Airship Hunters of the Steam Age

The floating island where Sweet Wine Town is located is above the clouds, where the sky is always clear and blue.

Morning.

Above Chaowu Port, layers of fog accumulate and change in countless ways, forming the enchanting Xiashan Mountain.

Airships, propeller-driven steam aircraft, and bird-winged flying armor have been coming and going from Xiashan, like birds inhabiting the area.

The so-called mist in Asagiri Port is not water mist, but phlogiston steam coming out of the exhaust ports of various steam engines.

Although these vapors may have a slightly pungent smell of sulfur, blood, and charcoal ash due to impurities in the phlogiston, they usually dissipate into the wind within minutes.

The fact that a stable morning fog could form demonstrates the large number of empty ships anchored in the harbor, bustling about in an endless stream.

Sweet Wine Town is located at the intersection of several adventure routes. Before setting sail, airship hunters from the surrounding area come here to gather information, rest and have fun, repair their airships, and replenish their fuel.

Steamer Oven Tavern is a hunter's tavern that combines all four elements.

The open-air tavern adjacent to the island cliffs was filled with hunters.

A five-meter-long armored vehicle, shaped like a wine barrel, stands guard on the edge of the cliff, protecting the vast sea of ​​clouds.

On the other side, outdoor tables were placed next to rows of steaming machine repair bays.

The hunters drank and ate meat while closely supervising the mechanics' work.

The sweet wine we drank was beer with phlogiston-rich fruit juice added. It tasted sweet and refreshing, but it burned our hearts and lungs. Keeping a few barrels on the airship could also serve as fuel for the stove in an emergency.

The meat they eat is the sunfish, which is the most common fish in the foggy sea. It has a dry and tasteless texture, but its phytoestrogen content is seven times that of ordinary beef.

In a corner of the tavern, a greasy mechanical record was steaming and playing a muffled, melodious female voice.

"Urksula's enormous womb is the great mother who creates miracles and nurtures generations of heroes for the empire."

"The five-year-old superhuman eliminated dust and ghost spirits in the towering chimneys of the earth, feeding his entire family."

"The giant warriors, forged from the blood and flesh of wandering heroes in the sewers, are now fighting the three calamities for the empire."

"Oh, Holy Spirit, we have lost the earth, but gained the sky!"

"Fly into the sky, brave hunter, for endless treasures lie hidden in the clouds."

"Fly into the sky, brave hunter, for phlogiston and steam boilers do not lie."

"Fly into the sky, brave hunter, and expand the frontiers of the extraordinary and free."

"Oh, Holy Spirit above, wherever the steam roars, that is the territory of the Empire..."

The hunters listened with rapt attention.

The sunset glowed brilliantly, and the sea of ​​clouds stretched endlessly.

This is the worst of times and the best of times.

Gray fog engulfed the land, humanity retreated to floating islands, airships cruised the clouds, and colossal beasts lurked in the fog...

Phosphorus made all miracles possible.

Phosphorus is a supernatural substance extracted from underground mineral deposits or from extraordinary plants and animals, and it often exists as fuel stone, fuel crystal, fuel fiber, etc.

Phlogiston could be used as the sole fuel for steam engines. It could burn in the furnace and be converted into boiler steam to drive the steam engine. Its efficiency far exceeded that of a combination of coal and water, thus ushering in the steam era.

Humans can also consume meat, fruits, vegetables, and fungi rich in pheromones, which are converted into blood vapor in the body, until they awaken extraordinary abilities and become extraordinary beings!

Becoming an extraordinary being was the dream of everyone in the steam age.

Airship hunters are the group of people who are closest to achieving extraordinary dreams.

They are a group of adventurers who primarily pilot steam-powered airships, hunting fantastical creatures deep in the clouds or on the surface of the earth.

These fantastical creatures are rich in pheromones, including animals, plants, algae, and fungi, collectively known as pheromones.

In addition to providing flesh and blood and fuel, the bones and branches of the Burning Spirit can be used as lightweight, fire-resistant, and high-strength mechanical materials. The swim bladder of the giant Burning Whale can even support floating islands.

However, while humans hunted the Burning Spirits, the Burning Spirits were also hunting humans.

Burning spirits typically possess enormous, mutated or spliced ​​forms, and their strength and intelligence far surpass those of ordinary beings. They are extremely aggressive towards humans and feed on humans or other burning spirits.

