---

“Luke is my younger brother. He’ll follow my wishes…”

In response to Ed’s question about how to deal with Luke, Bianca replied that he was her brother.

She mentioned that he was family, not a static obstacle to be removed.

Ed nodded and replied.

“Then we just need to deal with Ian. If you have any ideas, feel free to share.”

“…Actually…”

Soon, Ed and Bianca began discussing how to eliminate Ian.

During the conversation, Bianca revealed to Ed the plan Ian was concocting.

She disclosed that Ian intended to draw Ed into an underwater battle to ‘accidentally’ eliminate him.

“That’s perfect. We’ll charge right in.”

Ed actually saw this as a good opportunity and stated he was willing to play along with Ian’s plan.

Bianca gasped in alarm.

“It’s dangerous! Ian is in a league of his own compared to Leon! He’s never lost a single underwater battle!”

Ian, known as the true descendant of the sea god.

His genius and bravery were well-known throughout Clendor.

When it came to underwater warfare, he possessed a might that no one could rival.

“Then Ian can defeat my battleship, can’t he?”

Ed asked if Ian could defeat the Dreadnought ship.

Bianca looked at him as if he were absurd.

“…No. No matter how capable Ian is… that’s tough. However, in a direct encounter…”

“I am stronger than my battleship.”

“…?”

Bianca froze at Ed’s following words.

For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard and tilted her head.

“What did you just say…”

“I said I’m stronger than my battleship.”

“…”

Bianca looked at Ed.

His gaze showed no hint of a lie.

The confidence he exuded suggested that he truly believed he could defeat that absurdly powerful battleship.

“Ian is no match for me.”

And Ed’s words were true.

His suit was made from the eternal-grade item ‘[Eternal] Mechanic Blueprint,’ making it comparable to the strongest artifacts in the world.

Currently, it was not fully at the ‘Eternal’ level due to certain reasons, but that was an issue that time would resolve.

It would be resolved once he obtained the engineering knowledge and resources needed to upgrade the suit.

In other words, Ed’s suit was akin to Thanos’s gauntlet with an Infinity Stone.

Though it was still incomplete, it was a different caliber of artifact altogether.

“Well, there may be some parts that could be damaged, but that’s about it.”

There might be some level of wear and tear.

Equipment that wasn’t made from ‘[Eternal] Mechanic Blueprint’ was susceptible to being completely wrecked depending on the opponent’s level, as evidenced by Lucas having smashed an omni-directional maneuvering device.

“But that’s as far as it goes.”

But that’s as far as it goes.

Able to destroy gear that could be replaced at any time.

That was only possible because he went easy on Lucas.

“…I understand. Then I will ensure that Ian’s plan can be executed.”

Thus, Bianca decided to assist Ian’s plan.

To let him self-destruct in the trap he set.

A decision that could be made thanks to being half-sisters of a different mother.

***

“……”

Ian stood frozen, staring at the Dreadnought battleship that had entered the harbor.

He had been going around stirring up trouble, convinced that Clendor’s battleship couldn’t lose, yet seeing the Dreadnought made it all click in one blow.

“…I’ve been had.”

Then Ian swept his hair back and let out a hollow chuckle.

Understanding why the imperial princess had provoked him began to gnaw at his insides.

She had lured him into making a blunder.

“Do you need more investigation?”

At that moment, the princess smirked and spoke to Ian.

Still fixated on the Dreadnought battleship, Ian replied with a blank expression.

“…I just need to confirm one thing. Show me the firepower of that ship.”

“That much is fine.”

The princess made a subtle gesture.

A servant who understood her actions quickly brought a magic orb for video transmission and attempted to contact Ed.

Soon, under the princess’s command, Ed turned the turret of the Dreadnought to aim at a soon-to-be-retired wooden ship.

When the five turrets opened fire all at once, it happened.

-KAABOOOM─────────────!

“That’s enough.”

Ian admitted without hesitation.

This wasn’t some trick; she had indeed created a monstrous battleship.

“…Who planned and built that ship?”

He was simply curious.

Who could have built that insane vessel?

The name that popped into his head was Edgar Fix…

“Count Fix.”

As expected.

Ian nodded.

It provided him with another reason to kill him.

No, to ensure Clendor’s survival, Edgar Fix absolutely had to be eliminated.

Ian’s murderous intent began to bubble up.

‘It’s dangerous… That guy is… much more dangerous than I thought…’

Edgar Fix.

At first, he had merely thought of him as someone who relied entirely on equipment, like his brother Leon.

He had believed that his familiarity with dwarfs and multiple artifacts allowed him to beat his brother.

‘Was he the one who made all of that…?’

But that was not the case.

Considering the dwarfs’ lack of expertise with ships, this battleship was clearly designed and built by Ed himself.

If that’s the case, the equipment he wore must have been crafted by him too.

‘Very tempting…’

But at the same time, Ed was also appealing to him.

What if he could make him his subordinate?

Perhaps he could win against the empire.

By annihilating the rival Cruel family and taking all of the south, he could persuade several kingdoms to simultaneously attack the empire.

If the allied forces took down the empire…

‘I’d be the new emperor.’

The balance of power could be restructured around Clendor.

