Today's tutelary fort remains peaceful.

Lexington shook his head. "I'm not sure about this question, but why not give it a try?"

92. Salted Fish King

Xue Cheng was quite attracted by Lexington's proposal.

The equipment in the warehouse is mainly main guns. As the probability and ways of obtaining rare ship girls increase in the later stages of the game, the U country's triple 16-inch gun (MK6), F country's quadruple 380mm gun, I country's triple 381mm gun, and G country's twin 406mm gun, nicknamed "cat gun", which once dominated the early stage, are almost flooding the market.

Even if Xue Cheng filled up all the empty equipment slots of the ship girls, the remaining number was still too large to give him a headache, and because the cost-effectiveness of purchasing equipment warehouse grids was too low, and he was reluctant to dismantle these colorful and gold-level main guns in exchange for resources, over time, even if Xue Cheng was a salty fish, he could only look at the headache of the overflowing equipment.

If I give the extra equipment to Yamato... No, not only that, if Yamato really builds a deep-sea naval base in the future, I can also use these equipment to arm the deep-sea ship girls who have lost their ship equipment. At that time...

Xue Cheng's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he almost wanted to jump up immediately to find Leipzig and Yamato to test his guess.

"It's too late today. Let's talk about it tomorrow." Lexington held Xue Cheng down and teased, "Usually, even if the deep-sea flagship is at your doorstep, you don't seem to be anxious, why are you so proactive today?"

Xue Cheng also felt that he was a little too excited, and said awkwardly, "I'm also thinking about the development of the garrison."

"Development?" Lexington looked at him suspiciously. "How else do you want to develop? Are you planning to run for governor?"

Xue Cheng shook his head. It is important for people to know themselves. He was very clear about his own abilities. Without the help of Lexington and others, he might not even be able to manage his own garrison. Although a higher position was tempting, he definitely did not have the ability to sit on it.

In that case, it would be better to hide in the naval base and be a salted fish like now, bully your own ship girls when you have nothing to do, go to the fishery administration to get some food, or have a one-sided but eye-catching game of beach volleyball, which is better than messing around.

"Since you don't have that intention, you might as well just be a salted fish." Lexington said.

"Hmm?" Xue Cheng blinked. "Didn't Lexington support me in cheering myself up?"

"..." Lexington was stunned for a moment. After a brief silence, the girl said unhappily, "Even if he's a slacker, he's so slacker that he even neglects the affairs of the garrison, running around all day and disappearing without a trace. Occasionally returning, he just takes a quick look before leaving. This behavior is too much! If slackers had levels, the admiral would definitely be at the maximum level!"

"Ah?!" Xue Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "So I have an achievement worth showing off? The highest level of salted fish... Salted Fish King?"

"Even if you're a king, you're still a nobody!" Lexington slapped his forehead. "Don't you have any other achievements worth showing off? Like, suppressing so many deep-sea flagships, or building the world's most powerful tutelary fort?"

Xue Cheng shook his head: "I didn't achieve this by my own strength. I think if you really count it, besides salted fish, there is only one thing I deserve praise for."

"what?"

"Of course..." Xue Cheng deliberately dragged out the words until he had fully aroused the girl's curiosity. Then he said seriously, "Of course I married the most beautiful, capable, gentle, considerate and understanding wife."

After Xue Cheng finished speaking, he stared at Lexington without blinking, observing her reaction. However, she did not fall into shyness as expected, nor did she show any sign of being moved. Instead, she crossed her arms and looked at him with a smile.

"Admiral," Lexington said with a smile, "You... probably rarely say things like this to others, right?"

"Well, I should say there has never been one. Lexington is the first one." Xue Cheng said.

"As expected." Lexington sighed: "Although I also want to put on an expression of gratitude, but when I think about the admiral having so many marriage ships, I just can't feel happy."

"Ah?" Xue Cheng was stunned.

"Here's a suggestion. If you want to praise me, why not start with something more specific? For example, my work ability, my diplomatic skills, my combat performance, or even my housework. In short, you need to make me feel that the Admiral's attention is truly focused on me."

