As the white light gradually faded, returning the surroundings to normal, the Arbiters that were supposed to be there were nowhere to be seen. Squinting, the Commander’s vision slowly cleared, revealing a figure still standing on one knee, panting heavily. Ark Royal immediately rushed to the figure, supporting her as they retreated toward the fleet.

  “Saratoga, call Vestal to assist Hiryuu,“ Greynar ordered, gncing at the carrier before turning his attention to Hiryuu, who was leaning heavily on Ark Royal’s shoulder.

  Opening one eye, Hiryuu managed a faint smile. “Close call. I didn’t expect to survive... but I did manage it.“

  “You’re one madwoman,“ Ark Royal muttered, shaking her head before gncing at the Commander’s worried expression. “We’ll be resting here for a while before heading out on another tour.“

  The support fleets quickly moved in to assist the frontline units, working with practiced efficiency. Vestal rushed over and began assessing Hiryuu’s condition. Though META ships were known for their unique components, Vestal skillfully identified the issues and started repairs, adapting her methods as needed.

  “Commander,“ Memphis called from behind, holding a damage report. “Here’s the current situation: no casualties, thanks to the Ashes, but we’ve lost 70% of our mass-produced fleets to the Arbiters.“

  “Thanks,“ the Commander said, taking the damage report from Memphis before turning to the Ashes duo. “Thank you, both of you. We’ve managed to clear the sea around here, and our operation is officially complete.“

  Hiryuu gave a faint chuckle, her gaze sharp despite her weakened state. “I’m barely holding together, but it seems it’s time for us to part ways.“ She stood slowly, steadying herself before giving the Commander a long, meaningful look. Reaching into her rigging, she retrieved a small device and approached him.

  “Take this,“ she murmured, pressing the item into his hand. “Keep it safe.“

  The device appeared to be a communicator—something that could be used to reach her or the Ashes in case of an emergency or unforeseen danger.

  Ark Royal offered a brief smile before activating her camoufge technology, vanishing from sight in an instant. Hiryuu, still recovering, lingered behind. She turned to the Commander and said, “If you want to leave the Singurity, just retrace your original route. I’ll open the passage for you.“

  “Where are you heading now?“ the Commander asked, his voice edged with concern.

  “Don’t think of following me—it’s not a path you’d want to take. Go back, Commander. There’s more awaiting you at your test site,“ Hiryuu replied. She turned her back to him but gnced over her shoulder. “I hope the next time we meet, it won’t be as enemies. Goodbye~“

  “Wait up!“ Greynar called after her. Hiryuu paused mid-step and turned to face him. “Will we meet again? Maybe... if fate allows it?“

  Hiryuu smirked, her azure eyes gleaming faintly. “Probably. Don’t worry, though. I’ll stay in touch.“

  Her words left him momentarily speechless. She tilted her head with a sly smile. “I know your port’s location and how to contact you.“ She paused before turning away again, her figure fading into the mist of the battlefield. “Until we meet again, Grey.“

  Snapping out of his long pause, Greynar turned to Memphis. “Memphis, call out to U-47... Oh, I guess she slipped away when the Arbiters retreated.“

  “Yeah... She probably escaped to contact our allies outside the Singurity,“ Memphis replied with a slight nod.

  “Fuck, I’m exhausted.“ Greynar sighed, gncing at Saratoga with a faint smile. “Any chance of a nice bath waiting for me when we get back?“ he joked.

  Saratoga opened her mouth to respond, but Elizabeth cut her off with a smug grin. “I’ll have the maids prepare one for you, servant!“ she decred proudly, puffing out her chest. “Good work on this operation.“

  Greynar chuckled tiredly. “You too...“ he muttered before turning away, heading back into the ship for some much-needed rest.

  After numerous twists and turns, the Siren threat in the core area was finally resolved. With no rge swathes of NA waters under Siren control anymore, the sea is poised to become significantly safer. The routes connecting Pacific and Europa will now flow more smoothly. The tides of battle in the NA waters have shifted, and Azur Lane, having seized control of the region, must now prepare to defend it against potential Siren counterattacks.

  Though a major objective has been accomplished, new challenges are bound to arise.

  Stepping out of the Singurity, the Commander's fleet was greeted by a wave of cheers over the communicators. The channel was abuzz with voices, bustling with congratutions and chatter about their accomplishment. TB, the AI, greeted him warmly and offered her congratutions, assuring him she would remain online if he needed any assistance, a gesture for which he expressed his gratitude.

