Elder brother's garrison

Page 1520

"Uh...sorry...it's been really busy over there lately..."

"Alright, I'll let you be busy... as long as the admiral isn't secretly enjoying himself at the naval base every day, surrounded by beautiful women!" The ship girls said to Shiro with a smile, then picked up their rice bowls and happily started eating.

Xiao Bai smiled awkwardly.

Eating and drinking well... there really isn't any like that in this ruined city. But having women on both sides... I don't know if hugging Dean Shenhai counts as hugging.

Xiaobai wanted to ask the ship girls for their opinions, but looking at their expressions, she kept her plan to herself.

With the admiral at the table, the ship girls enjoyed their meal even more.

Xiaobai looked around the dining table and noticed that Elizabeth, who had always been there, was no longer there. Curious, she asked, "Speaking of which, is Miss Elizabeth not here again today?"

"Yes, I heard that her admiral is entertaining the head of the Mu family today, so she went to help out. Otherwise, we wouldn't have told you about the naval base." The ship girls explained with a grin.

“There is also this matter.”

"Two men, you'll always have more to talk about!"

"That makes sense..." Xiao Bai nodded with a sigh, then picked up her rice bowl and ate a few bites. "Well... it's a pity, but since we didn't run into them, there's nothing we can do. Let's just leave it at that."

I've probably spent too much time in the ruined city these past couple of days, and I feel like I'm a bit out of touch with everyone else in terms of information about the ship girls. It's been a long time since I've had a proper chat with them.

However, this is a necessary sacrifice.

Thinking of this, Xiaobai opened her eyes and scanned the faces of the ship girls at the dining table, taking in their happy expressions.

I'll find some time to spend with the ship girls again in a few days. After all, I'm an admiral with a married ship, but since arriving at Chapter 8, I haven't really interacted with my married ship much...

Thinking of this, Xiao Bai's gaze unconsciously fell on his several wedding ships.

At the table directly opposite, Veneto and three others from the Roman Empire sat together.

Perhaps due to the intense training every day, Rome still had a very strong appetite even in Chapter 8. He was happily eating a bowl of white rice that was as tall as his head, his chopsticks twirling nimbly like a little whirlwind.

"Delicious! Anyone here? Another bowl, please!" Roma finished his meal in no time, ignoring the rice grains still stuck to his mouth, and excitedly shouted towards the kitchen while holding up his clean bowl.

In Rome, at this time, you should politely say "please".

"Okay, boss, no problem, boss!"

"I'll get you some rice." Veneto stood up, took the empty bowl from Roma's hand, and headed towards the kitchen.

"Thank you, boss!" Roma gave Veneto a proper military salute as she walked away.

After Veneto left, the Empire gently nudged Rome's arm, took some green peppers and vegetables from his bowl, and handed them to Rome.

Rome, understanding perfectly, opened its mouth and, with a soft "ah," swallowed the vegetables the Empire didn't want, chewing them with relish.

Xiao Bai looked at the Empire and Rome with a smile, thinking that next time he would secretly tell Veneto about the Empire being picky about food and Rome providing cover. Then he turned to look at Changchun.

Changchun is the only small ship girl that Xiaobai brought along on this eighth chapter journey. As a small ship, Changchun is probably the only destroyer in the entire naval base who can get along with large ships in an unconventional way. Changchun is seen holding a bubbling transparent glass, sitting next to Washington and Nelson. Washington and Nelson are toasting each other heartily, and occasionally they raise their glasses to the slightly reserved Changchun in the middle, looking incredibly harmonious.

—Oh, right, since we're still in a state of combat readiness, although alcohol has almost no effect on the ship girls, Washington and the others are only drinking sparkling water brought from the naval base for the sake of the atmosphere there. It's suitable for all ages.

Thinking of this, Xiaobai finally turned her gaze to the four Iowa sisters.

The Iowa-class ship girls were still the same as always. The four sisters sat together affectionately. Iowa was chatting with the people around her with a smile. She would occasionally tease Wisconsin. Wisconsin was so angry and helpless from being bullied by Iowa's mouth that she finally pouted, gulped down her soda water, and collapsed onto New Jersey's lap, looking like she was drunk on the ship even though she wasn't drunk.

As for Missouri...

Missouri sat in the center of the ship girls with a smile on her face. Occasionally, someone would speak to her, and she would reply with a smile. When no one spoke to her, she would watch Iowa tease Wisconsin with a smile, creating a strange atmosphere where she was both in the midst of the crowd and yet far away from it.

Little White looked at Missouri and suddenly tilted his head.

Ok……

Although Missouri seems to be like this all the time.

But something feels different about Missouri...

Xiao Bai watched and watched.

Just then, Missouri, who was in the crowd, smiled and raised her hand, subtly covering her mouth and lowering her head slightly.

"Cough cough..."

Missouri coughed quietly twice to cover up her actions, then smiled and looked up as if nothing had happened.

