"I'm not a pervert! Don't listen to my silly apprentice's nonsense. Come sit here, let me give you a good hug." Shinano patted her thigh, gesturing for Yukikaze to sit on her lap.
"Who wants to sit on your lap? Yukikaze-sama is very dignified, not some weakling who would sit on someone's lap and whine. Even if I die, even if I jump from here, I will absolutely not sit on your lap." Yukikaze refused.
"Yukikaze, you're so cool! As expected of you!" Unicorn said with admiration.
"Yukikaze is still so majestic today!" Illustrious smiled slightly.
"Now you know how amazing I am, right! Don't be polite to me, just worship Yukikaze-sama to your heart's content! Wahahahaha..." Yukikaze said smugly.
"Yukikaze! Sister has a lollipop here, as long as you come and sit on my lap, I'll give you this lollipop." Shinano took out a lollipop and performed an act of seduction like a strange uncle towards Yukikaze.
"It's useless! Yukikaze won't bend for just one lollipop." Unicorn said with confidence.
"It's just a lollipop, what's so good about it? Yukikaze, quickly refuse her." Illustrious chimed in.
However, to their disappointment, upon seeing the lollipop, Yukikaze instantly went to Shinano's side. After snatching the lollipop from Shinano's hand, she immediately sat on Shinano's lap.
Opening the lollipop wrapper, Yukikaze happily licked it: "Wow! This lollipop is so sweet!"
"Yukikaze!" Illustrious and Unicorn exclaimed in unison, unable to believe that the majestic Yukikaze-sama had been bought off by a single lollipop.
Wrapping her arm around Yukikaze's slender waist, Shinano smiled, "Yukikaze, you really have good taste. See! I told you I'm not a pervert. If I were a pervert, how could Yukikaze sit on my lap?"
"Sorry! Admiral! I'm late." Azuma was the third to arrive in the living room. She was very nervous because Illustrious's Master was that legendary figure.
"You're not too late! After all, only two people arrived before you." Illustrious introduced to Azuma, "Shinano is my Master, excellent at teaching. All my skills were learned from her. It's just that she's a devil when teaching. Back then, she'd smile while throwing me into a pile of ferocious abyssal creatures, calling it 'training'."
"A strict teacher produces outstanding students! Illustrious, you'll understand in the future!" Shinano said with a profound expression.
"Nonsense! When I was being chased by over a hundred abyssal creatures, you had a look of pure delight." Illustrious retorted furiously.
"Hello! My name is Azuma, I am the Admiral's starter Ship Girl and Secretary Ship." Azuma began her self-introduction.
"My apprentice is a lazy bum, it must be hard being her Secretary Ship!" Shinano felt a little pity for Azuma. She knew her own apprentice very well; she would never miss an opportunity to slack off.
As Illustrious's Secretary Ship, Azuma deeply understood Illustrious's occasional laziness and slacking off. "It's alright! The Admiral has only recently become an Admiral, I believe she'll change in the future."
"Master! You haven't contacted me for a year, what have you been busy with?" Illustrious asked.
"Eh! Don't even mention it. That Lilith is an unscrupulous, black-hearted Governor-General. As soon as I became her Ship Girl, she kept giving me tasks, I'm almost worn out by her." Shinano said angrily.
"So you've been busy carrying out missions all these years." Illustrious felt a little guilty. Shinano lost her status as a Free Ship Girl because of her.
"Don't be like that, actually, I'm quite relaxed, especially this year, there was only one mission to investigate and retrieve the Inferno Hellfire." Shinano saw Illustrious looking unhappy and immediately comforted her.
"Sister! What is that Inferno Hellfire?" Unicorn asked curiously.
Illustrious explained, "This Inferno Hellfire is actually one of the heavenly radiance ship devices of the Pacific Governors Mansion. Rumor has it that it can increase the strength of a Gold-Plated Ship Girl to the level of a Five-Star Epic Ship Girl. Unfortunately, it was stolen ten years ago and its whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Hiss! It can increase the strength of a Gold-Plated Ship Girl to a Five-Star Epic Ship Girl, that's too terrifying!" Unicorn couldn't help but gasp.
"Wahahaha! If I get the Inferno Hellfire, won't I be able to beat all the Ship Girls in the Naval Base?" Yukikaze said excitedly.
"No! I don't think you could even beat me." Illustrious said dismissively.
"Admiral! Stop bragging, you're just a Gold-Plated Ship Girl now. If I get the Inferno Hellfire, you probably wouldn't even be able to take one of my moves." Yukikaze put her hands on her hips.
