I Can Give It a Try

Inside the suitcase.

A petite lady lay sleeping atop a soft velvet cushion, surrounded by brass thorns and roses. With one hand pillowing her cheek, her tiny body curled up. The spring-leaf skirt folded inward layer by layer, while four bronze wings hung downward, overlapping one another.

Like an exquisite work of art.

Sylvid stood quietly behind the suitcase. Beneath her veil, her clear eyes watched everyone. Her soft golden hair fell over her snowy-white neck to her chest, and her lace-trimmed formal gloves overlapped as her fingertips rested lightly on the suitcase handle.

Fang Heng's attention was wholly captured by the object within the suitcase. "This... really is a fairy-type construct?" he asked in surprise, then looked up with delight. "Can I really use it?"

The girl nodded and answered in a crystal-clear voice, "Mr. Shaya may use it as he wishes."

"Ah, so cute!" Tianlan also ran over to the suitcase. "Miss Sylvid, can I take a look at her?"

The girl nodded gently again.

Only then did Tianlan carefully lift the doll. It was about a cubit long, its face sculpted into that of a sleeping young girl, every detail lifelike and exquisitely crafted.

A wild rose was carved at its collar, with several movable shoulder plates hanging on either side like a shawl. The shawl bore ornate reliefs of lily leaves, primroses, and a spreading-winged canary.

Her hair was woven from Mithril threads, tied into twin ponytails. Her hairpin was a unicorn brooch, and the noble crest on it was exactly the same as the one on the suitcase outside.

When Luo Yu saw the brooch, he finally recognized the crest and said quietly, "This is a fairy doll from the Rose Workshop."

Fang Heng naturally remembered as well.

Time flows like water, while wisdom grows with each passing day—

That was the motto of the Silin-Sibika family. The Silin family had long been a pillar of the alchemical world in Corin-Ishurian, founders of the Rose Workshop and one of the most renowned inheritors of fairy craftsmanship. No wonder it had sounded so familiar to him.

Tianlan handed the doll to Fang Heng, only then noticing that everyone's eyes were focused on it. She could not help but freeze. "What's wrong with you all?"

But no one answered her.

The fog in the hall had grown ever thicker, nearly reducing visibility to nothing. After Wu Di and Liuli Yue joined forces to take down another charging Dragon Person, Wu Di turned back toward Fang Heng and the doll in his hands. "Can you use it?"

Fang Heng hesitated as well.

Fairy-type constructs were the most unusual category among Flexible Constructs. They were not combat constructs, but purely support-oriented Flexible Constructs.

They were commanders, the core and command center of the battlefield. They could assist in directing and controlling Flexible Constructs, greatly enhancing their combat power and vastly improving the multi-control capabilities of other Combat Artificers in a team.

Alchemists skilled in operating such constructs were thus known as Fairy Masters. They were among the most elite support specialists among Combat Artificers.

But they were also one of the rarest categories—

This was because fairy-type constructs were incredibly difficult to control, while Fairy Masters themselves possessed extremely poor combat ability. Corin-Ishurian even had an old saying to describe this group:

If Flexible Constructs are the Sea Forest Crown of artificers, then fairies are the most dazzling gems upon that crown.

The implication was that the Sea Forest Crown had been missing for many years. Artificers used the saying to joke that naturally no one could ever obtain the gem atop that crown.

Yet this gem—

Was, in truth, one of the supreme fields of Combat Artificers.

So no matter how confident Fang Heng was, he did not dare claim that at level three, he could become a qualified Fairy Master. In fact, he had not even mastered the required Special Flexible Construct Basic Theory and A-Class Aether Knowledge for fairy-type constructs.

Of course, he was unwilling to give up this chance to get close to a "fairy." After thinking for a moment, he answered, "I... I can give it a try."

Hong Ye patted his shoulder, as if to say—kid, find a better excuse next time you lie.

Wu Di did not seem to mind. He looked toward Sylvid in the distance, inwardly struck by the girl's fragility and beauty as well. Yet his expression remained cold, and he understood her intentions. "My lady, if you wish to come with us, keep up with the others as best you can. But if you fall behind, I doubt anyone will come back to save you—"

The girl hurriedly nodded. She shut the suitcase, dragged it after her, and caught up with the others. "Thank you. No words can express my gratitude for saving our lives."

