A Little Something Extra for Pansy

"You've bullied the Hechun again?" Stacy messaged.

Su Ming and Zijin were going over the refit plan for the Pansy. According to the plan, most of the bones from the Super Crystal Dragon would be allocated to this ship.

Therefore, its keel structure and even its overall drainage capacity will undergo significant changes and leaps. Several design plans completed by the Earth Support Team covered the table, and the two were carefully considering and weighing them.

"We were just having a casual chat," Su Ming replied to Stacy.

"Yes," Zijin said, "Why is Hechun so easily embarrassed about you two being together?"

"I finally managed to encourage him to come to you alone to report on his work, and this is how you treat him!" Stacy complained, gently stroking the thick fur of the Newfoundland dog beside her with her slender hand.

The big dog rested its chin on Stacy's leg and rubbed against her, looking aggrieved.

"He had one more important thing to say, but he didn't have time to finish."

"----Okay, it was my oversight," Su Ming said. Indeed, one needs to be more considerate of those with severe social anxiety. "What's the second thing Hechun wants to say?"

"It's about the purification and application of inferior Magic Power crystals," Stacy said. "We're in Lab Two; why don't you come and take a look?"

This is indeed a very important matter!

Su Ming and Zijin exchanged glances and quickly tidied up the scattered drawings on the table.

We're coming right away!

****

Inside Experiment Workshop No. 2, a Newfoundland dog was intently operating a machine. It carefully fixed a whole plate of Magic Power crystals with mottled colors into the fixture array, one by one, according to the strict vertical upward direction of the internal Magic Power conduction. Then it pushed the crystals into the chamber of the magnetization device and began setting the working parameters.

"The foundation of Magic Power crystals is still the crystallization of multiple minerals," the Quail's voice rang out, its dog head stubbornly tilting to one side, avoiding Su Ming's gaze. "After being treated with a strong magnetic field, the minerals are magnetized to a certain extent, thus making the entire crystal—"

It acquires a weak magnetism.

When Chun talks about technical issues, he's much more organized than in ordinary conversation. But the way he looks today is a bit strange.

[Why do I feel like the Hechun is flirting with Stacy?] Zijin transmitted to Su Ming beside her.

"Indeed." A smile played on Su Ming's lips. "See, he's even better at being charming than you."

Zijin subtly pinched Su Ming's hand lightly.

Soon, the machine finished charging. The heavy protective door closed, and the operator pulled the start switch.

The equipment instantly emitted a high-intensity pulsed magnetic field, and a deep hum echoed throughout the workshop. A moment later, the protective door opened, and Chun took out the magnetized crystal.

Tests showed that most of the crystals had acquired a weak residual magnetism.

About 30% of the crystals were rejected due to poor magnetization and were left to try other processing techniques, while the remaining qualified ones were placed in an ultrasonic decomposition tank.

The density of the decomposition liquid in the tank was adjusted to be slightly higher than that of the crystal. Under the vibration and scouring of high-frequency ultrasonic waves, pieces of crystal were "peeled" into pure microparticles, while the heavier impurities slowly sank to the bottom of the tank.

The next step is washing with a low-density solution. This time, the crystal particles sink to the bottom, while the low-density impurities float to the surface.

Next came a magnetic separation process, removing fragments with too weak a magnetic field. Finally, a basin of shimmering, iridescent, gem-like crystalline sand was presented to everyone.

"At this point, the separation process for anti-magic impurities is complete. After the crystal sand is dried and the excessively fine dust is blown away, the final product is obtained," Chun summarized. "Although there seem to be many steps, these processes can be streamlined. I estimate the production capacity—" He paused, "Sorry, Chairman Su is an expert in this area."

"The bottleneck lies in the efficiency of the ultrasonic crushing process." Su Ming was rapidly estimating the throughput of the entire process in his mind. "A medium-sized production line can process about ten tons of raw ore per day."

Compared to the industrial processes on Earth that often involve dozens or even hundreds of steps, the inferior crystal purification and orientation process created by the quail can at best be considered raw material pretreatment on Earth.

"Ten tons—" an alchemist exclaimed in astonishment, "This is the first time in my life I've ever heard of Magic Power crystals being measured in "tons"!"

Next is a demonstration of the application of magic crystal sand.

