New Jersey's arrival surprised everyone, but considering her personality, everything seemed to become reasonable again.
Since there were too many Eagle Union Ship Girls, it was unrealistic for them all to appear at once, and Lu Chen couldn't possibly remember so many people. So, everyone was diligently playing their role and waiting for the right moment to appear.
New Jersey was given the role of a bunny girl working as a dancer in a nightclub. It was a suitable role for her but made it difficult to run into Lu Chen.
She observed Lu Chen's activities and realized it would be very difficult for the Commander to stay out late. Several Ship Girls had already made their moves in just three days, and the Commander's schedule was quickly booking up for the week. New Jersey decided she couldn't wait passively, so she planned this surprise attack without telling anyone.
From the current situation, the effect was good, but that was ignoring the fact that she was about to be dragged away.
"Let go of me! I want to do something daring!" New Jersey struggled fiercely, making it hard for Cleveland and Georgia to hold her. It had to be said that the title "Strongest and Greatest" wasn't just for show. "I want to attend the party too!"
Cleveland whispered, "Sister New Jersey, this is a violation of the rules. Please leave quickly, or you'll incur everyone's wrath if this is pursued later."
Everyone was abiding by the rules and patiently waiting for the Commander's arrival. Those who didn't follow the rules would be punished, such as being barred from the virtual world and contact with the Commander for a period of time, which was a kind of torture for a Ship Girl.
"Wait! I have one last thing to say before I can leave in peace!" New Jersey was uncompromising. In her opinion, even a three-to-five-day penalty was worth it. After all, the Commander didn't know about the underground bar, and waiting for him to visit on his own was futile.
Cleveland and Georgia exchanged glances, released their grip on her, and said helplessly, "Fine, say it, but keep it brief."
New Jersey calmly smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes, adjusted her chest, and asked Lu Chen, "What score would you give my dance, or just give me your thoughts directly."
"Me?" Lu Chen pointed to himself. After receiving New Jersey's affirmative nod, he said, "I don't know much about this, but I haven't seen a more outstanding dance than yours."
Pole dancing is quite demanding on physical attributes. He truly hadn't seen a girl of such quality perform pole dancing. The black stockings, large chest, and long legs were incredibly seductive.
"A 100 points, as expected~ After all, you like this sort of thing, don't you~?" New Jersey chuckled, put her hands together, and said, "Alright, I've asked my question. You can arrest me now."
Cleveland covered her face. "No, we just want you to leave, Sister New Jersey."
"Honey, come to the bar sometime. I have lots of friends there, and everyone will take good care of you~" New Jersey waved, and then was escorted out by the two Ship Girls.
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment. St. Louis was the first to react. She said casually, "Lu Chen, were you satisfied with the entertainment I arranged?"
New Jersey and Yorktown were the two great legends of the Eagle Union, two of their representatives. They couldn't let others know about this, or everyone would lose face, especially with the Iron Blood legends setting the bar so high by practically devouring the Commander already.
"Very satisfied... I guess?" Lu Chen tried hard not to look at the unremoved steel pole. It was too surreal.
St. Louis's smile was forced. "Um, Baltimore, please look after your manager. Helena and I will handle the aftermath."
Albacore looked regretfully at the party popper in Lu Chen's hand. "You used the surprise just like that? Hmm, since it served an unexpected purpose, I guess it's acceptable."
Before long, the banquet hall returned to normal. The soft piano music started again, with the exception of the hole in the floor.
Baltimore awkwardly walked up to Lu Chen and offered him a glass of fruit wine. "Lu Chen—ahem—Manager, would you like a drink?"
"Just call me Lu Chen. I heard you're my senior, Baltimore," Lu Chen took the fruit wine. His tolerance for alcohol wasn't high, but a little fruit wine should be fine.
The valiant senior becoming his idol trainee felt less like a light novel plot and more like a hentai manga plot, especially given the premise that he was told he could do anything to her.
"Does the title 'senior' still matter?" Baltimore touched her earlobe, tucking her short hair behind her ear. There was an undeniable shyness in her tone. Over the past day, St. Louis and Bremerton had injected her with strange knowledge, such as the dark side of being an idol and how to seduce the Commander.
Although neither of them had any practical experience, it didn't stop them from thoroughly confusing Baltimore, who failed even at the theoretical level.
Being given to the Commander as a gift brought Baltimore a unique, indescribable feeling. It wasn't the disrespect of being treated like an object, but rather the sense of possession that came from becoming the Commander's private property. She didn't dislike it.
Although this was a role-play for the sake of conquering the Commander, she wouldn't mind if their relationship became real when the Commander woke up.
Lu Chen smiled. "We still have to use that title when we meet at the academy."
"Whatever makes you happy, Manager," Baltimore replied, looking down.
Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "Idol Baltimore is very beautiful, but the valiant senior has a unique charm. I think that even as an idol, Senior Baltimore shouldn't discard her inherent aura. She should be a cool and stylish idol, like Cleveland."
"Do you prefer that side of my personality?" Baltimore asked. "But Bremerton said that makes me unfeminine."
Lu Chen asked, "Was that advice from Big Sister St. Louis's professional team or Bremerton's private suggestion?"
If it was the former, a professional team's market research capabilities would definitely surpass his as an outsider. He wouldn't overrule the experts. Success based on pure passion usually only exists in novels. If it was the latter, it was simply a difference in sexual preference.
"It was Bremerton's private suggestion," Baltimore said. What professional team? It was just a cover-up by St. Louis. And even if there was one, professional advice wasn't as important as Lu Chen's opinion. She debuted to be his exclusive idol for him. She didn't care about others' suggestions.
Lu Chen teased, "With your figure, Senior, who would think you're unfeminine?"
"I understand." Baltimore took a deep breath, looked up, and showed her signature cheerful smile. "I will strive to be a stylish idol!"
"What does a stylish idol look like when she's on the casting couch?" Albacore asked maliciously.
Lu Chen unconsciously replied, "She would pretend nothing was happening on the surface, occasionally covering her mouth to suppress strange noises. Everyone would think she was feeling unwell that day, when in reality, the delicate body wrapped in the performance outfit was already a mess... Wait, that's not what I meant!"
Albacore, what did you make me say?!
"D-Do you want to try it? I know a secret place," Baltimore's face was flushed. Under these circumstances, how could she possibly be stylish, unless she practiced multiple times?