Chapter 39: Emptiness Always Follows Overexertion

As Hipper looked at the already asleep Eugen, she bit her lower lip, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out.

"Sigh, I guess I should really cut back on drinking. Too much alcohol is bad for you..." Lin Lan muttered, sitting on the sofa and feeling the world spinning around him.

He couldn't believe it—once capable of downing two bottles of liquor in one go, now he was getting drunk off just beer.

"H-Hipper, give me a hand, will you? Do you have a bed here? Let's move them inside," Lin Lan said, noticing Eugen and Blücher slumped awkwardly on the sofa, as he tried to stand up shakily.

"Follow me," Hipper replied softly, with her head down and fists clenched, as if she had made a decision.

If Lin Lan had been sober, he would have noticed the unusual tone in Hipper's voice, lacking her usual pride. But under the influence of alcohol, he couldn't think that clearly.

Following Hipper into the room, Lin Lan saw that it was decorated in a traditional Sakura Empire style, completely different from the other rooms. 

The room had a light, pleasant fragrance, and on the tatami mat table were traces of soil and pottery. 

On the balcony, various beautifully arranged flower bouquets sat in ceramic pots, clearly crafted with care.

After moving the table out of the room, Lin Lan and the silent Hipper carried the sleeping Eugen and Blücher onto the tatami mats.

"Whew, finally done," Lin Lan said with a smile, wiping sweat from his forehead as he looked at the two peacefully sleeping on the tatami.

Hipper, however, remained silent, loosening her hair and unbuttoning her blouse.

"Alright, you should take a nap too. I didn't expect you to have a room styled like this. I'll clean up the table and lie down on the sofa..." Lin Lan started to say, completely unaware of Hipper's silence.

But as he turned his head while speaking, he was suddenly tackled onto the tatami mat.

The sudden attack sobered him up a little. Seeing Hipper, her green eyes hazy, sitting on top of him, Lin Lan struggled and shouted, "Hey, Hipper, what are you—"

Before he could finish, Hipper leaned down and kissed him, holding him tightly.

...

Some time later, Lin Lan lay on the tatami, exhausted, holding the now completely drained Hipper in his arms. Gently stroking the blushing girl's face, he too fell into a deep sleep.

"Hey? Hey?! Sis, you actually sneaked in—this is too much! Commander, you... ugh, never mind... I can't let big sis take all the advantage," a drowsy Lin Lan vaguely heard Blücher's voice.

Then, he was pulled up again and embraced by a girl with red eyes.

...

After some more time, Lin Lan felt so tired that he didn't want to move at all. 

He looked at Blücher, who had let her ponytail down, her light blonde hair now flowing freely, and saw her drenched in sweat, sleeping soundly beside him. Lin Lan chuckled softly.

At least he was confident in this area.

"Mm-hmm~ My dear Commander, you can't forget about me~" Just as he was about to sleep, a lazy, seductive voice came from behind him, followed by a silver-haired girl's embrace.

...

When it was all over, Lin Lan was utterly exhausted and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

...

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he woke up, he found that someone had covered him with a blanket.

Squinting his eyes, he looked out the window. It was now dusk.

The orange-red glow of the setting sun spread across the ocean and into the Sakura Empire-style room, accompanied by the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore.

Such a peaceful scene made Lin Lan feel incredibly calm.

He wished he could freeze time at this serene moment.

If only his body didn't feel so completely drained.

Wait! Hold on a second!

Thinking of this, Lin Lan suddenly became fully awake. He vaguely remembered doing something rather reckless after getting drunk.

But he preferred to believe it was just a dream.

Just then, he felt his arm move, a sore and numb sensation running through it.

"Oh no, this can't be real, can it..." Lin Lan's heart skipped a beat as he swallowed nervously and slowly lifted the blanket.

Three girls, curled up like little kittens, were tightly hugging him...

...

After washing himself with cold water and changing clothes, Lin Lan sat silently on the sofa next to the table.

If it weren't for the fact that his current body didn't crave nicotine, he would've really wanted a cigarette right now.

Beside him, Blücher sat on the sofa with a flushed face, her head down like a child who had done something wrong.

Soon, Eugen and Hipper came out of the kitchen carrying steaming bowls of seafood porridge, placing them on the table.

After they too sat down in silence, Lin Lan spoke slowly, "Eugen, this was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Hmm? Commander, what are you talking about? I have no idea~" Eugen replied with a playful smile, adjusting her silver hair with a satisfied look on her face.

Hipper and Blücher sat blushing, too embarrassed to touch their food.

Lin Lan looked helplessly at Eugen, who was playing dumb, and her two clueless sisters, and sighed deeply.

Hipper and Blücher, maybe you should let Eugen be the eldest sister instead.

"I guess I've been set up by you three today. I'll admit it. But let's not make a habit of this. Now, let's eat."

After all, he was the one who benefitted from the situation. There was no point in complaining now.

With that, he took the lead, picking up his bowl and sipping the porridge. Only then did Hipper and Blücher, relieved, start eating dinner as well.

"Hehe, Commander, you're really~~~ amazing!"

"Hehehe, truly worthy of being the Commander. Being younger does have its perks."

"You idiot... how could you be so... cough, cough."

Lin Lan listened helplessly as the Hipper sisters bantered about him, regretting not taking Bismarck's advice.

He silently watched the bright smile on Eugen's face, remembering a scene from an educational video he had once seen online.

If he had known that being taken to the third floor would lead to this...

Forget it, he thought, better just finish the porridge.

After dinner, when everything was cleaned up, it was already dark outside.

As Lin Lan accompanied the three Hipper sisters out of the room, he noticed that the third floor was now empty.

At this hour, the Iron Blood ship girls were either eating in the dining hall or resting in their quarters.

"Commander, if you have nothing else to do, how about taking a walk on the beach with your cute secretary?" 

Eugen asked, turning to Lin Lan with a playful smile as they approached the floating elevator.

"Me? I don't mind, but Hipper and Blücher, aren't you coming?" Lin Lan asked.

Hipper huffed and said, "Are you really that dense or just pretending? I need to go back to the dorm to sort out my clothes, so I'm not going."

As Blücher started to speak, Hipper immediately glared at her. "You're coming with me to help with the laundry!"

"Don't be so harsh... Alright, Commander, we're off then. But next time, you have to go on a date with just me!"

As Lin Lan watched Hipper, with her arms crossed, and a cheerful Blücher wave goodbye as they took the elevator, Eugen took his hand.

"Commander, I'm taking you through a secret passage out of the fortress, hmm-hmm~," Eugen said with a mischievous smile, flipping her silver hair.

Lin Lan was momentarily stunned.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes. Follow me," Eugen continued, now unusually eager compared to her usual laid-back demeanor.

Since he had already agreed, Lin Lan decided to let Eugen lead the way.

Hand in hand, Eugen led Lin Lan back to the third-floor hall, heading to a corner of the room near the wall. She tapped the wall twice and pressed a specific spot. 

A small door, just big enough for one person, opened up, revealing a hidden passageway in front of them.