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"Is that so?"

As she listened to Amagi's explanation, Shinano expressed her understanding while sighing inwardly.

As the Commander, and the only being with an exceptionally high affinity for Mind Cubes, Su Luo's attraction to the ship girls was beyond question.

Therefore, Shinano knew very well what feelings the ship girls in the port held for Su Luo. After all, she had experienced it firsthand herself.

"Amagi, I shall grant thy request!"

Shinano looked at Taiho before her. A pale hand emerged from within her wide sleeve, and Shinano pointed a finger at the vacant-eyed Taiho. A Dream Butterfly appeared and slowly flew toward Taiho.

The Dream Butterfly landed atop Taiho's head and gradually vanished.

As the Dream Butterfly disappeared, Taiho's eyes gradually became heavy with sleep.

At first, Taiho was merely a little drowsy. Slowly, she felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and then... she fell asleep.

Amagi stood to the side, watching Taiho fall asleep. Especially after sensing the faint black aura around Taiho begin to fade, Amagi finally let out a sigh of relief.

"I have woven a dream for Taiho. Perhaps she will find some comfort within it, but this is ultimately only a temporary measure. We still need to bring the Commander back as soon as possible!"

"I understand, but I still have to thank you, Lady Shinano!"

"There is no need. As one of the Commander's married ship girls, it is only right that I help the Commander protect the companions within the port while he is absent!"

Shinano shook her head, indicating that it was simply her duty, before turning her gaze toward Amagi.

"Amagi, how is Akagi doing?"

At that, Amagi sighed again.

"Akagi's condition is not as severe as Taiho's. She has merely become somewhat quiet and withdrawn."

Shinano nodded.

"You must keep a close watch on Akagi's condition. Her thoughts run deep, and she is skilled at concealing them. If you notice anything amiss, notify me as soon as possible."

As Shinano spoke, she sighed.

"When the time comes, we can simply let Akagi enter a dream as well!"

"I understand, Lady Shinano. If I truly need your help, I will ask without delay!"

Shinano nodded, glanced at Taiho, who was already asleep atop the table, and waved her broad sleeve.

A great number of butterflies appeared, circling Shinano. Under her command, they flew toward Taiho. Then, they slowly lifted Taiho from the table and placed her upon the bed in the room.

Afterward, some of the butterflies transformed into energy and flowed into Taiho's body, while the rest returned to Shinano's side and vanished.

"The energy from the Dream Butterflies that entered Taiho's body just now will be enough to sustain her dream for some time."

"I hope the Commander can be brought back to the port during that time!"

Amagi nodded.

"Everyone in the port is already searching with all their strength."

Amagi explained the current situation in the port to Shinano, who had remained in dreams and did not know much about it.

"At the port laboratory, Princess Lala, Agile, Da Vinci, Yubari, and Helena META are all there. While waiting for a signal response from the game creation machine on the Commander's side, they seem to be conducting other research as well."

"If they cannot obtain a signal response from the Commander's side soon, Miss Lala and the others are preparing to begin searching proactively. Remaining like this is too passive, and too slow!"

"The flagships agree with their plan. Miss Zhenhai of the Eastern Faction has had the Tianxing Platform supercomputing center free up processing power, and similarly, Miss Saratoga of the Eagle Union has made the same arrangements at the Xinghai Base. Both supercomputing centers are ready and can provide Miss Lala and the others with computational support for their research at any time!"

"Miss Helena META has also summoned the former Experimental Agency under her command. Those former Experimental Agency members are currently heading for the port under Observer Zero's guidance."

"At the same time, Miss Helena META has allocated the computational power of [Tower] to assist with the research."

"Queen Elizabeth of the Royal Navy has contributed Garden of Avalon's research data and instructed Garden of Avalon to prepare. Queen Elizabeth META is currently staying in Garden of Avalon. If needed, it can be activated at any time. If we truly need to venture into other universes to search for the Commander, it would not be impossible to modify Garden of Avalon, which can travel between various test sites and Parallel Worlds, into a [Gate] leading to other universes!"

Amagi quietly recounted the port's current efforts while Shinano listened in silence.

