A thunderstorm descends on the City of Angry Waves.

The clouds in the sky were so low that the city seemed to be in the dark, with the downpour washing over the tall buildings and the streets turning into turbulent rivers.

Under lightning and thunder, a convoy of water swept through the road to the steam airship construction site next to the central harbor.

The convoy stopped at the entrance of a large rectangular workshop, the doors of all vehicles opened, and Imperial agents in waterproof trench coats stepped out. Leather boots tread in the water, and the agents spread out to protect their positions, letting the rain beat the brim of their hats.

Then the umbrella was propped up by the door of the governor's car, and Luke and Dale stepped down from each side of the car.

The chief engineer of the construction office greeted him and invited Luke and Dale into the workshop.

Dai'er, who walked into the door, was immediately stopped there in surprise by the behemoth in front of her.

"This ...... Is this an airship? ”

In this half-buried factory building, which is 400 meters long, an airship that has been filled with steam fills almost the entire factory space. Surrounded by layered engineering racks, thousands of workers and engineers are putting the finishing touches on the airship.

The accompanying engineer was proud to introduce Princess Dale: "This is the latest 'Kirov'-class steam airship developed by the Steam Airship Construction Bureau in our central city. It is set up in the elemental fusion reactor specially made by the Magic Coach Laboratory for the 'Kirov'-class steam airship, which can not only provide sufficient magic energy for the protection and attack of the airship, but also provide additional heat energy supply for the ship's steam engine to meet the power needs of such a large airship.

Now that the Kirov steam airship has completed all preparations for takeoff, please invite Her Royal Highness the Princess and Lord Shousuke to board the airship, and the living area of more than 400 square meters can allow Her Highness and your Lord to spend a comfortable flight. ”

The Engineer Head walked down the steps in front.

The airship pod resembles a building, and the mages and guards who have been mobilized from all sides are lining up to be checked and boarded. The rear compartment of the airship, where vehicles come and go with supplies. There are also cabins that surround the elevator to carry people around the airship and on the top floor, and the hoist hangs the cabin with the gargoyle logo on it on a specific card slot.

As Dale reached the exclusive boarding staircase, the airship shook slightly, and a magic ring unfurled around the pod.

"Elemental fusion reactor starts...... It can be pressed one level. It is expected that after three minutes, the energy pressure will reach level 2. Please speed up boarding, and the Kirov will take off in 10 minutes. ”

The ring begins to vibrate at a frequency.

Dale knew that this was because of the boundary effect of the magic energy field caused by the energy pressure generated by the powerful magic energy, and when she released the powerful magic, the magic wand in her hand would also produce such a magic ring.

But this magic ring is too big!

If it gets out of control, it should be enough to blow up the entire central port.

"It feels like a dream."

Luke also looked up at the mountain-like airship: "This is still the first ship of the 'Kirov' class steam airship, and now there are two other airships of the same class being built elsewhere, and the progress should be able to catch up with the Imperial Military Parade."

Come aboard, Your Highness...... We're going to get to the Emerald Court as soon as possible. ”

"Oh!" Daile, who was a little stunned by the airship, immediately stepped on the steps and ran up.

The exclusive living area is on the top floor of the pod, and the semi-wraparound glass windows provide a very open view. Karina, who had arrived early, had already set up the place with her servants, and Luke sat down on the sofa facing the bow of the boat, cross-legged and waiting for the airship to take off.

The roof of the airship building building is opened to both sides, and the cables that hold the hull in place are unlocked. The Kirov airship rose slowly, its hull filled with steam to adjust the balance.

The hull with a maximum length of 358 meters emerges from the top floor of the building. Out of bad taste, Luke asks the Kirov airship to be painted in yellow and has a shark's head painted on the head of the hull, except for the side flag and the Imperial Two-Headed Lion flag.

Soon the lower edge of the airship pod left the building, and the magic ring around the pod expanded from an oval to a perfect circle. The energy pressure of the elemental fusion reactor is increased to three levels, the magic ring oscillates at high frequency, the air is accumulated from top to bottom, and the pressure difference between the upper and lower levels pushes the airship to speed up the liftoff.

