Chapter 479

Chapter 479: Carp Airship

烽烟 City.

Lund led the remaining people and Jena out from the courtyard, moving to a new residence under the cover of another group. This place was in the northern part of the city, close to the mountain peak and the forest.

“Lord Lund, if you need anything, feel free to let me know,” An said as he took his leave.

After settling everyone in, it was already evening. The wandering bard no longer disturbed them and turned to leave.

Lund surveyed the surroundings before bringing his daughter into a separate room.

Seeing her father’s somewhat grave expression, Jena felt a growing sense of unease.

Closing and checking the door, Lund had his daughter sit at the table while he slowly sat down himself.

“You left too late,” he began.

Jena wanted to explain, but instead, she slowly closed her mouth and lowered her head, saying, “Yes.”

“All of this is just the beginning. There is open conflict and hidden struggles within烽烟 City. It will only get worse. At that time, it will be hard for me to protect you.”

“You should prepare yourself. Find a gap and leave the city to return to school. Don’t come back until graduation.”

Her father looked at her and said.

“But Father’s safety—” Jena worried.

“I know some things I can’t avoid. Lund raised his head, looking at the flickering lights on the ceiling, seemingly with a sigh.

“Even if it wasn’t Schett today, another big figure would come tomorrow to recruit me to serve them.”

“If I refuse all of them, I’ll only make more enemies, leading to an even worse outcome. Besides, Black Rock isn’t that big. Where could I hide? I still have friends and acquaintances here from these years.”

“But once I take a side, I’ll be drawn into endless conflicts. War won’t end easily.”

“Internally, we must defeat the Huntbow faction and overcome many other Halberd factions’ leaders.”

“A single misstep could lead to death.”

“Even if I choose the right side, the initially unified Black Rock will be urged by the Frost Rose to join the war against Clancia. The enemy has vast territories and populations. This battle won’t end in less than 5-10 years, and who knows how many people will die far from home.”

“Don’t think Shimos is a good person.”

“I can definitely say that the wandering bard,

The poet had been watching the drama unfold from the side; he merely appeared at the most opportune moment.

“Then Father will agree,” Jena blurted out somewhat urgently, then realized what she had said and fell silent.

“You’re very smart, Jena. Yes, I don’t have many choices. If I refuse him, the outcome might be even worse,” Lund said in a soothing voice.

“Is there really no other choice?”

Jena spoke softly, recalling her journey so far. The Hunter’s Bow and Halberd factions were not ideal, nor were the mercenaries within the city, where various factions vied for their own interests.

Is there really no good option? Why are only bad and worse choices presented before me? Her heart was filled with confusion.

“Yes, there isn’t much of a good choice. We can only choose the lesser of two evils. Perhaps this is the helplessness of reality,” Lund sighed.

Even this man, who was as sharp as a sword in others’ eyes, now carried a heavy sigh in his words.

“Go back, Jena. Return to Emanas and study hard there. When you become strong enough in the future, perhaps you’ll find a way to solve the problem,” Lund patted his daughter’s hair.

“Father.”

Feeling her father’s rough, heavy hand, Jena let out a soft sound.

“But, even if I graduate from Emanas, will I be able to find a solution?”

“Black Rock has seen many geniuses graduate from Emanas over the years, perhaps even annually. They should include many idealistic individuals. Yet, Black Rock hasn’t changed because of them.”

Jena thought of the names she remembered, which she had seen in the school’s register. Some left the country for other places, some joined local forces and became leaders themselves, doing similar things as their predecessors. Others, like pebbles in water, caused a splash and then disappeared without a trace.

Would she truly be able to change this country after graduation? She found it hard to believe.

The pond’s water is already polluted; even the best fish entering would be stained with the same blackness or struggle to survive.

What a terrible country this is.

Her childhood impressions of beauty slowly crumbled along the journey. What she once thought beautiful was merely a narrow perspective of home. She used to think this was all of Black Rock, but she now realizes this is an extremely rare minority.

“Perhaps, there’s still hope,” Lund patted Jena’s shoulder and then withdrew his hand.

Come.

  ”Get some rest. In a few days, I’ll arrange for a break to send you out of the city.”

  A sleepless night.

  Jenna tossed and turned in bed, finally falling into a deep sleep very late.

—

  Nide County.

  Lolan Hill collected a lot of logs from the surrounding forest, dried them, and made wooden boards, placing them on one side of the courtyard. Then, she began trying to inscribe an anti-gravity array in her laboratory.

  First, she needed to prepare a carrier that could hold magic power, and such things were generally chosen from extraordinary gems extracted from demonic beasts.

  Then, she would need to modify, refine, re-engrave, solidify, test, and add auxiliary structures to this gem.

  Finally, after about two weeks of continuous experimentation, Lolan Hill successfully restored a basic anti-gravity core.

  A soccer ball-sized core slowly floated on the experimental table, emitting a faint glow.

  [Anti-Gravity Core] (Rare Silver Rank): Can bear up to 3000kg, allowing it to float steadily in the air.

  The description was plain, but the result made Lolan Hill feel happy. Although she could fly herself, she also wanted to experience the feeling of building her own aircraft or airship.

  Let’s get started.

  In the following days, aside from occasionally visiting Iron Anvil City, Lolan Hill spent most of her time in the courtyard, building the wooden airship in her mind.

  Everything felt like it had returned to her childhood, like assembling building blocks or constructing robot models. With the construction of the keel, the ship’s cabin, the installation of the anti-gravity core, the assembly of the sails, and the testing of the transmission device, and so on.

  A small airship slowly took shape in the courtyard.

  It was entirely made of wooden boards, lightweight, with its exterior painted in orange-red, paired with white sails, resembling a giant carp.

  [Carp Airship] (Excellent Silver Rank): Though not large, it excels in agility and consumes less magic power, with excellent overall structural efficiency.

  ”So, today is the day for the test flight.”

  In the courtyard, the young lady wore a white dress, using her hand to shield the sun from her eyes as she looked at this brand new small airship, which could only carry six people, with its slightly oval shape appearing somewhat cute.

  ”Go ahead, Mira. You will become the first pilot of your rabbit-eared tribe, recorded in history.”

  ”No, Sage! Can this really fly?” Mira’s two ears trembled uneasily as she gripped the control stick, looking nervously at the silver-haired girl beside her.

  (End of Chapter)