5. Distinctive Logic [Modern Warship in a Cultivation World] (Patreon)

“Have us move into a distance of thirty kilometers from where we can observe the battle region, but far enough that they can’t observe us,” Imogen ordered as soon as she finished her address. “Turn off all external lights, place the shutters for all the windows. We will be traveling in stealth under the darkness of night.”

“Will they really not find us?” Lieutenant David muttered, the question more a desperate hope than a professional doubt.

Officer William replied, reinforcing the Captain’s strategy. “I mean, the ships we came across had boilers as their main propulsion and were flanking us, most likely to use side-mounted cannons. Their detection methods must be rudimentary.”

“Their technology might have a distinctive logic compared to ours,” Imogen chimed in, acknowledging the unknown. “But they weren't able to chase after us, nor have they tried to contact us. So, it’s a safe bet that they don’t possess advanced radar technology or any major reason to investigate us. And seeing what is happening on the horizon, I intend to keep it that way.”

Every officer in the room nodded with a simultaneous gesture of understanding and a slight salute, accepting her rigorous reasoning.

Meanwhile, in the busy cafeteria, Jessica held up her recording device. “And… recording,” she said softly.

Ensign Carter and his two seaman friends sat before her, while Pax, his bandaged cheek a reminder of the violent entry into this world, sat beside Jessica.

“Is this thing what they call a time slip?” one of the seamen asked Carter.

Carter instantly scoffed. “Are you dumb? We aren’t in a different time; we’re in a totally different world, just like Captain Doors said, right?”

The other seaman joined in. “Wait, wait. It’s that thing, what’s it called, some kind of Isekai?”

“Yeah, like Alice in Wonderland!” the first seaman replied, relieved to have found a frame of reference.

Carter made a face of utter disbelief. “It’s nothing like Alice in Wonderland! She was dreaming in it! I am pretty sure we are all awake!”

“What? No, Alice wasn’t dreaming!” the second seaman retorted, sparking a minor, absurd argument.

“I watched the movie, I agree, she was dreaming!” “That’s not a proper adaptation!”

Pax sighed heavily at the men fighting over fictional realities. His journalistic instinct had driven him to record the low-ranking members’ opinions and thoughts on the event, ensuring every perspective was documented for when or if they returned. But the fighting was wearing on his nerves.

“I will go have a talk with Immy and see what’s happening up above,” Pax said, gently setting his camera down next to Jessica. The three seamen were still mid-argument. “You keep interviewing the crew. Get their theories on the three moons, that creatures, flying people, the whole battlefield we saw in the distance.”

With that, Pax quickly left the relative safety of the cafeteria, heading up and out toward the Command Information Center.

As Pax made his way up through the deck, he noticed the seamen were still outside despite the darkness, their eyes fixed on the red moons and the distant horizon. It was a caution born of the surreal—advanced radar or not, no one trusted the rules of this new world.

Climbing to the upper deck, he saw Imogen standing by the railing, staring into the dark distance. He smiled faintly, walking up beside her in the quiet darkness. “A lot to think about, huh?”

“Pax,” Imogen acknowledged, turning to meet his eyes. “That bandage suits you.” She looked at the small injury on his cheek and let out a quick, weary chuckle.

“Really? So my handsome face is still there?” Pax replied, touching the plaster.

“Yeah, as a reminder of your recklessness, it does suit you,” she said with a sigh that had little to do with his wound.

“Och, I did run off too excited,” Pax admitted, standing next to her with his arms resting on the railing, mirroring her pose.

A silence fell between them, broken only by the rhythmic pulse of the ocean waves and the low, internal hum of the warship.

“Why did you do it?” Pax finally asked, turning his head to look at her.

Imogen instantly understood he meant the public announcement. With a defeated smile, she replied, “The situation’s entirely out of my control, you know. Keeping it hidden would only increase their mistrust in my leadership when they eventually found out about where we are.”

“So you went ahead and revealed it over the main speakers?” Pax countered. “I feel like there were more subtle options than a full, ship-wide broadcast that confirmed the ‘other world’ theory.”

Imogen turned to face him fully. “We had a burning, impossible battlefield right in front of us. I don’t think I had the luxury of slowly breaking the news to the crew. There would have been total chaos and panic if I hadn't warned them before they saw the impossible themselves.”

“Now there might be mutiny,” Pax said, his tone still critical, yet he smoothly plucked the coffee can from her coat’s inner pocket without asking. He took a sip.

“The tensions might get high, but for now, we can manage,” Imogen replied, reclaiming the can the moment he finished his sip.

“I do think what Reporter Pax said does have some value, Captain,” a third voice suddenly chimed in.

Both Imogen and Pax quickly turned to see Officer William standing a few feet away, a cigar held loosely in his hand and a knowing smile on his face.

“You know, if you wanted to have a secret lovers’ rendezvous, it would be better not to do it at a designated smoking zone next time,” Officer William noted with a warm chuckle.

“I just happened to meet him here,” Imogen instantly tried to explain, her professional composure momentarily ruffled.

Officer William chuckled again. “Of course, Captain. Just like how I happened to meet you two here.” He took a drag of his cigar. “Coming from an old man, it might not carry the weight of a compliment from a hot military lady, but I do like the bandage look on you, Reporter Pax, though.”

Before Imogen could offer a sharp retort or Pax could offer a witty reply, the relative calm was shattered. The hustle inside the Command Information Center suddenly reached a fever pitch. All three of them instinctively looked up. Even through the darkness, they saw it in the distance: a burning, large dragon-like creature falling rapidly from the alien sky.

“It’s falling way too fast!” one of the guards beneath the deck yelled, his voice laced with shock.

The colossal creature hit the ocean miles away with a sound that even reached the Event Horizon. Imogen instantly rushed toward the Command Information Center entrance.

Once inside, she issued her order, her voice echoing the gravity of the sight. “Sail slowly towards the object. We will check out the object with camera and radar, but maintain distance.”

As the ship slowly closed in, the image displayed on the main monitor showed a gruesome sight: a burning, dead, dragon-like creature slowly sinking into the dark ocean. And then they saw the crucial detail: a single young man was strapped to its back, floating unconscious near the rapidly vanishing carcass.

“We need to save him! It’s just a teenager!” Pax argued instantly, bursting into the Command Information Center from the doorway, his reporter's instinct for life overriding the Captain's caution.