Forcibly seizing technology is the worst approach, as it can easily damage valuable "samples" and trigger uncontrollable backlash (such as the other party resorting to desperate measures to completely destroy core data).
Acquiring it through trade or pressure is too inefficient, and the other party will inevitably keep secrets.
The best approach is to get the other party to "voluntarily" reveal their best practices, or even, under "pressure," force them to pull out their most valuable resources to cope.
“Victor Horn…” Lind’s mental energy swept over the researcher who was directing the boarding of the ship below, “Take your ‘Crimson Barrier’ and those valuable data, and your head full of alchemical knowledge… Fly.”
"Fly higher, even higher."
Linde's mental power, like an invisible shadow, quietly entangled the alchemical airship that was starting its engine and preparing to take off.
"Let me see how long the 'crystallization' of the Principality of Oak can withstand a real storm."
The engines of the alchemical airship "Explorer" roared with a deep, powerful sound, and the huge propellers stirred up strong air currents, propelling this behemoth to break free from Earth's gravity and slowly rise into the leaden-gray clouds.
Inside the submarine cabin, the atmosphere was tense and focused.
Victor Horn sat in his private observation seat, with several pale blue screens floating in front of him, displaying fragmented data salvaged from the damaged "Heart of the Forge".
His brow was furrowed, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the cold metal armrest, his monocle reflecting the cold light of the screen.
Beside him, "Crimson Fortress-7" stood like the most silent guardian, fixed on a special frame. Dark green life-sustaining fluid swayed slightly inside the transparent chest armor, reflecting the human brain inside, which was immersed in nutrient solution and in a state of deep suppression.
The deep red, single-eye sensor glowed steadily, as if everything were normal.
The airship cruised smoothly above the sea of clouds, with the desolate mountain ranges stretching out below, belonging to the borders of the empire.
Sudden!
Buzz—!!!
A piercing alarm, sharp enough to tear eardrums, suddenly blared throughout the entire cabin! Blinding red lights flashed wildly!
"Warning! Warning! An extremely high-intensity unknown energy field has been detected rapidly approaching! Directly above! Speed... incalculable! Collision warning: 3 seconds! 2 seconds! 1 second!"
The cold, synthesized electronic voice was unusually urgent, and there was even a slight stutter!
"What?!" Victor looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief! Directly above? Above the clouds? What could be so fast that even the airship's warning system could only give a countdown of a few seconds?!
Boom!!!
The entire airship was as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hammer from the sky!
A violent, visceral shockwave instantly swept through the submarine! The sturdy metal frame emitted a teeth-grinding groan! Inside the submarine, lights flickered wildly, and unsecured items on the instrument panel crashed and clattered to the floor! Several researchers screamed as they were thrown out!
"Hold on! Report damage!"
Victor gripped the handrail tightly and shouted sharply.
"External energy shield overloaded by 97%! Near collapse! Peak stress on hull structure! Port side No. 3 propeller drive shaft fractured! Partial tear in airbag skin! Rapid descent of 300 meters! Stabilizing!"
The captain's voice trembled with panic and a forced attempt to remain calm.
Victor's heart sank. The shield nearly collapsed? Was it just a single impact? Or... an attack?
He lunged to the observation window, forcefully wiping away the fog caused by the violent shaking, and looked up at the sky outside the porthole.
The leaden-gray clouds were torn open by the impact, leaving a huge hole.
Above the void, there was not the expected enemy aircraft formation.
Only... a deep, cold, seemingly unchanging, pitch-black cosmic backdrop.
And, floating in front of that background... "something".
It is not huge; it looks to be only about the height of a person.
The entire body is covered with streamlined, shimmering blue metallic armor of unknown design. The design is simple yet futuristic, with no visible propulsion devices or weapon mounts.
It floated there silently, like a cold gaze cast by the universe itself.
Two deep red lights suddenly shone on its smooth head, like the pupils of a awakened behemoth, precisely locking onto the alchemical airship struggling below like a wounded whale.
An invisible, terrifying pressure, seemingly from a higher dimension, descended with a deafening roar, like a tangible iceberg!
"What...what is that?!"
A researcher stared out the window at the ghostly blue figure that floated like a god, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
Victor Horn's blood seemed to freeze instantly.
He stared intently at the two deep red lights, his pale face losing all composure and arrogance for the first time, leaving only a profound fear from the depths of his soul, a fear of facing the absolute unknown and overwhelming power!
This is... his creation! A terrifying creation whose movements they cannot comprehend at all, nor can they even observe!
A mere "passing" collision (or perhaps it was the other side's deliberate "braking"?) nearly caused the airship to disintegrate!
The azure armor, the crimson "gaze," the silent, suspended posture... all exude an ultimate power that surpasses the Principality of Ork, surpasses the Empire of Sass, and may even surpass all the Zedo ruins they have excavated!
Inside the core command center of the Steel Sky, Linde watched the real-time footage transmitted back by the "Peregrine" reconnaissance unit (the small, high-speed, dark blue aircraft) on the screen.
In the footage, the "Explorer" alchemy airship, like a bird struck by lightning, wafts through the clouds amidst chaotic steam and sparks before finally managing to stabilize. The damage and torn skin on the hull are clearly visible.
Victor Horn's bloodless face was clearly visible through the airship's porthole, his eyes filled with horror and fear that almost overflowed the screen.
Linde picked up a glass of newly brewed, molten liquor from the dwarves and took a small sip. The hot liquid slid down his throat, bringing a warm sensation.
His deep purple eyes reflected the struggling airship and Victor's horrified face, and a cold, all-controlling smile slowly curved his lips.
"Did you receive the first lesson, 'Steel Star's' greeting, Researcher Horn?"
“Now, with this fear, and my ‘little gift’…” Lind’s gaze swept across the crimson barrier fixed to the frame in the image, the life-sustaining fluid swaying slightly, “…keep flying.”
"Fly back to your furnace, fly back to your capital. Tell your emperor and grand duke..."
Lind's voice was soft, yet it struck like the anvil of fate:
"Times have changed."
"And what your Principality of Oak calls 'alchemical crystals' are no match for the true power of the stars..."
"...It's just a pile of scrap metal that needs to be melted down and remade."
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