The old steam engine is running like new!
The hissing sound of steam has beco incredibly clear and stable, and the previously droopy pressure gauge needle has returned to normal... as if the chanical Soul is in a good mood!
The expression on the ship's technician's face can no longer be described as shocked.
This...
Is this really a Lizardman?
Are they really not Imperial superior chanics disguised in lizard skin?!
He even felt a strange illusion in his heart—
As if he were the ignorant savage.
While these two "natives" with big tails are the real experts...
...
The repair work has ended.
The boiler room door creaked open.
The ship's technician ca out with a strange expression on his face, his steps much heavier than when he went in.
Derek had been waiting by the corridor; as soon as he saw him coming out, he imdiately stepped forward and urgently asked, "How is it? Is it fixed?"
He heard the sound of the boiler running, and just felt it was different from before, yet couldn't tell whether it was better or worse.
The technician was silent for a mont, seemingly organizing his words, but ultimately only sighed.
"It can move now, you... see for yourself."
Derek's heart skipped a beat, and his expression imdiately darkened.
He imdiately turned and gave the order.
"Set sail!"
The steam whistle quickly sounded.
The sailors swiftly took their positions, the steam boiler started running with a rumbling sound, and the heavy steam noise gradually turned into a light roar.
The ripples pushed by the propeller were neat like a comb, and the whole ship seed to have been reborn, proceeding steadily.
Derek stood on the bridge, feeling the silky smooth vibration under his feet, almost unable to believe his senses—
He felt that his Grace... was even better than before the storm hit?!
"What... what is going on?"
He widened his eyes and looked at the ship's technician who had just co up from the boiler room.
The latter gave a bitter smile.
"Sir, I want to share the shock in my heart with you, but I can't say a word. I can only tell you that the engine's efficiency has increased by thirty percent... at least thirty percent."
"They found the issues with our engine and even pointed them out to , while I couldn't understand what the problem was at all. You know I graduated from the Royal Navy School's chanical repair departnt and served in the navy for several years; my experience and knowledge are definitely up to the test... but before them, I feel like a rookie."
After hearing this, Derek fell into a long silence.
Although he also graduated from the Royal Navy School, he was not an engineer and couldn't understand the principles.
But as a soldier, he knew what a thirty percent increase in engine efficiency ant, and even more what "just patching up can achieve this" ant.
The technological gap between the two sides is probably terrifyingly huge, and no wonder that Prince Colin would sign so non-aggression treaty with the local "natives"... If it weren't for the fact that this juicy piece of at was too hard to swallow, when have the Imperial nobles ever compromised with the natives?
In comparison... they seed more like the natives.
"It's simply unbelievable..." The first officer walked to Derek's side, glanced complexly at the distant Withered Wood Port, and managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat, "They don't seem like a mariti civilization, without docks, shipyards, let alone fleets... How did they manage to understand steam propulsion better than us?"
"I don't know... but maybe this explains why the Empire's territories have never expanded here, resulting in us not even knowing there's a Prince here."
Derek's brow furrowed tighter, as a thought gradually erged in his mind—
He must imdiately report the situation here to General Hamoldon at Saint Yil Castle!
If necessary, the Empire should give Prince Colin appropriate assistance to help the local Lord open up this colonial territory!
Of course.
This is just his opinion as a mid-level military officer and cannot influence the Empire's decisions. However, he believes this is the choice that best serves the Empire's interests—
They absolutely cannot allow a sudden, uncontrolled hazard to appear on the Vast Ocean!
Nor let Hell get a head start here!
Thinking of this, he discreetly turned and walked towards Lumier standing on the deck not far away.
"Thank you for your assistance!"
He spoke politely, with a sincere smile on his face, carefully hiding all the previous shock.
"Since the equipnt has been repaired, let send you and the two guests from the Gutaf Kingdom back!"
Lumier nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.
The two Lizardn were still shaking their tails excitedly at the bow, gesturing at sothing, but after quietly conversing with Lumier, they obediently jumped back onto the skiff.
"Thank you for your contributions... Lord Demon King is very satisfied; now I will take you back to shore where you will receive your mission reward."
The small boat went ashore once again.
Derek personally returned, directing his n to transport supplies, and twelve tons of cargo were quickly moved after several trips.
Kedson ca over with a bottle of rum aged for years, inviting Derek for a drink, but was politely declined by the latter.
"Thank you for your generosity, but I have work to do... Have to go back."
Kedson was montarily stunned.
"Didn't you say you were staying for a few days?"
Derek smiled awkwardly.
"I'd like to... but the sailors are all eager to go back earlier."
Kedson understood the smile imdiately and was sowhat tempted himself. He had been holding back for a long ti, to the point where even Lizardn looked handso.
Moreover, Baron Ticky hasn't restricted their comings and goings.
He believed that if he proposed it, this Imperial officer wouldn't watch him and his n be left in a foreign land, and at least would allow them to lay down in the cargo hold and wait until reaching the nearest port.
But ultimately, he didn't speak out.
He was no longer destitute in this port.
He had pearls exchanged from the Tide Clan and the 27 silver coins that Ticky had given him—this salary is almost half a month's inco!
It is foreseeable that in the future, Imperial ships would frequently dock here, and as the future Governor of Withered Wood Port, he could earn more!
And if he leaves here, he would just be a captain, with nothing at all!
"I wish you a safe journey!" Kedson unscrewed the cap and drank a gulp, handing the bottle to the captain of the Grace.
The Traveler chose its harbor and decided to stay here.
"You take care too!"
Derek gladly accepted the gift, nodded in acknowledgnt, and returned to the skiff, directing his sailors to row away from the simple yet mysterious harbor.
The Grace raised its sail before nightfall, ignited the steam engine, and slowly left the coastline that had been swept by the storm.
As if unwilling to linger even a mont longer...
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