Extraordinary Voyage

New Inn Port, Royal Navy Academy, in the quiet office belonging to the Vice Principal.

On the wall hangs a bust of Her Majesty the Queen Bettyxia Phaletis, and behind it is a large map of the explored world. The mahogany bookshelf is filled with books on geography, politics, economics, military preparation, literature, art, and more.

Of course, there is also a weapon rack displaying firearms and various exquisite cold weapons.

Evidently, besides being the Vice Principal of the Academy, Her Highness Liweina's daily life as a Crown Prince is exceptionally fulfilling!

"Hmm, Vice Admiral Gustav and the East Lenz Company's actions are quite swift, aren't they? The first batch of silver ingots has been produced even without the related infrastructure in the Kingdom's colonies?

Although we only shared the silver mine on Island No.3 with Sak and Atlant, it should still ease the Minister of Finance's worries a bit this year, right?

Along with the operational details sent back, there's also a detailed battle report and... a blueprint of a warship?"

Did not immediately unfold to examine.

Having dealt with administrative affairs for half a day, Liweina stretched lazily in an unladylike manner. The tightened Navy uniform outlined the perfect figure of this Peak Knight, but unfortunately, no one was present to witness Her Highness the Princess's charm.

To cultivate the abilities of this Crown Prince, all intelligence transmitted back to Royal Capital Bekele, various documents requiring the Queen's review, and the Kingdom's administrative resolutions are also sent to Liweina.

Although these matters have already been reviewed by the Queen and various dignitaries stationed in the Royal Capital multiple times, reaching her is more of a formality. However, she is also required to provide handling opinions because a pile of teachers is waiting to inspect her "homework."

In the absence of immediate power transitioning, undergoing sufficient trials is evidently a path any exemplary heir must tread!

Moreover, Phaletis's situation differs from Hilus. Although the Queen has balanced various interests well and controls the military and top-level extraordinary power with absolute force, it is still far from the totalitarianism of Hilus.

Because the economic base determines the superstructure!

The burgeoning steam industry within the country, exemplifying the continent, alone cannot accommodate a political system where power is overly centralized in an attempt to control and possess everything.

When most people lose initiative, upward channels, and even personal wealth, the nation becomes lifeless, especially in commerce and industry.

So after several adaptive reforms.

Rather than being ruled by the supremely noble Queen, the country is more so governed by a large group of interest groups sharing common ideals and goals with the Queen, only that Her Majesty controls the majority of the armed forces, safeguarding the country.

Liweina's performance is naturally observed by many eyes. Even though she is currently the only legitimate heir,

If she proves inadequate and even damages the ruling class's interests due to incompetence, her share of powers will undoubtedly be diluted by the Upper Council members, led by great nobles, who employ the hereditary system.

This is a political game that doesn't necessarily correlate with who holds the bigger fist, unless one desires to be a tyrant governing through force.

"Sigh, sometimes I do envy my older sister..."

Gazing at the campus outside, gradually returning to spring, Liweina lightly patted her cheeks, pulling back her inexplicable wandering thoughts, and picked up the blueprint.

A smile appeared on her face upon seeing the signature:

"Truly my Guardian Knight!

In the skirmish over Potosi, Aiven's performance was indeed outstanding.

He was the first to obtain intelligence on the silver mine, blocking Hilus's main supply lines while keeping his presence hidden, and finally completing the raiding on Forward Island.

By exploiting a time gap, he forced the more powerful Hilus to concede, relinquishing some of Potosi's interests.

And already, in a short time, he successfully advanced to become an Official Wizard, truly astounding.

Let me consider what other rewards to give him besides military recognition.

Higher authority within the 'Violet Eye'? Ocean Treasure? Witchcraft materials? Mysterious knowledge? Or..."

Due to Aiven's status as a Guardian Knight, his military achievements naturally also contribute to Liweina's reputation, and his recent performance enhanced her reputation significantly.

Even though the refined silver ingots from the No.3 silver mine have not yet been brought back, Her Highness the Crown Prince has recently received a substantial amount of praise.

Even the "Rose Sword Saint," usually indifferent to mundane affairs, has expressed a rare interest in him, clearly holding him in high regard.

Seeing Aiven's name naturally put her in a good mood.

She then turned her attention to the contents of the blueprint — the ship's structure, transformation principles, final armament configuration, performance parameters... only after a long while did she let out a complex sigh:

"Phew! Aiven didn't further his studies under Principal Princeton, not sure whose loss it truly is."

The greatest value of weapon inventions can only be realized when in the hands of large national powers, especially since the modification plan was jointly completed by Aiven and a ship engineer named Walkley Jeffrey, leaving little need for further secrecy.

