Azur Lane: Isekai'd with Maxed-Out Port

While sitting in the car, listening to the Lexington record New Jersey had put on, Lin Lan found himself once again catching a sense of dissonance.

If the Tianxing Consortium, the leader among the Five Great Conglomerates, truly wanted to rip off the mask and break with the Navy Department, they wouldn't be limiting their actions to targeting students at the Red Maple Naval Academy and economically sanctioning the Navy Department, would they?

What about more effective methods of manipulating public opinion?

If the Zhuhai Commerce Association, which controls the narrative, launched a massive propaganda campaign across the Orlan Federal Republic branding shipgirls as heretical, wouldn't that force the Navy Department to abandon them altogether, having a far more damaging impact?

But the reality he observed was quite the opposite—whether on the Eastern Continent or the Western Continent, ordinary people in Orlan viewed Navy Department commanders and shipgirls as heroes.

Even within the Tian'ou Group, figures like Sun Dewang, a senior executive advocating for coexistence between humans and shipgirls, had emerged.

And Lin Lan had never seen the Tianxing Consortium make any moves against Sun Dewang.

In fact, it could be said that the Tianxing Consortium had never even attempted such tactics.

This didn't make sense.

On one hand, the Tianxing Consortium persecuted and blockaded the Navy Department and Naval Academy on the Eastern Continent, while on the other hand, it completely ignored the growing public support the Navy Department enjoyed.

Were they not afraid of retribution down the line?

Lin Lan started thinking about what would happen if the Tianxing Consortium continued along this path.

As students from the Red Maple Naval Academy graduated and became Navy Department commanders, these individuals—having been persecuted—would undoubtedly oppose the Tianxing Consortium.

Overthrowing the Tianxing Consortium and the Zhuhai Commerce Association in revenge wouldn't be impossible; in fact, it might be inevitable. 

Even he himself loathed the Tianxing Consortium...

Wait a second!

Suddenly, Lin Lan jolted in his seat, a chilling realization dawning upon him.

If the Tianxing Consortium were overthrown, then the one who would gain the most public support in Orlan would naturally be... the Navy Department!

Lin Lan suddenly remembered the core ideology the Tianxing Consortium had been pushing.

Abandon the oceans, strengthen coastal defenses, and shift all focus toward inland development.

Meanwhile, the principle of the Orlan Navy Department was to reclaim the seas from the Sirens!

Once the Zhuhai Commerce Association, led by the Tianxing Consortium, was toppled and the Navy Department took power, what would all the scientists and researchers in Orlan be assigned to do?

Lin Lan thought back to everything he had seen at the Western Continent's Institute of Technology.

Ship equipment development, deep research into wisdom cubes, the mass deployment of cube-based energy...

And adding to that his earlier speculation on why the Sirens were distributing counterfeit wisdom cubes and corralling the Orlan Navy Department...

If the Navy Department wrested control from the Zhuhai Commerce Association and continued on this trajectory, what would Orlan become in the future?

It was obvious—

Another original world of the Sirens and shipgirls' creator!

And one that would never be able to defeat the Sirens!

"Honey~ we're here! Honey?"

Just then, New Jersey's voice reached him. 

A fair, delicate hand wearing an ornate ring on its ring finger waved back and forth before his eyes, finally pulling Lin Lan back to reality.

Only then did he realize that during his deep contemplation, they had already returned to the hilltop building complex on the artificial island.

New Jersey had stopped the car in front of a white villa surrounded by greenery—this appeared to be his residence for the night.

"We're here already? I was thinking about some things from the past and got a bit distracted."

Lin Lan squeezed New Jersey's soft, delicate hand and smiled faintly.

He decided to shelve the matter for now and wait a couple of days before bringing it up with New Jersey and Little Sara for a discussion.

"I thought you'd fallen asleep, Honey. Getting distracted while keeping a girl company—you'd better do some serious self-reflection~"

Despite her hand being held, New Jersey's flawless face, under the dim side-light, flushed with a subtle pink.

