A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 1538 - 1037: Changes

"Nice to meet you, I’m Toudou Gin, thank you for your sponsorship this time."

Standing in front of Duanmu Huai was a long-haired woman with a sleek demeanor, the leader of the Antarctic Observation Team. Since Duanmu Huai had decided to sponsor, he naturally had to meet with the leader of the other party.

However, it’s quite unusual for both the captain and vice-captain of an expedition team to be women.

"There’s no need for pleasantries."

Duanmu Huai waved his hand.

"I already know about your situation, and the paperwork is completed, but I have a few conditions that you must adhere to, understand?"

"Yes... may I ask what conditions?"

"I’ll cover your expenses, so you can do whatever you want. But I will bring another team along, which won’t interfere with your work. But I demand you ignore us."

"Ignore... everyone?"

"Yes, I know the dangers of Antarctic scientific research, but I must clarify here, the reason I sponsor your trip to Antarctica is because we also have tasks to complete there. As for what those tasks are, you don’t need to know. Just know that our trip will only be as far as the Antarctic observation station. After that, no matter where we go, there’s no need to report to you. If you find we are missing, don’t search for us, just act as if we don’t exist, understood?"

"This..."

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Toudou Gin exchanged a surprised glance with the vice-captain. Generally, Antarctic exploration is filled with danger, requiring notifications for outings, and losing contact can be fatal. However, Duanmu Huai actually said that even if they disappear, don’t search for them?

"Excuse my bluntness, but what if something happens..."

"I said we have tasks we must complete."

Duanmu Huai interrupted Toudou Gin.

"So we won’t accept your command, pretend we don’t exist. Even if something happens, we will take responsibility ourselves, understand?"

"...Yes."

Upon hearing that, Toudou Gin was silent for a moment, eventually bowing his head.

After all, they were the sponsors. What could be done if they wanted things their way?

"Um..."

At this moment, the vice-captain raised her hand.

"Hmm? What’s the matter?"

"It’s like this, because this is the first civilian observation team departing after three years, we’ve also contacted a television station, and they’ve proposed a plan to conduct follow-up interviews..."

"That’s no problem."

Duanmu Huai wouldn’t mind such trivial matters.

After a brief conversation, Duanmu Huai left directly, leaving Toudou Gin and the vice-captain to exchange a look of silence.

"What do you think?"

"...I feel it’s kind of strange."

Toudou Gin furrowed her brow, frankly speaking, the other party’s willingness to sponsor the Antarctic Base’s maintenance and exploration costs for the next three years was a good thing. But Duanmu Huai’s request baffled Toudou Gin, as this in Antarctica was basically tantamount to suicide. Even observation teams maintained contact with the base to prevent problems.

Yet Duanmu Huai asked the base not to mind them, regardless of contact or not. Honestly, seeing Duanmu Huai’s physique, Toudou Gin felt his team didn’t seem like an ordinary expedition team...

"Why do you think the sponsor wants to go to Antarctica?"

"Could it be some secret department? Like in Hollywood movies, they’re investigating aliens or something..."

"In Antarctica?"

"There have been many films like that recently, right?"

"That’s just movies."

"...Hopefully."

On the street, Duanmu Huai looked up at the sky. It was already winter. Honestly, when Duanmu Huai came to this world, it was summer, and now it’s winter. Although Duanmu Huai didn’t feel much about time, the Wind Band Club had already withdrawn from the national competition, and started the university entrance exams. Recently, they had completed their exams, and most people achieved quite decent scores.

Tanaka Asuka even came specially to report her scores to him, once again expressing her gratitude to Duanmu Huai.

"I didn’t think it would be so useful against my mother, but I think I now have a way to deal with her."

When Tanaka Asuka said this, she was smug. To this, Duanmu Huai could only wish her good luck.

Besides that, there were other matters, such as...

Thinking about this, Duanmu Huai checked his phone, on which was a farewell message from Aiko. In the message, she thanked Duanmu Huai for his support and stated that she had successfully gotten into a university in Tokyo. With the money before, she could attend the school she liked. At the same time, she asked Duanmu Huai to take care of Xiao’Lu in the message.

However, Aiko could actually get into university.

Thinking of that girl with dyed blond hair, dressed stylishly, laughing all day, Duanmu Huai was somewhat surprised. He’d always thought Aiko belonged to the group who passively coped, at least Duanmu Huai couldn’t picture her seriously taking the entrance exams.

She was working like this before to save for tuition and living expenses, hmm... admittedly, although this approach isn’t easily evaluable, it is indeed the fastest way for girls of this age to earn money.

Remember Xiao’Lu also said the reason for finding him for this was because she wanted to move out alone after her mother’s remarriage.