  Shortly after, the Royal Navy extended an invitation to Greynar, asking if he would visit the Royal Isnd once more. He accepted, realizing it had been some time since his first visit. The thought of returning to the Royal Isnd brought a sense of nostalgia.

  Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed by a group of girls waiting on the dock. Among them were the Royal knights and maids who had remained behind to defend the isnd in case of a surprise attack.

  “It's been a while since I st stepped foot here,“ the Commander remarked, gncing around. The dockyard had changed significantly, now more elegant and upgraded than he remembered.

  “Hehe~ That’s exactly why I, Queen Elizabeth, graciously invited you here—to celebrate our triumph!“ the queen announced with a smug expression, her tone dripping with pride.

  “Yeah, yeah,“ Saratoga interjected, unwilling to let Elizabeth have the st word. “Anyway, there’s bound to be quite the commotion after this. So, Lizzy, you better be ready. Command might already be pnning some kind of celebration.“

  “Geh!“ Elizabeth recoiled, clearly caught off guard. “You’re probably right… I’ll need to come up with a pn. We can’t let those blockheads run wild and do whatever they want.“

  Both of them sighed. Even during a time of celebration, it seemed their work was far from over. An operation of this scale had turned the world upside down, with access routes now more open than ever. While the Singurity still lingered and promised its share of trouble, it was clear that the challenges ahead would be less daunting and far easier to manage compared to the past.

  Dipping into the bath, the Commander let out a deep breath as he rexed. It was the same hot spring he had shared with Volga and Aurora when they were with him. All the exhaustion from the recent battles melted away, and he felt his body slowly rejuvenating. It took a little time, but soon enough, the soothing warmth hit him in all the right pces, easing the tension from his muscles.

  Since all the fleets were either resting or under maintenance, the Commander took some time to enjoy the hot spring provided by the Royal Navy. The warm steam and tranquility of the water gave him a brief respite. However, the peace was broken when the door slid open quietly. Gncing up, he was taken aback to see someone unexpected, Helena. Her striking vibrant blue hair framed her face, and her violet eyes met his gaze. She was standing there with a towel wrapped around her, shielding her curvy figure, clearly just as surprised to see him.

  “C-Commander,“ Helena stammered, her face flushing as her gaze met his.

  “Oh, hello, Helena,“ the Commander replied, his eyes briefly lingering on her before he gestured to the spot next to him. “Come to rex?“

  Helena nodded, gathering her courage as she slowly eased into the hot water. A soft, blissful moan escaped her lips as her body sank into the warmth. “This is nice...“ she murmured, her tense expression melting into one of contentment.

  The Commander grinned, closing his eyes as he spoke. “So, where's Memphis? She usually accompanies you during times like this.“

  Helena replied, “She’s probably resting in the room Queen Elizabeth provided. I invited her to join, but I think she’s too tired right now.“

  “Let her rest; she’s earned it after working so hard during the operation,“ he chuckled. “Though it seems we might have more company.“ He turned over his shoulder as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed, drawing Helena's attention as well.

  “Nnnn...!! This is amazing!“ a cheerful voice called out as the door slid open. “Hmm? Is anyone here? Hello?“

  “Repulse, don’t run around the hot spring,“ another voice chided, calmer but firm.

  Repulse turned around with a carefree grin. “Oh, come on, Renown! It’s probably just us...“

  “Miss Repulse, Miss Renown, may I remind you both—Master is here,“ a third voice interjected with composed yet tinged with polite warning, the Commander remember that familiar voice, it was Newcastle.

  “Huh? The Commander’s here? Really?“ Repulse asked curiously, turning to Newcastle for confirmation.

  Sensing an opportunity to have a bit of fun, the Commander decided to py a harmless prank on the unsuspecting duo. Meanwhile, Helena remained seated quietly in the hot spring, observing with a faint smile. Grinning mischievously, he slowly crawled out of the pool, stealthily approaching the girls who were oblivious to his presence.

  Without warning, he reached out and gently grabbed Renown’s ankle.

  “Waaahh!!!“ Renown shrieked, startled, and immediately stumbled backward, nding on the floor in a flustered heap. Her face turned bright red as she tried to process what had just happened.

  “S-sis! Calm down!“ Repulse rushed to help her but froze in pce as another hand reached out, this time grabbing her ankle. “Hiii!!“ she yelped, jumping back in fright. Her sudden reaction nearly sent her slipping into the spring herself.

  The two sisters frantically tried to hush whatever had grabbed them, their movements a mixture of panic and confusion. However, their efforts were interrupted by the Commander’s hearty ughter echoing through the misty room. Slowly realizing they had been pranked, Renown huffed in exasperation while Repulse pouted, both clearly flustered at being so easily fooled.