"Frederick the Great of Iron Blood has led a team to Ashes' base, hoping to receive relevant assistance from Enterprise META. Ah, she also brought the other 'dangerous individual,' Roon, with her."

"Lady Yamato has also deployed the Seeking Array in an attempt to locate the Commander, but unfortunately, there have been no results yet. Moreover, because the Seeking Array places a heavy burden on those who enter it, Miss Yixian of the Eastern Faction, Miss Yorktown of the Eagle Union, Miss Formidable of the Royal Navy, as well as our Noshiro and Senior Mikasa, have all been ordered by Miss Valkyrie to rest after overexerting themselves within the array."

"Since the Seeking Array can increase the chances of finding the Commander through the connection between those within the array and the Commander, having the married ship girls closest to the Commander enter it is undoubtedly the best choice. Thus, the other married ship girls are also lining up to try."

"Besides that, those nuns and inquisitors from the Holy See..."

Before Amagi could finish, she sighed, her expression becoming somewhat strange.

"I have never seen Lady Vengeance and Miss Mogador look so devout."

Shinano blinked, but she could understand. After all, Vengeance was a nun, but... she was usually more like a succubus.

Mogador went without saying!

"The ship girls of the Northern Union have stopped drinking as well. Every one of them is waiting for news of the Commander."

As Amagi spoke, she sighed again.

"Alas, with the Commander still missing, even the Bulins, who usually have no worries at all, no longer look as cheerful as before!"

Shinano nodded.

"We are the fleet under the Commander's command. A fleet cannot be without its Commander, and the Commander cannot be without his fleet either!"

Shinano walked to Taiho's bedside and sat down. Looking at Amagi, she said,

"Leave Taiho to me. I will watch over her and make sure nothing happens to her! Go attend to your duties! Akagi needs you watching over her as well!"

"Yes, Lady Shinano!"

Amagi nodded. Watching Shinano lie down beside Taiho and enter the dream with her, Amagi turned, walked out the door, closed it, and headed toward Akagi's room.

Taiho's problem had been resolved. As for Akagi, she still needed to keep a closer eye on her! Right, and Jun'yō too!

Amagi sighed again and continued toward Akagi's room.

Within a Siren mainframe space somewhere.

A figure was silently deep in thought.

White hair, a white dress, snow-white skin, and sapphire-like pupils all revealed her identity.

A Siren, or rather, Observer Zero!

"Where has the 'Commander' gone?"

Observer Zero's voice rang through the mainframe space, but no one answered her.

After a long silence, Observer Zero spoke again.

"Empress, make a trip to the port!"

As Observer Zero's words fell, another voice sounded.

"Zero, what is it?"

"The 'Commander' has gone to another world, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. The ship girls in the port are searching for him. Go deliver some information that may help them!"

"Huh?!!! What are those ship girls doing? They cannot even keep watch over their own Commander?"

"Empress, stop talking nonsense. Go deliver the information."

Observer Zero showed no reaction to Empress's complaint.

Empress fell silent for a moment.

"I understand!"

"Be careful. They are currently..."

Observer Zero paused.

"Not exactly calm!"

"...Understood!"

Empress did not particularly want to take on this task.

After all, with the port's ship girls unable to find the Commander, their combat capability...

Tch. Empress shook her head.

Zero always liked assigning her difficult tasks.

In the past, she had been told to fight the 'Commander,' but not truly fight him!

And now... she was being sent to deliver information to a port where the ship girls were under extreme psychological strain after the 'Commander' had vanished...

Alas, when would she, the great Arbiter Empress, stop having to endure such frustration!

Empress sighed inwardly, but knowing Su Luo's importance, she did not complain aloud and headed straight for the port.

If she needed to be extremely careful and avoid causing friction...

"Tch. Experimental Agency, you are the ones!"

(Beta's Experimental Unit was absorbed by Helena META!

[Tower] is Arbiter Tova.

The Seeking Array was mentioned in this event's story. Akagi said it was Yamato's work. However, in the story, Memphis was the one using the array to find someone, while Akagi bore the pressure.

Also, I know most people who play Azur Lane do not read the story, but this event's story is worth checking out. The part where Memphis and Akagi bicker is quite interesting. The two of them are like they are competing for affection.)