Yuuki slowly opened his eyes to the soft light inside his temporary quarters.
Then immediately—
"…Why am I buried again?"
Yorktown had unconsciously leaned close against his left side during the night while Ade quietly rested near his right.
And somehow—
Eldridge had fully climbed onto his chest during the night like a sleepy cat.
Yuuki stared at the ceiling for several moments.
"…Can I please have my bed to myself for once?"
He sighed softly to himself afterward.
Despite the complaints—
His expression still carried a faint smile.
The internal HUD within his implants quietly activated afterward.
06:00
GDFS DAEDALUS — ARRIVED AT DESTINATION
STATUS: STANDBY
Yuuki's eyes sharpened slightly afterward.
So they had finally arrived.
The rescue operation was about to begin.
Nearby—
Belfast, Soda, and Ade slowly began waking up as well due to their maid-trained internal schedules.
Belfast opened her eyes gracefully almost immediately.
"Ah…"
She softly smiled toward him.
"Good morning, Master."
Then gently—
"It seems you awakened earlier than I did today."
Yuuki weakly pointed downward at the sleeping destroyer currently sprawled atop him.
"I probably wouldn't have if I didn't feel multiple lifeforms crushing me."
"Eh—"
Ade immediately jumped slightly in embarrassment after realizing how close she had drifted toward him during sleep.
"U-Um…"
Her face quickly turned red.
"…good morning?"
Yuuki softly laughed afterward.
"Good morning, Ade."
Then warmly—
"Did you sleep well?"
Ade hesitated briefly before smiling shyly.
"Yes…"
Her hand lightly touched her chest afterward.
"With our connection…"
Then softly—
"…I think I had the best sleep I've had in years. I don't think I can sleep without any connection anymore."
The synchronized warmth between their hearts quietly pulsed again.
Yuuki's expression softened deeply hearing that.
"I'm glad."
Soda meanwhile slowly sat up nearby while rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Mmm…"
Then immediately—
"Good morning Master…"
Yuuki smiled faintly toward the sleepy maid.
"Morning, Soda."
Belfast meanwhile already began naturally organizing the room despite having just woken up moments earlier.
Truly terrifying maid efficiency.
Yuuki eventually sighed softly before glancing around at the pile of still-sleeping shipgirls and Nikkes spread across the room.
"…Mind helping wake everyone up?"
Belfast immediately nodded elegantly.
"Of course."
Ade and Soda quickly followed afterward while carefully beginning to wake the others gently.
The room slowly filled with sleepy voices.
Soft yawns.
Tiny groans from destroyers refusing to leave warm blankets.
And honestly—
Despite the coming rescue mission—
The peaceful atmosphere somehow felt comforting.
Like a strange little family waking up together before facing the world outside.
"Morning, Hana…"
Yuuki gently patted Yorktown's head while she slowly stirred awake beside him.
Her golden eyes gradually opened before softening immediately upon seeing him.
"Ah…"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Good morning, Yuuki…"
Yuuki smiled warmly back at her.
"Sleep well?"
Yorktown quietly nodded while still looking half asleep.
"Yes…"
Then softly—
"I might get used to this."
Yuuki immediately pointed a finger at her.
"Let's save shared sleeping arrangements for later."
Then awkwardly—
"Preferably after marriage."
Yorktown's eyes gently brightened afterward.
"Then…"
She lightly held onto his sleeve.
"I'll simply level up faster so we can get married sooner."
Yuuki immediately froze.
"…Hana."
His ears visibly reddened while he softly patted her head again.
"I really admire your dedication."
Yorktown's smile became warmer.
"I do love you after all."
That direct declaration instantly flustered him again.
And before he could recover—
Illustrious suddenly leaned close and kissed his cheek gently.
"My…"
Her voice carried soft amusement.
"You truly are adorable when embarrassed, Lord Commander."
"Ladies please…"
Yuuki weakly covered his face while several nearby girls quietly laughed.
Belfast calmly folded blankets nearby without missing a beat.
"Master should simply accept that this will become normal from now onward."
"That sentence terrifies me."
The other girls meanwhile naturally began tidying the room together.
Blankets folded.
Pillows stacked.
The temporary quarters slowly returning to order beneath the coordinated efforts of shipgirls, maids, and Nikkes alike.
Then suddenly—
"SHIKIKAN-SAMAAA~~~"
Yuuki barely had time to react before Akagi launched herself directly onto him dramatically.
"Oof—"
"Akagi had such a wonderful dream about you last night~"
Yuuki laughed helplessly while steadying her.
"You're energetic this morning."
Kaga calmly crossed her arms nearby.
"She has been awake for nearly thirty minutes already."
"That explains everything."
Then—
"Morning, Shikikan-sama~"
Atago gently hugged him from behind while resting comfortably against him.
Takao immediately sighed nearby.
"Atago…"
"What?"
"You are doing it again."
Atago only smiled shamelessly.
Yuuki eventually looked toward Akagi again.
"Oh right. Amagi sents her regards. To all of you."
Her ears immediately perked up.
"You met Amagi-neesama?!"
Yuuki nodded softly.
"Yeah."
Then gently—
"She asked me to continue watching over you."
Akagi visibly softened afterward.
The mention of her beloved sister always affected her deeply.
"…Heeh…"
A genuine smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Then Akagi shall continue behaving well."
Kaga immediately looked suspicious.
"That statement lacks credibility."
Meanwhile nearby—
Anis watched the entire situation with open amusement.
"Heh…"
Then teasingly—
"Lively morning, huh Commander?"
Rapi quietly nodded beside her while Neon adjusted her glasses thoughtfully.
"The commander's harem grows stronger daily."
"I AM NOT BUILDING A HAREM."
Nobody believed him anymore.
Eventually—
One by one—
The girls finally returned to their own rooms to freshen up and prepare for the coming operation.
The noisy atmosphere gradually settled afterward.
Until finally—
Yuuki found himself alone again for the first time since waking up.
Silence filled the temporary quarters.
Yuuki quietly exhaled before heading toward the bathroom himself.
As warm water washed over him—
His thoughts slowly drifted toward everything that happened last night.
The synchronized hearts.
The confessions.
The Void World.
The pain the Nikkes carried.
The shipgirls waiting patiently for resurrection.
Alive and dead alike.
And somehow—
All of them had placed their trust in him.
Not as a commander alone.
But as someone they genuinely believed could save them.
Yuuki quietly stared at his reflection afterward.
Then softly to himself—
"…No pressure."
=====================
The Daedalus cafeteria was already lively by the time Yuuki arrived.
Drones moved efficiently between tables while preparing breakfast plates for both shipgirls and Nikkes alike. The atmosphere felt surprisingly natural now seeing them all seated together.
Shipgirls discussing naval combat beside Nikkes talking about firearms.
Royal maids helping sleepy destroyers.
Akagi trying to sit beside Yuuki before Yorktown silently occupied the seat first. She wanted to settle the other side before others could seized but, Kaga has already taken the other side.
The fleet truly was becoming one unified group.
Then—
A soft alert appeared across Yuuki's HUD.
UNKNOWN ENERGY FIELD DETECTED
LONG-RANGE EXTERNAL SCANS OBSTRUCTED
The room's mood immediately shifted slightly.
Enterprise looked toward him first.
"A barrier?"
Yuuki nodded while pulling up a holographic display above the cafeteria table.
"Looks like the island is surrounded by some sort of interference field."
The hologram flickered repeatedly.
"External scans can't penetrate it."
Anis leaned closer while eating breakfast casually.
"So how exactly are we gonna scan the place then?"
Yuuki grinned faintly afterward.
"Simple."
He tapped several commands across the holographic interface.
Immediately—
Tiny golden spheres emerged from hidden compartments throughout the Daedalus interior.
Dozens of them.
Fifty in total.
The small drones floated briefly before mechanical hummingbird-like wings unfolded from their sides.
The girls quietly stared.
Then—
The drones shot forward at terrifying speed through the launch ports.
Gone within seconds.
Wales blinked in surprise afterward.
"Oh my…"
Her elegant eyes followed the disappearing drones carefully.
"What exactly are those little machines?"
Yuuki leaned back casually afterward.
"Snitch drones."
Then proudly—
"Compact stealth reconnaissance units."
A holographic image of one enlarged above the table.
Small.
Golden.
Spherical.
With rapidly vibrating wings resembling a hummingbird.
"They're extremely fast."
Another display appeared showing movement speeds.
"And extremely difficult to visually track."
Rapi studied the hologram carefully.
"Stealth focused?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Stealth, agility, reconnaissance, and mapping."
