Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 698 - 600 Boarding the Ship and Beheading!
The brilliant sun shone brightly in the clear sky.
In the Kingdom Mainland, at the Royal Navy Academy and the First Fleet station, New Inn Port.
The flags were fluttering, and white sails filled the sky. Rows of warships, no less than Level 5 Battleships, were lined up at the berths in the naval port, representing the pinnacle of humanity’s war machines in this era, making one hold their breath.
"It seems like there are suddenly a lot more warships in the naval port recently. Besides the ships belonging to the First Fleet, many from the Second and Third Fleets have arrived too. It’s strange that they’re docking here one after another but not going out on missions."
"Isn’t it good to have more? If these warships weren’t gathered here, God knows how long we would have to wait for this collective boarding ceremony. We might have to wait six months or more."
"I haven’t heard of any major event happening in the Kingdom. Could it be a drill?"
A group of young people, dressed in Sub-Lieutenant uniforms and carrying luggage, were whispering to each other as they lined up at the port.
They enrolled at the Royal Navy Academy at the age of thirteen. With a five-year program, the final year was an internship on a ship. Unlike civilians who mostly started as ordinary seamen, all graduates from the Royal Navy Academy began as Sub-Lieutenants once they joined a warship.
Moreover, the internship warships for these formally trained officer candidates were considerably better; you would rarely find a Level 6 Battleship. However, whether they could stay on their internship ship ultimately depended on their own abilities.
At this time, there might be three to five people assigned to a warship, but by the end of the internship, only one might stay, or none at all, while the others would have to accept reassignment.
In fact, even the School Officers, who were the core of the warships, had to undergo intense competition to get their positions.
Just how intense was the competition? A look at those half-salary captains ashore, numbering half again as many as the active captains, made it crystal clear.
Given the limited scale of the Kingdom Fleet at present, this system ensured that the personnel serving at sea were the most elite. Furthermore, these outstanding managerial skeletons could quickly support a new fleet when the Kingdom Navy expanded.
Therefore, even though many of these Royal Navy Academy Sub-Lieutenants had some background, securing a good position wasn’t easy.
After a three-month closed training, they were now about to embark on the true beginning of their naval careers.
"In front of you lies the row of 21 warships, all on the enlistment list. I will now announce your assignments one by one, and you can board the ships directly. Abken, the Second Fleet, Level 5 Battleship ’Spark’..."
It was a Civilian Position Brigadier General from the Military Department responsible for sending the cadets aboard. While the cadets were unaware of the purpose of these warships gathering here, he had received inside information.
These young people, having studied together for four years, didn’t know if they would have another opportunity to reunite fully at the Academy’s graduation ceremony after boarding different ships today. Therefore, he didn’t interfere with their whispers, which were slightly undisciplined.
At this moment.
Aside from those whose names had been called, the orderly lined-up officer candidates all fixed their gaze on the most distinctive warship in the naval port.
Even when surrounded by awe-inspiring Level 3 Battleships, it still stood out like a crane among chickens.
Because it was the rarely seen Quasi-Legendary Battleship of the entire Kingdom — the "Brilliance"! An extraordinary presence all coveted.
However, due to the prior closed training, even those with influential backgrounds did not know where their families’ efforts behind the scenes would place them.
"Do you think the instructor’s mention includes the ’Brilliance’?"
"Heh! Does anyone here have a close personal relationship with that Major General, Captain? If that gentleman doesn’t nod, not even the gentlemen stationed at the Military Department would have any sway."
"A Quasi-Legendary Battleship is already powerful enough to suppress an entire overseas colony. As the combat units undertaking the toughest missions within the Kingdom Navy, every crew member is extraordinary. Actually, directly boarding a Level 1 Battleship might be more realistic."
However, despite this talk, every Sub-Lieutenant was eagerly anticipating.
Even knowing the slim possibility, they still hoped to see their name followed by the resplendent word, "Brilliance."
On the alphabetical list, following several officer candidates appointed to Level 5 Battleships, the first character assigned directly to the main Level 3 Battleship appeared.
"Adel, the First Fleet, Level 3 Battleship ’Long-tailed Sparrow’...."
Being able to ascend directly into the Level 3 and above main Battleship sequence meant both competence and family background that were beyond reproach.
Just like Adel Devon, whose strength had already reached that of an Official Knight, and the Devon Earl Clan held one of the fifty-nine seats in the Upper Council.
Following him.
Two other Official Knights of extraordinary origin, Bristol and Strassen, also obtained battleship enlistment qualifications, one from a great noble family and the other from a family with a legacy of achievements.
Yet, the three prodigies, unwilling to accept this, did not leave; they wanted to see if anyone could actually board that Quasi-Legendary Battleship. In fact, it wasn’t just them; most people stayed, grouping with those assigned to the same ships.
