Repulse was hinting at Prince of Wales; Hikaru, however, took it another way.
He glanced at Lexington, who was directing the carrier planes. "Ma'am, what was the other decision you needed from me?"
Even in the middle of the scramble, Lexington turned, gentle as ever. "Alaska says she can feel a refit coming. She's willing to pay a very good price. You should speak with her."
"The price isn't the issue—warship refit cores are… manageable for us," Hikaru rubbed his chin, calculating. "But Alaska's at 100, right? If she refits, that's real reinforcements for us."
It would be, indeed. Even Yamato was now wearing three AA mounts and loading Type 3 shells to help with the air defense.
After all, those Abyssal carrier planes were pretty rotten. Whether a level-100 or level-110 shipgirl fired the AA, the result against them was the same—shoot them down.
At most, the difference lay in engagement envelope and rate of fire.
If Alaska could refit on the spot, the district's defense would climb another notch.
Decision made, Hikaru, under Tirpitz's guard, headed back to the naval district to find Alaska.
They were holed up in the warehouse—Vampire, California, Ella, and the others—grouped here under Veneto's unified protection.
Yes, they'd probably had to expose Veneto and company—but if they could keep something tucked away, they would.
Veneto was not thrilled. Busy on AA, she didn't have time to storm over and complain, so she sent him a glare stuffed with grievance and left him to reflect.
Hikaru didn't have the bandwidth for a big sister's feelings. He found Alaska curled in a corner. "Your refit plan—I approve it."
California thought it finally meant her turn to sortie. She rolled up her sleeves and stood, only to slump back into the chair in disappointment.
Saint George's eyes reddened; she turned away, low-spirited. Alaska, by contrast, lit up—sprang to her feet—and offered a long sword with both hands.
"This is the agreed price!"
Hikaru: ?
Taken aback at being presented with a treasure blade, he asked a few questions and learned this was the payment Lexington had already named.
Blücher's refit had cost the district six cruiser refit cores.
For Alaska's refit the bill was higher: 3,000 units each of oil and ammo, 3,500 steel, 2,000 aluminum, and twenty-four battleship refit cores—nearly one-third of the district's stock of battleship cores!
Even so… trading Saint George's Dragon-Slayer for it? That was too much.
Shipgirls treasure their rigging as it is; for Saint George, the Dragon-Slayer was more vital than any six-star turret—a part of her very strength.
Hikaru wondered if they were joking—until he saw Saint George's swollen, reddened eyes, and dismissed the thought.
This was her most important piece of gear. Without it, her combat power would drop by thirty percent. How could she bear it?
"Don't you start with 'a gentleman doesn't take what others love,'" Alaska warned, stepping between Hikaru and Saint George. "It took me all afternoon to talk her around. Just take it."
Put that way, Hikaru had nothing to say.
Even if he wanted to return the sword, he had to consider Lexington's feelings—she had negotiated this for him.
And it was, truly, a masterwork.
He couldn't help but trace the chill along the blade's edge with a fingertip. "Deal."
"Yeah!" Alaska whooped, scooped up Deutschland, and dashed toward the rack holding the battleship refit cores. "I'm refitting now!"
The warehouse detail all bustled to their feet—even red-eyed Saint George rose quietly and followed in Alaska's wake.
Partly for the hubbub. Partly… to watch—hoping to glimpse, in Alaska's refit, the spark for her own.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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