The quail poured grains of crystal sand into a jar of transparent magical liquid. The density of the liquid was exactly the same as that of the crystal sand. After stirring, hundreds of millions of colored particles were evenly suspended and slowly swirled, as if a hazy galaxy was contained within.

The devices above and below the quail container applied a directional magnetic field. The suspended crystal sand particles inside the container began to rotate, and the direction of Magic Power transmission quickly became unified!

Younier stepped forward and tentatively sketched a lighting magic circle on the surface of the container.

Buzz!

The magic circle was instantly illuminated, and a stable and bright light spread out.

A burst of enthusiastic applause quickly filled the workshop!

Stacy leaned down, a smile of approval on her face, and ruffled the Newfoundland's soft, fluffy head.

****

"Not bad!" Newman closed his eyes and sensed for a moment. "Compared to the entire Magic Power crystal, the durability of these crystal sands has indeed decreased, and the rate of mana loss has also increased. But their output intensity in a short period of time has actually increased!"

"Is this process adaptable to different types of ore?" Su Ming asked, turning to Chun. "Is the selection of ore very demanding?"

"In theory, all crystals can be magnetized," Hechun explained in detail. "The main difference lies in how much remanence is retained. Of the minerals we've found so far, only about half reach the strength required for the application. Of course, I will continue to optimize the process."

"This is already very good!" Su Ming's face beamed with genuine joy.

Even in normal crystal mines, mining produces a large amount of waste ore and high-impurity minerals, which can be purchased at very low prices. Things that were originally considered waste can all be turned into treasure - this represents extremely enormous value!

Su Ming turned his gaze to Newman, "Using this crystal sand as a Magic Power source, can we set up a magical defense array on Brown Gold Island that's on par with the ' Everwatching Obelisk '?"

"If a liquid suspension system is deployed on a seagoing vessel, the violent rocking of the waves will severely compromise its stability," Newman analyzed, then suddenly realized something was wrong. "Wait, Brown Gold Island? Weren't you planning to install it on the Pansy?"

As the Pansy's displacement increased, the size of its defensive array also increased by a number that severely damaged Su Ming's wallet.

"This liquid levitation system is clearly unsuitable for the marine environment, so let's stick to using standard Pansy -piece Magic Power crystals for the Pansy's defensive array," Su Ming said. "We can afford it now, anyway."

The supplies promised by the dwarves are arriving steadily. To win the upcoming war, being a little extravagant is not a bad idea!

"Deploying the crystal sand levitation system on land is certainly no problem," Newman stated confidently, then his expression turned questioning. "However, what exactly is the purpose of undertaking such a large-scale defense project on Brown Gold Island?"

"Yes," Younier couldn't help but interject, "Even if you mined and sold all the coal on my island, it wouldn't cover the cost of the expensive alchemical materials for the defensive magic array!"

"I'm sorry, the specific reasons need to be kept confidential for now." Su Ming did not answer directly, "But I need you to do your best to carry out this task, and you must ensure that even if the army of the Temple of Light comes in person, they will not be able to detect from the outside that this seemingly powerful magical defensive weapon is actually a second-rate product pieced together from crystal fragments."

The fire in Newman's eyes suddenly blazed brighter. "I love this challenge!"

"You're free to do whatever you want on Brown Gold Island," Su Ming said. "Get ready and head there as soon as possible to begin your deployment."

"No problem!" Newman replied.

Su Ming then turned to Younier, "You will assist throughout the entire process, responsible for coordinating the necessary manpower and resources. Furthermore, everyone on Brown Gold Island must be evacuated!"

The coal here is not difficult to obtain, and at this stage, the island does not have irreplaceable strategic value, so Su Ming decided to stop its production.

Younier opened her mouth, wanting to say something. Brown Gold Island was where she had lived since childhood, and her first reaction was reluctance. However, the island now belonged to Su Ming, and it was clear that it was about to be involved in war; this was not the time to act on emotions.

"I understand!" Younier nodded vigorously. "So, what are your plans regarding the island's inhabitants?"

"Those willing to come to Dragon Valley will be settled around the Red Ridge Mine, given jobs and accommodation," Su Ming proposed. "Those unwilling to come will receive a reasonable compensation and leave on their own."

Younier looked troubled upon hearing this. "I—don't recommend offering a second option." She explained, "Indeed, some people would prefer to take the money and leave, but the vast majority of ordinary residents on the island know very little about the outside world and have almost no other skills to make a living besides coal mining."

