I, Yuhaka, am hungry!

P.S.: My melatonin arrived. I'll try it and see if it helps me avoid insomnia tonight.

Volume 1 [Lazy Chapters]: Chapter 1429 [Z23's Investigation Plan]

Thanks to the efforts of the Manjuu, the information that Z23 needed quickly arrived at her doorstep. After Z23 and Z1 occupied the computer in the monitoring room for a while, they began their investigation.

After investigating for several tens of minutes, they also discovered something amiss. In the video displayed on the computer screen, no one had come to the location on the road leading to the canteen warehouse. Z23 and the others were dumbfounded when they saw this. Apart from Kashino, no one else or any other ship girls had been there.

"What's going on? Why is there no sign of anyone?"

Regarding Z1's question, Z23, who was standing to the side, stroked his chin and watched this scene, saying:

"I don't know... This is a bit strange. Logically speaking, the only way to get through the cafeteria warehouse is by road, but there's not a single person in sight, which is odd."

Hearing Z23's question, Z1 also showed a slightly puzzled expression and said:

"Could it be that the other party entered the cafeteria warehouse from somewhere else?"

Upon hearing Z1's question, Z23 shook its head and said:

“That’s unlikely. The only way to get into the cafeteria’s storage room is through the main entrance. The windows are fitted with security bars and insect screens, so it’s practically impossible for someone to get in. Kashino also checked the windows and didn’t find any signs of damage, which also rules out the possibility that they broke in through the windows.”

Then, z23, remembering something, added:

"Of course, the canteen warehouse also has two access points: the main entrance and the skylight. However, the main entrance can only be opened from inside the warehouse, and the skylight is about three stories high above the ground. Even if the other party could climb down the rope, it's impossible for them to carry a large box of pudding up to the skylight, which is quite heavy."

Of course, if it were a ship girl, it would indeed be possible to do this, but ship girls would never do such a thing just to limit the pudding.

"Most importantly, there is no way to access the skylight from outside the warehouse. The only ladder that can be used to climb three stories high is the elevator at the fire department. There are also no footholds outside the warehouse that can be used for climbing. Therefore, it can be basically ruled out that the other party climbed to the roof of the warehouse."

After hearing z23's explanation, z1 also looked conflicted and said:

"So how did they run in and then run out? Did they fly in and out?"

What z1 said made z23 think that if that were the case, it would indeed be possible. However, the only person who could do this right now is probably Yuhaka. But z23 knows very well that Yuhaka is not the kind of person who would do such a thing. Moreover, Yuhaka's desserts are much tastier than those limited edition puddings, so it is basically impossible for him to be suspected of doing such a thing.

After reviewing the video footage from the surveillance cameras, Z23 and Z1 went to the facilities located at the fire department to investigate. They then spoke with Manju, who manages the fire department, about whether the facilities had been used. Of course, the final result was that no one had been there, and the surveillance video showed no one using the fire-fighting equipment.

This also ruled out the possibility that someone had used fire-fighting equipment. Afterwards, they went to the location behind the canteen warehouse, where they did not find any tools left behind that could climb three floors high. Of course, it is also possible that the other party took the items away.

The two then arrived at the warehouse roof and began inspecting the skylight.

After checking for a while, Z1 discovered that the lock on one of the sunroofs had been unlocked. Upon seeing this, Z1 quickly called out to Z23, who was checking the sunroof nearby:

"Z23! I've found a clue!"

Upon hearing Z1's call, Z23 jogged over to Z1's side to see what the other had discovered.

"Z23, look, there are signs that the skylight here has been punched!"

Seeing this, Z23 couldn't help but feel a little surprised. Obviously, this discovery might be helpful to him.

Soon, through Z23's investigation, Z23 also discovered that the skylight had been opened, since some of the dust on it had been wiped away, and the dust had only been gone for a short time.

The question is, who opened the skylight? There were no fingerprints left on it, probably someone wearing gloves. Z23 deduced that the other party had come prepared, since wearing gloves obviously meant trying to cover their tracks. Combined with the fact that Yuhaka hadn't smelled anyone else, it also meant that the other party had prepared something to eliminate their scent to avoid being tracked by hunting dogs or other creatures.

