Elder brother's garrison

Page 1650

"After all, you're just as smart as Missouri."

"Although it's nice to be praised by the Admiral, it's a bit strange that as the older sister, I'm being described as just as intelligent as my younger sister," Iowa said, stroking her ample chest with a hint of disappointment.

“Iowa, that’s not what I meant…” Xiaobai quickly waved his hand.

“Missouri must be just as smart as Iowa, right?” Missouri said with a smile from the other side.

“…Yes, yes!” Xiaobai nodded quickly.

"Hmm, I see." Iowa's face changed like a Peking Opera mask, instantly brightening from gloom to sunshine, filled with a contented smile.

Seeing Iowa smile again, Xiaobai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

I always feel like... I'm completely under Iowa's thumb.

……

Xiaobai and the ship girls stayed on the gravel beach for a while longer. As afternoon approached, the patrolling ship girl team finally brought Xiaobai news of the expedition team.

Summoning Saratoga and Constellation, who were playing at sea, and Wisconsin and New Jersey, who were building sand sculptures nearby, Xiaobai led the ship girls toward the entrance to the shore. Before long, under Xiaobai's gaze, a dozen researchers carrying bulging suitcases arrived at the pebble beach, surrounded by the ship girls.

Upon arriving at the scree beach, the expedition team, without even putting down their packs, excitedly waved to Xiaobai.

"Greetings, Commander!"

The expedition team shouted excitedly.

"Hello." Xiaobai led the ship girls up, first waving to the members of the inspection team, then looking curiously at the luggage in their hands, "What are these things you're carrying...?"

"Reporting, sir! It's a communication instrument! It's placed on the shore," a researcher replied immediately.

"Instruments? Placed on the shore?" Xiaobai raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes. Not all of our expedition team will be going into the deep sea this time. Most of us will stay here as support to assist the personnel going in." The researcher who met Xiaobai this morning explained to Xiaobai, "Sir, I have already told the other members of the expedition team about the request you made to me this morning. If you don't mind, you can also join us as one of the first members to explore the sea."

"Yes, this is what I've been waiting for." Xiaobai nodded, then pointed to the ship girls beside her, "These are my ship girls. They will be responsible for protecting your safety when we go to sea."

"Please give me your guidance!" The dozen or so members of the inspection team bowed to the ship girl in unison.

Generally speaking, highly educated intellectuals tend to have some so-called intellectual pride. Even if they don't look down on others, they wouldn't be so sincere. However, the inspection team in front of Xiaobai doesn't seem to have this problem. Even when facing ship girls, whose military rank and status are not as high as theirs, the members of the inspection team expressed their utmost respect.

This surprised the ship girls, who quickly returned the greeting.

After a brief introduction to the ship girls, the dozen or so members of the inspection team placed their suitcases on the ground, took out tents and various mechanical instruments, and began setting them up in a flurry of activity.

While most of the expedition team members were setting up their temporary base, the researcher who had met Xiaobai this morning came to Xiaobai carrying a small suitcase.

"Reporting to the commander, here is your equipment!" The researcher placed the small suitcase on the ground and saluted Xiaobai.

"My gear, what's inside?" Xiaobai looked at the suitcase curiously.

“It’s a specially made biochemical protective suit!” the researcher replied, then opened the suitcase and showed Xiaobai a large, bulky protective suit inside. “This biochemical protective suit can block 99% of the deep-sea atmosphere, so that we won’t be invaded by the deep-sea atmosphere when we explore the sea.”

"Huh? They even have clothes like this?"

"Yes... However, biochemical protective suits are expensive and are disposable items that are scrapped after use, so even our expedition team only has three sets." The researcher said, a look of regret on his face.

"Ah...so, besides me, your expedition team can only send two more people?" Xiaobai asked back.

"Yes!"

Who are they?

"Reporting to the commander! I am the one accompanying you on this voyage, along with a female comrade who is proficient in oceanography and has made significant achievements in deep-sea research!" The researcher said earnestly, his eyes wide.

"Oh... what's your name?" Xiaobai listened attentively to his words and then asked.

"Reporting to the commander! My name is Shi Aimin!"

"You're the captain of the expedition team, right?" Xiao Bai smiled at Shi Aimin. "After we set sail, don't call me 'Commander,' just call me by my name... or just call me Admiral Lu Lin."

"Yes, sir!" Shi Aimin shouted.

Under Xiaobai's watchful eye, the expedition team quickly built a temporary signal base station on the gravel beach. Several generators were placed among the rocks, and numerous power lines extended from the generators into the tents to power the instruments inside. After setting up the base station, the expedition team took out large packages and parts from their luggage and assembled a small electric boat for three people directly on the shore.

"Signal normal! We can proceed!"

The researchers at the base station huddled around the instruments for a long time, finally giving Shi Aimin a thumbs up.

Next, the crew will set sail.

Besides Xiaobai and Shi Aimin, a female researcher with short hair and glasses also accompanied the ship girls on their voyage. She seemed to be relatively young in the expedition team, only in her early twenties, and she exuded a wonderful vigor and vitality.

