"I am also a believer of the Deep Sea Cult now. After the King tripled the personal tax, I have to pay three times the tax every month. The Deep Sea Cult offered that if we recruit people, they will pay our personal tax for three months, so that's why we are so active in recruiting. Sigh! It's all just to make a living."
"So that's how it is! Thanks for the information." Illustrious led Atago and the others and continued walking toward the pizza shop.
While walking, Illustrious and the others observed the current state of the country.
For example, a citizen who didn't pay personal tax this month was dragged away by soldiers; another citizen, having paid the personal tax, had no money left and could only dine and dash, only to be beaten to a cripple by the shop owner's subordinates; and a young girl who entered a nightclub as a hostess to pay her personal tax.
"Five years ago, when we came to Free Iris, this country was still very rich and strong. I didn't expect it to be ruined like this in just one year," Vicious sighed.
"This Deep Sea Cult is truly detestable! Free Iris was clearly fine before, but now it's been turned into such a foul mess," Saratoga said angrily.
"The Deep Sea Cult truly cannot be allowed to exist in this world, otherwise humanity will definitely perish," Essex said, clenching her fist.
"Don't worry! In two days, this country will welcome a new beginning!" Atago said with a faint smile.
"I hope so! This country has already rotted; only by changing the King can it be reborn," Illustrious sighed.
After walking for a while, a White-Haired Girl with normal breasts bumped into Illustrious. Illustrious immediately said to her, "Little girl! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! I'm sorry, big sister, I wasn't watching where I was going just now, so I accidentally bumped into you," the White-Haired Girl apologized hurriedly.
"It's okay, as long as you're alright," Illustrious shook her head and said.
Illustrious led Atago and the others away from the spot and continued toward the pizza shop.
Watching Illustrious's back, the White-Haired Girl held a wallet. This wallet was Illustrious's; the White-Haired Girl had taken the opportunity to steal Illustrious's wallet when she bumped into her. "I'm sorry, pretty big sister, I had no choice but to do this."
Unaware that her wallet had been stolen, Illustrious had already arrived at the entrance of the pizza shop.
Entering the pizza shop, Illustrious and the others found a seat and sat down.
Before long, a waitress walked over. "What would you like to order?"
"Feel free to order whatever pizza you want! It's my treat today!" Illustrious patted her chest and said generously.
"Oh ho! Then I won't stand on ceremony. Give me a 10-inch Orleans pizza, two 10-inch BBQ beef pizzas, plus crispy sole fish, fries, honey citron black tea, and red bean milk tea," Saratoga said in one breath.
Seeing Saratoga order so much, Illustrious, feeling the pinch in her wallet, said, "You ordered so much, can you finish it?"
"What, are you worried about your precious money?" Saratoga said with dissatisfaction. "You said it was your treat yourself. You aren't going to back out just because I ordered a little bit of food, are you? If you don't pay, I'll make you regret it."
Illustrious was indeed feeling the pinch. Although she was very wealthy, she was very frugal. If a toothbrush was still usable, she wouldn't buy a new one. When buying things, she would compare prices across three shops and buy from the cheapest one. When eating out, she would only order enough to be full.
However, she couldn't be so frugal today, because her two girlfriends, Atago and Vicious, were by her side. If they thought she was a stingy miser, that wouldn't be good. Illustrious took a deep breath and said seriously, "Just kidding, why would I worry about that little bit of money? I'm just worried you won't be able to finish it all, and it would be bad to waste it."
"Don't worry! I can finish it. If I can't, I'll just pack it up." Saratoga said to the waitress, "Give me another serving of everything I just ordered. Don't bring this serving out; just pack it up for me directly. I want to take it back as a midnight snack."
Illustrious was stunned. It seemed Saratoga was determined to treat her like a sucker and fleece her today.
Atago, Vicious, and Essex each ordered one pizza and a cup of milk tea, which moved Illustrious quite a bit. These Ship Girls were still easy to take care of!
Looking at the table full of food for Saratoga, Illustrious said with a "kind" (nuclear) smile, "Eat up! Make sure you don't choke."
"Hmm! Don't worry! This little bit of food isn't even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth," Saratoga said, ignoring Illustrious's expression.
After a while, when everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Illustrious went to the manager to pay, but just as she was about to pay, she discovered her wallet was missing.
Illustrious searched her person repeatedly, but found that she still couldn't find her wallet. Seeing Illustrious like this, Atago asked, "What's wrong? You look very flustered!"