Lexington looked at the silly Xue Cheng and smiled: "Then, Admiral, please think about it carefully first. Lexington will be leaving now."

As he spoke, Lexington shook off the apple juice on his fingers and walked towards the room.

"Why is it so difficult to pick up girls?" Xue Cheng scratched his hair and sighed continuously. When he read novels, he always felt that he could also follow the male protagonist's so-called love words. However, when he actually got on the scene, he discovered the difficulty.

Xue Cheng, who was sighing, did not notice that the moment Lexington turned around, the blush on her cheeks had spread to her delicate little ears.

When Lexington was here, with the queen suppressing the whole situation, no one dared to make any moves on Xue Cheng. But as soon as Lexington left, countless eyes were focused on Xue Cheng, who was still unaware.

The first person to take action was a girl who had been hanging around Xue Cheng intentionally or unintentionally from the beginning, but did not dare to go up and talk to him because Lexington was there.

She has long brown hair and is wearing a college-style outfit: a red knee-length pleated skirt with a white polo shirt and a brown vest on the outside. She looks full of the youthful vitality unique to girls.

Facing many strange gazes, she walked in front of Xue Cheng and coughed lightly to attract his attention. "Admiral, I baked some cookies especially for you. Would you like to try some?"

Xue Cheng came back to his senses. He looked at the girl standing in front of him, her eyes full of expectation, holding a large bag of cookies. Although he didn't guess her identity, he still agreed very straightforwardly: "Okay, come to think of it, I haven't eaten cookies for a long time."

"Really?" Seeing Xue Cheng agree, the girl's eyes lit up with surprise. She almost dropped the biscuit in her hand. Suppressing her excitement, she stretched out her slightly trembling hand and handed it over, whispering, "Admiral, try it. I've carefully studied the ratio of the ingredients. There will be no problem this time."

Hmm? This time? Xue Cheng thought the girl's words were a little strange, but he didn't think much about it. He opened the bag, took out a cookie and put it in his mouth.

"You can't eat it!" A white hand came down and knocked the biscuit out of Xue Cheng's hand.

93. Handmade Cookies in London

"Admiral, you really dare to eat it?!" Richelieu stood in front of Xue Cheng. The elegant girl had cold sweat on her forehead and looked frightened.

"Uh, is there any problem?" Xue Cheng looked confused. The paper bag in his hand was emitting the tempting aroma of milk and fruit, with a faint warmth. It was obviously freshly baked. The biscuits inside looked normal, no different from those sold in other stores.

"Did you really believe London's lies?" Akagi, a girl in a kimono and a princess-style hairstyle, walked over. She was holding a plate of small cakes and was eating them with a fork. Although she was chewing non-stop, her voice was very clear: "She said it was okay and you dared to eat it? Have you forgotten, Admiral? Even Quincy wouldn't dare touch London's food!"

"London?!" Xue Cheng's hands trembled upon hearing the name, and he almost dropped the cookie. This girl was London? She was officially recognized as a master of dark cuisine. How could a normal person possibly enjoy the cookies she made?

"Richelieu! Akagi!" The preppy girl puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction and complained, "Why are you still looking at me with your old eyes? I admit that I used to like to mess up good dishes by adding seasonings and ingredients randomly. Although the taste was a little strange, it was not as serious as you said. Besides, haven't I corrected it already?"

"Is that a bit strange? Last time, A Kun was tricked by you into eating that pig intestine and chicken gizzard pizza, and he was unconscious for a whole day!" A girl with short green hair in the crowd angrily accused, and the blue-haired girl next to her timidly hugged her arms and nodded her head desperately.

"New Orleans, that time it was because the ingredients weren't fresh enough, not the cooking skills at all! And didn't I already apologize?" London guiltily called out a name that made Xue Cheng very hungry, and defended himself, "I've been learning cooking techniques from Chongqing. The cookies I baked this time are definitely above average in taste. Shropshire said the same thing."