Chapter 2040 Even if the sky falls, I won't leave

Missouri's slight coughing with her head down was very small and her voice was very faint at the noisy dinner table. If Xiaobai hadn't been paying attention to her, she wouldn't have noticed anything unusual about her at all.

For example, the ship girls around Missouri felt that Missouri's action was just like casually raising her hand to brush the dust off her hair, and there was nothing about it that attracted attention.

Xiao Bai gazed thoughtfully in the direction of Missouri and put down his chopsticks.

Missouri...is she sick?

Is it a cold?

Still a cold...

A wave of emotion washed over Xiaobai, and he couldn't help but look at Missouri with concern.

For a normal human being, coughing a couple of times at the dinner table is nothing to worry about. After all, that's just how humans are. No matter how strong a person is, no one can guarantee they won't catch a cold or flu 365 days a year. But Missouri is different. Missouri is a true ship girl with a slender and beautiful figure, strong and healthy physical fitness, and is protected by her ship equipment 24/7. Ordinary colds and chills can't get close to a ship girl.

Could it be... a serious illness?

Xiao Bai's heart skipped a beat when he thought of this.

No way?

What kind of disease can penetrate even a ship girl's immunity?

Xiao Bai immediately became nervous.

Xiao Bai had no idea when Missouri's symptoms appeared, nor how long they had lasted. After all, Missouri had hidden them so well. If Xiao Bai hadn't suddenly wanted to take a closer look at her own marriage ship today, and if Missouri hadn't happened to have a coughing fit when it was her turn, Xiao Bai would probably still be in the dark about it, and probably for some time to come.

Xiao Bai put down her chopsticks and bowl.

At the same time, just as Xiaobai was about to call Missouri, Missouri at the table also put down her chopsticks and smiled slightly at the Iowa sisters beside her.

"I've finished eating my Missouri."

"Huh? Missouri, aren't you eating?" Wisconsin, perched on New Jersey's lap, curiously peeked into Missouri's bowl. "You still have a few bites of rice left. Wasting food is shameful!"

"Could Wisconsin help me out a bit?" Missouri smiled at Wisconsin.

"Just kidding, I'm going to be the world's number one ship girl! How could I possibly eat someone else's leftovers!" Wisconsin said proudly to Missouri.

"Missouri will reflect on her actions and won't do it again next time." Missouri, unusually, didn't tease Wisconsin. Instead, after Wisconsin finished speaking, she nodded slightly, gave everyone a faint apologetic look, then stood up, cleared away her dishes, and left the table. "Missouri will go to the back to rest now."

Missouri left the dinner table.

The ship girls' meal times are different due to their different habits. In addition, since nearly a hundred ship girls are having an indoor meal together, there is no need for them to sit and get off the table together. As a result, quite a few ship girls left early after finishing their meals. Missouri's departure did not attract much attention from the other ship girls.

Only a few Iowa ship girls stared at Missouri's quiet departing figure, exchanging curious glances.

"Missouri left the table before finishing her meal again." Wisconsin muttered as she propped herself up from New Jersey's lap, quietly complaining as she pulled Missouri's bowl into her arms and began to gulp it down. "Honestly, she didn't take much rice today. Even if ship girls have low food requirements, they shouldn't eat this little... Is she fasting?"

"..."

Xiao Bai silently watched Wisconsin, listened to her complaints, and silently got up.

"Huh? Admiral, aren't you going to eat?" The ship girl next to Xiaobai asked curiously when she saw Xiaobai get up.

"Hmm, I'm a little full today... Sorry..." Xiaobai said to the ship girl with a wry smile, "It's okay, the weather has been cold lately, so rice can be stored for quite a while. I'll just put it away for now and eat it next time."

"Oh... okay..." The ship girls blinked, glanced at the rice bowl with regret, and nodded.

Xiao Bai left the table and chased after Missouri's figure.

The ship girls watched Xiaobai's departing figure with amazement.

"The admiral has probably gone to Missouri again."

"What a wonderful relationship..."

"I bet of all the ship girls in the entire naval base, the one the admiral is most attached to is Missouri... He couldn't eat anything as soon as Missouri left."

"Wedding ship, it's basic operation... Come on, let's eat crab!"

The ship girls whispered among themselves, then quickly ended the conversation, happily picking up their bowls and continuing to enjoy their meal.

The ship girls were having a lively time at the dining table, but Shiro, who had left the table, looked worried and heavy-hearted.

Missouri is a natural-born actress.

Missouri is not only beautiful and has excellent mental fortitude, but she also has excellent control over her own emotions. So if she wants to hide something, it is difficult for others to notice. Therefore, Xiaobai does not blame the other ship girls for not noticing Missouri's abnormality despite spending so much time together.

but……

As the governor of Missouri, and especially someone with whom he had a special relationship, Xiaobai felt extremely ashamed that he had only just discovered the abnormality in Missouri.

I should have noticed Missouri's unusual behavior much earlier.

Even if she tried to hide it, I should have been able to tell.

