The sorrowful Feng Tao finally adjusted his emotions after about ten minutes, by which point his voice had gone completely hoarse.
"Brother Lin, I owe you another huge favor. I honestly don't even know how to repay you for this kindness."
After leaving the reception room with Lin Lan and walking down to the first floor of the office building, Feng Tao looked at Lin Lan with eyes full of deep gratitude.
"I already said, this was just part of my duty. Are you really not going to rest for a while here in Lihu County?"
Lin Lan and Tirpitz, along with August, were each carrying gift boxes Feng Tao had given them. Lin Lan looked at the haggard Feng Tao and asked with concern.
"No, the Naval Department fortress has been urgently summoning me for two days now. I really don't have time."
Feng Tao shook his head, refusing Lin Lan's offer. Then, seeing that no one else was around except for their shipgirls, he leaned in and whispered:
"The new commander of Lanjiang City, barring any surprises, will be my close friend Zhao Rui. You might have known him back at the academy."
With that, he pulled out two business cards from his coat pocket and stuffed them into Lin Lan's black cotton jacket.
"Here's his contact. If you run into any trouble, feel free to contact him. I'll give him a heads-up."
"And also, if you're ever reassigned to the East Continent, my closest cousin Feng Lei is the port commander in Hengyue City.
If you face any difficulties over there, you can seek his help—he won't refuse you."
After saying all this, Feng Tao gave Lin Lan a strong hug.
"Brother Lin, this is all I can do for you. I wish you and your shipgirls peace and safety. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
Lin Lan also expressed his thanks and offered comforting words:
"Thank you, Brother Feng, for your thoughtfulness. I'll take your kind words to heart.
Same to you—I hope you and your shipgirls stay safe and that you can start a new chapter in life soon."
He watched as Feng Tao and his three chess-piece shipgirls waved goodbye and disappeared into the light snow outside the County Naval Department's office building.
Lin Lan let out a deep sigh.
Now that Feng Tao was leaving, there was a good chance the two of them would never meet again.
He certainly remembered Zhao Rui—that senior who, along with Sun Dewang, had been saved by him during their first encounter with Leviathan.
And the two business cards in his pocket showed that Feng Tao truly intended to entrust every usable connection to him.
Sometimes, interpersonal connections were more useful than material resources.
Although this was their first meeting, Lin Lan's intuition told him Feng Tao was a straightforward and upright person.
"My familiar, now that everything's settled, shouldn't we be getting to today's main business?"
As Lin Lan spaced out, August's voice brought him back to his senses.
"Yeah, it's time to take you all shopping. I didn't expect things to wrap up this quickly."
Lin Lan turned to look at the Ironblood Witch and the Queen of the North, a faint smile on his face.
He would never allow himself to suffer the same sorrow Feng Tao had experienced.
But for now, being with his shipgirls was the main priority.
He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. He had thought they'd have lunch with Feng Tao before parting, but it wasn't even 10 a.m. yet.
"Commander, are we taking all this with us?"
Tirpitz held the gifts Feng Tao had given them in both hands, her deep blue eyes looking to Lin Lan for direction.
"I just checked—these are all Lanjiang specialties like dried meat, fruit, and liquor. Leave half here for Sun Xiaozhu, and store the rest in your ship equipment storage space."
After a moment's thought, Lin Lan made his decision.
After handing off four of the gift bags to a passing office clerk with instructions to give them to Sun Xiaozhu, Lin Lan led the two girls out of the building and back to the minibus.
Naturally, he took the driver's seat.
But precisely because of this, he didn't notice how the Ironblood shipgirls already in the back were silently exchanging knowing glances behind him.
As if conspiring something wicked.
"So slow, so slow, so slow! Why did you take so long to come back!"
No sooner had he sat down than the mischievous evil dragon girl, Ruprecht, jumped into the front passenger seat next to him and pouted in protest.
Garlic-head shark U-110 and energetic little girl Z16 were also holding Sui Qiong's hands and crowded over.
Lin Lan could tell—they already considered Sui Qiong a good friend.
"Commander, where are we going to have fun? If we're going shopping, will there be candy~?"
U-110 stared at him and asked.
"We already wrapped things up quickly. As for candy—of course there'll be candy! All kinds of flavors. I'll make sure you get your fill."
As Lin Lan smiled and answered their questions one by one, he also began trying to start the minibus.
But then he suddenly realized a serious problem.
The driving system of vehicles from the United States of Orlan seemed different from those on Blue Star!
"Hmm? Why aren't we moving? Don't tell me… you don't know how to drive?"
After two or three failed attempts to start the engine, Ruprecht caught on and questioned him skeptically.
Stung by pride, Lin Lan immediately retorted:
"How could I not know how to drive? I passed my Class A license exam! It's just that Orlan's vehicles aren't quite the same as what I'm used to..."
"Eh~ then what do we do, Commander? Should we call that chubby driver back?"
U-110's question put Lin Lan in a tight spot. He hesitated, wondering if he really had to call Sun Dewang back.
But just as he was about to make that decision after several more failed attempts, Sui Qiong, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke:
"Commander, may Sui Qiong try?"
Everyone turned to look at her. Lin Lan glanced uncertainly at the petite white-haired girl and asked:
"I mean… sure, but do you really know how to drive?"
"Sui Qiong's system library includes instructions on how to operate vehicles. Sui Qiong would like to try."
Since the mecha-girl said so, Lin Lan got up and gave her the driver's seat.
Then, with a calm face, Sui Qiong began operating the vehicle with impressive skill. She finally turned the key beside the steering wheel.
With a rumble, the engine started at last.
"Wow! Sui Qiong, that's amazing! I didn't expect you to have this skill!"
Lin Lan looked at her in surprise and admiration.
"Whoa! Sui Qiong, you're awesome!"
The black-haired, white-highlighted little girl Z16 cheered and clapped for Sui Qiong as well.
"Hmph, not bad at all!"
Even the usually arrogant evil dragon girl Ruprecht looked at Sui Qiong with approval.
"Umm… it's really nothing special…"
With all the praise, a blush spread across Sui Qiong's pale cheeks, and she spoke softly.
"Alright, alright, everyone back to your seats. I'll ride shotgun and give Sui Qiong directions."
At Lin Lan's call, Ruprecht and the two little girls returned to their seats in the back.
It had to be said—Sui Qiong's driving skills were truly veteran-level. The ride was smooth and fast.
In just over ten minutes, under Lin Lan's direction, Sui Qiong pulled into an open-air parking lot near the commercial street in Lihu County.
"Here we are, everyone off! Why is Ruprecht asleep? Nürnberg, wake her up!"
After waking the sleeping evil dragon girl, Lin Lan led the excited Ironblood shipgirls into the shopping district.
Thanks to the Tianou Group expanding supply lines to his port, the commercial district in Lihu County was much livelier than during his last visit.
Shops lined both sides of the street—restaurants, milk tea shops, snack stalls, clothing boutiques—as far as the eye could see.
Since it was nearly lunchtime, the moment they stepped into the street, they were greeted by a rich mix of delicious aromas.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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