Chapter 974: Two‑Numbered Ship

In the blink of an eye, only Lifelin and Lei En were left in the living room.

Facing the angry Lei En, even Lifelin, who was skin‑deep kin, was trembling with fear, yet she saw that after Lei En teleported two of their kin and the Phoenix King's envoy away, his expression quickly settled, showing no sign of anger at all, as if he had only pretended earlier.

No, he was just pretending!

Lifelin was certain, looking at the pondering Lei En, said with some concern, "Lei En, I also don't approve of letting Aoroan elves come to the New Continent and seize our interests, but you shouldn't provoke them with the Troll Origin."

"If I don't make a clean break on some things, they'll think there's still a chance," Lei En replied dismissively, "Better to offend them outright and avoid trouble."

"That's not worth it."

Lifelin still thought it was excessive, "We can maneuver with Aoroan rather than make direct enemies."

"If they dare attack the New Continent, let them," Lei En said with an indifferent shrug, "If Aoroan elves had that ability, they'd have already reclaimed the New Continent."

That is the strong confidence that power brings.

Lifelin stopped urging, but as an elf she felt a bit regretful, sighed, not wanting to become enemies with her own people.

Lei En suddenly laughed, "Perhaps this is exactly the outcome the Phoenix King wants."

"What do you mean?" Lifelin asked, not understanding.

"High elves have tempers stinkier than a toilet, but they're not fools; those who become Phoenix King are even less likely to make such a mistake. Sending Modante, an obviously ineffective envoy, I guess the Phoenix King simply doesn't want to get involved in New Continent affairs," Lei En explained. "In fact, Modante's attitude just now was deliberately pretended."

He had met Taikeles Grand Mage, who left an excellent impression on him; his personality was broad‑minded and friendly, unbothered by trivialities, showing that high elves aren't all racists.

The Phoenix King could not fail to find an envoy possessing both ability and wisdom.

Even if Modante is arrogant, becoming a Grand Mage does not make him act so superficially toward a Holy Soul Wizard.

The Soul Eye also detected a clue: Modante's outward demeanor and inner thoughts did not match.

From this, it can be judged that the other party is likely acting.

As for who this play is for, the blood elf Regent King is certainly one of them, along with the upper‑tier elves of Aoroan, to silence them.

The Phoenix King could say: "You see, it's not that I don't want to help you reclaim the New Continent, but the human Empire's Consul won't allow it!"

"Pretended?"

Lifelin widened her eyes, exclaiming, "Why would the Phoenix King do this? Doesn't he want to recover the ancestors' lands?"

"I'm not sure about that; I'm just guessing," Lei En said with a laugh, shaking his head. "You must understand, Aoroan is vast, large enough for tens of millions of elves to live. They don't have the urgent survival issues dwarves face, so they aren't that eager for the New Continent."

"Perhaps some upper‑level elves want to reclaim the ancestral lands, but for most elves it isn't the top priority right now."

"They lack the motivation to expedition the New Continent."

"Without popular support and sufficient strength to carry it out, the matter naturally can't be accomplished."

Lei En stroked his chin, pondering with a smile, "From Aoroan's overall perspective, the Phoenix King's best choice is to hold fire. Yet doing nothing would spark huge controversy and draw elf criticism, so he had Modante stage this play."

"Thus the Phoenix King both silences his political opponents and avoids responsibility."

"Got it?"

Lifelin listened, mouth agape at the twists, finally understanding, "So you're cooperating with them in this performance?"

"Half truth, half lie." Lei En nodded, "I truly don't want Aoroan meddling in the New Continent."

He paused, then remarked, "The Phoenix King's political skill is impressive."

Lifelin was speechless.

After a long pause, she said slowly, "Why do I feel your scheming is deeper than the Phoenix King's? Those high elves certainly can't outplay you."

"Hahaha…" Lei En burst out laughing, "You're flattering me."

Lifelin gave him a withering glance, then sighed, "The Regent King's plan will fail this time; the blood elves can only continue to guard Vengeance Island."

"Vengeance Island isn't bad at all, except the weather's a bit cold, it's a bit small, and there are a few undead beyond the island…" Lei En teased in two sentences.

Lifelin almost wanted to swing her sword through.

"No kidding," Lei En, seeing her thoughts, said seriously, "If you worry about your tribe's safety, in a few years, once I control the entire East Coast as territory and the city development reaches a certain level, we can negotiate with the Regent King, have him fund and assist a deal, carving out a prime land for blood elves to develop."