Therefore, airship hunters are a profession with high freedom, high risk, and high reward.

Considering that the hunters' main battlefield is in the high sky, if their airship, ornithopter, or steam-powered flying armor malfunctions, they can only repair it in the air to avoid crashing and killing themselves.

Therefore, it is especially important for an air-hunting team to have a professional mechanic on board!

The hunters in the tavern listened to the music while observing the young mechanics in front of the huge workbench.

Not only are they supervising machine repairs, but they are also observing and looking for suitable mechanics to invite to join the Sky Hunter team.

Steam swirls around the giant workbench.

A handsome young man with an Asian face, holding a micrometer and a universal wrench, was busy and overwhelmed in front of a steam-powered flying machine, covered in oil stains.

To avoid being targeted by hunters, Roya deliberately slowed down his repair work.

Pretending to work hard, but actually slacking off.

However, even after years of slacking off, he was able to solve any problem properly.

The main principle is to take your time and do meticulous work.

Airship mechanics are required to be able to perform rapid repairs during hunting or combat.

Roya wanted to prove that he was not suited to be a professional hunter or a ship mechanic.

As a transmigrator from China, Luo Ya possesses both industrial genes and a peasant mentality, and is not keen on adventure.

He wants to use his special advantage to develop steadily, accumulate resources step by step, and achieve extraordinary success.

Although this is an era full of opportunities and challenges.

He is still young.

And he's handsome!

In his two lifetimes, Luo Ya was overly focused on mathematics and mechanics, resulting in him having a handsome face but no romantic experience.

Now is the time to put that handsome face to good use.

Mr. Oliver, the pub owner, supports his daughter Cynthia's ambiguous relationship with him.

Oliver only has one daughter.

For Roya, it was better to stay at home, enjoying the comforts of a beautiful woman and living off her husband than to fight to the death in the air.

Unfortunately, Cynthia always claimed to be slow to warm up, and the two remained in a state of ambiguous attraction, never progressing any further...

Fortunately, Roya has plenty of time.

He firmly believed that Cynthia, who had loved tinkering with machines since childhood, would be captivated by his handsome and professional appearance, and ultimately fall head over heels for his all-powerful wrench.

Just then!

A beautiful young woman in a blue palace dress walked briskly over and wiped the oil and sweat from Roya's face with a towel.

"Hurry up! This huntress has paid a hefty price and we have to set sail in ten minutes... Roya, you can do it!"

Her voice was extremely gentle, and her tone was full of encouragement.

It was Cynthia, the tavern owner's unmarried daughter.

Luo Ya picked up the oil drum next to the workbench.

Through clever design, half of the container is filled with engine oil, and the other half with coffee.

I will try my best.

After Cynthia left, Roya took a sip of coffee and immediately switched to serious mode.

With a calm gaze, he bent down, focused, and reached out to press the left wing return valve of the flight armor.

In an instant, the thought seeped from the valve into the copper pipes of the flying armor, the old-fashioned pressure gauge, the small furnace, the boiler cylinder, the piston, the connecting rod and crankshaft, the flywheel, the steam distribution mechanism, the condenser, the governor, the pressure relief valve, the machine gun, the machine gun, the steam sword coupling, etc...

Instant coverage, revealing every detail.

If he were willing to expend the effort, he could even increase the precision of his mental probing to the quantum level.

"The ninth crankshaft has cracked..."

The material itself is not the problem.

"After all, it's an expensive steam-powered flying armor. If a small differential engine could be installed to automatically control the linkage's operating rhythm, this stress problem wouldn't have occurred."

Luo Ya sighed softly.

Unexpectedly, besides him, there was someone who could control a steam-powered flying armor entirely manually with his bare hands, without the aid of a differential mechanism or mechanical assistance.

Roya's cheat ability is called "Mechanical Connection," which allows him to instantly connect to, understand, and control mechanical objects that come into contact with his body.

Of course, control is limited to the machine's own allowed commands such as switching, running, and changing; it cannot change the machine's structure, deform materials, or cause cross-sections to heal, etc., which are non-programmed actions.

Therefore, Luo Ya also needs to master skills such as disassembly, welding, and forging in order to become a professional mechanic.

Having traveled through three years, he can now handcraft an ornithopter or a small steam-powered armor.

His handcrafted Blue Dragonfly ornithopter, made from various secondhand parts and materials, now lies quietly in the tavern's warehouse.

