To Thaw a Lost Heart

Inevitable Setup

An enemy Iron Blood couldn't predict. A META who once belonged to the Royal navy, but she's clearly not working alone. Someone else watched them from afar but disappeared in the ensuing commotion. The information is immediately reported to Bismarck seeing this new enemy has knowledge of the core's origin and is aware of Tirpitz's current condition.

"Hunter, a Royal navy destroyer. This one is a META working alongside others like her" Bismarck taps her wooden desk
"She knew we were coming. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in the perfect position to snipe all three of us" Prinz Eugen comments first
"Not to mention' she's invisible and silent, the perfect combination for a hunter" Admiral Hipper admits
"She knew something about the core. Namely, the one responsible for why the Arbiters had it in the first place"
"That META wouldn't go down easily, so someone else killed her. It's hard to piece cryptic hints"

Bismarck massages both of her temples to ease her fatigue on both her duties as a leader and simultaneously dealing with the mystery behind what caused Tirpitz to be the way she is.

"That Hunter META mentioned something about Tirpitz waking up and killing is if we try to take the core from her"
"If we try to remove the core, would that kill Tirpitz?" Friedrich der Grosse frankly asks
"I'm not certain myself. Tirpitz had become one with it, so I feared it would badly damage her wisdom cube" Bismarck admits her uncertainty
"If our wisdom cubes get damaged, it does all sorts of injury to us. It's practically our very essence after all" Prinz Eugen twirls the tip of her hair

Wisdom cubes contain potential as it shapes kansens and becomes their very foundation. It's as volatile as it's capable of giving life to all sorts of ships. Bismarck is primarily uncertain because Tirpitz's wisdom cube has been tampered with after the surgery and the cause of her unstable condition.

"That's why a meeting between you two needs to be arranged as soon as possible" Prinz Eugen twirls her bangs this time
"I mean.....even she would still refuses, right?" Admiral Hipper reminds Prinz Eugen
"How would you go about it, Bismarck?" Friedrich der Grosse wants the answer from her
".....If Victorious is the only person Tirpitz listens to, then she's the only one who can convince and make her agree" Bismarck looks at all three

The three simultaneously react with a wide-eyed shock since Bismarck's plan is clear with those words alone. However, only Friedrich der Grosse frowns on it, but it doesn't express anger or displeasure.

"Victorious is a goody-two-shoes. That noisy girl wouldn't want to take advantage of Tirpitz's trust on her. She'll probably tell you to go meet your sister yourself" Prinz Eugen scoffs
"Well, I kind of agree to that" Admiral Hipper reluctantly raises her hand
"That Royal navy child would agree to help if the situation is explained" Friedrich der Grosse looks on the bright side
"This is for Tirpitz's sake. There's a good chance she'll be targeted if she sets out to the open sea again" Bismarck's hands tensed up

Admiral Hipper lightly tilts her head, seeming baffled at Bismarck's frowning in concern, while Prinz Eugen faintly smiles in amusement since Bismarck unknowingly expresses herself. As for Friedrich der Grosse, she prefers to quietly observe how Bismarck lowers her guard and sets aside her strict leader persona.

Mediterranean base.....

In the time Victorious isn't following her wherever she goes, Tirpitz spends her night alone at the beach. She keenly gazes left and right, taking note if there's any kansen within the vicinity that could overhear or at least spot her.

"......" Tirpitz sighs

Upon confirming they are either asleep in their rooms or out on a mission, Tirpitz turns towards the sea. She first grabs the tip of her left glove and slowly removes it and the right glove follows shortly after. The pair of white gloves falls together just beside Tirpitz as she stares at her bare hands she's required to cover most of the time.