"Apologies, I lost my composure."
Vegasha stood up, gathered the scattered documents, and sat back down in her chair.
"Dilu, is it? I've noted the information you submitted to Li Fan. Here is the Special Researcher's Badge. Please proceed to the laboratory as soon as possible to complete your experiments and submit your research report. The headquarters will handle the rest."
Vegasha presented the badge and began drafting documents.
Dilu retrieved the Hekking Stone sample from the Yanhuo, then proceeded to the Headquarters Research Institute.
"Conducting experiments? Now?"
The female researcher on night duty at the laboratory entrance looked bewildered.
"Yes, it's very urgent. Here's the Special Researcher's Badge, meow."
Dilu flashed the badge.
"Alright."
The female researcher retrieved a key from under a flowerpot beside the laboratory entrance.
"What materials do you need? I can help you get them."
"Scorching Shell."
Li Fan replied.
"Scorching Shell again? It's in Material Warehouse No. 3, but... I can't move it by myself."
The female researcher said with a sigh.
"I'll go too. Dilu, you wait at the workbench."
"Okay, meow!"
Dilu immediately set down her backpack and took out the items needed for the experiment.
*Creak!* The door to Material Warehouse No. 3 opened.
Li Fan was taken aback by the sight of the Scorching Shells hanging all over the wall.
"How many are there?"
"There were originally 61. The workshop just took 20 to process into external airship armor. Of the remaining 41, 11 have been subjected to impact tests and are quite worn. 20 have undergone attribute resistance tests, so they aren't in a completely pristine state... It seems a few were taken for extreme environment tests. If you want pristine samples, I recommend choosing the 10 on the right; those haven't been tested."
The female researcher explained.
"I only need one."
Li Fan walked over, glanced at the labels attached to the shells, and then hoisted one onto his shoulder.
Upon arriving at the workbench, as soon as the Scorching Shell was placed down, several red electrical sparks surged within the glass bottle containing the Hekking Stone, striking the bottle's walls.
"The Hekking Stone's activity has been greatly stimulated, meow!"
Dilu said, quickly recording it in her notebook.
She then picked up the glass bottle and extended it towards the Scorching Shell.
The red electrical sparks converged into an arc, violently impacting the bottle's wall.
*Crack!* A fissure appeared in the glass bottle, and distorted electrical sparks, like small snakes, coiled around the surface of the Scorching Shell.
*Hiss!* The electrical sparks turned black, flickered briefly, and then completely dissipated.
"Hmm... If it were a large-scale Hekking Stone vein, this resonance effect would far exceed the experimental environment and be easily detected. With Huihui's terrifying eyesight... Dilu, our hypothesis is correct!"
Li Fan stated with conviction.
After several more experiments to verify the findings, a research report was completed.
The next morning, the airspace above headquarters was unprecedentedly crowded, with countless small airships hovering and waiting.
Li Fan only learned about it when he saw a notice on the bulletin board: the Dragon Calendar Institute had issued an urgent announcement overnight for the search of Hekking Stone veins.
Non-essential cargo and transport routes were all suspended, and all airships were to remain on standby within the port.
The only ones permitted to leave the port were airships that had accepted the contract to search for Hekking Stone veins.
Li Fan marveled at the speed of their response.
However, it was difficult even for Zhan Zhan to search for a completely new Malachite vein, let alone a Hekking Stone vein, which had always been considered unique to the Yiqun Ridge.
Wait, if Hekking Stone were used to grind the tail blade, could it be used to develop a Red Emperor's Holy Sword?
As Li Fan was lost in thought, a craftsman from the airship workshop posted a notice on the board.
Everyone gathered around to observe.
Hualai Airship Thruster (Test Version), now recruiting test subjects. Small to medium-sized airship version, only 35,000z each.
For details, inquire at the front desk of the Dragon Calendar Institute's Airship Manufacturing Workshop.
Thrusters were only recently applied to giant combat airships, and a civilian version was already available so quickly?
Driven by curiosity, Li Fan headed to the airship manufacturing workshop located behind the airport.
Crossing a wide skybridge, a large rectangular open-air factory floated in mid-air.
Indeed, the airship manufacturing workshop was also an airship, with its gasbags located entirely beneath the factory.
True to its rugged exterior, the factory's interior was largely unadorned. Upon entering, one could see the workshops in operation.
Li Fan glanced around and saw about seven or eight airship hulls being manufactured and modified inside.
"Excuse me, is the Hualai Thruster installed here?"