Then more seriously—
"They're designed to infiltrate hostile environments without being noticed."
Neon's eyes immediately sparkled.
"So tiny spy drones!"
"Basically."
Wales looked impressed.
"They're rather adorable despite sounding terrifying."
"Thats how you know good engineering happened."
The holographic display shifted again afterward.
Live feeds began appearing one after another from the Snitch drones.
Dense jungle terrain.
Ancient ruins.
Coastal defenses.
And most importantly—
A strange shimmering energy dome surrounding portions of the island.
Yuuki's expression sharpened slightly.
"There it is."
The cafeteria became quieter afterward as everyone focused on the incoming reconnaissance data.
The operation had officially begun.
The Snitch drones moved with terrifying efficiency.
Tiny golden streaks darted across the skies faster than the human eye could properly track. Their hummingbird-like wings vibrated at absurd speeds while stealth systems kept them nearly invisible against the clouds and rooftops.
Within barely thirty minutes—
The entire island had already been mapped.
When breakfast ended, everyone regrouped inside the Daedalus command center.
The operation room itself resembled something out of a futuristic military command post.
A large square-shaped chamber.
Dark metallic walls lined with illuminated tactical displays.
Multiple holographic projectors floated throughout the room while streams of reconnaissance data constantly updated in real time.
At the center stood the commander's tactical stage.
Naturally—
Yuuki stood there while the shipgirls and Nikkes sat around the outer tactical ring observing the holographic projections together.
The atmosphere felt serious now.
Focused.
Because this was no longer emotional bonding or peaceful conversations inside the Void World.
This was an active operation.
One by one, the Snitch drones returned to the Daedalus and docked into their charging bays along the walls.
Others remained hidden throughout the island itself—
Now functioning as permanent reconnaissance cameras.
The hologram above the center stage slowly finished rendering.
And finally—
The island revealed itself completely.
The room became quiet.
Because nobody expected this.
The settlement looked ancient compared to the advanced civilizations surrounding the current world.
Old stone roads.
Narrow streets.
Terracotta rooftops.
Tall cathedral-like buildings.
Markets.
Courtyards.
Water canals.
The entire place resembled a preserved Italian coastal city from centuries ago rather than a hidden superpower.
And towering above everything—
A massive castle rested atop the central hill overlooking the entire island.
The scenery looked peaceful.
Almost beautiful.
Completely disconnected from the ruined world outside.
Yorktown narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…How is a place like this still hidden?"
Enterprise quietly crossed her arms.
"The Sirens should have detected this years ago."
Rapi studied the holographic barrier readings carefully.
"And the Raptures too."
Yuuki enlarged the energy field surrounding the island.
The barrier pulsed faintly around the entire region like an invisible dome.
"Whatever this thing is…"
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…it completely masks thermal signatures, radar scans, electromagnetic output, and probably satellite observation too."
Neon blinked.
"So this whole place basically vanished from the world?"
"Exactly."
The hologram shifted again showing how the Daedalus itself failed to properly scan the island until they moved dangerously close to the barrier perimeter.
"It took GDI-level sensors…"
Yuuki zoomed toward the drone telemetry.
"…plus fifty Snitch drones physically crossing the barrier to finally map this place."
Belfast quietly observed the city below.
"It almost resembles a sanctuary."
Ade slowly nodded beside her.
"A hidden refuge…"
Anis however looked more suspicious.
"Or a prison pretending to be a refuge."
That immediately quieted the room slightly.
Because both possibilities felt equally plausible.
Then suddenly—
One of the remaining live drone feeds activated above the hologram.
A hidden camera overlooking part of the city streets.
People moved naturally below.
Civilians.
Merchants.
Children.
Completely unaware they were being observed from above.
The girls quietly watched the scene.
Because after years of war—
Simply seeing ordinary life again felt strange.
Then another feed activated.
Castle district.
Armed guards.
Luxury carriages.
Noble architecture.
And finally—
One drone focused toward one particular tower balcony.
A glimpse of long purple hair fluttering against the wind.
The figure slowly turned slightly—
Almost as if she sensed the drone watching her.
Then the feed abruptly distorted.
Static.
Signal disruption.
The entire room immediately focused.
Yuuki's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
Wales slowly looked toward him.
"Someone detected the drone?"
"Not exactly."
Yuuki replayed the footage.
"The drone itself wasn't scanned."
Then quietly—
"She sensed something watching her."
The room grew tense again.
Because that meant at least one person on the island possessed senses far beyond ordinary humans.
And somehow—
Yuuki had a feeling they were already expecting him.
One of the reconnaissance feeds suddenly focused on a crowded plaza within the city.
The hidden Snitch drone quietly hovered above the rooftops while its audio systems enhanced nearby conversations automatically.
"…the wedding ceremony…"
"…Prince Pierre…"
"…two shipgirls…"
"…castle preparations…"
The operation room immediately became silent.
Then the translation software fully processed the intercepted conversation.
Wedding of Prince Pierre and two shipgirls scheduled today.
Every shipgirl and Nikke inside the Daedalus command room reacted immediately.
Yuuki's expression hardened.
Nimi was the first to speak.
"…Frau Eugen is getting married?"
Her voice carried visible disbelief.
Takao frowned slightly.
"A political marriage?"
Enterprise crossed her arms.
"I doubt it's voluntary."
Yuuki quietly stared at the holographic city.
"No."
Then firmly—
"Eugen wouldn't ask for help if she wanted this."
The synchronized connection between the fleet quietly pulsed with unease afterward.
Akagi's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Forcing shipgirls into marriage…"
A cold smile slowly formed on her face.
"How disgusting."
Kaga silently nodded beside her.
Rapi focused on the tactical side immediately.
"If the wedding is happening today…"
Then seriously—
"…we're on limited time."
Yorktown looked toward the castle hologram.
"We still don't know whether Eugen, Hipper, and Javelin are all inside."
"Or how heavily guarded the castle is," Belfast added calmly.
Yuuki's fingers rapidly moved across the holographic controls afterward.
Additional drone feeds immediately appeared.
Castle patrol routes.
Guard movements.
Noble districts.
Possible holding areas.
"Then we gather more intelligence first."
His voice remained calm—
But noticeably colder now.
"Especially if civilians are involved."
Anis leaned closer toward the tactical map.
"So what's the move, Commander?"
Yuuki enlarged the city streets surrounding the castle.
"The wedding gives us cover."
A tactical infiltration route appeared across the hologram.
"Crowds. Deliveries. Increased movement."
Then firmly—
"We infiltrate quietly first."
Atago smiled softly afterward.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"A covert mission with Commander."
Takao immediately sighed beside her.
"This is not an excuse for flirting."
"Atago flirts under every circumstance."
"Correct."
Belfast calmly ignored them both.
"Reconnaissance and confirmation first, Master?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Exactly."
The hologram zoomed toward the castle again.
"Once we confirm where Eugen and the others are being held…"
His eyes sharpened afterward.
"…then we extract them."
The room quietly fell into agreement afterward.
Because now—
This was no longer just reconnaissance.
It had become a rescue operation against a forced marriage.
Yuuki continued analyzing the tactical feeds while the holographic city slowly rotated above the center of the operation room.
"This situation could escalate very quickly."
The room quieted again.
"If this wedding becomes compromised…"
Yuuki enlarged the barrier surrounding the island.
"…there's a strong possibility the concealment field may fail."
Rapi immediately understood the implication.
"And once the barrier drops…"
"Sirens or Raptures could detect the island," Enterprise finished quietly.
Yuuki nodded.
"This place survived because it stayed hidden."
Then more seriously—
"If the barrier collapses during a conflict, this entire city becomes exposed."
Several girls visibly tensed afterward.
"We avoid open warfare unless absolutely necessary."
Yuuki looked around the operation room afterward.
"Understood?"
Everyone nodded.
Then Yorktown softly asked—
"Your orders, Commander?"
Yuuki immediately began assigning teams.
"Rapi. Anis."
The two Nikkes straightened immediately.
"I'll prepare two additional Da'at Yichud power suits for both of you."
A holographic image of the combat suit appeared above the table.
Advanced stealth-capable tactical armor.
Integrated sensor masking.
Enhanced targeting systems.
Then another weapon projection appeared.
Long.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
"The Vervack R59 Pierce sniper rifle."
Neon visibly leaned forward immediately.
"Ooooh…"
Yuuki zoomed the rifle schematic.
"Silent variation."
Then seriously—
"You'll use the directional microphone systems to monitor important conversations during the wedding."
He looked toward Atago and Takao next.
"Atago. Takao. You'll support them with the Virtual Sniper Drone, a stealth sniper drone. Hover around the castle and provide us with info."
