Betrayal

In this Great Navigation World, humanity had never truly been the master of the world.

Or rather, humanity had never completely conquered the world. But the gnomes had once managed it.

Most traces of their existence had been worn away by the long river of history, but some had survived, such as the buildings outside.

But buildings like those were, at most, of some artistic and aesthetic value. They were nothing compared to genuine research ruins.

True research ruins should at least have left behind some records, allowing later generations to piece together the glory of the ancient Gnome Empire.

It was said that Ingsman had been able to develop its Steam Ironclad Navy so quickly because the country had discovered the ruins of a steam research institute from the Gnome Empire.

The one Fang Yuan had found was, first of all, enormous. Second, it even had surviving Metal Guards protecting it. Whether the Solo Pirate Group had reactivated them later was unknown, but it was astonishing enough.

"Too bad... Even if there's a complete set of Steam Ironclad Ship technology here, it won't be of much use... The gap between industrial systems can't be bridged in a short time..."

Fang Yuan shook his head, not particularly excited.

What he valued most was power he could put to use immediately, like the Sun.

"Roar!"

Red light flashed in the eyes of the Metal Beasts. They roared and lunged forward.

"Hold them off!"

Butcher roared and charged to the front.

He had been knocked out by the natives' blow darts before, which he considered a grave humiliation. After being rescued, he had been seething with pent-up anger and was in desperate need of an outlet.

Now streams of water appeared over his body, and his frame swelled again. Patches of blue