Prior to this, he had visited several underground companies that tested extraordinary blood energy, and after repeated tests, he confirmed that he was not an extraordinary person and that his awakened talent was quite ordinary.

Roya thus concluded that [Mechanical Connection] was his cheat code, not a supernatural ability.

This is a good thing for him.

After all, he was born and raised on Earth in a phlogiston-free environment. He had only been in the steam world for three years. His extraordinary talent could not be described as mediocre; it could only be said that he entered the field late and his development was delayed. However, his potential remained, and he had a bright future ahead of him.

Given time, if he can awaken to become a superhuman, he will gain a second ability!

His extraordinary abilities not only enhance his strength but also conceal the existence of his cheat-like abilities.

Five minutes later.

After disassembling the boiler shell and replacing the crankshaft components, Luo Ya reignited the furnace and started the steam boiler.

With a loud boom, steam billowed out.

The flying armor spread its wings, creating a strong gust of wind that dispersed the steam in front of the workbench.

This attracted the attention of the hunters.

It works perfectly!

Luo Ya finished his work.

It seemed unassuming and unassuming, simply solving a very simple problem.

"Well done!"

A tall, white-haired woman sitting in the corner of the tavern slowly stood up, walked to Luo Ya, handed him a glass of beer, and asked:

"What's your name?"

The cold, hoarse voice of the mature woman was like the north wind blowing snow, each note entering the ear and sending chills down one's spine.

With his right hand gripping the beer glass, Roya's thoughts instantly enveloped every beer molecule.

In Roja's view, all inanimate matter can be considered mechanical objects, including air.

However, these objects lack obvious mechanical structures, making them difficult for him to control; he can only increase his spiritual awareness.

Luo Ya suddenly discovered that the beer contained Blood Essence, a substance used to test extraordinary talents.

Only then did he realize that the woman in front of him was the owner of this flight suit and was looking for a ship mechanic.

So he drank it down without hesitation.

Sure enough, after finishing the beer, there wasn't a trace of flush on his face, which meant his extraordinary talent was very poor.

"Roya".

"Full name?"

"His surname is Luo, his given name is Ya, and he is from the East."

"An Asian? That's rare."

Compared to the average mixed-race face in the world, Luo Ya's handsome Eastern features are quite eye-catching.

But the woman opposite was more eye-catching.

Even Luo Ya, who doesn't usually pay much attention to women's appearance, subconsciously took a few more glances.

The woman was very tall, almost as tall as him, who was over 1.8 meters.

Her long, silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, resembling strands of platinum that had lost their fiery hue from a high-temperature furnace, gleaming with a cool, matte finish.

He wore a greatsword, a steam-powered short gun, and a wine sack at his waist. His shoulders, hands, and feet were covered in segmented silver armor, faintly stained with rust and dried blood.

A beige corset paired with a brown belted vest accentuates a tall and slender upper body.

Dark brown leather shorts paired with black stockings accentuated her straight, supple long legs.

Her posture perfectly embodies the beauty of a woman's curves, yet it is also as firm and upright as polished steel, without an ounce of excess fat, combining suppleness and strength.

In comparison, Roya, who is the same height, appears as frail as a woman.

Her face was exquisite and aloof, her bone structure was clear and sharp, and she exuded an untamed and heroic spirit.

There was a burn mark under each of his eyes, and his pupils looked like gold churning in a furnace.

She's prettier than Cynthia, but unfortunately she's a hunter, and an extremely dangerous one at that...

This is how Luo Ya perceives the woman before him.

The woman stared at Luo Ya, her cold gaze sweeping across her slightly upturned eyes. There was no trace of tenderness, only the indifference and precision of someone who had been through countless battles, as if she had already locked onto her prey.

"I've heard that in the far east there once existed a land of true dragons, an ancient civilization that brought industry to its peak, known as the Industrial Cthulhu. I've been searching for dragons; have you ever heard of them?"

Luo Ya was startled.

How come I still have rumors about my hometown even after time-traveling?

Could it be that this isn't a steam-powered world, but rather an Earth where civilization has regressed to the steam age?

He, a true descendant of the dragon and the heir to the Dragon Kingdom, suddenly felt a pang of homesickness…

Unfortunately, the ability didn't allow it.

Shocked inside, Luo Ya remained outwardly calm.

"Sorry, I've never heard of it."

The woman, her right hand covered in silver armor, reached behind her and retrieved a beer from afar.

