Arthur: Ready for departure, Itami?

Itami: Not yet. I'm waiting for the others. Geez, are they aware they are being late?

Kuribayashi/Tomita: We're here.

Tuka: Why do I have wear winter clothing?

Kuribayashi: It's cold out there.

Rory: Can I take off the wrapping?

Kuribayashi: You would be arrested if the blade is exposed, so bear with it.

Itami: Okay, let's go.

Yanagida: Hold on, folks. Princess Pina and Duchess Bozes will accompany you as well.

Itami: You never told me about this, Yanagida!

Yanagida: Enjoy your....vacation.

Itami: Do you know what they did to me?

Yanagida: It's a misunderstanding, right? Just forget it. Besides, she will negotiate between us, him *looks at Arthur* and the Empire. Here's the money General Hazama provided *hand it to Itami*. And I believe Sir Arthur here brought money as well.

Arthur: Correct.

With everyone fully gathered, the encasing dome is opened. We pass through the facial and handprint scanners, before passing through the Gate itself.

The moment everyone set their feet on Ginza, the denizens of Special Region are awestruck, their mouth wide agape when looking at the surrounding skyscrapers. We are greeted by an office of Japan's Defense Intelligence Headquarters, one named Komakado. From him, we learnt some interesting facts about Itami, namely him being a slacker in Special Forces. No one pays much attention to them. Except Kuribayashi

Meanwhile for Pendragon, he waits around the APC while he is inspecting his weaponry. He kinda hoped that he was not alone, but sadly. He is

Pendragon: *He takes a small sigh* Bloody 'ell, I wish this could be entertaining. I wonder what happened to the ship girls?

Back to Arthur, he's having a meeting between diplomats of Japan - one man, one woman, along with Princess Pina and Bozes. The woman introduces herself as Shirayuki Reiko and the man as Sugawara Kouji. From them, Pina is known that 6000 PoWs are being kept by Japan. At first she thought they would demand ransom, but Shirayuki assured that Japan does not need ransom, much to her shock. Shirayuki also gives her a list of PoWs that could be released in advance. As for him.....

Shirayuki: I believe you came from that third military force we heard about.

Arthur: Yes. In fact, I am their Commander-in-Chief, name's Arthur Godfrey. I was sent by my president to establish an alliance between your country and mine. Our condition is simple: Each countries shall provide support to each other in the advent of another interdimensional attack, in exchange of resources and trade. Further details can be made once we sent our diplomats.

Shirayuki: I will relay everything back to the Prime Minister.

3 days later, at Blue Sea Military Compound:

Arthur: After the meeting with Japanese diplomats, we found out that foreign agents were tracking. They happened to come from the counterparts of Dragon Empery, Northern Parliament and Eagle Union.

Sovetskaya Belorussiya: Did they follow you guys because of those girls?

Arthur: Precisely. Unlike our world which Wisdom Cubes brought a revolution to the energy and electronics industry, their world still rely on natural resources for such things. And with this place's abundance of resources, it's no strange matter that powerful countries would covet these lands.

Takao: What happened to those agents afterwards, my Commander?

Arthur: Most of them were butchered to bits by Rory, the others withdrew after that bloodbath in the hot springs. They were quite underprepared. ......
And here's a little fact: Barring the German, three of the four shipmen in our ranks originated from Itami's world.

Several weeks later, a diplomat named Henry Kissinger is sent to the Special Region for the upcoming three-way negotiation. Things went smoothly during their first meeting. Not only did they manage to convince a pro-war Senator, one Cicero La Maltose to switch sides, Kissinger also established cordial relationship with Sugawara.

Back at Blue Sea Military Compound:

Kissinger: Sir, I recommend we open language training courses for our troops and diplomats. If we are to forging relationships with them, we need to overcome the language barrier.

Arthur: Is this from experience, Kissinger?

Kissinger: Well, I can speak Special Region's language fluent enough, and those Japan diplomats I met today knew a little of English, so we managed to get by. But I can't say the same thing for future operations.

Arthur: Thanks for informing me. I shall inform the President.

