Chapter 546 It’s Time to Leave (1/2)
Zero-Three's gaze was rather playful when she spoke. In fact, she did not want to help or some gift, but was merely interested in seeing what sort of reaction Joshua would have under such a situation. Naturally, she never expected that the warrior would nod seriously after some thought.
”I definitely have something to give you, but it would be I who help you instead of the other way around.” Joshua crouched to stick his face close to Zero-Three so that he could speak secretly and smoothly. His expression was solemn, and yet his tone was earnest. ”Come to think of it, you might be the only one who could help me on this.”
”Then… Then do tell.” Facing the warrior who suddenly approached her with such a serious expression, Zero-Three who had intended to tease took one step back uncomfortably instead. Her voice became a little panicked and also rather quiet. ”What do you… need my help with?”
”I can't tell.”
Joshua chortled once at Zero-Three's promise and reached out to press his hand on the artificial intelligence's illusory mana projection. Silver light flashed, flowing along with magical circuits, while the warrior's palm appeared as if it touched a physical body. ”Either way, I'm counting on you.”
Her head being pressed down upon, Zero Three's eyes glinted with substantial pale-blue mana runes as countless data poured like a waterfall. After a brief moment, Joshua withdrew his hand, his face rather pale whereas Zero Three's showed a clearly agonized expression. She clasped her own head and quietly moaned a few times in anguish, before looking at the warrior in disbelief.
”Joshua, you—what do you think you're doing?!”
Though she appeared to want to continue, she was stopped by the warrior's gaze.
”Experimenting with a possibility, which also counts as preparation for the future.”
Joshua merely smiled at Zero-Three's question. Without saying much, he rose and lifted his gaze towards the pyroxene lights that were glimmering in the center of the second-floor corridor in the liege's residence, his gaze calm as if nothing happened. ”This is a secret between you and me, it's best to not tell anyone… I believe you could help me.”
”Since you said so, I certainly would act as if nothing happened.” The artificial intelligence girl could only reluctantly lower his head and mumble softly. ”But… if that's so… is there a need for it? I believe things won't deteriorate to such a state!”
”There are no absolutes, Zero-Three.” Joshua started to move towards another end of the liege's residence while replying Zero-Three who was keeping up solemnly. ”Everything is possible.”
”For victory, the worst must be defeated.”
*****
The dwarven settlement by the edge of the Great Ajax Mountains.
Deep underground, the dwarven city was abuzz with activity
In the natural subterranean karst, thousands of sinewy dwarves trod upon the even surface—sturdy paths made by transmuting mud with spells that stretches out of the heart of the city, reaching every corner of the settlement. One of the paths extended, stopping by the foot of a large-scale stair-shaped building. There was an opening over the top of the pyramid that resembled a chimney, incessantly ejecting materialized mana and steam, while the foundations of the building were deeply entrenched beneath ground, absorbing energies from lava and supplying the operation of the colossal machines within.
The steel giant Unit Zero-One was digging the foundations opposite the building. It was aware of the function of the building before it—a second-generation runic enchantment factory built due to the advent of the Great Mana Tide. Compared to first generations factories, not only could it produce widely used magical equipment such as enchanted armor, it could also manufacture core parts of Aerial Battleships. Zero-One also knew that the Northern Runic Dwarves had recently received a large order from the Imperial Army, but the production capacity was insufficient which was it was entrusted to excavate the foundations of the second runic factory.
”How is it going, Zero-One? If you feel tired, rest for a bit!”
In front of the huge crater dug up for the new factory, the new leader of the Northern Dwarves Tanya stroked his long dark-yellow beard and the copper rings over it was bellowing. ”We aren't in a rush!”
”Bzzt-bzzt.”
There's no need—I won't feel tired over simply physical logistics, Zero-One replied honestly and kept working. However, the dwarves beside it could not understand the Steel Elemental at all, and was only able to shrug helplessly.
The Steel Elemental was like an elemental being that survived by absorbing the mana elements in the atmosphere around it. To Zero-One, rare metals were in fact just delicious snacks, materials that assist it when it transformed. At present, it was in the vicinity of an enchantment factory—the excess mana that the building exuded was enough to make it comfortable. Zero-One believed that the dwarves treated itself very well and did not need to pay him any extra attention, while itself was very willing to contribute its own strength for these down-to-earth people.
In that very moment, however, Zero-One's thoughts suddenly stopped for an instant, and the giant steel being abruptly dropped its work and stood aloft to look towards the distance. It was as if the Steel Elemental was struck by lightning—substantial electric currents were streaming over its body, with massive amounts of information coming out of nowhere through a unique link it could not sense.
”What?! Zero-One?!”
Tanya had been prepared to leave with his guards in tow. After all, he was extremely busy after having recently assumed his father's leadership—apart from visiting Zero-One, he still had to inspect factories located throughout the settlement. Still, having seen the bizarre circumstances suddenly happening to the Steel Elemental, Tanya quickly arrived by the edge of the crater, ignoring her obstructing bodyguards, worriedly asking after Zero-One as the currents over its body dissipated.