Capítulo 11: Chapter 11: Extra (2) - A Moment of Reflection
Whenever she had these doubts, she would look down at the clear, sparkling ring on her left ring finger.
This ring was the only proof that the man had ever existed.
Over the past year, Bismarck had awakened with tears more than once in the middle of the night.
She dreamt that the man who had personally placed the ring on her finger had vanished like the wind, and that the ring was just a beautiful dream.
Bismarck had never shared this suspicion with anyone, including Frederick the Great.
As the proud leader of Iron Blood, she could not let anyone see her weak side.
If even she doubted the possibility of finding the Commander, how despairing would it be for the many Iron Blood shipgirls?
But… What if?
What if the Commander really belonged to another world, and had returned to his own world, never to come back?
After all, those Ember Spirits came from other worlds too. Could the Commander be the same?
Bismarck's deepest fear was kept secret from everyone.
But now, as she watched Lin Lan approach with a guilty smile, all her worries seemed to vanish.
"Commander, it's been a long time. You… look much younger."
Even though she had countless things to say and missed him dearly, Bismarck found that she could only say this.
Like Tirpitz, neither of the sisters was very good at expressing their personal feelings.
However, her blue eyes, diverted in guilt, betrayed her true emotions towards Lin Lan.
The Z-ship and U-boat chibis, seeing Bismarck greeting Lin Lan, moved aside to give them space.
Lin Lan looked at Bismarck, the confident Iron Blood leader who now avoided meeting his gaze.
For some reason, he was reminded of a memorable storyline from past events.
Iron Blood, notes, and oaths.
The flagship Bismarck, who sacrificed her life so that Iron Blood could sail freely on the ocean and escape its destined fate.
Now, she was standing right in front of him so vividly.
He suddenly recalled how, when the game first launched, Iron Blood had only a few ships, and getting them was very difficult.
Even the first research phase, which required collecting Roon's blueprint, was beyond the reach of many new players, causing frustration among them.
With the introduction of new events and more Iron Blood research ships, the Iron Blood fleet at the port grew larger.
In just a few years, Lin Lan had built a powerful Iron Blood fleet that no other faction could compete with.
Seeing Bismarck, who was too shy to look at him and seemed like a bashful Persian cat, Lin Lan's original concerns melted away. He smiled and walked up to her.
"I don't know how I became younger, but you, my Bismarck, you seem to have become quite worn out over this long period."
Lin Lan admitted that after realizing the shipgirls in this port were his game characters, he had become bolder.
Before today, he would have kept his distance from a dignified military leader like Bismarck.
But now, he felt as if he were returning home, reuniting with a long-lost family member, and could even tease her playfully.
Hearing Lin Lan's words, Bismarck closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and tried to hold back the tears that had almost gathered at the corners of her eyes.
But before she could do so, Lin Lan embraced her.
Honestly, Lin Lan knew Bismarck's personality well.
The Iron Blood workaholic had probably been overburdened for quite some time.
Bismarck was a natural leader and the pillar of Iron Blood. Since her inception, she had borne far more than others.
Lin Lan understood that if he wasn't straightforward, Bismarck would likely keep all her struggles to herself.
After all, Lin Lan had shouldered heavy burdens himself, and Bismarck's gaze couldn't hide her hardships from him.
During late-night work, Lin Lan had occasionally read about Bismarck's activities and character, learning about her silent sacrifices for Iron Blood's rise.
No one wanted Iron Blood's strength and prosperity more than Bismarck.
"Bismarck, look around you."
Holding Bismarck's rigid form, Lin Lan whispered softly by her ear hidden under her golden hair.
"I promised to give you a powerful Iron Blood navy that could dominate the ocean, and now that's been achieved."
"So, promise me, don't overwork yourself anymore, okay?"
These were the words Lin Lan had long wanted to say to Bismarck.
Now that he could actually meet his shipgirls, he wouldn't let them work so hard anymore.
The Z-ship and U-boat chibis watched the scene in silence, smiling but not making a fuss.
Tirpitz and August also remained silent, knowing that this moment was meant for these two.
Bismarck's stiff body gradually relaxed, and Lin Lan noticed his shoulder becoming damp. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard Bismarck softly hum.
"Commander, don't think I'm an easily placated girl."
"When you return, there's still a lot of work left for Iron Blood. Don't think that saying these things will let you slack off."
Lin Lan chuckled, releasing Bismarck. The once stern and serious face now seemed to carry a hint of blush under the fortress's night lights.
"It looks like you're not going to let me off easily."
He joked, rubbing the back of his head.
"…"
Bismarck, peeking through her bangs pushed down by the military hat, looked at his face seriously, making Lin Lan's smile freeze.
After a moment, Bismarck seemed to come to her senses and burst into a soft laugh.
"I was just mesmerized, Commander. This is the first time I feel I can see you so clearly."
Bismarck's words made both Tirpitz and August nod in understanding, as well as the Z-ship and U-boat chibis.
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Estado de energía semanal
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