"You all did well."
Strength VIII looked at the tester self-destructing under her watch, her expression immediately darkening.
She glanced towards the direction where a large number of carrier-based aircraft had attacked her White Eagle shipgirls, only to find that the sea was now empty, except for the slowly dissipating Executor Siren II type.
A series of torpedo bombers rolling in from the sea caused Strength VIII to dodge them with agile movements.
"However, what a coincidence."
While evading the dense barrage of torpedoes, Strength VIII coldly muttered to herself.
She activated the radar system and found that the two shipgirls who had just attacked her had already returned to the distant White Eagle fleet, which was now swiftly retreating towards the Eastern continent.
"Whether this is a coincidence or they intentionally cooperated with the tester, this matter must be reported to the host."
After coldly speaking, Strength VIII slowly steered her ship towards the location where Enterprise and others had been previously stopped.
"The final work at key point AL-β must continue. It's hard to isolate them, and I cannot allow them to return to this world."
As she returned to her previous standby location, she retracted the ship equipment behind her and slowly closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, within the White Eagle fleet, Enterprise and Maury had successfully reunited with Yorktown and others.
"Strength VIII really didn't chase after us. Heh, the tester really didn't lie to me."
Through the returning carrier-based aircraft in the surroundings, Enterprise saw that Strength VIII had returned to her original position, standing guard. She sighed in relief.
The message she received earlier was from the tester.
"The task of the Arbiter's Forces's Strength VIII here is to cut off your connection with the Western continent for two weeks."
"If you're upset, take the opportunity to attack her when she's unprepared. This is also for your comrades' sake, and she won't pursue you."
Enterprise recalled Strength VIII's terrifying methods when she attacked the tester earlier, and tightly gripped the longbow of her ship's equipment.
She had underestimated the power of the Arbiter's Forces.
In their previous confrontation with Strength VIII, this person hadn't even used all their strength.
Now, with only their fleet, they were no match for this formidable opponent.
"Enterprise, what exactly did the tester say to you?"
Seeing Enterprise and Maury return, Yorktown and Hornet steered their ships alongside her and asked with concern.
After receiving the message from Enterprise to attack Strength VIII, they immediately coordinated and launched a joint airstrike.
This was the tacit understanding and trust between the three sisters of Yorktown.
Facing her older sister's question, Enterprise pondered for a moment and then briefly recounted the tester's words.
"So, what I care about more is what the tester meant when they said it was for our comrades' good."
After recounting, Enterprise finally voiced the question she had been contemplating since returning.
Their White Eagle faction had always maintained regular communication with other port zones, and there hadn't been any reports of abnormal situations.
Could the Arbiter's Forces be planning to launch an attack on them?
After hearing Enterprise's words, Yorktown paused, as if recalling something, and uncertainly said:
"Our comrades... Could the tester be referring to the meta shipgirls who came to this world, went to find the Commander, and then lost contact?"
Yorktown's words caused the White Eagle shipgirls nearby to gasp.
The primary mission of the Arbiter's Forces was to monitor and confront the meta shipgirls.
And those meta shipgirls who went to search for the Commander had seemingly vanished, with no communication from them for a long time.
Was the tester trying to remind Enterprise that the Arbiter's Forces had already taken action against those meta shipgirls?
Enterprise coughed slightly, then analyzed to the group:
"What the tester said may not all be true, but we should indeed inform the other factions to immediately search for those meta shipgirls."
"Ironblood's Bismarck told me during the last communication that they are in the final stage of base relocation and won't be able to contact us for a while."
"It's just that, unfortunately, about the Commander..."
Enterprise didn't finish her sentence but stopped, turning her gaze towards the Western continent with a regretful expression.
This direction was where Bismarck had told her Lin Lan's new port zone was located.
As she stopped, Yorktown, Hornet, Northampton, and the other White Eagle shipgirls also halted their ships, standing on the sea beneath the moonlight.
Following Enterprise's gaze towards the Western continent, their faces showed either anger or unwillingness.
They were so close to seeing the Commander.
Damn the Arbiter's Forces! Damn Strength VIII!
"Ugh, Anchorage, I want to see... the Teacher..."
Still with the mindset of a child, Anchorage looked around at the suddenly stopped companions in confusion.
Though she didn't understand why everyone had stopped, Anchorage, though innocent, wasn't a fool.
She could feel something from the negative emotions spreading.
Tears welled up from the poor girl's rose-colored eyes.
She turned away, crouching down, remembering the beautiful memories with Lin Lan, unable to control her quiet sobs.
"Teacher, Anchorage misses you... Teacher... Wuwu..."
At that moment, a warm embrace wrapped around Anchorage from behind.
"Good girl, don't cry now."
A gentle and pampering voice sounded in Anchorage's ear.
The crying girl raised her head, looking at the white sleeve of the person who embraced her, large tears rolling down her cheeks.
It was the gentle older sister, Yorktown.
"Sister, can we see Teacher...?"
Hearing the sobs of the girl in her arms, Yorktown, despite feeling the same regret, gently wiped the tears from Anchorage's face.
"We will, we definitely will. Since our Ironblood comrades have found the Commander, we'll see him soon."
"So Anchorage, you are the Commander's most beloved child, you can't always cry. Be good, let's head back to the port zone first, and I'll make you your favorite cookies."
With Yorktown's continuous comfort, Anchorage finally stopped crying, softly agreeing.
The other White Eagle shipgirls gathered around, and soon Hornet, Northampton, Hamman, and Maury began to make faces and joke to cheer up Anchorage.
Before long, Anchorage had shaken off the sadness and was playing happily on the sea with Hornet and the others, wearing an innocent smile once again.
"It was my fault earlier. Everyone was too down, and I didn't notice Anchorage..."
Enterprise looked at Anchorage, who had returned to her joyful self, and sighed in relief.
She sailed alongside Yorktown at the end of the fleet, her tone apologetic as she spoke to her older sister.
Hearing Enterprise's words, Yorktown smiled gently and, with her clear blue eyes, gazed at Enterprise.
"I understand your feelings. It's hard for all of us to face this last step before seeing the Commander."
"Earlier, when Hornet and I left you, I heard from our comrades about the pain and growth you experienced after that."
Yorktown reached out and pulled her silly little sister into an embrace.
Gently stroking Enterprise's soft white hair, Yorktown's face showed a hint of sympathy.
"Now, you don't need to pressure yourself too much. You also need to pay more attention to your comrades' states to become a better leader."
"I, Hornet, and the Commander will always be by your side."
Yorktown's words made Enterprise's eyes sting. The negative emotions that had briefly emerged in her heart dissipated under her gentle older sister's comfort.
"I'll try my best, big sis."
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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