A pair of deep golden eyes, like shimmering lake water reflecting the sunset, slowly outlined the image of a handsome Eastern youth.

As she drank, she said casually:

"Listen up, Roya. Your beloved girl was on a date with a young nobleman before she wiped your sweat."

"?"

"The tavern owner sold you to the autonomous region's conscription office. Two conscription officers will arrive at the tavern within half an hour."

"?"

"And you, Mr. Roya, deliberately dragged out a boiler malfunction that could have been resolved in five minutes for an hour."

Luo Ya then realized that he had encountered a formidable opponent!

Retrieving objects from a distance must be some kind of extraordinary ability.

He knew he was in the wrong, but he still calmly asked:

How can one person know everything?

His golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if the wind had stopped.

"The wind gave me the answer. My name is North Wendell, and I am an airship hunter."

In you, I heard something I hadn't heard in a long time...

The sound of the wind.

The female armored deputy commander reached out her right hand to grasp Roya's.

According to hunter slang, hearing the sound of wind on someone implies that this person possesses extraordinary talent.

Clearly, the woman had been observing Roya for a long time.

Roya did not reach out.

This handshake is tantamount to agreeing to the woman's invitation.

So I replied politely:

"I'm sorry, Miss Wendell, your flight suit has been repaired and my work is finished. Please wait a moment, and someone will come to inspect and settle the bill for you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Before he could take two steps, a cold, iron hand landed on his thin shoulder.

The cold female voice in my ear was like a howling wind.

"A mechanic who cannot fly will always remain just a mechanic. If this mechanic possesses some irreplaceable ability, then he will forever lose his freedom."

Luo Ya instantly felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.

He understands the principles, but he doesn't adhere to rigid notions of freedom; he cares more about people's lives and property safety.

"Thanks for the beer. Instead of intimidating a lowly trainee mechanic like me, go ahead and intimidate my boss."

Wendell smiled and loosened the iron armor on his right hand.

"See you in the clouds."

……

This woman is amazing!

This place is not safe to stay for long...

Roya made a run for his life and then sneaked into the tavern's warehouse.

Go find his hand-made miniature ornithopter, the Blue Dragonfly.

Since being transported to this world by the spatial rift opened by the Great Luck three years ago, Sweet Wine Town is his third stop.

As soon as his special mechanical abilities are discovered, he will drive the Blue Dragonfly away without hesitation.

"I heard that the owner of the Tulip Tavern in Windmill Town is a wealthy widow who has been widowed for many years. She'll probably pay more attention to my face than to the technical details of my skills."

Roya searched the tavern's storeroom.

Blue Dragonfly was not found!

"Damn it, looks like that woman wasn't lying to me. Oliver sold me out!"

He turned and left.

A tall, stout middle-aged man with a mustache blocked his way at the door.

Red bow tie, white shirt, black vest, the buttons on his abdomen almost popped open.

It was Oliver, the owner of the Steamer Tavern.

Behind Oliver followed a tall, strong servant armed with a bayonet and musket, creating a very intimidating presence.

"Roya, what are you looking for?"

Because of the replacement of his lungs with steam-powered mechanical lungs, Oliver's breath had a pungent smell of phlogiston mixed with engine oil.

Luo Ya made up a reason on the spot:

"I'm missing a tortoise-shell crankshaft plate. Luckily, the Blue Dragonfly has a crocodile bone plate of similar hardness. Mr. Oliver, have you seen my ornithopter? I can't find it!"

Oliver waved his hand and then opened his pocket watch to take a look.

"Forget about work, go change your clothes. You have some important guests to see in five minutes."

"Okay, I'll go change right away!"

Luo Ya quickly returned to his room.

Pack your valuables.

Pack your bags.

Then, they quietly left the Steamer Tavern through the back door.

As soon as he stepped out the door, two iron hands hidden by the door grabbed his shoulders from behind and lifted him into the air.

Unable to move.

The moment Roya's shoulder was grabbed by the armored iron hand, his will spread throughout the entire armor.

It was Cynthia's steam armor, the Mighty Gentleman.

The four-meter-tall, rusty yellow heavy armor, with its thick limbs that looked clumsy, headless fuselage, and a towering exhaust pipe attached to its neck.

The internal structure was clearly visible in every detail, and it was all imprinted in Luo Ya's mind.

