Chapter 75 - Overclocking Chip (1/2)

Translator: Exodus Tales  Editor: Exodus Tales

The explosion that came from the Eighteen Stars of Nocturnal Disaster was catastrophic. Fiery red flames shot up to the sky as everything within a radius of fifty kilometers was enveloped in a tremendous sea of fire.

The shuttle could only fly within the atmosphere, so its fuselage was not equipped with any heat resistance. The scorching temperature penetrated the shuttle’s hull and could be felt inside the cockpit, rolling waves of heat so powerful that any humans would very well be cooked by it.

*Whoosh!*

The shuttle finally escaped the grasp of the intense heat and burst right out of the inferno.

Xia Fei had the protection of his Windshade Mark IV, so he was unharmed by the heat.

After making a turn in the sky, Xia Fei proceeded toward the valley where he had arranged to meet Sonny.

Looking at the sky, it looked like a huge crater had been made from where Old K’s mansion had once stood. Over ten kilometers wide and about two kilometers deep—the flames were unabated, while thick smoke belched unceasingly. It was almost as if the place had been struck by a meteor.

“What a waste. All that ammunition was buried underground. We could’ve made a killing if we managed to sell that stuff off.” Xia Fei sighed.

Phantom rolled his eyes at him. “You’re really a money-grubber. Being able to survive that was already enough.”

……

Sonny drove the shuttle and landed somewhere a hundred kilometers away from where Old Porter’s factory was situated.

It was already dawn, and heavy clouds blanketed the land with rain. The skies of the warship graveyard were completely shrouded in black fog, so even the rain was black. The air was cool and damp.

Xia Fei leaped off from the vehicle and told Sonny, “Head home. Only you and I know what happened last night, so don’t mention anything to anyone.”

Sonny nodded his head with severity. “Don’t worry, boss. My lips are sealed.”

Xia Fei smiled and made a high-speed dash for Old Porter’s factory.

Old K’s men, who had originally been watching Porter’s factory day and night, were all gone by now, most likely because they learned of what had happened to their leader and departed from this place.

The massive explosion had wiped any trace, so there was no way for anyone to discover Xia Fei’s relation to the incident. It was figuratively and literally a clean-cut execution.

The most important outcome was Xia Fei’s return with that Black Mamba 130 engine. With this top-grade engine, it would not be long until the naval-issued, Eagle-class frigate could be completed. In no time, Xia Fei would be able to pilot this top-tier frigate through the cosmos.

Xia Fei returned to his room and had a shower. Changing into his work overalls, he got to the factory to begin the day’s work.

There were still twenty minutes until work began, yet Old Porter’s four apprentices had already started working; all were looking very happy as they laughed and chatted with one another.

“What’s the happy occasion?” asked Xia Fei as he approached.

Xiao Tian put down his universal modification pliers and excitedly said, “Did you know? Old K’s home suddenly blew up before daybreak today. Apparently, several hundred kilometers of the land around have turned into ruins, and most likely, not even ashes of that guy remain.”

Xia Fei pretended to be surprised. “Are you serious? That’s indeed good news.”

“It’s not merely good news; it’s great news. Old K had been a criminal throughout his life, and this was a fitting end for him. I heard the people in the city celebrating early in the morning, and the bars are filled with people. Everyone’s in high spirits,” Boateng happily chimed in.

Xia Fei smiled, wielding the tool in his hand to join everyone with the work, not saying a word about what happened last night. It was as if nothing had happened.

Several days later, Xia Fei announced that he had managed to procure a Black Mamba 130 engine.

Every part of the engine had its own serial number. Xia Fei lasered off the engine’s so that none would realize that this was the same one Old K had taken from Xiao Tian.

Everyone was thrilled to hear this news, though all of them chalked it up to Xia Fei’s luck, and none was aware that behind this so-called luck was an unimaginable, death-defying experience.

The workers, who had previously left the factory, returned one after another at Old Porter’s request. These people were initially forced off from working with Old Porter by Old K’s threat, and none of them had been willing to do so. Thus, Old Porter accepted them all back regardless of what had transpired, and they were all deeply grateful.

Xia Fei was now very busy with work. Aside from learning about spacecraft repairs and maintenance, he had another course to study: aeropiloting.

His timetable was filled to the brim, and every day, he would fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The progress of the spaceship restoration increased over time, and Xia Fei became more and more skilled in piloting and repairing spacecraft.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, and on this day, all the workers arrived early at the workshop, but none of them started working. Instead, they surrounded that naval-issued, Eagle-class frigate, admiring the fruits of their labor.

A short while, Xia Fei walked into the workshop with a big smile. Old Porter personally handed him a pair of universal modification pliers and a long shaft safety screw.

“The spaceship is left with this final screw before it can be considered complete. Normally, I will be the one fitting in the last screw, but this time, I think it will be more appropriate for you to be the one to do the honors,” said Old Porter as he gave Xia Fei the part and tool.

Xia Fei nodded and dove into the spaceship. He placed this final screw into the appropriate groove and used the universal modification pliers to screw it in.

There was an unspoken rule in spacecraft maintenance: When dismantling a space vessel, the first screw to be removed must be the middle screw out of thirteen counterparts under the captain’s seat. Conversely, when assembling a spaceship, that would also be the last screw to be screwed in.

It was said that doing so was a show of respect to the captain.

Normally, the oldest and most exceptional of the mechanics working on the maintenance and refurbishment team would do this job. For Old Porter to give Xia Fei this opportunity meant that he was acknowledging his skills at spacecraft repairs.

No more and no less, just 19.3 rounds would achieve the most suitable tensile strength of the screw. Xia Fei put down the universal modification pliers in his hand and stood at the entrance of this frigate, loudly declaring, “The work is complete. In a while, Sonny will be delivering some delicious food and good alcohol. Everyone, don’t stand on ceremony; no one’s allowed to leave before they’re properly drunk!”