Li Fan asked, pointing to the promotional poster on the wall.
"Yes, we're currently selling the public test version. There's a discount if you buy two."
The male craftsman, wearing round goggles, enthusiastically explained.
"How much cheaper is it?"
"The listed price is 35,000z each. If you buy two for dual-side propulsion, you get a 10,000z discount, making it 60,000z. If you buy four for a propulsion array, you get a 30,000z discount, making it 110,000z. If you buy eight for..."
"Thank you, I don't think I'll need that many."
"So, four?"
"My expectation is... two."
Li Fan held up two fingers.
"Alright, if you can pay the full amount today, I'll include crash insurance."
"Why do you seem so eager?"
Li Fan asked, puzzled.
"Don't ask. Ever since the investigation into the Sky-Winged Dragon began, the Dragon Calendar Institute's financial pressure has been increasing. The director has set revenue targets for every department. Our airship manufacturing workshop has no quick way to generate income, so we're trying to sell small to medium-sized thrusters."
The male craftsman sighed.
"That's so tragic... Can you make it any cheaper?"
"Show me any other thrusters on the market. These are independently developed by the Dragon Calendar Institute."
"Uh... then never mind."
Li Fan said, turning to leave.
"Ahem... Hmm... The lowest price for two is 55,000z. I really can't go any lower."
The male craftsman said with a pained expression.
"Deal!"
The male craftsman's eyes lit up, but before the money was exchanged, a delicate badge was placed on the counter.
"You're... a High-Rank Hunter?"
The male craftsman's mouth twitched.
"Indeed. At a 30% discount, that would be... 38,500z!"
"Wait a minute. I've been designing airships at the Hualai manufacturing workshop for over a decade. How have I never seen you before?"
Hualai figured that if he was a High-Rank Hunter, he must have had some dealings with airships, and it was unlikely he had never met him.
"It's quite normal. I'm a Hunter Nova, only recently promoted to High-Rank. Also, the Yanhuo hasn't undergone any major modifications, so we haven't interacted."
Li Fan explained.
"Alright, here's the contract. If you're available today, bring the airship over. There will be someone to guide you when you descend into the factory."
Hualai finished speaking and sighed mournfully as he looked at the price marked on the contract.
Half an hour later, Feirui piloted the Yanhuo down into the factory.
After landing and stabilizing in Workshop No. 4, four craftsmen skillfully began the modifications.
Yodora and Dilu wanted to tour the airship manufacturing workshop, so they disembarked together.
"The workshops on the left, why do they all seem to have so many craftsmen busy inside?"
Li Fan asked curiously.
"These are temporarily assembled 10-person workshops. The difficulty of processing and installing the Scorching Shell is too great, so we have to concentrate our manpower."
Hualai explained.
"Did Director Vegasha not communicate with the manufacturing workshop about this?"
Li Fan felt that if Huihui saw her lost shells being installed as materials on an airship, she would tear the airship in half on the spot.
"This is the director's decision. When I saw the analysis report of the Scorching Shell, I knew it was an excellent material for hull exteriors, and I conducted extensive research. However, my application to use it was rejected within two minutes of submission. Then, suddenly last night, she requested an urgent installation, saying they needed to be mass-modified into scout ships."
Hualai found the matter inexplicable.
However, based on the urgent announcement from the airport, he inferred that the situation might be dire.
Installing Scorching Shells onto airships to modify them into scout ships for searching Hekking Stone veins. You've really outdone yourself, Director.
But according to the resonance strength in the report, the airship's flight altitude would be severely restricted if it were to detect underground Hekking Stone veins.
"Engineer Hualai, are there many advantages to processing the Scorching Shell into hull armor?"
Li Fan asked tentatively.
"Of course. However, this isn't called Scorching Shell. Every material has a unique code name in the workshop. I've named it ZMC. Its characteristics are high-temperature resistance, incredibly high strength, and astonishingly low weight compared to similar materials. If shaped properly, it can also create a streamlined design on the hull surface, greatly reducing wind resistance. The only drawback is the extreme difficulty of processing it."
"ZMC... probably a coincidence."
Li Fan muttered.
He thought about the material Dr. Tsuchiya used on the new Triangle Arrow.
As dusk fell, the modifications were finally completed.
Two barrel-shaped thrusters were installed on the left and right sides of the Yanhuo.
The fuel tanks were located inside the cabin, near the stern.
Hualai responsibly explained the usage methods and precautions to the team members.
