“Hey there, Purifier,“ he greeted her with a smile. “How are you faring? Did Observer send you to spy on me again?“

  Purifier shrugged with a pyful giggle. “Nothing reeeaally... Observer just told me to trail you from a distance. Seems she’s busy dealing with the Arbiters who’ve got their eyes on this test site.“

  “Good,“ the Commander replied, letting out a sigh of relief. “I was worried she’d gone off somewhere without keeping me in the loop. So, any news about what the Arbiters are up to?“

  Purifier tilted her head with a nonchant shrug. “Honestly? Not much to report. She does seem extra wary of Compiler, though.“

  The Commander nodded, processing the update. “And what about Tester and Omitter? What are they up to?“

  “They’re... the same as always,“ Purifier replied with a dramatic roll of her eyes. “Tester’s all about her experiments, and Omitter’s doing whatever Observer tells her. Meanwhile, I’m stuck running errands for Observer like some glorified delivery girl.“

  “Seems like you’ve got a tough gig going on,“ he remarked with a smirk.

  “I’ll tell ya what!“ Purifier floated closer to him. “Those Arbiters, they’re really keeping an eye on you—even if they don’t mean to.“

  “Well, that’s concerning,“ he murmured.

  “More than concerning,“ Purifier huffed. “If we’re not prepared, more anomalies are bound to come crashing down on this test site.“ She crossed her arms. “That’s why I’ve been setting up a defense array—just in case any of those anomalies decide to make a mess of things.“

  “The META?“ he asked. “I guess that’s bound to happen because of the Singurity set up by Code G.“

  “No, damn it,“ Purifier shook her head. “Not that kind of anomaly—I’m talking about the kind from the White Tower.“

  “...X,“ the Commander murmured, his expression darkening. “Is that why you’re so on edge?“

  “Correct,“ the Siren huffed, crossing her arms. “I swear, I can’t catch a break with those things looming on the horizon. If they show up, I—“ She stopped herself, her voice dropping as she murmured something unintelligible.

  “Come to think of it,“ he started, snapping her out of her murmurs, “do you know anything about the Scapa Flow... Singurity?“

  “...No?“ Purifier tilted her head in confusion. “There’s a Singurity in Scapa Flow?“

  “Oh, you didn’t know?“ The Commander grinned knowingly. “I had a revetion using S.A.V.I.O.R., or so it seems—there’s definitely a Singurity there.“

  Purifier’s eyes widened, her usual pyful demeanor momentarily repced with surprise. “Does Observer know about it too?“

  “As for that, I have no idea,“ he replied with a shrug.

  “Do you want me to do something about it or what?“ she asked.

  “No, just keep observing it. I just want you to follow whatever Observer is up to right now. I think she has a pn for that Singurity,“ he replied.

  “Hmm... okay then,“ Purifier nodded, gncing over her shoulder. Her expression shifted slightly. “Looks like someone’s coming. See you ter, Grey.“ She gave him a pyful wave before disappearing behind the tree.

  Gncing back, he spotted a familiar figure approaching—Hood. She waved at him, and he returned the gesture. “Hello, Hood.“

  “Commander, fancy seeing you here,“ she replied warmly, stepping closer to join him. Her gaze drifted toward the stunning scenery before them.

  He realized he was sitting at the edge of a cliff beneath the shade of a tree. From his vantage point, he could see the water gently meeting the sand below, the rhythmic sound of waves reaching his ears. The occasional chirping of birds and the soft fpping of wings added a soothing melody, while the cool breeze brushing past completed the tranquil atmosphere.

  “Heh, I just wanted to get a feel for Royal Isnd,“ he said with a chuckle. “It’s not so different from the Azur Lane port, just... bigger.“

  Hood gnced at the edge of the cliff and let out a soft ugh. “Though it would be quite dangerous if you were to fall from here.“

  He ughed, smirking. “Heh, so you’ve got a knack for dark humor, huh?“

  “Don’t underestimate a dy’s sense of humor,“ she replied, her gaze meeting his. A pyful smile graced her lips. “You’d be surprised how many secrets we keep, Commander.“

  “I’d be really surprised if one of you had some secret stash of adult manga or something,“ he joked with a teasing grin.

  “Haha, well, that might not be too far-fetched if it turned out to be true,“ Hood replied with a soft ugh.

  “Anyway,“ he said, shifting the conversation, “what brings you here? I hope you’ve been doing well.“

  “I am,“ Hood nodded appreciatively, though a flicker of unease crossed her face. “However, I can’t help but worry about whether the remnants of the Bck Cube might affect me someday.“

  A shadow of concern crossed his expression, knowing full well what the coming months might hold for her. “I hope you’ll recover completely, Hood. You deserve to be at ease.“

  “Thank you,“ she said warmly, her lips curving into a grateful smile. “Oh, and one more thing—Her Majesty is looking for you. That’s why I came to find you.“

  'Elizabeth? For what?' he wondered to himself.