The two heavy cruisers nodded.
"Yes, Shikikan-sama."
The four already possessed familiarity with the advanced weapons after previous training sessions.
Yuuki shifted the tactical map again afterward.
"Neon. Nimi. Unicorn. Laffey."
The small girls immediately focused.
"You four will attend the wedding with me as guests."
Neon blinked.
"We're infiltration bait?"
"You're small enough to avoid suspicion."
Then more gently—
"And honestly, people lower their guard around you girls."
Nimi quietly nodded.
"We understand, Herr Kommandant."
Laffey rubbed her eyes sleepily afterward while speaking softly.
"…Laffey will find Javelin."
Unicorn held onto Yuuki's sleeve lightly.
"Unicorn will help too…"
Yuuki softly patted their heads.
"Good."
The hologram shifted toward the castle servant quarters.
"Ade. Soda. Belfast."
The three maids immediately straightened elegantly.
"You'll blend in with the castle maids."
Belfast's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Understood, Master."
Yuuki looked toward them carefully.
"Locate Cocoa and Hipper first."
Ade quietly nodded.
"We'll find them."
Soda's expression softened slightly at Cocoa's name.
"Yes, Master…"
Then finally—
"Hana. Enty. Illy."
Yorktown, Enterprise, and Illustrious looked toward him.
"You three will mingle among the guests."
A social infiltration overlay appeared across the wedding district.
"Nobles talk too much when they feel comfortable."
Illustrious softly smiled.
"Information gathering through social interaction."
"Exactly."
Enterprise quietly crossed her arms.
"We'll locate anything suspicious."
Then—
Yorktown softly spoke.
"I'll find Eugen."
The operation room became quiet afterward.
Because everyone could feel the determination inside her voice.
Yuuki looked toward her gently.
Then nodded.
"What about us, Commander?"
Wales, Avrora, Akagi, Kaga, Sandy, and Eldridge all looked toward Yuuki from the outer tactical ring.
Yuuki immediately shifted the holographic display again.
"You girls will remain aboard the Daedalus."
Several new tactical windows appeared throughout the command room.
Ship schematics.
Weapons platforms.
Fleet command interfaces.
"Akagi. Kaga."
The two carriers straightened immediately.
"I'll place aerial command under both of you."
Akagi's tails swayed excitedly.
"Hai, Shikikan-sama!"
Yuuki enlarged several aircraft schematics.
"Right now I haven't authorized deployment of the Orcas or Firehawks yet."
Images of sleek futuristic aircraft rotated holographically above the table.
"But if the situation escalates…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…you two will take direct control of aerial superiority and bombing operations."
Kaga's expression turned serious immediately.
"We understand."
Then Yuuki looked toward Wales and Avrora.
"Wales. Avrora."
Several massive ship schematics appeared.
Flying battleships.
Gigantic airborne war platforms.
The room visibly reacted slightly seeing their size.
"You two will command the Daedalus reserve fleet."
The holographic labels activated.
KODIAK-CLASS FLYING BATTLESHIP
ZEUS HEAVY ASSAULT PLATFORM
"Each of you will command two Kodiaks and one Zeus platform."
Wales visibly widened her eyes.
Avrora looked equally stunned.
Those were not ordinary warships.
Those things were monsters.
A single Kodiak alone possessed enough firepower to flatten fleets.
And Zeus-class platforms were essentially floating fortresses.
Yuuki calmly continued.
"If things go wrong…"
The hologram zoomed outward showing the island and surrounding waters.
"…you'll provide evacuation support, aerial bombardment, and barrier defense."
Avrora slowly nodded afterward.
"Leave it to us, Commander."
Wales straightened elegantly.
"We shall not fail."
Yuuki then looked toward Sandy.
"Sandy."
"Hm?"
"You'll handle Daedalus weapon systems control."
Silence.
Sandy blinked.
"…I understood maybe half those words."
Yuuki nodded.
"That's fine."
Then confidently—
"You'll still somehow do amazing."
Enterprise quietly looked concerned.
"…Is that truly wise?"
Yuuki answered instantly.
"It absolutely is."
Sandy proudly pointed at herself.
"Natural genius!"
Then finally—
"Eldridge."
The sleepy destroyer slowly looked up.
Yuuki activated another weapons schematic.
Massive towering cannons appeared above the hologram.
Electricity arced violently between their coils.
TESLA HEAVY ARTILLERY SYSTEM
A simulation immediately played.
A massive sphere of condensed lightning launched across the battlefield before detonating into a catastrophic electromagnetic explosion.
Entire Siren fleets vanished inside the blast radius.
The room became quiet.
Then another holographic label appeared.
AUTHORIZED BATTERIES: 4
Even the experienced shipgirls looked uneasy seeing the destructive output.
Yuuki calmly explained.
"You'll control four Tesla cannons."
Eldridge quietly stared at the simulation.
"…Big zap."
"Extremely big zap."
Then more seriously—
"We hope we never need to fire them."
Eldridge slowly nodded.
"…Mhm."
Then Yuuki turned toward Vestal and Akashi.
"Vestal. Akashi."
The two support specialists focused immediately.
"Prepare medical operations and emergency civilian treatment."
Then Yuuki tossed a compact wrist-mounted device toward Akashi.
The catgirl barely caught it.
"Nyaa?!"
Yuuki activated a holographic demonstration.
An advanced repair and reconstruction tool.
Similar to Vestal's medical systems.
"It can repair injuries…"
Then more quietly—
"…or weaponize reconstruction beams if necessary."
Akashi's eyes widened.
"Advanced gizmo repair gun…"
Yuuki nodded.
"Bring the Bulins with you too."
The little support units immediately saluted proudly nearby.
Then finally—
One of the girls quietly asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Commander…"
Yorktown looked toward the tactical displays again.
"Why are you assigning battle stations for a simple infiltration mission?"
The command room became quiet afterward.
Yuuki slowly enlarged the island barrier hologram once more.
Then another tactical feed appeared.
Multiple unidentified contacts floating beyond the barrier perimeter.
Waiting.
Watching.
Yuuki's expression hardened slightly.
"Do you detect the Siren fleets outside the barrier?"
The room fell silent.
Because they had.
Several unidentified Siren signatures had been detected lingering in the surrounding waters since arrival.
Too distant to engage.
Too deliberate to ignore.
Yuuki quietly crossed his arms afterward.
"I don't think they're here by coincidence."
The holographic barrier flickered softly around the island.
"If this barrier collapses…"
He zoomed outward again.
"…the Sirens will attack immediately."
Then colder—
"And if the Raptures detect the energy spike too…"
Nobody needed him to finish the sentence.
The city below would become a battlefield.
Yuuki quietly looked toward everyone gathered around him.
"So no."
His voice remained calm.
"This is not just an infiltration mission anymore."
Then firmly—
"This is a rescue operation with potential full-scale war conditions."
Yuuki enlarged the paused reconnaissance image again, focusing the hologram toward the purple-haired woman standing alone upon the castle balcony overlooking the city below.
Elegant posture.
Purple kimono modified into a strange fusion of nobility and military practicality.
Parasol in hand.
Long purple hair flowing gently against the sea wind.
And somehow—
The moment Yuuki looked at her, he felt something strange tugging at his instincts.
Not hostility.
Not familiarity.
Something else entirely.
"You girls seriously have no idea who she is?"
Yorktown quietly studied the holographic image again before softly shaking her head.
"No. Why?"
Rapi folded her arms while observing the figure carefully through the tactical display.
"She's not a Nikke."
Enterprise narrowed her eyes slightly.
"And not a shipgirl either."
Yuuki remained silent for several moments while the woman's image rotated slowly above the command table.
"That girl gives me a very odd feeling."
Then he exhaled softly before dismissing the thought for now.
"Anyway. We move."
The atmosphere inside the Daedalus command room immediately shifted from observation into operation mode.
Yuuki turned toward Atago and Takao first.
"Atago. Takao."
The two heavy cruisers immediately straightened.
"Help Rapi and Anis assemble their Da'at Yichud power suits."
Anis instantly coughed awkwardly while Rapi merely sighed in acceptance.
Takao calmly nodded.
"Understood."
Yuuki casually continued.
"The suits require synchronization fitting, so yes, they'll need to undress for calibration."
Anis immediately pointed at him.
"Commander!"
Atago meanwhile smiled teasingly.
"My, how exciting."
Rapi pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Please ignore her."
Yuuki opened several holographic weapon lockers afterward.
Four sleek sniper rifles materialized across the tactical table.
Long-range precision weapons.
Dark matte-black finish.
