However, these were all minor details. As long as they had the cannon, the energy problem would eventually be solved. Now that they had this weapon, it could be said that half of Valhalla’s firepower issue was resolved. At least for the time being, there was no need to worry about the main cannon. By the time the sinking continent was no longer usable, Qian Ye would likely be on the verge of breaking through to the threshold of a heavenly king.
From the term “sinking continent,” one could see Lin Jiaer’s ambition. The cost of just this main cannon alone probably accounted for a third of her flagship’s total value. In a regular fleet battle, with her ship’s superior maneuverability and firepower, as well as the unique fog concealment ability of the Magerians, Lin Jiaer would naturally shine. In fact, in the past, she had indeed caused the Empire’s fleet great trouble.
Unfortunately, her luck was truly poor this time, as she had encountered Valhalla, never expecting that it still possessed the void leap capability of Dì Miǎn while alive, and the fog concealment was ineffective against Qian Ye’s true sight. As a result, despite her fierce bravery, she found no place to use it, and was defeated in humiliation, losing much of her fleet to Qian Ye.
In terms of combat power, Lin Jiaer’s flagship accounted for two-thirds of the entire Magerian squadron, while the remaining dozen or so ordinary warships together only made up one-third. Therefore, the destruction of her flagship dealt a devastating blow, wiping out a century’s worth of hard work.
The depth of this hatred was unfathomable.
Setting aside his concerns for the future, Qian Ye personally assisted the crew in sorting the cargo. The goods on the two high-speed cargo ships were important, but not numerous, leaving most of the hold empty. The engines and ballistae were neatly packed in cargo crates, but their combined value equaled only that of one special-marked crate.
This particular crate contained the first batch of special alloys made by Song Zining according to the Empire’s formula.
Ma Wendong’s capabilities were indeed remarkable, arranging everything in an orderly manner. He left most of the crew on the two cargo ships, with the captains and higher-ups mostly staying on Valhalla. Additionally, he left his first mate behind for surveillance. The crew members, once on Valhalla, would not leave for a while, effectively imprisoned. This was also a punishment for their betrayal before the battle.
After unloading the cargo, the main task was to dismantle the remains of the Magerian warship, with Lin Jiaer’s flagship being the top priority. Since the flagship was sliced open by the bone spikes on Valhalla’s back without catching fire or exploding, the damage was not severe.
Given the importance of this exploration, Qian Ye decided to handle it personally. Ma Wendong led three airships to depart first, while the first mate accompanied Qian Ye to explore Lin Jiaer’s flagship.
The forward section of the flagship alone was over a hundred meters long and several dozen meters high, resembling a small fortress. Qian Ye chose the widest passage and walked in. This was Lin Jiaer’s own flagship, so there would be no traps inside; the best defense was Lin Jiaer herself.
At the end of the passage was a relatively spacious chamber, used for transit and assembly. The chamber, having been directly connected to the void, had suffered a catastrophic event, with most of its facilities destroyed, leaving only faint outlines. There were three passages from the chamber, leading forward, upward, and downward.
Qian Ye thought for a moment and headed upward. According to the usual layout, the upper area should contain the command center and Lin Jiaer’s living quarters. If Lin Jiaer had any core secrets, they would likely be there.
He ascended the spiral staircase, only to find the cabin door tightly shut. The first mate, following closely behind Qian Ye, saw the thick yet exquisitely crafted cabin door and his eyes lit up. He rushed forward, running his hand over the glossy, dark-gray door, and excitedly said, “Indeed! This door is made of alloy steel mixed with magic iron. Look at this luster; they must have used a lot of magic iron! That woman really put in a lot of resources!”
Qian Ye, clueless about materials, humbly asked, “What is magic iron?”
“Magic iron is a special material unique to the Magerians, made from a specific iron alloy. During production, it needs to absorb a large amount of demonic energy. Many Magerians with limited abilities, seeing no hope for advancement, turn to making magic iron to make a living. Alloy steel mixed with magic iron has increased hardness and toughness, and the more added, the greater the enhancement.”
With that, the first mate drew his short knife, channeled his origin power, and slashed at the cabin door, producing a grating sound. To his surprise, the blade only left a shallow scratch, which also startled Qian Ye slightly.
The first mate was only a step away from becoming a Warlord, and his short knife was specially made for mid-to-high-ranking officers, with top-quality materials and craftsmanship. Even with his full strength, he could only leave a half-finger-deep mark. This cabin door was far harder than ordinary alloy steel.
The first mate, both delighted and frustrated, said, “If all the cabin doors are made of the same material, you could make a small fortune just from these. That woman is truly crazy! However, the downside is that it will take a lot of effort to open them. It would take me half a day to drill through this door. Thoroughly exploring here might take a considerable amount of time.”
