Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 523 Countermeasures: Unexpected New Equipment for Grain Transport (Seeking Monthly Tickets at the End of the Month)

The meeting at Hanhai seemed to cover a lot of topics, but in essence, it was just about discussing two issues.

"Our problem, and the dragons' problem!"

Ma Tianheng has gradually gotten used to his role as the "Lord's Special Advisor." Although his attitude remained as humble as ever, after Chen Mo asked a question, he exchanged glances with Helan before standing up first.

Whether it was a misperception or not, after the lord's engagement, Ma Tianheng and Liu Shuang's sister also secretly held a ceremony and moved in together. Then, Chen Mo could see with his own eyes that Old Ma's face was radiant, but his figure was slightly hunched.

Meeting the lord's concerned gaze, Ma Tianheng nodded politely and continued to explain his point of view.

"Let's talk about our problem first."

"Our delegation's visit to the Dragon Clan is ostensibly to establish diplomatic relations, but whether or not these relations are actually established is something everyone knows doesn't really matter."

A few low laughs rang out in the conference room. The current Han Hai indeed had the capital to not take the Dragon Clan seriously.

"Whether from a political, military, diplomatic, or trade perspective, the current limited size of the Dragon Clan cannot provide any valuable supplement to our Vast Ocean."

"The most valuable things are these historical records and accounts of what the dragons have seen and heard on the continent."

"And this part of the content has actually been exchanged with the Dragon Clan through the tempering materials we gave away in the early stage."

Old Ma's meaning was clear: now that he had the goods, this aspect of consideration could be disregarded.

"As for whether the dragon race has any hidden aspects, I personally believe there are some, but that is no longer the focus of our current work."

"Therefore, the first issue we faced has been basically resolved."

Ma Tianheng ticked the first item on the handwriting screen, and then heavily tapped the second item.

"Should we begin exploring this new continent, the 'Misty Continent' that the lord speaks of, as soon as possible? And if we do undertake the exploration, should we seek the assistance of the dragons?"

"I believe that understanding the situation and grasping the facts is still very necessary!"

Old Ma picked up the white porcelain teacup beside him, took a quick sip, swallowed it without even spitting out the tea leaves mixed in, put down the cup, cleared his throat, and then added.

"This land is isolated from the continents and oceans of the Starry World. There are two possibilities: one is to protect something within it and prevent outside forces from entering; the other is that the creatures within are too ferocious, and this barrier of thundercloud storms is to prevent them from breaking through."

"My understanding is that the latter scenario is more likely!"

The military leaders all nodded in agreement.

They were all hard-won on the battlefield and are extremely sensitive to the word "threat".

The power of the dragon race has been definitively proven, both through historical legends and real-world data.

The victory of the Star Humans over the Dragons was never achieved through direct combat on the battlefield, but rather through a protracted, strategic attack, overwhelming the weak with sheer numbers, and resorting to any means necessary, yet still resulting in heavy casualties.

Therefore, whether we look at the outcome of the battle between the Wind Serpent and the Dragon Clan, or assess the current status of the sub-dragons as their descendants in Dragon Cliff, it is enough to prove the formidable strength of these monsters.

"Things are constantly evolving. Just because they can't get out today doesn't mean they'll never get out! Barriers exist now, but they won't always exist!"

"Advance reconnaissance, thorough understanding, and contingency planning—this is the proactive strategy we should adopt!"

Han Hai's military philosophy and approach are inherently consistent with those of Dong Xia, and Lao Ma's proposal received high approval from almost everyone present.

Logically, Lao Ma gave his conclusion.

"Therefore, based on the need to explore the Misty Continent, I believe that our support for the Dragon Clan is still very necessary."

"Based on the information currently available, the Dragon Clan is the only species that has managed to bring back some of its members alive after entering the Misty Continent. Moreover, they have had some special interactions with the 'Wind Serpent' clan of the Misty Continent."

"My personal understanding is that asking the Dragon Clan for assistance in our exploration process has a rather clear practical significance."

"The only difference is the amount of the price we pay."

At this point, Ma Tianheng lightly flicked his fingers and flipped back to the previous table showing the current number of dragons and their food consumption.

"And coincidentally, we have the ability to solve one of the biggest problems facing the dragon race right now: the problem of food shortage."

"We don't need a full supply; just filling a portion of the gap should be enough to mobilize some dragons to join our exploration of the Misty Continent, essentially providing a safety net for the operation."

"My suggestion is to solve the problem of the dragon race while solving our problem. I ask the commander-in-chief, deputy commander-in-chief, and all leaders to consider it."

After saying that, Old Ma patted his sleeves and sat back down.

With such a brilliant example before them, the officers present didn't necessarily want to come up with any alternative ideas. After making some minor improvements and additions to the details, the general direction was settled.

The remaining issues are simply the proportion of food supplied, the frequency of delivery, the size and departure time of the exploration teams, and the number of dragons involved.

As is customary, the lord would then give a concluding speech, and the meeting would essentially be over.

Then, someone who almost never speaks suddenly chimed in.

Frost.

