How do I start a romantic relationship with a ship girl?

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"Okay...that's about it. When you get back today, find some time to tell them."

“Yes, Commander…” Z23 nodded in agreement, but her expression seemed to suggest that she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Seeing this, Xu Huan said, "What's wrong? Just say what you want to ask. Don't overthink it..."

"I was thinking... if the Sirens have that kind of ability, then if they find the Commander before the ship girls do, wouldn't the Commander's safety be—"

Z23 is somewhat worried.

Xu Huan was also somewhat surprised by Z23's idea. He originally thought that Z23 would pay attention to the security issues of his port or the solutions to those issues, but the first thing the other party said was how to ensure his own safety without ship girls.

Hearing this, Xu Huan felt a little warmer inside.

But to be fair, judging from the average combat strength of the Sirens encountered so far, Xu Huan felt that he shouldn't have to worry about this problem.

And even if I can't beat them, can't I at least outrun them?

Regarding the girl's question, he thought for a moment and replied, "If it had been the sirens who found me beforehand... well, I should have been fine."

"Luckily, we found the commander first..."

Z23 muttered to himself, then frowned again.

"Any other questions? Let's discuss them together."

The girl seemed to have as many questions as she had.

"Commander... I'm wondering, why do the Sirens have a sense similar to the Commander's Index, but the ship girls don't?"

As she spoke, Z23 shook her head in frustration: "We're supposed to be ship girls... so why is it that the Sirens have this ability? You know, we've been looking for a commander for a long time..."

The ship girl spoke, a hint of subconscious complaint in her voice:

"The commander is the commander of the ship girls, not the commander of the sirens..."

"That's because I only recently arrived on this planet in an incomprehensible way, which is why you can't find me."

Xu Huan silently answered the ship girl's question in his mind, but did not say it directly.

After all, issues and situations involving parallel universes and interstellar travel are too difficult to understand and are not within the scope of current considerations.

However, Z23's novel perspective on the issue also gave Xu Huan a different view on the Sirens.

He originally thought that this so-called 'attraction' to the Sirens was a symbol of the hostile relationship between himself and the Sirens, a kind of so-called commander's destiny.

But after Z23 said that, he also realized another possibility.

Although the possibility is slim, it does broaden one's thinking.

Then, recalling her first encounter with the Sirens, the arbitrators with enormous claws, at sea, she seemed to be deliberately holding back and testing her...

Perhaps... my relationship with the Sirens isn't as simple as I imagined?

Of course, it's only a very small possibility.

Given the current situation, it would be best if sirens were simply swept into the trash heap.

"Alright, let's leave this question here for now... When we have the chance in the future, we can catch a few humanoid sirens and ask them to find out."

Xu Huan coughed twice, skipping the topic, and looked at Zi Buli, who was waiting expectantly to the side.

"Buli?"

"Next, I have a rather personal request..." Xu Huan said, scratching his head a little embarrassedly, while glancing at the mechanical parts hanging on the wall to the side.

"I had already heard before I came that the culmination of Ironblood's bioengineering and artificial intelligence technology lies in the mechanical dragon... that is, the ship equipment of the ship girls."

"So... is there any spare time you could get one for me too?"

Xu Huan doesn't have any particularly niche hobbies, but he is somewhat interested in things like firearms and mechs.

The cool and powerful dragon-shaped ship equipment caught his eye, but he didn't have much of an idea about customizing a mechanical dragon for himself. He just wanted to get a similar figure to display in his room, so he could enjoy looking at it and playing with it when he had nothing to do.

"Get the commander a mechanical dragon?!"

After understanding Xu Huan's request, Zi Buli immediately shook her head decisively: "That's impossible..."

“Commander, the Ironblood mechanical dragons are based on ship equipment... or more strictly speaking, they are ship equipment for ship girls. And ship equipment cannot be equipped on humans…” Z23 explained to Xu Huan.

"I understand that the commander wants to become stronger, but the direction—"

The girl's words became increasingly distorted, so Xu Huan quickly clarified:

"Actually... I don't want a ship attached to me, I just want a figurine... a simple decoration."

"This... doesn't seem like a good idea either, Commander..."