"Your sister's taste is as bad as yours. Can you trust her?" The Prince of Wales stepped out from the crowd, accompanied by two tall blonde girls.

London was furious: "Prince of Wales, how could you say that? Duke of York, King George V, please say something about her too! You are actually helping outsiders to slander me!"

King George V of England. Unlike the regal air her name suggested, the girl didn't seem to have any overbearing aura. However, even in her casual attire, she still exuded a subtle air of nobility. She took two steps forward with an elegant yet unpretentious pace and said helplessly, "London, we're not helping others bully you, but you really can't give your food to the Admiral."

"Yes, London, the admiral is the most important, don't blame us." The serious female knight, the Duke of York, also said.

"You guys..." London was so angry that her whole body was shaking. Tears kept welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She turned around angrily, facing Xue Cheng, and said in a tearful voice, "Does the Admiral think so too?"

"This..." Xue Cheng hesitated. He hated to see girls cry, especially a cute girl like London. But when he thought of the pot of food emitting a strange glow on London's clothes, and her expression of holding her stomach with all hope after the big break, he couldn't help but feel scared.

"Okay, it's not that I don't trust London." Xue Cheng hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "I'll accept this gift, but I just ate too much and don't have much appetite right now, so I'll just have it as a midnight snack later."

"Admiral!" The Duke of York looked a little anxious.

The Prince of Wales tugged at her skirt and winked, and the Duke of York understood and shut up.

However, London was not so easily fooled. Having just experienced being looked down upon by everyone and in urgent need of proving herself, she was not willing to give up easily. She stared at Xue Cheng intently and said, "Then Admiral, help me prove it. Eat a piece for them to see. Just one piece, or even a bite will do."

"Not even a single bite!" Richelieu glared at London sternly. "I saw you catch a gaolo and force-feed it a few days ago, and it vomited as soon as you let it go."

"How can animals be like humans?" London retorted. "Admiral, just take a bite. If it doesn't taste good, it's okay to spit it out."

"..." Facing London's stubborn gaze and Richelieu's admonishing look, Xue Cheng hesitated for a long time. In the end, he couldn't bear to make London sad. He felt that if he didn't give London some support at this time, even if the girl didn't cry on the spot, she would probably be sad for a long time after she returned.

As for your own safety, as London said, just take a small sip to try the taste. If it doesn't taste good, just spit it out. It shouldn't have any impact on your health, right?

"Then I'll try." Xue Cheng's answer made London's face shine again. At the same time, Richelieu and King George V of England showed anxious expressions.

Xue Cheng gave them a reassuring look and consoled them, "It's okay. If it tastes really bad, I'll spit it out. Anyway, I won't joke with my health."

"Well, I'll start." Xue Cheng slowly took out a dark brown biscuit from the paper bag.

"Admiral..." Someone closed his eyes reluctantly.

Xue Cheng sniffed gently. It was clearly the dark brown of chocolate biscuits, but hidden beneath the aroma of milk and fruit was a strange yet familiar smell. Just as Xue Cheng's brain was searching for the ingredients that matched the smell, London sniffed and explained, "It's soy sauce. I added soy sauce."

"..." Deathly silence fell. London's answer instantly chilled the lively gathering. Xue Cheng twitched his lips, secretly regretting his decision. He asked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "Why add soy sauce?"

London said confidently: "Because the taste of the biscuits made according to the recipe is already very sweet, in order to neutralize the sweetness, I did not use cocoa powder, but added soy sauce."

"What are the red particles on the cookies?"

"That's chili powder. I heard that the right amount of spiciness can stimulate the taste buds and make the tongue more sensitive, so I added some devil pepper powder."

"..." Xue Cheng really regretted it this time. If possible, he really wanted to throw the biscuits in his arms to the ground immediately. However, facing the girl's hopeful eyes, Xue Cheng couldn't bear it after all. He opened his mouth, bit the edge with his teeth, gently nibbled off some tiny pieces, and sipped the taste.

