ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]
"Oh? How so? Isn't magic more convenient than science?" Mengdie asked, intrigued by Xiu's perspective.
Xiu continued twirling his staff, which looked more like an optional walking stick in his hands. "Miss Mengdie, the Silver Moon Kingdom has a population of 7.8 million, and among them, magic users, regardless of their strength or ability, total no more than ten thousand. For these ten thousand, life is certainly convenient. But for the vast majority who lack spiritual power, magic is utterly useless."
"Science, on the other hand, is different. It's something any ordinary person can use and create. Only science can benefit everyone! No flight spells? No problem. With science, what flight spells can do, many commoners can achieve. Science is stable, and its effects can always be rationally explained. But magic is different; no mage has yet fully grasped the true nature of 'the Goddess’s power' (another term for magic). This means that even the simplest magic comes with some unpredictable risks. All these points suggest that science will eventually surpass the Goddess’s power!"
Mengdie was surprised by Xiu's statement. It was hard to imagine a mage in this world holding such a view. Could Xiu be a reformer in decades to come?
"Oh? Honestly, Xiu, I'm amazed by your thoughts."
"Hahaha, of course. Praise me more! Call me a genius!!!"
Xiu couldn't handle compliments well, getting overly proud. Mengdie shook her head, deciding to let him realize whether he was truly a genius. She gestured ahead and turned with a flirtatious smile. "So, great genius, can you use your science to solve this situation?"
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Xiu followed Mengdie's pointing finger and his laughter stopped abruptly. In front of the vast lake, dozens of small ships were rapidly approaching the fleet, their skull flags clearly indicating trouble.
"Pirates?!"
Other ships also noticed the threat, sounding alarms and preparing for battle. The previously serene lake became a tense battleground in an instant.
Edward burst out of the cabin, clutching his obsidian sword, looking around in panic, shouting, "What's happening? What's going on?" Nia clung to Mengdie, staring at the fast-approaching ships, filled with terror.
"I don't know if your thoughts are right or wrong," Mengdie said, pulling on her boxing gloves and inserting earth and water magic fragments, "but sometimes, fists might be more useful than science, don't you think?"
Xiu was speechless, staring at the rapidly approaching warships.
The small ships closed in shockingly fast. In less than thirty minutes, they went from a distant sight to an imminent threat. The large merchant ships couldn't match their speed and were quickly surrounded. The pirates rammed the outer ships with their prows, causing a chorus of crashes.
"Kill the men and take the women! All the gold and treasure are ours! Brothers, kill!!!"
With the pirate leader's shout, a volley of fire arrows was launched, igniting many ships in the fleet. Pirates boarded the merchant ships, their swords quickly stained with blood, cries and screams filling the air. The splashing blood and falling bodies turned the lake red.
"Why is there no counterattack?!"
Mengdie's ship, being in the center of the fleet, was momentarily safe. Watching the massacre, Edward was frantic. Most of the passengers were from his kingdom; seeing his people slaughtered was unbearable.
Mengdie tightened her gloves, her left hand forming a hard rock protective layer. "Because the relationship between Silver Moon and Luivell is delicate. It’s already a concession to have merchant ships travel between them; how could they allow soldiers on board? As for bodyguards... there might be some, but apparently not many."
Edward clenched his sword, his palms sweating with anger and anxiety.
"Edward, let's do a final check. I don’t think there are many combat-ready people in this fleet."
As the chaos neared, Mengdie turned to Xiu. "Can you take care of Nia?"
"Don't worry, Miss Mengdie." Xiu gave a thumbs-up. "I guarantee it with my genius scientist's honor!"
With Xiu's assurance, Mengdie, radiating blue and yellow light, charged towards the rampaging pirates, showing no mercy.
Read more at: fⅰÇçlоūd▪çōm
ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]