Because they had been notified in advance, Dawn's high-speed approach to the Nadeshiko caused no chaos aboard either ship. By the time Dawn entered the Nadeshiko, everyone from Katia's team was already waiting in the hangar for Xiao Ran's arrival, while some of the Nadeshiko's personnel stood behind them to welcome him.
However, neither Yurika Mitotsudaira nor Ruri Hoshino was among them. That was hardly strange. Ruri Hoshino had remained dissatisfied ever since the Nadeshiko had been forced into Xiao Ran's faction, while Yurika Mitotsudaira had chosen to join only because there had ultimately been many coercive factors involved. She would not openly display her dissatisfaction, but using another excuse not to welcome Xiao Ran was perfectly normal.
After Xiao Ran jumped down from Dawn's cockpit, he walked toward Katia, Tinia, Melua, and the others waiting for him in the hangar.
"My lord."
"Lord Xiao Ran."
The members of Katia's team and the Nadeshiko personnel all saluted and greeted Xiao Ran as he approached. He nodded, then looked at the Nadeshiko bridge officer standing beside Katia—Haruka, a woman whose official position was helmsman but who actually served as a secretary.
"Where is Captain Mitotsudaira?"
Haruka straightened and answered loudly, "The captain is meeting with the captain of Danner's Son in the Captain's Room. She told me to take you there directly once you arrived, my lord."
"Let's go." Xiao Ran nodded. Before taking a step, he looked at Katia again and asked, "How have things been aboard the Nadeshiko lately?"
Katia and the other two were fairly close to Xiao Ran, so they did not treat him with the excessive respect shown by the others. Their attitude toward him was instead warm and familiar.
Before Katia could speak, Tinia nodded eagerly, her face full of satisfaction. "Very good. The food