CHAPTER 351: CHAPTER 311: SKY GIANT BEAST_2

At this moment, Donald, seated opposite Yan Xing, also looked out the window and exclaimed in amazement, "How is this possible? Can it fly without flapping its wings? Lord Yan Xing, the things in the Eternal Domain always bring me shock after shock. Marquis Anderson acquired the Cloud Tower’s airship, and now you present an airplane that can equally transport people and goods. I wonder what expression Marquis Anderson will have when he sees your airplane landing at Nuta City airport."

After Yan Xing incorporated the Farsight Mercenary Corps, Donald began to serve the Eternal Domain. With new investment, the Farsight Mercenary Corps quickly recovered its strength and, following the war’s end, became active again on the Wildwind Highlands. For this trip to Nuta City, Yan Xing had specially summoned Donald to accompany him, and a squad of elite mercenaries from the Farsight Mercenary Corps was also on standby within Nuta City. In addition to the embassy garrison, a contingent from the Guild’s Mercenaries, and the private armed forces of the Eternal Grain Bank and the Eternal Commerce Guild, this combined force would be capable of ensuring their safe exit if anything unexpected happened in Nuta City.

Donald’s sentiments also drew admiration from the other passengers in the cabin. To most people in the Magic World, flying remained a mere figment of imagination. Not everyone had the opportunity to ride a Griffon and soar through the skies. Some of the merchants in the cabin had likely never even touched a Griffon in their entire lives. Now, invited by Lord Yan Xing, they were able to sit aboard this flying machine and journey through the air, an experience that felt like a dream.

And it was so comfortable!

The structure of the 001 Beak Eagle airliner was very simple: essentially an engine encased in an airplane shell. The control stick was even mechanically driven, which was why strong Werewolf Warriors and Alchemy automatons were specifically selected as pilots.

However, the interior of the cabin was unbelievably luxurious. It exuded opulence and class, making everyone seated there feel wealthy and noble.

The experience was fantastic!

When Donald mentioned the Cloud Tower’s airship, the passengers readily agreed. While airships could carry more, they couldn’t match this airplane’s speed.

Someone asked, "If it came to a fight... would the Eternal Domain’s airplanes be more formidable, or the Cloud Tower’s airships?"

That question instantly quieted the previously noisy cabin. By now, everyone was aware that Marquis Anderson harbored significant hostility towards the Eternal Domain, and it seemed a war between them was inevitable. Everyone wanted to know which of these comparable aerial forces—airplanes or airships—would prove superior.

Yan Xing already knew from the Goblins what the Cloud Tower’s airships entailed. The airship was divided into two parts: the balloon and the gondola. Above, the airship had an elliptical balloon where an alchemical magic array gathered air elements, activating them to create lift. The flow of these internal air elements formed an air barrier on the balloon’s exterior surface, which could effectively repel external attacks. Even if the balloon’s surface material was damaged, as long as the area wasn’t large, there wouldn’t be a significant leakage of air elements. Below was the gondola. It could transport goods and personnel during peacetime. During combat, it could be loaded with alchemical bombs to be dropped on enemies from above.

A veritable Kirov Airship.

Conventional air combat tactics to destroy an airship would require concentrating superior aerial forces for repeated, targeted attacks. But the airship was protected by its own defensive crossbows and accompanying Mages, and would surely be escorted by other aerial units. Bringing down an airship was extremely difficult.

Yan Xing then smiled and said to the passengers, "The Eternal Domain loves peace. Why would we use this kind of airplane for war? It’s designed to establish air routes between cities. In the future, if you have any urgent matters or need to transport goods quickly, you can take commercial flights offered by Eternal Aviation.

"The prices will definitely be affordable for all of you.

"As for combat? This type of aircraft is too large, too slow, and too clumsy—practically a sitting duck in the sky. Just look at the Battle Griffins escorting us. Equipped with Griffon Armor from the Eternal Domain, they can easily chase down, ensnare, and shred a large aircraft like ours."

