal ships that have escaped. So, in order to patrol the surrounding waters, Missouri will have to set off a little later."

"Ah, I see!" Nagato's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically. "Since it's for the sake of the surrounding cities, then please be sure to help us..."

"Missouri still suggests that you leave as soon as possible, Nagato-senpai."

"Uh?"

“Miss Nanxing probably won’t feel at ease unless she sees you with her own eyes,” Missouri said with a smile.

"..." Nagato lowered his hand, a slightly embarrassed smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but he didn't insist any further. "...Thank you."

"You're welcome," Missouri said with a smile. "Then shall we meet again?"

"Yes, definitely!" Nagato nodded, his eyes filled with excitement and gratitude.

Nagato bowed three times at a 90-degree angle to everyone, expressing her gratitude repeatedly, before finally turning around and running towards her ship girl squad, which she had almost fully repaired.

After waking up the ship girls and explaining the situation to them, the ship girls from Nanxing Naval Base expressed their gratitude to Xiaobai and the others before leaving the sea and rushing towards the city where Ella was located.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the ship girls from Nanxing Naval Base disappear on the other side of the horizon.

"Phew—I hope they get back safely," Xiaobai whispered.

“Nagato-senpai seems to be a very reliable ship girl. With this experience, I believe the same traps will no longer be effective against them.” Missouri said to Shiro, raising an eyebrow and revealing an apologetic smile. “However, speaking of which… Admiral, Missouri has been speaking on your behalf without permission, which has offended your authority. Please punish me, Admiral.”

"There's no offense involved..." Xiaobai waved his hand dismissively and smiled at Missouri, "I wasn't in a position to speak just now... Besides, Missouri, what you said is exactly what I wanted to say, so I should thank you."

“After all, here, besides the Admiral, you’re the most important person, Missouri,” Iowa said, covering her mouth and laughing at Missouri. “Who told you to be the married ship?”

"Sister Iowa is making fun of Missouri again." Missouri gave a wry smile. "Senior Changchun was also the Admiral's marriage ship."

"Ah, I, I can't do it! I can't handle this kind of conversation..." Changchun quickly waved his hand, blushing as he said, "Missouri, it's best if you come!"

"..." Saratoga looked unhappy with her little mouth pouting, her head above the empty green dog bowl.

Missouri's recent decision was indeed the outcome Xiaobai had hoped for.

After all, Shiro is still in disguise and can't act with Nagato and the others. If she were to be exposed and they found out that the admiral of the rookie naval base is a land-based ship girl, the consequences would be unimaginable.

In addition, Missouri is carrying the Deep Sea Dragon on her shoulder. It's alright that the Deep Sea Dragon is unconscious and quiet right now, but once she wakes up, it's not appropriate for Nagato and the others to stay by her side until Shiro convinces the Deep Sea Dragon.

Having Missouri persuade Nagato and the others to leave first was indeed a reassuring ending for Shiro.

"Anyway, let's clean up this battlefield first, and then we'll go back by land," Xiaobai said to the ship girls.

“Yes, Admiral—well, but about Missouri mentioning patrolling the surrounding waters…” Wisconsin asked curiously.

"Ah, no need. Actually, there aren't any deep-sea amphibious ships around here." Xiaobai smiled.

Xiaobai's admiral network has expanded to cover this vast sea area, and she knows very well that not a single deep-sea ship secretly escaped during the battle just now.

Since Xiaobai said so, the ship girls naturally had no doubts.

On the sea surface, a large amount of deep-sea debris has not yet been separated, and they are floating one after another.

Although Xiaobai didn't receive any substantial rewards from Nanxing during this operation to save the Nanxing Naval Base, he still managed to make a small profit from the large amount of deep-sea frigate-level metal he obtained from cleaning up the battlefield. It was definitely not a loss.

-

Deep Sea Dragon felt as if it were floating in the endless void with the wind.

I don’t know how long it took.

It felt like a day.

It felt like a year.

The surrounding light began to dim.

"Gulu gulu gulu——"

A strange pulling force caused the deep-sea dragon to slowly fall from the void.

An unusual heaviness came from my limbs, and a strange emptiness enveloped my lower abdomen.

Deep Sea Dragon's eyelashes trembled, and then it slowly opened its eyes.

She was lying on a soft but cold bed, surrounded by darkness, with only a few candles casting a dim glow that illuminated an area of ​​about a fist's width.

"Uh... this, where am I..." Deep Sea Dragon forced herself to sit up in bed, her body heavy. She gasped for breath, clutching her stomach, looking completely bewildered. "Eh... what happened..."

Deep Sea Dragon felt incredibly weak.

The power belonging to the deep sea seemed to have been completely stripped away. Let alone fighting, even the simple act of sitting up in bed—and even breathing felt extremely tiring.

"Hello—is anyone there?"

Deep Sea Dragon raised the last breath from its chest and shouted to the surroundings.

The sound vanished completely upon encountering the surrounding darkness.

After a while.

The few candles burning around the room flickered in the darkness for a moment.

"Medical IIsan Erling has a wonder————"

A mature, charming woman's voice drifted softly from the other side of the darkness.

"Where is this place?"

Deep Sea Dragon clutched its chest, looked around fearfully, and shouted towards the darkness beyond.

"..."

A silence.

"Hello? Are you there?" Deep Sea Dragon asked cautiously again, "Answer me..."