Chapter 137 – No—I've Got to Marry This Woman Somehow

The woman wore an airy dress the color of rippling water and held a lotus-leaf fan in her hand. Her face showed a touch of anxious urgency as she soared toward Tirpitz, trailing fluttering veils behind her like a celestial maiden from a painting.

The instant Hikaru laid eyes on her, he finally understood what "peerless beauty capable of toppling kingdoms" truly meant. If he were an emperor, he'd gladly set fire to the beacons just to amuse her, even smash a thousand miles of territory—so long as it earned a single smile from her.

But the beauty didn't smile. Her face was filled with worry. She landed in front of Tirpitz and urgently asked a flurry of questions. Whatever Tirpitz told her made her suddenly turn, her delicate features shifting toward Hikaru's direction—and the next moment, her figure shot through the air like a comet chasing the moon.

Hikaru's heart tightened.

He had a vague feeling he'd seen this unparalleled beauty before. Was it possible…?

Before he could think further, she flew straight into his arms like a baby swallow returning to its nest. She landed lightly against him, soft and elegant as a drifting cloud.

Surprisingly, Lexington didn't stop her. Why?

The woman tilted up her petite face. A teardrop-shaped beauty mark beneath one eye complemented the glistening tears pooling in her gaze. She rested gently against Hikaru's chest, her lips parting ever so slightly.

"Commander… Yat Sen has finally found you again."

Hikaru was struck as if by lightning.

So she was Yat Sen. No wonder she looked so familiar.

She'd changed her makeup, more stunningly beautiful than ever. It was no wonder Hikaru didn't recognize her at first glance.

Seeing Yat Sen in his dreams was one thing—meeting her in person, holding this gentle jade-like girl in his arms, was an entirely different experience.

One was like admiring beauty through a screen. The other was the warmth of her fragrance, her softness pressing into him. The impact was worlds apart.

As his palm brushed against her smooth, flawless thigh, Hikaru stared at Yat Sen's lovely, bashful face. His heart raced wildly.

No—he had to find a way to marry this fairy!

Lexington had been watching everything unfold. Smiling sweetly, she stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Yat Sen's shoulders.

"Yat Sen-chan, I didn't expect it to be you."

Yat Sen was still nestled in Hikaru's arms. Now with Lexington leaning in to hug her too, her whole posture twisted awkwardly like a pretzel.

Lexington was clearly trying to pull Yat Sen away from Hikaru. And Yat Sen—being as clever as she was—definitely noticed.

But she didn't have the courage to go against Lexington. For one, Lexington was the first wife, the Commander's first married shipgirl. Yat Sen didn't even have a ring yet. If she wanted to marry the Commander, she couldn't afford to offend Lexington.

And second, Yat Sen simply wasn't the bold or confrontational type. She was a gentle and reserved woman. When she'd suddenly seen her long-lost Commander again, she acted on impulse and flew into his arms. Now that she'd regained her composure, she didn't even need Lexington's unspoken warning—her pale, jade-like cheeks were already blushing red.

It's all his fault! They had just reunited, and he'd already started groping her thigh. She was still a pure maiden!

Burning with embarrassment, Yat Sen took the opportunity to escape Hikaru's embrace, leaning into Lexington's arms instead. The two beauties hugged each other tightly, like a pair of devoted sisters.

The sight of two absolute stunners embracing, each with their own charm—one like a spring orchid, the other like an autumn chrysanthemum—was a feast for Hikaru's eyes. There's a reason why yuri is a thing, he thought in awe.

Meanwhile, Vampire, who'd earlier been yanked away by Lexington's protective powers and then slammed by the shockwave from Tirpitz's battle, was still trembling in fear. Now that the danger had passed, she tugged at Hikaru's coat with a pitiful expression.

"Commander, hug me… Vampire is scared…"

Vampire barely had any combat experience. She was far more fragile than Hikaru when it came to withstanding Tirpitz-level shockwaves. And being just a cute girl, it was perfectly reasonable for her to be frightened.

How could Hikaru say no to such a request? He immediately scooped her up, gently patting her back and soothing her in a soft voice.

"Don't be scared. The Commander's here. See? Everything's fine now. Vampire is the bravest of all."

Vampire lay against her beloved Commander's shoulder, face pale but finally starting to feel safe.

Not everyone was so lucky.

Fletcher and Glowworm were doing fine—one was strong, the other fearless—but over on the side, California was still frozen in place, shell-shocked like a statue.

[End of Chapter]

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