326 Developments in FalHerim (2/2)
”Not George.” Remian answered. ”Darian.”
***
Darian was very, very far to the south at the time. He was on an Order of Light airship loading Sky Tree seedlings while two squads of knights fought low-tier Spectres at different corners of their perimeter.
”You want me to take a class?” Darian stared at the communications crystal in his hand. ”Is this a joke? I'm in the middle of a pitched battle here!”
”Not right now. The class has a field trip this weekend, so we're talking about next week.” Remian explained. ”Also, I strongly suspect they are going to fail the trip's objective, but that's okay. The main point of the trip was to get them to want to learn more. Even failure can be a good teacher. But they would likely be frothing at the mouth to grow stronger.”
”You want me to teach them martial arts?” Darian guessed.
”And psionics, if you could.” Remian requested. ”Put them to some light work if you like, it's all part of training. Just don't lose them. We're going to need a lot from them in the future.”
”That's great and all, but why would I get myself into this?” Darian had to ask.
”I'll make you an advanced airship.” Remian offered. ”A Strike Frigate which would make the Red Fang look like a toy. Something that won't use mana.”
Actually, he just wanted Darian to have a vehicle that could bring the whole class around safely and quickly. But don't tell Darian that.
***
Turning an entire city into a super electric-adaptation center was no mean feat. Only an autocratic government like Fal'Herim's monarchy could even think about doing it in a short time frame. There were some political obstacles involved, but with Underground King calling the shots, the obstacles didn't even dare show their faces.
It mainly took the form of ten massive drydocks. Teams of men and lynxmice would dash in, replace key components, add in electrical wiring protected by metal pipes, and seal up all the holes and gaps they made in the process.
”We can just leave the unused mana channels in the walls and place the wiring externally. It won't look pretty, but it'll work.” Remian suggested. ”If it looks too bad, we can just use wall paneling to cover it up. There's no need to tear open all the walls unless some VIP buyer wants a specially customized craft.”
Along with the drydocks were the factories and assembly lines producing those parts. Propellers, motors, control systems, wiring, wall panels, fuel cells… all of it. The odd thing was Remian insisted on building these factories to last. This included solid structures, all the facilities, easy repair accessways and wastewater treatment.
”But what happens after we're done adapting airships? Sooner or later, demand will drop.” Tim pointed out.
Remian shrugged. ”Keep the drydocks for airship maintenance… or turn them into shipyards.”
”How much will all these cost?” Mindy had to ask.
”Including materials cost and starting salaries… at least five hundred million to begin with, with over thirty million in salaries alone every month following. And the first month or so is for training, we shouldn't expect profit of any sort until later.”
”Is that really okay with you?” Mindy eyed Asda. ”Since you're the one paying.”
”Oh, yes.” Asda said, hurriedly. ”This will all be great for the economy. Unemployment rates will nosedive! I've always been wanting to do something good for the country, to really make a difference and be a well-loved queen. But until now, nothing worked. Half the time nobody even listened to me. It's only because of Tim that anything gets done. If not for Tim, I wouldn't even be able to walk out of the palace safely!”
Mindy let out an involuntary shudder. ”Asda going 'Tim this' and 'Tim that'… This feels so wrong…”
”Only to you!” Asda shot back, suddenly getting defensive. ”I see nothing wrong with any of it!”
Remian let out a long, long sigh. In the end, despite all their capabilities and experiences, both Mindy and Asda were still teenage girls. Asda was simply a year or so ahead of Mindy, and apparently a good bit more appreciative of being able to rely on a guy around her age.
Mindy, on her part, half-glared at Remian. ”And you! You're willing to just forget everything she's done? Just like that?”
”Let it go, Mindy. Things are different, now.”
”How could you just forgive her for betraying us like that! How could you forget the past so easily?” Mindy fumed.
”Nobody said anything about forgiving, but the past is the past and right now, she's helpful. For the sake of the future, for the sake of what we need, we can toss out old grudges and work together to survive and prosper.” Remian said. ”Otherwise, there's a good chance that everyone is going to die.”
Mindy blinked. ”How does Asda being helpful prevent everyone dying?”
”It's because of time.” Remian said shortly. ”Using Fal'Herim as an industrial base and conversion center rather than building everything from scratch ourselves will save us years, maybe decades. Every year we save early on will be worth several times as many down the line.”