Meanwhile Alnus, activities are going strong. Ever since the arrival of refugees from Coda Village, Alnus has rapidly expanded. A language school was opened for diplomats from Japan and the Special Region. Moreover, natives from surrounding areas began flocking towards the region, forming a living community around the military garrison, prompting the top brass to open a store to provide goods for new citizens. Rumors were spread, and more people followed, merchants seeking to make money among them. Then comes currency exchange. Then more jobs, more facilities. Then labor shortages. Then comes the maids from House Formal and people from other regions being employed. The cycle repeats.

Alnus Hill Dining Hall:

Arthur: My my, there's a commotion

A bunny waitress just literally kicked out one of her customer for harassment and even yelling out: "My ass isn't that cheap! And don't ever come back here!"

Itami: How much does it cost then, Delilah?

Arthur: Hello Itami.

Itami: Oh. Hello, sir Arthur. You're here for some booze too?

Arthur: Yep. I'm also looking for someone. See ya.

Inside the dining hall:

Arthur: Having a good time, Pendragon?

Pendragon: Yup... I think. Why ya ask?

Arthur: Manners.

Arthur: Things were pretty eventful when we were in Japan. Our "vacation" went south when it was revealed that foreign agents aimed to capture Itami's girls. Poor sods didn't stand a chance against a demigoddess.

Pendragon: Bloody 'ell. Ya need help or I'll just go absent on that?

Arthur: You missed that.

Pendragon: Second option it is then.

Arthur: *looks at Itami's table* Seems like that man has another girl.

At Itami's table, there's a dark elf standing imposingly

Dark elf: Who let children drink here?

Rory: *irritated* A dark elf? You are just around 300 years old, and yet you're calling me a child?

Arthur: (Someone's digging their own grave.)

Rory: Who are you? And why do you come to Alnus.

Yao: I am Yao Haa Dushi from the Schwarz Forest. I came here with a request for the "men in green"

In response, Rory (falsely) told Yao that she was forced to drink by Itami, taking everyone (but Yao and Arthur) off-guard. Falling for Rory's trickery, Yao intends to dispatch Itami, but he quickly runs away. Pendragon sighs before he walks to them with a shotgun on his hand

Pendragon: Is there a bloody problem? Do I have to take the bloody action?

Arthur: So, miss Yao Haa Dushi, you say you want to make a request to the "men in green". What exactly is the request?

Pendragon: Guess I'll sit this one out here, good luck. *He pats Arthur on the shoulder before he walks back to his table*

Yao: I am here to seek their help in slaying a Flame Dragon.

Arthur: From what I understand about customs in these lands, people don't make requests that big without prizes. Do you have anything to offer them in return?\

Yao: *pulls out a diamond the size of a human head* You think this is enough? If not, I would offer my body as well. If only I can find the "men in green"

Arthur: I think you should write your request. They are still learning this land's language. Go to the hilltop. There's a higher chance you will encounter them there. (And you just chase one of them away)

Yao: I thank you for your assistance.

Arthur: No problem *sits back on table*

Arthur: *to Pendragon* I have been wondering. When were you born, mate?

Pendragon: United Kingdom, mate

Arthur: "When", not "Where".

Pendragon: 1998.

Arthur: Care to explain about your cluelessness of electronics the young-uns use these days?

Pendragon: I was living under a bloody rock where my parents raised me, and homeschooled me until I got my bloody playstation. I don't know what the fook is social media, nor Tik-fock these shites have been ramblin bout these days.

Arthur: *search "social media" on Google, press Wikipedia* Take my phone and have a read about the definition of social media.

Pendragon takes the phone then he reads the definition of social media that he has been confused about

Pendragon: ...So... a bloody park for troglodytes?

Arthur: I guess you can say so.

Pendragon: Crikey.

Arthur: Though there are quite a few productive members of society in social media as well. *turns on Azur Lane Twitter* Hey mate, did you know that shipgirls, both yours and mine can be changed into an entirely new class while keeping the same identity?

Pendragon: Wot?

Arthur: Take a look *gives an image of Yorktown II (CV-10)*

Pendragon: Essex class Yorktown which became the museum on the sea.