"Really?" Lifelin was overjoyed.

Lei En nodded, "I always keep my word."

The blood elf race numbers only over two hundred thousand; the population is too small, and even with high racial talent it's hard to compensate. Not to mention the whole East Coast— even moving everyone into Gotham City wouldn't cause a stir.

But it's limited to a single territory; blood elves shouldn't hope for more.

"Great!"

Lifelin was extremely happy; she never doubted Lei En's promise, and her biggest knot was untied.

"Can I get some reward?" Lei En's eyes swept over her tall figure, his face showing a smile only a man understands.

"Whatever you want to do today is fine!"

Lifelin also got excited, grabbing Lei En and heading into the bedroom.

It wasn't until noon that Lei En left Lifelin's house; if he didn't have other duties, he could have spent the whole day in her bedroom.

In the days that followed, Lei En shuttled frequently between Gotham City and Aixing.

Aixing began reconstruction.

Ships of manpower and supplies were shipped from the Empire to Aixing, poured into the city's rebuilding; various Imperial factions participated, and Lei En had planned the districts, transport roads, buildings, land development, docks, mines, machinery factories, agriculture, etc., each with a responsible party, sharing the profits.

Of course, the most valuable profits and the most important power were all in Lei En's hands.

The Oriense Empire's massive productivity erupted.

In less than two months, Aixing's city took shape; the wilderness turned into a city, wide straight roads criss‑crossed, cars ran on the streets, and centered on the Aixing Tower, a swath of buildings sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain.

City hall, residences, office towers, shops, exchange, banks, Academy of the Supernatural, security bureau, factories, and so on, all functional buildings were present.

This was already a complete city.

Outside the city, vast farmlands were also opened, flat fertile soil stretching endlessly, with plenty of agricultural machinery rotating work, just in time for this year's spring plowing.

Aixing's population reached over one hundred thousand and kept growing daily; everything was on track.

Lei En appointed one of his own clones as Aixing's city lord.

The mage's clone has been altered in appearance, its face pallid and sharp, with neatly long white hair, and it usually wears a plain white robe. Lei En does not usually name his clones, using only a numeric code for distinction, but for a public appearance he named this clone "Sa Luman".

Sa Luman is a level‑19 mage, proficient in mind and Arcane, and has already mastered two Nine-ring Techniques; one more and he can ascend to Grand Mage.

He handed the affairs of Aixingge over to Sa Luman, allowing Lei En to step away.

Openly, the Consul returned to the imperial capital.

In secret, Lei En went to Kalanos on the Saeen Plateau and entered the mechanical factory in Gela Gulu Mountain.

The massive factory was carved out of the mountain's belly, adjacent to the plateau's largest iron mine; over the past years countless alchemical materials were shipped to Kalanos, smelt by dwarves and barbarians, then sent to the workshop to become part of a Star Destroyer.

Today, the second Star Destroyer was completed.

Lei En looked at the Star Destroyer hovering within the anti‑gravity rune array and felt very satisfied.

Because of experience, materials and manpower were abundant, so the second Star Destroyer was finished in just over a year.

Its specifications are identical to the first ship; all technical metrics match, and its length, weight, and internal layout are exactly the same.

It is powered by an Iola Core, has three large and four small engines for a total of seven at the stern, bears over ten thousand anti‑resistance field generators in its hull plating, a massive Titan Furnace supplies energy to the main cannon and thirty‑two twin Electric Light Cannons, and four fully loaded hangars can transport a super‑human legion of twenty‑thousand troops.

The two Star Destroyers are like copy‑pasted copies; the only difference is their hull numbers.

On the side's slanted deck is engraved the Augustus family crest, a war hammer crossed with a crescent moon, and beneath it a line of text reads CPU1016613743.

Next to the crest, a larger numeric identifier "002" indicates the second ship.

The first Star Destroyer also bears a hull number, 001.

The Iola Core of the second ship has already been activated.

Before Lei En arrived, a Thundercast Celestial Soldier piloted the Star Destroyer on a test run; all functions and metrics were normal, ready for combat.

A mind‑leap carried him onto the bridge.

A metal seat on the central console rose, the transparent interface appeared, displaying the Star Destroyer's full status.

Lei En personally checked it once more.

The Iola Core is operating normally, and the Titan Furnace is operating normally.

