I'm in the azure sky, and I have an anti-fraud app.

However, Belfast herself denied this: "Of course I am still my master's maid. Belfast is ready to serve my master whenever he needs me."

The ship girls thought Belfast was just expressing her determination, but no one knew that Belfast had actually already tried.

...and it was she who asked for it.

……

Li Wei sat in his office, dealing with the backlog of work from the past week. Although he had given a plan in advance, there were always things that needed to be dealt with later. For example, some ship girls suddenly had new ideas and wanted more resources; some ship girls encountered new situations and needed to report to the commander, and so on.

For example, there's a report on the table right now: "Report on the Imminent Arrival of More Ironblood Ship Girls in the Port."

The report didn't provide detailed personal information about the ship girls who were about to arrive, only saying that they "would not disappoint the commander"... It seems that they have a preferred type?

Li Wei signed the report, put it aside, and patted his head under the table.

The company emerged from under the table.

“I know you’re envious of Belfast getting the ring, but I don’t encourage this kind of approach.” Levi gestured for Enterprise to crawl under from the other end: “My table is only this big. If all the ship girls were crawling around under here, there wouldn’t be enough space for you to move back and forth.”

Enterprise stubbornly got up from in front of Levi: "Commander, really, now that we have Belfast, even the angle from which we crawl out has to be regulated?"

Li Wei sighed: "It's not what you think."

The company took a half-step forward: "What is it then?"

Li Wei couldn't bring himself to describe what he'd been through this past week. The ring had indeed opened everything about Belfast to him, but it had also opened everything about him to Belfast. In game terms, the attacks between them had been converted into "true damage," like two boxers delivering a brutal beating to each other.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad; at most, Levi would just lie down and let Belfast do what she wants. However, perhaps because of the additional Mind Cube within her, Belfast's stamina bar doubled, allowing her to actually compete with Levi's stamina bar.

That week was truly filled with pure love...

Li Wei could only make up an excuse: "Right now I need to focus on official business in the port area. It's been piling up for a week, and there's a lot that needs to be dealt with."

The company wasn't about to let this opportunity to sneak away slip by, and quickly circled around to Li Wei's back: "Commander, you went to the Northern Union for several months before, and there didn't seem to be any backlog of official business, did you?"

Li Wei made a precise parry: "You didn't mention a word about me working on the cruise ship back then."

The company launched another attack, this time choosing to massage the commander's neck with her own marshmallows: "Commander, you didn't have any work when you were in Sakura Empire, did you? Did you have this much official business back then?"

Li Wei did not resist this time. As long as they didn't covet his ammunition, Li Wei did not object to such interactions: "When we were in Sakura Empire, many ship girls helped us. Whether it was Shinano or Musashi, they all restrained the Sakura Empire ship girls. Unlike you, who only think about taking ammunition in the home port."

"Didn't the Commander enjoy it too?" Enterprise licked her lips, seemingly still savoring the delicious taste from before. "I don't think the Commander refused at first."

"You ambushed me." Li Wei rolled his eyes. "Who knew you'd be hiding in this empty room first?"

The company went a step further, bowing its head to kiss the commander's forehead: "That's called sound tactics."

"Good, good, good, reasonable tactics." Levi reached out and pressed Enterprise's marshmallow. Enterprise immediately understood and lowered her head to kiss the commander.

“Commander, although we have no objection to the first ring you gave to the head maid, the second one... don’t tell us there isn’t a second one yet. We all know that one ring can be produced every week.”

"It's already mid-July, the commander must have a second ring by now, right? Maybe even a third one."

Li Wei joked, "The second one is indeed in my hands. As for who to give it to... I haven't decided yet, it depends on your performance."

Enterprise pouted, displaying a charmingly girlish demeanor: "The Commander said last time that he hadn't thought it through, but then he just gave it to Belfast, catching us completely off guard."

“I didn’t plan to do it that quickly.” Levi shook his head: “Belfast… well, it’s a pioneer, and we have to experience many things about the rings ourselves to know how they work.”

Li Wei said seriously, "On the one hand, I don't want you to say I'm unfair. You should all enjoy what Belfast has to offer."

"Besides, Belfast was somewhat of an accident... We were planning to hold a wedding and pick out a wedding dress, but the Mind Cube malfunctioned first, so we had to come back first."

"So, you mean if it weren't for the appearance of the little ship girl, you were still planning to continue?"

"...No, that's not true. The original plan was just a week." Li Wei let Enterprise sit in his lap and looked into her eyes. "In short, this is the most important thing for you ship girls, and I will definitely do it seriously, one by one. You trust me and are willing to entrust yourselves to me, so I will treat you seriously as well."

"We cannot be careless about this most important thing."

