Pillar of Yita

”The Black Rose Family is renowned for producing Combat Artisans. Rodiah himself is a famous Fairy Master. Unlike Delice’s father, they are staunch supporters of the Prime Minister’s faction. However, hedging bets is customary for nobles; although the two families split a generation ago, they are not estranged due to outsiders.”

”When the situation grew dire, I heard Delice’s family planned to seek refuge in Darkhawk City, but I didn’t expect such events to transpire.”

Fang Hong listened absent-mindedly.

The hand of the Lady Noble was soft and delicate, with a faint fragrance emanating from her, lingering near his nose. He felt his heart race as he listened to Hilveld’s story, and couldn’t help but ask: ”Can we offer any assistance?”

”Perhaps this is an opportunity,” Hilveld seemed to compose herself, gathering her thoughts as she spoke.

Fang Hong was taken aback: ”An opportunity?”

Miss Ship’s Officer turned around with a charming smile: ”Has Lord Captain forgotten what I mentioned?”

Fang Hong was dumbfounded; Hilveld had mentioned many things to him, how could he recall which one? With a competent assistant and Miss Fairy nearby, he found himself becoming increasingly lazy, often forgetting trivial matters.

”I once mentioned the unfinished Heart of Fairy at the Rose Workshop. Lord Captain, do you remember? As a member of the Westwood Sibika family, I also have an inheritance right to that item.”

So it was this matter. Fang Hong realized, indeed, Hilveld had mentioned the unfinished Heart of Fairy from the Westwood Sibika family to him. That was back during the Elpaxin affair. However, after Hilveld revealed her identity at Cloud Harbor, he gradually forgot about it—never expecting it to be true?

He instinctively said: ”I thought...?”

Hilveld’s light blue eyes reflected the glow of the furnace, twinkling with a sly smile: ”Did Lord Captain think I was deceiving you?”

Fang Hong, having his thoughts exposed, couldn’t help but blush.

She, however, didn’t mind: ”That Heart of Fairy was crafted by my grandfather according to designs left by Lorren. Delice’s father was also one of its creators, and due to my mother’s connections, I too have the right to inherit that item.”

”However, I’m ultimately an outsider. To remove that item from the Rose Workshop under normal circumstances would be nearly impossible. But Delice is different. With her father deprived of his freedom, she is the primary heir to that item.”

”If Delice permits, it will be easy for us to take that item from the Rose Workshop. Although the Heart of Fairy is unfinished, it is more than sufficient as a ship engine. Moreover, as Lorren’s labor of love, even the Emerald Bird Workshop’s ’White Feather Gryphon’ series’ first sequence engines might not compare.”

”...Even if it were upgraded to a genuine Heart of Fairy in the future, it would still be much easier than an ordinary ship engine, at least providing a starting point. And if we could also take the design plans, that would be ideal.”

Fang Hong gaped at his Miss Ship’s Officer calculatingly plotting against her sister—if Ruo Doris was technically still her sister—incapable of resisting the question: ”But would Delice agree to that?”

”That depends on Lord Captain,” Hilveld adeptly responded, her eyes scintillating as she gazed at him.

”Depends on me?”

”If Lord Captain feels uneasy, you could do the Red Rose Family a favor after acquiring the Heart of Fairy.”

”Rescue her father?”

Hilveld didn’t answer, but her gaze clearly conveyed that very intention.

Fang Hong understood she was subtly requesting his assistance, yet he truly had no intention of refusing. Whether the Seven Seas Traveler or the Heart of Fairy, both originated from the Westwood Sibika family.

Having received their gifts unintentionally, naturally, he needed to reciprocate. Hilveld’s relationship with them was actually a part of that karmic connection.

Rescuing a person wasn’t difficult. Although Delice’s father was imprisoned due to royal power struggles, he was not an essential figure. This matter seemed more like an internal family power struggle.

Intervening in such a conflict might be troublesome, but for a Free Summoner, they had unique methods to solve problems—

Provided they secured their own ship.

This brought them back to the beginning of the question.

”Where is the Heart of Fairy located?”

Seeing his agreement, Hilveld’s gaze softened slightly. She smiled gently, replied: ”The Heart of Fairy should be stored at the Rose Workshop, but for Lord Captain to take it away, aside from Delice’s consent, some preparations are also necessary.”

”What preparations?”

”Find a way to meet Delice’s father.”

”For an Alchemist, what matters most isn’t the inheritance, but the continuation of the craft. Lorren’s drawings have passed through several generations, and they could only be recreated to this extent. My grandfather, Delice’s father, have all poured their heart into the Heart of Fairy. Theoretically, Delice will inherit their legacy in the future.”

”But Delice is still young, and given the current state of the Red Rose Family, it’s uncertain whether she will have the opportunity and resources to become an excellent Alchemist.”

”But Lord Captain is different. Already a Fairy Knight and craftsman, I can see your extraordinary potential, and Delice’s father would not overlook it. As long as you demonstrate sufficient ability, and if you can gain Delice’s father’s approval to be seen as the next heir of the Rose Workshop, then the Elders’ Council should not make things too difficult on this issue.”