"The United States Navy has deployed its task force against us three times, starting with the Battle of Midway, followed by the Second Battle of the Solomon Sea, and then the Battle of the Coral Sea. The Battle of Midway was an ambush, and the Battle of the Coral Sea was an ambush from an exquisite position. If it were just once or twice, it might be dismissed as a coincidence, but the fact that such encounters occurred three times is not by any means accidental. One possibility is that there is a spy within the Japanese military's core, or perhaps the codes had been cracked. It's inconceivable that Minister Shimada, Chief Nagano, and Admiral Yamamoto are spies for the enemy. If that's the case, it leaves us with the deduction that the codes have been deciphered. I don't fully understand, but Ozawa-san, the commander of the Third Fleet, mentioned that the codes have been deciphered by the Americans after the Battle of Midway. When I first heard it, I honestly thought it was an exaggeration, but in the Battle of the Coral Sea, I became convinced. As Ozawa-san said, without a doubt, the Japanese codes have been deciphered by the enemy."

The words Captain Iizawa spoke during the handover of command of the Shōhō come back to Captain Morishita's mind.

"That's why, first and foremost, it's crucial to detect the enemy first, no matter what it takes. The Shōhō has excelled in tasks such as reconnaissance, aerial vigilance, and even decoy and evasion, in addition to regular duties like anti-submarine patrols. Truly a 'Multi Shōhō.' Among these, reconnaissance is the most important. Since it's a given that the enemy will ambush us through code-breaking, it's essential for us to find the opponent to strike back promptly."

Last year, the Imperial Navy played out naval aerial battles against the American mobile task force in the Battle of Midway, the Second Battle of the Solomons, and the Battle of the Coral Sea. In the Battle of Midway in June, the Kaga was sunk, and the Akagi and Sōryū were destroyed. In the Second Battle of the Solomons in August, the Hiryū and Sōryū had their flight decks damaged, and the Shōhō's sister ship, the Zuihō, was also hit. In the last battle of 1942, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Akagi and Shōkaku were once again damaged, and the Zuikaku, participating in the battle between mobile task forces for the first time, endured the baptism of a 1.000-pound bomb.

However, among the Japanese carriers, there was one that participated in all three naval battles and returned unscathed. It was the Shōhō, a converted submarine tender with the nickname "Multi Shōhō." In the Battles of Midway and the Coral Sea, it earned distinction in discovering the enemy mobile task force, and in the Second Battle of the Solomons, it not only destroyed the Guadalcanal airfield but also accomplished a challenging decoy mission.

The Shōhō is now roaring with its reputation as a distinguished or fortunate ship within the Imperial Navy. This is evident when observing the attitude of officers and men assigned to the Shōhō. For example, when transferred from a regular carrier to a light carrier, it's common for crew members, whether pilots or maintenance staff, to express dissatisfaction or reluctance. However, this is not the case with the Shōhō. Everyone is delighted to be assigned to this unsinkable fortunate ship, and the officers who came to greet Captain Morishita upon assuming command all had joyful expressions.

Likely, the high command of the Imperial Navy has recognized the achievements or utility of the Shōhō. Despite being a light carrier, it prioritizes allocating excellent personnel. And under Morishita, the Shōhō is entrusted with the lives of these irreplaceable officers and men. Of course, Morishita, who previously served as the captain of the light cruiser Sendai, is well aware of the heavy responsibility. Still, the Shōhō, with nearly twice the Sendai's crew, carries a double burden, and considering the current mission, the pressure feels several times greater than when he was the captain of the Sendai. Under Morishita's command, the report of the launch completion of reconnaissance planes was brought by the flight officer.

"It's the most relieving when we receive reports that reconnaissance planes have safely taken off and discovered the enemy fleet. After all, that's the true essence of the Shōhō."

Captain Iizawa's heartfelt words come back to Morishita's mind.

Indeed, that's precisely how it was.