Early the next morning, Chen Yu and his group drove to Kyoto''s airport and boarded the earliest flight back to Tokyo.


    Meanwhile, the Akagi, Kaga, and the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron, who had been sent by Chen Yu to the United States for modernization, alsonded in the United States by ne.


    "So this is the United States? Was it really this country we fought against back then?" Leaning against the airne window, Rai looked down at the bustling city beneath the clouds and couldn''t help but ask.


    The other three young girls of the 6th Destroyer Squadron around her shared her inexplicable excitement. After all, back in those days, they had fought continuously against the Americans in the Pacific, but never once had they set foot on American soil.


    Now, finally arriving in thend of their former enemies was a peculiarly surreal experience for the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron. It was no wonder they were so overwhelmed with awe and excitement.


    Akagi and Kaga, too, felt aplex mixture of emotions. Although they had participated in events such as the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Coral Ind, which brought them close to American territory, setting foot on U.S. soil for the first time was a wholly new experience for them.


    However,pared to the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron, Akagi and Kaga appeared far moreposed, keeping the excitement in their hearts from showing on their faces.


    Even so, Akagi couldn''t hold back her sigh: "So this is the United States. I never thought we''d see the day when we could step onto American soil."


    "War..." Kaga, gazing at the city below the clouds—small in appearance but brimming with life—responded to Akagi''s sentiment with an odd tone, saying, "I never want to experience it again."


    Hearing Kaga''s words, a trace of bitterness appeared on Akagi''s face. Shaking her head, she remarked, "We are warships, weapons. War is a fate we can never escape."


    Because if there were a choice, who would willingly endure the turmoil of war? Watching the 6th Destroyer Squadron''s four girls squeezing together at the ne window,ughing noisily, Akagi''s expression grew exceptionallyplicated.


    When they were battleships, they had no say, existing only as tools of destruction.


    Now that they had be ship-girls, with human bodies, they no longer had to act as weapons. Yet fundamentally, they were still forged for death and war.


    Though Chen Yu had not sent them to fight since summoning them, a ship-girl was far from a meek or fragile girl by nature. Built from steel to wage war, even in times of peace, they could not escape their fate.


    Even the four young girls of the 6th Destroyer Squadron—despite all of Chen Yu''s care and affection—could not avoid stepping onto the battlefield again someday.


    After all, when it came down to it, Chen Yu had brought them to the United States for modernization upgrades, to enhance their power, so that in future battles on new fronts, they could help secure victory against new foes.


    Reflecting on this, Akagi couldn''t help but find it all somewhatughable. With a wry smile, she thought to herself, "I was looking forward to upgrading and equipping myself with new weapons and aircraft just a while ago. Yet here I am now, hesitating because I don''t want to fight again. How ironic."


    Beside her, Kaga seemed to sense Akagi''s mood. Turning her head, her expression remained calm as she stated, "Fighting is our fate. I do not rejectbat, but war only brings pain. I never want to return to those days of fighting purely for invasion and ughter."


    "I feel the same." Akagi smiled. She understood Kaga''s point—war was behind them now, and their battles were for Chen Yu alone.


    —————————————————


    Akagi, Kaga, and the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron were not heading to the same location. Akagi and Kaga were being sent to shipyards under the Skull and Bones, while the 6th Destroyer Squadron would go to those belonging to the Freemasons.


    Thus, after disembarking the ne, they followed the respective representatives from the Freemasons and Skull and Bones and split into two groups to begin their modifications.


    Akagi and Kaga were adults and possessed Demigod-level strength, so there naturally wasn''t much cause for concern.


    But the four members of the 6th Destroyer Squadron were still children. Although they had experienced war, their childlike demeanor still gave people some worry.


    So Chen Yu specifically appointed Shinano, who had the closest bond with the 6th Destroyer Squadron, to apany them. One reason was for her to care for the four young girls, and the other was to have Shinano, historically Japan''srgest and shortest-lived aircraft carrier, receive modernization upgrades and armaments.