"Hmm...it seems the other party was prepared, but their preparation was only for stealing food..."

Seeing Z23's conflicted expression, Z1, standing to the side, also looked at Z23 with a strange expression and said:

"Hey z23, do you think this thief might have come to steal the pudding?"

Regarding the question about z1, z23 also looked troubled and scratched his head, saying:

"I don't know, but if they really prepared all this just to steal the pudding, it makes me a little annoyed. But the good thing is we can use this to try and catch them."

Upon hearing Z23's words, Z1's eyes lit up as he looked at Z23 and asked:

"So, Z23, you have a way to catch them?"

z23 nodded in response to z1's question and said:

"Well, if they're really just stealing pudding, we can secretly install a few cameras in the areas where pudding is restricted. That way, if they come to steal pudding again, at least we'll know what they look like."

With that, Z23 took Z1 to find the equipment. This time, Z23 was determined to find clues about the other party.

......................................................................

Back in the destroyer girls' dormitory, Yuhaka and the others returned to their respective rooms. Javelin was lying on her bed, reading the comics she'd brought from Long Island. After finishing her comic, she reached for another book, only to find it empty. Startled, she turned to the empty sheets beside her, a puzzled expression on her face, and said:

"Huh? Have you finished reading the comic?"

Javelin, puzzled, compared the comic books she had borrowed from Long Island and realized that she had already finished reading them.

After finishing the comic book, Javelin felt a bit unsatisfied, as he thought it was a pretty good comic. However, the only pity was that there was too little content being published so far, leaving him feeling like there wasn't enough to read.

"Hmm... I hope next week comes quickly."

Thinking this, Javelin, carrying the comic book that Nagashima had lent her, headed towards Nagashima's room. Upon arriving, Javelin knocked on the door, and Nagashima opened it. Seeing Javelin, Nagashima looked at her with a puzzled expression and said:

"Hmm? A javelin? Are you here to return a book?"

Hearing what Long Island said, Javelin nodded in agreement. Then, noticing that Long Island's expression wasn't quite right, Javelin asked:

"Um... Miss Long Island, you don't look too well. May I ask what happened?"

Upon hearing Javelin's words, Long Island scratched his head, looking somewhat puzzled, and said:

"Hmm...it's nothing serious, it's just that the pudding I put in the fridge somehow disappeared, which is really strange, since I didn't eat any of it..."

Upon hearing Long Island's words, Javelin realized that something was amiss.

P.S.: I suddenly realized that melatonin isn't very effective; I still wake up when I'm supposed to, which is really frustrating.

Volume 1 [Lazy to Divide into Chapters]: Chapter 1430 [Z23 and Z1 are shocked]

Upon hearing Long Island's words, Javelin couldn't help but think of what had happened at noon that day. Reflecting on this, Javelin looked at Long Island and said:

"Um, Long Island, besides the pudding, is there anything else missing from your place?"

"Hmm? Ah... nothing else is missing besides the pudding?"

Hearing Javelin's question, Nagashima paused for a moment before replying, then looked at the puzzled Javelin and asked:

"Judging from what you're saying, Javelin, you seem to know something?"

Faced with Nagashima's question, Javelin thought for a moment and then told him what had happened in the cafeteria. Upon hearing Javelin's words, Nagashima looked at her with surprise and said:

"Huh? Did Youyou make the fruit pudding back then? Uh... now's not the time to talk about that. By the way, Javelin, are you implying someone stole the pudding?"

Regarding the Long Island issue, Javelin scratched his cheek and said:

"Hmm... well, that's roughly it, but I'm just guessing, since the other party stole pudding among their things..."

After hearing Javelin's guess, Long Island looked at Javelin with a strange expression and said:

"Uh... It sounds ridiculous, but my pudding is indeed missing. However, I can try asking the other guys in the port."

As she spoke, Long Island used her communicator to ask the others if they had lost any puddings. Soon after, some of the ship girls replied to Long Island's question. Indeed, some of the ship girls' puddings were missing. Those ship girls didn't know how the puddings had disappeared. At first, they thought they had eaten them and forgotten about them, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.