  “Ahaha! You should've seen your faces, Renown, Repulse,“ Greynar chuckled, nearly doubling over as he clutched his stomach.

  Renown let out a resigned sigh, standing and walking toward him. “So, this is where you went to after coming here.“

  The mist in the hot spring obscured much of her figure, but the Commander couldn’t help but notice her silhouette and the her generous proportions. Taking a moment to calm himself, Greynar wiped a tear of ughter from his eye and returned to the pool, beckoning them to join.

  Helena, still in the water, was visibly startled by his sudden appearance again.

  “Commander, you're such a meanie...“ Repulse pouted pyfully as she dipped into the water beside him. She then gnced at Helena and cheerfully waved. “Hello!“

  Helena returned the greeting with a polite smile, subtly scooting closer to the Commander. Meanwhile, Renown and Newcastle settled opposite them. After a brief exchange, they expined their recent task. They had just returned from escorting a ship after the operation ended. It was a minor escort mission, as the people were still uneasy, wary of any potential Siren attacks.

  During the operation, Renown and Repulse were stationed on the opposite side of the sea, so they hadn’t had the chance to meet him. While he was at the Singurity, they were occupied dealing with Sirens that had suddenly poured out from within. They assumed these Sirens had been summoned by the so-called Arbiters, which turned out to be the truth.

  After their battle with the Sirens, they received a call from an unknown entity called TB through the communicator. TB instructed everyone to stand by in case more Sirens emerged. Although there was some initial confusion, TB managed to convince them by mentioning Queen Elizabeth's orders.

  “And that’s what brought us here,“ Repulse concluded, gncing at the Commander.

  “I see... So after wrapping up the operation, you were tasked by LD Command to escort a VIP to a location near Royal Isnd,“ the Commander said with a nod of understanding.

  “Still... it's been a long time, Commander!“ Repulse said with a cheerful smile. “Renown was so worried about you when she heard about the NY City incident...“ She shot her sister a pyful gnce.

  “Repulse!“ Renown interjected, her voice flustered as she tried to stop her. “That’s... just... natural,“ she murmured, her face turning a bright shade of red.

  Her murmuring earned a quiet chuckle from everyone, as it was rare to see Renown so flustered. Embarrassed beyond words, she sank deeper into the water, her face glowing crimson as she tried to hide it behind her hands. There seemed to be no end to her sister's relentless teasing.

  Time passed quickly as the group continued chatting, their conversation light and pleasant. Even the usually reserved Helena opened up, sharing her experiences working alongside the Commander. Laughter and stories filled the air, making the atmosphere warm and friendly.

  Eventually, they all emerged from the hot spring, feeling refreshed and ready to clean up. Despite the camaraderie, Greynar couldn’t help but notice the sights around him in the misty springs. Though he tried to keep his composure, he couldn’t deny the subtle excitement when he managed to steal a few gnces at the girls' curvy figures.

  “Thanks for today, Commander,“ Repulse said with a pyful wink, leaning in to whisper. “Well, maybe in the future, you can take care of Renown after all of that I have said.“

  Renown, catching sight of Repulse’s mischief, eyed her with suspicion before deciding to drag her away from the Commander. “Alright, you two, that’s enough,“ she said, clearly embarrassed. Turning to Greynar, she added with a blush, “Apologies for Repulse today, Commander, and thanks for everything.“ Without another word, she pulled Repulse along with her.

  Newcastle quietly followed behind as Greynar and Helena made their way to the resting area. Tasked by Belfast to assist the Commander during his stay, she trailed them with the grace and poise expected of a Royal Navy maid.

  Upon arriving, Helena turned to the Commander. “I’ll rest for today. Since the Queen is preparing a banquet in a few days, I’ll work with Memphis tomorrow to arrange your schedule, Commander.“

  “Rest well, Helena,“ he replied with a warm smile, causing the girl to blush faintly.

  “Thank you, Commander. You rest well too.“ Helena returned the smile, bowed gracefully, and headed to her room.

  After seeing her, Greynar turned back to Newcastle. “Newcastle, is Elizabeth still awake?“

  Newcastle answered promptly, “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is most likely on the balcony of the main building at this hour, accompanied by Miss Valiant.“

  “Alright, let’s head there. I’ve been meaning to discuss something with her,“ he said, gesturing for Newcastle to lead the way.

  “Certainly, Master,“ Newcastle replied with a bow, then began leading him through the hallway toward the main building.