Elegant yet terrifyingly advanced.
"The Vervack R59 Pierce. Silent variation."
The girls immediately focused on the weapons.
"These will be your primary overwatch rifles during the operation."
Yuuki enlarged the rifle schematic while continuing the briefing.
"Integrated directional microphones. Enhanced optic suites. Anti-material capability. Suppressed firing systems."
Then another hologram appeared.
A floating drone unfolded above the table.
Compact.
Angular.
Deadly.
"The VSD sniper drone."
Anis blinked twice.
"…That's literally a flying sniper rifle."
"Exactly."
Yuuki grinned faintly.
"The drone synchronizes directly with your power suits. You'll be able to remotely control positioning, targeting, and recon support while maintaining stealth."
The holographic simulation displayed the drones deploying onto rooftops before stabilizing into silent firing platforms.
Rapi quietly looked impressed despite herself.
"This technology is absurd…"
Yuuki zoomed the tactical map toward several rooftops surrounding the wedding district.
"Once we land, activate stealth mode immediately."
Multiple sniper positions lit up across the hologram.
"Occupy elevated positions, deploy your VSD drones, and provide overwatch for the infiltration teams."
Atago softly smiled afterward while resting the sniper rifle against her shoulder naturally.
"Understood, Commander."
Takao nodded calmly beside her.
"We'll ensure nobody touches our allies."
Yuuki then looked toward the two heavy cruisers again.
"Take Rapi and Anis for a short test run using the Da'at Yichud suits."
The two Nikkes immediately focused.
"Teach them the functions properly and review activation protocols for the combat modes we practiced inside the Skirmish Room."
Atago's eyes slightly widened afterward.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Then more quietly—
"You mean…"
Yuuki nodded firmly.
"Yes."
The holographic display shifted immediately.
Three tactical combat modes appeared above the table.
STEALTH MODE
OVERDRIVE MODE
HEROIC MODE
"I'm authorizing full combat usage."
Even Rapi visibly sharpened slightly hearing that.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"Stealth mode is straightforward. Thermal suppression, optical camouflage, sound dampening."
Then the hologram shifted toward Overdrive.
"Overdrive temporarily accelerates neural processing speed."
The tactical simulation activated.
The outside world slowed almost to a crawl while the operator continued moving at full combat awareness.
"In your perception, you'll experience roughly ten seconds of reaction time."
Then more seriously—
"In reality, only two seconds actually pass."
Anis softly whistled.
"It's necessary if you need to secure a kill or react to overwhelming threats."
The girls already understood most of the functions after extensive skirmish simulations, so Yuuki did not waste time overexplaining details.
The hologram then shifted again.
HEROIC MODE
Weapon systems glowed violently within the simulation.
"Heroic mode amplifies weapon output and combat efficiency dramatically."
Another simulation played.
The sniper rifle round punched cleanly through armored fortifications before detonating into secondary shockwaves.
"Same principles as the Skirmish Room training."
Then Yuuki crossed his arms.
"The Da'at Yichud armor also increases overall physical defense, agility, strength, and reaction speed."
His voice sharpened slightly.
"So I'm authorizing unrestricted use if combat becomes unavoidable."
Rapi quietly looked toward the holographic combat footage.
Then softly—
"…Using this power in the real world…"
The faintest smile appeared on her face.
"…feels unreal."
Anis grinned beside her.
"Heh…"
Then excitedly—
"Our first real tactical operation with power armor and flying sniper drones."
The excitement inside both Nikkes was impossible to hide now.
Especially after experiencing how overwhelming the systems felt inside the Skirmish simulations.
Yuuki meanwhile continued.
"Eventually, I hope to complete the Crynet Nanosuit 3.0 variants for all of you."
Several girls looked toward him curiously.
Yuuki enlarged another armor schematic.
Far sleeker.
Far more advanced.
The entire system appeared almost liquid in structure.
"Unlike Da'at Yichud armor, Crynet suits are composed entirely of programmable nanomachines."
The hologram demonstrated the armor materializing directly over the user's body almost instantly.
Adaptive shielding.
Environmental manipulation.
Regenerative functions.
Integrated cloaking.
Enhanced combat systems.
Yuuki's expression sharpened slightly.
"The Crynet systems are significantly more advanced."
Then more quietly—
"And much more dangerous."
Rapi and Anis immediately looked even more excited afterward.
Meanwhile nearby—
Neon bit dramatically onto a handkerchief while watching everyone receive terrifyingly overpowered equipment.
"Kuuuu…"
Then loudly—
"So jealous…"
Yuuki immediately laughed softly.
"You'll get your turn soon enough."
Neon instantly pointed toward him dramatically.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
That single word alone immediately restored her entire morale system.
Yuuki then materialized additional sidearms onto the table.
Compact automatic pistols with sleek futuristic frames.
"The Vervack Commando Elite Falcon."
Atago, Takao, Rapi, and Anis immediately accepted the pistols. All four already possessed familiarity with the weapons after practicing inside the skirmish room the previous day.
Then suddenly—
Another weapon materialized.
Larger.
Heavier.
Far more aggressive looking.
The instant Neon saw it—
Her soul nearly left her body.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
She nearly climbed over the tactical table while staring at the rifle with sparkling eyes.
"So beautiful…"
Then dramatically—
"So elegant…"
She pointed at Rapi and Anis immediately.
"I AM EXTREMELY JEALOUS."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"The Hawkeye Ramjet Rifle."
The holographic specifications appeared above the weapon.
95 CALIBER
RAMJET-PROPELLED PROJECTILES
ANTI-ARMOR / ANTI-ORDNANCE PLATFORM
Even the shipgirls became quieter after seeing the weapon simulation.
Yuuki enlarged the internal mechanisms while explaining.
"The Hawkeye fires jet-propelled shells at extremely high velocities capable of penetrating heavy armor and military-grade fortifications."
A ballistic simulation immediately played above the command table.
The projectile punched cleanly through layered armor plating before detonating through reinforced military vehicles.
Neon visibly looked ready to ascend spiritually.
Yuuki pointed toward the recoil system above the barrel.
"To manage the recoil, a piston stabilization assembly is installed above the weapon. Combined with the bullpup design, it keeps the rifle compact without sacrificing accuracy."
Then casually—
"This thing carries five 95 caliber rounds."
Silence filled the room briefly.
Neon slowly turned toward him with trembling hands.
"95 caliber…"
Then dramatically—
"Commander, I am now REALLY jealous."
Yuuki grinned.
"You'll need either ship mode stabilization or a power suit to fire it properly. Even Nikke Modes as well."
Then he enlarged the scope assembly.
"The optics include built-in night vision systems and directional microphones."
Another warning flashed holographically.
EXTREME ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE
"And this thing is extremely loud with a powerful recoil."
Yuuki looked directly toward the sniper team.
"Do not fire it during infiltration unless things go catastrophically wrong."
The four sniper units immediately nodded.
"Yes, Commander."
"Yes, Shikikan-sama."
Anis meanwhile grinned toward Rapi.
"This is actually pretty exciting."
Then more softly—
"Our first operation together."
Rapi quietly nodded.
"Yes."
The warmth inside her expression softened slightly afterward.
"…our first mission while truly free."
The synchronized connection between their hearts quietly pulsed again.
Then Yuuki turned toward the infiltration team.
"Neon. Laffey. Nimi. Unicorn. Hana. Enty. Illy."
The girls immediately focused.
"Observe the nobles carefully once we enter the city."
The holographic display shifted toward civilian footage gathered by the reconnaissance drones.
"Study their dress code and social behavior."
Then casually—
"Generate matching noble outfits to blend in."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck afterward.
"I'll create something for myself too."
Then immediately—
"And don't make them too revealing."
Illustrious slowly smiled afterward.
"My…"
Her teasing gaze landed directly on him.
"Lord Commander does not wish other men seeing our bodies?"
Yuuki answered immediately.
"Correct."
The operation room became quiet for several moments afterward.
Then Yuuki spoke more honestly.
"Now that all of you confessed…"
His expression softened slightly.
"…forgive me for becoming jealous too."
Several girls visibly turned red afterward.
Because through the synchronized connection—
They could feel he genuinely meant every word.
Not possessiveness.
Not selfishness.
Simply protectiveness.
Warm.
Gentle.
Sincere.
Illustrious softly covered her smile.
"My… how dangerous. I might need to watch how I am dressed from now on."
Yorktown quietly lowered her gaze with flushed cheeks.
Enterprise awkwardly looked elsewhere.
Even Rapi and Anis visibly softened from the warmth behind his feelings.
Then Yuuki casually finished the briefing.
