Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Repairs of the Wind King Warship

Emil naturally needed no introduction. Though Wiseman specialized in undead alchemy, assisting her posed no challenge for him.

After all, the "Hand of Nightmare" possessed master-level knowledge, skills, and creativity despite his unorthodox methods. His rapid development of earthly stone bombs after entering Sky City proved this. With him present, he might even spark brilliant ideas through collaboration with Emil.

Even Midi felt anticipation about this prospect.

As for Midi and Avril? While not experts, their adventurer background granted basic alchemy knowledge. Wilderness survival required brewing potions and repairing weapons, giving them experience in foundational potion-making and metalwork.

Moreover, Midi had invented the Vanguard ship in Arad! Years of exposure to alchemy experts like Mist Sorceress Alice and Master Norton further boosted his confidence. Though fixing an ancient sky warship demanded skill, he felt capable assisting.

The fourth prince cut a pitiful contrast. Reinhardt understood nothing of alchemy – confirmed both by Midi’s observations and Wiseman’s blunt admission. The prince couldn’t even defend himself before being mercilessly exposed.

Too drained for anger, Reinhardt grappled with shock. How could he, the perfection-driven fourth prince who rivaled Midi in battlefield strategy, become dead weight in the Sea of Clouds? Lacking survival skills or alchemy talent, even his swordsmanship proved ineffective in large-scale aerial combat. His prized leadership? Unneeded when Midi commanded.

At best, he could handle simple tasks like keeping watch. But the proud prince would never accept such humiliation!

After Midi’s orders, Reinhardt’s face paled before he trudged outside in defeat.

"Was I too harsh?" Emil whispered, adjusting tortoiseshell glasses as she leaned close.

Understandable concern, given Reinhardt and Wiseman were her earliest trusted allies. Yet Midi simply shook his head.

If Reinhardt crumbled from minor setbacks, he’d never become an Emperor. Having overthrown his brother in another life, this timeline’s alliance with Midi should accelerate his rise. True ambition allowed defeat and doubt, but never dependence on pity.

"He’ll handle his duties," Midi declared, signaling to begin.

Emil’s tools appeared alongside the warship’s own equipment. The repair team formed instantly – Emil commanding, Wiseman assisting, Midi and Avril supporting. Work commenced urgently.

Though millennia old, the warship’s alchemy techniques surpassed modern methods, forged by supreme experts with limitless resources. Even future legend "White Snake" Emil couldn’t fully grasp ancient methods quickly. Fortunately, only the burned magic circuit required attention.

So, what Midi and his team needed to do was simply recreate the magic circuits through alchemy and replace them section by section.

In short, this wasn’t skilled work—just a tedious physical task.

Soon, a basic alchemy workshop was set up in the vast hangar of the Wind King Warship.

Emil had improvised an assembly line based on ancient magic circuit standards, allowing rapid mass production.

Meanwhile, every crewmember on the Narwhal with alchemy expertise—whether professional alchemists or Vanguard ship pilots skilled in maintenance—had been reassigned by Midi as technicians.

Under Emil’s patient coaching and Wiseman’s biting sarcasm, the workshop soon reached maximum productivity.

Magic circuits etched with celestial runes streamed from the assembly line into the warship’s framework.

Replacing exposed circuits in the engine room proved manageable at first, but progress slowed drastically as they worked deeper into the hull.

The People of the Heavens’ craftsmanship showed itself—circuits were artfully concealed within structural supports and bulkheads. Each replacement now demanded either meticulous reverse-engineering or brute force.

Choosing urgency over precision, Midi ordered the destructive approach. The warship’s pristine corridors soon bore scars from swords, axes, saws, and explosives as crews hacked through obstinate panels.

When they reached critical circuit nodes, only Emil and Wiseman possessed the skill to proceed.

After two sleepless days of shifts, they’d only restored half the main circuits—the bridge remained distant.

Hands-on work revealed both the ancient builders’ genius and the warship’s staggering scale.

Yet the crew grew more efficient daily. Midi estimated the remaining work would take barely another day.

Soon this relic would reclaim the skies, delivering a shockwave through the Sea of Clouds and Stormy Region—a direct challenge to the Blue Truth Sect’s dominance.

The team glimpsed triumph when Reinhardt entered silently, his stony expression halting Midi’s heartbeat.

“Trouble?” Midi kept his voice flat, though tension coiled in his chest.

Reinhardt hadn’t shaken his “useless” humiliation, but his recent patrols had been flawless. This breach of duty signaled true crisis.

“Visitors,” Reinhardt murmured. “A Vanguard ship reported a massive skyship approaching Dusk Graveyard before going silent. Perimeter remains quiet… for now.”

Three shrill beeps erupted from Midi’s communication charm—the Narwhal’s emergency signal. Every worker froze.

“Keep working.” Midi rose, steel in his tone. “Reinhardt and I will handle this. Emil—double the repair pace. Avril, Wiseman—secure the site.”

His calm words carried battlefield frost.

Wiseman tossed Reinhardt a rune-carved token. “Controls my two-headed wyvern. Undead mount won’t tire.”

Without speaking, Reinhardt caught it.

Midi was already striding away, his retreating back sharp as drawn steel.