Missouri kept her illness a secret, and Xiaobai could pretty much guess why. Currently, the newbie naval base is in the middle of the eighth chapter's expedition. While the ship girls appear relaxed on the surface, they are all mentally preparing for the upcoming battle and focusing intently on their tasks. Missouri, being a thoughtful person, probably wouldn't want to disrupt the other ship girls' preparations at this crucial moment because of personal matters.

Thinking of this, Xiaobai couldn't help but sigh. She quickened her pace and chased after Missouri in the direction she had left.

Missouri must have just headed towards the innermost part of the villa. Xiaobai bypassed the decorations inside the villa and took a few steps inward, and sure enough, he saw Missouri's figure.

Missouri was sitting alone in a wooden armchair by the wall. Perhaps because she had left the dining table and didn't need to suppress her physical state, Missouri's cheeks were slightly flushed, and her watery eyes were mixed with a hint of dazedness.

After noticing that Xiaobai had followed, Missouri did not show any surprise, nor did she revert to her previous demeanor. She simply smiled in the direction Xiaobai had come from.

"Admiral, you've arrived."

“Missouri…you…” Xiaobai rushed to Missouri with a complicated expression, looked at Missouri sitting in the chair, and asked with a frown, “You…you knew I would come?”

"Well, after all, you've been staring at Missouri the whole time at the dinner table, Admiral." Missouri gave Xiaobai a satisfied smile.

"Since you know I'm back... you also know why I came, right..." Xiaobai approached Missouri and reached out to touch Missouri's forehead.

Missouri's forehead temperature... felt like a normal body temperature, or if you had to say, just a very slight fever.

"A cold? A fever?" Xiaobai asked Missouri, touching her forehead.

"As expected, I couldn't hide it from the Admiral after all." Missouri said to Xiaobai with a smile, "Actually, when I couldn't help coughing twice at the dinner table, I felt that the Admiral might have noticed."

“A ship girl getting sick is a big deal… How could you keep it from us…” Xiaobai said reproachfully to Missouri, “Ship girls don’t usually get sick. The fact that you’re in this condition means things are already complicated… And you’re still keeping it from us. What if your condition gets worse and you collapse?”

“The Admiral is right.” Missouri didn’t argue back, but just smiled obediently at Little White, a faint blush on her face lingering.

Missouri's reaction left Xiaobai with no room to continue lecturing. She sighed and asked Missouri, "...When did this happen?"

"...about a week ago."

"So long ago?!" Xiaobai exclaimed in surprise.

"At first, Missouri just felt a little tired and occasionally dizzy, so she didn't think much of it," Missouri said with a smile to Xiaobai. "At that time, the Admiral was still worried about Chapter Eight, and Missouri didn't want to bother him, so she thought she would just need to rest for a few days..."

"Then isn't your condition getting worse and worse..." Xiaobai said, "If I hadn't found out today, how long were you going to keep it from us?"

“It won’t be long…” Missouri paused, then lowered her head slightly and replied softly, “If the Admiral knew about Missouri’s situation… given his personality, he’d probably stay by Missouri’s side until she recovers… then his plans to go out these past few days would be wasted…”

"That's one thing... How could I possibly let you..." Xiaobai said subconsciously to Missouri, but then suddenly paused, "Eh? Wait, my travel plans for the next few days? Missouri, how did you know?"

“I noticed.” Missouri looked up and smiled at Little White. “Just like the Admiral noticed Missouri today.”

“You… well, alright.” Xiaobai sighed. “I didn’t really intend to hide it from you… but now that I know about you, I absolutely will not leave until I have investigated your current condition in Missouri and helped you recover.”

"Admiral..."

"Shh, don't talk." Little White held up a finger seriously to Missouri, staring into Missouri's eyes. "There's no room for negotiation. I won't leave even if the sky falls, until you recover."

Chapter 2041 Burning Body

"..." Missouri looked quietly into Xiaobai's eyes. After a while, she lowered her head slightly and replied to Xiaobai, "Um... Missouri understands."

"Then you'd better cooperate fully this time, and don't hide anything from me anymore."

"As ordered."

"Then let's investigate what illness you have, Missouri. To help you recover, we need to know the cause..." Xiaobai sighed and said slowly, "I just touched your forehead, Missouri. It was a little warm, but your body temperature is still quite normal."

“After all, the Admiral is very familiar with my temperature,” Missouri said to Xiaobai.

"..." Xiaobai looked embarrassed. "Let's not talk about that for now... Anyway, judging from your condition, it doesn't seem like a cold or fever... Missouri, tell me, what's bothering you?"

“What’s bothering you…” Missouri nodded and said to Xiaobai, “Although the Admiral said it’s not a cold or fever, Missouri feels that my current condition is actually somewhat similar to these minor illnesses.”

"How to say?"

"Cough cough..." Missouri covered her mouth and coughed lightly twice, then smiled apologetically at Xiaobai, "I'm just feeling a bit weak, and I often feel dizzy, so I like to cough and stuff."