"And keep your power suits compressed inside your handbags."
Neon blinked.
"…Those giant suits fit inside handbags?"
Yuuki grinned faintly.
"They can be compacted into smaller modes but, once the Crynet Nanosuit 3.0 is done. It'll be solid solid surprise to you."
Anis immediately pointed at him dramatically.
"Okay. That's cheating."
Yuuki clapped his hands once before looking around the operation room with a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"All right, ladies."
The holographic displays behind him shifted toward the castle district once more while wedding preparations continued throughout the city below.
"Let's get ready to attend a wedding."
Then his grin widened slightly.
"…and steal the brides, shipgirl, and maid."
Silence filled the room for exactly one second.
Then—
Anis immediately burst out laughing.
"Commander, that sounds ridiculously villainous."
"At least he's honest about it," Rapi muttered while trying not to smile.
Atago softly covered her mouth.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"A wedding infiltration operation truly sounds romantic."
Takao sighed immediately.
"This is not romance."
"It absolutely sounds like romance," Anis replied shamelessly.
Meanwhile Akagi's eyes sparkled dangerously from the command seat.
"Shikikan-sama stealing captured beauties away from wicked nobles…"
Her tails swayed happily.
"How wonderful."
Kaga quietly rubbed her forehead beside her.
"Please do not encourage him."
Yorktown however smiled softly while looking toward Yuuki.
Despite the joking atmosphere—
She could feel the determination inside his heart clearly through their synchronized connection.
Because beneath the humor—
Yuuki truly intended to save everyone there.
Prinz Eugen.
Hipper.
Javelin.
Cocoa.
Enterprise crossed her arms afterward while focusing on the tactical map.
"Once infiltration begins, communication silence?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Passive transmission only unless emergencies occur."
The holographic city enlarged again.
"Our primary objective remains extraction."
Then more seriously—
"We avoid open conflict unless absolutely necessary."
Belfast calmly adjusted her gloves beside Ade and Soda.
"We shall retrieve the maids safely, Master."
Ade quietly nodded beside her.
A faint determination now existed inside her eyes instead of fear.
Soda meanwhile puffed her cheeks slightly.
"And Cocoa too."
"We'll bring her home," Yuuki answered gently.
That single sentence alone visibly softened Soda's expression.
Then Yuuki looked around the room one final time.
The sniper team.
The infiltration teams.
The support crews.
Shipgirls and Nikkes standing together naturally now.
No hesitation.
No distrust.
Only confidence in each other.
Then Yuuki smiled faintly.
"All right."
The holographic map slowly rotated behind him while the Daedalus quietly hovered beyond the barrier outside the hidden island.
"Operation starts now."
======================
Inside the castle grounds, the atmosphere felt suffocating despite the luxurious surroundings.
Expensive chandeliers illuminated the bridal chambers beautifully while servants continued preparing the final arrangements for the masquerade wedding below.
Yet none of it felt joyful.
Not for the two girls dressed as brides.
Prinz Eugen stood near the large balcony windows wearing an elegant white wedding dress decorated with silver accents and black lace. Normally, the Iron Blood cruiser would have looked stunning enough to steal attention from the entire ballroom.
But now—
The dress felt less like wedding attire.
And more like funeral clothing.
Nearby, Javelin sat quietly while nervously holding the fabric of her own wedding dress. Unlike Eugen, the destroyer could not fully hide how terrified she truly felt.
Then the doors opened.
"Ah…"
Prince Pierre entered with an arrogant grin already plastered across his face.
The strong smell of whiskey immediately filled the room.
"My beautiful brides-to-be."
The servants quietly lowered their heads before excusing themselves immediately. Only Cocoa remained standing beside Javelin afterward.
Eugen did not even bother looking at him.
Pierre slowly approached her anyway before roughly grabbing her chin and forcing her gaze upward.
"You look prettiest when you resist."
Eugen's eyes immediately sharpened with hatred.
If not for the sacred restraints suppressing her shipgirl powers—
She would have gladly blown his head apart already.
Pierre eventually released her before laughing softly.
"I truly cannot wait for the ceremony."
His grin widened disturbingly.
"Having shipgirls as wives…"
Then lower—
"…really excites me."
Javelin visibly shrank slightly hearing that.
Eugen meanwhile coldly answered him.
"You promised to let my sister go once I agreed to this."
Pierre immediately scoffed.
"You think that cripple can go anywhere?"
His tone carried complete contempt.
"Be grateful I even took you in and allowed you to enjoy luxury."
Then mockingly—
"Not even your precious Iron Blood can save you now."
Eugen's fists quietly clenched.
"…Damn you."
Pierre only smiled wider.
"How frightening."
Then colder—
"Remember what happens if either of you resist."
The room quietly fell silent afterward.
Because everyone there already knew.
The punishments.
The beatings.
The threats.
The helplessness.
Satisfied with their silence, Pierre eventually left the room again.
The heavy doors slowly closed behind him.
And only then—
The atmosphere slightly relaxed.
Normally Eugen would have drowned herself in alcohol after moments like this.
But she stopped drinking nearly ten years ago.
Not because she recovered.
But because she learned alcohol solved nothing.
Drinking only delayed the pain temporarily.
The moment sobriety returned—
Reality always came back even worse.
So eventually—
Alcohol stopped meaning anything to her at all.
Javelin quietly hugged herself afterward.
"…I'm really scared."
Her voice trembled softly.
"I miss Laffey…"
Then quieter—
"Nimi… and Ayanami…"
Cocoa slowly hugged her gently from behind.
The maid herself looked exhausted despite trying to maintain a smile.
She missed Ade and Soda desperately too.
After losing everything, she had been taken into the castle as a servant simply because she needed work to survive.
And despite the luxurious appearance of the place—
The treatment inside remained cruel and inhuman.
Javelin softly looked toward Eugen afterward.
"If our lives could change…"
Then weakly—
"…would we take it?"
Silence lingered briefly.
Then Eugen softly laughed bitterly.
"I would gladly return to poverty just to leave this hell."
Her gaze slowly lowered afterward.
"I wish I never came here."
Cocoa quietly nodded.
Even Javelin softly lowered her eyes.
Then suddenly—
Eugen smirked faintly despite everything.
Honestly—
The expression looked painfully forced now.
"Heh…"
Then dryly—
"If some idiot guy suddenly tried stealing me away from Pierre during the wedding…"
She crossed her arms lightly.
"…I'd probably go with him."
Javelin blinked slightly.
Even Cocoa looked surprised.
Eugen shrugged weakly afterward.
"As if someone that stupid exists."
Javelin quietly looked down afterward.
Because honestly—
Who would be insane enough to oppose Pierre and the nobles controlling this island?
Especially for shipgirls nobody outside the barrier even remembered anymore.
Eugen meanwhile quietly stared toward her own reflection.
The sacred tree restraints wrapped around her wrists glowed faintly beneath the wedding sleeves.
Those cursed bindings completely prevented her from activating ship mode.
Otherwise—
Pierre would already be dead.
Then suddenly—
"Um…"
Cocoa hesitated softly.
"Can I tell you both something honestly?"
Eugen glanced toward her.
"What is it?"
Cocoa nervously fidgeted with her hands.
"…I'm actually a Nikke."
Javelin blinked in surprise.
"A Nikke?"
Then curiously—
"Those super girls with giant guns?"
Cocoa awkwardly smiled.
"Yes…"
Then sadly—
"But I can't really use my Nikke abilities anymore."
Her gaze slowly lowered.
"And honestly…"
"…I'm not that amazing."
Then quieter—
"Shipgirls are stronger than me."
Fear quietly entered her voice afterward.
"If Pierre discovers I'm a Nikke…"
She trembled slightly.
"…I don't know what he'll do to me."
Javelin immediately shook her head.
"Don't worry."
"We won't tell anyone."
Eugen quietly nodded afterward.
Then Cocoa softly smiled again despite her exhaustion.
"I miss Ade and Soda… I am the leader of my squad but... I am really a disgrace."
Javelin gently held her hand afterward.
"They're your friends, right?"
Cocoa nodded quietly.
Then Javelin smiled softly despite her own fear.
"You'll meet them again."
=====================
Yuuki stood in front of the mirror inside his quarters while the nanomachines of the Mark 86 armor flowed smoothly across his body.
The metallic surface shifted elegantly before reshaping itself into formal attire.
A perfectly tailored black tuxedo formed layer by layer over him while subtle silver lines remained hidden beneath the fabric like dormant circuitry. The result looked less like ordinary clothing and more like a futuristic noble outfit disguised as a gentleman's formal wear.
