What Commander Wang Yu didn't expect was that this future Royal heavy cruiser, who looked so honest, would actually impersonate a White Eagle destroyer to deceive and ambush a young Commander from another world like him.
You were very well hidden, but now I know your true depths...
"So you are the Wave Bringer, I've heard much about you. But I've just arrived and am not yet ready to make enemies of the world. How did my title, King of Judgement, become known to outsiders?"
Wang Yu asked the question he had been wanting to ask. He couldn't rest easy without clarifying this matter. He had already made such a great sacrifice; he would never give up without understanding everything!
The future Royal heavy cruiser was puzzled why he called her the Wave Bringer, but a thought quickly crossed her mind. She realized that as she traveled the world, she would always need various titles, and the name Wave Bringer sounded very fitting for her. She should be called the Wave Bringer, as if she had truly held such a revered title before.
York nodded, feeling that the title Wave Bringer was very apt. She was indeed the one who controlled the power of the four seas, the ruler above them.
"They all say you alone devoured hundreds of battleships, and as soon as you arrived in this world, you declared your intention to judge good and evil. I knew immediately that you were the one who had mastered the force, the earthly embodiment of the King of Judgement, who came in response to the call of the world. Now they all know you are the King of Judgement, just like me, an embodiment of power."
York proudly tossed her head, her triumphant expression as if she had just saved the world.
In short, you've been spreading rumors about me! Hmm?
"Who, who are 'they' referring to?" Wang Yu felt his voice tremble, unconsciously forgetting to maintain his chuunibyou persona.
"Of course, it refers to everyone at Headquarters! Your deeds have spread throughout Headquarters, and they're all talking about you in the public channels. I went to great lengths to explain to them why you were summoned. I don't even need to think; I know it must be to judge evil and promote justice." York's eyes shone with a sacred light, as if she were recounting some grand mission.
It's over...
Wang Yu felt his vision darken, as if the after-effects of his earlier run still lingered. His breathing was a little uneven, and his whole body slumped backward without any desire to struggle. He felt utterly resigned, and in his ears, he could still hear York's shouts: "King of Judgement, what's wrong? Has the power backfired? I'll take you to Nvzaoshen-nee-san right away, hold on, the darkness will soon pass, and Glorious will eventually arrive. We will definitely overcome our destiny!"
Damn it, don't you know why it turned out this way? And you're still asking me what's wrong?
Forget it, let it all be destroyed!
...
"What beautiful weather!" Hornet lay leisurely on a beach chair, fully enjoying the summer sun.
The warm sunlight on her beautiful body chased away the last traces of fatigue.
"If only every day had such good weather, summer is the most comfortable."
Hornet sipped her juice leisurely, comfortably savoring this hard-won good weather and even harder-won leisure.
"It's so nice to have someone help with the work. I'll buy some extra treats for little York later to thank her."
The troublesome matters had finally come to an end, and the last few minor tasks even had the little girl York actively helping. Compared to the miserable experience of being busy day and night these past few days, this moment, this scene, was even more precious.
The rustle of footsteps came from behind. Hornet removed her sunglasses, lying languidly on the lounge chair, too lazy to get up. She just tried her best to turn her head to look behind her, and even this small movement caused a surge of waves in front of her.
What met her eyes was an expressionless, indifferent face.
Wrapped from head to toe in a thick, light-blue trench coat, she was dressed so meticulously that she seemed completely out of place in the beach environment.
"Ah, it's Essex. Are you still dressed so warmly in such good weather? Do you want to come over and sunbathe too?" Hornet pointed to the empty lounge chair beside her, signaling Essex to find a spot, as she wouldn't be getting up.
The person who arrived was indeed Essex.
Originally, Essex had only planned to go to the archives to organize some files, as all matters needed to be sorted and filed.
With graduation season and the sudden arrival of Wang Yu, she hadn't had an easy time recently either.
She just happened to spot the conspicuous golden twin-tails on the beach, and upon closer look, it was indeed Hornet.
Essex waved her hand, indicating she didn't need to.
Then she asked, slightly puzzled, "Didn't I ask you to inform Wang Yu about the lifting of his observation and the preparations for construction? Why are you here sunbathing?"
She knew that Hornet should have other tasks at this time, so she found it strange to see her on the beach. That's why she put aside her own matters and took a detour to ask what was going on.
Hornet touched her head, pushing a rebellious strand of hair away from her forehead, and revealed a bright smile.
"Oh, that. Haha, I was just about to go when I saw that child, little York, shouting something about her and the King of Judgement being fated partners. After she learned I was going to find Wang Yu, she said she was planning to find the King of Judgement to participate in a trial and would deliver my message for me. I thought, since it's not a critical matter anyway, I entrusted her with the task."
Essex frowned. She realized that the King of Judgement Hornet spoke of was Wang Yu. York had indeed been loudly proclaiming on the public channel that she and the King of Judgement were fated partners.
Many people in the port district knew about this. In that light, York's initiative seemed quite normal.
That child always seemed a bit silly, constantly muttering strange things and appearing not very bright. She didn't have many companions to play with normally. It was quite normal for her to suddenly encounter someone who liked to talk nonsense and pique her interest.
However, that Commander Wang Yu, with his glib tongue, looked like the worst kind of Commander, probably not above 'fishing' for ships often.
To be able to charm another young girl while staying in his room and not going out, he truly had the air of an experienced Commander. Headquarters also had no explicit rules against 'fishing' for ships, but...
"Is that child reliable? Won't she mess things up?" Essex expressed doubt about York's competence. That child didn't look like she could handle serious business.
"Probably not," Hornet said uncertainly. "It's fine, I have other preparations. I guarantee it will be foolproof!"
Hornet snapped her fingers.
With a whoosh, a carrier-based aircraft swooped down from high altitude. As it approached the ground, it suddenly pulled into a semi-circular arc, then hovered steadily on the beach in front of them.
"Haha, I sent a B-25 to follow along. I haven't checked yet, but by my calculations, they should be together by now. Shall I connect and see how things are?"
The carrier-based aircraft shimmered with light, emitting a soft hum. A light screen projected, and in the center of the image, two faint black dots seemed to be visible.
Because the distance was too far, it was a bit hard to see clearly. Then the perspective quickly zoomed in, and two figures, one large and one small, filled the screen.
"Ah, maiden favored by destiny, I didn't expect you to see through my identity. Then this King has nothing left to hide. A mere trial, for me, is utterly effortless. I have long since broken free from the shackles of fate, only then can I wield the power of time and space to join you in saving this dark world."
"Maiden favored by destiny, we who walk the world, our flesh is weak, our bodies mere vessels, but we must leave our true names in the world. My title is King of Judgement, meaning to judge all evil in the world. What is your title?"
"So you are the Wave Bringer, I've heard much about you. But I've just arrived and am not yet ready to make enemies of the world. How did my title, King of Judgement, become known to outsiders?"
...
Hornet silently cut off the projection, and the carrier-based aircraft soared back into the sky.
It quickly became a small dot and disappeared over the endless sea. She turned her head and, as expected, saw a pair of equally stunned eyes. They stared at each other for a while.
"Are Commanders nowadays so shameless just to 'fish' for ships?" Hornet didn't know how to react. Your current status is still half-a-prisoner, okay?
Is his heart really that big? Did I break his brain? To be so uninhibited, I had originally thought of apologizing to him later, but now, I think I'll just forget it...
"It seems we worried for nothing. They seem to be getting along very well."
Essex concluded with a cold face. Although Essex always wore that disdainful expression, whether it was a misconception or not, Hornet felt that the disdain on her face seemed to have deepened a bit.