Just like Aiven’s and the others’ short training course back then, the cadets formed numerous small groups based on background, strength, and connections... Since the Navy Academy always encouraged a tradition of healthy competition, geniuses who could advance to Official Knight status before graduation considered each other as their greatest rivals.
Individual strength, professional skills, academic scores, family background, family celebrities, connections, etc., are all to be compared against each other. In this world, these all represent power.
And among this batch of four Official Knights, the last one remaining is Elante, placed last due to alphabetical order.
When the Brigadier General read the last name, the room was silent.
"Elante, directly under the Military Department, Quasi-Legendary Battleship ’Brilliance’!"
Elante belatedly looked around at the classmates already grouped in threes and fives on the opposite side, scratching his head in distress: "Eh? Just me? The Quasi-Legendary Battleship is indeed not bad. But without companions with me, it’s truly a bit... lonely."
Classmates: ...Damn, how mundane.
...
Rumble...
Aiven gently raised his hand, and the thick rock wall in front of him rolled open like water, splitting to the sides.
When he walked out of the inner control system of the Super Giant Rock Golem "Mountain Giant," the rock wall automatically closed behind him.
With a step, he had already returned to the top layer of Poseidya City within the [Witchcraft Garden].
He had too many research projects himself, and just when twenty-three apprentices had all completed the beginner stage of the "Life Tree Meditation Method."
So he simply assigned tasks to the apprentices, some stationed in the Mountain Giant to begin terminal repairs; some regularly taking care of herbs; some joining in the production of witchcraft creatures like Black Gold...
Exchanging labor for points, exchanging points for knowledge and resources, completely avoiding unearned gains, cultivating a good atmosphere from the start of school establishment.
Jacob and Kael, who joined halfway, especially after converting their meditation methods, used their nearly promotion-level foundation to surpass Calvin, the second senior brother.
Once they remedied the knowledge of the apprentice stage of the "Vitalist School," it is expected that before the end of this year, these two less than twenty-year-olds can begin attempting to become Official Wizards!
Sitting in his bright and clean office, Aiven casually picked up an industry report of the territory.
"The territory is gradually getting on the right track."
The cotton picking in July was thoroughly completed, and the cotton textile industry and subsequent large-scale dumping plan had been smoothly started under the host of his old father-in-law. It was also time for the "Mercury United Trading Company" to show its prowess.
Moreover, following the tradition of the "Mercury United Trading Company," using non-personified god names from the Holy Rosar Empire era for naming, the independent "Sekhmet Biomedical Company" has been established, with Dr. Taylor as the CEO.
Although they have successfully developed a [Secondary Elixir of Immortality], for Aiven, the raw materials are also renewable resources, but as with many products having "planned obsolescence" to ensure the long-term interests of monopoly manufacturers, this kind of tactic helps.
Presenting a complete item that could extend life by 200 years, a treasure enough to fight for life for normal people, would have no slightest benefit to Aiven, although it would certainly cause upheaval.
But the "Derivative Enzyme Preparation" produced with [Super Microscopic Vision] is still marketable.
It significantly enhances cell activity to delay aging, and if one continuously takes the medicine as bodily functions start to decline from 35 years old, it can extend natural life by 30%.
This is truly a good medicine that can be profitable! Just like large pharmaceutical companies rarely produce "divine medicine" that can completely cure people once and for all.
Including civilian officials in the territory, they are not entirely without the opportunity to receive this benefit, but whether they can get it depends on their performance.
Like the concerns of the gods, letting the Comfortable Longevity Species govern as a stubborn vested interest group might rule the world, stubborn, closed, and backward... these negative impacts are very likely to come one by one.
Additionally, named after the God of Forging, "Vulcan Metals Company," and the God of Craftsmanship, "Hephaestus Ceramics Company," were also founded. Each company operates independently, reporting to the Governor.
Every company has its flagship product, with booming business, bringing Aiven endless wealth.
At this time, both Anita and Olivia were not in the [Witchcraft Garden]. Dressed in a black silk textured dress adding a touch of gentle beauty, Mei knocked on the door and entered, gently lifting her skirt to salute:
"Captain! You just received two letters."
One of the two letters was a regular note delivered by the Seagull.
Still supervising on Ugor Island, Hawkins had already followed Aiven’s arrangement and brought his dependent mother from Ilya to Phaletis. After settling down, he wrote to thank Aiven for the gift of the property.
The other was a Spirit Realm communication just sent by Liweina.
Based on the principle of fewer words meaning bigger events, the letter was very short, but from the somewhat messy handwriting, one could tell her heart was not calm when writing:
"Last night, the Kingdom Guardian ’Tempest Tide’ was killed. Early this morning, King Henry II was executed for treason by the Rebel Army... beheaded!"
