Her attire had always favored modest skirts that reached past the knees, fastened tightly and properly at the collar, with the only exposed skin being the curve of her calves beneath the hem.
She wore them that way simply because an overly long hemline would hinder her mobility in combat.
Naturally, she hoped to surrender her most precious treasure to him at the most beautiful moment possible.
Yet had Drake insisted, she would never have refused him, for this was the man she had chosen to walk beside for the rest of her days.
Drake's restraint demonstrated that he treasured her feelings above all else!
Though he uttered no high-sounding declarations, she understood his heart completely. He had always been an extraordinarily considerate man.
"Weitian, you've wrapped up all your work for today, right?" Drake asked after a moment of quiet contemplation. "If you're free, I'd like to take you somewhere."
Weitian paused. Seeing that he was entirely in earnest, she considered her schedule before answering softly, "I'm not certain. Sometimes Xiaoguang brings in the latest urgent dispatches toward the evening. I don't know if there will be any today..."
"I'm sorry..."
She could see the eager anticipation shining in his eyes, but the burdens of her station weighed heavily upon her. At times, she often thought about how wonderful it would be to cast everything aside and become a pirate with Drake.
To relish the unbridled joy of adventuring every single day, free from this exhausting toil, beholding vistas she had never dreamed of by his side...
Yet whenever she remembered how many souls across this sea remained trapped in the depths of misery, she felt that by standing here, she could accomplish far more.
She could not lay it down.
At least, not yet—for no one had emerged who was capable of shouldering this monumental mantle in her stead.
Until that successor appeared, she intended to guard this post with her life. This had always been her dream.
And her sacred duty!
It was she who had gathered a host of comrades sharing her ideals to forge the foundation of this New Navy.
Surrendering it carelessly to just anyone would be a grave betrayal of their trust...
"I understand. Let's head back and check, then," Drake nodded earnestly.
Stepping through the dimensional threshold, the two returned to her office.
Weitian summoned Xiaoguang inside.
Receiving the call, Xiaoguang hurried over without delay. The moment she stepped through the door and saw Drake still lounging in the room, she shrank into herself, speaking to Weitian with extreme deference and caution.
She felt like a complete third wheel.
No, it wasn't just a feeling—it was an undeniable fact!
Right now, an invisible shroud of thick murderous intent seemed to emanate from Drake, zeroed in exclusively on Xiaoguang.
It felt as though the moment she uttered a single wrong syllable, she would be wiped from the face of the earth on the spot.
Hearing Weitian's inquiry, paired with the scene she had witnessed on the cliffs earlier, everything became glaringly obvious.
The choice had been thrust squarely into her hands.
Without realizing it, Xiaoguang slipped the folder in her hands behind her back, maintaining an utterly calm facade. "Fleet Admiral, there are no urgent files requiring your attention today. Everything is completely routine. Please, take this evening to rest!"
Seeing this, Drake gave a subtle, approving nod. This girl knows how to read the room. Not bad at all...
Across the desk, however, Weitian's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Sensing something was amiss, she spoke up abruptly, "Xiaoguang, what is that in your hands behind your back?"
Xiaoguang: "..."
"Th-This is..."
"Bring it here and let me see."
Faced with Weitian's brook-no-argument tone, Xiaoguang had no choice but to step forward and surrender the documents. As Weitian reached out to take them, Xiaoguang cast a desperate, pleading glance toward Drake in secret.
Good heavens!
She truly hadn't done this on purpose! The Fleet Admiral insisted on looking, and she was powerless to refuse!
Drake merely offered her a gentle, radiant smile. Yet while that smile looked as warm as a spring breeze, it sent an icy chill straight down her spine.
He... he isn't planning to assassinate her, is he?!
A wave of profound bitterness washed over Xiaoguang. She was probably destined to become the most tragically misunderstood soul ever struck down by the God of War...
"Oh, look at this. You have a date tonight? You're actually seeing someone? When did this happen? How come I never heard about it?" Weitian's voice broke the silence, tinged with mild apology. "I'm so sorry. Seeing you act so bashful, I thought it was official business..."
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Here, take your papers back." Weitian handed the folder back to her.
Xiaoguang stood completely dumbfounded. What on earth was going on? The dossier in her hands was clearly—
Wait!!
What was happening?
What was this document?!
Opening the folder once more, she found that the contents had become a personal daily planner!
It explicitly noted that she had a dinner date scheduled for tonight!
How could this be?
Where on earth would she even find a date?!
While Xiaoguang was lost in a daze of confusion, a low voice transmitted directly into her ear—it was Drake.
"The real documents are tucked underneath the sofa I was sitting on earlier. Take them over to Uncle Dragon later and let him put in some overtime. Let Weitian have a proper rest today."
"And... thanks a bunch."
A violent shudder ran through Xiaoguang's frame. By the time she gathered her wits, Drake and Weitian were already at the threshold. Weitian turned back with a parting smile, "We'll be taking our leave first. Don't be late for your date!"
With that, Xiaoguang was left standing alone, her thoughts spinning wildly in the breeze.
Only now did she realize that this entire sleight of hand had been orchestrated by Drake. But... how had he pulled it off?!
That folder had never left her grasp for a single second! How could...
Xiaoguang rushed over to the sofa Drake had occupied moments earlier.
Reaching underneath, there was indeed a thick folder resting on the floorboards!
Flipping it open, she froze in place.
"Th-This... really is the batch of urgent reports I brought over!"
"Ah! Oh no! That King of Hell just told me to deliver this to 'Uncle Dragon'—he must have meant Mr. Dragon..."
From that moment on, Drake earned a brand new moniker in Xiaoguang's heart: the King of Hell.
And so, while Dragon stood leisurely by his office window savoring the evening breeze, unexpected trouble dropped straight out of the sky. Having just concluded a grueling day of administrative duties, Dragon was enjoying the gentle draft when a knock sounded at his door.
Knock, knock, knock...
Moments later, the towering stack of paperwork Drake had hidden was deposited squarely on Dragon's desk.
Xiaoguang repeated Drake's instructions word for word, shifting uncomfortably on her feet and not daring to meet Dragon's gaze.
The corner of Dragon's mouth twitched faintly. He could already picture Drake's insufferable, smirking tone down to the syllable.
That little brat!!
It looked like he was doomed to pull another all-nighter...
"Very well. I understand. You may dismiss yourself."
Xiaoguang let out an immense sigh of relief and bolted from the office like a fugitive. She never wanted to endure an atmosphere like that a second time in her life!
Meanwhile, the chief instigator behind the scheme, Drake, had his arm wrapped around his beloved, having long since cast the incident to the back of his mind.
"What is it? What was it you wanted to show me?" Weitian asked curiously.
Since she was free from official duties tonight, she wanted to savor this private time with Drake to the fullest.
"Shh." Drake placed a gentle finger against her lips, then pointed toward the distant sea. "Look!"
Weitian peered out in confusion, seeing only an expanse of pitch-black water stretching under the night sky.
"What is it...? Isn't it just the—"
Snap!
Drake snapped his fingers, and the horizon before them transformed in an instant.
A brilliant blaze of luminescence reflected across their faces. The wonder on Weitian's delicate features blossomed—first into startled disbelief, then deep, breathless enchantment, before finally melting into a radiant, starry-eyed smile.
"Th-This is..."