By taking the imperial princess, sitting next to him as proof of his conquest, he could gain legitimacy as well.

Imagining the princess, who would submit to him and be used every night, made his sense of conquest swell within him.

“Now it’s time to discuss the rewards of our bet.”

At that moment, the princess spoke to Ian.

As Ian nodded, the princess stated what she wanted.

“We’ll write a new contract. The empire will take 90% of the resources discovered during the survey, while Clendor takes 10%.”

“……”

The empire takes 90%, and the home country takes 10%.

Ian’s expression twisted.

This was a condition equivalent to outright thievery.

“Isn’t that a bit excessive? 10%?!”

“Hehe. The situation has changed from before, hasn’t it? We no longer need Clendor’s fleet.”

“……Ugh.”

That was a fact.

The empire had drawn Clendor in to acquire the ships needed for exploration.

They needed ships to safely protect personnel from the treacherous straits and powerful sea monsters.

“Let’s go for 70-30. Only Clendor knows the way to the ‘Sea Wall.'”

However, Ian decided to push back.

He tried to secure even a sliver of the profit margin based on his advanced navigation skills.

“That’s acceptable. Count Fix has recently redefined navigation.”

“……?”

But an unbelievable response came from the princess’s lips.

Redefined navigation?

Their navigation expertise had been accumulated over hundreds of years, hadn’t it?

“……”

But the princess’s statement appeared sincere.

One cannot simply boast about such matters without repercussions.

“Let’s settle on 80-20. In return, Clendor will cover the equipment, food, and various items needed for the exploration.”

Thus, Ian decided to negotiate at an 80-20 split.

Uncertain what rare resources they could find if they conquered the Sea Wall, he couldn’t push for a more favorable profit margin.

“Let’s go with 85-15. We have to honor our bet, right?”

“……Alright.”

Ultimately, the final agreement was set at 85-15.

It was a disaster.

They had originally agreed on 70 for them and 30 for the empire, but now it had shifted to 85-15 without his noticing.

‘It’s okay… Once I make Edgar Fix mine…’

But Ian altered his line of thought.

Securing Edgar Fix was more beneficial than the resources from the exploration.

‘No means will be spared.’

A venture carrying Clendor’s fate.

Ian decided to take a gamble.

He planned to make contact with the ‘Night Rescue Church,’ which had been surreptitiously spreading among high-ranking nobles in Clendor.

According to his informant, the high priest of the ‘Night Rescue Church’ had the ability to captivate anyone’s heart.

‘I have to eliminate my brother first.’

However, the ‘Night Rescue Church’ was under the influence of Prince Leon.

He’d connected his spy to keep an eye on Leon and had naturally discovered this.

That was why Ian understood that once he eliminated Leon, he could absorb that organization.

‘Edgar Fix, I will definitely make him my subordinate.’

With that, Ian devised a plan to recover all of his losses.

The so-called operation to reclaim Edgar Fix.

If he could acquire his incredible technical mastery, he would be the greatest emperor in history.

Ian couldn’t help but twist his lips into a grin.

***

‘Fool.’

The princess read that thought.

Activating the Ma’an of Orserk, she peered into the mind of Prince Ian.

She twisted her lips into a smirk.

***

A month later.

Several massive ships docked at the empire’s southern port.

Finally, vessels from the empire and Clendor had gathered for the expedition to the ‘Sea Wall.’

However, unlike the initial agreement, the main force was from the empire, with Clendor providing auxiliary ships.

Ed’s Dreadnought battleship became the flagship, with all key personnel onboard.

“Whoa…”

“This is incredible…”

“How could they build such a thing?”

The academy students aboard Ed’s battleship looked around in awe, their faces completely dazed.

Having only ridden ships that were significantly inferior in technology to those of Clendor, Ed’s Dreadnought was akin to a celestial battleship.

It was quite literally a divine ark.

“Ed… have you been well?”

However, some students were more interested in the person than the ship.

Several female students who harbored feelings for Ed, such as Isabella, Enya, and Charlotte, lingered around him, exchanging stories from the time apart.

“……”

And Bianca felt the same kind of feelings.

Having returned home to prepare various matters, she arrived at the empire after a month and wanted to greet Ed warmly after a long time.

But with several formidable candidates surrounding Ed, she couldn’t easily approach him.

‘Edgar Fix… you will be mine.’

Among those who wanted Ed, there were also men.

Ian Clendor, the second prince of the Clendor empire.

Having killed Leon and seized the ‘Night Rescue Church,’ he was planning to make Ed his subordinate.

Thus, the ‘bishop-level’ church member, Halas, radiated a sinister aura by his side.

Specialized in mental manipulation and brainwashing, he had sworn allegiance to Prince Ian for the glory of Clendor.

Of course, he was also plotting to corrupt the prince and turn him into a puppet.

‘Fool.’

Princess Sephilia fully understood all these plans.

She had already informed Ed about Ian’s thoughts about a month ago, so she was prepared for his ill schemes.

“Set sail!”

And thus, the ship, mixed with various desires, finally set off.

They embarked on a journey to conquer the ‘Sea Wall,’ one of the three great magical terrain obstacles in the world that no one had conquered for thousands of years.

Everyone smiled, vowing to realize their aspirations.

 

---