"Don't tell me you didn't bring your wallet!" Saratoga frowned and said.
"It's not that I didn't bring my wallet, it's that my wallet is gone," Illustrious corrected Saratoga.
"What's the difference!" Saratoga stared at Illustrious and said.
"Of course there's a difference. I had my wallet when I came out, but now it's gone," Illustrious replied.
"Could it have dropped on the road?" Vicious reminded her.
"If it dropped on the road, it's definitely gone. If a kind person picked it up, they might be honest and turn it into the police, but the citizens of this country are very short on money right now. If they picked it up, there's a high probability they would keep it for themselves," Atago analyzed.
"Kept for themselves! My wallet has a black card in it, and it contains all my assets!" Illustrious said worriedly.
"Don't worry! Even if someone picked it up, they need a password to withdraw money!" Atago comforted her.
"I don't think your wallet dropped; I think it was stolen. Does everyone remember that White-Haired Girl who bumped into Illustrious?" Essex deduced.
"Now that you mention it, it makes me recall. On the way here, I gave five bills to the tableware owner. My wallet was still there then, but not long after, when I bumped into the White-Haired Girl and came to the pizza shop, I discovered the wallet was gone," Illustrious recalled.
"Hmm! Then there is only one truth: that White-Haired Girl stole Illustrious's wallet," Essex concluded.
"So she was the one who stole my wallet! What a pity. To think such a cute girl turned out to be a thief; it's truly sigh-worthy!" Illustrious sighed with emotion.
"Then what do we do now? Your wallet was stolen, so who's going to pay the bill?" Saratoga asked worriedly.
"I'll pay!" Atago took out her wallet and handed the money to the manager.
"I'm sorry! I will definitely pay you back later." Illustrious was embarrassed; it was supposed to be her treat, but she hadn't expected her wallet to get stolen.
"No need! I'm your girlfriend, why are you being so polite with me?" Atago smiled and said.
"Let's hurry and chase that thief now! We can't let her get away," Vicious said with a fierce tone.
"Don't worry! She won't get away; I've already memorized her aura," Illustrious said very confidently.
Illustrious walked out of the pizza shop and led Atago and the others to a terrace.
Calming her mind, Illustrious's consciousness spread outward. In the blink of an eye, her consciousness covered the entire Free Iris.
Among the citizens of Free Iris, Illustrious carefully searched for the aura she wanted.
This Legendary Ship Girl's consciousness immediately startled Saint Eugen, who was far away in the royal palace.
On the second floor of the royal palace's guest building, Eugen looked through the large window toward the direction where she had just perceived the source of the Legendary Ship Girl's consciousness.
Beside Saint Eugen was another person; this person was the eighth Calamity Abyssal Entity, Light Cruiser Demon. Currently, Light Cruiser Demon is a Four-Star Calamity Abyssal Entity.
Light Cruiser Demon is a white-haired, large-breasted mature woman, wearing a black dress.
Currently, the leader of the Deep Sea is the second Calamity Abyssal Entity, Battleship Demon. Battleship Demon dispatched a mission to her; the content of the mission was to come to Free Iris and assist Saint Eugen in eliminating Princess Fiona.
"Light Cruiser Demon! Did you sense it?" With a 'pop' sound, Eugen pulled her little hand out of her mouth and said.
Looking at Eugen's little hand covered in saliva, Light Cruiser Demon felt a wave of disgust. Such a grown person, and she still eats her little hand, how shameless! "Hmm! I sensed it. From what I perceive of this consciousness, the opponent is stronger than me. It seems to be a Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl."
"A Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl! It seems the Atlantic Governors Mansion is starting to get serious! I'm afraid there will be a bitter battle the day after tomorrow." Although she said that, Eugen's expression was calm and not at all flustered; it seemed she didn't believe she would really be trapped in a bitter battle.
"Saint Eugen, you are joking. Your strength is powerful; a mere Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl, you could easily finish her off by just raising your hand," Light Cruiser Demon said with a faint smile.
"That's too exaggerated. I'm not a god; wanting to eliminate a Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl by just raising my hand is still a bit difficult," Eugen shook her head and said.
Hearing Eugen only say it was a bit difficult, Light Cruiser Demon knew Eugen wasn't boasting, because Eugen had a track record; Eugen once killed a Five-Star Legendary Ship Girl single-handedly.
