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

Yi Xian sighed softly, "Yes, we have all become the Commander's prisoners."

Zhenhai scoffed, "Haven't you already been? It's not like you can leave the Commander without the ring."

Name: Zhenhai (Oath Taken)

Identity: Strategist, Deputy Leader, and Commander's Wife of the Eastern Empire Faction

Personality: Meticulous, calm, and always has a backup plan for everything (except when facing an attack from the commander).

Keywords: Chess game, attacking by surprise

Things I enjoy doing: Playing chess, enjoying the thrill of strategic planning, and having in-depth discussions with Yi Xian and the Commander.

Number of times destroyed: 366

Weaknesses: bow, deck, marshmallow area, markers, core compartment, cargo hold, sea valve, stern

Status: Has gained complete knowledge of the commander and is utterly incapable of resistance.

Last time we were defeated: Watching the commander and Jianwu's in-depth conversation from the plane.

Name: Yi Xian (sworn in)

Identity: Leader of the Eastern Empire faction, talented woman, wife of the commander

Personality: Calm, gentle, confident, hardworking, and has her own insights into the commander.

Keywords: Republic of China style, plum blossom umbrella

Things I enjoy doing: Helping the Commander achieve their goals, watching Donghuang improve, and engaging in in-depth discussions with Zhenhai and the Commander.

Number of times destroyed: 401

Weaknesses: bow, deck, marshmallow area, markers, core compartment, cargo hold, sea valve, stern

Status: Currently considering how to conduct the Donghuang wedding.

Last time we were defeated: Watching the commander and Jianwu's in-depth conversation from the plane.

Looking at the detailed information about the two individuals, Li Wei expressed his satisfaction.

Especially in terms of the number of times they were defeated. Li Wei remembered that the two were about the same at the beginning, but now there is such a big difference. He guessed that Yi Xian's ability to resist being defeated had decreased a lot in the past few days.

The description of their hobbies made Li Wei raise an eyebrow.

Surprisingly, the first two ships to have this mutual tagline appear were Yi Xian and Zhen Hai. He had thought it would be a sister ship of the same class. But thinking about it, it makes sense. These two were almost always present when he was around, and they probably had more in-depth conversations with each other than with any other ship girl.

They spend even more time together than they do in-depth, one-on-one conversations.

However, this is not bad either, at least it will be easier for both parties to accept when holding the Eastern Palace wedding in the future.

The plane lands.

With Yi Xian on his left arm and Zhen Hai on his right, Li Wei led the two ship girls to the hospital.

Belfast and the company had been informed in advance and were waiting at the door.

Belfast: "Gentlemen, I thought we would be adding a new member last month... but I didn't expect that we would be adding them together this month."

Enterprise: "Since we all share the same identity, let's work together as commanders... ah, it seems we should call him husband here... let's work together to support all of husband's endeavors."

Zhenhai and Yixian exchanged a smile: "Of course, we will have to rely on you two more in the future if we have any shortcomings."

Chapter 427 The Commander's Favorite Food

"Port Area Culinary Competition..."

"Who came up with this idea? Is there really any suspense about who will win?"

"One person from each faction, except for the Eastern Empire faction..."

"Donghuang will participate in the match as a referee."

"That doesn't seem like a bad idea."

Li Wei glanced through the rules, flipped to the front of the proposal, and looked at the person who made the suggestion.

Queen Elizabeth.

Li Wei: ...

It seems they've been driven to despair by the royal cuisine and are craving something new and different.

Li Wei expressed his understanding.

The royal cuisine was indeed hard to describe.

Alright, it's approved then. It's a great competition that can motivate the ship girls in the port and give them a change of pace. There's no reason to refuse.

Let's set the date for a week from now, so that the ship girls have enough time to prepare.

A week later.

The central square of the commercial street in the port area is bustling with activity.

Each faction set up its own competition area, and even the ship girls from the Northern Alliance came from the far north to the port to participate in the competition and "prove" the reputation of their faction's cuisine.

Given the positive and safe nature of this competition, Belfast and Enterprise were finally able to leave the hospital. After living in the hospital under the Commander's orders for so long, the two ship girls finally had a chance to stretch their bodies.

Representing the Royals is Newcastle – a position usually filled by Belfast, barring any unforeseen circumstances. As the undisputed culinary master of the Royals, Belfast's cooking skills are arguably unparalleled.

However, now that Belfast has taken on the role of referee, Royals have had to field Newcastle as Belfast's "replacement".

Representing Eagle Union is Kirsage, a mechanical ship girl with a unique understanding of food. Eagle Union seems to want to win the competition with an unexpected and special feature.

Nagato is representing Sakura Empire. The princess, who usually never lifts a finger, is very interested in this competition and actively participates despite her typically unassuming nature.

The Sakura Empire's ship girls readily accepted this and gave Nagato their full support.

Compared to the other three united factions, the Ironblood faction had more internal conflicts. As everyone knows, the Ironblood faction has the most individualistic members, and during the week of preparation, they even held a small internal elimination tournament.

