Siren Commander, a mole in his own port

Luo Yun said bluntly: "I don't have any money."

"What are you thinking? Who wants your two taels of silver?" Bin Jiang snorted. "I don't have any other hobbies except making friends. You should be younger than me, so it's not too much for me to call you brother, right?"

Luo Yun instinctively glanced at Binjiang's tight chest and replied, "It's indeed not excessive. To be honest, I just graduated."

This kind of stature and demeanor is definitely not something that students who stay in the ivory tower can cultivate. Binjiang has been struggling in the society for who knows how long, so it is inevitable that he has been tainted with gangster spirit.

Binjiang smiled frankly and said, "That's right. You seem to be in good spirits and have a good physique. Very good! Call me sister, and follow me from now on!"

Luo Yun looked embarrassed: "This... let's just forget it. We are all competitors. If we get too close, something bad will happen sooner or later."

"Do you still want the information?" Binjiang raised his eyebrows and slapped Luo Yun on the back. "I'm not insulting your character. This is about your life and property. What can you achieve by being hesitant? There's an old saying in Donghuang: 'Those who cherish their lives when doing great things, and forget their lives for small gains, are not heroes!'"

Luo Yun thought about it and found that what Binjiang said made sense. He didn't ask him to do anything unscrupulous, nor did he trample on his dignity. He wouldn't lose anything by calling her sister, and he could also get valuable information. It was a sure-win deal no matter how you looked at it.

"Binjiang...sister?"

"Hiss~ Not bad, but a little corny. Call me Sister Binjiang or Big Sister." Binjiang savored it carefully and patted Luo Yun's shoulder with satisfaction. "You are quite sensible. Since we are family, I won't bother with you about your sneaking glances at me just now."

Luo Yun was speechless for a moment: "You really aren't stinging enforcement...Okay, thank you Sister Binjiang for not bearing grudges. Now can you tell me?"

"Tsk, that's so comforting, sister." Binjiang shook his head and said contentedly, "Let me think about where to start... Do you know how long we'll be staying in the harbor?"

"I heard it was about a year."

Binjiang said mysteriously, "That's right. Do you know what will happen to us in a year?"

Luo Yun asked tentatively, "From what Sister Binjiang said, they don't plan to let us go home?"

"Haha~ Go home? Do you think, with their extremely xenophobic and conservative style, that the shipgirls would let a group of humans with detailed information about them go home?" Binjiang sneered, "Let me be frank. If I don't become a commander after a year, there is only one ending left for us - death!"

Luo Yun's body shook, and his heart sank to the bottom in an instant. He did not ask Binjiang if he was joking. Reason told him that Binjiang was definitely not joking, and the ship girls looked like they could do such a thing.

"When I first learned about this setting, I was even more shocked than you." Binjiang asked with his chin in his hand, "How do you feel now?"

Luo Yun lowered his head, looked at the shimmering sea, and whispered, "I wonder if it's too late to jump off the boat now? If I try hard, I think I can swim back to the shore."

Binjiang's expression suddenly tensed up. She hurriedly hugged Luo Yun and shouted, "Hey, don't do anything rash. You'll definitely die if you jump down. Maybe you can still survive by reaching the harbor!"

"I was just joking, Sister Binjiang, don't be nervous." Luo Yun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Let me go quickly. If someone sees us, I won't be able to explain myself."

"If I don't let go, who knows if you'll jump?" Bin Jiang not only didn't let go, but actually increased his strength, saying seriously, "The reason I want to take you as my brother is because I want to form an alliance with you. The probability of one person becoming a commander is maybe only one in ten, but with two people, that's doubled, right? As long as one of us succeeds, it'll be easy to save the other's life and property."

Luo Yun patted her arm and urged, "I know, let go first...Oh no, Hu Teng saw us."

"This kind of distraction trick doesn't work on me." Binjiang said in a muffled voice, "You have to promise me first, otherwise I will never let you go."

It was so hard to finally hug the commander with a legitimate reason. It would be useless even if Yixian came, let alone Hu Teng.