According to the introduction I heard from Shi Aimin, the young female researcher's name is Luo Bei, and she is a top student who is proficient in oceanography and deep-sea research.

"Greetings, Commander!" When Luo Bei saw Xiao Bai, her face first showed excitement, then she became so nervous that she couldn't speak. After stammering for a while, she finally remembered to greet him and quickly bowed to Xiao Bai.

"Hello, Miss Luo. From now on, we are companions." Xiao Bai smiled at Luo Bei. "When we go out to sea, there's no need for all those bows and salutes. You can just call me Lu Lin."

"Yes, sir!" Luo Bei quickly straightened up and responded. Perhaps because of the sudden movement, her large-framed glasses bounced twice. "Ah! Glasses!"

Luo Bei frantically steadied her glasses on her face.

It seems a bit reckless.

"Comrade Luo Bei is relatively young, but rest assured when it comes to knowledge and professional skills, she possesses a level of competence that is disproportionate to her age," Shi Aimin earnestly introduced from the side. Then, turning to Luo Bei, he said, "Comrade Luo Bei! It's time to change into your biohazard suit!"

"Yes, Captain Shi!" Luo Bei quickly replied, then gave Xiao Bai an awkward smile and slunk away to the side.

"The biohazard suits are designed to be slightly bulky and loose to fit all target groups, so they won't be difficult to wear," Shi Aimin patiently explained to Xiaobai. "The maximum usage time for the biohazard suit is twenty-four hours. Once exposed to deep-sea energy for more than twenty-four hours, the suit will lose its effectiveness. Conversely, even if you leave the deep-sea energy within twenty-four hours, the suit will still lose its effectiveness once the time limit has expired. Our sea voyage this time will be approximately eighteen hours, so there won't be any issues with running out of time. Please rest assured, Commander..."

"okokokok……"

Xiao Bai listened attentively to Shi Aimin's explanation, appearing to be humbly learning.

In fact, Xiaobai could stay in the deep sea for a year or two without any problems. Her constitution is completely unafraid of the deep sea atmosphere. However, this matter was too shocking for Shi Aimin and Luo Bei. In order to play the role of a fragile ordinary person, Xiaobai obediently listened to Shi Aimin and put on her biohazard suit.

The biohazard suit is equipped with a belt, bracelets, and leg rings, so even the bulky suit can be securely fixed to the body without affecting movement.

Donning the biohazard suit, Xiaobai boarded the electric boat on the shore.

On the ship, Luo Bei, dressed in a biohazard suit, had been waiting for Xiao Bai for a long time. When she saw Xiao Bai come up, Luo Bei immediately stood up.

"Admiral... Admiral Lu Lin!" Luo Bei's face inside her helmet was flushed with excitement, her eyes behind her glasses staring intently at Xiao Bai, shining with longing within the biohazard suit. "Please guide me!"

Chapter 2241 A Hero

"Miss Luo Bei, nice to meet you." Xiao Bai smiled and replied to Luo Bei, then sat down in a seat inside the electric boat.

The electric boat that the expedition team had hastily assembled was not spacious to begin with. In order to meet the needs of the subsequent exploration, several instruments that Xiaobai had never seen before were placed on the boat. As a result, the space left for the crew to move around became even smaller, and the people on the boat could only sit in their seats in a rather restrained posture.

Xiao Bai is small, so the cramped space didn't cause her too much inconvenience. She sat down and moved her legs around. After finding that she wasn't uncomfortable, she looked towards the temporary base station.

As you look, Captain Shi, now dressed in a biohazard suit, is carrying two pieces of equipment and walking briskly toward you.

"They even have to pretend..." Xiaobai exclaimed.

Just as Xiaobai was talking to herself, she suddenly felt a prickling sensation on her face, and subconsciously looked away and towards Luo Bei's direction.

He noticed that the female researcher Luo Bei, who was sitting opposite him, was staring intently at him.

“Miss Luo Bei,” Xiao Bai said.

"I'm here!" Luo Bei shifted slightly in her seat, like a carrot.

"Is there something on my face?" Xiaobai asked with a smile, pointing to himself.

"No, no!" Luo Bei quickly shook her head.

"Why is Miss Luo Bei staring at me ever since I boarded the ship?"

"Because, because! I feel deeply honored to be able to go to sea with a great hero like you!" Luo Bei quickly said, her face inside the helmet flushed with excitement.

"Great hero... are you talking about me?" Xiaobai smiled bitterly.

“Yes! You are the hero who unlocked the fifth chapter that has troubled humanity for five hundred years!” Luo Bei clenched her hands in front of her chest, her eyes shining brighter and brighter as she spoke. “I never dreamed that I could sail the seas with a hero like you! I, an ordinary person like me, can actually become your companion, even if it’s just temporarily… I, I… I’m just so happy!”

Xiao Bai suddenly felt embarrassed by Luo Bei's gaze.

Looking at Luo Bei's fanatical expression, Xiao Bai couldn't help but recall how the expedition team had treated him the same way when they first arrived at Chapter Eight.

So, after clearing Chapter 8, my reputation among the admirals has already risen to this level...

That's really impressive.