At the same time, two large wind vortex engines at the tail end of the airship were activated, and the high-pressure steam engine drove the turbofan to spin. The inhaled air is compressed and poured into the storm engine, and the magic energy activates the air element, and then uses the lightning element to excite the air element for a second time. After three stages of pressurized air, it erupted backwards from the engine nozzle, splashing with lightning, pushing the huge airship to accelerate and fly diagonally.

After reaching an altitude of 6,000 meters, the storm engine was turned off and the Kirov airship entered constant cruise mode.

"Shousuke-sama!" Karina walked up to Luke's side and handed over a document: "This is the sailing plan drawn up by Rear Admiral Zollan, the captain of the Kirov airship. Before reaching the Emerald Court, the Kirov steam airship underwent one hundred and forty-five tests, during which it underwent three docking and four air supply trainings, and was expected to arrive at the Emerald Court in seven days. ”

Luke looked at the voyage plan.

Both ground and low-altitude tests of the Kirov steam airship have ended, and what remains is a long-distance flight test.

This time he was going to the Emerald Court, and Luke thought about driving the Kirov steam airship to load B, and the rest of the tests could only be carried out on the road.

Luke asked Karina, "How long does it normally take to get to the Emerald Court?" ”

"At a regular cruising speed, it would take two days to reach the Emerald Court. If the gap is used with storm engine afterburner, it can be reached in one day. ”

After reading the plan, Luke took a pen and signed it, and then handed it to Karina: "Tell Major General Zolan to test the Kirov class according to his plan." I don't want to have any problems with this airship representing the Empire's air power when I arrive at the Emerald Court. ”

"Yes, Shousuke-sama! I will inform Major General Zolan of your words. ”

Karina descended a staircase to the airship's bridge.

Dale, who had changed into clean clothes in her room, came to Luke's side, and she had a lot to say to Luke, but she didn't know what to say.

It was as if there was an invisible wall between the two.

"Well, long time no see!" Dale sat down on the couch next to her and said softly.

"yes, more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye." Luke also sighed, too many things have happened during this time: "Actually, you don't have to go to the Emerald Court with you, Agatha misses you very much, and the empire is about to hold a grand ceremony." ”

"I have already met with my sister and informed Her Highness that I will not attend her coronation."

"Why?" Luke explained: "I am not trying to steal the empire by crowning the empress emperor. I ......"

"I know......" Dale didn't let Luke continue, "I know you, we see the land, and your heart is the sky.

You should also understand that since I have escaped my former identity, I do not want to be tainted with it again. I love the current name, Jasmine...... When I was Jasmine, it was when I was at my happiest. ”

"Jasmine" reminded Luke of the lower part of the city of St. Lun and the Winter Capital.

"I respect your choice, and Agatha and I welcome you back at any time."

A smile appeared on Dai'er's face: "When you marry your sister, I will definitely come back." I'm going to be my sister's bridesmaid and take note of her happiest moments. ”

Luke looked at Dale and smiled, "Be kind, you will definitely find your happiness." ”

Dai raised her eyebrows playfully: "Of course...... I will definitely chase my own happiness! ”

Dale turned her head to look out the window, and the airship was sailing south, with the Imperial coastline on the starboard side.

"Definitely!"

……

In the Emerald Palace, Lady Mihir sat in the lounge waiting for the summons of the Shamrock King.

An orangutan poured her a cup of fruit tea, and then said politely: "Lady Mihir, His Majesty the Three Leaves King is discussing with his generals about resisting the attack of the headhunters. Then His Majesty has to discuss with the elders how to settle the new refugees, and now that more and more forest spirits are being rescued from the sea, which has caused a lot of problems.

You need to wait a little longer. ”

Mrs. Mihir took the fruit tea and drank it, her eyes carefully observing the orangutan in front of her.

From the outside, it can be seen that he is not a real orangutan, he is an alchemy creature, and he is the master of the alchemy technology of the forest elves. Alchemy creatures have intelligence, thoughts, and feelings, and they come from the awakening of alchemy puppets, but so far the forest elves have not fully understood how alchemy creatures awakened.

It can only be roughly judged that the awakening of the alchemy creature is related to the vigorous natural energy in the Emerald Forest.

As a technocrat, Madame Michelle is very interested in the alchemical creature in front of her, and she intends to talk to the orangutan to determine the level of his intelligence.

