Chapter 28 - Stratos Technology

It had been just under an hour since the entire group had boarded the zeppelin, and for the moment, they were all gathered around one of the interior tables, seated in cushioned chairs and enjoying a well-deserved break. Adam was once again explaining what he had told Kazue and Drake back at the training grounds, and later the girl brought up her theory about the third shadowy force mentioned in the scenario’s synopsis.

“You’re overthinking things. The first thing you need to learn is that these stories are simpler than they seem. That ‘Golden whatever’ might be connected, but there’s something important you need to know about how these scenarios work.”

Li responded, dismissing everything the others had been pondering and revealing something new about the system and the scenarios that they hadn't known until that moment.

"Just like there are ranks for items and skills, there are also ranks for the stories we enter. These ranks help gauge the level of danger or complexity we’ll face. This is a D-rank scenario, very low compared to what we could encounter. Believe me, I was unlucky enough to have my second mission be a B-rank. That means everything we encounter will be scaled accordingly. Sure, there are likely some powerful and dangerous things within this plotline, but as long as it’s a low rank, none of that will interfere with us."

That information shook the group a bit, especially Adam. It made sense to him, but there was one thing that didn’t sit right: the danger level determined by the system seemed highly subjective. After all, they had encountered enemies equipped with C-rank gear and level 5 techniques. Not to mention that for a "low-rank scenario" they had nearly died in the crossfire of the 'Thunderstrike Dreadnoughts.' Something didn’t quite add up. However, he chose to keep his doubts to himself for now since he had something else to share—a piece of information he had noticed not long after boarding the vehicle.

⌠Aether Sovereign - Rank C⌡ ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠A small zeppelin owned by the president of ‘Stratos Technology’. On the outside, polished brass accents and finely crafted rivets emphasize its design, while twin propellers hum smoothly at its sides. Inside, the interior is a display of opulence, with plush velvet seating, mahogany furniture, and gilded light fixtures that cast a warm glow over the richly adorned room.⌡ ⌠Cursed Vision Knowledge⌡ ⌠Skill [Cursed Vision Lv4] failed to identify the target⌡ ⌠Warning: Skill [Cipher Shroud Lv5] is blocking the analysis⌡ ⌠Hidden: The ‘Aether Sovereign’ has no skills⌡

The information he had gathered about the zeppelin wasn’t much different from what his companions could obtain with their own 'Analyze' abilities. However, what was truly concerning was the notification he received: even his 'Cursed Vision' had been blocked by an information-sealing skill. What made this even worse was that the source of the interference didn’t seem to be within the vehicle itself, implying that someone else was actively using it from afar.

"I repeat, you're overthinking this. It's probably just a security measure implemented by some of the pilots or security on board. After all, this person is quite important; it wouldn't surprise me if his background included constant threats of kidnapping or assassination. Also, let's stop using complicated terms. I can see that these two haven't understood a thing for quite a while."

Li suddenly interjected, changing the subject and pointing out Sebastian and Nikolai, who had clearly lost track of the conversation a while ago. While they could roughly understand the English being spoken, they were completely unfamiliar with the system and its implications, as it was their first time in this environment.

Even attempting to explain things to them now would be counterproductive and likely a waste of time due to the significant language barrier. It would be better to provide them with only the essential information for now and then give a more detailed explanation once they return and can purchase the translator option from the store.

"Maybe we really are overthinking things."

Adam responded with a sigh, staying where he was as his companions moved on to more casual and digestible topics for the newcomers. Li, meanwhile, excused himself and left for another part of the airship. He did it so naturally that no one noticed the cold, sharp glance he threw at them as he turned and walked away.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, with the most notable interaction being between Thaddeus and Sebastian. Thaddeus expressed great fascination in Sebastian's mechanical bird, asking if he could inspect it with the utmost care—though he made it clear he had no intention of touching or disassembling it.

“Certainly! We're happy to be of help, right Federseele?”

*Clink Chirp! Clank*

The small automaton chirped adorably, nodding as it settled in front of the young inventor, allowing him to inspect it closely. While it was quite soothing to watch, Adam found it curious that the name Sebastian had given to the bird wasn't translated and remained as is despite the automatic translation feature, as if the system recognized that proper names were an exception... Quite odd, and clearly something that seemed less automated than they were led to believe. Although, given that they were in such a fantastical world, it might indeed be a highly advanced system.

Adam decided not to dwell on it for now. He felt he wasn't in the right state to grasp any part of this mystery, so he simply remained silent, listening to the conversation between the two individuals. He was now fully convinced that the "NPCs" communicated in the language that each "user" could understand, which varied from person to person

Another hour passed, and finally, the announcement came that they were approaching their destination. The question of where they were heading was almost immediately on everyone's minds, but Thaddeus quickly provided the answer with his characteristic courtesy and kindness. He stood by the main door before it opened, as the zeppelin began its descent into what appeared to be a hangar in the middle of the sea.