What made Fang Heng unable to resist looking at her again was that—even under such circumstances—her maid remained perfectly composed, with no intention whatsoever of helping her mistress carry the luggage.

By now, the hall had become increasingly dangerous. The group was already fighting as they retreated, gradually approaching the eastern side, where the kitchen was located.

Fang Heng kept glancing at the noble girl from time to time, torn with indecision. If the mistress and maid fell behind, should he go back for them? If they gave him the Fairy Construct in gratitude, that would be wonderful.

Every one of those thoughts was written across his face. As he indulged in these daydreams, Etila glanced at him from the side and shook her head speechlessly.

At the same time, Sylvid happened to look curiously at Fang Heng. Their eyes met by chance, and both froze slightly. Fang Heng's face instantly flushed red, and he guiltily looked away.

The girl lowered her head as well, her gaze shifting uncertainly. Who knew what thoughts were turning in her mind.

Luo Yu saw the scene from afar. Turning back, he whispered to the others, "That woman is far too suspicious. I really don't know what helpless young girl would carry a Fairy Construct around everywhere—"

After rolling her eyes at him, Tianlan commented, "No one will think you're mute if you keep quiet."

Fortunately, their hushed conversation did not draw Sylvid's attention.

After all, as time passed, more and more monsters emerged from the fog, and everyone gradually had no attention to spare. A Dragon Person even charged out from somewhere and nearly pounced directly on the Paparal, scaring their poor guide into letting out a shriek. His short arms and legs stretched out, his little belly stuck up, and he collapsed on the spot, playing dead.

Luckily, Hong Ye reacted swiftly from behind. A Flame Ray pierced through the Dragon Person's chest, blasting it into flying ash that melted back into the fog, saving this professional kitchen thief from disaster.

The Paparal still lay motionless on the ground. If Etila had not walked over, grabbed his pointed ear, and hauled him up, even Wu Di might have thought he had truly died a glorious death.

Yet seeing the little fellow scream and struggle in the elven girl's grasp, the genius of the Silverwood Spear somehow found the scene absurd.

Fortunately, that strange feeling did not affect his judgment.

He suddenly stopped, though to his surprise, Fang Heng stopped at the same time not far away.

Wu Di held back his companions, then glanced curiously at Fang Heng. The latter still wore that strange silver mask, and now he had put those odd goggles over it as well. He looked utterly ridiculous.

But Fang Heng's expression was anything but funny. His lips were pressed tightly together as he stared in one direction.

Seeing this, Wu Di's heart tightened, and he looked in the same direction—

The billowing black smoke formed by the dragon horn hanging from the dome had long since enveloped the entire hall. Visibility was less than three meters, and the sounds of fighting in the distance had gradually faded, leaving only deathly silence.

And in the direction both of them were looking, there was in fact nothing but spreading smoke.

Yet Fang Heng suddenly reached out and yanked back the Paparal, who was rubbing his reddened pointed ear and tilting his head as he headed that way. Under the latter's baffled gaze, Fang Heng gestured to the others before whispering, "Six Dragon People."

"How do you know?" Wu Di asked curiously.

As he spoke, he made a grasping motion. A buzz sounded in the fog, and a streak of golden light flashed through it. A Clockwork Sprite landed steadily in his palm.

After putting away the Clockwork Sprite, Wu Di looked back at Fang Heng. He knew Fang Heng was also highly skilled at controlling Clockwork Sprites, but what puzzled him was when Fang Heng had managed to send one out without him noticing.

But what he never expected was for Fang Heng to raise the exquisite fairy doll in his hand and say, "Meimei's fairy crystal has a magic-vision link. I saw them—"

"Who's Meimei?" Wu Di asked, utterly confused.

"It's this fairy lady's name," Fang Heng answered softly behind his goggles. "I linked to her Core Crystal, so I learned the name her creator gave her."

The atmosphere around them abruptly fell silent.

Only Sylvid paused, raised her head, and deliberately looked at Fang Heng.

"Fuck!" Liuli Yue was the first to speak. "Don't fucking tell me you successfully linked to the Fairy Construct?"