Qian Ye smiled and said, “The door may be solid, but the frame may not be. Step aside.”
The first mate moved aside, and Qian Ye, bracing himself against the door, planted his feet firmly. With a low growl, he exerted his full strength. A loud boom echoed, and the entire flagship seemed to shake. The floor under Qian Ye’s feet twisted and sank deeply, and the surrounding bulkheads cracked. The cabin door, along with its frame, was torn off by Qian Ye.
With a thud, Qian Ye threw the cabin door to the ground, flexed his body, and said nonchalantly, “It’s open. Let’s continue.”
The first mate stood beside him, staring in shock, until Qian Ye was almost at the end of the passage. Suddenly realizing, he turned around and saw the others, equally stunned. He roared, “What are you all staring at? Haven’t you heard of Lord Qian Ye’s divine might? A bunch of ignorant fools!”
The group mumbled in agreement, but inwardly scorned, “You were just as dumbfounded a moment ago.” Of course, they could only think it and not say it.
As they continued through several chambers, they saw the facilities, which included an officer’s rest area, a watchroom, a tactical room, a conference room, and an intelligence room. The chambers were in disarray, with documents scattered everywhere, indicating that everyone was busy fleeing, with no time to tidy up.
The first mate, being meticulous, gathered all the scattered documents and handed them to someone behind, saying to Qian Ye, “My lord, although Lin Jiaer is a vice duchess, she comes from a distinguished family and has not reached the limit of her talent. She also has a glorious record, so her status among the Magerians is no less than a duchess. These documents are not easily seen by the Empire, and there might be some secrets within. I will collect them and examine each one. If there is any important information, I will report it to you immediately. Additionally, after you have reviewed them, they can be sold to the Empire’s military. I’m sure they would be willing to pay a high price.”
Qian Ye was very appreciative and said, “Good, proceed as you suggested. You’re called Xu Tao, right? I heard that Huang Quan once produced a great figure named Xu Lang. Are you related to him?”
The first mate shook his head, “Just a coincidence of surname. In the Empire, Xu is a minor surname, and we have never had a high-ranking family. Our families might have been related a few centuries ago, but now we lead separate lives.”
“Ah, that’s a pity,” Qian Ye nodded, not continuing further.
At the end of the passage was a staircase leading to the upper level. As Qian Ye climbed the stairs, he found the cabin door not closed. Presumably, those below were in such a hurry to escape that they did not bother to close the door.
The next level was the command center of the entire warship. The hall was extremely grand, with rows of control devices in front of the portholes and a raised platform in the back, featuring Lin Jiaer’s throne. During battles, she commanded the entire fleet from here.
Qian Ye leaped up and took a seat on Lin Jiaer’s throne. The throne was luxurious, with intricate carvings on the armrests and a wide, comfortable seat made of soft leather, possibly from the hide of some ferocious beast.
In front of the seat was the control panel, but Qian Ye, being unfamiliar with Magerian equipment, did not know its purpose. The entire ship was silent, with all equipment powerless and inactive.
However, even if no one knew what the equipment was for, they could still be dismantled and sold at a high price to the Empire. The military would go wild for control devices from a ducal flagship, regardless of the cost.
Qian Ye tried sitting in Lin Jiaer’s chair, enjoying the excellent view through the high portholes, which provided a clear view of the front. He could also oversee the entire command center, observing everyone. Sitting in this chair, a sense of authority naturally arose.
Someone in the crowd below whispered, “This is a great act of treason!”
Though the voice was soft, the first mate, Xu Tao, heard it, glaring fiercely at the person and lowering his voice, “What nonsense are you spouting! Lord Qian Ye has no connection with the Empire. Even if he becomes an emperor, it doesn’t matter. Don’t forget, this is neutral territory, not part of the Empire. If you keep talking like that, no one will save you!”
The man shivered, stealing a glance at Qian Ye, who appeared not to have heard, and relaxed slightly.
Qian Ye had actually heard but pretended not to. These people were Song Zining’s subordinates, and even if loyal, they were only loyal to him. Song Zining and Qian Ye shared a life-or-death bond, but these people did not.
Behind Lin Jiaer’s throne was a door leading to her living quarters. Given her status as a vice duchess and the Magerians’ strict hierarchy, her living area occupied a significant portion of this level.
At this point, Xu Tao stopped outside and said, “Lord Qian Ye, there may be many secrets inside. I shouldn’t know them. You can go in alone. If you need anything, just call me.”
Qian Ye nodded, letting Xu Tao and the others stay outside as he entered Lin Jiaer’s private quarters.
At that moment, deep in the void, aboard a Magerian warship, Lin Jiaer suddenly stood up, exclaiming, “Oh no! In the rush, I forgot to pack my things!”
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