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

“I don’t need to,” Li Wei waved his hand. “The agreement you signed wasn’t with me. If I go, wouldn’t that just escalate the situation? There’s no need for that.”

"Let what you do in the simulation remain in the simulation."

Richelieu: "Hmph... I can tell the commander is favoring Veneto."

Clemenceau: "Yes, you could tell just by listening to it, right? It seems that Veneto's backstab and sneak escape this time were very effective."

Jeanbart finally realized the seriousness of the situation: "It seems that the punishment must be increased."

Li Wei asked curiously, "Just asking—I'm just asking, I absolutely have no intention of interfering."

After fully layering his armor, Li Wei continued, "How do you intend to punish Veneto?"

Richelieu: "First and foremost, we must strip her of her next few shifts on the secretary ship, thus eliminating any opportunity for her to openly approach the commander."

Clemenceau: "We also need to control her budget, reduce her daily expenses, and prevent her from using official business to get close to the commander and then sneak away."

Jean Bart concluded, "Finally, we'll temporarily confiscate everything in her home that relates to the commander, so she can't get any relief."

Li Wei: "...Why does this last one feel so..."

Jean Bart: "Heh, Commander, don't underestimate this last point. Do you know just how many things in Veneto's house are related to you?"

Richelieu and Clemenceau, for some reason, had a bad feeling about it.

Richelieu even spoke up to stop him: "Jean Barth..."

However, it was too late. Jean Bart had already spoken: "Just the clothes you've worn, Commander, are enough to fill an entire wardrobe!"

Li Wei: !

This won't do; we have to deliver a powerful blow!

"I support a proper punishment!"

"Then, Commander, why don't you take out the postcard she gave you as well?"

Li Wei carefully placed the postcard inside his pocket and kept it close to his body: "This won't do, one thing at a time. I got this by exchanging chips!"

Chapter 414 The poetry recitation was just a pretext

September.

There's not much difference between July, August, and September in the tropics; at least, Li Wei didn't feel much difference in terms of physical sensation.

If I had to put it into words, the weather in July and August would be a bit hotter and more humid, while the weather in September would be a bit more humid.

Zhenhai sat on the sofa, urging Li Wei to go to Donghuang to escape the summer heat: "Commander, how about a trip to Donghuang? We didn't pass through Donghuang last time we went to Sakura Empire, so it was a pity we missed seeing its beautiful scenery~"

Li Wei was indeed somewhat tempted: "It seems like it should be good, but if it's too short, I won't have enough fun, and if it's too long, I won't be able to abandon my official duties."

Zhenhai unfolded her fan and gently fanned herself: "Didn't the Commander ask Enterprise and others to help you take over your duties? Protecting them all the time isn't sustainable. If you ask me, it's time to really let go and let the ship girls make their own decisions~"

“Okay, let’s do it this way!” Li Wei made the decision: “Go back now and make a travel… no, I mean, summer getaway plan. Give it to me in the next couple of days, and once I think it’s suitable, we can set off.”

Zhenhai pulled a fragrant document directly from his pocket: "Why go back? I've already finished it~, Commander, please take a look~"

Li Wei took the documents from Zhenhai's hand: "It seems you were prepared."

Zhenhai chuckled: "Hehe, of course, Donghuang never fights a battle unprepared."

Li Wei flipped through the documents: "Let me see, this is... Mount Tai?"

"Hmm~" Zhenhai crossed her legs: "Commander, you probably don't have any mountain climbing experience before, right? In that case, we've chosen Mount Tai, which is relatively easy to get started with~ Mount Tai isn't very high, it's cool on the mountain, and we ship girls will be there to escort you, making it a great target location~"

Li Wei nodded: "Then how do we get there?"

Zhenhai: "Of course we'll just fly there!"

“Shipping by air would be a bit too slow; it would probably take at least a week for us to get there,” Zhenhai said with a smile. “How about we fly there the same day, spend about a week sightseeing, and then fly back the same day?”