While in terms of sheer combat prowess, she could easily defeat everyone present, perhaps without even breaking a sweat, when it comes to discussions of military strategy, she's mostly just a pretty face—the kind that's pleasing to the eye.

However, if Liu Shuang wanted to say something, the actual effect was often greater than that of Commander-in-Chief Chen Mo himself.

Because Chen Mo trusted her enough, to the point that his trust was so great that he would say, "Your plan is definitely wrong, but since you said it, let's give it a try." This was completely unreasonable and illogical.

Therefore, as soon as Liu Shuang opened her mouth, she instantly attracted everyone's attention.

"I think you're all right, but I'm just a little uneasy. I don't know why, it's just... a strange feeling."

"I don't know where the danger is, but I feel very uncomfortable."

If Liu Shuang speaks, it must be because she is innocent but doubtful, and guilty when doubtful!
The meeting quickly shifted in another direction, from heated discussion to serious scrutiny, and began to analyze the potential dangers one by one.

Did the dragons betray us after receiving supplies?

Are the Dragon Clan and the Wind Serpent still harboring feelings for each other and secretly colluding?
The Wind Serpent could break through the barrier and invade the Starry Continent at any moment?
The human nations covet the cooperation between the Vast Ocean and the Dragon Clan, and are preparing to launch a collective annihilation campaign.

Are land-based and sea-based races collaborating to launch a war of annihilation against the Vast Ocean?

Are the creatures of the underworld plotting a large-scale attack on the Vast Ocean because they suffered a loss last time?

Could there be something about elemental planes?

……

In just over ten minutes, the situation had spiraled out of control.

Even the elves have been placed on high alert. Some officers have begun to study the elves' troop deployment, the maximum time they can reach the Vast Sea, their current equipment and supplies, and then discuss whether or not to disarm the Silvermoon Forest.

Liu Shuang had no choice but to call a halt to the heated discussion, looking completely bewildered.

"It's not that exaggerated. I just feel that there might be some minor issues with this operation, so we need to be careful!"

"Be careful, we must be careful!"

Chen Mo made the final decision: "Make bold hypotheses, verify carefully, explore meticulously, and act cautiously!"

"Continue as planned, but be fully prepared!"

"By the way, compile today's data and give it to me." "I'll have someone take a look later."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Chen Mo wanted to consult someone, so he naturally asked the think tank in his hometown of Dongxia for advice.

At the same time, Chen Mo also asked his hometown to provide some new equipment.

In the established plan, supplying food to the dragons is a necessary step.

No matter how powerful a creature is, examples of annihilation in the face of drastic changes in the world are not uncommon on Earth; they are countless. Those former apex predators in the food chain went extinct when their time came, leaving no trace of their struggles.

The dragons' power ironically became the reason they were hunted. Their ability to survive until now can be attributed to the presence of a leader like the Icefield Dragon Ancestor who turned the tide, coupled with many unexpected and accidental factors, which allowed them to survive by sheer luck.

The tragedy of the dragon race is the tragedy of the previous era.

Even if the Dragon Clan ultimately decides not to participate in the exploration of the Misty Continent, Chen Mo is still willing to give this beleaguered race some support.

However, although the vast ocean has no shortage of food, transportation is a major problem due to the long distance and harsh environment.

Relying solely on air freight is definitely not feasible! Aside from the high costs, the sheer volume of air freight transport is a major drawback.

If transport planes were used to transport bulk commodities like food, they would need to refuel in the air at least twice to complete a round trip. However, the amount transported in one trip would probably only be enough for a giant dragon's daily food needs.

It's okay to do it once or twice occasionally, but continuous delivery is completely impractical.

Therefore, we still have to use sea freight.

Ocean shipping is low-cost and has a large carrying capacity, making it virtually perfect.

However, the sea surface surrounding the Sighing Icefield is entirely covered by ice. According to data sent back by the visiting group, the ice layer near the sea is more than three meters thick, and in some places it is even more than ten meters thick. Even dragons have to break the ice to go into the sea to hunt.

Without a doubt, only heavy icebreakers can navigate this route.

The current navy of Han Hai does not have the necessary resources, so they still need to seek support from their homeland of Dong Xia.

Soon, Dongxia sent Chen Mo the first batch of equipment.

When Chen Mo first saw it, he almost thought there was something wrong with his eyes.

punt?
Is this thing for ice skating? Even if it works well on ice, how are we going to get across the long stretch of sea?
Of course...flying!
That's right, what Dongxia sent was the super warship that caused a sensation on the Blue Star after it was developed, the [Wave-Treading] series flying warship.

This is the culmination of technologies from both worlds.

The ship features a high-strength alloy hull sourced from Earth, hydrodynamic and aerodynamic design, domestically produced Emei 30 engine units, a high-thrust staged combustion cycle hydrogen-oxygen engine for instantaneous acceleration, and laboratory-grade positioning, navigation, and radar scanning systems…

On the starry side, there is the [Resonance] magic circle designed and improved many times by Master Anthony, the [Shield of Glory] series of protection from the Misty Moon Divine Court, the [Anchor of Amber Force Field] from the Magic Academy, the [Ser Water Element Support] and [Dynamic Flowing Wave Matrix] spells related to the sea race, and the [Magical Resonance] system of the Sky Empire...