  “Elizabeth is looking for me?“ he asked, standing up from his spot. “Alright, I’d better not keep her waiting. See you ter, Hood.“ He waved as he turned to leave.

  “You too, Commander,“ Hood replied with a sincere smile, watching him go.

  As he returned, Greynar found himself walking through a recently decorated hallway, wondering just how much time had passed since his conversation with Purifier. The Royal Navy had certainly been efficient in their preparations. He greeted several Royal maids along the way and made his way toward the throne room, where Elizabeth was likely waiting.

  Inside, Elizabeth sat on her throne, reading through documents, but she shifted her gaze toward Greynar as he entered.

  “Servant!“ she called out, her voice commanding attention. “What took you so long? I have a proposal for you, one that concerns the future.“

  “A proposal?“ Greynar raised an eyebrow. “Is it about the trading logistics and the waterway paths?“

  “Exactly,“ Elizabeth replied, then turned to the head maid. “Bel, bring that stamped document here.“

  Belfast nodded respectfully and handed Elizabeth the document, which she then extended to Greynar. He took it and scanned the contents, raising an eyebrow.

  “This is your proposed trade route?“ he asked, noting the broad scope of it. “It covers everything from Europa to the Pacific, benefiting everyone involved.“

  “Yes!“ Elizabeth nodded, her tone confident. “If the Crimson Axis is really going to disband, we need to prepare for the future. This trade route is part of that vision. It’s not just about the present, but what comes next.“

  He raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you're pretty confident they'll actually fall apart.“

  “Of course!“ Elizabeth replied, her tone sharp and resolute. “Rather, it's because of that Friedrich woman that I'm even considering this. And let me be clear—this isn’t out of respect. It’s a fact that she’s up to something.“ Her eyes narrowed.

  Greynar, aware of what the future held, knew that with Bismarck's eventual return, the Crimson Axis would inevitably sever all ties with the Sirens and stand united under the same banner as Azur Lane. Even during Richard's invasion of Scapa Flow, every faction—without exception—joined forces to confront the threat. This event proved that Azur Lane would reform, stronger and more unified than ever.

  Despite everything that had been thrown their way, it served as proof that humanity could unite when faced with a common enemy. However, in the previous timeline, such unity had not been enough to ensure a favorable outcome.

  That’s why he implemented preventive measures by devising a long-term pn leading up to the Scapa Flow incident. The goal was to stop Richard from invading the timeline that was following the Royal Navy into Avalon. Purifier would also py a significant role in his strategy, allowing the rest to unfold naturally. However, this was only a precautionary step, not a permanent solution. Richard would eventually discover their coordinates and unch an invasion—not from within but from the outer edge of the test site.

  And since the Arbiters operate as a separate entity from the elite test site ANTI-X, he was confident they would take decisive action to prevent Richard’s invasion. This wasn’t blind trust but a well-founded belief. There was no way Zero would stand idly by and let it happen, not with S.A.V.I.O.R present on the test site. Eventually, it would all break down into a conflict with Bon Homme Richard’s pawns against the Arbiters.

  Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned his attention to Elizabeth. “That aside, how are the preparations for the... party?“ he asked curiously.

  Elizabeth put on a proud expression. “The arrangements are nearly complete; the party is set for tomorrow. On that note,“ she added with a touch of enthusiasm, “it won’t just feature Royal cuisine on the menu. We’ll also be serving dishes from the Dragon Empery and the Sakura Empire.“

  “Oh, nice,“ he whistled, a hint of excitement in his tone. “Will it be formal or informal?“ he asked.

  Elizabeth paused, considering for a moment. Since the event was primarily for the military—a celebration of their successful operation—she decided it didn’t need strict formalities. “It’s whatever,“ she replied with a casual shrug.

  “Alright then, I'll ask Newcastle to prepare something suitable for me,“ he said with a shrug.

  As dusk fell, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, he left the throne room with a contented smile. The Commander seemed genuinely pleased that his pns were progressing smoothly.

  Returning to his quarters, he called for Newcastle and asked her to prepare an outfit for the party. Tossing his winter coat onto the bed, he stretched out and rested, letting himself rex after the day's events.

  ※ ※ ※

  Throughout the night, he prepared for the celebration party, with Newcastle assisting him in choosing a suit that would look best. As they worked through the matching process, Newcastle couldn't help but steal occasional gnces at his figure. She was careful not to make it obvious, but she didn’t want to miss any opportunity to admire him.

  The next day, the celebration wasn’t scheduled to start until nighttime, giving him plenty of time to enjoy the morning. Assisted by Newcastle, he went through his morning routine as usual before heading off to meet Memphis. When he greeted her, the secretary seemed unusually fidgety. Hornet, standing nearby, couldn’t resist grinning as she gave Memphis a pyful sp on the back, causing the tter to squeal in surprise.

  Hornet, with her signature cheeky attitude, revealed that Memphis wanted the Commander’s help in choosing a dress to match her. The revetion earned Memphis a bright red face, and she pouted in annoyance at Hornet for outing her so casually.