"Even if I defeat you, what then? It's just borrowed power; true strength comes from within." Illustrious said earnestly, yet despite her serious expression, she secretly desired the Inferno Hellfire. This Inferno Hellfire could give a Gold-Plated Ship Girl the power to contend with a Five-Star Epic Ship Girl, which would tempt anyone.
Azuma recalled information about the Inferno Hellfire, then said, "I heard that not just anyone can use the Inferno Hellfire. Only those who gain the recognition of the Artifact Spirit and form a contract with it can truly unleash the Inferno Hellfire's real power."
"However, the Artifact Spirit of the Inferno Hellfire is very aloof, and no one has been able to form a contract with it to this day." Illustrious nodded.
"Clearly, I am the one who can gain the Inferno Hellfire's recognition. If you ask why, it's because Yukikaze-sama is a Ship Girl favored by the Goddess of Luck." Yukikaze said with full confidence.
Illustrious ignored Yukikaze's arrogance and asked Shinano, "Master, have you investigated and retrieved that Inferno Hellfire?"
"Admiral! Don't ignore me, I'm serious."
"I also seriously think you can't get the Inferno Hellfire's recognition."
Shinano said with a relaxed expression, "I've completed this mission. Through my investigation, I found out the culprit was Bayanpudun, who faked her sinking nine years ago. After a long tracking period, I finally found Bayanpudun and retrieved the Inferno Hellfire."
"So you have the Inferno Hellfire in your hands now!" Yukikaze said excitedly.
"Why, do you want to form a contract with Inferno Hellfire?" Shinano chuckled softly.
"That's right! Yukikaze-sama wants everyone to know that I am the most formidable one. Other Ship Girls couldn't gain the approval of Inferno Hellfire, but I am different. I will definitely gain Inferno Hellfire's approval and form a contract with it." Yukikaze was full of confidence, believing she would succeed because she was a Lucky Ship.
"Alright! I'll take it out and let you try." Although Shinano didn't think Yukikaze could do it, trying wouldn't hurt, and if someone genuinely gained the approval of Inferno Hellfire, it would be a good thing.
You must know that the Pacific Governors Mansion both loved and hated this Inferno Hellfire. They loved that Inferno Hellfire was a heavenly radiance ship device, but they hated that no one could truly unleash its actual power.
If no one could form a contract with Inferno Hellfire, then it was nothing more than a somewhat sharp Tachi.
Taking it out from the rigging space, Shinano unsheathed Inferno Hellfire. Upon seeing the blood-red blade, everyone felt the immense terror emanating from the Tachi.
"Yukikaze, if you fail after trying, can I also give it a shot?" Unicorn raised her hand, wanting to participate too.
"Unicorn wants Inferno Hellfire too! Sure, I'll let you try first." Yukikaze didn't believe anyone else could gain Inferno Hellfire's approval, so she generously allowed Unicorn to try.
"Then I'll let Unicorn try first! Just a heads-up, if Unicorn succeeds, Inferno Hellfire will immediately form a contract, and you won't get a chance then!" Shinano explained to Yukikaze.
"It's fine! Let Unicorn try all she wants. Even if she succeeds, I won't be sad at all. After all, Unicorn is my good friend. If my good friend's strength greatly increases, I'll be very happy for her." (Just kidding!) Yukikaze didn't think Unicorn could succeed; only she could, and only she should.
Seeing this, Shinano immediately handed Inferno Hellfire to Unicorn for her attempt.
Unicorn used her Mental Power to connect with Inferno Hellfire, but the moment her Mental Power touched Inferno Hellfire, it was instantly rejected.
"I'm sorry! I failed." Unicorn disappointedly handed Inferno Hellfire to Yukikaze.
"It's alright! Unicorn, even if you didn't succeed, as long as I do, I will protect you well in the future." Yukikaze patted her chest, assuring her.
Yukikaze was about to try to gain Inferno Hellfire's approval, but just as she was about to, Illustrious snatched Inferno Hellfire away.
"What a great blade! Master, can you let me try? I think I can gain Inferno Hellfire's approval." After drawing the Tachi from its sheath and seeing the red blade, Illustrious instantly fell in love with it.
If she could gain Inferno Hellfire's approval, her strength would also increase significantly. Illustrious estimated that at best, it would allow her to fight a Three-Star Legendary Ship Girl.
Yukikaze snorted, "Didn't you just say that being inherently strong is true strength? Why are you joining the fun now!"
