Chapter 1666: Chapter 16: Caged Bird

The Undersea City is a rather cold and gloomy place. Although it does have day and night, it is merely an environmental simulation created by the White Tower… This visible light isn’t from the sun and carries no warmth.

In fact, there are few places within the Undersea City where one can see green vegetation. However, within the imperial palace, there is a greenhouse courtyard where a variety of plants are cultivated.

These are seeds preserved by the Limoria People before sinking underwater, then cultivated in the magical energy greenhouse.

The so-called courtyard is actually not small, roughly the size of two soccer fields… And the Undersea City Emperor, Louis XXXIX, is soon to marry Miss Qin, who currently resides in a corner of this greenhouse.

Louis XXXIX had two wives before, both of whom left him one after another, and thus after the grand wedding, Miss Qin will become the third Empress of the Undersea City, a dreamlike figure for the girls of the Undersea City.

But for Miss Qin, this is a very distressing issue—so distressing that even her normally steady cultivation has shown signs of regression.

This can’t continue… she thought to herself.

However, the guards of the imperial palace are extremely tight, and to this day she has not found a way to leave… The silver-robed girl is named Liuge, she has a hint of Sea Demon Clan’s ancestral bloodline in her, and is Louis XXXIX’s exclusive slave… possessing extraordinary strange power.

Miss Qin is not afraid of Liuge’s strange power—if her cultivation were not sealed.

At present, she remains in a state of weakness due to the shackles on her feet… These shackles have a special device that pierces into her body, continuously releasing a strange power, making her cultivation seem as if it is asleep.

The day she had a fierce battle with Gong Fanxing over the sea, she was injured and sank into the deep ocean. When she came back to her senses in the Undersea City, she had already been placed in shackles… As for her Green Lotus Sword Song, evidently it had been confiscated by the Undersea City Emperor, she has no idea where it is now, though she has already lost her connection to it.

She has been trapped in the Undersea City for some time now… Her injuries have healed, but unfortunately, she cannot use her cultivation. If her cultivation were restored, or if the Green Lotus Sword Song were in her hand, this mere Undersea City would not be able to imprison her.

Currently, the Undersea City Emperor Louis XXXIX is infatuated with her and insists on setting a date for the wedding, but Miss Qin cannot resist, she can only resign herself to stay for now, pondering a way of escape every day.

“What’s this?” she asked, pointing at the thing in her residence that showed as Magic Energy Glamour—something akin to a television from the surface world, currently broadcasting an advertisement.

The Sea Demon Clan ancestral slave named Liuge glanced at it indifferently, “Just the promotional ad for the upcoming ‘All-Star Flywheel Championship’, considering the time, the selection match for the ‘All-Star’ will be two days from now.”

Seeing that Miss Qin seemed to be listening attentively, the girl Liuge added more, “Miss, the Star Competition is a grand event held every three years in the Undersea City. It will cause the whole city to revel. Furthermore, the Emperor once claimed the champion title of the competition.”

“Oh… really.” Miss Qin nodded expressionlessly, then asked, “On the day of the competition, will your Emperor attend?”

Liuge replied, “Certainly, during the opening ceremony, the Emperor will give a speech and will also seal the previous champion’s belt, waiting for the birth of the new champion.”

Miss Qin thought for a moment and said, “I’m tired of staying in this courtyard, tell Louis, I’d like to go and see the competition site, and enjoy the festivities.”

The girl Liuge casually said, “I will convey your wishes… As for whether the Emperor agrees, I can’t guarantee.”

“I want to be alone, please leave.” Miss Qin said indifferently.

“Then I won’t disturb you.” The girl did not insist, “If you need anything, just let me know.”

…

Louis XXXIX looks like a young man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, though his skin tone differs from the slightly darker complexion of the populace, instead, his skin is pale… almost white.

White skin is the exclusive mark of the Undersea City Royal Family.

When the girl Liuge came forward to report, His Majesty the Emperor was receiving a guest in the reception room… a guest who had hurried from the surface several days ago.