As if on cue, the Griffons escorting the aircraft outside ignited their turbine engines’ afterburners. WHOOSH! They accelerated, swiftly overtaking the Beak Eagle airliner. They then began executing various extreme maneuvers around the airliner. Their flight capabilities were now more than a notch above those of regular Griffons. The passengers could clearly sense that if one of these Griffons, equipped with Griffon Armor, were to attack the airliner, the plane could only passively endure the assault.

What about airships? They flew even slower, were less maneuverable, and were much larger. Against such high-speed, highly agile Griffons, what good was mere defensive power?

Yan Xing didn’t provide a direct answer, but the passengers all smiled as if they knew.

Yan Xing also smiled, thinking to himself: Marquis Anderson must soon start worrying about the Griffon Armor; then he wouldn’t dare to use airships so readily.

This was what Yan Xing wanted to see. He knew that airships’ defensive capabilities were higher than imagined, and the offensive power currently provided by the Griffon Armor was unlikely to effectively damage them. Even if the Griffon Armor and its weapons were upgraded later, payload capacity would limit the weapon’s power. Therefore, unless necessary, Griffon Armor wouldn’t be equipped with heavy weapons to attack airships. The Griffons’ primary mission would remain achieving air superiority: clearing out enemy airship escorts and suppressing the airships’ own defensive fire.

The task of attacking airships would still be left to larger aircraft in the future.

Through the Goblins’ descriptions, Chui Chui had grasped the general performance of the airships and had specifically designed the "Flying Fortress" plan. Once the Beak Eagle airliner’s technology was proven, the Eternal Domain could proceed with the research and manufacture of the "Flying Fortress."

The "Flying Fortress" would continue to use the mature designs of the B-17 bomber. The engine would be a steam implosion engine, saving considerable payload and space otherwise needed for fuel. The airframe would be constructed using Magical Protective Plates.

Yan Xing, using experimentation as an excuse, had obtained a small batch of supermetal from Renlun Investment Bank. A piece of this supermetal the size of a fingernail could withstand 22 tons of pressure; if further strengthened with enchantments, its resilience would be unimaginable. Constructing the "Flying Fortress" with Magical Protective Plates made of supermetal would truly make it an impregnable fortress.

And inside the vast belly of the "Flying Fortress," a cannon could certainly fit. Yan Xing had purchased five decommissioned L7 type 105mm rifled tank cannons with a direct-fire range of up to 1,600 meters. Once Chui Chui designed and the Goblins manufactured a suitable gun turret and sliding rails for the cabin, a "Flying Fortress" specifically designed to combat airships would be complete.

As for Yan Xing’s claim that the Beak Eagle was not an aerial weapon, it was merely to mislead Marquis Anderson and the Cloud Tower behind him, diverting their attention. After all, the "Flying Fortress," being so large and requiring frequent test flights, would easily draw attention from all parties. By making them focus on the Griffon Armor, they wouldn’t pay serious attention to the "Flying Fortress" being developed as a "civilian aircraft."

At the speed of the Beak Eagle airliner, the journey from the Eternal Domain to Nuta City took just over ten minutes. It seemed they had barely taken off and hadn’t had a chance to properly enjoy the aerial scenery before the plane began its descent.

The massive Beak Eagle airliner appeared in the skies above Nuta City. The Nuta City Griffon Knights who came to escort it all stared in horror at this "giant beast" soaring through the sky. Moreover, the outer skin of this "giant beast" was a dazzling display of steel.

What kind of Alchemy was this, allowing such a large mass of steel to fly!

This was definitely a miracle.

It was also Lord Yan Xing of the Eternal Domain’s response to Marquis Anderson, the owner of the airships.

It was Thunderous Swamp’s response to Cloud Tower.

When the steel "giant beast" landed at Eternal Aviation’s airport with a roaring sound, the atmosphere in Nuta City began to change subtly.