The company's eyes were also full of seriousness: "Yes!"

"Okay, I've said everything I needed to say. I don't need to repeat myself, right? Is there anything else?"

"Of course!" Enterprise reached down to steady the main gun. "I just got one round!"

Li Wei held his forehead.

……

"Did you hear that?"

"what? What?"

"It's about the commander and the ring..."

"Say it quickly!"

Over the next few days, groups of ship girls could be seen everywhere in the port, discussing related news.

Following Li Wei's instructions, the company gradually released what he had previously mentioned, which successfully diverted the ship girls' attention and allowed him to escape his daily routine of being surrounded and intercepted by them.

"Did anything interesting happen today? Tell me while you eat your snacks."

Levi peeled an apple for Belfast. Although the surface was bumpy and uneven, Belfast not only didn't mind, but even showed a happy smile.

"There's nothing interesting, but there's something worth telling you."

Belfast smiled slightly: "Is this the choice for the new head maid?"

"You knew about Belfast?"

What is your husband thinking?

“I’m here to get your opinion.” Levi shook Belfast’s hand: “Because you are the first case in the port area, I want to wait until you are completely fine before letting you work. In the meantime, someone else will take over your work duties.”

"Actually... it doesn't have any impact at all," Belfast smiled. "Several doctors and nurses are around me every day, afraid that something might happen to me. But if you ask me, what could possibly happen to me? I still want to go back to my husband's side and serve him again~"

“The doctors did the right thing. Whether from a husband's perspective or a commander's perspective, I want you to get some rest. In a way, this is also contributing to the port area and helping me.” Li Wei reached out and kneaded the marshmallow. “How are you? Can you feel any changes?”

"It's only been a few days, how could there be any changes?" Belfast chuckled. "Actually, I haven't felt any difference from before these past few days—maybe we ship girls are different from humans and don't have these kinds of concerns... But you're right, this is indeed the first time ever. Since you say so, then I'll just focus on recording the data."

"I see... I'm so glad Belfast understands. Do you have any thoughts or recommendations regarding the position of acting head maid?"

“As for the position of head maid… I think you can decide for yourself.” Belfast gave a mischievous smile. “If I had to recommend someone, I would probably recommend Newcastle. After all, she was the former head maid, has a good personality, and is very familiar with her husband.”

"I am familiar with all of you ship girls."

"Alright, alright, my husband knows everything." Belfast held Levi's hand. "Why does this sound like a farewell?"

Levi was amused by Belfast. After learning that she was also pregnant, Belfast seemed less obsessed with perfection and more like a typical wife in everyday life.

“Newcastle, is that right? I understand.” Levi hesitated for a moment before revealing all his thoughts, including his future plans.

“Wedding dress? Wedding? Of course, that would be wonderful.” Belfast looked longingly at him. “To be honest, I’ve longed for a wedding dress for a long time. To stand beside the bride and groom, rather than behind her, is my greatest wish in life.”

“I will pick out the perfect wedding dress for you.” Li Wei paused for a moment, “I just don’t know…whether you plan to hold the ceremony before…or after?”

“Of course, it has to be before.” Belfast smiled gently. “Master, it’s not that I crave the feeling of being the center of attention, but rather that I’m thinking of you. If I’m not mistaken, the news circulating among the ship girls was deliberately spread by you, right?”

When the topic turned to port affairs, Belfast unconsciously changed her form of address: "You don't need to worry at all. So many ship girls in the port have dedicated their lives to their masters, and there will be even more ship girls in the future. Isn't that something to be happy about?"

"In that case, it wouldn't be appropriate to force the ship girls to postpone receiving their rings and holding their weddings because of my personal reasons."

Levi stood up and hugged Belfast.

"Being the first to receive my master's love is enough for me." Belfast murmured understandingly in Levi's arms, "We are all ship girls, I'm just a little luckier than them, how can I plunder all the happiness that follows? That's not something I can do."

"Speaking of which, does the master have a second candidate in mind?"

Chapter 388 Atago: Commander, are you planning to do it first or later?

"This is fine as it is at the entrance... Ah, welcome, Commander. Excuse me, we're cleaning up right away... We'll take you to your seat shortly!"

Toriumi lifted her maid's skirt, gesturing for Levi to follow her.

"Is Toriumi undergoing maid training today?"

"I heard the commander has a particular fondness for maids, so I was thinking of... hehe~"

Li Wei was speechless; he knew without even guessing where the rumor came from.

"Commander, what would you like to drink? I recommend our new juice with a snow topping; it tastes amazing!"

"Then let's have one... ah, two glasses, please."

"Please wait~"

A few minutes later, Chokai arrived with two glasses of juice, placing one in front of the commander and the other opposite him.

