Chapter 54

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54. The Other Side of the Sea

"Back... they're back..."

The middle-aged man stood at the lighthouse, watching the dozens of white waves slowly approaching from the sea. This man, who had weathered decades of storms, slowly knelt to the ground. It was as if all the bones in his body had been removed, and he leaned against the concrete wall, half-crying and half-laughing. Tears slowly streamed down from the corners of his eyes. This man, who had already established a family, could not help but cry silently.

He was not excited, for he had no strength left to be excited. Seeing his children, though battered and bruised, still smiling, the man was content. It was clear that these children had experienced something terrifying, but they had returned. They had returned to him, whole and intact.

Looking up at the vast blue sky, the middle-aged man weakly clasped his hands together and bowed to the unknown deity, offering his sincere faith.

"Back is good, back is good..."

The middle-aged man knelt on the ground with his eyes closed, a contented smile on his face.

Although he did not know which deity had protected them and brought his fleet back intact, he was clear that such a miracle would not happen again. This return was entirely due to an unknown miracle. Relying on miracles for fate was undoubtedly a foolish act. He would not let these children conduct northern reconnaissance again. Cleaning up other seas would be good too.

Watching the fleet gradually return to the harbor, the middle-aged man thought to himself.

"Isn't this a miracle?"

"... Governor?"

Faced with the old man who walked up the lighthouse with a cup of coffee, the middle-aged man instinctively stood up and saluted the aging soldier.

But because his arm was wrapped in a cast, this rash and quick action immediately triggered some nerves, causing his originally stern expression to twist. Combined with the tears on his face, it made for a rather comical scene.

Even the stern-faced old man smiled and patted his shoulder.

"You don't have to be so tense. If you can't manage, you can do it like you did just now."

"It's fine, I've adjusted."

The superior was just being polite; how could he take it seriously?

The middle-aged man quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his face, and after composing himself, turned and saluted the governor with a serious expression.

The elderly governor, after seeing all this, nodded at the middle-aged man. Holding a steaming cup of coffee, he stood by the lighthouse railing, watching the shipgirls enter the port, and gently raised his coffee cup, taking a sip.

"A miracle did indeed happen, didn't it?"

The elderly governor said softly.

"Don't be in a hurry. If you wait, changes will naturally occur. Whether good or bad, time will reveal it. Don't be so anxious in the future."

"The shipgirls returned unharmed, but you, the admiral, are wearing a cast? And you were shouting at the governor? If you do that again, the military police won't just sit around. You're an adult, be more careful."

"Yes, Governor."

The middle-aged man's face turned red, and he answered somewhat embarrassedly.

"But, Governor, did you seem to know a miracle would happen?"

Recalling the governor's somewhat profound response in the office, the middle-aged man said with a look of disbelief.

"Why was the governor so sure? Did the headquarters' 'satellite' or something finally succeed? Or did you have some kind of foresight? It feels incredible, Governor, are you a prophet?"

"Seeing young and beautiful fleet girls return, has your mental age become twenty-something?"

What nonsense are you talking?

The old governor looked at the middle-aged man, both amused and exasperated.

"It's not that I can predict the future, but rather that I know a bit more. And what I know is not everything; others know even more."

"The world is vast, and the sea is wide. There are countless admirals striving worldwide, and various people support us from the rear. With such a large base, it's not strange for miracles to happen. So, if you wait, good things will come."

"Moreover, in a sense, this is not a miracle but a certainty."

After all, that place is that man's territory.

Given his character, even in the most critical moments, he would have a way to dispatch his shipgirls to the battlefield within hours. Besides, I haven't forgotten what happened during the Northern Pursuit.

They say that compassion is not suitable for military leadership, and one must be willing to sacrifice when necessary. But sometimes, compassion is more important. Moreover, these children are not well-trained soldiers; they are just a group of girls. They are the spirits of heroes summoned from the deep sea, capable of crying and laughing. They are just a group of girls with no combat awareness.

What can you ask of these girls? It's the incompetence of humans that we haven't restored ancient human technology, which is why these little ones are sent to the battlefield. Placing hope on these little girls is a disgrace to humanity itself.

But... as long as neither side regrets it, that's fine.

Watching the girls celebrating and throwing flowers in the port, and the nearly exhausted middle-aged man, the governor's face showed a subtle smile. He then turned and walked down the stairs.

"Don't be too happy yet. I still need to ask these brave little warriors who escaped from the northern sea what happened. We might need to uncover their psychological trauma. You'll need to comfort these girls at night."

"I wonder if you can still be as capable as when you were young."

"Governor, what are you saying!"

"You know what I'm saying. Go and marry your shipgirls. You've made those children wait long enough, you wicked man."

Ignoring the middle-aged man's stammering protests, the old governor finished his coffee, placed the cup on another table, and walked down the stairs with a smile, slowly leaving the lighthouse.

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