It's a pity that I'm currently in Chapter 8 and can't show myself in the cities of other chapters. Otherwise, I would really like to go to Chapters 6 and 7 and see what kind of reaction it would cause.

As Xiao Bai was pondering this, the researcher Luo Bei found a starting point and quickly continued interviewing Xiao Bai.

"Admiral Lu Lin! I've had a question for a long time!"

"Hmm? What's the problem?"

"Admiral Lu Lin, why do you want to risk coming with us to the depths of the sea?" Luo Bei asked curiously.

"Hmm... I just want to see the scenery," Xiaobai replied after thinking for a while.

Xiao Bai wasn't surprised by Luo Bei's question. After all, in the researchers' eyes, Xiao Bai's trip to sea was no different from courting death, so it was normal for her to be curious about her motives.

But Xiaobai definitely couldn't tell Luobei the real reason he went to sea.

"Enjoying the scenery... I've heard that a powerful admiral like you has the ability to communicate with your ship girls. If you just want to enjoy the scenery, wouldn't it be safer to appreciate it through the messages sent back by the ship girls?" Luo Bei asked with a hint of doubt after hearing Xiao Bai's answer.

"Well, that's different." Xiaobai waved her hand, tilted her head to look in the direction of the sea, and thought for a while.

In Luo Bei's eyes, Xiao Bai had quieted down completely at this moment. Her eyes were fixed on the direction of the sea, like a triumphant warrior sitting at the gate of her hometown, savoring her wonderful life.

But beneath Xiaobai's quiet exterior, her heart was pounding.

—Oh no, this Luo Bei is quite clever. She actually managed to make up an excuse for not knowing the answer with just one sentence.

—What should I do? Think of another excuse? No, no, no…

Under Luo Bei's questioning gaze, Xiao Bai remained silent for about ten seconds. Then, she took a deep breath, as if she had just finished savoring her turbulent life, and slowly opened her mouth to speak.

"...I want to see it with my own eyes."

Because of some guilt, Xiaobai spoke softly, but her explanation still reached Luobei's ears.

In an instant, Luo Bei's eyes widened.

A sudden realization flashed through Luo Bei's mind like lightning.

It turns out, that’s how it is!

For Admiral Lu Lin, the upcoming eighth chapter is not merely a sea area, but a worthy opponent...

What would be a death trap for ordinary people is not merely danger for a powerful yet lonely admiral like Admiral Lu Lin; it is a challenge, an honor, a surge of passion, and the long-awaited arrival of a formidable foe! Now that her rival has been defeated and Admiral Lu Lin holds the fruits of victory, she still harbors a deep respect for this formidable opponent, which is why she decided to see Chapter Eight with her own eyes!

This is... the vision of a hero!

This is so handsome!

Luo Bei clasped her hands tightly to her chest, looking at Xiao Bai's face with even deeper admiration in her eyes.

Just as Luo Bei turned into a fangirl, Captain Shi finally arrived at the ship's side with his equipment.

"Reporting, sir! The base station on shore is ready, and we can set off at any time!" Captain Shi shouted to Xiaobai and Luobei on the boat, standing by the side of the ship with his equipment.

"Okay, let's go then." Xiaobai was glad that Captain Shi's arrival was so timely. She quickly turned away from Luo Bei's expression and spoke to Captain Shi.

"Yes, sir!" Captain Shi stood at attention and responded, then carefully placed the instruments in his hands on the boat, nimbly flipped to the bow, sat cross-legged in the driver's seat, and excitedly shouted, "Chapter Eight Expedition Team, depart now!"

Buzz — V

The motor at the back of the electric boat roared.

The electric boat carrying Xiaobai and the other two splashed water as it sailed deeper into Chapter Eight.

Missouri and the other escort ship girls also summoned their ship equipment, with some carrying cannons and others launching aircraft, closely following the electric ship.

The electric boat sailed into the thick fog of the deep sea, its buzzing sound spreading unchecked in all directions.

Within the sea area of ​​Chapter 2242, there are still a large number of scattered individual deep-sea amphibious ships and a small number of deep-sea teams. After hearing the hum of the electric ship's engine, these deep-sea amphibious ships swam towards the electric ship from all directions. For a moment, the thick fog of the deep sea was filled with the glowing red eyes of the deep-sea amphibious ships.

However, the moment the deep-sea amphibious ships approached, carrier-based aircraft arrived overhead.

Boom boom boom boom boom boom — I

A barrage of bombs rained down, instantly blasting the deep-sea amphibious ships that dared to approach the electric ship to smithereens.

The next second, the sound of cannons firing rang out one after another. The Missouri Sisters and Constellation launched an attack on the larger Abyssal ships. Metal meteors shot out, blasting the large Abyssal ships that Saratoga had failed to destroy in the first wave into pieces.

The ship girls moved through the deep sea fog, and each appearance was accompanied by a huge bombing sound.

On the electric boat, Captain Shi controlled the direction of the journey while watching in awe as the smoke billowed around him.

"Wow, this is the power of a ship girl who has cleared Chapter 8?" Captain Shi muttered to himself. He swallowed hard, then called out to Luo Bei at the stern of the ship, "Comrade Luo Bei, we can begin the survey!"