Arthur: Yep. Though mine sure as hell are still commissioned. And my girls even meet a variant of shipgirls which has no Wisdom Cubes at all. Thanks to a teleport accident.

Pendragon: I see.

Arthur: And does the Special Air Service know of your Azur Lane?

Pendragon: Yup, they came to me in SAS HQ just to become the Royal Navy commander.

Arthur: Any training in advance?

Pendragon: Balancing both Tactics, and Operations is hard.

Arthur: Have you ever met the Special Boat Service?

Pendragon: Yup, then they recommend me to join RAINBOW for my talents.

Arthur: Does Lancer Artoria ever bang at SAS's doors for taking away her bloodline's gluttonous trait from you?

Pendragon: Not yet, crikey.

Arthur: Then, I guess she wouldn't do something that ridiculous. Oh wait, does your ancestor come from normal Camelot or Camelot Singularity?

Pendragon: Both, and I said not yet.

Arthur: Then I can only pray she doesn't use Rhongomyniad to blast at their doors

Pendragon: Hope not.

Arthur: By the way, did the Sirens ever do anything to earn your personal ire?

Pendragon: Nope. Nothing as of the moment. Sirens aren't a threat.

Arthur: *stand up* Good night, mate. *teleports away*

Pendragon: Night... *He stands up before he walks outside for some fresh air*

The next day

Pendragon walks back inside bringing a crate of ammo he conveniently found (Short context: He helped some people and gave him the ammo crate) while he was walking around. He clears his throat before he yells

Pendragon: Rise and Shine princesses! I got an ammo crate!

Ammo crate: ......

Pendragon: Bloody, 'ell.

Arthur: *outside* You yells even louder than a warning clock. And if you're going to ask why I am here, I can be everywhere. And nowhere. And I have news.

Pendragon: Someone interested in me?

Arthur: The Japs is going to send you to my base tommorrow, since we are going to have joint military operations in the near future.

Pendragon: Alright, I was jokin round that part.

Arthur: *smiles* I know..

Pendragon: Not a lot is interested in me after all. Well... hardly anyone sees me as a bachelor

Arthur: You surr you don't have a few ships who wish to be your girlfriends?.

Pendragon: Except for Dido and Sirius, which the girls expect me to have a harem.

Arthur: Are there yanderes among your fleet? I'm asking about possesive shipgirls, if you don't know what "yandere" means.

Pendragon: Barely have any.

Arthur: So we were the lucky ones. All other Commanders have at least 2 of them

Pendragon: Sakura Empire and Iron Blood?

Arthur: Precisely. Some were unfortunate enough to have their oceans invaded by Sirens and/or META not built by me. Change back to the previous subject, it's always Roon and Akagi.

Pendragon: Really? The reports said such acts are also being committed by Taihou, and Junyou. People claimed that Junyou and the Sakura Empire commander had met during "childhood" while the Sakura Empire Commander claims that he hadn't met her during childhood, and Taihou has a huge level of possessiveness.

Arthur: ....And them too. Mine's lucky enough to have no yanderes, although Roon once tried to kill me when my men shot Friedrich by anti-ship missiles

Pendragon: And also, I question their choice of outfits and their... physical appearance.

Arthur: Partially because men usually refer ships by female pronouns, and also because militaries always have perverts.

Observer Alpha: What's taking you so long, father?

Arthur: Tell me, did you ever meet him during my 5000-year absence? (Already knows, but ask anyway)

Pendragon: Who, me?

Arthur: Just want to confirm the Sirens you met in the battlefield and mine are the same or not.

Pendragon: As I said: Not a threat.

Observer Alpha: No one like him in our databases.

Arthur: Okay. Anyway, let's roll.

Observer Alpha: APC's waiting outside, father. II

Pendragon: *He gives Observer Alpha a headpat before walking to the APC*

Onboard, an Eagle Union Marine colonel is waiting for them. He orders the driver to depart the base, the same moment as a couple of Eagle Union Humvees enter the base

Pendragon: Hmm?

