293: The Stylistic Differences of Faction Technologies

"Hehehe, Commander, the Academy Lecture Hall in the Port District was built under your direction, remember? 

Later on, you even had us write our combat experiences as drill data after sorties for those kids to read and learn from."

Yorktown spoke to Lin Lan with a beaming smile, and Lin Lan immediately understood what this was all about.

In the game, players could unlock the Academy Lecture Hall facility in the port as their commander level increased, upgrading it as they progressed.

In the earliest version of the game, the Lecture Hall allowed shipgirls to study by consuming morale, and the battle experience they acquired during sorties would increase the Lecture Hall's proficiency, which in turn would convert to experience upon completing the study.

As the game updated, the Lecture Hall's functionality was reworked.

Although battle experience from sorties still accumulated as proficiency in the Lecture Hall, that proficiency would now be converted into an item: Ship Exercise Data.

This item functioned similarly to experience books—players could use it freely to level up any shipgirl, eliminating the need to consume morale or time for studying.

After the update, opening the Lecture Hall still displayed a room full of shipgirls attending, and it became a must-upgrade facility for every player.

Thinking of this, and considering that he had also instructed every shipgirl to attend the Tactical Academy to read manuals and train skills—and even bought many of them school-themed outfits…

No matter how one looked at it, letting shipgirls, especially destroyers, attend classes had clearly been his own approved idea.

Lin Lan gave a sheepish smile, silently agreeing with Yorktown's words.

"As for why you didn't see an academy in Iron Blood," Yorktown continued, noticing the surprise on Lin Lan's face, 

"I suspect it's because their numbers are relatively small, and since they can use Mirror Sea technology to run direct combat simulations, they don't really need an academy."

Yorktown offered her thoughtful explanation with a gentle smile.

"When we return to the port, the Z-class destroyers and the wolfpack girls will still have to attend the Lecture Hall as usual, hehehe~"

Since Yorktown had guessed what he was thinking, Lin Lan now understood why he hadn't seen an academy or lecture hall in Iron Blood.

At the same time, he remembered a detail he had previously overlooked.

Each faction's shipgirls in his port had very different technological focuses.

The Iron Blood faction, due to a past period of cooperation with the Sirens in the game, had ship equipment that looked extremely menacing—ranging from steel sharks to iron dragons.

Iron Blood also obtained Siren technology that allowed them to build floating island fortresses similar to Siren strongholds, as well as the ability to create Mirror Seas.

As for the Eagle Union, they had chosen to reverse-engineer Wisdom cubes in their "Starsea" Project, gaining technological mastery far beyond that of other factions.

For instance, Yorktown and Hornet, who were now clinging to his arms, and even the yet-unseen Hammann and Northampton, all had Type II rigging—products of that very technology.

While recalling the various faction technologies, Lin Lan walked with the Yorktown sisters out of the tall building.

As the automatic glass doors slid open, the fresh morning breeze with a hint of the ocean greeted him.

Lin Lan took a few deep breaths of the fresh air and noticed how the breeze gently lifted the long, soft hair of Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet beside him.

Outside the building was a wide, clean road lined with amenities such as vending machines, automated ice cream dispensers, streetlamps, and benches.

Between the buildings were neatly trimmed hedges, shrubs, and street trees—clearly the handiwork of the Manjuus.

He had to admit, Manjuus were truly miraculous beings. 

They could become the Bullins who helped shipgirls break rigging limits, and also manage all logistics across the port and fleets.

No wonder the Sirens once made counterfeits of them to pilot suicide boats—clearly, they held deep grudges against Manjuus.

"Commander, this is the hill's core area on the island. It's where everyone works, studies, and lives," came Enterprise's firm voice from behind him.

Hornet, following up cheerfully, added, 

"Down the hill is the leisure zone~ Big shopping malls, concert halls, theme parks—you name it! Where do you want to go, Commander~? Wanna go check out the theme park? I'll take you on the rollercoaster~"

"Let's find Saratoga first. I still have a lot of questions for her. After that, I need to check in with Anchorage too."

Lin Lan looked toward Yorktown, deliberately ignoring Hornet's teasing suggestion.

He wasn't in a rush to head down the hill today—he had plenty he wanted to ask little Saratoga.

If possible, he also planned to personally contact the Iron Blood faction to let them know he was safe and pass along some instructions.

Then there was Anchorage—Lin Lan clearly remembered how clingy that girl was. 

After being gone from the port for so long, who knew how worried she must be?

So, all things considered, he flat-out ignored Hornet's idea.

Definitely not because he'd cried on a rollercoaster as a kid and now had a childhood trauma around them.

"Hmph~ I knew it, Commander's a total workaholic. Just woke up and already thinking about work... But Anchorage really does only listen to you, hehe."

Hornet, unbothered by being brushed off, leaned closer with a mischievous grin, hugging Lin Lan's arm.

Being snuggled up to so affectionately by Hornet, Lin Lan could only come up with an excuse:

"Let me recover a bit first—I've only just woken up after lying down for days. If you make me go on a rollercoaster now, it'll probably kill me."

"Well, you promised! Once you're all better, I will drag you to that theme park. No backing out!"

The blonde cowgirl-type girl clung to his arm and rubbed against it like she was sulking, her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation. 

Lin Lan's mouth twitched slightly.

Hornet already had a model-like figure, and now she was pulling this move? The damage was too high...

In the end, though his heart screamed "no," Lin Lan found it impossible to reject such a vibrant, stunning beauty's enthusiastic invitation and gave a helpless nod.

It seemed he really couldn't escape the fate of riding that rollercoaster.

He could only hope the theme park's rollercoaster wasn't built to be too terrifying.

"Alright, Hornet, the Commander clearly has important business with Sara. Don't be so greedy for fun."

Yorktown gently scolded Hornet in a pampering tone, then turned to Lin Lan.

"Commander, Saratoga's office building is just ahead. Let us accompany you."

Walking along the spacious path toward Saratoga's office, Lin Lan listened as the three sisters explained the function of each building, helping him get familiar with the area.

Along the way, he even spotted Orlans' car parked by the roadside.

Since it was a bit of a distance down the hill to the port, having a car would definitely make things more convenient.

Just as the four of them were walking by the building and approaching a fork in the road, voices suddenly rang out from up ahead.

"Baltimore, Anchorage wants to see... Teacher…"

"No, Anchorage, the Commander's still resting. Once he wakes up, I promise I'll take you to him. Vestal said he still needs rest…"

"No, I want to see Teacher now. Now."

"Please be good, Anchorage. I'm not keeping you from the Commander on purpose—he really needs to rest…"

"Ugh... ngh..."

The sound of a young girl sobbing suddenly echoed through the air, making Lin Lan halt his steps.

That voice—wasn't that Anchorage?

And Baltimore, too—Lin Lan clearly remembered the noble and justice-driven heavy cruiser girl.

Hearing Anchorage crying, Yorktown and Hornet immediately let go of Lin Lan's arms.

Yorktown gently tucked her silver-white hair behind her ear and smiled at him.

"Commander, what a coincidence. Go on—she's been waiting for you a long time."

Hearing Yorktown's words, Lin Lan nodded to the three sisters and hurriedly ran toward the voices ahead.

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Anchorage! Probably one of my favourite in design. ("flaws" aside, her 3d dorm is great. I bought them all)

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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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