"While that is true, wouldn't it be wonderful to add wings to a tiger when one is already strong?" Illustrious said with a smile.
"You preach one thing and do another! Has anyone ever told you, Admiral, that you are shameless?" Yukikaze put her left hand on her hip and pointed at Illustrious with her right hand.
"If an Admiral cared about being shameless, how could they recruit ships?" Illustrious took pride in being called shameless rather than feeling humiliated.
The Divine Sense within her began to spread out towards Inferno Hellfire, but the moment it collided with Inferno Hellfire, she was rejected, just like Unicorn.
Seeing Illustrious frown and sweat continuously, Yukikaze burst into laughter. "Admiral! Can you do it or not! If you can't, don't force it! You know that forcing things won't bring happiness."
"Who said I can't? I must have used the wrong posture just now. If I insert it like this, it will definitely work." Illustrious said angrily, having been called incapable.
Then Illustrious began inserting Inferno Hellfire into the scabbard, starting her second attempt. But this time, Illustrious was rejected by Inferno Hellfire just like the previous time.
Yukikaze stretched out her hand and said, "You can't do it. Let me try!"
"Tch! Take it. It's just a broken blade anyway; I don't care for it!" Illustrious said, highly displeased.
"It's wrong to throw a tantrum just because you failed! As an excellent Ship Girl, you must always maintain elegance." Yukikaze lectured Illustrious in the tone of an elder.
"Tell me that again when you gain Inferno Hellfire's approval!" Illustrious didn't believe Yukikaze could gain Inferno Hellfire's approval.
"Of course, I can do it! Just watch! Now is the moment to witness a miracle." Yukikaze released her Mental Power and directed it toward Inferno Hellfire.
Feeling that someone else wanted to contract with her, Inferno Hellfire immediately checked the person's aptitude. At first glance, it wasn't much, but upon closer inspection, it was startling: a terrifying Lucky Plunder ability. If it recognized this person as its Master, its own life might be at risk later!
Unsurprisingly, Yukikaze was rejected by Inferno Hellfire. Seeing Yukikaze frown, Illustrious immediately patted her shoulder and said, "Hahaha! Yukikaze! Looks like you failed!"
"Damn it! How dare this broken blade reject the Lucky Yukikaze-sama! It has no taste!" Yukikaze slapped away Illustrious's hand and huffed angrily.
Unicorn comforted her, "It's alright, Yukikaze. I believe you can become a powerful person even without this blade."
Yukikaze nodded and said, "You're right, Unicorn. I am the Lucky Yukikaze-sama. Why would I need this broken blade? In my opinion, the reason for the failure just now must not be my fault, but the blade's fault."
Illustrious agreed, "I strongly endorse your view. This is definitely the blade's problem. Otherwise, how could we, with our aptitude, possibly be rejected?"
In the time that followed, Ship Girls constantly came to the living room to greet Shinano.
After hearing that Inferno Hellfire could greatly increase a Ship Girl's power to the level of an Epic Ship Girl, they all requested to try, but unfortunately, all attempts failed.
Actually, Inferno Hellfire didn't have many requirements for choosing a Master. As long as a Ship Girl met three of its criteria, it would immediately form a contract with her.
First, the person must be beautiful, but not have an 'internet celebrity face'; they must possess a unique, celestial appearance.
Second, they must look easy to bully, so that Inferno Hellfire could turn the tables and become the Master.
The third, and most important, was aptitude. Among those present, only Illustrious and Shinano qualified. However, Shinano was already the strongest, and contracting with her would mean few opportunities to be deployed. As for Illustrious, she possessed a silver sword, and that thing looked very powerful, so Inferno Hellfire dared not compete with such a big shot.
Illustrious frowned and said, "What's going on? Why didn't a single person succeed?"
Yukikaze said angrily, "This broken blade didn't react to me at all! I doubt anyone can successfully form a contract!"
Looking at the surrounding Ship Girls, Illustrious whispered, "All the Ship Girls in the Mansion have tried, but none received Inferno Hellfire's approval. It seems our Naval Base won't be able to obtain this heavenly radiance ship device!"
Unicorn spoke up, "Sister, Zuikaku-jie hasn't tried to contract with Inferno Hellfire yet!"
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have truly forgotten about her." Illustrious looked around but didn't spot Zuikaku. "Hmm! Where is Zuikaku? Why isn't she here?"
Haman raised her hand and said, "I saw her on the way here. She was moving supplies, so she probably won't arrive until later."
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