Yuuki adjusted the collar slightly afterward.
Then the door opened softly.
Yorktown stepped inside.
And Yuuki genuinely paused.
She wore a dark elegant evening dress with soft fur draped gracefully around one arm. A blue ribbon rested near her tied ponytail while a matching flower pin completed the outfit beautifully.
Elegant.
Refined.
And dangerously beautiful beneath the room's lighting.
"…Wow."
Yorktown immediately became embarrassed from the sheer sincerity in his voice.
"Ah…"
She softly looked away.
"Please do not stare too long…"
Instead of continuing to tease her—
Yuuki simply walked closer before gently holding her hand.
"You look beautiful, Hana."
Yorktown's cheeks immediately reddened further.
Then quietly—
"I was wondering why this dress was named Evening I Can't Remember…"
Yuuki laughed softly.
"I'm starting to understand why."
Yorktown smiled faintly afterward before stepping closer and kissing his lips gently.
Warm.
Soft.
Natural.
Like something they had quietly begun getting used to.
Then another voice came from the doorway.
"It seems I arrived at the correct timing."
Enterprise entered next.
And somehow—
Yuuki became speechless again.
She wore a dark formal dress beneath a long elegant cloak draped over one shoulder. Unlike Yorktown's softer elegance, Enterprise's appearance carried a heroic beauty to it.
Calm.
Strong.
Graceful.
Like a decorated knight attending a royal ceremony.
Her flowing silver hair only made the image even more unfair.
Yuuki stared for several moments.
"…Wow."
Enterprise immediately looked slightly embarrassed afterward despite trying to maintain composure.
"Thanks…"
Then more softly—
"…Yuuki."
She stepped closer afterward before leaning in to kiss him as well.
Yorktown quietly smiled watching the scene beside him.
Then—
"My, everyone is already gathered?"
Illustrious entered the room next wearing an elegant white ballroom dress decorated with blue floral ribbons. Her braided hair completed the almost heavenly appearance perfectly.
The room genuinely felt brighter the moment she entered.
Yuuki slowly looked between all three women.
Then honestly—
"You girls dressed way too beautifully."
Illustrious softly laughed afterward while gracefully approaching him.
"It is for you, after all."
Then teasingly—
"There are significantly more daring versions of these dresses available."
Enterprise immediately sighed.
"Illy…"
Illustrious only smiled innocently.
"But we promised not to allow others to see what should belong solely to our Commander."
Yuuki visibly became flustered again.
"Illy…"
Illustrious then leaned forward and kissed him suddenly without warning.
Yuuki blinked afterward while the three women quietly smiled at his reaction.
Then helplessly—
"…I could honestly get used to randomly being kissed like this."
Yorktown softly giggled.
"That sounds dangerously encouraging."
Enterprise quietly looked away while hiding a faint smile.
Illustrious meanwhile looked extremely pleased with herself.
And honestly—
Watching the usually composed commander become increasingly defenseless against affection was becoming one of their favorite things.
Honestly—
The girls were especially happy because these were the dresses Yuuki bought for them back in Magellan.
Not simple clothing.
Not generated copies.
Actual dresses they personally chose together while wandering through the city.
Elegant outfits worth thousands of credits.
And despite Yuuki casually pretending the price did not matter—
The girls remembered it very clearly.
Because for many of them—
It was the first time someone bought beautiful things for them simply because he wanted to see them smile.
Then suddenly—
"Big sister Illustrious!"
The door opened again as Unicorn entered the room carefully.
Yuuki immediately softened.
Unicorn wore a beautiful white dress called Blissful Movement. Her long purple hair had been tied neatly into a ponytail while the dress itself flowed softly around her small figure with innocent elegance.
Adorable.
Dangerously adorable.
Yuuki immediately smiled.
"Unicorn is so cute…"
Unicorn's cheeks turned red instantly.
"B-Big brother…"
Then shyly—
"…ehee…"
But before Yuuki expected it—
The little unicorn girl suddenly leaned upward and kissed his cheek gently.
Yuuki blinked in surprise.
Unicorn immediately hid behind Illustrious afterward while smiling bashfully.
"…Ehee…"
Illustrious softly laughed while covering her smile.
"My…"
"The little one has become quite daring."
Then another voice entered dramatically.
"Not fair! Everyone's getting affection before me!"
Neon entered wearing her Bling Bullet dress with a dramatic spin afterward.
The flashy yet stylish outfit suited her surprisingly well.
Yuuki laughed softly.
"You really dressed like a celebrity."
"Firepower celebrities must look cool!"
Then another figure entered beside her.
Nimi.
The Iron Blood destroyer wore an elegant black dress called Banquet Honor Student complete with a ribboned hat resting atop her head.
Refined.
Cute.
And somehow very fitting for her disciplined personality.
The moment she saw the others surrounding Yuuki—
Nimi immediately puffed her cheeks.
"Herr Kommandant!"
Yuuki already sensed incoming complaints.
"Everyone already confessed their love to you!"
Then dramatically—
"Why was I not included?!"
Yuuki helplessly pointed at her.
"You were asleep."
Nimi froze.
"…Ah."
Then immediately afterward—
"Then I shall simply make my own special moment later!"
Yorktown softly laughed nearby.
Yuuki meanwhile weakly sighed.
"I'm honestly getting surrounded from all directions now."
Then suddenly—
"Commander…"
Yuuki barely had time to react before Laffey quietly appeared beside him seemingly from nowhere.
The sleepy destroyer wore an elegant blue dress that contrasted beautifully with her usual relaxed expression.
Honestly—
Laffey somehow looked both sleepy and stunning simultaneously.
"…Unfair."
Yuuki blinked.
"Hm?"
Laffey lightly tugged onto his sleeve.
"Laffey is same as big sister Yorktown."
Then softly—
"Laffey wants Commander's love too."
The room became quieter afterward.
Because unlike the others—
Laffey's words carried a sleepy honesty that hit surprisingly hard emotionally.
Yuuki gently patted her head afterward.
"Then you shall receive it."
Then warmly—
"You already know my heart anyway."
Laffey quietly smiled afterward.
A small.
Warm.
Satisfied smile.
Meanwhile Unicorn happily clasped her hands together.
"Ehee…"
Then innocently—
"Then Unicorn gets big brother's love too."
Nimi immediately pointed at herself afterward.
"Then I also receive Herr Kommandant's affection!"
Neon instantly pointed dramatically toward her.
"Too late!"
Then proudly—
"I got it first, sister!"
Nimi visibly gasped.
"That is not a competition!"
"It absolutely is."
Meanwhile Laffey gently leaned against Yuuki while looking half asleep already.
"…Laffey loved."
Then quietly—
"…happy."
Yuuki looked around the room afterward.
Yorktown.
Enterprise.
Illustrious.
Unicorn.
Neon.
Nimi.
Laffey.
All dressed beautifully.
All smiling warmly toward him.
And somehow—
For a brief moment before the dangerous mission ahead—
The atmosphere almost felt like a peaceful gathering before a grand celebration rather than a rescue operation inside enemy territory.
Yuuki looked around the room once more.
Yorktown's elegant dark dress.
Enterprise's heroic beauty.
Illustrious' graceful white gown.
Unicorn's innocent elegance.
Neon's flashy confidence.
Nimi's refined appearance.
Laffey's sleepy charm.
Honestly—
The combined visual damage they were inflicting on him felt genuinely unfair.
Then he sighed softly.
"You girls are honestly so beautiful…"
The girls quietly looked toward him.
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck afterward before speaking more honestly than intended.
"…that part of me just wants to keep all of you hidden here so nobody else can look at you."
Silence filled the room immediately afterward.
Then—
Every single girl visibly blushed.
Yorktown quietly lowered her gaze with reddened cheeks.
Enterprise looked away slightly.
Nimi froze completely.
Neon dramatically covered her mouth.
Even Laffey slowly blinked herself awake slightly more from emotional damage alone.
Illustrious meanwhile softly laughed while stepping closer toward him.
"My…"
Her expression became warmer afterward.
"So protective."
Then gently—
"I feel very safe around you, Lord Commander."
Enterprise quietly nodded beside her.
"…Indeed."
There was no hesitation inside her voice anymore.
No guarded distance.
Because after synchronizing their hearts—
They already knew how deeply Yuuki cared about them.
Not as weapons.
Not as trophies.
Not as temporary companions.
But genuinely.
Sincerely.
Warmly.
Neon eventually crossed her arms dramatically afterward.
"Pff…"
Then teasingly—
"We already receive so much love from you that we're basically drowning in it."
Nimi quietly nodded afterward.
"And the lack of men on this island is not exactly our concern."