"The red lever must absolutely not be touched. The red lever must absolutely not be touched..."
Yodora repeated several operations that could lead to a crash several times before feeling slightly at ease.
"Alright, the Yanhuo's modification and delivery are complete. I hope the team has a smooth journey."
Hualai said, about to find someone to guide the Yanhuo's ascent out of the factory.
"Wait a moment!"
Li Fan, holding a stack of documents, ran over.
"Li Fan?"
"Engineer Hualai, this is the modification permit signed by the director."
"Hmm... We're scheduled to depart for the volcanic region tomorrow night. Time is a bit tight, but I'll try my best."
Hualai estimated.
"Thank you."
On the way back to headquarters, Yodora, full of questions, asked, "Scorching Shells can't just be installed on airships, can they? And the airport has already prohibited departures. What are we going to the volcanic region for?"
"I'm taking the team to search for Hekking Stone veins."
Li Fan explained.
"Don't you need a professional exploration team for that, meow?"
Dilu inquired.
"Dilu, have you forgotten your research results so quickly?"
"Oh! I know, meow! Armor made from Scorching Shell!"
Dilu suddenly understood.
"What are you talking about..."
Yodora, feeling like an outsider, didn't understand anything.
After Dilu's explanation, she finally understood the magnitude of the impact the previous day's discovery by the cat and human had caused at the Dragon Calendar Institute headquarters.
"So, this free modification is the director's reward for the team?"
Yodora asked.
"No, I spoke with the director this afternoon and pointed out that using airships to search for Hekking Stone veins is indeed a brilliant idea. However, due to altitude limitations, scout ships will be particularly dangerous when traveling in some areas. Therefore, I voluntarily accepted the exploration work in the volcanic region."
Li Fan explained.
"Right, low-altitude flight for airships is indeed very dangerous... Wait a minute, those scout ships being modified..."
Yodora looked back at the airship manufacturing workshop.
"There's nothing we can do. We can only explore one region at most."
Choosing the most dangerous volcanic region was the only way Li Fan could help the scout ship fleet.
"Alright! I'll go prepare the supplies!"
"I'll help too, meow!"
Yodora and Dilu said, running towards the nearby trading market.
The next morning, the team arrived at the airship manufacturing workshop to check on the modification progress.
In front of Workshop No. 4, Li Fan saw Hualai standing with his arms crossed and walked over to greet him.
"Engineer Hualai, are you alright?"
Seeing the man's bloodshot eyes, Li Fan asked uncertainly.
"Heh heh... heh heh... heh heh..."
Hualai let out a series of silly laughs.
Li Fan, puzzled, followed his gaze.
"Li Fan?"
Yodora, seeing Li Fan and Hualai standing still, tentatively asked.
"Heh heh... heh heh... heh heh..."
Li Fan also let out a silly laugh.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Yodora said, turning her head to look inside Workshop No. 4.
"This... this is the Yanhuo?"
Yodora was shocked.
The entire outer hull of the Yanhuo was covered in feather-like silver flakes, each with edges as sharp as a blade.
With the reshaping of the flakes, the hull had become more slender, presenting an overall streamlined design approaching a triangular shape.
"I've used all the modification skills I've learned on this Yanhuo."
Hualai said with emotion.
"Thank you, Engineer Hualai."
"No need. Just show your High-Rank Hunter badge at the counter earlier in the future."
Hualai said with a smile, then turned serious. "Your team has chosen the most dangerous exploration environment, but also the one most likely to find Hekking Stone veins. The entire manufacturing workshop is extremely excited. However, even with the greatly reinforced hull, you must not let your guard down in the volcanic region."
"We will be careful."
Li Fan said seriously.
"You're here, meow!"
Feirui saw the team members and leaped down from the ship using a cable.
"Hmm? Feirui is willing to get off the ship, meow!"
Dilu said with surprise.
*Plop!* Feirui hugged Li Fan's leg, tears welling up in his eyes. "I want to sign a long-term contract, meow! I will definitely pilot the Yanhuo with all my might! Please don't change the pilot!"
"Ah? What's wrong?"
Li Fan didn't quite understand Feirui's meaning.
Hualai explained softly, "Some airships, after significant modifications and reinforcements, will have their existing pilots replaced to achieve better aerial performance."
"Is that so... Then let's sign a super short-term contract first, to test Feirui's abilities. If he's not good enough, we'll replace him."
Li Fan said with a smile.
"I can, meow! How long should I sign for?"
"Let's sign for 100 years."