Su Ming was acting according to conventional thinking, but he momentarily overlooked the fact that in this other world, the education level and survival skills of the lower classes were very limited.

"So, by doing this, I might actually be harming them?" he asked thoughtfully.

Younier nodded. "Giving them freedom directly could be a disaster in this situation. I suggest we forcibly relocate everyone here first, and arrange accommodation and work uniformly. Those who have a strong desire to venture out can choose to leave at any time, but if they encounter setbacks outside, at least this place will provide a fallback option."

Su Ming agreed, "Alright, let's handle it according to your plan."

****

The upgrade plan for the Pansy has been finalized, with the ship to have an additional 4,000 tons of structural steel and 2,500 tons of technological equipment and metal. The main structure has been redesigned to resemble a dock landing ship with a large transport bay layout.

Thanks to the exceptional hardness of the Crystal Dragon skeleton, the dragon bone structure was completely replaced, forming a synergistic combination with the original White Bone Fortress.

The ship's deadweight factor has been significantly improved, exceeding 0.6. Therefore, after the upgrade, the Pansy's full-load displacement with cargo reached approximately 28,000 tons.

In the conference room at Sapphire Port, everyone stared at the massive upgrade blueprints, marveling at their achievement.

"I know a little about shipbuilding," said Magelaili, the port manager, "But this scale has far surpassed the boundaries of what's possible in this world."

"This expedition will revolve around the Pansy," Su Ming briefly explained the ship's design concept. "A key aspect of the operation is its ability to support the combat deployment of three Bone Machine Battalion and one Dragon Battalion!"

"So, this ship is going to carry one hundred giant dragons?" Beianqi asked.

"It's an elite battalion; we can only carry sixty dragons," Su Ming said. "If the Pansy were empty, it could easily accommodate one hundred, but we'd still need to allocate a lot of space to the Bone Machine Battalion and various types of ammunition."

"So, the supply arrangements will all be handled by the merchant ships?" Hansite asked.

"Yes," Ainuobia confirmed. "Fifty supply ships of various types will participate in this operation, responsible for logistical support."

This scale is rare in other worlds; it can definitely be considered a large-scale war operation.

Beianqi immediately asked, "What about the escort for the supply ships?"

"The Feather Race fleet will participate in this operation," Su Ming explained. "In addition, a second combat unit from the Final Bone Mad Machines will also join the operation."

In the last Battle of Shining Island, all the captured ships were handed over to the Feather Race. After a period of repair and training, the Feather Race navy has formed a preliminary combat capability. Although it is still somewhat difficult to conduct direct combat, it has no problem performing support missions.

"This trip is going to be very exciting!" Hansite said with great anticipation.

"Oh?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "You've been here for months, are you getting rusty?"

"No, no!" Hansite responded quickly, "In just these past few months, I've seen countless eye-opening things, I couldn't be more satisfied!"

"So this time I'll put you on the Pansy and take you to explore the Holy City of the Temple of Light?" Su Ming said with a smile.

"Ha ha, I'd be delighted!" Hansite laughed heartily.

****

After the tasks were assigned, everyone left the meeting room and began working on the upgrade of the new ship.

Su Ming called out to Beianqi, indicating that she should stay alone for a while.

"Has the problem of the out-of-control alchemical component implanted in your back been completely resolved?" Su Ming asked.

"It's completely fine now!" Beianqi replied. "The Spinal Hub has fully fused, and the related techniques have been thoroughly analyzed!"

"That's good. I don't need to leave the Fate Manipulator alive then." Su Ming nodded.

Although it has a hint of discarding a used tool, the Fate Manipulator has been quite restless lately. To eliminate any potential threats, he will be killed after being used one last time.

"I heard he's Katharine's enemy?" Beianqi asked.

"Hmm." Su Ming nodded. "Shortly after Katharine was born, he tampered with her heart, almost killing her."

Beianqi's eyes widened. "That Fate Manipulator really deserved to die!"

Su Ming opened his portable tablet, pulled up another set of drawings, and began to explain the second task.

"This is the weapon upgrade plan."

Beianqi took the tablet and immediately identified the type of device on the drawing.

"Is it a smaller version of the ' Vermilion Bow '?" Beianqi recognized it at a glance. "The shipboard version."

"Yes," Su Ming affirmed.

In terms of weapon selection, electromagnetic weapons were ultimately chosen. The reason is that this operation will involve facing one of the strongest forces in the Taya Plane and launching an attack deep into its territory.