"Welcome all of you to the headquarters and primary lab of 'Stratos Technology,' a secret and ever-moving location, designed by yours truly."

For a brief moment, visible through the window, it seemed as if a vast chasm was opening among the waves, with a substantial amount of steam billowing from all directions. This was quite astonishing, considering it was coming from a world with seemingly only steam and electrical advancements.

As the vehicle slowly descended, Adam couldn’t help but replay everything in his mind. It struck him as particularly odd that they had been invited—or rather summoned—to such an important and secretive location. According to Drake, this was decided after Li’s interrogation session had finished, with the explanation being that "he convinced them of their usefulness". However, no matter how Adam looked at it, that explanation made little to no sense. Yet, even when he asked Li directly, he hadn’t received any clear answers, which was frustrating.

Unable to fully grasp the bigger picture for now, Adam joined the rest of the group by the airship’s door, waiting for it to finally come to a halt and open. Once it did, they all followed behind Thaddeus, who acted as their guide for these initial steps. After all, the staircase they had to descend seemed a bit shaky.

Once everyone had disembarked, they finally took in their surroundings, marveling at the sight before them. The hangar was far larger than the one they had seen at the Armada base, with a ceiling that stretched endlessly into the distance. Various airships of different designs were scattered around, along with a bustling crowd of workers engaged in various tasks. Some were repairing vehicles, while others in white coats were jotting down notes on wooden tablets, giving the place an almost overwhelming sense of activity and purpose.

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What truly stood out, however, was that the surroundings didn’t quite match the aesthetic they had been experiencing throughout their time in this scenario. Both the Armada’s base and the impressive city of Gearspire Stronghold had a distinct 'old-world' vibe blended with steam-powered machinery and copper gears. In contrast, this place had a more... contemporary feel.

Adam couldn’t hold back his curiosity and decided to approach Thaddeus as he guided them down an adjoining corridor. The unusual blend of steam-based technology and the unexpected touch of modernity in the facility piqued his interest more than anything else they had encountered so far. As he walked closer, he quietly observed the man’s demeanor, trying to gauge if this stark contrast was intentional or if there was something more beneath the surface that hadn’t yet been revealed.

“Excuse me, Volta, sir”

Adam began, keeping his tone as polite as he could.

“I couldn’t help but notice that this place seems quite different from what we’ve seen so far, even in a bigger city or the Armada’s base. I must admit that I didn’t quite think the company would be like this since the technology used by everyone is from here”

Thaddeus didn’t answer at first, but a knowing smile crossed his face as he glanced over at Adam.

“Ah, quite perceptive, young man. You’re not wrong in your observation. But to fully understand why this place is so distinct, you’ll need to grasp the core philosophy behind Stratos Technology—and how it bridges the gap between the old and the new.”

Adam’s expression turned thoughtful in response to the evasive answer, a reaction Thaddeus noticed and simply chuckled at.

“Don’t worry, you will have your answers soon enough, we are almost there”

The rest of the journey was made in silence, which was quite uncomfortable given that the corridor they were walking through had no windows. The lighting came from a series of fluorescent bulbs along the ceiling, providing a strange imitation of conventional light bulbs.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief when they finally reached the end and came across a simple wooden door, quite rustic and common. Thaddeus approached it with clear intent to open it. Adam watched expectantly, hoping to see some sort of special mechanism or something more modern for access. However, Thaddeus simply reached into his shirt pocket, retrieved a small, ordinary metal key, and tapped the door three times.

"I have arrived; I’m going in."

He said, raising his voice slightly before sliding the key into the lock and opening the door. It was as straightforward as any other door... Well, not everything could be surprising, after all.

Once the door was opened, a warm, musty breeze hit everyone, causing more than one person to grimace in disgust. Despite this, they continued and followed Thaddeus inside, who seemed completely unaffected by the situation. The interior was dimly lit, but everything was visible, and it was dreadful— Even the pirate Chrono's room that Adam had visited was nowhere near as disordered and filthy as this one.

Books were scattered everywhere in disarray, with many blueprints spread across the two tables, some with dried and spilled ink from who knows when. A couple of completely dried-out plants sat in neglected pots, shelves were filled with knick-knacks covered in dust, and there were a few wrinkled and discarded clothing items on the floor, as well as dirty plates and cups stacked to one side.

As the group struggled to comprehend who on earth could live like this, Thaddeus simply sighed and took out a small box with a horn and a crank, which he began to wind up.

"Please send a cleaning crew to the area of importance 1 in one hour."

It was strange, almost like an intercom, which surprised Adam since he had assumed such communications were done through special skills, as he had seen during the conflict at Ironwave Anchorage. However, it made sense that there would be a device like this for those who didn’t have such a skill. Meanwhile, as Thaddeus continued to turn the crank, a voice could be heard from the other end.

