Chapter 131 – Fleeing to the Wrathful Sea

Indiana spoke earnestly. "If you leave now, it'll be seen as fleeing out of guilt. The case of Commander Noboru will definitely be pinned on you. Once that happens, clearing your name will be nearly impossible."

"Oh please, like clearing my name is still an option now." Tirpitz scoffed and wrapped her arm around Hikaru's. "Commander, let's get going already."

If a fight were to break out in the city, even Tirpitz would feel constrained.

But out at sea? That was an entirely different story. She was the Queen of the Northern Seas.

"You heard her. I regret it came to this," Hikaru said, spreading his hands helplessly. "But I must ask you to step aside."

"Yamato stormed into the residences of several top leaders for your sake," Indiana said quietly. "She's convinced they're behind the plot against you. Even for someone of her standing at Headquarters, what she's done is taboo. And despite that—are you still choosing to leave?"

Hikaru's pupils shrank slightly. He answered in a low voice, "That just gives me all the more reason to go. There's an old saying—'death within, safety without.' If I leave your borders, those leaders will no longer target Yamato."

"That's not my border," Indiana said with a sigh. "That's the Commander's border." She stepped aside. "Fleet Admiral Gorou isn't targeting you. Please understand that."

Hikaru passed her with a cold expression, saying nothing.

Lexington summoned her prismatic light and carried them all through the sky, heading straight for the Wrathful Sea.

Flying over the ocean was long and dull.

Thankfully, the lively shipgirls kept the mood light—especially California, who clung to Hikaru like a little girl, bombarding him with questions.

Picking out only the essentials, Hikaru explained what had happened over the past few days.

"Those fat old geezers are the worst!" California wrinkled her nose and shook a tiny fist. "If I'd been there, I would've punched their pig snouts flat!"

She was just venting. The one truly seething with rage was Tirpitz, who had nearly lost her most beloved Commander. The terror of that fleeting moment still made her blood boil.

Her fury ran so deep that as they flew, the sea below howled with rage. Towering tsunamis surged upward, and colossal cyclones pierced the heavens—an unprecedented sea-born catastrophe.

Such was the wrath of the Queen of the North Sea.

Lexington didn't try to restrain her. Instead, she asked Hikaru, "Commander, where to next?"

Hikaru rubbed his nose. "Southeast. Past the Southern Archipelago, and a bit further—toward the Old Australia."

Fletcher's jaw dropped. "That's basically the Deep Abyss's home turf!"

The Southern Archipelago was a major Abyssal stronghold, with eyewitness reports of at least a hundred Abyssal flagships there. And the old Australia? That was practically their main base. Fletcher shivered at the thought of those monstrous flagships.

Lexington thought even further ahead. "What are we going there for, Admiral? If it's just us, we could survive Abyssal attacks, sure—but building a base? Expanding? That'll be nearly impossible. We don't even have a proper naval district."

Hikaru chuckled. "Then I'll build one for you."

The flight over the sea took more than a day.

Tirpitz could've made the trip faster, but when they passed near the Southern Archipelago and the Abyssals caught wind of their movement, a swarm of flagships mobilized. They were forced to make a wide detour.

Eventually, they reached a stretch of sea even further south of the archipelago and came to a stop.

"This is it?" Glowworm skimmed over the waves on her rigging. "Commander, I don't see any naval base. There's not even an island!"

California puffed her cheeks. "Admiral, you were just bluffing, weren't you? And here I thought you had some grand plan."

"Of course I have a plan," Hikaru replied with a smile. "Now's the time to witness a miracle."

He extended his hand toward the dark sea below and closed his eyes.

The gesture startled California and Glowworm. They leaned in, peering curiously at the dark, empty waters.

But nothing happened.

"Hmph! You tricked us, Commander! You're just fooling kids again!"

[End of Chapter]

[50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]

[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]

[p@treon.com/BellAshelia]

[Thanks for your support!]