The reaction of the Tenmangu Shrine did not exceed anyone''s expectations.


    After receiving Akagi''s demand for theplete demolition of Dingyuan Pavilion and the return of all historical artifacts of The Dingyuan to China, Tenmangu Shrine responded that they trulycked the ability toply. Instead, they invited Akagi to visit Tenmangu Shrine in person so they could exin themselves and offer an apology.


    Faced with this invitation, Akagi naturally understood that this was nothing but a ssic "Hongmen Banquet."


    Although Japan did not have this idiomatic reference, prior to the Meiji Restoration, Japanese schrs prided themselves on their knowledge of Chinese literature and considered familiarity with its stories a mark of cultural sophistication. Thus, Akagi was well-aware of the tale of the Hongmen Banquet.


    But for Akagi, this was precisely what she had wanted.


    At this moment, Akagi was in need of an excuse to teach Tenmangu Shrine a lesson and fulfill Chen Yu''smand. Since the other side had set up a Hongmen Banquet for her, how could she refuse to walk into their trap and ensure they paid dearly for it?


    However, even though this was a great opportunity to punish Tenmangu Shrine, Akagi was not reckless enough to charge straight in unprepared.


    After all, the fact that they dared proceed with this n—even knowing that she was a demigod—meant they clearly had something backing them.


    So, after contemting for a moment and reporting the situation to Chen Yu, Akagi summoned reinforcements for herself.


    "Akagi, what is it about Tenmangu Shrine that made themander send all five of us?" asked Kaga, who had arrived to provide support in Akagi''s quarters. It was a question echoed by the other ship-girls as well.


    Hearing Kaga''s question, Hood, Belfast, and Kirov—all of whom had alsoe as reinforcements—turned their gazes toward Akagi, wanting to know what kind of enemy could necessitate the intervention of five demigods together.


    "Tenmangu Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning, ever since the Heian Period. It has branches all over Japan, but the one in Fukuoka is considered one of the main headquarters, as it houses Sugawara no Michizane''s burial site." Akagi exined the background to the four ship-girls and outlined their mission: "Normally we wouldn''t concern ourselves with matters of Tenmangu Shrine, but recently themander learned that the shrine was suppressing The Dingyuan, the gship of the Qing Empire''s Beiyang Fleet, which greatly angered him.


    A few days ago, themander personally came here with a Chinese demigod, summoned The Dingyuan as a new ship-girl, and destroyed the divine domain of Tenmangu Shrine.


    However, since themander had previously promised to protect Japan''s Imperial Family, the destruction of Tenmangu Shrine caused the Imperial Family to seek themander''s intervention. He then sent me to handle the matter, but now Tenmangu Shrine has disyed a false conciliatory attitude and is plotting an ambush against me.


    After I reported this to themander, he decided that you should apany me to support the operation and help deliver a severe lesson to Tenmangu Shrine."


    "A severe lesson? Considering themander sent all five of us, it seems he intends for Tenmangu Shrine to bepletely eradicated." Hood said casually while sipping her tea, though her words were far from an idle remark about the weather.


    Belfast, on the other hand, refrained from voicing her opinion on such matters. She continued standing beside Hood in the manner of a proper maid, refilling Hood''s teacup whenever it emptied.


    Meanwhile, Kirov, having heard Akagi''s exnation and grasped the details of the task, took a morebat-centric stance befitting her lineage as a ship-girl of Former Soviet origins. Without hesitation, she said bluntly, "If themander wants to teach them a lesson, let me summon my vessel and use cruise missiles to tten this so-called Tenmangu Shrine entirely! I guarantee the lesson will be unforgettable!"


    However, this suggestion was promptly opposed by Akagi.


    "No, it won''t work. Themander has another order: to demonstrate our strength. Destroying Tenmangu Shrine with ship-based weapons would not achieve that purpose and might bring unwanted trouble." Akagi shook her head. If using her vessel were the solution, she could summon her own carrier to drop bombers on the target without needing reinforcements from Chen Yu.


    Hearing this, Hood nodded in agreement and remarked, "Our vessels are highly recognizable and have left indelible marks in history. Disying them carelessly indeed risks inviting unnecessaryplications."


    This sentiment came from Hood''s own experience. If she hadn''t revealed her vessel in London so recklessly at the time, it wouldn''t have drawn the attention of various nations onto Chen Yu.


    Although Chen Yu had not held Hood ountable for that incident, she had carried a sense of self-reproach after realizing its ramifications. Now, hearing Kirov''s suggestion to use her vessel, she naturally feltpelled to oppose it.


    With both Akagi and Hood against the idea, Kirov reluctantly abandoned her initial n of destroying Tenmangu Shrine with cruise missiles.


    Nevertheless, for the ship-girls, dismantling Tenmangu Shrine was merely a matter of exerting a little extra effort. After all, with five demigods gathered, no challenge seemed insurmountable.


    "In that case, let''s set off for Tenmangu Shrine. The sooner weplete themander''s orders, the sooner we can return." Seeing that Akagi and Hood had finalized their strategy, Kaga urged the group to move quickly.


    The other four ship-girls expressed no objections to this. With five of them united, they possessed enoughbined power to rival even the strongest nations or take on the deities themselves.


    Even if Sugawara no Michizane were in prime condition, the full strength of the five ship-girls would be sufficient to y him.


    Having decided not to use their vessels, the five ship-girls promptly set off for Tenmangu Shrine.


    On their journey, they made no attempt to conceal or disguise themselves. The aura of five demigod-level entities zed like beacons in the night, an unmistakable show of power to anyone paying attention.


    But this was precisely Akagi and herpanions'' intention—they sought to unt their might openly and deliberately.


    Besides, once they engaged inbat, suppressing their demigod-level aura would be impossible. So rather than keep it hidden only to expose itter, they chose to unleash it fully now to intimidate their enemies.


    The arrival of the five ship-girlspletely disrupted Tenmangu Shrine''s original ns. No one had expected five demigods to appear simultaneously—after all, only two nations in the world had the ability to mobilize five demigods at once!


    Tenmangu Shrine had indeed prepared thoroughly. As an ancient shrine dating back to the Heian Period, it possessed its own heritage and hidden cards to y. Without such resources, it wouldn''t have had the confidence to invite Akagi here.


    But the traps they had prepared were only capable of severely disadvantaging one demigod, or perhaps trapping two. While impressive, those preparations were far from enough to counter five demigods.


    And now, all five demigods had stormed in with overwhelming momentum.