Chapter 797: Chapter 797: Endless Energy Chapter 797: Chapter 797: Endless Energy Han Dong fell into such a deep sleep that he missed the briefing on the various stages of the Big Expedition and the appearance of the special forces. He only woke up when he felt fully rested.
Upon waking, however, he found someone unexpected standing beside his bed.
It wasn’t Captain Shaia but Mr. Black White wearing the White Mask, in his daytime alter ego.
Considering Han Dong was staying in the royal quarter, let alone sleeping in Duchess Shaia’s bed, it was clear that Mr. Black White’s entrance had not been an ordinary one.
For some reason, Han Dong felt uneasy under Mr. Black White’s gaze – it reminded him of being caught in the act. He didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye to his teacher before he spent the whole night by Captain Shaia’s side and the Big Expedition set off.
“It seems Shaia has given you some opportunities and special privileges. I’m here specifically to discuss some things with you.”
“Being on the other side of the city wall makes you unique compared to other knights– this uniqueness could either be an advantage or a danger to you”
You must learn to control this when you’re outside the city.”
“The main thing I want to discuss is that the Big Expedition is expected to last at least two years.
During the expedition, you will pass through cities that were once locations of the Door of Fate.
The Expeditionary Army utilizes the respite time to allow some promising knights, or those heavily afflicted by pollution or incurable injuries, to enter the Door of Fate.”
“You are likely one of them.
However, there is something important you should know: the Door of Fate in the city ruins is different from the one in the Holy City.”
“Isn’t the nature of the Door to serve as the entrance to the Fate Space? Could it be… the demons?”
“Correct. Even these creatures that consider themselves superior to humans are very interested in the Door of Fate. You already know, the demons have always tried to enter the Fate Space.
However, the Fate System utterly rejects non-human life forms. Even the most elaborate disguises are instantly seen through.
Decades ago, demons started to interbreed with humans to produce ‘kin’ with human bloodlines. They sent these beings into the Fate Space, hoping to unlock its secrets and harness the power within.
However, when these ‘kin’ traverse through the Fate Space, they’re likely to have their memories wiped and become residents of the Fate Space.”
Over the years, the demons have been pondering over ways to reach Fate.
They have started to alter the Door of Fate by using a huge exotic space device to interfere with it.
Having gleaned this through astrology, I can’t be certain about the specifics or how much they can interfere.”
In brief, if the Expeditionary Army captures the city ruins occupied by demons, entering the World of Fate through the Demon-modified Door should be done with caution.”
“Alright, thank you for the warning, sir.”
With that, Mr. Black White, in his White version, turned into tiny specks of light and disappeared in a bright flash.
“Teacher has so many secrets… let’s get going.
A modified Door of Fate? We will see about that.”
When Han Dong stealthily left the castle and arrived at the square, the last preparation before departure was underway – the ‘Infinite Energy’ drive.
The ‘Infinite Energy’, a project personally helped developed by the Gold Master, would set off with the main force.
This project could be considered one of the key factors determining whether the Big Expedition could be carried out smoothly or not.
After all, everyone’s power armor, including the troops’ massive Moving Sanctuary and the large steam-powered transport wagons, all needed energy to function.
“The ‘Infinite Energy’ can be considered the core of the Big Expedition.
The demons aren’t fools. If the energy system is too big, for example, if we dragged along a nuclear power plant, in case of war, the demons would certainly target the energy source first and attempt to destroy it by all means.
Therefore, in addition to being ‘infinite’, the energy source also needs to be ‘covert’ and ‘indestructible’.
‘Fate’ might be the solution, rather than technology alone.”
Just as Han Dong couldn’t figure out the answer with his existing knowledge,
The Steam Knights displayed the ‘completed product’.
Around the center of the square, steam started to rise.
Something slightly larger than a normal human ascended… it was less like a machine and more like a man.
“The Gold Master? No, wait…a biomechanical lookalike of the Gold Master?”
The ‘Infinite Energy’ was brought out in a palanquin.
Four intelligent machines representing the highest technology of the Steam Knights acted as the ‘palanquin bearers’ at the base of the metal palanquin.
These intelligent machines were all made of ‘Mysterious Copper’.
Maintaining a 50% copper content, they incorporated a fusion of a special metal obtained through exchanging a large amount of points.
This metal inherently has a sort of ‘spirit’, making it easy to upgrade and control with intelligence.”
They were marked with the emblems of both the Steam Knights and Mechanical God Sect.
They were also known as ‘Demon Terminators’.
Due to high manufacturing costs, mass production was impossible, and there were fewer than ten within the Steam Knights.”
Now, the ‘Demon Terminators’ were used to carry the palanquin.
Any demons approaching the Infinite Energy during the march would immediately be subject to a devastating attack by this intelligent metal.”
The so-called ‘Infinite Energy’ was sitting cross-legged on the metal palanquin.”
Rather than an energy source, it looked more like a ‘semi-living’ machine patterned after the Gold Master.
Perfectly integrating gold fat with gears, copper tubes, plate layers, and other metal parts, it’s an intricate handcrafted masterpiece.”
Its large belly pouch was designed as a large mouth structure.”
With the leading commanders looking on, even the elite knights were seeing the ‘Infinite Energy’ for the first time.”
Some elite knights, who knew about the Gold Master’s ability, couldn’t help but exclaim:
“What a grand gesture! The Gold Master actually voluntarily stripped off such a large amount of ‘gold fat’ from his body.”
So that’s what ‘Infinite Energy’ is.”
At that moment, the palanquin bearers took out a small box of gold and silver treasures and tossed them into the gaping mouth located on the belly of the Gold Master’s instrument.
Gold coins, gems, and pearls were first ground into powder by the metallic ‘digestive organs’, then perfectly absorbed by the layer of fat…sizzling, gold-tinted steam emerged from the mechanical cracks.”
All the knights in Between the Throne felt their ‘power armor’ being refueled.”
The energy drained by combat was all replenished.”
Han Dong wasn’t stunned by the design, but rather by the Gold Master’s astounding ability.”
“Wealth is energy? Is that the Gold Master’s ability? And this is only a fat clone peeled off from the Gold Master’s body.”
From the power armor, to the Moving Sanctuary needed during the expedition, to the Infinite Energy that propels the entire Expeditionary Army now…
There’s no denying that the Steam Knights made the biggest contribution to this Big Expedition.”