Yuuki blinked.
"…That sounds dangerous when phrased like that."
Illustrious softly smiled.
"Can you truly blame us?"
Then gently—
"We can feel your heart directly now."
Her beautiful blue eyes met his afterward.
"All the affection."
"All the protectiveness."
"All the warmth you constantly try hiding behind humor."
The synchronized connection between them quietly pulsed again.
"You make us feel cherished."
The room quietly softened afterward.
Even Yuuki himself became slightly speechless hearing it stated so directly.
Yorktown eventually stepped beside him again before gently fixing part of his tuxedo collar.
"You know…"
Her smile carried quiet affection.
"You really do spoil us."
Yuuki immediately defended himself.
"I literally just bought dresses."
"You bought us happiness," Unicorn softly corrected.
That sentence alone nearly inflicted critical emotional damage on Yuuki.
Meanwhile Laffey gently rested against his shoulder afterward.
"…Commander weak against affection."
"Very weak," Enterprise agreed immediately.
Yuuki pointed at all of them in defeat.
"You girls are teaming up against me emotionally."
"Yes," Illustrious answered proudly.
And honestly—
Watching the usually composed commander slowly lose every defensive wall he had against affection was becoming incredibly enjoyable for all of them.
"Ahhh! I want to wear a beautiful dress too!"
Anis suddenly entered the room dramatically while pointing accusingly toward the elegantly dressed shipgirls.
The moment everyone looked toward her—
Several girls visibly blinked.
Because the Da'at Yichud power suit was currently assembling itself around her body.
Golden hexagonal armor fragments flowed upward from her neck before expanding across her shoulders and torso in glowing patterns. The advanced nanotech systems formed sleek combat plating layer by layer while tactical HUD symbols flickered faintly across the armor surface.
The final result looked less like ordinary military equipment—
And more like a futuristic combat knight suit.
Anis immediately puffed her cheeks afterward.
"No fair."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"You literally look cool enough to invade another planet."
"That's not the same thing!"
Meanwhile behind her—
Rapi stepped inside more quietly.
And honestly—
The room became momentarily stunned again.
Unlike Anis' louder combat-oriented appearance, Rapi's Da'at Yichud armor looked more refined and intimidating at the same time. Golden armored sections formed smoothly across her gold combat suit while a flowing nano cloak materialized around her shoulders.
As the power suit finished assembling around Anis, the gold nano cloak began forming around her as well.
Elegant.
Deadly.
Heroic.
Almost like a futuristic commander from another civilization.
Even Rapi herself still looked faintly amazed while observing the armor systems around her body.
"…This still feels unreal."
Neon meanwhile had already fully activated her curiosity mode.
She circled around Anis and Rapi repeatedly while inspecting every visible part of the power suits.
"So unfair…"
Then dramatically—
"Now I'm REALLY jealous."
She poked one of the glowing armor sections carefully.
"These things are so cool."
Atago entered shortly afterward already wearing her own power suit beneath her elegant coat.
Unlike the Nikkes, she looked entirely too comfortable carrying futuristic military hardware while still maintaining graceful noble beauty.
"My…"
Then dramatically toward Yuuki—
"Everyone else gets beautiful dresses while we receive military armor."
She softly pouted afterward.
"No fair."
Takao entered behind her while adjusting the sniper rifle mounted across her back.
She sighed softly.
"…I unfortunately agree."
Then more quietly—
"Though the armor is undeniably useful."
The long Ramjet rifles and Vervack sniper systems rested securely across their backs while the sleek power suits enhanced their physical movements naturally.
Honestly—
The contrast between the elegant ballroom infiltration team and the heavily armed sniper support team felt almost absurd.
One side looked ready for a royal wedding.
The other looked capable of assassinating armored war machines from two kilometers away.
Neon meanwhile kept circling around Rapi excitedly.
"Heroic mode…"
Then dramatically—
"Stealth mode…"
She looked moments away from emotional collapse.
"I want one too."
Anis immediately grinned smugly afterward.
"Heh."
Then proudly—
"Commander trusts us with super armor."
Neon visibly bit her handkerchief again.
"Kuuuuu…"
Yuuki finally laughed while walking toward them.
"You'll get yours eventually."
Then teasingly—
"Besides, dresses suit you too."
Neon immediately recovered spiritually.
"…Really?"
"Really."
The compliment landed instantly.
Neon proudly fixed her dress afterward while trying to hide how happy she became from one sentence alone.
Meanwhile Yorktown quietly walked toward Rapi afterward.
"You look good in it."
Rapi blinked slightly before looking down at the armor around her body.
"…You think so?"
Enterprise nodded beside her.
"It suits you."
Then softly—
"You look stronger. You remind us the first time we used it."
Rapi quietly stared at the glowing armor systems for several moments afterward.
Not because of the armor itself.
But because for the first time—
She truly felt like she was fighting for herself now.
Not the Ark.
Not programming.
Not orders.
But for the people beside her.
"Don't worry."
Yuuki smiled warmly while looking around the room filled with dresses, armor systems, and increasingly affectionate girls.
"Everyone will get their turn wearing armors and dresses eventually."
Atago immediately perked up afterward.
"My…"
Then softly—
"Commander truly knows how to make ladies look forward to the future."
Yuuki laughed softly before gently patting both Atago and Takao's wolf-like ears.
The reaction was immediate.
Atago visibly melted.
Takao froze completely.
Both heavy cruisers turned red almost instantly.
"No fair…"
Atago leaned closer afterward while enjoying the ear rubs far more than she intended.
"Using ear rubs against us…"
Then teasingly—
"Onee-san shall demand far more compensation ear rubs in the future."
Takao quietly nodded beside her despite trying to maintain dignity.
"…Agreed."
Yuuki blinked.
"You too, Takao?"
Takao immediately looked away.
"…Silence."
Then suddenly—
Both sisters leaned forward together and kissed him.
Quick.
Soft.
Natural.
The synchronized connection between their hearts had clearly made the shipgirls significantly bolder with affection.
And honestly—
Yuuki was rapidly losing control of the situation.
"Ah…"
He weakly rubbed his forehead afterward.
"You girls are escalating way too fast."
Then the door opened again.
"Master."
Belfast entered alongside Ade and Soda.
And honestly—
The room became unfair all over again.
The three maids wore noble servant attire modeled after the castle staff observed by the reconnaissance drones. Unlike their normal maid uniforms, these outfits carried a more aristocratic appearance.
Elegant black and white fabrics.
Refined lace details.
Long gloves.
Decorative aprons.
Royal-style maid aesthetics.
And somehow—
All three looked dangerously alluring in them.
Especially Belfast.
Because she wore the outfit with the terrifying confidence of someone born to dominate every maid competition in existence.
Yuuki genuinely stared for several moments.
"…Wow."
Ade immediately became embarrassed.
"Master…"
Soda meanwhile smiled brightly while spinning slightly.
"Do we look proper?"
"You girls look way too good."
That answer immediately flustered all three maids slightly.
Then Belfast softly smiled afterward while observing the increasing affection surrounding him.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"Everyone appears rather bold this morning."
She calmly stepped forward afterward.
"As Head Maid…"
Her beautiful blue eyes met his gently.
"…we certainly cannot allow ourselves to fall behind."
Before Yuuki could react—
Belfast leaned forward and kissed him gracefully.
Elegant.
Warm.
Confident.
And somehow devastatingly refined.
Then immediately afterward—
Ade and Soda both moved toward him too.
Ade quietly hugged him first while resting gently against his chest.
Soda meanwhile wrapped her arms around him from the side while smiling happily.
"Master smells nice."
Yuuki immediately looked overwhelmed.
"Girls please…"
The room erupted into soft laughter afterward.
Yorktown smiled warmly.
Enterprise quietly looked away while hiding amusement.
Illustrious softly covered her smile elegantly.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"Everyone truly has become much bolder now."
The synchronized connection between all their hearts quietly pulsed once more.
Because after everything they experienced together—
The girls no longer wished to hide how much affection they held for him anymore.
"You girls are seriously going to drown me in affection at this rate…"
Yuuki sighed dramatically while several girls quietly laughed around him.
Then his expression softened slightly afterward.
"…Not that I'm complaining."
That single sentence alone visibly pleased almost everyone in the room.
Yuuki quickly decided to continue the briefing before the situation escalated into another affection ambush.
"All right. Here."
He materialized several elegant masquerade masks from the nanomachine systems of the Mark 86 armor before handing them out one by one.
Dark noble designs.
Decorated silver edges.
Elegant feather details.
Some refined.
Some mysterious.