"Eugen, you are too humble. Although humility is good, sometimes being too humble is not good; it will affect your dignity," Light Cruiser Demon said kindly.
"If the dignity is too great, I don't think it's a good thing! Do you know? When I go out for a walk, the people around will be trembling with fear because of my dignity. I am clearly a kind and gentle person who just wants to be good friends with everyone. Why is everyone so afraid of me!" Eugen said with a slightly sad expression.
Light Cruiser Demon couldn't help but mock inwardly: You executioner, you've killed more people than I have, yet you have the nerve to call yourself a kind and gentle person. Aren't you afraid people will laugh their teeth off when you say that?
Eugen placed her right hand on Light Cruiser Demon's shoulder and said sincerely: "Light Cruiser Demon, do you think if my dignity were lowered, would everyone like me? Only if everyone truly likes me from the bottom of their hearts, then everyone will definitely be more enthusiastic about joining our Deep Sea Cult."
Eugen hadn't forgotten the task the Holy Lord gave her, which was to make more humans join the Deep Sea Cult.
Watching Eugen place her right hand on her shoulder, Light Cruiser Demon frowned, because this right hand was the one Eugen had put in her mouth. Light Cruiser Demon thought with disgust: Oh my god! Take your dirty hand away, you've dirtied my body.
"Why aren't you speaking? Did I not say it right?" Eugen continued to touch Light Cruiser Demon's body with her hand.
Oh my god! Don't touch me with your hand anymore! The germaphobe Light Cruiser Demon was about to go crazy. If she couldn't beat Eugen in front of her, Light Cruiser Demon would have already drawn her blade to kill her. "I think the dignity cannot be lowered, because you are the face of the Deep Sea Cult, Saint Eugen. If the dignity is not great enough, it won't be able to suppress those national leaders and believers."
"Oh right! I remembered there is another important thing to do. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Light Cruiser Demon fled the place as if for her life. The saliva on her shoulder made her feel uncomfortable all over; she needed to take a bath to wash off that saliva.
Watching Light Cruiser Demon flee as if for her life, Eugen looked helpless. Is it really because they fear my dignity?
...
On the other side, Illustrious had already found the location of the White-Haired Girl who stole her wallet. She led Atago all the way to the slums.
Seeing the five beautiful women, the people in the slums immediately began to discuss among themselves.
"Wow! Five beautiful women actually appeared in the slums; this really makes me excited!"
"If I could marry one of them, I would die worthily."
"Forget it! These five beautiful women are dressed very elegantly, and the forces behind them must be extraordinary. Better not court death and look for trouble."
Illustrious looked at the surrounding paupers with vacant eyes, tattered clothes, and no hope for life, and couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many poor people here; it seems this country really is done for."
"In two days, as long as we eradicate the Deep Sea Cult here, this country will welcome a new King, and then the number of poor people will decrease," Atago said, clenching her fist.
"Where is that White-Haired Girl!" Vicious poked Illustrious's stomach with her finger and asked.
"Through my consciousness, I detected the location. It's just 100 meters ahead, take a turn, and that's it," Illustrious replied.
Illustrious and the others arrived outside a dilapidated house. Outside the house, two soldiers were kicking the door. Vicious wanted to stop them, but was stopped by Illustrious. "Don't go up yet, let's see the situation first."
These two soldiers, one was a yellow-haired soldier, and the other was a green-haired soldier.
The blonde soldier was kicking the door, while the green-haired soldier was shouting outside.
"Listen up, people inside. I know you're in there. Open the door obediently. If you don't open it, don't blame us for being ruthless once we break in."
Inside the house, the White-Haired Girl was holding a white-haired little girl, who looked sickly and coughed from time to time.
The white-haired little girl said fearfully, "What should we do, Sister! They look so scary."
The White-Haired Girl stroked the white-haired little girl and said, "Don't be afraid! Sister will protect you."
"Open up! We are good people. We're just here to collect your personal tax. You're already three months behind. If you don't pay today, we're taking you to jail."
Clutching the wallet she had stolen from a beautiful big sister, the White-Haired Girl's face darkened. Her younger sister was sick and needed money for treatment; if she paid the tax with this money, she wouldn't have enough for her sister's medical bills.
"Damn it, you're still not opening it, huh! Hey! Are you useless? You've been kicking for so long and still can't break it open!"
"Big Brother, this door is a bit tough. Give me a little more time, I'll definitely be able to kick it open."
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