Yat Sen shot Hikaru a glare.
"The rewards are yours to claim. A five-star carrier nets you 10++, and a three-star battleship gets you 1++. You've earned 11++. I'll write you a note—you can redeem it whenever you like."
The reward system had been announced at the opening ceremony. Even with the same star rating, the cost and combat power difference between destroyers, light cruisers, battleships, and carriers was massive. That's why building a five-star ship gave a base reward of 5++, but building a battleship or carrier doubled that.
Elizabeth pouted in protest.
"Dean, he totally cheated! How is this fair?"
Yat Sen responded firmly.
"The academy's rewards exist to support newcomers. Hikaru is a newcomer. His fleet needs resources to grow. The reward stands."
Hikaru rubbed his hands together.
"Dean, I heard there are equipment rewards too?"
"What do you want? I'll warn you now—the cap is either one purple-tier gear or three blue-tier gears."
Lexington subtly shook her head at Hikaru. With how stacked her equipment already was, purple-tier gear was nothing to get excited about.
Hikaru had originally planned to just grab more resources. But now that California was part of the team, he figured it was only fair to gear her up.
"Let's get something for Cali. How about three triple-gun turrets?"
California's heart warmed—her admiral still cared about her.
"Guns are way more valuable than other gear at that rarity," Yat Sen sighed, hesitating. "How about two double-gun turrets instead?"
"One triple-gun turret and two double-gun turrets. Look how pitiful Cali is—she's stuck with a single one-star whiteboard cannon. It's tragic, really."
California played along, pulling her best puppy-dog eyes.
Yat Sen rubbed her temples and gave in.
"Fine. I'll bleed for this once."
Hikaru beamed.
"Dean, you really are the best."
Lexington nodded thoughtfully.
"Indeed, Yat Sen really is a wonderful person."
Elizabeth stormed off with California in tow to collect the gear, scowling the whole way.
Once they were gone, Yat Sen brought up one last thing.
"I have a small personal favor to ask. Since your shipgirls are so powerful, could you let them teach combat classes at the academy? They'd be paid and treated like visiting instructors."
Hikaru felt the weight of everything he already owed the academy. Still, it wasn't his call alone, so he turned to his shipgirls.
Fletcher looked unsure.
"Do you really think I'm up to it?"
"You're more than capable," Hikaru reassured her.
"Alright, if you say so, Commander."
Hikaru turned to Lexington for her thoughts.
Lexington smiled sweetly.
"I'll pass. I just want to stay by your side—go to class with you, chat during breaks, cook for you at night… I'd rather spend all my time on you than anyone else."
Fletcher was so thoroughly defeated by that response she could only gape in awe—she'd learned something valuable today.
Naturally, Glowworm wasn't suited to teaching. She was still just a playful little troublemaker. Normally, light cruisers took on those teaching roles.
Though Yat Sen was disappointed she couldn't get Lexington as an instructor, she was satisfied enough to immediately draft the contract with Fletcher. The pay was set at 100,000 yen per month, with additional perks to be discussed later.
When Elizabeth dragged the grinning California back, the deal had already been signed.
Landing someone with Fletcher's level-110 experience was a steal for the academy. Hikaru couldn't help but joke:
"Looks like we're counting on Fletcher to keep us fed now. Guess I really am a freeloader."
Lexington played along.
"Then I'm the queen of freeloaders."
Glowworm joined in, bouncing around.
"And I'm the court magician funded by the King of Freeloaders! La la la~"
Hikaru sighed.
"Where are you learning these words… never mind, as long as you're not locked up somewhere."
Fletcher blushed furiously.
"Commander, you're just teasing me again…"
As they left the office, they were greeted by various students and shipgirls. Some were eager to network, while others glared daggers of envy.
With the sea breeze tousling their hair, Lexington leaned in close.
"Commander, why don't we take a walk by the beach sometime?"
Hikaru nodded, then remembered something.
"By the way, I heard you're the best cook back at the base?"
Lexington smiled bashfully.
"Who told you that? No way, Yat Sen is way better. Though… I'm probably second best."
"That's great to hear," Hikaru grinned, then turned to Elizabeth, who was dragging her feet behind them.
"Since you're looking so pitiful and practically eating dirt, how about I invite you to dinner for the next two weeks? We'll call it even."
Elizabeth clenched her fists.
"I said I wanted a feast!"
"My wife's cooking is better than any five-star restaurant. You'll see."
Lexington blushed.
"I can't remember if I ever cooked for you before, Commander… but from now on, you'd better clean your plate every time!"
"Of course," Hikaru promised.
California, who had been watching this whole scene unfold, finally burst out, trying to steal back some attention.
"Commander! I got my new gear! Aren't you at least a little curious?"
Curious, Hikaru asked,
"Oh? What did you get?"
California pouted but still answered honestly.
"Two double-mounted 16-inch guns from the U.S. (+18 firepower), and the crown jewel—a French quadruple 380mm gun with +20 firepower! It has a slight -3 accuracy penalty because of barrel warping, but the extra-long range makes up for it."
Elizabeth looked absolutely bitter.
She herself had worked hard to earn four twin-mounted 15-inch guns from the E-empire (+17 firepower, +1 accuracy). California's new setup arguably surpassed hers, especially with that long-range advantage.
Hikaru was curious.
"Wait, how does a rigged gun even have a warped barrel?"
Lexington, as always, had the answers. She nudged Hikaru's shoulder.
"Don't you remember? Your dear Richelieu had that same gun before she got refitted."
With that reminder, Hikaru recalled the history—how Richelieu, caught between powers during WWII, suffered barrel warping during a skirmish, fueling anti-British sentiment among the French.
Elizabeth grumbled,
"That gun used to be Richelieu's starter gear. After she upgraded, the academy got it as surplus. It's one of the best three-star guns available, and I've been saving up forever but never managed to buy it."
Hikaru teased,
"Isn't the best three-star gun the British triple 16-inch with +23 firepower and no accuracy penalty?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"You just don't get how valuable extra-long range is in real combat."
She had a point. In the real world, longer range could be a game-changer compared to the turn-order mechanics in a game.
Elizabeth glanced at Fletcher's rigging.
"So what about your wife's loadout? Your base must have had some crazy stuff—don't tell me you haven't even fully kitted her out with purple gear?"
Hikaru honestly couldn't recall, so he turned to Lexington.
They happened to be walking along a quiet lakeside path. The noise of the festival was far off, muffled by the trees.
Lexington smiled mysteriously.
"Elizabeth, can you keep a secret?"
Elizabeth nodded eagerly.
Lexington motioned for her to come closer and opened her palm.
A burst of rainbow starlight shimmered, revealing two aircraft projections.
Elizabeth's blood ran cold.
"What… what are those planes?"
Lexington answered sweetly,
"These little beauties are the F9F 'Panther' (+15 anti-air, +4 bombing) and the B-25 'Doolittle Raid' (+20 bombing)."
Elizabeth nearly fainted on the spot.
"You… you actually have a B-25 Hero Plane!?"