"I just got the news. After receiving the letter from His Majesty King Shamrock, the Empress of the Empire ordered the Imperial Chief-Aid, Lord Meteor, to immediately send support to the Jade Court. Now that the first rescue from Mosr Harbor is about to arrive in Emerald Harbor, what do you think the Emerald Court needs most right now? ”

The alchemist orangutan replied, "I'm just an acolyte, and such a question is not something I can answer." ”

Mrs. Mihir said, "I am here waiting, waiting." You are here, and you are waiting. Let's talk casually, you must know more about the current situation of the Jade Court than I do. ”

The alchemy orangutan did not refuse this time: "What the Jade Royal Court needs most now is, of course, food. The royal court was besieged by headhunters and was unable to obtain food from the forest. I've heard that there are twice as many forest elves in the royal court as before, and many of them are already hungry. ”

Mrs. Michelle nodded and continued to ask, "Food is a must, and there is food in the Imperial support fleet. Are there any other important must-haves? ”

"And coal, fire crystals." The alchemy orangutan has a clear idea and ability to express himself: "The war against the headhunters requires weapons, and the manufacture of weapons requires energy. In order to reduce the losses of the patrols, the Shamrock King ordered the pollutant restriction order to be lifted, and the factory in the port area is manufacturing muskets and casting cannons in large quantities. The city's main alchemy factories have increased their production of alchemy arrows and alchemy weapons, and the production capacity of alchemy puppets has also increased.

This is a very large energy consumption.

The alchemy industry needs to be powered by fire crystals, magic towers built at the edge of the city and magic towers built in cities need fire crystals to provide magical energy, and alchemy golems also need fire crystals to provide energy. Fire crystals are not minerals from the Emerald Forest, and all of them need to be imported from the outside world. As the war progressed, the royal court's fire crystal reserves should not be able to last long. ”

"One last question for you." Lady Mihir observed the alchemy orangutan: "Do you think there is a soul in your alchemy brain?" ”

This is a difficult question for alchemical life.

The alchemy orangutan also thought about it for a long time before answering: "The Jade Magic Academy has done a lot of experiments related to alchemy creatures, and academically defines alchemy creatures as having no soul, and demons never regard alchemy creatures as delicious.

But some scholars do not conclude that alchemical creatures have no soul because of these experiments. They believe that the soul of alchemical beings is special and cannot be defined by the soul definition of living beings.

I don't know whose point of view is correct, but I'm willing to believe the latter. My body is mechanical, and unlike your flesh and blood, my soul must be different. ”

Lady Mihir couldn't help but applaud, "I don't know if other alchemic creatures think the same way as you, but I was shocked by your performance. If you can, I would recommend you to study at the Oulu Academy in Angry Waves and join the City Alchemist Guild. ”

"Is that okay?" The alchemical orangutan was surprised by this invitation: "I am just an ordinary palace attendant, and no alchemical creature has ever become a scholar. We have intelligence, but we don't. ”

"No, no, no!" Mrs. Mishil denied one after another: "Intellect and wisdom cannot be separated. In my understanding, intelligence is equal to wisdom, but different people's ability to receive knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge are different.

In the past few days in the Emerald Palace, my biggest impression is that most of the forest elves are very old-fashioned. While they accept human civilization, they also add a lot of restrictions that bind their hands and feet, and their long lifespan makes it difficult for forest elves to actively innovate and accept new things.

I've also discovered that the forest elves, while not discriminating against alchemy creatures, prefer to assign you physical work. They believe that alchemic creatures have intelligence but not intelligence, and they have made you acquiesce to the truth. ”

The alchemy orangutan's eyes widened: "It's the first time I've heard such remarks. ”

"That's because you didn't meet me earlier." Mrs. Mihir was very pleased with her eloquence: "You just look like a simple-minded orangutan. The purpose of the alchemy puppet is not to think, but it does not mean that it is still low intelligence after awakening into an alchemy creature.

My suggestion is that you can consider it...... It's probably not a bad thing to get a taste of something new that you've never had before. ”

"I ......" the alchemy orangutan was still a little hesitant: "I'll think about it." ”

"Okay, now you go and tell His Majesty King Shamrock. It is important to settle refugees, but it is also important to receive food and energy from the Golden Shield Empire. ”

"Yes, Lady Michiel."