Promptly offering it to his liege, Aiven trusts Liweina's conduct will not let him suffer loss.

Suddenly.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in."

The assistant Linda, also in military uniform, entered and placed a freshly brewed pot of red tea and a letter from the "Violet Eye" on Liweina's desk.

"Your Highness, have a rest. There's also a personal letter for you here."

Putting down the blueprints of the Heavy Cruiser and picking up the letter already sealed by the Witchcraft Association's postman, she was somewhat surprised to extract a shimmering, thin as cicada's wings letter paper.

Her slender eyebrows slightly arched:

"Oh? An urgent letter delivered using the 'Spirit Realm Messenger'? And it's from Aiven?

He hasn't long been formally promoted, yet he already possesses his own Spirit Realm Messenger?"

She unfolded the letter and took a quick glance, unable to suppress a light chuckle:

"This is... the 'Overlord Disqualification Plan' against Hilus? Haha, our Captain Aiven isn't short on confidence!"

At a glance at the title, Liweina knew what the letter was about. Initially, she didn't take it too seriously, after all, with her current experience and knowledge, she couldn't imagine how to completely pull down the seemingly invincible Hilus from the throne.

Even among the Kingdom's high ranks, no one could propose a feasible plan, and Liweina didn't believe a young lad merely seventeen could have such farsighted vision.

If it were written by anyone else, even those so-called elite young nobles in the Royal Capital, she probably wouldn't have the slightest interest in glancing at it and would've directly tossed it into the trash can.

However, just for the sake of the name Aiven, it was worth her time to take a look at the letter, and perhaps write a reply to give him some guidance (show off), demonstrating what's meant by continental situation, by strategy, by great power game, otherwise, her belly full of theoretical knowledge would be wasted.

Even if the plan in the letter had no feasibility, the intention of that guy to offer advice for the Kingdom was something she must resolutely uphold!

However.

Though the paper was thin, the amount of information in it was indeed substantial, with not a single empty word or inexplicable slogan.

Large sections of theoretical analysis and specific solutions were enumerated clearly.

After just one look at the body, Liweina was already completely absorbed.

Then she read it again and again, her expressions continuously changing.

Wow—

Until the tea Linda brought was almost cold, she suddenly stood up, nearly toppling the chair behind her:

"Linda, quick! We need to find Principal Princeton, I need to use his power to have an immediate conversation with Her Majesty!"

Before leaving the room, with a gust of wind in her step, she didn't forget to take the battleship blueprints along.

If this 'Overlord Disqualification Plan' could be smoothly implemented, perhaps this new type of battleship, designed for commerce raiding and not fleet battles, would hold entirely different significance for the Kingdom!

Time flew by.

A week later.

The Hilus Royal Capital, St. Cruz, with its streets and alleys still lingering with the joyous atmosphere of a recent engagement ceremony, welcomed a ship with fiery red sails, arriving hastily.

The "Red Maple" ship, after escaping the "Great Vortex," no longer dared to follow the planned route across the "Eye of the Black Sea," but deviated northward into the Trident Ocean Current, utilizing its extraordinary abilities and the current's assistance to return at high speed.

Under normal circumstances, the Grand Fleet traveling the shortest route through the "Eye of the Black Sea" would take more than two months; even passing "Eye of the Black Sea" alone would take over a month's journey, yet the "Red Maple" took merely eight days.

However, they did not bring good news to the eagerly awaiting Hilus high echelon.

Or rather, calling it terrible news is more appropriate.

The treasure-laden Great Fleet encountered the undefeatable "Great Vortex" Charybdis at the "Eye of the Black Sea"... the entire fleet perished!

Upon hearing this news, from Philip II to the Kingdom's upper echelons, they couldn't afford to investigate whether this was a natural disaster or human error, much less dwell on the heart-wrenching loss of an amount enough to make one vomit blood.

For a far more urgent problem lay before them.

The annihilation of the Great Treasure Fleet also meant: The military budget for nearly the entire next year for this state established by the military was wasted!

And they must try every possible means to make up for it, otherwise the series of chain reactions it would trigger is something no one dares to imagine.

And such an astronomical deficit, where could it be replenished from?

Every senior in the Kingdom was extremely stressed!

Meanwhile.

The aftershocks of the earthquake had already spread far and wide.

Even under tight sealing, the impact of this news was no less than a financial tsunami occurring in the modern world.

From the Peacock Islands in the east to the New Continent in the west, spanning the east-west boundaries of the known world explored by humanity, many could sense the faint aura of unrest in the air, coming from those Hilus military bases, imposing as the Sea Great Wall...