"Uh... We understand, but Mr. Isaac told us not to disturb him for at least two weeks."

"And I understand you, but now I’m instructing you to send a cleaning crew in one hour."

“U-understood, right away, sir”

Once the exchange was complete, the man stopped turning the crank and put the device back in his pocket, not before allowing the system message, as seen by Adam, to identify its name and properties.

⌠Communication box - Rank F⌡ ⌠Additional Information⌡ ⌠A simple communication device with a direct line to another of the same frequency within a range of no more than 10 miles. It operates by turning the crank and speaking into the attached horn.⌡ ⌠Notice: This is an exclusive model used in ‘Stratos Technology’ facilities⌡

Nothing extraordinary, but interesting nonetheless. However, it was nothing compared to what would happen next.

“*Sigh* Father please, get up”

Thaddeus said with a hint of bitterness, though he didn’t lose his composure or move from his spot. At his words, a pile of papers and books began to stir and shake unexpectedly, startling more than one in the group.

"Uh? What? What’s happening?"

From the heap of clutter emerged a figure that had been buried all this time, apparently asleep. A tall, very thin man appeared, looking elderly, wearing a long, tattered white lab coat, pajama-like trousers, and a pair of slippers.

"Oh, I must have fallen asleep again. Sorry, hehe, I haven’t rested in five days."

“It’s okay, father… It’s okay”

Thaddeus seemed on the verge of embarrassment, and it was understandable. The contrast between the two was extreme: while the young man appeared refined, neat, and carried himself with an air of high class, his father was disheveled in every way. His hair was unkempt and sticking out in various directions, indicating he hadn’t washed it in a long time, and his demeanor was completely relaxed and carefree.

"Father, we have visitors. We’ve finally found those who can carry out the collection plan."

“Oh! Is that right? That’s awesome! Welcome, welcome!”

The scientist seemed delighted by the news, so much that he clumsily approached the group. Before anyone could react, he extended his hand in greeting. Adam hesitated, being the closest, but it was Li who stepped forward almost immediately and shook Isaac's hand without hesitation.

“It’s a pleasure to meet the renowned scientist Isaac Volta. I’m Li Jie, and we’re a group of explorers with experience dealing with the pirate guilds and the Armada, we’ll be more than happy to assist with your plans.”

“Excellent, excellent, it really means a lot. As you know, time is of the essence, so you’ll need to leave immediately. You can head to the main tools room to stock up on whatever you need. Don’t hold back—take whatever you want.”

Isaac seemed quite enthusiastic, so much so that he didn’t notice the look of disgust on Li’s face when they released their handshake, leaving Li’s hand somewhat sticky and stained with black ink. Everything was set to begin, and the idea of gearing up again was quite appealing, but Adam’s thoughts mirrored those of the rest of the group: What on earth were they talking about?!

However, before the young man could say anything, it was Kazue who stepped forward and, without hesitation, asked directly what everyone had been thinking.

“Wait a minute! What is this plan about? Where are we going? We know nothing yet”

At this revelation, both Thaddeus and Isaac’s eyes widened in extreme surprise, while Li rubbed his temples in resignation, wondering why it was so difficult for them to simply accept things without asking so many questions.

"Are you not aware of everything that’s happening? How can you be willing to do anything if you don’t know the details? Mr. Li Jie?!"

Thaddeus had finally lost his composure, looking at the group with suspicion and concern. Everything happening here was of extreme secrecy, and he couldn’t believe they had allowed complete strangers in. However, Li took the floor and, with a weary voice, tried to clarify the situation.

"Calm down, they know the reason behind this; they just don’t have the details of the plan, and to be honest, neither do I. We’ll proceed anyway, right?"

Said the man with the hat, looking at the group, hoping they understood the situation.

“Yeah of course! I just want to know the details of the mission”

Kazue responded with a smile, which Thaddeus scrutinized until he finally relaxed a bit, though he remained somewhat wary of what was happening. Meanwhile, Isaac had a grin from ear to ear, as if he was thrilled by the news and couldn’t contain his eagerness to speak.

“Oh, don’t worry at all, it’s gonna be my pleasure to review everything you need to know! It’s awesome, it’s exciting, it’s the romance of all adventures!”

Said the scientist as he rummaged through the piles of books and papers scattered around the room. Finally, he found something that he extracted with joy—what appeared to be a very old map.

“This is our first step to knowing it all, you guys and Thaddeus are going here, the recently discovered, highly contested by all secretive forces of the Pirate Seven Guilds and the Ironclad Armada, and a treasure trove of knowledge for the benefit of all humanity… Necrogear Citadel”

That last name left Adam dumbfounded.