Z23 gave a slightly embarrassed smile and explained again, "The parts here are for repairing ship girls' equipment; the stock in the port area is not plentiful."

It's not just that the resources are insufficient; even Bismarck, the flagship of the Ironblood Harbor, had been troubled by the mechanical dragon issue for a long time.

As the flagship of the port area, the mechanical dragon on its ship's equipment looks like a toy...

"However, if the Commander really likes it, I can have my—"

"Wait, wait... You don't need to say anything anymore, I don't need it anymore." Realizing that Z23 might want to give up his share, just like they had discussed going to the ship girl residential area before, Xu Huan quickly stopped her.

As a commander, there's no way I would harm the interests of the ship girls for the sake of a small figurine.

The topic of figurines came to a temporary halt. After learning more about the advanced technologies within Ironblood from Zibuli, Xu Huan left the Ironblood research institute with Z23 and returned to his car.

"Commander... we still have plenty of time today, where should we go next?" Z23 asked, fastening her seatbelt.

Chapter 119 Iron-Blooded's Terrible Medical Care

He had already visited the research lab he most wanted to go to, and there weren't many other places that Xu Huan was interested in.

The young man's finger moved lightly across the map, finally stopping at a red cross symbol.

"Go to the medical clinic inside the port area..."

"Hmm? Commander, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm perfectly healthy..." Xu Huan shook his head. "But isn't Ironblood short of medical ship girls? So I plan to go over there and check out the situation..."

There weren't many important matters to attend to during this trip to Tiexue, but resolving medical issues was one of them.

Therefore, after confirming his conjecture at the Ironblood Laboratory, Xu Huan decided to go directly to the infirmary to get a quick overview of the situation.

"Okay, Commander."

Having understood the young man's intentions, Z23 nodded knowingly, turned the key, and started the car, slowly driving towards the infirmary.

While driving, Z23 kept glancing at the side of the road.

The young man sitting in the passenger seat looked serious as he repeatedly flipped through the map.

'commander....'

Based on her interactions with young people over this period of time, the girl felt that her understanding of them was far from sufficient.

At first, she thought the young man in front of her was a bit frivolous, and that he liked to make those kinds of jokes that made people feel embarrassed right from the start.

She was already prepared to deal with Xu Huan's provocative actions. As soon as he made any physical moves, she would immediately distance herself and inform Tirpitz and Bismarck.

However, Xu Huan changed his demeanor when dealing with serious matters, especially when facing the Sirens data. His serious expression and temperament made Z23 feel as if he were working under Bismarck.

However, just when Z23 thought their commander was actually quite serious, the young man unexpectedly proposed to make a figurine...

The ship girls didn't think the young man was immature because of this; on the contrary, they felt that his personality and image became more vivid.

Unlike Bismarck, who always has a stern face.

Although the experience wasn't very long, the girl was already starting to think that being with the Commander was much more comfortable than being with Bismarck.

"Drive safely..."

"Uh! Yes, Commander..."

The journey from the research lab to the medical room wasn't far. After Z23 finished his daydreaming, the two arrived at their destination in less than two minutes.

However, the condition of the infirmary was not quite what Xu Huan had expected.

"...Why is this door closed?" Xu Huan stood in front of the building with the Red Cross symbol and gently pushed the door with some confusion.

Not moving.

Furthermore, there were no signs of activity when looking inside through the window.

"Commander... because we don't have any companions with medical skills, the infirmary is unattended most of the time..."

Z23 took out the key and explained.

"And when a companion is injured, Miss Purple Brie and the medical Barbarian are usually notified to come and treat them..."

"Then what's the point of setting up a medical clinic?" Xu Huan was speechless upon hearing this: "Just carry them directly to the research institute, or simply move the medical clinic next to the research institute and combine them into one."

The infirmary, a place that should play a crucial role, was surprisingly unattended on weekdays...

It's hard to imagine what kind of hardship the Ironblood ship girls live on a daily basis.

Or is this how the Ironblood ship girls gradually develop their combat power?

"Well... because there aren't any medical ship girls, I've gotten used to it all along." Z23 sighed.

She didn't want it to be this way, but objective conditions didn't allow it.