"The whole process will only take about a week, which won't take too much time or interfere with official business."

“Sure, about a week is a good time.” Li Wei continued to nod: “What about the ship girls who will accompany you? Don’t tell me you’re alone… I’m afraid that in the end, I’ll be the one helping you, not the other way around.”

"Commander underestimates Zhenhai a bit." Although Zhenhai appeared calm, her subconscious gestures revealed that she had clearly been hit where it hurt by Li Wei's words: "We've prepared at least four ship girls this time. Currently confirmed to depart are myself, Yixian, Binjiang, and Longwu, providing you with comprehensive travel support~"

"Commander, you can also suggest who else you'd like to add, and we'll discuss it and add them to your team."

"Forget it." Li Wei shook his head: "You guys will definitely come to the conclusion of not adding anything in the end. I know you guys too well."

Zhenhai winked and chuckled, clearly having been right again.

"Let's add one more, so that ship girls from other factions can also appreciate the beauty from the East." Li Wei thought for a moment, "You can decide on the candidate, and I'll approve it in the end."

"Hmm... then please look forward to it, Commander~"

The final candidate submitted by Zhenhai was Alfredo.

As a reporter for the Sardinian camp, Zhenhai had indeed chosen an excellent candidate, and Li Wei readily agreed. Alfredo had even less reason to refuse. She was usually bored out of her mind in the port area, and now that she had such a good opportunity to go on a trip with the commander, Alfredo was overjoyed.

Levi instructed Alfredo to keep quiet, at least until the day before the trip, so that the other ship girls wouldn't know that the commander was going on another week-long trip.

The next day, the group of six traveled to Taishan on the commander's private charter plane.

On the plane, Binjiang shared his thoughts on the destination: "If you ask me, at this time of year and season, we should go to my hometown. Speaking of escaping the heat, where is there anything more enjoyable than skiing directly in the mountains?"

Yixian smiled but remained silent in response to Binjiang's suggestion.

Longwu was engrossed in his recipes, seemingly researching what local ingredients could be used to make delicious food.

Alfredo was unfamiliar with any of these places; he simply leaned against the back of Levi's chair, watching the group discuss their destination with gleaming eyes.

“Snow Mountain isn’t out of the question.” Li Wei didn’t reject Binjiang’s suggestion: “After all, it was Zhenhai who proposed it this time. Next time, Binjiang, you can bring the documents over. Once I sign them, it will be effective.”

"If I had known the Commander wouldn't have so many requests, I would have delivered the documents myself." Binjiang looked regretful. "When does the Commander plan to go on his next trip? I'll start writing the documents as soon as I get back."

Zhenhai simply smiled.

“Next time? It will be at least next month.” Li Wei shook his head: “We can’t come too often. If we come too often, the ship girls at the home port will cause trouble, just like when we went to the Northern Alliance.”

All the ship girls participated in the long journey with the Northern Alliance and shared their experiences along the way.

The plane landed directly at the foot of Mount Tai. After all the luggage was prepared, the group officially began their mountain climbing journey.

Zhenhai waved his fan: "Commander, how are you feeling?"

This wasn't Li Wei's first time seeing this majestic mountain range; he had even climbed it more than once before. Anyone who sees Mount Tai for the first time will be awestruck by its grandeur. Especially after climbing all night and greeting the sunrise at the summit, the sense of accomplishment from conquering nature is unparalleled.

This time, there were no bustling tourists, no scenic spots, and certainly no cable cars to go up and down the mountain; only the previously developed mountain road remained. Li Wei's mountain climbing experience was useless, so he could only climb the mountain with the ship girls.

Li Wei: "Just looking at it from the foot of the mountain is enough to make it feel magnificent."

"Right?" Zhenhai chuckled. "It might still be a bit hot at the foot of the mountain. If you're all prepared, let's head up now. Remember to keep warm when we get to the top. It's not only not as hot as at the foot of the mountain, but it's even a bit chilly."

