Chapter 64: The Clover Armed Airship

After Lucas understood why these people eagerly signed up for the Flame Sun Night School, he could only let them think as they wished.

Anyway, once the classes started, these brainless fellows would find out what they were really learning.

If anyone actually mastered lethal skills in the pastry class, it could be said they trained a martial hidden ace.

The preparation for the potion production factory and the Flame Sun Night School was handled by dedicated personnel and went very smoothly.

Lucas personally kept an eye on the Clover, the armed airship.

There were indications that this gold transport airship might leave Storm City earlier than expected.

The robbery plans were adjusted as new information was continually obtained.

The Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau issued a pirate warning, informing all ships docked in Seawall District ports that suspected pirate ships had been spotted off the coast of Storm City.

The Secret Intelligence Bureau would organize an armed fleet to confirm the presence of pirates in the area. Captains were advised to be cautious when setting sail in the near future.

Some incoming ships confirmed they had indeed been chased by pirates.

Most ships without urgent departure needs chose to stay at the Seawall Port docks and observe the situation.

While the Seawall District Security Bureau was too busy dealing with internal affairs to manage maritime issues, the Secret Intelligence Bureau organized an armed fleet to set sail and requested assistance from the Storm City Navy.

Lucas personally commanded this fleet to eliminate the pirates.

The citizens of Seawall District praised him, who had just taken office, for establishing a night school and combating pirates. They believed he was a good official who truly served the people.

Unlike the sheriffs of the Security Bureau, who only knew how to curry favor with the rich and powerful.

The joint patrol and search request from the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau received a response from the Storm City Navy. Two steam-powered, forty-gun naval warships joined the patrol fleet.

The next day, On the top platform of the City Administration Building in the central district of Storm City, an armed airship hovered steadily, held in place by ropes.

A group of crew members was loading cargo into the gondola.

Several well-dressed high-society individuals gathered, waiting for the airship's departure notice.

Councilman Virgil and another city councilman stood alone in another direction, talking under the protection of sheriffs.

"Councilman Ebert... The elf Ela has appeared consecutively over the past few nights, and we can't figure out her intentions, so we decided to let you leave early with this batch of gold.

The empire's taxes are in the airship's secure compartment, and the goods are in the lower compartment. I've personally checked, and the count is accurate. The rest is up to you."

Councilman Ebert was a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a large beard. He wore a monocle over his left eye and a tall, stiff-brimmed gentleman's hat.

He looked at the large airship in front of him and said to Virgil, "Although it's a bit rushed, there's no choice.

The Brotherhood of Blade's assassins are arriving, as well as the Abyss Mages and other dangerous individuals with different motives due to the Book of Calamity.

This is the most complex situation we've encountered since we took over Storm City, and we must first ensure the gold's safety.

There shouldn't be any issues with the Clover's protection, right?"

Councilman Virgil replied, "Everything is arranged. I selected four magicians to accompany the airship; their magical skills are sufficient to serve as professors at Orlu Academy.

Additionally, there are ten gargoyles manufactured by the City Alchemist Association, installed on the top layer of the airship's gasbag, which will automatically attack any approaching threats.

The crew members have good combat skills, and there are ten ballistae on board, enough to handle most emergencies. Besides, this is a domestic flight within the empire; you will have a short and peaceful journey on the Clover."

Councilman Ebert nodded. He had traveled between Storm City and the imperial capital multiple times on the armed airship Clover. The one-and-a-half-day journey was much safer and easier than traveling by land.

However, the amount of gold being transported this time was significantly higher than usual, which is why he cautiously asked a few more questions.

By this time, the crew had already loaded all the small items into the gondola, and the passengers were boarding in sequence.

"It's time to take off! As a gentleman, I can't keep the ladies waiting. Goodbye… Councilman Virgil, I hope to hear good news from you when I return from the imperial capital. That elf has been causing so much trouble lately that I haven't slept well for several nights, and you must be even more exhausted."

Councilman Ebert adjusted his hat and walked toward the airship's gondola.

Virgil escorted him to the cabin door and shook his hand in farewell.

"Goodbye, Councilman Ebert. Please convey my respect and greetings to the esteemed person."

"I will."

The crew closed the cabin door.

The ground crew loosened the ropes binding the airship. The temperature inside the airship's gasbag increased, pressurizing it, and a large amount of white steam was emitted from various ducts.

When the buoyancy reached the threshold, the Clover armed airship gradually ascended. The aerodynamic propellers at the tail of the gasbag started, pushing the airship away from the top of the City Administration Building, heading toward the nearby sea.

At the pre-set ambush location, a hot air balloon was floating at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

In the basket of the hot air balloon, Ela, controlled by Lucas, was observing the airspace in the direction of Storm City through a monocular telescope.

Lucas had dressed Ela in a black leather bodysuit, replacing the outfit he had bought for her with his own money. This suit was more suitable for underwater activities if needed, and it was crucial not to reveal Ela's identity during this operation.

To this end, Lucas had also prepared a hood to cover Ela's appearance.

The weapon, Starlight Radiance, was stored in a spatial backpack, and a relatively common Western-style rapier hung at his waist.

According to the precise intelligence gathered by spies, the batch of gold was being transported out of Storm City today.

Last night, Lucas had controlled Ela to stake out the area around the City Administration Building and saw the Clover armed airship docked on the rooftop.

Therefore, it was certain that it would take off today.

Lucas scanned the sea with the telescope and saw that the reception fleet had arrived at the predetermined area. The two "eyewitness" ships were searching for pirates alongside four armed merchant ships.

The pirate ships were also spotted as planned.

Following the plan, all personnel were in position, waiting for the Clover armed airship to appear.

After locating the deployed fleet, Lucas continued to search the airspace in the direction of Storm City with the telescope.

It didn't take long before she spotted a white trail against the blue sea background.

That was the steam emitted by the airship.

Adjusting the telescope's focus, Lucas found the Clover armed airship at the end of the white trail.

Its steam power allowed it to fly much faster than other types of airships, making it difficult to catch up with it in the air unless an ambush was pre-planned along its route.

Now… it was time to act.

Lucas tossed the telescope aside, then jumped to the edge of the basket, confirming the direction of the Clover.

He put on the hood and stepped forward.

An oval ice board formed under his feet, and Lucas surfed on it towards the Clover armed airship, gliding through the air as if surfing on the sea.