From the moment it left the dock, it became the most dazzling star on the Blue Star continent.

However, from the moment it was created, this thing found itself in the awkward situation of having no place to use its talents.

The [Wave-Treading] series of flying warships are the trump card for striking enemy surface warships, but looking around Dongxia, where are there enemy warships for them to fight?

Those guys around here who occasionally cause trouble don't even have a decent ship. It's considered an insult for Dongxia to send a coast guard.

As for the attack on the Sea Serpent, the air force handled the entire operation. The enemy ships didn't even dare to leave the port; they were all stuck in their berths.

Just like more than a hundred years ago, the Beiyang Fleet died in its own port, feeling utterly defeated.

As for the bald eagle, which is Dongxia's hypothetical biggest enemy.

They attack east and west, east and south, east and north, constantly shouting "East Xia, East Xia," but in the end, they fight everywhere on the entire planet except for East Xia.

When you encounter an opponent like this, you can't just shove your ship into their face.

【Riding the Waves】No matter how fast it flies, it is still somewhat different from a missile, and forcibly provoking trouble still carries a certain degree of danger.

And so, Dongxia's "Wave-Riding" series was developed from 061 to 091, with continuous technological iterations and equipment upgrades, but it never got a chance to be used.

If it weren't for the occasional appearance in joint naval exercises, everyone would have almost forgotten about it.

Now, faced with Han Hai's request, Dong Xia suddenly realized, "Hey, this thing seems to come in handy."

The request from Han Hai for a transport ship to the Sighing Icefield was quite troublesome for Dongxia. Chen Mo, who didn't understand the relevant technology, was actually making some assumptions.

The ice, which is several meters or even more than ten meters thick, exceeds the waterline of most ships and is not something that ordinary icebreakers can handle.

The largest nuclear-powered icebreaker on Earth, currently weighing 40,000 tons, can theoretically break through ice only about three meters thick, barely reaching the lower limit of the ice layer of the extreme cold ice sheet.

To allow transport ships to move freely in that area, it would probably require ultra-heavy icebreakers of around 100,000 tons.

However, Dongxia has no real reserves of this kind of equipment, and both the design and construction will take a considerable amount of time. Furthermore, even if it were completed, Chen Mo's altar, which is only a thousand tons in size, cannot deliver equipment of this level.

The expert team from Dongxia quickly began a relay of various creative ideas.

For example, a transit station could be established on an offshore glacier, where a transport ship would first pick up a small icebreaker and then transfer the cargo to a sled on the ice.

Alternatively, they could use underwater submarines for transportation, with the dragons responsible for breaking through the ice to provide a buoyancy dock for the submarines.

Or simply send them to the open sea and let the dragons find a way to carry them back. If they want to eat, how can they not work?

Just as the design and engineering teams were having a heated discussion, a designer from Dongxia Shipbuilding Industry said quietly, "Why not send [Wave Riding] over there?"

The problem was easily solved; it was practically tailor-made for me.

In the Starry World, almost no navy can pose a direct threat to [Wave Rider]. [Wave Rider] can even have some of its weapon and protection systems removed, which can greatly increase its carrying capacity.

As for breaking the ice, there's no need. [Wave Riding] is like "light-footed water walking," so it doesn't matter how thick the ice is.

And so, after a round of frantic modifications, the new version of the [Wave-Treading] armed transport ship was successfully delivered to the stars.

Dongxia primarily optimized it in two aspects. On the one hand, it reduced weaponry and equipment, but strengthened the terrain scanning system and autopilot system of [Wave Traversing]. After all, there were no shipping routes or hydrological data for this sea area before, and the terrain, ocean currents, and ice distribution were all unknown. The comprehensive enhancement of the scanning system provides an extra layer of safety.

On the other hand, the speed of "Riding the Waves" was reduced from its original full speed of 500 knots to a full speed of 330 knots.

Flight stability has been greatly improved, energy consumption has been significantly reduced, and the range has almost doubled.

Unexpectedly, during the sea trial of venturing into Emerald Bay, Hanhailing also inadvertently solved a huge problem that was currently facing them.

Chen Mo planned to send troops to explore the "Misty Continent," which required venturing into the deep sea and crossing the ocean. And the ocean, in the Starry World, was not unclaimed; it belonged to the sea creatures.

Although Chen Mo had a good relationship with the Naga and could travel freely in their territory through prior communication and application, the Naga were ultimately just one of the sea tribes, while the other six sea tribes had no connection with the Vast Sea.

Some sea creature forces, due to their poor relationship with the Tide Naga, naturally became enemies of the Vast Ocean out of hatred for them.

During this period, Han Hai has been repeatedly negotiating with the Naga clan in an attempt to find a safe passage.

However, the [Wave-Treading] flying warship travels at extremely low altitudes and does not enter the seawater.

This is like a floating island in the sky, occupying an air route, and theoretically, the sea creatures have no right to interfere.

Although the sea creatures can still attack or intercept, without this declaration, the vast ocean can stand tall.

Everyone in the entire planetary world knows that Lord Chen Mo of the Vast Ocean is the most reasonable person!
(End of this chapter)