94. Terrible London

"Admiral, how does it taste?" London looked at him hopefully. Richelieu and the others also looked nervous, ready to rush out to save people at any time.

Xue Cheng smacked his lips, his expression slowly becoming strange: "Salty..."

London nodded as a matter of course. "I added soy sauce, and since this is a salty cookie, I even added extra salt. Admiral, any more?"

Xue Cheng looked at the cookie in his hand, hesitated for a moment, bit off another third, and savored it carefully. His expression became even more strange: "It's still very spicy."

"Of course the spicy taste is from the Devil's Pepper. How is it? Does the spicy taste make your taste buds more sensitive, allowing you to better appreciate the unique flavor of the cookies?"

"But isn't this a salty cookie? Why does it taste like banana?"

"Ah, the dessert guide I read said that when making cookies, you can add some of your favorite jam to flavor it, so I chose banana."

“Then why does it smell like durian?”

"I was worried that the banana flavor wouldn't be strong enough and would ruin the effect of the ghost pepper, so I added the rich durian jam."

London stared at Xue Cheng with sparkling eyes. The admiral had tasted the flavors of the biscuits one after another. London, who had always been misunderstood, seemed to have found a kindred spirit. "Anything else? Did the admiral discover anything else?"

Xue Cheng bit his lip, hardened his heart again, and put the whole cookie into his mouth and started chewing.

"Admiral..." The girl, already feeling soft-hearted, burst into tears.

"Huh, why does it taste a bit sour?" Xue Cheng smacked his lips in confusion. Along with the sour taste, a crispy texture that was completely different from cookies flashed by. He looked at London who was smiling but not saying anything, and suddenly frowned. He took a tissue and wiped his mouth.

What is this? Xue Cheng looked at the tiny black crumbs on the tissue. He felt that one of them looked like the head of some insect...

"It's ants. I added ants." London's answer instantly made Xue Cheng's face turn black. Ignoring the horrified looks of the girls around her, she crossed her arms and said proudly, "Ants have the effect of delaying aging. As everyone knows, the admiral is human, and he can't withstand the ravages of time more than us shipgirls. So I buried a few big ants in the middle of each cookie, hoping that after eating it, the admiral can stay young forever and be with everyone forever. How is it? Is the admiral satisfied with my masterpiece? Has it changed the existing stereotype?"

"You..." Xue Cheng vomited.

"Admiral!" The scene suddenly became chaotic. Richelieu quickly took the trash basket next to him and placed it in front of Xue Cheng. King George V of England brought a bottle of purified water. The foodie Akagi didn't even care about the cake in his hand, threw it to the ground, and patted Xue Cheng on the back.

"London! Look what you have done!" The Prince of Wales roared at the helpless London.

……

"I'm so stupid, really." Lying on the bed in Reputation, Xue Cheng stared at the ceiling with lifeless eyes and said to the girls who came to visit him, "I knew London was a master of dark cuisine, but I didn't expect baking cookies could be so lethal."

"How could the Admiral trust her now that he already knew?" Lexington complained. She hadn't expected such a big mess to happen after just a short absence. "Can you just eat anything you want in London? Even the destroyers in the garrison knew to avoid her. How dare the Admiral?"

"This matter cannot be entirely blamed on the master." Reputation sighed: "Under the circumstances at that time, it was indeed difficult for the master to refuse."

Richelieu said, "Why is it so hard to refuse? It's just that the Admiral is soft-hearted. Who in the garrison hasn't refused a food tasting invitation from London?"

Xue Cheng smiled bitterly. London's cooking skills were really not something that ordinary people could endure. Even though Xue Cheng had spit out everything he had eaten, brushed his teeth five times, and rinsed his mouth with mouthwash several times, he still felt a disgusting strange taste in his mouth.

If he had known this would be the result, Xue Cheng would never have tasted it even if London cried to death in front of him.

"Alright, let the master have a good rest." Shengwang saw Xue Cheng close his eyes and immediately understood his thoughts. He said to the people gathered in the bedroom, "I will take good care of the master. Please rest assured."