Chapter 213

Chapter 213. You’re back, Matthew (?) style.

Anyway, during the preparation period for the event given by the management, I decided to do my best to strengthen the fleet’s power by mobilizing everything I could.

And according to my will, the shipyard, which was at the center of the power enhancement, was working like crazy, building ships day and night.

<Large Ship Dedicated Shipyard Construction List>

– <Dock 1>

<Building Cruiser Battleship...>

<Remaining Time: 1 day 7 hours 1 minute 23 seconds>

<Resources Consumed: 15,500 Minerals, 3,700 Rare Resources>

<Shipyard Status>

– <Dock 1>

<Building Light Cruiser...>

<Remaining Time: 1 day 2 hours 25 minutes 30 seconds>

– <Dock 2>

<Building Destroyer...>

<Remaining Time: 12 hours 5 minutes 33 seconds>

– <Dock 3>

<Building Destroyer...>

<Remaining Time: 11 hours 59 minutes 32 seconds>

– <Dock 4>

<Building Destroyer...>

<Remaining Time: 5 hours 9 minutes 1 second>

Of course, as resources allowed, and as soon as the ships were built, immediate construction was carried out again.

The construction progress of the ships at each shipyard was different, but overall, the construction was expected to be completed by today or tomorrow.

“Jessica, how many days are left until the final event participation date… now 5 days left?”

“Yep, exactly 4 days and 12 hours.”

Apart from the ongoing construction, I thought that if I worked hard, I could also level up Hreðsvelgr and the newly built cruiser battleships.

“Not bad.”

It seemed that the newly built 3rd cruiser battleship and the rest of the ships would at least avoid being thrown into the event at level 1, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

And as a resource supply for that, while the superhumans were taking turns to handle various quests…

-“Oppa!! I’m here!”

“Oh?”

Marian, who had been away for a while due to a conflict in the south, was seen making a comeback to this base.

Although she had been away from the base for months before, this time it seemed like there was a lot going on.

As soon as I received Marian’s communication, which felt much more welcoming than usual, I decided to send a welcome greeting.

And a little later.

“The base has changed a lot! Has it gotten bigger?”

“Of course.”

Perhaps to keep up with the increasingly powerful users, she even changed her flagship.

Marian, who came on a much larger and sleeker-looking battleship, parked the ship on one side of our docking facility and came to the command center.

And as always, she immediately clung to me like a little sister…

“Hmm… you’ve grown a lot, Marian.”

“Ehehe, really?”

As if to prove that Marian is growing every moment, her height and build have subtly increased…

From a malnourished refugee (?) during the pirate raid event, she has now grown into a healthy, well-built person.

This made me feel strangely emotional, like those reincarnated uncles watching parenting shows or raising kids.

Moreover, right after that thought…

“By the way, Oppa, I heard you were attacked by some bad guys while I was away.”

“…Ah, right, that did happen.”

“I sent them as quickly as possible, but if I hadn’t taken the troops, that problem wouldn’t have happened…”

“Hmm.”

“I’m sorry, Oppa.”

‘An angel.’

Although the story was already over when the troops were taken.

There were plenty of realistic reasons why Leonard’s fleet had to be taken at that time.

Although the plan got tangled up when we unexpectedly clashed with another user clan…

Right after that, she proposed a new solution and sent new troops to help the base.

Moreover, although she was a bit late due to the aftermath of the southern region, she came here herself to handle the aftermath.

And now she’s even apologizing to me.

‘Ah, a heart as vast as the sea, truly moving.’

At this point, what’s on Marian’s chest is not just a simple…

It wasn’t a “bang-deong-uh-ri” (a term for someone with a big presence), but clearly a “personality pouch” storing that outstanding character and intellect.

Since that personality pouch is so big, that must be why.

Anyway, regardless of the random thoughts swirling in my head, this incident wasn’t Marian’s fault.

I tried to push Marian off my shoulder with a gentlemanly attitude, but…

The problem was Marian was way too strong, so I gave up on pushing her away physically.

Instead, I just patted her head lightly, showing my gratitude in spirit.

Once the brief commotion settled, I decided to introduce the new comrades (?) who had joined while Marian was away.

“So, this here is Smeragi, who just joined us.”

“Nice to meet you, nya~ I’ve heard a lot about you, Commander and everyone else, nya~”

“Yeah, nice to meet you, Cat-san.”

Of course, even though Smeragi greeted us warmly, likely due to the brain parasite (?) making them feel high…

Our Marian didn’t exactly welcome such a greeting with open arms.

It seemed she felt a bit complicated about everyone except me, Jessica, and the other two who had raised her during her “useless” days.

But that was only temporary.

“Pashtira and Gryanarr said you’re the real deal, nya~ You two really suit each other, nya~”

“Huh?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, nya~”

“You’re Smeragi, right? I think we’re going to be really close from now on.”

“I think so too, nya~”

Even though Smeragi’s brain was being massaged by tentacles every hour, minute, and second, thanks to the parasite…

Their intelligence wasn’t completely gone.

Smeragi’s smooth, flowing responses were successfully breaking down the sturdy mental walls Marian had built up.

Of course, that wall collapse only applied to Smeragi…

“Hello, Pirate Empress.”

“…Oppa, what’s this?”

“Well, it just happened.”

Seeing Rain, who seemed happier after being stationed at the base than before…

It was inevitable that Marian’s expression would sour.

And that expression eventually led to the D-rank femi Kanfu we had pulled last time… no, wait.

“Ughhhhblblblblblblblblblblbl!!”

“Oh, Commander, what brings you here… Oh, hello, Pirate Empress.”

“…”

“…”

Watching in real-time as Gryanarr remodeled “something” inside and out, things reached their peak.

==========

Anyway, after showing them around for the first time in a while…

I let Marian roam freely and then decided to assess the current state of our fleet.

—————————————-

Fleet Status

Total Points: 446/550 Points

Aircraft Carrier: 1 ship, 70 points per ship = 70 points

Special Battleship: 1 ship, 65 points per ship = 65 points

Aetheric Submarine: 1 ship, 50 points per ship = 50 points

Light Aircraft Carrier: 1 ship, 40 points per ship = 40 points

Cruiser Battleship: 2 ships, 30 points per ship = 60 points

Heavy Cruiser: 4 ships, 10 points per ship = 40 points

Light Cruiser: 1 ship, 6 points per ship = 6 points

Destroyer: 20 ships, 3 points per ship = 60 points

Escort Ship: 5 ships, 1.5 points per ship = 7.5 points

Patrol Ship: 10 ships, 1 point per ship = 10 points

Resource Mining Ship: 25 ships, 1.5 points per ship = 37.5 points

—————————————-

Despite being only the size of a destroyer, the “Nerañzara-Class” costs more points than a light aircraft carrier.

And the “Hreðsvelgr-Class,” which is classified as a “special battleship” because it carries strategic missiles or something, felt a bit mysterious.

But more than that, I felt a sense of joy as I realized we could easily reach over 500 fleet points before the event.

My head nodded on its own in satisfaction.