Inside the Evelyn ruins.
Leon looked at the submarine before him. Listening to the voice of Evelyn No. 0, who served as the submarine's intelligent entity, he asked with a chuckle,
“How happy are you?”
“...” This question instantly caused Evelyn No. 0 to freeze up briefly.
“It seems this intelligent entity isn't all that intelligent,” Leon muttered.
He turned his gaze toward the Deep Diver.
The Deep Diver was black and white on the outside, and its hull was covered in a dense array of countless magic circles.
Based on what he had learned earlier, Leon knew these magic circles possessed the ability to shield the vessel from perception, defend against enemy attacks, and actively launch underwater alchemical attacks.
Furthermore, the greatest function of these magic circles was the ability to freely expand or shrink the Deep Diver.
All Leon had to do was bind his identity to the Deep Diver's alchemical framework using the alchemical core.
Once bound, he could command Evelyn No. 0, the submarine's intelligent entity, to perform various operations on the vessel.
Holding the alchemical core, Leon stepped forward.
At the same time, one of the Deep Diver's side doors automatically slid open, allowing Leon to step inside.
Once inside the Deep Diver, Leon lightly tapped his finger against the submarine's wall, sending a crisp metallic ring echoing through the interior.
“As expected of a submarine made from star steel and pig king magical beast hide. Even though it's just a thin layer, its defensive capabilities are quite remarkable.”
Leon nodded slightly.
Star steel was a high-end alchemical material. It was extremely lightweight yet possessed immense toughness and strength, meaning only a thin layer was required to provide exceptional protection.
It was precisely because of the use of star steel, which allowed the submarine's walls to be sufficiently thin and light, that the vessel was capable of extreme compression.
As Leon walked into the submarine's cabins, dim mana lamps lit up one by one along the floor and ceiling.
Guided by the mana lamps, Leon walked into the central control room and placed the alchemical core into the control room's power slot.
Hum...
Soon, as the alchemical core continuously charged the Deep Diver, the dim mana lamps throughout the submarine flared to life with bright light.
To Leon, the alchemical core was essentially a miniature nuclear reactor combined with a key to activate a special device.
Within the alchemical core lay an S-rank magic crystal left behind by Evelyn Parker.
S-rank magic crystals were incredibly precious, and Leon had no idea where Evelyn Parker, who was only a Diamond-rank mage, had managed to obtain one.
However, according to the records left by Evelyn Parker's close friend, she had refined the S-rank magic crystal into an alchemical core, then placed it within a mana focus to absorb an immense amount of mana.
The mana contained within the alchemical core was enough to power an alchemical creation like the Deep Diver for over a thousand years.
Having recharged the Deep Diver and bound himself as its captain, Leon pulled out the alchemical core and stepped out of the submarine.
“Evelyn No. 0, compress the Deep Diver to its minimum size.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Accompanied by the clattering sounds of an engine, the fifty-meter-long small alchemical submarine began to compress inward rapidly, looking like a deflated balloon being folded up.
Within just two minutes, the Deep Diver had transformed from a small submarine into a metal crate measuring 1.5 meters long and wide, and 1 meter high.
“Bring it along.”
Leon turned around and instructed Titus.
Titus stared in awe at the transforming Deep Diver, then replied:
“Yes, Young Master!”
Having obtained the primary objective of this trip, Leon prepared to lead the group away.
Just then, Scott walked up to him holding a letter.
“Young Master Leon, this is a letter left behind by Evelyn Parker. It says it is meant for those who come after.”
“This Evelyn Parker... could she have actually prophesied our arrival?”
“She probably just guessed that whoever found this place would try every trick in the book to rob her grave...” Leon said as he took the letter.
However, the concept of “grave robbing” only applied to others.
For Leon... whether it was the skies above or the ground below Zachary Manor, it was all Heron Empire territory!
As the Governor of the Southern Province of the Heron Empire, what was wrong with him coming to check out a set of ruins discovered on his own turf?
How could this be called grave robbing?
As an official authority, this was called archaeology!
This was called preserving ancient relics left behind by ancestors over a thousand years ago!
As for the walls and facilities of the ruins that had been smashed and destroyed along the way...
There was a specific archaeological term for that: destructive preservation!
Opening the letter, Leon began to read:
“To those who come after—”
“This underground facility... by the time you discover it, it will likely be referred to as ‘ruins.’ ”
“In these ruins rests myself—Evelyn Parker, a Diamond-rank mage, an alchemist rejected by her era, and the creator of all the Evelyn-model alchemical golems, alongside all of my treasures.”
“You may take these treasures as you please. To someone who has passed away like me, keeping them hidden from the world would only be a waste.”
“However, as the former owner of these ruins, I hope those who take my legacy can do a few things for me in return:”
“First: The Evelyn-model alchemical golems I created carry a portion of my soul within their bodies. To me, they are like my children.”
“If you do not mind their alchemical bodies, please take them away from these ruins and find a peaceful home for them. The alchemy and magic they possess should be of considerable help to you.”
“No. 1 is their eldest sister. She possesses a complete personality and can assist you in handling many daily affairs...”
“No. 2 inherited a large portion of my alchemical skills, but she also inherited my obsession. She is the child I feel I owe the most to. She longs to go to the outside world to learn more alchemical knowledge, but in the era I lived in, the outside world was not yet ready to accept her...”
“No. 3 inherited my courage. She is always full of initiative, though she can sometimes be overly reckless...”
“No. 4...”
“No. 5...”
Leon turned the letter over and continued reading.
“Second: Above all other Evelyn models, there is also Evelyn No. 0.”
“I have turned her into the intelligent entity of the Deep Diver and installed multiple autonomous learning and enhancement modules. It will simply take some time for her to complete her full evolution...”
“Third... strictly speaking, this might not be a ‘task’ but rather a hope of mine.”
“If you are living in an era centuries in the future, where alchemical technology has rapidly developed and alchemical theories are broad enough to accommodate everyone's wildest ideas...”
“Then, I humbly ask you to bring these concepts of mine into the alchemical academic fields of your time.”
“Concept One: Once alchemical technology is truly popularized, it will no longer be an exclusive skill of alchemists, but rather a daily tool that everyone can use.”
“By then, alchemical golems will be everywhere in daily life, tangibly improving people's quality of life...”
“Concept Two: As the level of alchemical technology rises further, the public will be able to break free from the shackles of expensive magic systems and achieve real-time, long-distance communication using alchemical tools.”
“Based on the alchemical knowledge of my current era, it might be possible to lay a network of alchemical pipelines connecting various regions on the ground. By converting sound waves into alchemical signals, long-distance transmission of signals can be achieved...”
“However, because of the formidable deep-sea magical beasts in the oceans, implementing this plan across seas would face great obstacles.”
“Therefore, one might also consider deploying certain alchemical devices into the sky, utilizing alchemical fluctuations for signal relay...”
“Concept Three: ...”
“...”
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