"Since this guy is here and won't let us pass, we have only one choice to see the commander—and that is to fight."
There was a fighting spirit in Enterprise's decisive tone. She pulled the longbow in her hand, and the sea breeze blew through her long silver-white hair.
However, Yorktown merely played with the blue rose in his hand, seemingly deep in thought, and did not immediately agree with Enterprise's words.
"The Sirens probably don't know that the commander has returned yet. So why did Strength VIII stop us?"
"We've already entered her attack range, yet she hasn't attacked us immediately. She hasn't even activated her ship's equipment."
"Besides, there's no sign of agents nearby. If a fight were to break out, would we be surrounded?"
Yorktown's analysis calmed Enterprise down.
Her eagerness to see the commander had made her a little too hasty.
"Then what should we do? We can't just give up and turn back, can we?"
Thinking about how the commander was still suffering in the distant Iron Blood camp, Hornet was unwilling to retreat, even though he knew they were dealing with an arbitration agency.
Yorktown gently tossed the blue rose into the sea, where it floated under the moonlight, as if he had reached a decision.
"I'll try talking to Strength VIII and see if I can get some information from the arbitration agency."
"Sister, no!"
"Sister York, you can't go over there!"
Hornet and Hammann spoke almost in unison, categorically opposing Yorktown's risky decision.
An aircraft carrier must keep a distance from the enemy during combat. Yorktown's plan was akin to a lamb walking into a tiger's den.
However, in their current situation, this seemed to be the only viable option.
If they fought directly, they would pay a heavy price with just a few of them. But if they left without doing anything, it would feel like a hollow retreat.
As the situation reached an impasse, Enterprise folded her longbow behind her back and looked at Yorktown.
"Sister, let Maury and me go. The two of us can cooperate well, and I also have Lucky E."
After speaking, Enterprise nodded to Maury beside her. The petite blonde girl met Enterprise's gaze with a tacit understanding and prepared for action.
Seeing Yorktown still hesitant, Enterprise took the initiative to interrupt her elder sister.
"Sister, don't you trust me? Leave this to us. If anything unexpected happens, you and Hornet will be here to support our retreat."
Enterprise held Yorktown's gaze firmly for a long time.
Seeing that her sister had made up her mind, Yorktown finally closed her eyes slowly and said in a worried tone, "Be careful. If something seems wrong, come back immediately."
"Don't worry, I am the commander's main aircraft carrier, after all."
Enterprise smiled reassuringly. Then, she and her escort destroyer Maury rode the waves side by side toward Strength VIII.
"Maury, are you afraid? This should be your first time facing an arbitration agency, right?"
After leaving the main group, Enterprise's cloak billowed in the sea breeze. She looked at her short but seasoned companion and asked with a smile.
Historically, Maury was a White Eagle destroyer that fought throughout the entire war against the Sakura Empire, accompanying Enterprise in almost every major naval battle.
This small yet formidable girl earned 16 battle stars—tying for first place among the White Eagle destroyers with three others.
However, after becoming a ship girl and arriving at the port, Maury neither received a significant promotion nor got the opportunity to be sent into battle against the arbitration agency by the commander.
But she remained a remarkable warrior of the sea. After obtaining the Ring of Oath, she continued honing her strength at the port.
"Hehe, we survived those desperate times. No matter what, things can't be worse than they were back then, right?"
Enterprise's answer was met with the bright, confident smile of the little girl beneath the moonlight.
"Yeah, haha."
Enterprise grinned, then turned her gaze toward Strength VIII, who was growing closer.
Soon, she and Maury reached a distance where they could speak to the arbitration entity.
Enterprise once again gripped her ship-mounted longbow, while Maury knelt slightly to steady herself, aiming her main gun and torpedo tubes forward.
Although Enterprise had fought against Strength VIII before, this was the first time she had observed the arbitration agency at such close range.
Before, she had always launched attacks from a distance using carrier-based aircraft.
As she met those cold golden eyes, Enterprise couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched by a ferocious predator.
The air around her felt thick and heavy.
She wasn't sure if this was a special ability of Strength VIII or just her own imagination.
Just as Enterprise was about to speak, Strength VIII spoke first.
"You cannot go beyond this place."
The cold, deep female voice echoed across the sea, as if declaring an immutable truth.
Enterprise and Maury exchanged glances in silence.
It seemed that Strength VIII was here solely to prevent them from advancing.
"Arbiter VIII, what exactly are you planning? Have you forgotten how we taught you a lesson before?"
Enterprise nocked an arrow and aimed her bow at Strength VIII, her tone icy.
"…"
Strength VIII did not reply. She merely stared at Enterprise with her cold golden eyes, unwavering.
"Tsk."
Seeing Strength VIII so unyielding, Enterprise felt frustrated.
According to the port's intelligence, Strength VIII was known to be quiet and taciturn, even among the arbitration agency members.
Extracting information from her wouldn't be easy.
Just as Enterprise was about to press further, Hornet's anxious voice suddenly came through the communicator.
"Enterprise, withdraw immediately! Our carrier-based aircraft have detected a large number of Siren Executors and mass-produced fleets surrounding you!"
Enterprise's expression hardened. She glared at Strength VIII, but the arbitration entity remained impassive.
Fighting against Strength VIII alone would already be difficult with their small group—doing so while surrounded by an entire Siren fleet would be suicidal.
Just as she was about to call for Maury to retreat, Strength VIII, who had remained motionless until now, finally acted.
A massive blue main gun and a long fish tail, both composed of blue metal, materialized on Strength VIII's arms and back.
These were fixed to her chest armor and giant mechanical arms by steel chains.
"Damn it, you really don't intend to let us retreat easily!"
Seeing this, Enterprise pulled back her bowstring, preparing to launch her carrier-based aircraft. But then—
Strength VIII's main gun wasn't aimed at them.
It was aimed at the empty waters below!
"BOOM!!!!!"
A deafening explosion shattered the tranquility of the sea, sending a towering plume of water skyward.
"Tsk, there was a 62% chance we wouldn't be discovered."
As the spray of water settled, a woman's cold voice rang out.
From beneath the waves, a massive black Devil Ray-shaped ship surfaced, its hideous main gun turrets locked onto Strength VIII.
Standing atop the manta-ray-like vessel was a tall, white-haired woman with a sinister smile.
Her golden eyes locked onto Strength VIII with eerie amusement.
The Manta ship bore visible battle scars from shelling.
Clearly, these were the result of Strength VIII's attack.
"Tester!"
Maury's eyes widened at the sight of the Siren.
Though she had never seen an arbitration entity before, she had fought the Tester many times.
Enterprise was equally stunned by the bizarre situation.
Weren't the arbitration agencies and experimental agencies both Sirens?
Why had Strength VIII just attacked the Tester?
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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