Aviation 1

The modified warship was placed in a separate dock, the entire vessel raised off the ground on wooden supports. Nearby, Peace Research Institute staff moved back and forth among the workshops.

Annus followed behind Vegapunk into the cabin and noticed copper wires hidden beneath strips of wood along the inner walls.

"These are wires used to connect the Energy-Storage Dials..."

Following those copper wires into the modified gun deck, he saw the so-called Energy-Storage Dials embedded across an entire wall.

Dr. Vegapunk lightly tapped the shells, within which arcs of electricity faintly flickered, and explained, "These are the Energy-Storage Dials...

"I modified the Breath Dials you brought, adjusting the frequency of their electromagnetic fields to induce their cells to produce 'energy-storage proteins.' Like batteries, these proteins can store lightning energy, transforming them from storing 'wind' into storing 'lightning'...

"When you discharge electricity into this ship, the lightning will be absorbed by the guiding copper wires aboard and flow into the Storage Dials... Or, you could call them Electric Dials.

"A single Electric Dial can store up to one hundred kilowatt-hours of electricity. When the ship starts up, these currents will release energy and convert it into tremendous kinetic force. Together with the Double Breath Dials installed beneath the ship, they can push the entire vessel into the sky."

Sky Island Dials were essentially biological containers capable of storing specific substances or energies, then releasing them when needed.

Vegapunk had discovered that the energy-storage mechanism of shellfish was related to Lineage Factor—

A special type of cell existed within shellfish, capable of sealing energy away in the form of bioelectricity. By adjusting the environment in which the shellfish grew, one could induce them to store different types of energy.

After quietly listening to Vegapunk's explanation, Annus asked the question that concerned him most. "Then, Doctor, how high can this ship fly?"

"Don't worry. When all the Dials installed on this ship release their energy together, the power they generate will be enough to support this ship at an altitude of ten thousand meters!" Vegapunk smiled. "I've even figured out the landing! Annus!"

"What about its endurance...?"

"Theoretically, with your ability, this ship can sail through the skies forever. Fully charged, it can fly for around three days.

"Also, I replaced the ship's keel with an alloy, enough to withstand the fierce winds in the sky... Lately, I've been trying to teach Diumil this technique. By then, you'll be able to mass-produce them on Sky Island yourselves."

"You've solved a huge problem for me, Doctor." Annus sighed softly.

For a long time, traveling back and forth between the Blue Sea and Birka had been a difficult problem in Annus's eyes.

Other than using the Knock Up Stream or sailing from one Sky Island to another starting from High West, there had been no other option.

He had even prepared himself to spend a long time researching it.

Yet the moment Vegapunk stepped in, he easily overcame this obstacle.

"Hehe... It was nothing. It's my honor to be able to help you. I cherish every one of my 'friends,'" Vegapunk said, scratching his head with a mixture of shyness and pride. "So, shall we name this series, esteemed 'investor'?"

"A name? Let me think... Let's call it Aviation 1."

"Mm, simple but precise." Though Vegapunk felt the name was not sophisticated enough, he gave a tactful response.

At that moment, Lilith approached while holding the baby and looked toward an extremely complicated-looking machine in the center of the gun deck. "Doctor, what is that?"

Vegapunk followed her gaze. "Oh! That's the stabilization system! It keeps the warship from doing somersaults in the air! You wouldn't want the world to suddenly spin while you're breastfeeding, would you?"

Lilith's face reddened slightly. She shot Vegapunk a glare. "I'm not a mother yet, Doctor! You're being far too naughty!"

But if I could bear Lord Annus's child...

The thought alone was enough to make Lilith lose herself in that wonderful future...

"Lilith, are you all right? You look like you're drunk."

"Lord Annus! I'm fine!"

"Come on, Doctor. Show me more."

"No problem!"

One by one, the city's lights went out. Darkness gradually enveloped Water 7, while only the clear seawater flowed quietly through the crisscrossing canals, reflecting the silver light of the crescent moon.

Yet in one corner of this quiet city, a group of masked thieves stealthily approached the shipyard where Annus and the others were staying.

Looking at the towering paddle steamer moored nearby and the several vessels converted from warships, the group quietly swallowed.

Such massive ships were rare even in Water 7, a city famous for shipbuilding.

Moreover, they appeared to be paddle steamers that could sail without wind power. That meant their owners were either wealthy nobles or high-ranking officials.

In any case, it meant they would not leave empty-handed tonight.

"Where did the boss go?"

After sneaking into the shipyard, one of the thieves asked in a low voice.

"He probably set his sights on that stunning beauty at the docks today, right?

"Beauty like that would be a prized commodity sought after by nobles even on the black market. She's practically an angel descended to earth... It's no surprise the boss would target her..."

The thieves knew what their boss used to do. If he had not grown old, he would never have returned from Sabaody to this island.

"Anyway, let's move! They must have hidden all the valuables in the cabins! If anyone spots us, kill them immediately!"

The thieves whispered among themselves, never noticing that a ghostly man clad entirely in black had also set his sights on them from the shadows.

As the thieves prepared to get to work, the ghostly figure spread his Black Wing and silently closed in on them.

Most of the thieves never noticed his approach before the figure crushed their neck bones.

One after another, the figure gently laid their limp bodies, now bereft of skeletal support, upon the ground.

"Hm? Why is it so quiet?"

The last thief was busy searching for valuables when he suddenly sensed that something was wrong and turned around.

The instant he turned, cold sweat drenched his body. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and he nearly screamed.

Because he saw a demon wrapped head to toe in black bandages!

The demon gently lowered one of his companions' corpses to the ground, then crushed his throat just as he was about to cry for help.

After dealing with the last thief, Diumil threw all the bodies into the canal near the shipyard. Moonlight covered the water like a burial shroud, and the clear current carried the thieves' corpses away, destined to reach the sea before sunrise.

"From what these guys said, there's another boss? Where could he be?"

Diumil murmured to himself. After hesitating for a moment, he walked toward the cabin.