After deploying the Dinsional Anchors across several worlds, communication between them increased significantly.
The shipgirls from the port, now without concerns of being stranded, began exploring Setsuna's world one after another.
To many of them, however, this "Commander" of the Vanguard Fleet was still a relatively unfamiliar figure.
Their only recollection was that, long ago, so unlucky guy had ended up near the port and signed a cooperation agreent with the flagships of several major fleets.
At the ti, their assistance was half out of practical necessity and half due to the innate kindness and empathy of shipgirls, sending fleets to help him rebuild his world.
Since then, due to Setsuna's space-piercing ability having a cooldown and his need to explore new worlds, communication between them had been sparse.
Occasionally, they would hear from the supply fleets about the Vanguard Fleet's ventures into new worlds or updates like another city being built on Earth.
As for the finer details of the world, most of the shipgirls were clueless.
"Hey, I wonder how the Vanguard Fleet is doing over there?"
"What kind of person is this Mr. Setsuna? We didn't interact much last ti… Hmm…"
In the Azur Lane port's main building, Enterprise and several other flagships were chatting idly.
"I worry they might face enemies over there," Bismarck said, sitting upright and adjusting her collar.
"Based on the reports Richelieu sent, their Earth seems much safer than ours. The worlds the Vanguard Fleet visits, though, sound quite chaotic," Aurora replied.
"In that case, why don't we visit and see for ourselves?"
Queen Elizabeth suggested from her chair, swinging her legs playfully.
"I'm concerned my maid chief might not be eating well over there."
...
Ten minutes later.
Bismarck, Enterprise, Queen Elizabeth, and several accompanying shipgirls stood in front of the teleportation anchor.
After confirming the number of people and the destination with Setsuna, they activated the device.
Swish—
With a flash of light, they blinked and found themselves standing at the gates of a grand city.
Waiting to greet them were Setsuna, Richelieu, Taihou, and other mbers of the Vanguard Fleet.
"Welco. It's been a while," Setsuna and Richelieu stepped forward to greet them.
"Huh? Where am I?"
Queen Elizabeth looked around in confusion.
Before her eyes was a magnificent, bustling city. Its size was several tis that of the port, with just the administrative center alone matching the main building of the Azur Lane port.
It was early evening, and the city was lit up with bright, golden lights, radiating splendor.
This was far from the ruined world they had imagined.
"This is my world," Setsuna said as he led them forward.
"Y-you… Are you sure this is a destroyed world?"
"This… This is enormous!" Queen Elizabeth stamred, adjusting the small crown on her head.
"Were you lying to us back then?"
"When we first accompanied the Commander here, this place was indeed a wasteland. It took a long ti and a lot of resources to build it into what you see now."
Richelieu followed behind Setsuna, explaining as they walked.
As the flagship of the Iris Libre in the Vanguard Fleet, her words carried significant weight.
Queen Elizabeth fell silent, her gaze toward Setsuna now tinged with astonishnt.
"How did you manage this? The supplies we initially provided should've only been enough to build a naval base," she said.
"Even if you mined resources here… building a city of this scale is unbelievable," Bismarck asked succinctly.
"Tributes from vassal states, and materials gathered by the Bulins after Bulin fusion," Setsuna explained briefly, outlining his sustainable and highly advanced concept of controlled Bulin multiplication.
The others listened in stunned silence.
"Having Bulins make more Bulins, then using the additional Bulins to produce Wisdom Cubes and even more Bulins…"
"Why didn't we think of this?! If we had, the port wouldn't have been short on resources!" Queen Elizabeth muttered, counting on her fingers as she looked at Enterprise and Bismarck.
"Wisdom Cubes consu a ton of resources, and we don't have the ans to access other worlds. Where would we even get that much rare tal?" Enterprise responded, a note of helplessness in her voice.
Still, her thoughts were elsewhere.
At first, hearing that the Vanguard Fleet's Commander had conquered a world, Enterprise had been worried—afraid that the shipgirls had fallen into the hands of a cruel warmonger.
However, the information that ca later painted a different picture.