Mainz was the last one to advance. Her cooking skills may not be the best among the Ironblood ship girls, but they are the most suitable for the Ironblood ship girls.

The Soviet Union took the lead in the Northern Alliance, and the Northern Alliance's ship girls had no objections—to be honest, it didn't matter who the Northern Alliance's ship girls were, since the Northern Alliance's cuisine didn't have much of a personal touch anyway.

The ship girls from Iris and Sardinia are eager to compete and determined to win a championship. Especially the ship girls from Iris—they were almost forced to sit on the judges' bench, but that would be too many judges.

If the mistakes made by the various teams during the competition aren't enough for the referees and guests to each take a jab at, then there's bound to be some humor in that.

In conclusion, Banlvey and Zara were given the opportunity to fight for both sides.

All seven ship girl contestants are ready for battle.

Belfast served as the host for the competition. Three months later, Belfast showed no difference whatsoever from before; she remained the perfectly proportioned head maid.

"This competition involves cooking according to a randomly drawn theme."

"As long as the explanation after completion reflects the relevant ideas or elements of the theme, it is acceptable."

"Each contestant has ten minutes to discuss with their faction's ship girls before starting to cook, and to finalize details such as the dish. Once a decision has been made or the time has been exceeded, further communication is not possible."

"Everyone, is there a problem?"

Many of the participating ship girls said they had no problem.

Belfast smiled and pulled a small slip of paper from the question box: "This time the theme is... 'Commander'~"

Li Wei thought Belfast was calling him, so he got up to ask what had happened.

Belfast showed him the question in her hand; the slip of paper clearly read: "Commander."

Li Wei: ...

The ship girls were initially taken aback, but after realizing what was happening, they immediately began discussing it with the ship girls from their own faction.

Ten minutes passed quietly.

Ten minutes later, all the participating ship girls were full of confidence, feeling that they could definitely win the championship.

Moving on to the cooking process.

The reporters and ship girls in the port area reported comprehensively from every angle, almost as if they wanted to put all the second-hand information into their live broadcasts so that ship girls who were not on the front line could also see the real-time situation of the competition.

Li Wei sat on the stage, overlooking the entire situation.

"Miss Nagato, could you please explain your thoughts when you have time?"

"Of course~, my understanding is that it's the food that the commander likes to eat the most."

"So, Commander, what is your favorite food?"

"Oysters, of course! I often see the Commander devouring oysters, so I specially made grilled oysters this time."

Li Wei, who saw the report: ...

hiss……

Belfast and the other ship girls gave them ambiguous, half-smiling looks.

Li Wei stated that these things were none of his business; he was merely an observer.

"And what are your thoughts, Head Maid of Newcastle?"

Newcastle acted prudently: "My idea is that any food related to the commander is relevant, isn't it?"

"So, what does that specifically mean..."

Newcastle smiled and said, "What I mean is that it's the food that the commander needs most right now."

"The most needed food?"

Newcastle: "For example... this black bean and mutton dish is something the Commander must really need~"

Li Wei: ...

The company also came to Li Wei's side this time: "It seems that the Commander has left a deep impression on everyone during this period~"

Li Wei: "...No, I didn't do that! When did I become like this?!"

Company: "Otherwise... why would everyone think that way?"

Li Wei offered a weak excuse: "It's probably because I haven't spent much time with everyone lately, so that's why people think that way..."

These ship girls who love to cause trouble, they're winning every time, so why are they always causing trouble!

……

The final seven dishes were served one by one within the allotted time.

Nagato: "Commander, grilled oysters~, this is your favorite food."

Li Wei: ...This isn't my favorite, don't talk nonsense.

Newcastle: "Commander, black bean stewed lamb. This is the most suitable food for the commander."

Li Wei: I'll reluctantly agree, just for the sake of the stewed mutton.

Kirsaj: "Commander, cold loach salad. According to my calculations, this is a kidney-tonifying food that you haven't tried before."

Li Wei: ...I'm sorry, I don't really want to try it.

Mainz: "Commander, my dish is a large meat and coffee quail stew, which will surely help you be full of energy."

Li Wei: ...So, this coffee you put in the food is actually the most palatable in Ironblood?

Soviet Union: "Commander, potato and yam stew."

Li Wei: Finally, we have a dish that's not so bad. I hope your next dish isn't rice poured over noodles.

Zara: "Commander, roasted cordyceps with sesame seeds."

Li Wei: ...Never mind, I'm tired. Let's just destroy it.

Chapter 428 Mainz's Little Secret

It is said that "the commander only needs to try one serving of each dish."

But with seven dishes served in one serving each, Li Wei managed to sample a total of seven servings.

As a result, Li Wei was so full after just one lap that he had to postpone the race, which was originally scheduled to continue. The race scheduled for dinner was canceled and moved to the morning of the next day.

The first stage of the competition is a seven-to-six elimination round, where only the lowest score needs to be eliminated. Li Wei's opinion carries 50% weight, giving him absolute veto power; the remaining guests and judges each carry 50% weight, which can be split evenly if their opinions are unanimous.

Li Wei decisively gave his zero score to Mainz's big meat coffee quail stew.