Arthur: They are Sakuran-Americans here to buy some Japanese products.

Pendragon: Blimey. *Looks to the crew

The APC picks up speed, carrying its passengers back to Blue Sea Military Compound.

Underway:

Arthur: Recently we have trading vessels wishing to dock at our ports. It's only a matter of time until another town like Alnus springs up.

Marine Colonel: While the top brass accepts trading, some boats tend to bring slaves for trade.

Marine Driver: We usually sink them when they were far away, after the slaves were bought

Pendragon: Oh by the way, the blue haired girl Lelei is next to me.

Arthur: Lelei? How do you sneak in here?

Lelei: When none of you paid attention

Pendragon: There ya go, Lelei *He gives her a pat in the head*.

Lelei: *looks at Observer Alpha* Is she a magical being?

Pendragon: No

Lelei: The soldier at the front, are they from Itami's world?

Pendragon: Probably, but why are ya here?

Lelei: I never have an opportunity to see the ocean, so I climbed in.

Pendragon: I'll take you there, if ya want.

Arthur: *on phone* You looking for Lelei? Oh, she snuck in my transport. She's under our protection, you need not worry

Pendragon: Want to go to a resort to see the ocean?

Marine Colonel: Our base is stationed right at the shore, SAS boy.

Pendragon takes an EMP grenade before he turns it on and drops it

Pendragon: Don't call me a boy

Marine Driver: Thankfully, our electronics are analog. And the APC's digital, but it's made resistant to EMP

Marine Colonel: Sorry.

Arthur: We're here.

Pendragon: *He sighs before he walks out* don't come following, I'll get some fresh air *He leaves*

Arthur: I'll take Lelei to the shoreline then.

With Pendragon

He walks that far where he couldn't see people or them seeing him vent out his problems that he is facing

Pendragon: I'm still being treated as a child. Am I that pathetic? I want to prove to them that I am no longer a child, I wanted to, mother. But no matter how much I do, they still call me a child. My friends? You mean Seamus, James, and Mark? They see me as a leader... until James left, and... *he sighs* Seamus, and Mark are nowhere to be seen in my radar, Mother

He opens the locket to see his child self and his parents

Pendragon: I miss you two

Coincidentally, Ash is seen having a walk nearby.

Ash: You seem to be emotionally hurt.

Pendragon: Because people still see me as a child. It hurts seeing all my efforts are still wasted, Miss.

Ash: I know that feeling. The feeling of trying hard just for naught, I have experienced it.

Pendragon: Really?

Ash: For thousands of years, my friends were gradually reduced to little more than mindless berserkers, every time I attempt to reverse their worsening mental conditions ended in total failure. And my old friends......they resorted to more and more drastic methods to see their goals achieved despite my damnedest efforts to make them think again. But when all seems lost, my creator returned.

Pendragon: Need a hug, Miss?

Ash: Thanks, but I have got better.

Pendragon: I see... okay... *He puts away the locket*

Ash: May I know your name, sir?

Pendragon: Arthur Pendragon, a simple nobody. Nice to meet you.

Ash: You can call me Ash.

Pendragon: Alright *He sits down* (Glad that I always expect the worst outcomes so I won't be disappointed...)

Ash: You need a hug?

Pendragon: No

Ash: I see

Pendragon stares at the flower blankly

Pendragon: Daddy's waiting for you, Princess. Better come back home

Either way, Pendragon feels lonely.

With Arthur's side, he's taking Lelei to his military compound, then ascends to an altitude of 500 meters to provide Lelei a better view

Arthur: What do you think, Lelei?

Lelei: *small smile* It's....beautiful

Arthur: It will get better, trust me

Arthur wrapped an air bubble around Lelei, then takes a deep dive to the sea below. For a person who never see the ocean until now, the lively underwater is really captivating. Some hammerhead sharks approach the duo.

Arthur: (Hammerheads the size of great white sharks. Interesting)

Lelei: I read that sharks likes to eat humans. Should we fight them?

Arthur: Nah, don't worry. Sharks usually dismiss humans. In some cases, you can even touch them *touches a hammerhead* See?