The girl Liuge took a glance.

The visitor appeared somewhat aged, his fatigued face with gray-white beard seemed to have been neglected for several days… Justin, Liuge remembered the name of this old man.

After taking a glance, the girl lowered her head and stood behind His Majesty the Emperor.

“… Mr. Justin, regarding the matter you mentioned, I am aware now.” His Majesty the Emperor nodded, expressing sorrow, “It’s unexpected that President Charles of your esteemed congregation has died at the hands of scoundrels, it truly is heartbreaking… and I have lost an ally.”

The elderly gentleman before him was indeed the Captain Justin of the other giant submarine of the Black Religious Congregation, the Sapphire. On that day, the Black Religious Congregation was annihilated, but due to his position aboard the Sapphire, Justin fortunately evaded the catastrophe.

Later, recognizing the unfavorable situation, Justin ordered the Sapphire to dive rapidly… Afterward, when the Knight Agency of Britannia began to intervene, Captain Justin was forced to pilot the Sapphire into the depths of the ocean.

He did not directly return to the Black Religious Congregation’s base in the Union States, instead, he altered the course, arriving first at the Undersea City.

Meanwhile, he only informed His Majesty the Emperor that President Charles of the Black Religious Congregation had died in defeat but did not disclose the fact that nearly ninety percent of the congregation’s strength had been crippled, leaving mostly technical and logistics personnel aboard the Sapphire… He had other plans in mind.

“Is there anything I can assist you with, Mr. Justin?” Louis XXXIX earnestly inquired, “Our sides are allies, and now that your congregation’s President has met with misfortune, I suppose there may be internal issues within your organization… I believe Mr. Justin has come to the Undersea City hoping for some help from me, right?”

“His Majesty is generous.” Captain Justin now appeared moved, “As Your Majesty presumed, due to the President’s passing, the congregation is chaotic and everyone is vying for power, aiming to seize the President’s position…”

“You also wish to be this President?” His Majesty the Emperor smiled.

Captain Justin declared righteously, “I merely wish to prevent President Charles’s efforts from being destroyed by some people’s power struggle.”

“How do you expect me to assist you?” His Majesty the Emperor straightforwardly asked.

“I wish to request Your Majesty’s intervention, dispatching Magic Energy Warriors to quell the unrest within the congregation, restoring order to the Black Religious Congregation!” Captain Justin fixed his gaze on His Majesty’s face, then added, “Only by integrating the Black Religious Congregation can our cooperation with Your Majesty continue… And I will have the capability to promote Your Majesty’s earlier proposal.”

“Hmm…” Louis XXXIX nodded, “In that case, I’ll dispatch a squadron of Magic Energy Corps to accompany Mr. Justin. The commander of this Magic Energy Corps is a warrior of our Undersea City, sure to be able to pacify the unrest for Mr. Justin.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty.” Captain Justin rejoiced.

However, he pondered how to dissolve them once this Magic Energy Corps entered the continent… He’s been coveting the Undersea City’s Magic Energy equipment for some time.

Regarding the reorganization of the Black Religious Congregation, it is indeed true, but contrary to his statement, there isn’t a chaotic internal power struggle—Captain Justin received intelligence yesterday that Lady Katerina did not perish in the battle, instead, she returned to the base, swiftly consolidating control over it and has reinstated a new Commander.

Moreover, something that took Captain Justin by surprise was that the new President of the Black Religious Congregation is named Lamias… They’ve already discovered the Sapphire hasn’t returned, and have issued an order demanding its return…

“The Magic Energy Corps will take some time to prepare before they can be deployed.” His Majesty the Emperor waved, “Mr. Justin, feel free to stay in the Undersea City for a few more days, if you wish.”

“Everything follows His Majesty’s commands.” Captain Justin promptly lowered his head in response.

“No need for formalities.” The Emperor smiled and said, “After all, I still need Mr. Justin to help me collect intelligence from the surface.”

“At your service, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor smiled, then ordered for Mr. Justin and his entourage to be taken to a temporary accommodation.

