Akagi glanced at Taihou, and Taihou glanced right back. The second their eyes met, Akagi dropped the act.
"Dirty Bird. What are you going to do about the Commander?"
Taihou's eyes narrowed at the question, a soft snort escaping her lips.
"Hmph. Smelly Fox, why ask when you already know the answer? Unless you have something better in mind?"
Akagi met her rival's eyes directly, refusing to look away. The arrogance gleaming in those eyes stirred a flicker of irritation within her, yet beneath it lingered unspoken understanding.
The 'Dirty Bird' was scheming the very same thing.
"In that case, I'll be direct."
She took a step forward and lowered her voice.
"The Commander is 'alive' now. We were the first to receive his warmth. That gives us the advantage. So we..." She hesitated, carefully scanning their surroundings. "We keep this our little secret for the time being. Once we've had some... private time with him, we can tell Sister Amagi and the others."
Akagi also made it clear that the Commander didn't want the news spreading across the entire port.
However, when she finished explaining her plan, Taihou gave no reply. She simply continued staring at her in silence.
"..."
Interpreting that silence as agreement, Akagi moved to establish a few ground rules for their brief partnership.
"How about we follow the old rules to keep things fair?" she proposed. "A temporary pact. Until we're both 'satisfied,' neither of us says a word about the Commander. If one of us deliberately betrays the other..."
She paused for a moment, making sure the meaning was clear.
"That person gives up the title of the Commander's 'perfect wife' forever and admits on her own that the other is the only one fit to stand by his side."
The title of "perfect wife" formed the foundation of their rivalry. It might even be their reason for existing.
Putting that on the line would definitely keep this temporary alliance from falling apart.
Normally, if Akagi challenged her like this, Taihou would have agreed right away and shot back with something even harsher.
But this time, the expected response never came. Taihou stood frozen, staring blankly at something, or rather someone, behind her.
'Huh?'
A heavy feeling sank into Akagi's stomach, yet she forced herself to speak, hoping she was mistaken.
"Hey, Dirty Bird, cat got your tongue? Did my proposal scare you that badly?"
The only thing that answered her was suffocating silence. Taihou's lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to speak, yet not a single sound escaped.
'Oh no... something's not right! Something is definitely not right!'
Akagi extended her senses cautiously, and then a devastatingly familiar presence, one that commanded reverence from the very core of her being, enveloped her from behind without warning.
She was usually proud and elegant, radiating unwavering confidence. But now, her fox ears instinctively drooped, and her nine fluffy tails lost their usual vitality, curling inward in unease.
Gathering all her strength, she slowly and stiffly turned around.
A graceful, breathtaking face came into view. The woman before her had silky chestnut hair and mesmerizing purple eyes, filled with warmth yet impossibly deep.
It was Akagi's most loved and feared sister, Amagi.
-AMAGI-[1]
"S-Sis... Sister..." Akagi's voice came out dry and strained.
That gentle, spring-breeze smile on Amagi's face remained utterly unchanged.
Her soft gaze rested briefly on Akagi before gliding toward the completely frozen Taihou standing behind her.
The absolute authority of an older sister manifested perfectly in this moment. She did not scold them, nor did she raise her voice.
Instead, she asked gently, "Akagi. You just mentioned... something happened with My Lord?"
Akagi's first instinct was to deny everything.
"No... nothing, Sis! I mean, Sister Amagi. You know I went to argue with Belfast today, right? About the Secretary Ship matter..."
As she spoke, she desperately winked at Taihou, hoping her temporary ally would take the hint.
Unfortunately, Taihou had been reduced to a statue. She stood rigidly in place, unable to even lift her gaze to meet Amagi's eyes.
Amagi's eyes moved between the two of them, that gentle smile still on her face.
"The Secretary Ship matter? Yes, it is indeed quite significant. Miss Belfast has monopolized My Lord's attention for far too long. However, Akagi, why are you being so evasive? Is there something you are keeping from me?"
Akagi's body went rigid the moment those words were spoken.
"I-I..." The words caught in her throat.
"Taihou, do you have other matters to attend to?" Amagi cut off any opportunity for Akagi and Taihou to align their explanations.
Divide and conquer. One of the fundamental strategies Amagi had perfected as a tactician.
"If not, perhaps you should pick up Hakuhou from the Port Academy. She's just finished her studies for the day. As her older sister, you bear that responsibility, don't you?"
Upon hearing this, Taihou knew it would be improper for her to stay any longer.
"You're right, Lady Amagi. I should go look after my little sister. So... I'll take my leave."
With that, she hurried off, quickly disappearing from the scene.
Amagi's gaze shifted back to Akagi. Those wise, violet eyes seemed able to see through every mask she wore.
"All right. Taihou is gone. Now tell me... why did the two of you come back together from the direction of the Command Room? And... you've been speaking about My Lord. I've been listening for quite some time."
Her tone remained gentle and unhurried. Watching Akagi hesitate, she pressed on.
"What exactly are you hiding from me?"
Akagi understood that beneath that gentle tone lay a clear warning.
If she continued making excuses, she would surely anger Amagi, and who knew what kind of dreadful punishment might follow.
For example, even if she was randomly selected to be the Secretary Ship, she'd be forced to have Kaga take her shift while she played Go with Amagi all day.
'Ugh... I can't hide it... I've never been able to hide anything from her...' Akagi thought in resignation.
"Alright, Sister... here's what happened..."
Akagi recounted every detail she'd seen and heard.
She placed particular emphasis on Jun Hao's "high-definition remastering."
At those words, something shifted in Amagi's gaze. Those usually composed and unfathomable eyes brightened with a glimmer of girlish excitement that almost never surfaced.
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Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original)
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