Otherworld Bone Dragon Operation Guide

Chapter 33 Besieged
Successfully obtaining their location was good news for Su Ming and Zi Jin, but it also brought bad news—they didn't have enough fuel to reach the main island of Agate for resupply.

Based on the rate of fuel consumption over this period, Su Ming estimated that the remaining fuel would allow him to travel approximately 150 kilometers, or 7 hours of flight time in economical conditions.

The solution to this problem is not difficult. Although the Zhiyuan was steam-powered, it doesn't mean it could only use steam and couldn't have sails. During the transitional period when steamships appeared on Earth, steam-powered sailing ships were also very popular.

Hybrid, not bad at all.

He opened the software and processed the detailed data imported from the radar, especially the data from several ships.

The portable computer was processing this very slowly, taking several hours. Su Ming was exhausted and felt he couldn't keep going.

He checked the time; it was already one in the morning.

"It's time to rest," Su Ming said to Zi Jin. He set his alarm. "We need to release the balloons again and do another scan before dawn."

The scholar nodded and closed his book. The two then went to bed and fell asleep.

****
When Su Ming woke up at five in the morning, his head didn't hurt as much anymore.

Zijin got up even earlier than him. She was already on the deck, having washed and tidied herself up, watching the sunrise in the wind.

The balloon was released by activating the cable, and Su Ming and Zi Jin went to the control room to check the processing results of the first radar data.

The processed scan image is clearer, revealing many terrain details.

Su Ming digitally enhanced those ships, and their general shapes are now visible.

The scholar examined them carefully and pointed out that three of them were suspicious because they were boat types she had never seen before; the rest were fishing boats.

Su Ming used bones to create a sea table, placing the bone representing the Zhiyuan in the center, drawing the outline of the Agate Islands in the southeast corner, and then marking the positions of the three ships.

The three ships are all relatively small, with an estimated displacement of around 300 tons. They are arranged in a longitudinal row about 10 kilometers apart, located southwest of the Zhiyuan, on the side closer to the mainland, approximately 140 kilometers away.

Then Su Ming placed another dozen or so identifiable fishing boats on the list, which were scattered haphazardly. Most of them were on the land side, with a smaller number on the Agate Islands side, following a standard fishing pattern.

Even after completing these steps, the weather balloon's cable hadn't been fully deployed. Su Ming instructed Zi Jin to keep an eye on it while he connected with Little Troublemaker.
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The little troublemaker was still on the roof of the balloon supplier's warehouse. He manipulated the little troublemaker back into the warehouse, first stealing a battery and a directional antenna, and then looking for the data processing host in the product list.

Portable computers are too slow at processing radar data. I didn't understand this before, but now I know why they manufacture specialized equipment for processing data, and why it's more expensive than the radar itself.

Then there's the marine X-band radar, digital anemometer, and infrared night vision telescope.

He was powerless last night, but now that he has rested, Su Ming used his restored magic to complete the transfer of this batch of equipment.

Onboard the Zhiyuan, the balloon had reached the designated altitude. Su Ming assembled the enhancement equipment and began the second scan.

With the increased signal strength from the antenna, the signal strength on the balloon increased significantly, and data transmission became much faster. Su Ming connected the dedicated data processing host to the radar terminal and began importing new radar data.

This time, the data processing speed saw a qualitative leap, and Su Ming could clearly see that there were more ships around. Due to the ocean currents, the Zhiyuan drifted about seven kilometers northward in five hours, so the radar scanning area shifted somewhat.

First, locate the mysterious fleet. They are still about 140 kilometers away, having moved about 40 kilometers south around the Zhiyuan as the center, maintaining a single-file formation.

“We’re being watched,” Violet said.

There's no need to know why, nor to concern ourselves with whether it's just a coincidence.

This is war!
****
The thing he had been most worried about had happened, but Su Ming remained calm. He quickly marked the newly added ships and performed data augmentation.

Four fishing boats were missing, but a total of six new boats were added. A more detailed scan image appeared, which Su Ming zoomed in on.

“The Temple’s direct fleet, flagship Azure Sea Valley.” Violet pointed to one of the ships, then to two others. “The specific names of these two ships are uncertain, but they are of the Songstress class.”

"Tonnage and combat capability?"

"The Azure Sea Valley is about 4500 tons. It is a sea mothership and has no offensive capabilities, but it can carry Sea Eagle Beasts, which can carry mages," Violet replied. "The Songstress-class is about 1200 tons and is a high-speed cruiser with guns as its main weapon."

The Azure Ocean Valley entered the battlefield from the southeast corner where the Agate Islands are located, and is currently about 120 kilometers away. Two Songstress-class ships ahead of it are in an inverted triangle formation, about 110 kilometers away from the Zhiyuan.

"What about the other three?" Su Ming asked. These three ships entered the battlefield from the northeast corner, deployed in formation. They were a bit further apart, having just entered the area within 130 kilometers.

"I don't recognize it. It should be a medium-sized naval warship, but I don't know the specifics."

Based on the ship's dimensions, Su Ming estimated its displacement to be around 1500 tons, three times the size of the Pearl Principality's naval warships they had encountered before.

So this is the world's main cruiser, what a warm welcome!

“It’s not surprising that there are enemies in the southeast.” Violet pointed to the lower right of the map. “The Agate Islands are the nearest place to get supplies. So it’s reasonable for the pursuers to move there first and then start a search.”

"The problem lies with these three mysterious ships that first appeared in the lower left corner of the battlefield." Su Ming circled them.

As the more detailed enhanced image appeared, Violet recognized it this time: "It's a reconnaissance ship. The protrusion in the middle of the hull is the rune amplification tower, which can double the range of magic perception at sea."

"Doubling it wouldn't be enough!" Su Ming remembered that even in the open sea, even for a target like the Bone Fortress with obvious undead fluctuations, the detection range should be around 35 kilometers.

Doubling it should be 70 kilometers, but the enemy is now at 140 kilometers!

“It must be a new technology. There’s definitely something fishy about the three reconnaissance ships forming this formation,” Zijin analyzed. “Normally, to detect a rune amplification array that far away, the diameter alone would need to be 100 meters.”

So it's a technology similar to virtual aperture, Su thought to himself, wishing he could shoot down one of them.

Su Ming continued studying the battle situation. "Zijin, I have a question," he asked carefully. "First we were being chased by the Bishops' Council, and now we're being besieged by two main fleets." He then pointed to the reconnaissance ship hiding on the mainland side. "These ships here are probably more valuable than warships, afraid of being drawn into the battle. So, what exactly did you do?"

(End of this chapter)