Lelei hesitantly extends her hand out of the bubble and touch a shark on its head. Much to her awe, it doesn't bite back. They continue diving for about half an hour before surfacing.

Pendragon walks to the shore alone, then he notices the two having a great time. Pendragon just stares at them before he sits down and stares at the ocean.

Arthur: Hey mate, we have a free spot.

Pendragon: Not interested

Arthur: Okay.

Pendragon hears his stomach rumble

Ash: *brought fish & chips* You hungry?

Arthur: I see. You've met Alterprise

Pendragon: Yes *He grabs a biscuit on his bag and eats it* I assume she's your daughter. There he is, Princess

Arthur: You talking to me, mate?

Pendragon: Who else, Twat?

Arthur: She's the first shipgirl ever made, more them 5000 years old, and sucks at Monopoly.

Pendragon: Who cares if she is? I don't recall anyone caring about who I am.

Arthur: Wrong. Your ancestor cares. Her Master cares. And I care about who you are.

Pendragon: Then how come that didn't help me convince myself that I am no longer lonely? How come I am still being treated like a child? How come anyone didn't request me for assistance? How come!? My abilities are useless anyway... *He sighs* I wasn't born special

Arthur: If you really are useless, would the SAS bother promote you to be Commander of Azur Lane? If you are useless, would Artoria even bothered to recognize you? Would her Master ever take you to Singularities? If you really are useless, would you even have the necessary willpower to live?

Pendragon: You saw my EMP grenades never worked on you guys, imagine the empire if it does not affect them.

Arthur: It's because you have the wrong tool. You would have stopped our APCs if the Marines didn't use high quality ones.

Pendragon: I specialize in EMP Grenades. I'm not like Seamus who brings a bloody sledgehammer, I'm not like Mark who can destroy communications and cameras, and I'm not like James who fuckin uses toxic gases for crying out loud!

Arthur: You have your own field you specialize in. Imagine your team in a situation where they require EMPs, but you went missing.

Pendragon: Mark is their second choice. Communications and Cameras run on electricity. But we disbanded a year ago

Arthur: Electronics is not limited to comms and cameras. Besides, what happened to them afterwards?

Pendragon: We parted ways, and I am left alone.

Arthur: I hope you four can reunite once more.

Pendragon: James joined a mercenary gang that got involved with criminal activity which prevented us from reuniting once again.

Arthur pats Pendragon's shoulder.

Pendragon: And now... I don't feel like an asset to you guys. Besides: The enemy doesn't use Electronics.

Arthur: Guns will do nicely

Pendragon: Everyone here has guns.

Arthur: But not everyone has the gumption to talk to god-things like they are humans. But.....if you want to stand out, tell me if you need a better gun.

And always look on the bright side of life

Pendragon: I love my guns already

Pendragon gets up before he grabs an air sword behind him?

Pendragon: And her too. I am scared to reveal her... do not tell anyone about her, even you Lelei, and Ash.

Lelei/Ash: Our lips are shut.

Arthur: Is that a remnant of somebody?

He blasts the air away to reveal Excalibur on his hand

Pendragon: She is a last resort

Arthur: Oh. Though I think you will only need it when a hostile god shows up.

Pendragon puts Excalibur on his back before it hides itself

Pendragon: There *He goes to Lelei and pats her on the head* Enjoying yourself?

Lelei: Yes.

Pendragon: Good *He headpats her more*

At Alnus Hill:

Yao: What do you mean you cannot help us?

Lieutenant-General Hazama: *translated by Sage Cato* The Schwarz Forest is in the territory of Elbe Kingdom. Due to political reasons, they cannot bring a large force to slay the dragon. I'm sorry, but we cannot help you even though we want to.

At that moment, Yao feels like her soul has been crushed by despair. The hope spot she so desperately sought for was snuffed out in an instant. To Yao, it was like the end of the world.

Yao could hear JSDF officers discussing about possible strategies to kill the Flame Dragon and how politics prevent actions from being taken, and during the discussion there was one phrase that caught her attention.

Yao: If it's Itami, huh....