Hu Teng's cold voice rang out quietly, "You two are hugging and kissing each other in broad daylight. Are you too impatient to wait a year?"

Chapter 15: Cold on the outside but warm on the inside?

Although Luo Yun didn't know how strict the rules set by the ship girls were, he could get a glimpse of it from their criteria for selecting candidates and Bremerton's few words.

Keeping oneself chaste is the most basic requirement, and they are not even allowed to have any contact with the opposite sex. They are just like unicorns in a fairy tale world, and only truly pure girls can win their favor.

So the question is, in a situation like his and Binjiang, although they didn't have any romantic thoughts subjectively, objectively the two of them were indeed hugging each other. What punishment would they receive if they were discovered by the ship girl?

Luo Yun felt that given the extremism displayed by the ship girl, being thrown into the sea to feed the fish might be the best outcome.

Thinking of the possibility of losing his life, Luo Yun hurriedly shouted: "Sister Binjiang, please let go! If you don't let go, I might as well jump down!"

Binjiang wasn't afraid of Hu Teng, but he was afraid that everyone would think she was unreliable and forbid her from contacting the commander, so he reluctantly let go of Luo Yun. Then, with one hand on the railing, he said casually, "Only people with dirty thoughts in their heads would think everything was flirtatious."

Hu Teng's eyes turned cold. "It's hard to say whether the commander has any thoughts about you in that area. How dare you pat your chest and say you have a clear conscience? Before you say that, could you please put away the Phoenix Coronet and the Ring of Oath in your room?"

"Whatever you do has nothing to do with me, and I'm not interested. I just want to remind you not to be too ostentatious. I don't want someone to be thrown overboard on the first day, not only to lose my life, but also to affect the port's opinion of us."

"I've already told you... Humph, I'm too lazy to explain. The clear will be clear, and the turbid will be turbid." Bin Jiang once again linked arms with Luo Yun, making it clear that he didn't care about other people's opinions. "But you do have a point. There are too many people on the deck. Come with me. I'll take you to a good place where no one will disturb you."

Luo Yun quickly broke free from her embrace and said, "Sister Binjiang, let's do it next time. I want to see more of the sea."

Binjiang's enthusiasm really made Luo Yun a little overwhelmed. She was not like the observer from the previous few days who came up to him with ill intentions. Instead, she was naturally hospitable and had almost no sense of distance with strangers. She was completely different from him, a former otaku.

Whether it was to avoid suspicion or considering other factors, it was not a good idea to leave with Binjiang under Hu Teng's nose. He didn't know what kind of person the other party was. If he was reported, it would be a big trouble.

Bin Jiang said with great joy, "What's so beautiful about the sea? I have something even more beautiful in my room. I guarantee it will amaze you."

"It's really unnecessary..."

Hu Teng raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of mockery in his tone, "I believed nothing happened between you two. So it turns out you were the one unilaterally harassing her. Ha, thinking that he's the only man you'll ever meet, you're planning to strike first?"

Hu Teng saw through the commander's calculations, and he showed a certain degree of resistance. Binjiang knew that insisting on doing so would only backfire, so she said, "There's no point in trying to reason with someone like you. Since you don't have that intention, I won't force you. My room number is 205. If you need anything, come to me. I'll definitely help you out."

After saying this, Binjiang left the deck without any reluctance.

Luo Yun and Hu Teng looked at each other for a moment, then hesitantly asked, "Miss Hu Teng, do you have anything else to say?"

This girl's aura is no different from others. She's almost as if the words "stay away from me" are written all over her face. She's definitely a more difficult person to deal with than Binjiang.

"No, I just happened to be passing by." Hu Teng shook his head and turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned around and said, "No matter what Binjiang or anyone else says to you, don't believe it all. Some people will do anything to survive."

Luo Yun was slightly startled and said, "Thank you for the reminder. It sounds like you also know about this. If you don't become the commander in a year..."

"Who on this ship doesn't know about this?" Hu Teng asked. "We're all well aware of the dangers involved, but we all have reasons to go to the port. Don't you?"