Before he could finish, Wu Di slapped him.

"Watch your language. You represent the guild," Wu Di replied blandly, then added, "And keep it down. They're coming."

But after saying that, he glanced at Fang Heng as well. He did not ask anything, merely ordered his Fearless One to stand in front of the group.

Only Hong Ye looked utterly stunned, as though she wanted to ask something. But Fang Heng interrupted her. "Another five Dragon People are coming from the left. They seem to have been drawn here by Liuli Yue's voice."

Everyone's eyes turned in unison toward Liuli Yue.

Even Wu Di could not help frowning. Eleven Dragon People were already somewhat beyond their ability to handle.

Under everyone's gaze, the boy was furious. He could not help snapping, "Fuck, no one will think you're mute if you don't say that."

"Can't you be more civilized?" Hong Ye frowned deeply at his words.

"Stupid woman, why don't you go talk to them?" Liuli Yue immediately shot back. "If your manners can make those bird monsters flee in panic, I'll learn from you right away."

That shameless retort nearly made Hong Ye explode on the spot.

But Fang Heng suddenly spoke again. "Miss Hong Ye, activate your Flame Ray subsystem."

Hong Ye froze at his words and hurriedly asked, "Wait, kid, I can't see any tar—" Before she could finish, the rest of her sentence caught in her throat. A striking notification had suddenly appeared in the window of her Chosen System:

Fairy 'Meimei' is requesting an Aether link with your Flexible Construct—Annihilator Qv700 (A).

Hong Ye's mouth fell slightly open as she stared blankly at the message.

"Ah!? You..." she stammered. "You... you really linked to it successfully?"

"I told you, Miss Hong Ye, I'd try my best," Fang Heng answered. "But it's a little difficult. I might not be able to help much, but I'll do my best—"

I'd try my best...

I'd try my best...

Those words were all that remained in Hong Ye's head. She nearly thought she was dreaming. Unable to resist, she fiercely pinched her own arm, then almost cried from the pain. "Ah, that hurts!"

"Stay focused," Wu Di finally could not help reminding her. "They're already here."

The moment his words fell, two Dragon People parted the fog and emerged from ahead. But just as the outlines of their savage reptilian faces appeared through the thick black smoke, the Fearless One, which had been waiting there, shot forward like a cannonball. It slammed into them head-on, sending them shrieking and flying back into the fog.

Only then did Hong Ye realize the danger. Grimacing in pain, she turned around and swiped a finger across her interface to accept the request. Then she raised her control glove, preparing to turn her Annihilator.

But at that very moment, she froze. Data streamed down her system like a waterfall:

Bearing 447.

Turn left 37.2.

Adjustment value 1.2.

Adjustment value 1.4.

She lowered her head and saw that the four Magic Buoys on her control glove were spinning wildly, while the computational load normally required to control the Annihilator's four subsystems rapidly dropped on the panel.

A moment later, she heard a voice beside her ear:

"Give the command. Activate the Flame Ray subsystem, enable overload, fire once at bearing 12.443, fire twice at bearing 12.445—"

It was Fang Heng's voice.

"Wait," Hong Ye said, stunned, unable to stop herself from asking, "Who controls a Flexible Construct like that?"

There was no question that controlling a Flexible Construct was a precise process for a Combat Artificer. Even with system assistance, it required manually adjusting angles, allocating magic power, planning its different pathways, and arranging the sequence of alchemical formulas.

A Flexible Construct obeying as soon as an order was given—that was called the Dragon Knight System.

But Fang Heng had no time to explain. He only said, "Listen to me. Hurry."

Hong Ye froze slightly. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end chose to follow his instructions:

"Activate the Flame Ray subsystem, enable overload, fire once at bearing 12.443—"

The moment she finished speaking.

She discovered that her Annihilator truly seemed to understand her words. It began turning left, then slowly opened its metal casing, revealing the Flame Ray subsystem inside.

Sorry, I had too much going on today. It was too noisy during the day, so I couldn't keep writing, but I still managed to post this tonight. Please forgive me. Happy New Year, everyone~~ And since I'm spending New Year's night writing alone, please give me some votes~