Thinking about it, it was normal. If there wasn’t a family problem, girls wouldn’t choose to self-abandon and do such work.

It seems both of them are typical of having their own family issues.

Duanmu Huai had heard Xiao’Lu’s family story before, and to be honest, it was like something out of an urban drama. Just thinking about it made his head spin, imagining how much mental pressure Xiao’Lu must be under. Seeing her stammer while talking about Aiko’s situation, it was likely that Aiko’s family situation was similar...

"Ah, uncle!"

Just as Duanmu Huai was deep in thought, a voice suddenly rang out. Duanmu Huai looked down to see Xiao’Lu standing not far away, waving at him. She was wearing her school uniform instead of her usual casual clothes... furthermore, standing next to her was another girl also dressed in a school uniform.

"???"

Seeing Xiao’Lu’s expression, Duanmu Huai was speechless, but he still walked over.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was just about to head home from cram school... It’s actually a surprise to see you here, uncle."

"Oh, I had some work to discuss here."

Duanmu Huai looked at Xiao’Lu and didn’t know what to say for a moment. It seemed Xiao’Lu was really naive; if it were Aiko, she would have pretended not to see him and texted him later. After all, work is work, and life is life.

Usually, when Aiko and Xiao’Lu met Duanmu Huai, they either wore casual clothes or uniforms bought from shops, not their school uniforms. This was understandable since school uniforms differ, and if someone with intent so desired, they could identify the school just by the uniform.

This could hold leverage over them; a bad person could even threaten the girl by saying, "If you don’t listen to me, I’ll tell the school what you’ve been up to" — Aiko might not care, but if Xiao’Lu were found out, she’d definitely be expelled.

Sigh, it’s just as well Xiao’Lu only has herself as a customer.

Duanmu Huai sighed quietly, looking at Xiao’Lu.

"Be careful on your way back."

Duanmu Huai had no intention of talking much with Xiao’Lu; perhaps he would send a message later to remind her. However...

"By the way, uncle, do you have time? My friend has some troubles and I wonder if you could talk to her?"

"......???"

Hearing Xiao’Lu’s words, both Duanmu Huai and the girl gave her a surprised look — did she understand what she was saying?

"......Okay."

Duanmu Huai sighed quietly; he couldn’t help but feel that Xiao’Lu seemed to trust him more and more since he told her about his family situation.

Sitting in a nearby fast-food restaurant, Xiao’Lu said she would go order and left, leaving Duanmu Huai and the girl to face each other.

Then the girl gently coughed.

"Hello, sir, may I ask who you are?"

"Just call me uncle. I’m sort of an acquaintance of Xiao’Lu."

Duanmu Huai interrupted the girl’s question decisively. Hearing this, the girl narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Xiao’Lu’s acquaintance... is it?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"I see, then please take care of me. My name is... Kana."

As she spoke, the girl politely bowed to Duanmu Huai.

"Nice to meet you, uncle, and I look forward to your guidance."

"Are you Xiao’Lu’s friend?"

"Well... she doesn’t have many friends."

"Looking at her personality, that’s not surprising."

For Aiko, having a lot of friends wouldn’t be unusual, but for a quiet and reserved girl like Xiao’Lu, having several friends would indeed be surprising.

But this girl in front of him...

Duanmu Huai examined her carefully; she was petite, even shorter than Xiao’Lu, with a bob haircut and a red hairpin, looking like a well-behaved and cute girl. However, Duanmu Huai felt this girl was somewhat dangerous, for a simple reason: when they met eyes, despite her initial surprise, she quickly calmed down and started scrutinizing him closely.

Even though Duanmu Huai wasn’t using the Fearful Aura and had restrained his presence, to not be scared and remain calm upon meeting him for the first time... hmm, this girl was indeed not ordinary.

With that thought, Duanmu Huai reached out across the table and placed a hand on Kana’s shoulder.

"U-uncle?"

As Duanmu Huai’s broad palm grasped her, Kana couldn’t hide the wavering expression on her face. Duanmu Huai stared at her and spoke lightly.

"Xiao’Lu is a bit too honest, I’m worried about her getting bullied at school, but with a friend like you around, I can rest assured... I hope you will always stay good friends with Xiao’Lu."

Saying this, Duanmu Huai squinted his eyes, watching the girl in front of him. He could feel her body tensing in his grasp, yet despite this, there was no disturbance in the girl’s expression, and she nodded.

"I-I will be good friends with Xiao’Lu."

"Good."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Duanmu Huai smiled slightly and withdrew his hand.

"Ah, I’m back."

Just then, Xiao’Lu returned with the tray, appearing before the two once more.