Li Wei deeply agreed.

"Let's go!"

"Commander, rest assured, I will fulfill my duties as a journalist!" Alfredo, carrying his camera, declared, "I guarantee I'll write a travelogue that will make all the ship girls in the port extremely envious!"

Li Wei: "...There's no need to go to such lengths. Just a regular documentary will suffice. The main focus of the publicity can be on the scenery, letting all the ship girls know how magnificent the natural beauty of Donghuang is."

Although he didn't understand why the commander said that, Alfredo's greatest strength was obeying orders: "No problem! Leave it to me!"

The group traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping to rest and admire the scenery whenever they reached a beautiful spot. When they reached a small pavilion, Zhenhai suddenly became interested: "Commander, look at that blue blur in the distance, doesn't it look like a cup?"

Binjiang clapped: "I'm reminded of a line of poetry."

Zhenhai: "Bowing down to the Central Plains of Qi and Lu."

Binjiang: "Looking eastward, the sea resembles a cup."

Yi Xian: "Suddenly, on a single peak."

The three of them looked at Li Wei together.

Li Wei: ...

Why are you looking at me? I don't know anything about it!

I only know Li Wei's most famous poem, "I will climb to the summit and look down on all the mountains below." I really can't recall any other poems about this place.

Zhenhai: "In that case, the commander must accept punishment~"

"Okay, okay, I accept. Now, tell me, what is the punishment?"

Zhenhai and Yixian exchanged a glance: "One bullet."

Li Wei was both amused and exasperated: "How did you guys suddenly change the tone like this... Never mind, one bullet is one bullet, no problem. Give it to me now?"

He knew that the ship girls would ultimately be heading this way. The fact that they'd only revealed their true colors now showed they'd been patiently waiting for quite some time.

“Of course not now~” Yi Xian offered Li Wei some fruit: “Once we get to the top of the mountain, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. Just remember the number of bullets.”

Alfredo scrolled through his communication device: "The commander couldn't connect with the poem in the pavilion, and Sister Yixian took one of his rounds."

Li Wei: ...

"Ahem, Alfredo, there's no need to report on such a trivial matter."

"Hehe, Commander, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"No, I think you're the one who's still unaware..."

……

"Commander, look what that is!"

"Is that... a white crane?"

Yi Xian has already begun his own story: "The Lu traveler embraces the white crane, bids farewell to me and heads to Mount Tai."

Li Wei: ...

Why are you looking at me? I don't know anything about it!

Binjiang picked up on this line and gave Li Wei a hint: "At first, it was like a wisp of cloud, disappearing into the green cliffs."

Li Wei: ...

I've never heard of it before, I really can't connect the dots.

Zhenhai gave one last hint: "Reaching high to the Heavenly Gate, the Sunrise Viewpoint is within easy reach."

Li Wei: ...Alright, I'll accept the punishment.

Long Wu: "The mountains and clouds are beyond my reach; when will I return?"

"Commander, I know all this, how could you not know?"

Li Wei said expressionlessly, "One bullet, credited to Long Wu."

Longwu: Yay!

Yixian, Binjiang, Zhenhai: ...

……

Binjiang pointed to the sun between the two mountain valleys and said, "Commander, look at that..."

Li Wei was direct: "One bullet, the blame is on Binjiang."

Binjiang smiled contentedly and stepped back.

……

Zhenhai waved his fan: "Commander, you..."

Li Wei interrupted Zhenhai's chanting directly: "One bullet, marked on Zhenhai."

……

Before even reaching the summit, having covered only half the distance, Levi had already fired five rounds of ammunition. Even Alfredo received a round as a reward for his diligence.

Li Wei: ...If you want ammunition, just say so. There's no need to ask me to compose poems for you anymore; I really can't come up with any.

Ship girls: Commander, poetry doesn't matter, we're just here to ask you for ammunition~

Chapter 415 Li Wei: Come on, come inside with me!

The top of Mount Tai.