Chapter 34

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34. Steam Divine Soldier

"…So this is the invincible decisive weapon you mentioned?"

"Yes."

"It has boundless power, incredible speed, and is extremely suitable for shipgirls to use?"

"Exactly."

"And it's also a legacy of the ancients, the pinnacle of weaponry in this world?"

"Of course."

"Then can you tell me why it looks like this?"

Pointing to the massive bronze object in the slot, the admiral looked blankly at 001, hoping the science-oriented shipgirl with the round glasses could explain.

What did he see? A large cylindrical object with a distinct steam style was slowly breathing in the slot. Yes, breathing. One end was turning a small fan to draw in air, while the other was continuously releasing steam as the bellows trembled.

Surrounding it were intricate gears and levers, and electric arcs occasionally darted out, making the entire bronze cylinder hum. Rather than being a high-tech weapon from the ancients, the admiral believed it was a supreme steam-tech weapon from a world that had taken a wrong turn in its technological development.

"Although I made some minor modifications to the appearance, the performance has been significantly improved. It's even better than the original supercavitation torpedo."

001 had a look of "Admiral, you don't appreciate it" on her face as she patted the bronze creation.

"The original supercavitation torpedo was powerful, but it wasn't specifically designed for shipgirls. After my modifications, it's different. I thoroughly understood the entire structure and innovated. Now it should be called a subspace supercavitation torpedo."

"Through the supercavitation phenomenon and the unique properties of subspace, combined with the specially designed outfit, this perfect creation cannot be fully expressed by its simple appearance. Admiral, you really don't understand. Such a cool and awesome thing must have a stylish paint job, right? Look how cool this is?"

I think it's not just the paint job, but the entire structure has changed, hasn't it?

Looking at the steampunk monster with electric arcs and steam, the admiral rubbed his aching forehead and waved at the excited 001.

"The appearance is up to you, but will these things really not have any problems? And what about the special protective suit you mentioned? Is there a certain risk for shipgirls to ride this thing?"

"Ah, riding the 'Steam Neptune Poseidon' does indeed have some risks."

Didn't you just say it was called 'Underwater Cavalry'?

The admiral grumbled inwardly at 001's natural expression.

"But the risk doesn't come from weight, mass, or other aspects. It's due to the differences caused by different outfits and clothing types."

"For us shipgirls, clothing is like an extension of our bodies. For such a sensitive subspace supercavitation torpedo, an additional part of the subspace sensor beacon could cause the guidance system to malfunction mid-way."

"But with uniform clothing, even if there's confusion in body shape and operation, the clothing can act as a third coordinate for correction. In short, uniform clothing helps the system correct. And to avoid waste, I replicated a fiber model from the ancients' armor, so I made a batch of specialized uniforms."

The admiral stiffly watched 001, who turned and fiddled with a deeply hidden cabinet, pulling out a set of exceptionally imposing and dark uniform.

The pure black base exuded an evil aura. The gold braid running from the left shoulder to the right waist formed an elegant line, complementing the gold radiation symbol on the chest and the gold shoulder badges, creating a restrained yet imposing pattern.

Unlike the usual long or short skirts of shipgirls, the pure black trousers had only faint gold lines on the sides. The only decoration was the chain rings on the belt. The entire outfit, held by 001 in the steampunk factory, exuded an unusual evil charm.

Especially when 001 put on a pure black naval officer's cap, with the black brim covering one eye, the charm was amplified to 300%.

The admiral imagined the entire Imagination Fleet wearing these outfits, slowly rising to the surface from underwater.

...Pretty cool, huh?

"By the way, why are there no labels on the shoulder badges, cap, or arms?"

After carefully examining the imposing outfit, the admiral barely found a non-issue and turned to 001. The little girl, as the designer and maker, pushed up her glasses and showed a row of healthy white teeth.

"We are the Imagination Fleet, Admiral. There's no official record of us, and our existence is unknown. Why would a fleet that comes from the imaginary need labels?"

"Blank. Just like our names, we don't need totems or labels. We just need the blank of imagination. No shoulder badges, no arm badges, no cap badges. We just need a blank. We are the ghosts of history and the sea, and anyone who sees us will tremble from the heart!"

"Steam is justice! Levers are power! The punk era is not over! This evil charm must be guided by me! I want everyone to see how wonderful steampunk is! Look at this evil charm, Admiral, don't you feel moved?!"

001, you're really quite sick...

Watching 001, who was spitting and gesturing wildly next to the torpedo, the admiral didn't have the heart to deprive the little girl of her remaining fun, and just watched her with a compassionate look.

"Ah, it's almost time. Should I notify the Imagination Fleet?"

"Already?"

Well, time flies when you're having fun.

Looking at Sacramento, who raised her hand, the admiral nodded.

"Then gather them. We're about to set out. 001, stop talking and go to the command room to start the adjustments."

"Tsk, really not the time... Admiral, come with me."

Interrupted at her most passionate moment, 001 naturally wasn't in a good mood. She spat to the side and glared at Sacramento, but still obediently followed the admiral's orders, hands in her pockets, swaying into a room.

"Wait and see. I'm the chief engineer, and you'll eventually see the industrial charm of steampunk battleships. Although it's still immature..."

Is this obedience or disobedience?

The admiral couldn't help but wonder as he watched 001 muttering.