Setsuna hadn't plundered and fled like so kind of bandit, as she had feared. Instead, he had used overwhelming military strength as a foundation, implenting a smarter and gentler governance approach.
According to Ning Hai and Ping Hai, Setsuna had built hospitals, laid railways, and established schools in the Demon Slayer world, genuinely improving its developnt.
The locals were even genuinely grateful to him, voluntarily offering tributes of various goods.
Though his ultimate goal was to expand the "pie" and extract more resources, the objective benefits to the locals couldn't be denied.
Enterprise couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for these thods.
...
After touring the city, the group made their way to the construction site of the Sundial Array.
The colorful Bulins worked tirelessly in three shifts, constructing day and night. The rough outline of the massive structure was already visible, resembling a colossal compass.
"This is our world wonder and superweapon, ow," Akashi said, puffing out her chest as she introduced the massive structure.
"It stops all high-energy reactions and physical projectiles within its field? And it can nullify the abilities of enemies?!"
Bismarck, usually stoic, couldn't hide her shock and blurted out her disbelief.
As the flagship of Iron Blood, she had fought on the frontlines against the Sirens. She knew all too well how terrifying their strength was.
Their mass-produced ships with overwhelming numbers and firepower, the High Sirens with their bizarre abilities…
Figures like Purifier—despite her playful and harmless appearance—were genuinely terrifying to fight against.
The Sundial Array seed like the ultimate weapon to deal with the Sirens and protect the port.
How Setsuna had managed to create sothing like this, starting from nothing, was beyond her comprehension.
"The blueprints will be sent to you later, but this thing is a wonder—it's resource-intensive to build," Setsuna said, noticing the thoughts running through Bismarck's mind.
"Once ours is completed, I'll send surplus resources to the port and help you construct one."
"Ah—"
The Iron Blood Chancellor froze montarily, then removed her military cap, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.
"Thank you. On behalf of the Iron Blood shipgirls, I express my deepest thanks for your generosity."
...
Near the Sundial Array, the visiting flagships were shown another monuntal structure.
"This is our starship launch and landing base."
"In the future, all shipgirls in the Starsea Alliance can be modified into starships to explore space."
The Eternal Snowfall rested quietly at the launch site.
Its unique design, massive fra, and advanced weaponry imdiately captured the attention of Enterprise and the others.
"A spaceship?!"
Even Enterprise, usually composed, couldn't remain calm.
When she had toured the city and seen the Sundial Array, she had managed to suppress her astonishnt.
But this—this was completely beyond her imagination.
One man, with thirty shipgirls and three hundred Bulins, starting from nothing on a ruined world…
And within just over a year, not only had he stabilized his position and constructed a sprawling city, but he had also developed unimaginable superweapons and even advanced into the space age.
"Would you like to go aboard? This is the flagship of the Starsea Alliance. I can take you for a tour of the moon," Setsuna said with a smile.
"..."
"Incredible," Enterprise murmured, her voice trembling slightly as she gazed up at the Eternal Snowfall.
"From the data we captured from the Sirens long ago, it's evident that there may be a powerful enemy from the space age lurking in the Azur Lane world."
"They locked down the entire world's technological progress, forcing us to struggle on the planet's surface. Even the Sirens, far superior to us, were unable to create starships."
"But today… I see one here."
"This ship… is beautiful."
Her gaze remained fixed on the Eternal Snowfall, her eyes filled with a complex blend of emotions—disbelief, relief, admiration, and a faint trace of doubt.
There was no questioning Setsuna's ability. In a short amount of ti, he had rebuilt a thriving world and achieved technological feats that the port couldn't even dream of.
"..."
Seeing Enterprise lost in thought, Setsuna patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry. In the future, I'll bring all of you into the stars."
"Not just the Vanguard Fleet, but every shipgirl from the port. Together, we'll crush whatever enemies stand in our way."
"..."
Enterprise remained silent for a long ti before finally raising her head and brushing her long white hair back.
"Thank you, Mr. Set—"
"No, thank you, Commander."
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