…

Afterwards, the Emperor led Girl Liuge back to his study.

“What is it?”

The girl stepped forward and said with her head lowered, “Your Majesty, Miss Qin wishes to attend the event the day after tomorrow to see the excitement.”

Louis XXXIX had a hint of surprise in his eyes, “Oh? She actually has such a thought… Do you know the reason?”

The girl thought for a moment and said, “Perhaps Miss Qin wants to see if she can find an opportunity to escape.”

The Emperor smiled and said, “Do you think she can find an opportunity?”

Girl Liuge replied calmly, “I won’t let Miss Qin have any opportunity.”

“Then grant her request.” The Emperor chuckled, “After all, she is about to become my Empress, and it’s about time for her to appear in public. The opening ceremony the day after tomorrow is a good opportunity… You go prepare for it.”

“Yes.”

The girl left, and the Emperor started working, with piles of documents and orders.

…

…

Undersea City, East Thirteenth Street.

“I see, this is the Magic Energy circuit.”

“Yes, because of the existence of these Magic Energy circuits, the energy contained in the Magic Energy core can be stably extracted.” Lei Yaz sighed and said, “Compared to the continuous progress in Magic Energy applications, I think these Magic Energy circuits are the greatest discovery in Magic Energy technology.”

The Maid said nothing; she was currently examining a miniature Magic Energy core under a microscope-like tool.

These tools were found in the workshop at Lei Yaz’s home—there were quite a few tools here, making it seem like a multifunctional workshop.

“What are you drawing?”

Lei Yaz leaned closer, noticing that the elder sister was drawing something while looking through the processing lens, piqued with curiosity.

“Writing the structure diagram of the Magic Energy core,” the Maid said casually.

Lei Yaz blinked and looked more closely, but what she wrote was some text and symbols he didn’t understand: CH₄·nH₂O

He was even more amazed: “When did my lens get to see things so detailed?”

“I made some adjustments.” The Maid smiled and stopped her writing.

Lei Yaz’s curiosity was overflowing, and he leaned forward to peer into the lens, a whole new world unfolded before his eyes… He was suddenly captivated by this novel world, instantly engrossing himself in it.

The Maid abruptly asked, “Lei Yaz, do you know how these Magic Energy cores are manufactured?”

Lei Yaz replied without looking up, “They are produced by the Royal Family, and we receive a fixed quota each month for our needs. If we want more, we have to obtain them through other means.”

“Like what?”

Lei Yaz said, “Typically, they’re exchanged through Contribution Points. Upon reaching adulthood, we automatically receive two hundred Contribution Points, and additionally, if we work, invent something new, do something beneficial for Undersea City, or win some competitions, we also receive Contribution Points.”

“Are you participating in the Flywheel competition to earn Contribution Points?”

Lei Yaz hesitated as he put down the lens and said, “Partly.”

“The other part?”

“My father is currently imprisoned due to some crimes,” Lei Yaz said quietly, “If I can achieve a good rank in the competition, I will earn a large amount of Contribution Points… Contribution Points can reduce my father’s sentence. As I am not yet an adult and cannot work, I have no choice but to seek other means to earn Contribution Points.”

The Maid glanced at Lei Yaz’s work in the workshop, preliminarily judging it was the result of the youth’s self-study.

Due to the technical gap, she could not yet evaluate its quality.

But observing Lei Yaz’s demeanor, the Maid had plans in mind… It seemed Lei Yaz himself did not have high hopes.

“Do you have any Flywheel left here?” the Maid asked suddenly, “Even if it’s discarded, I just want to see its operating principle and general structure.”

Lei Yaz thought for a moment and said, “There is one in the garage, but it’s just the most ordinary model and has already been scrapped.”

“Let me take a look.” The Maid smiled slightly, “Basic models are the foundation, and the foundation is the best.”

“Alright… Wait a moment.”

Not long after, Lei Yaz laboriously dragged out a Flywheel named Asla from the garage, its shell riddled with cracks.

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PS: As usual.