"...You're right." Luo Yun said with mixed feelings. Why did he feel that things were becoming more and more confusing? They were like sacrifices to some evil god. They had to risk being sacrificed in order to gain power that did not belong to them.

Hu Teng turned his head and said softly, "As the only male here, you must have some unspeakable secrets. But I don't care. I hope you'll be alive and well when we meet next time."

"Thank you for your kind words." Luo Yun thought for a moment and asked, "By the way, do you have any idea of ​​forming an alliance, that is..."

"No." Before Luo Yun could finish, Hu Teng flatly refused, "I like to be alone, and I don't have the habit of turning my back to my competitors or mortal enemies. You can do whatever you want."

Hu Teng didn't stay any longer. After saying this, he disappeared from Luo Yun's sight just like Binjiang.

Looking at the empty deck, Luo Yun didn't know what to say for a moment. He felt in his pocket, took out his room card, and said to himself: "Let's go and rest for a while. I haven't had a good sleep these past few days."

……

Single room, large bed, private bathroom. Although the space is not very large, the decoration and matching furniture are enough to be called luxurious in Luo Yun's opinion. If Binjiang did not lie, then she is really rich.

But why would such a rich woman standing at the top of the pyramid voluntarily participate in such a dangerous activity? Could it be that she has lost her worldly pursuits and wants to challenge her limits, which is commonly known as risking her life?

Luo Yun couldn't figure it out and was too lazy to think about it. Anyway, the strength of the ship girl was above the entire human society. No matter how outstanding she was before, she was now just a blank character like himself.

Lying on the soft big bed, Luo Yun felt sleepy unconsciously. Compared with the Siren's hard bed, humans undoubtedly knew how to enjoy it better, and it also gave him a familiar sense of belonging. This was indeed the greatest advantage of humans.

That's it for now, go to bed first.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

After an unknown amount of time, there was a sudden and urgent knock on the door. Luo Yun was instantly awakened and asked hurriedly, "Who is this? What can I do for you?"

"Haha, I knew you were hiding in your room, slacking off." Binjiang's hearty laughter pierced the door. "Come out quickly! The candidates wanted to get together and introduce themselves, and you're the only one missing."

Chapter 16: A Penny Can Make a Hero Fall

A candidate's party?

Luo Yun's spirits lifted, and the slight sleepiness he felt instantly disappeared without a trace. He got out of bed, quickly opened the door, and said, "I'll be right there. Sister Binjiang must have made a special trip."

"It's okay, it's only a short walk." Binjiang put his arm around his shoulders, as if they were old friends. "Let's go. Don't keep them waiting anxiously."

Luo Yun calmly pulled Binjiang's arm away and asked, "Why is there a sudden party? Is the ship girl going to introduce us to the rules of living in the port area?"

"Oh, don't overthink it. It's simply dinner time, and we all want to take this opportunity to get to know each other." Bin Jiang saw that Luo Yun was still not used to physical contact with her, so he didn't force it. He said nonchalantly, "As for the rules of living in the port area...however you lived before, everything will remain the same after you arrive in the port area."

"Are there no taboos?" Luo Yun asked doubtfully, "A military organization like this should have many restricted areas and strange regulations, right?"

Binjiang laughed and said, "Where did you hear this rumor? The strength of the ship girls comes from themselves, they don't need any external help. The so-called port area is just where they live their daily lives, no different from a human city, at best a little smaller. You can just think of it as an isolated island town."

"It sounds like a paradise."

"That's right, it's a paradise, provided you can get the approval of the ship girl." Binjiang agreed. "Speaking of which, do you have any experience in pursuing girls?"

Luo Yun thought for a moment and said tactfully, "Do you think the ship girls would choose someone with a chaotic private life as their commander candidate?"

That's not necessarily true, Binjiang thought to himself. Hasn't the Commander heard that saying? Standards are reserved for people you don't like. Once you meet the one you love, you no longer have any standards.

"If you have no experience, well, that means you're a clean and steady person." Binjiang lied to himself, "I heard that getting the approval of a shipgirl is similar to finding a date. First of all, you have to be thick-skinned. Even if you're persistent, as long as you have a large enough base, you should be able to meet a few girls who are right for you, right?"