As more and more ship girls recounted these events, Long Island and Javelin both wore strange expressions. After all, the fact that this pudding thief was able to steal so many puddings from so many ship girls clearly made him a legendary repeat offender.

"This situation...it seems to be more than just a problem with the cafeteria and our side. Where did that thief come from? How could he possibly steal pudding from the dormitory from so many ship girls?"

Regarding the Long Island issue, Javelin's side also thought about it and said:

"Hmm, but why did they only steal pudding?"

Long Island shrugged when he heard about the javelin question and said:

"They probably really like pudding, but I never expected such an absurd thing to happen in the real world. Javelin, please tell Z23 about this. I think they would be interested in this information."

After hearing what Long Island said, Javelin nodded and told Z23 and the others about what had happened. Upon receiving this news, Z23 became even more certain of her plan.

.................................................. ...............

Located in the cafeteria warehouse, Z23 and the others hid surveillance cameras in various corners of the warehouse. Z23 and Z1 sat in a room watching the situation. After seeing that the cameras were working properly, Z23 instructed Kashino to put the pudding they had bought at the supermarket in a conspicuous place in the warehouse. Z23 and Z1 wanted to see if the other party would fall for the trick.

"Alright, everything is ready, we're just waiting for the big fish to take the bait."

As he spoke, Z23, sitting with his legs crossed, looked at the videos on the screens in front of him and said this. Z1, standing beside him, also looked at the videos on its screen and said:

"Speaking of which, Z23, do you think they'd be so easily fooled? Besides, they stole quite a few puddings, right? They wouldn't steal more puddings until they'd finished eating them all, would they?"

After thinking for a moment, Z23 also addressed Z1's question:

"I've thought about this issue too, but we currently have no clues to help us find their whereabouts. This is our only chance to grasp the main clues about them, so we can't give up now."

Hearing what Z23 said, Z1 also said helplessly:

"Alright, since you've said so, Z23, then Lord Z1 has no choice but to continue along with you."

After receiving z1's reply, z23 looked at z1 with a helpless expression before turning its attention to the surveillance video.

After a while, z23 and z1 were drinking coffee and watching the big screen in front of them. Although the process was very boring, it was their job, so z23 and z1 did not lose focus because of it.

It was also because of their persistence that Z23 and Z1 witnessed an unexpected scene. In their surveillance video, they saw the pudding used as bait actually "floating" up. Just as the name suggests, the pudding placed in the box floated up into the air.

Z23 and Z1 were stunned by what they saw. They were clearly very surprised by what they had just witnessed, as they had never seen Pudding fly by itself before.

Then, to the astonishment of the two, the pudding, which had seemingly flown into the air, tore off the seal on its packaging, scooped up a spoonful with the plastic spoon that came with the pudding, and disappeared into thin air as if it had been fed into the mouth of something.

However, the other person didn't seem very satisfied with the pudding in their hand, and after taking a bite, they put it on the table next to them without making any further moves.

After witnessing this scene, both Z23 and Z1 fell into a long silence. Z1 turned his head shakily and looked at the dumbfounded Z23, saying:

"Hey... Z23... that thing... is it a ghost?"

Hearing Z1's words, Z23, who had a headache, rubbed his temples slightly and said:

"Hmm...this is not scientific...how could there be such a thing as a ghost in this world...?"

"But that one in the video..."

z23 shook his head and said:

"It might not be a ghost. It could be someone with some kind of invisibility device. But I've never heard of a ghost that likes to eat pudding. It's such a ridiculous existence."

Z1 didn't object to Z23's denial; after all, ghosts are far more terrifying than humans, right?

People often feel a sense of blindness to things they cannot accept, as if doing so would prevent them from having anything to do with those things.

z23 looked at the untouched box of pudding placed in the warehouse as bait and said with a headache:

"However, our plan to find their hiding place using the pudding bait with the tracker was not taken away by the other side, so it seems that we can't achieve our goal of finding their hiding place through this method."

Seeing that Z23 looked a little dejected, Z1 offered some words of comfort:

"Well... the other party is also a ghost who doesn't play by the rules. But speaking of which, why did the other party only take one bite of pudding and then not eat any more, and even put the pudding back after taking a bite?"