It is foreseeable that they will encounter organized, large-scale High Rank superhuman forces, whose threat far exceeds that of these Gray Ridge goblins.

Su Ming was confident in the suppressive capabilities of his 20mm fire net when engaging Intermediate Rank targets at close range; however, he urgently needed a weapon capable of sustained damage and creating a powerful deterrent at medium range and against high-level targets.

"Will the power supply for the Pansy be able to keep up?" Beianqi asked worriedly. "Weren't the two newly installed steam turbine generator sets reserved for the propulsion system?"

"I will add four more gas turbines," Su Ming explained. "We've finally accumulated enough fuel over this period."

Gas turbines must be fueled by oil or natural gas; they cannot use coal.

Currently, 95% of crude oil supply relies on the Naga race. This is why, although Su Ming received reports that the Naga race was plotting revenge, he was still reluctant to destroy them first.

Of course, oil is also found on land, but exploration and extraction require massive investments of resources and time. Therefore, Su Ming chose to take what was readily available, which meant continuing to make these sea creatures work hard.

"By the way, you'll be in charge of this operation," Su Ming added.

"Wow! I need to name this electromagnetic cannon!" Beianqi thought excitedly. "How about ' Maimai '?"

"The name doesn't matter." Su Ming paused, "But when I said you'd be in control, I meant the entire Pansy."

Beianqi took a step back abruptly, covering her mouth in disbelief. "Really—I'll be in charge?"

"That's right, I can call you Captain now!" Su Ming confirmed solemnly.

Beianqi almost rushed forward to hug him, but stopped herself in her tracks. She bowed deeply, trying to hide the surging emotions on her face, "----Thank you!"

"You make me work like a slave, and I still have to say thank you?" Su Ming chuckled. "If capitalists on Earth knew this, they'd be green with envy."

He stood up. "Although you'll be working hard again, I know how dedicated you are—please make sure you get enough rest."

"I will!" Beianqi replied.

****

Half-human, Thousand Cellars Domain, Red Luo Port.

The port maintained its peaceful daily scene. Propaganda signs for the Final Bone Mad Machines were everywhere, and when someone caught a glimpse of a "suspected" necromancer landing at the dock, they would enthusiastically approach him for a chat and then guide him to the Seagull Guild's port office.

Of course, it has now been renamed: Final Bone Mad Machines Tourist Reception Center.

The old elf Xiwo has been staying here for the time being.

The Naga people inhabit the Haijia Archipelago, located two thousand kilometers west of Red Luo Port, making this port almost the closest land area to the Naga territory.

Xiwo has gathered several old friends and acquaintances, and is collecting and summarizing information about the Naga's movements through multiple channels.

Judging from various sources, the Naga race is preparing for a war that will mobilize the entire race, and they also harbor deep resentment and intend to launch some destructive activities.

"Looks like we need to intervene with these fish tails," Xiwo muttered to himself.

Although he didn't know all the details of Su Ming's battle plan, the massive deployment of the Final Bone Mad Machines was clearly not aimed at these big-tailed fish. Therefore, it was necessary to keep these Naga in line and quietly wait for their turn.

Xiwo continued to deploy personnel to thoroughly investigate the specific defenses of the Naga Clan territory.

In the afternoon, a nearby workshop sent word to Xiwo that someone had ordered ten specially made, extra-long bathtubs.

A smile finally appeared on Xiwo's face—after waiting so long, the fish had finally taken the bait!

A bathtub two and a half meters long is not something humans need, much less something halflings or dwarves. In this world, the races that would need this type of bathtub are all far away on the Western Continent.

Unless someone has so much money they don't know what to do with it, or is a player who enjoys multiple players, then the only reasonable use for these extra-long bathtubs is for transporting those Naga Clan with their long tails by land!

That's right. Although the Naga can stay out of the water for short periods, they must soak in water frequently to stay active on land for extended periods!

As for why this workshop proactively reported to Xiwo, it's because he had bought the workshop two months ago and arranged for his workers to accept all custom bathtub orders at prices far below market rates!

Xiwo stuffed the Sky Punishment Staff into his pocket, summoned several members of the Final Bone Mad Machines to accompany him, and even called upon a giant dragon, intending to meet these bathtub buyers who had offered themselves up.

Often, the mind is the most useful weapon!