  Fast-forwarding to the dress-fitting room, Hornet eagerly pyed the role of a wingwoman for Memphis, though it was clear she mostly enjoyed teasing the poor cruiser. The Commander followed their antics with quiet amusement, occasionally checking out the clothing options while Memphis browsed for something to try on.

  Settling into a chair with a book he’d found, the Commander gnced up and asked, “While Memphis is changing, why don’t you try on some outfits too, Hornet?“

  Hornet gave him a wry smile, shrugging casually. “Eh, I’m not really the type for these kinds of clothes. Compared to me, Memphis pulls them off way better.“

  “Oh, really?“ he said, raising a brow. “If Yorktown were here, I’m sure she’d insist you give it a shot. Besides, I think it’d look good on you.“

  “Haha,“ Hornet chuckled, her tone pyful. “Is that your personal compliment, Commander?“

  “Well, I meant it,“ he replied earnestly, meeting her gaze. His sincerity caught her off guard, earning him a small blush and a moment of silence as she looked away.

  The silence was broken by the sound of rustling curtains as Memphis stepped out, dressed in a sleek bck sleeveless gown that perfectly hugged her figure. She twirled lightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she looked to him for approval.

  “How do I look, Commander?“ Memphis asked, her voice carrying a hint of nervous anticipation.

  The Commander responded with a warm smile and an approving thumbs-up. “You look stunning—it suits you perfectly.“

  “Hee~...“ Hornet grinned, eyes lighting up. “Who would've thought bck and pink would go together so well?“

  “R-really?“ Memphis gnced down at herself, her tone uncertain as she took in their reactions.

  “Without a doubt,“ the Commander said confidently, his voice reassuring the uncertain girl. “It’s absolutely perfect for you.“

  “Well, if the Commander says so, you should trust his word,“ Hornet said with a grin. “I’m sure you’ll manage to charm him in that outfit, won’t she, Commander?“ She shot a pyful gnce at Greynar.

  “Well...“ He gave Memphis an appraising look, his lips curving into a sly smile. “Maybe, if she’s bold enough to give it a try.“ He teased her.

  Memphis blinked in surprise, then pouted, her cheeks flushing. “Even if I don’t, you’d just find another way to tease me,“ she huffed, crossing her arms. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she turned to Hornet. “And as payback for exposing me, I want you to try on some outfits too!“

  “W-wait—!“ Hornet protested, but Memphis grabbed her arm, dragging her toward the fitting room. She cast a desperate gnce at Greynar. “Commander! Help me out here!“

  He simply smiled, offering a pyful shrug that screamed betrayal. “I’ll be waiting to see what you pick.“

  “Noooo! Traitor!“ Hornet wailed as Memphis pulled her into the fitting room, the door clicking shut behind them, sealing her fate.

  A few minutes ter, Memphis emerged from the fitting room, her dress still intact, a grin stretching from ear to ear as she approached the Commander. “Wait until you see this,“ she said, clearly delighted by what was to come.

  Hornet peeked nervously from behind the door, her ears flushed with embarrassment. Slowly, she stepped out, her movements hesitant. She was dressed in a sleeveless gown with bck and yellow hues that complemented her figure. The half-cut design accentuated her silhouette, revealing a tasteful hint of cleavage. One hand tugged self-consciously at the fabric as if trying to hide.

  “H-hey, Commander...“ Hornet mumbled, her gaze darting around the room, unable to meet his eyes.

  Unable to find the right words, he pulled out his phone and snapped a photo. A smirk tugged at his lips as he said, “This one’s definitely going in my gallery.“

  “H-hey! Commander!“ Hornet excimed, her voice caught between protest and embarrassment. She instinctively stepped forward but stopped, her shyness holding her back. The Commander’s sudden action had completely thrown her off bance, leaving her flustered and unable to regain her composure.

  Memphis smiled mischievously as she stepped closer to Hornet, her tone dripping with pyful glee. “Oh, look at that—the one who’s always teasing is now completely caught in embarrassment.“

  “A-ah... I surrender!“ Hornet falters, throwing up an imaginary white fg in defeat, her blush deepening as she avoided Memphis’s knowing gaze.

  “Well, Commander,“ Memphis said with a mischievous grin, grabbing Hornet by the shoulder and gently nudging her forward. “Hornet and I have decided on our outfits for the celebration tonight. Shall we help you pick something too?“

  The Commander shrugged, a small smirk on his lips. “No need, I already picked mine yesterday. Besides, it’s an informal party, though I suppose a formal touch wouldn’t hurt.“

  “Oh? Then I’ll be looking forward to seeing it~“ Memphis replied with a pyful smile, her tone brimming with anticipation. “As for Hornet and me, we’ve got a few things to discuss together. Thanks for keeping us company!“

  With that, Memphis tugged Hornet along, leaving the Commander standing there, bemused, as the two disappeared to a destination only they knew.