"Just give me both cups."

"Okay...eh?"

"It's just me." Li Wei smiled. "Don't tell anyone I'm here, okay?"

Toriumi blinked, seemingly realizing what the commander meant: "The commander is stealing..."

Li Wei gave a wry smile: "I didn't sneak out... well, it's pretty much the same."

The various messages released by the company were indeed very useful, and they once suppressed the boiling situation; however, his subsequent communication with Belfast was leaked again by someone, and the ship girls, who had already calmed down, became envious again.

What they envied most was that Belfast could wear the wedding dress that every girl dreams of, and have an enviable wedding with the Commander in front of everyone—it would be even better if they could unlock a few more playable scenarios after the wedding.

Comments such as "I really want to walk into the church with the Commander and wear a pure white wedding dress", "The Commander will definitely like the white high heels of the wedding dress, right? Should I prepare a few pairs?" and "I feel that the wedding dress is gorgeous, but will it be a bit troublesome to take it off?" are circulating online.

Li Wei usually pretended not to see it, because if these ship girls really kept going on and on, he would be the one who suffered in the end.

Toriumi sat opposite the Commander, gesturing to listen: "Commander, if you have any worries, you can confide in Toriumi, okay? Toriumi promises not to tell anyone~"

“I have no doubt that Toriumi can keep her promise, but... sometimes the news doesn't come from the ship girls present.” Levi sighed, “But I’m already very grateful for Toriumi’s intention.”

Toriumi didn't give up: "Is it about the ring?"

"As expected, was it predictable?"

Toriumi covered her mouth and chuckled: "Of course, Commander probably doesn't know yet, but right now, no topic in the port can compare to rings and weddings~ Yesterday, nine out of the top ten trending topics on the shipgirl forum were related to rings~ In fact, these days, if you're not talking about rings, you're practically out of touch~"

The Kantai Collection forum was the only large forum that Levi couldn't access. It was usually filled with all sorts of gossip and strategy guides about commanders, and Levi wasn't really interested in going in—it always felt weird to see himself being gossiped about.

Li Wei was slightly surprised that a topic unrelated to the ring had come up: "Oh? What is that topic unrelated to the ring?"

Toriumi hesitated slightly: "...Commander, do you want to know?"

Li Wei could roughly guess that it was going to be a terrible topic, but it didn't seem right to give up halfway through, so he took the initiative to continue asking.

"It's...it's the guessing game about the different positions the Commander used the night before last..."

Li Wei: ...

I don't need to ask more.

“Commander, there’s no need to worry.” Toriumi responded gently, “We believe that whatever decision you make, Commander, is the best decision.”

“I have no doubt about that either.” Li Wei watched as Toriumi moved from opposite him to sit beside him. “It would be even better if we could have more time to rest…”

Li Wei's voice abruptly stopped.

Chokai has begun his attack.

Li Wei looked heartbroken: "Torikai, I trusted you so much, I even told you my troubles, but you..."

"Don't worry, Commander, I'll be very gentle~" Toriumi tried to slow down her movements to avoid stimulating the commander too much: "I just... want to make things a little easier for the commander..."

Li Wei: ...Guess why I'm not at ease?

However, Toriumi kept his promise and didn't aim for ammunition, but rather allowed Levi to feel some comfort, but not too much. It was somewhere between feeling something, but not much.

If it were the Levi from before, he probably wouldn't have been able to handle even this much. But now he's a battle-hardened commander, and he feels no pressure at all about this service. Without realizing it, he's even a little sleepy—he didn't get a good night's sleep last night, having been successfully taken by Belfast under the pretext of "it's been a long time"; and this morning, Newcastle took several rounds of ammunition under the pretext of familiarizing himself with business. Levi is genuinely a bit tired now.

Toriumi gently massaged her: "Commander, if you're really tired, why don't you rest here for a bit?"

Li Wei didn't open his eyes: "Is he in his seat?"

"My room at the very back is where I take my lunch break. Commander, if you don't mind, would you like to take a nap there?"

"it is good."

Chokai changed the sign at the entrance from "Temporarily Closed" to "Closed No Longer Open," and then led the Commander into the room.

To Li Wei's surprise, he had assumed that, given Torii's personality, his resting room would be a simple, empty room with only essential furniture, suitable only for a midday nap. However, what he saw was a rather large, luxurious room, filled not only with wardrobes crammed with various clothes, but also with several weapon racks.

Toriumi noticed the commander's confusion and explained, "This is a place shared by me and my older sisters. Sometimes they don't want to walk so far back to their dorms at noon, so they rest here, so..."

Li Wei nodded knowingly.

After seeing all sorts of gadgets that only Atago would use, Li Wei gained a new understanding of Atago's daily routine.