"Are you sure?" Luo Yun couldn't help but feel a little skeptical. "Except for me, you are all girls. Could it be that your sexual orientation is...more niche?"

Binjiang rolled his eyes and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? What's the point of two women hugging and chewing each other? I'm a traditionalist and can't stand those messy things. What I mean is that this is your unique advantage, and it's what I value about you."

Luo Yun said: "How can this be considered an advantage? When a person of the opposite sex comes to a city full of ship girls, it is normal for them to instinctively reject him, right?"

"Hehe, I can't say anything else about this person, but I've never been wrong in judging people." Bin Jiang patted his chest and said confidently, "You look like the kind of guy who has a lot of romantic opportunities. You're definitely going to be very popular with women in the future. Do you dare to make a bet with me?"

"...No, I don't have a hobby of gambling, and I don't think I can win." Luo Yun declined. He had already used his twenty years of life experience to prove his popularity with the opposite sex. If there were no observer, he would probably have to be a little timid when communicating with Binjiang.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. I can make you an offer you can't refuse," Binjiang said with a beaming expression. "I've made inquiries. Your hometown is a remote and impoverished area. They definitely can't afford you much funding. Even if you can live comfortably for a year, you'll probably have to live very frugally. Am I right, sister?"

Luo Yun was slightly startled: "Doesn't the port area provide food and accommodation?"

"Huh? How is that possible? Not only is it not included, but it's incredibly expensive. I heard that a piece of fabric the size of a palm starts at four figures... Wait, what's with that expression?" Binjiang asked belatedly, "Are you broke?"

Luo Yun touched his head and asked awkwardly, "Sister Binjiang, since you said the port area is a small city, it should be able to provide a lot of jobs, right?"

After going around in circles, even though he'd traveled through time, he still couldn't escape his fate as a laborer. Not only did the Sirens refuse to provide detailed intelligence, they also refused to approve funding. Could it be that they were planning to let him generate electricity for love? He wasn't really afraid that he would betray him.

"You really don't have a penny? That's amazing... cough, I mean, your faction is so stupid that they haven't even considered this." Binjiang coughed lightly and said pretentiously, "Luckily, you worked hard and found a wealthy sister. How about this, if you're willing to bet with me, I'll give you some start-up capital. At least you can have a place to stay in the harbor, so you don't end up living on the streets on the first day."

Luo Yun really wanted to scold Binjiang loudly to prove that he was not a materialistic man, but it was also true that money could make a hero fall. No matter how hard he tried, it was impossible for him to start from scratch and gain a foothold in the port area in one day.

Luo Yun gritted his teeth and said, "Just think of it as a loan from me. Sister Binjiang, tell me, how are you going to gamble and what are the stakes?"

"Haha~ Don't look like you're on your way to the execution ground. I'm just bored and want to have some fun." Binjiang patted his shoulder, leaned close to Luo Yun's ear, and said in a sweet voice, "Let's bet on whether you can get the contact information of ten ship girls within a month. As for the bet... If you lose, you have to work for your sister for a week. Otherwise, I can agree to a request that's not too unreasonable. How about it?"

Commander, let alone a month, if you can't get the contact information of dozens of ship girls within a week, I will doubt everyone's awareness. The dealers are all my people, what do you have to bet with me?

However, in Luo Yun's view, Binjiang's bet was simply a mercy to him. He had been able to persist for twenty years without getting the contact information of ten people of the opposite sex. So what was so difficult about persisting for another month?

"Sister Binjiang, if I agree, you can't say I'm taking advantage of you."

"Haha, I just like your ignorant and fearless look!" Bin Jiang slapped him twice, then suddenly pulled Luo Yun into her arms, hugged his neck, and kicked open the restaurant door. "Come on, sister will take you to eat delicious food!"

Luo Yun really wanted to refuse Binjiang, but she felt obliged to do what she had received. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was being kept by her, so she could only let her drag her into the restaurant.