"...Commander's tired."

"Teacher... not talking... tired... mmm! Party... too long."

Before Lin Lan could respond to New Jersey's teasing, the two little angels in the back seat spoke up to defend him sweetly.

Turning his head to look at them, Lin Lan smiled with heartfelt gratitude.

They really were too thoughtful—your commander dotes on you for a reason; I'm touched to tears.

"You're all just spoiling him! Hmph~ Who knows, maybe tonight the big bad wolf commander will gobble you all up!"

New Jersey chuckled as she looked back at the innocent Anchorage and the adorable Eldridge in the back seat.

"If I turn into the big bad wolf, you'll be the first one I devour."

"Oh really~? Then there's no time to waste. Let's go, Honey~"

Lin Lan had only been joking in his reply, but the moment New Jersey heard it, her face lit up with joy. Lin Lan even caught a glimmer in her starry blue eyes.

She quickly pulled her hand from his and stepped out of the car, hurrying to his side and opening the door for him.

"I knew you liked me best, Honey. Now come be the big bad wolf and devour me~"

Looking at New Jersey's eager, expectant expression, Lin Lan's smile froze.

Oh no—I said the wrong thing.

Judging by the situation, it wasn't him turning into the big bad wolf to eat New Jersey—it looked more like New Jersey was about to eat him!

Not that he entirely objected... but the issue was...

"Um, Anchorage's still in the back seat."

Destroyers and submarines may appear chibi, but they were still technically legal chibis.

But Anchorage was different—while she had the appearance and body of a legal adult, her mental maturity...

"That's easy!"

New Jersey, completely unfazed, turned playfully to the confused Anchorage and asked:

"Anchorage, Baltimore and the others definitely taught you what to do when the commander comes back, right?"

"Mm! Baltimore... said it... when I see Teacher, I should... I should..."

The beige-haired girl immediately nodded in response, but then seemed to recall something deeply embarrassing. 

She trailed off, unable to finish.

Her cheeks flushed red as she mumbled and covered her face with her oversized sleeves, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Lan—utterly adorable.

"Honey, don't worry. This child already gave you Valentine's chocolates before—she knew what kind of big bad wolf you are. 

Besides, who do you think taught her that stuff? Remember all those good things you did back at the base? Don't make me spell it out~"

New Jersey casually swept her light purple hair back and bent down slightly, her starlit eyes locking onto Lin Lan's with a playful wink.

Her string of statements left Lin Lan speechless and slightly guilty, forcing him to avert his gaze from hers.

Sins of the past... if only I hadn't touched that fluff. (*)

"Honey, we're all your brides. If you start showing favoritism, that'll only hurt someone's feelings~"

"That's why you need to be like me—more direct when facing everyone... Eldridge, well done! Go open the door and get the bed ready! Seize the moment!"

Lin Lan was almost convinced by New Jersey's heartfelt words.

But halfway through her speech, he suddenly felt his seat belt loosen, and the next thing he knew, the tall beauty in front of him had scooped him up in a bridal carry.

"???"

Utterly dumbfounded, Lin Lan had no time to react before seeing a blushing Anchorage wordlessly follow Eldridge as they ran toward the villa.

"Honey, do you remember what I said before we made our vow?"

Carried in New Jersey's arms, Lin Lan suddenly recalled a line he had seen in the game—New Jersey's own words:

"Which New Jersey does the Commander prefer—the active one or the passive one? —Stop~ I'll find out slowly from now on, so there's no need to answer right away~"

Seeing the change in his expression, New Jersey grinned even wider.

"Commander, you like the active one more, don't you? Hee hee~"

Hearing her words, Lin Lan's eyes widened in shock.

New Jersey, oh New Jersey, you've really betrayed your title of silly bunny... There's nothing silly about you at all!

I've truly been played this time!

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In case you didn't know, when you touch Anchorage chest, it will trigger her "Special Touch" voiceline, she refers her breast as little fluff.

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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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If any of you noticed an error, please point it out in comments!