The Ten-ring Spell "Augustus's Deflection Field" is active, the main and secondary cannons function normally, the source crystal reserves are abundant, and it can initiate a jump or teleport at any time.

Lei En nodded with satisfaction, thinking, "The second ship should leave the dock, making room for the fourth."

As for the third ship, it is being built in a demi‑plane of Gotham City and should be finished by year‑end; its technical specs are the same.

He calls this class of Star Destroyer the "Empire Class".

Considering budget and demand, Lei En plans to build four Empire‑class ships, all to be completed by next summer, then begin constructing higher‑tier Star Destroyers at least two kilometers long, with more powerful main cannons, secondary cannons increased by over five times, and greater troop capacity.

Lei En designates this tier as the "Victory Class"!

Although in the sci‑fi movies of his past life the Victory Class was the predecessor of the Empire Class—the order is reversed, and the Victory Class actually draws from the "Sith Spear Class"—Lei En finds "Sith Spear Class" unpleasant, so calling it Victory Class is more convenient.

Victory‑class Star Destroyers are already under development, but they require a larger shipyard, and the demi‑plane cannot accommodate them, so the mechanical factory must be expanded.

A Victory‑class Star Destroyer costs three times as much as an Empire‑class one.

That is about five hundred million Gold Shields!

The alchemical materials and magical metals paid by the dwarves are just enough to build a Victory‑class ship, perhaps even insufficient.

The construction period for a Victory‑class also takes a long time—fast three to four years, slow six to seven years is possible.

Lei En expects that when the first Victory‑class ship is completed, his term as Consul will be ending, and hopes to make it in time.

One Victory‑class plus four Empire‑class ships can form a true fleet!

"Um…"

"We can't keep calling them Ship One, Ship Two; we should name each Star Destroyer individually upon commissioning, like a navy does."

Lei En sat at the console pondering, and soon had an idea: "The first ship is the inaugural Star Destroyer, also a test vessel, pioneering in nature, just as Glamorgan is extremely important to me, the foundation of my rise; therefore it shall be called the Glamorgan."

"Following this naming rule, the second ship shall be the 'Getan'."

"When the third ship is finished at year‑end and commissioned, it should be called the 'Aixingge'."

As for the fourth ship's name, Lei En has not decided yet; it will depend on the next rebuilt New Continent city. He originally planned 'Luoli City' south of Aixingge, but elves recently requested the Luobost northeast of Gotham City, making him consider whether to prioritize that development.

Luoli City is the capital of Kurgos, the "Blood‑thirsty King"; once the Chosen Champion is eliminated and the Demonkin tribes are swept away, Luoli City can be seized immediately.

In Bolost, however, the threat is the Heavenly Disaster Legion.

Since being repelled in Gotham City a few years ago, the Heavenly Disaster Legion has shown no activity on the surface.

However, General Sanavia serves as an inside agent in the Heavenly Disaster Legion; she periodically relays information that the Death Lord uses the artifact "Book of the Dead" to continuously summon countless undead from the Abyssal nether to the Carnod Icefield, and the legion's strength grows daily.

At the same time, the Death Lord's own power is also increasing.

It seems to be preparing for apotheosis!

Apotheosis is certainly not easy; possessing the artifact Book of the Dead alone is far insufficient—most crucial is the Divine Fire.

General Sanavia is unsure whether the Death Lord has obtained the Divine Fire or has other hidden preparations, but that alone is enough to put Lei En on alert.

If possible, they must swiftly eliminate the Heavenly Disaster Legion and kill the Death Lord.

Lei En does not want to face a deity in the future.

Even the weakest newly‑ascended deity is beyond mortal sway. However, the timing to strike the Heavenly Disaster Legion is not yet ripe. The eastern coast is not fully reclaimed, development is lacking, the Empire's authority is not secured, the fleet has only two Star Destroyers, and the New Continent territories face the threat of the Eternal Chosen.

"We should wait a while."

"The Death Lord's apotheosis cannot happen that quickly; it may even fail."

"Wait a few more years, let my Star Destroyer fleet be completed, first seize the emperor's throne, wield the Empire's power to eradicate the Eternal Chosen and Demonkin, then eliminate the Heavenly Disaster Legion!"

After long deliberation, Lei En decided: South!

The next target is Luoli City.

He pressed the activation button on the screen; the Iola Core surged with massive pure energy, and after thirty seconds, with a booming roar, the Star Destroyer slipped through the void, leaving the mechanical factory.

(End of Chapter)