  As they walked, Greynar noticed how she occasionally gnced back to match his pace, a subtle yet considerate gesture. Newcastle bore a striking resembnce to Belfast in demeanor, though she seemed to pce more emphasis on prioritizing his needs over the natural elegance Belfast exuded. He had also heard rumors that Newcastle had once served as the head maid before Belfast, though he wasn’t sure whether that was true.

  After taking the elevator—which surprised him, as it had been installed discreetly beside the Queen’s throne—they arrived on the third floor. Newcastle gestured for him to proceed.

  Opening the door, Greynar found Queen Elizabeth engrossed in a game of chess with Valiant, her sister and a fellow Queen Elizabeth-css shipgirl. Both looked up as he entered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and mild surprise.

  “Servant? What brings you here?“ Elizabeth asked curiously, sipping her tea.

  Both she and Valiant were dressed in comfortable long pajama gowns, an unusual sight that momentarily lightened the atmosphere. Valiant studied the Commander curiously, her gaze lingering as he turned his attention to Elizabeth.

  “Elizabeth, I'll be brief.“ He took a seat beside her and leaned forward. “You wouldn’t happen to know what really happened at Scapa Flow, would you?“

  At his question, Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly before her expression darkened into a frown. “Are you asking about that strange woman’s intentions in freeing me?“

  “I am,“ Greynar replied firmly, his gaze steady. “I happen to know a thing or two about your so-called Siren's Script.“

  Elizabeth froze, her frown deepening as she scrutinized him. “Where did you hear that?“

  “I have my own sources—a reliable companion,“ he said casually, leaning back in his chair. “Even if I shared the details with you, you wouldn’t believe me.“

  “Fine then, what do you want to know about this so-called Script?“ Elizabeth crossed her arms, clearly resigned to his probing questions.

  “I want to understand more about your part in it. Specifically, how much do you know about Iron Blood's pact with the Sirens?“ Greynar pressed further, his gaze swirling with curiosity.

  Elizabeth sighed, her tone thoughtful. “Bits and pieces, mostly what they shared with me and Soyuz. They’ve been meticulously following their script and needed us to py our roles too.“

  “So, ever since Hood’s battle with Bismarck, you’ve known about this, haven’t you?“ he asked pointedly.

  The Queen nodded slowly. “Iron Blood wasn’t one to easily betray their allies. Even from an outsider's perspective, it’s bizarre to think that a trusted friend could suddenly turn against you without cause. It’s all connected to this damned Script.“

  “Then it’s safe to say there’s eventually a way for us to completely defeat the Sirens,“ Greynar remarked, leaning forward slightly.

  “Yes,“ Elizabeth nodded, her tone firm. “Iron Blood, bit by bit, is trying to provoke us to align with the Sirens' Script. And in Scapa Flow—“ She paused, her expression thoughtful as she murmured, “Scapa Flow... Scapa Flow...“ Her eyes shifted back to the Commander. “Is this about... something specific in Scapa Flow?“

  “Exactly. And Friedrich must know something about it. What I need from you is to carefully listen to what she says.“ His voice was calm but ced with urgency.

  Elizabeth hesitated, visibly swallowing her pride. “Guh... For a Queen to listen to a mere commoner.“ Her voice wavered, her regal demeanor momentarily cracked by his words.

  “Please, Elizabeth,“ Greynar pleaded earnestly. “I need your cooperation so I can py my role efficiently.“

  “...If... if my servant insists...“ Elizabeth murmured softly, almost to herself. Finally, she straightened herself with a determined look. “Alright, I’ll do it. I’ll listen to what she has to say and figure out what she wants from me!“

  “Good, thank you.“ Greynar bowed to her, which made Elizabeth flustered.

  “Wa—wait, you can't just bow down to me like that!“ Elizabeth faltered for a moment, regaining her composure. “Anyway, since you asked me so earnestly, I’ll try to follow what that woman wants.“ She gnced at her sister. “Valiant, help me with that, would you?“

  Valiant, who had been quietly listening to their important conversation, cleared her throat. “W-well! If my Attendant requested it, then I’ll be working together with Lizbeth.“

  “Hey!“ the Queen interjected with decring firmly. “That’s my Servant, not your Attendant!“

  “Nu-uh, I insist that he’s mine!“ Valiant stood and moved closer to Elizabeth.

  “Alright, alright, settle down, you two,“ the Commander sighed, shaking his head. “It doesn't matter which is which—you both will help me out.“

  Both girls eyed the Commander, then gnced at each other before huffing.

  “If my Servant says so,“ Elizabeth muttered.

  “If my Attendant says so,“ Valiant replied with a rosy cheek.