Broken stepped out of the Crawling Carriage, and imdiately, he was greeted by a young woman with long brown hair, clad in blue attire and light armor. Behind her, a line of knights stood at attention, saluting him as he approached.
The woman stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Oriana, daughter of Viscount Sean, welcos King Consort Broken to Deadbay City. I must apologize on behalf of the Viscount, as he is currently out of the city and unable to greet you personally."
Broken gave her a faint smile, his tone composed yet warm. "Thank you for the welco, Oriana. Please convey my regards to Viscount Sean when he returns."
Oriana straightened with a soft smile, bowing her head again. "We've prepared a buffet, resting quarters, and anything else you might need during your stay. What would you like to do first, Your Majesty?"
"No need to be so formal with , Oriana. I appreciate your hospitality, but I'm not in the mood to rest or eat just yet. How about you show what I requested so ti ago?"
Oriana's smile widened slightly, and she nodded. "King Broken, we've worked tirelessly to fulfill your request. The most advanced ship, customized to your specifications, is ready for you to see. Mr. Fokil has been overseeing the project and is waiting for you at the site." "Good," Broken replied with a nod. "I've been aning to speak with him. Let's go."
For the golem ship he intended to create, Broken had decided to take a different approach. Instead of designing the ship virtually through his console, he opted for a manual, hands-on thod-building the ship directly and piece by piece.
This approach was akin to how a blacksmith forges their craft. By working on it manually, the final product would receive a quality boost due to the effort and precision involved. Additionally, crafting the ship manually allowed for real-ti adjustnts to the design, leveraging the expertise of skilled shipbuilders specializing in vessels for long-distance journeys.
Broken also incorporated real-world inspiration into the design, particularly by integrating a turbine system powered by the ship's golem core. This turbine would operate autonomously, driven by the golem's commands, making the ship self-sufficient and capable of navigating long distances with minimal input.
Building the ship directly in Deadbay City, also ensured that the materials and design were tailored to real conditions. This would maximize efficiency, durability, and adaptability for the ship's intended purpose.
Despite relying on manual craftsmanship, Broken insisted on using only high-quality materials, ensuring the ship's final grade and tier would be as high as possible. The ship was more than just a vessel-it was an investnt. To that end, he even brought in other mbers of the Vensalor Guild to contribute to the project, pooling their resources to secure premium materials.
His vision was clear: he wanted a ship capable of withstanding the harshest environnts, equipped with robust defense and attack chanisms. It needed to survive and excel in the most challenging seas, ensuring it would serve him for a long ti to co.
Broken and Oriana walked through the bustling streets of Deadbay City, making their way toward the docks. As they moved, it was impossible not to notice the attention they attracted. People paused in their activities, turning their eyes toward him. Many stopped completely, bowing or saluting with practiced gestures of respect.
It all felt... fake.
Was it really?
Perhaps Broken's long experience of facing scorn, ridicule, and outright bullying had sharpened his instincts, allowing him to judge such responses with uncanny precision. To him, this display of reverence felt hollow, a shallow mask.
From his and the Vensalor Guild's observations, there were still factions within the kingdom who quietly resisted his position as King Consort. This was no surprise; it was an expected backlash against his status as a Player in a world dominated by natives.
Ironically, this resentnt had only strengthened Alora's position as Queen. The naysayers' attention shifted toward Broken, making her rule appear unassailable in comparison.
Broken didn't mind the skepticism or lack of full support-not yet, at least. As long as these dissenters refrained from actions that might endanger him, Alora, or the stability of the kingdom, he was content to leave them be. But if they crossed the line, such as by initiating another rebellion...
His smile slightly at the thought.
If that happens, I won't respond gently.
He let the idea of handling rebellion with his Demon Identity linger in his mind for a mont, amused by its irony and potential.
Was he turning into an authoritarian leader?
He had discussed this with Alora before, and she had laughed, half-joking about the possibility of him massacring dissenters without hesitation.
He exhaled deeply, shaking his head. Perhaps he needed to study leadership and politics more seriously. Simply eradicating those who opposed him might silence dissent temporarily, but respect couldn't be won through fear alone.
Yet, he couldn't ignore how the traditional thods of governance had nearly destroyed the Dissidia Kingdom. Between the demon invasion and the largest rebellion in its history, the kingdom had been on the brink of collapse. If the "old ways" had failed so spectacularly, could they truly be called effective?
He sighed again, his gaze drifting toward the docks in the distance.
I need a better way forward... sothing stronger than tradition, but softer than tyranny.
As they approached the harbor, Broken finally got a clear view of the ship under construction. It was docked securely, a dium-sized vessel that looked capable of carrying around 30 to
50 people.
The ship had a sleek, whale-like hull made of wood reinforced with bronze plating. The upper structure was clean and minimalistic, with no unnecessary embellishnts.
As they got closer, a dwarf working alongside the other laborers quickly turned to salute and bow toward him.
"King Broken," the dwarf began, "I've ensured that the ship you requested is completed with every requirent and specification you outlined."
Broken smiled faintly as he faced Fokil.
It felt a little strange to hear Fokil speak to him this way. Perhaps it was because Broken still wasn't used to being addressed as a king. After all, his status was still new, and though he planned to build his own kingdom in the future, the formalities of being treated like royalty
still felt foreign.
He wished they could be a bit more casual around him. However, it seed he'd have to get accustod to noble treatnt like this sooner or later.
"I quite like how it looks from the outside," Broken said.
"I'm certain you'll like it even more once you see the interior," Fokil replied with a grin.
Broken's smile widened as Fokil gestured for him to follow.
Broken had inford Fokil that he intended to use this ship for his journey to the West
Continent. For that reason, Fokil had been closely involved in its construction, ensuring the work was completed efficiently and on schedule.
And now, here it was-the finished product. A vessel that Broken would soon transform into a golem. He couldn't wait to set sail across the open seas with it.
This voyage would also mark his first opportunity to experience the vast oceans of Yunatea. It was his first step toward exploring a continent beyond the one he had called ho all this
ti.
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