    After all, historically, the Shinano had been sunk by a submarine less than ten hours into her maiden voyage. At the time, neither her aircraft nor her equipment had undergone final adjustments.


    As a result, Shinano had the weakestbat experience and capabilities among all ship-girls.


    This was also why Chen Yu wanted her to apany the 6th Destroyer Squadron—he didn''t want Shinano to remain as just a symbolic figure in the Minato Ward.


    Chen Yu had already informed the Freemasons about Shinano''s participation in the upgrades, so when Shinano arrived with the 6th Destroyer Squadron, the receiving members from the Freemasons were not surprised.


    The modernization ns had been prepared before their arrival. Being old World War II warships, their blueprints had long been dessified. Crafting upgrade ns based on the designs wasn''t difficult for the shipyards under the Freemasons.


    Although the ns had been drawn up, they still required the ship-girls'' approval. After all, it was their own bodies being modified, so their preferences had to be taken into ount.


    For the designers, this was a remarkably unique experience. Never before had they asked a ship whether they liked their own hull or if they''d prefer changes. Undoubtedly, no one else in their industry had encountered such a scenario, either.


    Fortunately, neither Shinano nor the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron raised objections to the ns. After reviewing the blueprints, they gave their consent for modernization.


    Inside the dry docks, which were already prepared by the shipyard, the five ship-girls summoned their original forms. The sight was truly awe-inspiring. Among them stood an aircraft carrier converted from thergest battleship in human history—the presence of tens of thousands of tons of steel materializing before one''s eyes was nothing short of breathtaking.


    Once the five warships were in ce, the dry dock grew busy, and the modernization of the vessels began in earnest.


    "Sugoi!" Even the usuallyposed Akatsuki of the 6th Destroyer Squadron couldn''t help but cover her mouth and exim in awe as she watched the bustling dry dock, the workers, and the massive mechanical equipment.


    The scene before her was overwhelming. Compared to the era when they were constructed in Japan, nearly a century had passed, with industrial technology evolving countless times over. The sights of their earlier days paled inparison to the marvels of modern industry.


    With their childlike curiosity, the 6th Destroyer Squadron couldn''t help but find everything fascinating and awe-inspiring.


    Rai, pulling on the arm of one of the staff members and a designer nearby, began to pepper them with questions. Seeing the massive gantry crane lift her main gun, she asked nervously, "What are they doing? Are they taking apart my main gun?"


    "Yes, miss," the staff member, ustomed to handling client rtions and pre-briefed about his unique guests, responded professionally. "Your shipboard weapons are relics of World War II. Although they''ve been well-maintained, they are technologically obsolete in this era. Removing them is necessary to make room for the instation of new equipment."


    "I see. Will I be getting a new main gun?" Rai, upon hearing this, immediately became eager about her new armaments. "What caliber will my new main gun be? Will it be powerful? I am the renowned Lady Rai, the best gunner of the 6th Destroyer Squadron! I demand the finest main gun!"


    "Miss Rai, modern navies no longer rely on main guns as their primary weapon of offense," the staff exined, retrieving blueprints from the designer beside him. Opening to a specific page, he pointed to exin, "We''ll be equipping you with a new 127mm main gun, but it will serve primarily as a defensive weapon.


    Your primary offensive weapon will be thetest cruise missiles integrated into your hull. These missiles have incredibly long ranges, allowing them to destroy targets out of visual range. Just one missile is enough to sink arge warship. These are the modern navy''s trump card."


    "Sugoi!" The other three young girls, having crowded around to listen, eximed in amazement as they learned about the power of the missiles.


    "Excuse me, will we all be equipped with missiles?" Akatsuki asked, equal parts envious and concerned. The advanced and powerful weapons intrigued her, and she wanted them for herself as well.


    The staff member nodded seriously, confirming, "Of course. Per Chen Yu''s instructions, you will all be upgraded to area air-defense destroyers. These ships are characterized by their vast array of missiles. However, since your hull designs originate from World War II, they are quite small, so we''ll need to thoroughly retrofit your ships to increase tonnage and amodate these weapons."