"I brought Luo Yun here, and you haven't even started eating yet? Haha, you're too polite, aren't you?" Bin Jiang walked to the banquet table, looked at the dishes excitedly, tore off a chicken leg, and put it to Luo Yun's mouth, saying proudly, "It's my treat today, so eat as much as you can!"

Looking at the greasy chicken leg so close to him, and the innocent girl not far away looking at him with curious eyes, Luo Yun wanted to die.

Chapter 17: Breaking the Whole into Parts

According to common sense, a girl like Binjiang who ruins the atmosphere and doesn't follow the rules would at least receive a lot of cold stares even if no one confronts her in public. However, none of the girls present showed any disgust. The black-haired and purple-eyed JK even considerately helped her move the position of her plate so that Binjiang could get started directly.

Seeing this scene, Luo Yun couldn't help but wonder if his quality was too low, or if the customs and habits of the other world were completely different from what he knew. Binjiang's behavior was normal in their eyes, but the other girls were more elegant and reserved than each other. How could this be explained?

But no matter what, it is always a good thing not to arouse other people's disgust. Since you are in an unfamiliar place, let alone making friends, at least you cannot take the initiative to make enemies with others. Otherwise, with their scheming and abilities, Luo Yun has no doubt that he will be fooled by them.

Binjiang stuffed her mouth full, but she also took care of her newly recognized brother: "Luo Yun, try the grilled oysters. These are fresh seafood. Eat more to nourish your body."

Facing the girls' mixed looks, Luo Yun said rather awkwardly, "I think I'm in good health, so there's no need for that."

"Not now, but maybe not in the future... Oh! This taste! It's so delicious, Luo Yun, you should try it too!" Binjiang said with shining eyes.

There's no doubt about it, only she can make this taste. I knew the port couldn't have sent only a dozen ship girls to welcome the commander. I wonder how many ship girls are hiding in the cruise ship, eyeing the commander covetously.

Luo Yun took a sip doubtfully, and his taste buds seemed to be awakened instantly. An indescribable wonderful taste blossomed in his mouth. He couldn't help but widen his eyes and exclaimed: "This... is simply the most delicious food I have ever eaten in my life."

Compared to the various pre-prepared meals and canned foods of the past few days, any normal food would make Luo Yun exclaim delicious, not to mention these delicacies that were obviously far beyond the average level.

"Haha, who isn't?" Binjiang laughed. "If it tastes good, eat more. Don't waste their kindness."

"Indeed, I'd feel really bad if I didn't finish it... Wait." Luo Yun suddenly thought of something and asked with a frown, "Who made these foods? There shouldn't be any other humans besides us, right? It can't be the ship girls..."

Binjiang's smile froze and he hurriedly winked at the others, trying to get them to find a way to help make up for it.

Something bad happened. The cook only wanted to show off his skills in front of the commander, but overlooked such a simple yet fatal loophole.

"It's the work of robots," Hu Teng said without looking up, picking at a fish bone from his plate. "The port's artificial intelligence is highly advanced, more than capable of doing most ordinary people's jobs. And they're plentiful, forming the cornerstone of its operations."

Luo Yun murmured, "Has artificial intelligence developed to this level these days?"

"This is only true in the Hong Kong area. Their technology is at least twenty years ahead of the outside world," Hu Teng explained patiently, his face stern. "This should be common sense for us, right? You don't even know this. Oh, and about that one-year agreement before? Did you really do your homework?"

Luo Yun was speechless for a moment: "Well, well... my camp's intelligence capabilities are not very good. They have already done everything they can to get me a place. I don't have the extra energy to take care of other aspects."

Wonderful! In just a few words, he switched from offense to defense with the commander. Now it was the commander's turn to be at a loss.

"Only one spot for you? That's like committing suicide." Hu Teng shook his head and sighed. "Never mind. No matter how thorough our preparations are, only one of us can survive. Maybe in the underworld, you'll mock me for preparing so much and seeing it all go to waste."

The black-haired JK sitting on Luo Yun's right suddenly said, "It's not necessarily the case that only one person will survive. If we're lucky, we might be able to meet again in a year."