Luo Ya then realized that Cynthia wasn't the only one in the cockpit.

In the cramped passenger seat sat a young man of unremarkable appearance but impeccably dressed.

It was Seth Koch, the youngest son of the owner of Koch Bank.

Roya thought it made sense. If Mr. Koch hadn't specifically asked him to disappear, Oliver and Cynthia wouldn't have made any sense to sell him to the Mayon County Recruiting Office for a mere hundred silver rings as a referral bonus.

"Cynthia, what do you mean by this?"

Cynthia gave a low snort, her cold voice coming from the brass megaphone on her chest:

"How dare you address me by my given name!"

It seems your talents have been wasted working at the tavern. Congratulations, Roya, you have been drafted into the First Mechanized Regiment of Mevin County and are to serve on the surface.

Should it be sent directly to the surface for filling?

Things were even worse than Roya had anticipated!

In the steam age, the ground shrouded in gray fog was the habitat of various large-scale burning spirits, and there were even spatial rifts leading to the abyss...

Even extraordinary individuals dare not set foot here easily; for ordinary people, filling in the lines is tantamount to suicide.

But the Empire is keen to sift out true geniuses in extreme environments.

Roya had no desire to be the empire's guinea pig.

He would only fight for the motherland that nurtured him, and would never budge for a blood-stained alien colonial empire.

Moreover, the Blue Nest Dominion, where Mayman County is located, is essentially a comprador colony that exploits its own people.

If all he could do was take risks, Roja would rather be a hunter!

Even though his body was restrained by the iron grip of the armor, Roya remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic on his face.

"I thought that based on our friendship, we could have some feelings involved, but I never expected it to be just a transaction involving people's lives."

Cynthia calmly controlled the armor, her pretty face extremely stern, yet tinged with a subtle hint of flattery.

"Let bygones be bygones, Roya. My heart belongs to Mr. Koch. May this loss ignite your fighting spirit for the glory of the Empire and for the survival of humanity!"

Luo Ya laughed in exasperation, almost losing his composure.

"Then put me down, I'll go by myself."

Cynthia spoke with a cold laugh:

"No, you'll run away."

"I just don't want to kill you."

But now, Roya has changed his mind.

He had a sudden thought.

The pressure relief valve and the exhaust port are closed simultaneously.

Immediately, the steam boiler exploded with a muffled sound!

The overflowing steam poured into the cockpit...

The accident happened so suddenly that it didn't seem like it was caused by human intervention.

Cynthia and Koch panicked instantly, fumbling around but unable to open the hatch, their previous indifference and ruthlessness completely gone.

"Roya, open the hatch quickly! Father is forcing me to get close to Mr. Koch. You know, you've always been the one I love most!"

Kochwan never expected Cynthia to change her attitude so quickly. Since that's the case, he doesn't need to be human anymore.

"A huge misunderstanding! Mr. Roya, I never intended to harm you. I didn't even know you before today. Please get me out of here, and I'll give you fifty silver rings!"

Luo Ya chuckled to himself.

Little did they know that every betrayal and oppression came with a predetermined price.

Even on the verge of death, the traitor's demands remained exorbitant, appearing ridiculous and laughable, as if he had no idea that it was Roya who had done it.

The merciless iron hand that bound Roya became the noose that strangled them.

"Roya, save me! I can't breathe..."

"Help, help me! I'll pay more..."

The powerful gentleman, having lost his strength, slowly released his iron grip.

Luo Ya landed safely, his tone becoming extremely cold.

"They say let bygones be bygones, but Easterners never forget history. I don't read Western classics, I read online novels."

Ignoring the desperate cries for help coming from the cockpit, he put two fingers of his right hand together in his mouth and blew three loud, melodious hooligan whistles in succession.

A moment later!

The dark basement of the tavern.

A blue ornithopter with its cockpit door locked.

The frog gill tympanic membrane sensor inside the machine received the voice control command from Roya.

Execute the differential engine preset command one: Start the boiler.

With a loud bang, the steam boiler slowly started up.

Execute the second preset instruction of the differential machine: Armor Mode.

Amidst the rising steam, the ornithopter rapidly disassembled and reassembled, transforming into a crouching humanoid armored vehicle.

Execute the second preset instruction of the differential machine: emergency rescue.

The humanoid armor, which had been lying prone, slowly rose to its feet, and a pair of compound eyes illuminated by an array of kerosene instantly dispelled the darkness.