"Mein Führer, about my answer..."
Seeing that Lin Lan remained silent for a long time, Sun Dewang asked nervously.
But Lin Lan simply replied nonchalantly:
"Just drive. I already said—I'm only using your answer as a reference."
Although he had mentally approved of Sun Dewang, Lin Lan wasn't foolish enough to express that approval outright.
Otherwise, this fat guy might get cocky.
His words only made Sun Dewang even more uneasy, unsure if his response had satisfied the Führer.
Soon, the bus stopped in front of a long, white building in the center of Lihu County.
The naval emblem outside the building indicated that this was the county office of the naval department.
"This place has really changed since I was last here."
Looking at the now-completed county office building, Lin Lan recalled that the last time he came, it was still a construction site.
"Leave the keys with us. You can go now. We're using the car today—come pick it up at the dock later."
As he got ready to get out, Lin Lan said to Sun Dewang, who was still sitting in the driver's seat.
"I could give this car to you, Mein Führer..."
Upon hearing Lin Lan's words, Sun Dewang didn't dare protest. He quickly nodded with a broad, obsequious smile.
After nodding to Sun Dewang, Lin Lan turned to the iron-blooded shipgirls inside the vehicle.
After a moment of thought, he said:
"August, Tirpitz, you two come with me to the naval office. The rest of you stay in the car and wait for us to return."
The bus's heater was already on—it was warm inside.
"You're not taking me along?!"
But no sooner had he finished speaking than the evil dragon girl, Ruprecht, sprang to her feet in protest.
"I'll take you to a buffet later."
"You better go quickly then! I'll be right here waiting!"
Lin Lan clearly knew how to handle this mischievous dragon girl.
What surprised him, though, was just how fast Ruprecht's mood could flip.
After stepping out with August and Tirpitz, Lin Lan watched Sun Dewang depart as well.
"This naval office building… it looks kind of shabby."
As soon as she stepped off the bus, Queen of the North Tirpitz looked up and quietly observed the building.
"Well, it is only a county-level naval office. This scale is already considered large. The Tian'ou Group definitely helped a lot."
As he explained to Tirpitz, Lin Lan also put on his navy officer's cap.
The sailors standing guard at the gate of the four-story building immediately straightened up at the sight of his cap and raised the barrier.
After nodding to the dutiful guards, Lin Lan led the two tall iron-blooded shipgirls into the building.
He was right—despite the building's size, the inside was clearly underpopulated. Many office doors were tightly shut.
Obviously, a county-level naval office didn't need such a luxurious building under normal circumstances.
Led by a few navy clerks, Lin Lan arrived at the office of Sun Xiaozhu on the fourth floor.
As soon as the door opened, the bespectacled Sun Xiaozhu stood up from her seat with a pleasantly surprised expression:
"Commander, you're here! I should've come down to receive you—I've failed in my duty!"
Lin Lan simply waved a hand with a smile as he casually looked around the bright and spacious office.
From the shelves piled high with books and folders, and the many unfiled documents on Sun Xiaozhu's desk, it was clear that her workload was anything but light.
As Lin Lan surveyed the room, Sun Xiaozhu also took several cautious glances at the two shipgirls following behind the commander.
Yet again, unfamiliar ones she had never seen before.
Judging by their appearance and figures, they were clearly above the level of heavy cruisers.
Sun Xiaozhu was a hundred percent certain.
No wonder the Tian'ou Group had been so cooperative lately—even to the point of granting her every request.
Only a commander with true strength could earn such respect.
After a few pleasantries about recent work in Lihu County, Lin Lan moved on to the main reason for his visit.
"Feng Tao hasn't arrived yet, right? Contact him and ask him to come now. Take us to the reception room and prepare tea and such."
"Understood. He's probably staying at a nearby hotel. I'll contact him right away."
After leading Lin Lan to a dedicated reception room on the fourth floor, Sun Xiaozhu stepped out and called Feng Tao.
The room was furnished with four sofas arranged symmetrically in two pairs. A small table sat between each pair.
The lighting was bright, and there was a faint, pleasant fragrance in the air.
Soon, other clerks brought in hot tea and snacks, placing them on the tables before quietly closing the door behind them.
Now only Lin Lan and the two shipgirls remained in the room.
"That human earlier—if you don't fully trust his loyalty, I can use my mental control technique to make him obey you completely."
As they waited for Feng Tao, August sat on the sofa beside Lin Lan.
She leaned in close, her voice seductive and soft, smiling as she whispered in his ear.
"Mental control, huh..."
Lin Lan pondered her words.
He had indeed forgotten that August possessed such an ability.
In the game, one of Ironblood Witch August's signature skills, Insight Technique: Mental Control, used unique Ironblood technology to exert overwhelming crowd control on enemies.
This seemingly magical and overpowered ability was precisely why she called herself a witch.
If she could even control Sirens, then handling an ordinary person like Sun Dewang would be trivial.
"No need to go that far. When we head to Yunhai City later, just make him subconsciously more loyal to us—that'll be enough."
"You mean something like a 'suggestion'? Hehehe, no problem. You're so kind, dear familiar."
August gently brushed back her grayish-purple hair and gave a soft smile.
To her, it was a trivial matter.
"Kind… huh?"
Lin Lan laughed at himself.
He already felt guilty enough about manipulating Sun Dewang like this—just to ensure he wouldn't go rogue in the future.
But there was no doubt it was necessary.
"If it were my sister or Friedrich, they'd completely control him without hesitation—to better exploit him later."
Just as Lin Lan was beginning to feel a little remorse, Tirpitz commented matter-of-factly.
Well, for the Ironblood faction, this approach was completely normal.
But as August looked at him with those tender, pampering grayish-purple eyes, Lin Lan suddenly remembered something.
Bismarck had once told him that the high command of the Western Continent's naval department had long been working with Ironblood…
"August, have you ever used your mental control on the naval high command?"
"Why don't you guess, dear familiar~ Hehehe..."
The witch removed her gloves and picked up a pastry from the table with her slender fingers, offering it to the commander.
As she giggled sweetly, her flawless face revealed a mysterious smile.
"Come on, darling, open wide~"
Looking at August's perfectly composed expression as she fed him, Lin Lan sighed and opened his mouth, allowing the witch to feed him.
As the sweet pastry melted in his mouth, he let out a deep sigh.
Better ask Bismarck directly later. The possibility was just too high.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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