The masks perfectly matched the atmosphere observed by the reconnaissance drones.
Because apparently—
The wedding itself was not merely a noble ceremony.
It was a masquerade wedding.
"Most nobles attending are wearing masks."
Yuuki adjusted his own black-and-silver mask afterward.
"So we blend in naturally."
Illustrious softly smiled while holding hers carefully.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"A hidden romantic wedding infiltration."
Enterprise immediately sighed.
"This is still technically a rescue operation."
"Yes…"
Illustrious looked toward Yuuki warmly.
"But the atmosphere says otherwise."
Yuuki weakly rubbed his forehead before refocusing everyone.
"All right. Let's go through assignments one more time."
The holographic castle map expanded again across the room.
"Belfast. Ade. Soda."
The three maids immediately straightened elegantly.
"You'll infiltrate through servant access routes."
Several hidden corridors highlighted across the castle blueprint.
"Blend with the castle staff and locate Cocoa first."
Then more seriously—
"If possible, extract her quietly before the ceremony escalates."
Belfast nodded calmly.
"Yes, Master."
Ade softly placed one hand over her chest.
"We'll bring her back safely."
Soda's eyes carried determination now instead of uncertainty.
"We won't leave Cocoa behind."
Yuuki nodded before shifting toward the next group.
"Illy. Hana. Enty."
The three elegant women looked toward him immediately.
"You'll mingle among the nobles and wedding guests."
The ballroom district highlighted on the hologram.
"Gather information. Watch political movements. Identify suspicious individuals."
Yorktown nodded softly.
"We'll handle it."
Enterprise crossed her arms calmly.
"If Eugen is being forced into this, someone important is behind it."
Illustrious meanwhile smiled faintly.
"And nobles always talk too much."
"Exactly."
Then Yuuki looked toward the smaller group.
"Neon. Nimi. Unicorn. Laffey."
The girls immediately focused.
"You four will mingle with the younger guests and servants."
Several family districts and garden areas highlighted across the castle map.
"Try to locate Javelin."
Nimi immediately nodded firmly.
"Yes, Herr Kommandant."
Laffey quietly rubbed her eyes.
"…Laffey will find Javelin."
Unicorn softly clenched her hands together.
"Unicorn will help everyone…"
Neon meanwhile grinned confidently.
"And if things go wrong, we run really fast."
"That is unfortunately a valid strategy."
Then Yuuki shifted toward the sniper support team.
"Rapi. Anis."
The two Nikkes immediately focused again.
"Use the directional microphones integrated into your scopes."
Multiple elevated overwatch positions appeared across the city.
"Scan for important conversations and relay information back to us continuously."
Anis grinned while adjusting the Ramjet rifle mounted across her back.
"Righto."
Then excitedly—
"This operation is honestly awesome."
Rapi quietly checked her sniper systems.
"We'll maintain full surveillance."
Finally—
"Atago. Takao."
The two heavy cruisers stepped forward.
"Deploy the VSD sniper drones immediately after securing positions."
The hologram shifted toward the castle perimeter.
"Map the castle grounds in real time."
Then more quietly—
"And use tranquilizer darts against isolated guards if needed."
Several stealth infiltration routes immediately appeared afterward.
"Especially to help our maids and little ones move safely."
Takao nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Atago softly smiled afterward.
"My…"
Then teasingly—
"So Commander is trusting us to silently support everyone from the shadows."
Yuuki grinned faintly.
"You two are probably the best suited for it."
Atago visibly looked extremely pleased by that answer.
Then Yuuki looked around the room one final time.
Everyone ready.
Everyone focused.
Masquerade masks in hand.
Elegant dresses hiding combat equipment.
Power suits compressed into handbags.
Sniper teams preparing silent overwatch.
And beneath all of it—
The synchronized warmth connecting all their hearts quietly remained.
Yuuki slowly placed his masquerade mask over his face afterward.
The elegant black-and-silver design hid part of his expression while the faint glow of nanomachines shimmered subtly beneath his tuxedo.
"All right."
Then softly—
"Shall we?"
The group finally moved toward the Daedalus command center once more before deployment.
The operation room remained alive with holographic displays and tactical projections. Fleet systems continued running across the walls while drone telemetry updated continuously in real time.
Wales stood near the primary fleet command interface alongside Avrora.
The elegant Royal Navy battleship quietly studied the specifications of the Kodiak-class flying battleships and Zeus assault platforms displayed before her.
Even she looked visibly stunned.
Because those things were not normal warships.
The Kodiaks alone functioned like airborne fortresses capable of transporting fleets while delivering overwhelming artillery support.
And the Zeus platforms—
Those were practically flying aircraft carriers fused with strategic bombardment platforms.
Under her command—
Entire fleets could be protected beneath overwhelming firepower.
Now Avrora stood beside her controlling an identical force.
Wales softly exhaled afterward.
"…These machines are monstrous."
Avrora smiled gently beside her.
"Yet he entrusted them to us."
Meanwhile—
Akagi and Kaga had completely immersed themselves into the Daedalus aerial command systems.
Despite their personalities—
Both fox carriers were terrifyingly intelligent once technology became involved.
Yuuki quickly learned they adapted to advanced military systems absurdly fast.
The two carriers currently examined schematics of Orca bombers, Firehawk gunships, and various Mark IV and Mark V aircraft systems displayed across multiple holograms.
Akagi's tails swayed dangerously fast.
"So many aircraft…"
Then dreamily—
"Shikikan-sama truly possesses the strongest military force."
Kaga quietly nodded while analyzing flight systems.
"The technological gap is absurd."
The girls finally understood something important.
Yuuki had not exaggerated earlier.
GDI truly was one of the most advanced military powers imaginable compared to the current world.
And the truly terrifying part—
Without Yuuki's authorization—
None of the advanced systems could even be activated.
The fleet itself remained locked behind his command authority.
But if he approved deployment—
These girls would become the operators of weapons capable of changing wars.
Yuuki looked around the room afterward.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Yes!"
Multiple voices answered immediately.
Then suddenly—
"Hug!"
Eldridge immediately floated directly into his arms without warning.
Yuuki caught her instinctively while blinking in surprise.
Honestly—
He still found it fascinating how certain shipgirls could literally float naturally.
Shiranui did it.
Now Eldridge too.
Which immediately made him wonder something deeply important.
What happens when I finally meet a shipgirl who can actually fly?
Not aircraft-assisted flight.
Actual flying.
The mental image alone felt terrifying.
Then suddenly—
"Sandy too!"
San Diego launched herself onto him immediately afterward.
Yuuki barely remained standing from the combined affection assault.
"These two…"
Wales approached while softly shaking her head with elegant amusement.
Even while speaking casually—
Her refined posture remained almost flawless.
Yuuki honestly wondered what would happen once he eventually met her sister.
Then another voice approached gently.
"Ah, beloved…"
Avrora smiled warmly while stepping beside him.
"You appear exceptionally dashing today."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Thanks."
Then disaster approached.
"SHIKIKAN-SAMAAAA~~!"
Akagi immediately sprinted toward him with Kaga following behind much more calmly.
"Please allow Akagi to use all the aircraft!"
Her eyes sparkled dangerously.
"Imagine how many pests Akagi can eliminate to protect our love!"
Yuuki instantly corrected her.
"People are not pests."
"Ehhh~~"
Akagi visibly pouted afterward.
Yuuki sighed before rubbing her ears gently.
The fox carrier immediately melted.
A soft purring sound escaped her almost instantly.
Kaga quietly looked away afterward.
"…Hopeless."
Meanwhile—
Neon had somehow wandered toward the Daedalus fleet weapons interface.
Her eyes sparkled with increasing danger every passing second.
"So much firepower…"
She looked moments away from worshipping the weapons systems religiously.
Yuuki immediately made a mental note to never leave her alone near heavy artillery controls.
Then finally—
"Ah, it seems everyone is gathered."
Vestal entered alongside Akashi and the engineering Bulins.
Bulin.
Kurin.
Purin.
The little engineering units immediately saluted proudly.
"Buliiin!"
Akashi meanwhile adjusted her new advanced repair wrist device excitedly.
"Nyaa… this thing is incredible."
Vestal softly smiled afterward while observing the gathered infiltration teams.
Everyone ready.
Everyone prepared.
Beautiful dresses hiding concealed weaponry.
Masquerade masks covering identities.
Power suits compressed into handbags.
Sniper rifles waiting for deployment.
And beneath all of it—
A fleet connected heart to heart through Yuuki himself.
The operation was finally about to begin.
The command room lights dimmed slightly as the infiltration operation officially prepared to begin.
"Let's go steal our people back."