Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 523 - 19: Losing One’s Mind
Li Yan’s card identity quietly changed, adding the line "[Thief]."
The entire arsenal was divided into three main layers, with boxes and display cases filled with steam-powered weapons everywhere, especially on the second and first floors, where many custom solo weapons used by ancestors of the kingdom were displayed in individual cases for posterity to admire.
What now caught Li Yan’s eyes were the separately displayed, brand new royal guard armaments.
Without even looking, Li Yan charged straight in, occasionally encountering a few guards who were either too slow to flee or didn’t intend to abandon their posts; they were all struck down swiftly with a fierce blow.
Before long, at the deepest part of the top floor, in front of a lone display stand, a majestic deep red solo weapon, and a silver solo weapon with an even more sharp and minimalist design, both came into Li Yan’s view.
[Dual-Core Semi-Automatic Steam Soldier "The Red Dragon"]
Category: Steam Armament
Quality: Fine
Custom solo weapon of Duke Peddi II of the kingdom, capable of operating two Tri-Orb Devices simultaneously. Powerful yet durable.
[Hex-Core Semi-Automatic Steam Soldier "Unicorn"]
Category: Steam Armament
Quality: Legendary
The proud creation of Princess Jane of the kingdom, capable of operating six Tri-Orb Devices at the same time. Equipped with four lightning net launchers, a grizzly spiral-powered lance, two lightweight chainsaw blades, sixteen white phosphorus grenades, and sixteen Yellow Gunpowder grenades. Extremely powerful; each accessory can work independently, suitable for the maintenance and modification of almost all current solo armor components.
Characteristic:
[The Black Emperor’s Attention]: Specially effective in killing all deities contained within the fruit.
Li Yan made sure it was the "Unicorn," kicked the display cabinet’s glass to shatter it, and picked up the silver solo armor with the intention to leave. Seeing that the guards of the arsenal showed no sign of returning, he took another look at the lonely "The Red Dragon" solo weapon on the stand and something stirred in his mind.
All things in the fairy tale dreamland, Li Yan couldn’t take with him, and originally he had no crooked thoughts.
But he then thought to himself, his Magic Motion Technology card had been stuck at the 59% limit for a while without any movement, and he had been curious about the world’s Steam Guard for a long time. It might be worth disassembling a few steam-powered soldiers just for fun. Even if it didn’t help with his proficiency in Magic Motion Technology, it would be good to satisfy his curiosity.
In terms of hands-on ability and practice, Li Yan was always decisive and resolute.
Without professional tools, Li Yan’s disassembly method was extremely rough, and many parts were simply twisted off, rendering the components completely unusable.
Two minutes later, Li Yan looked at the scattered debris on the ground, seemingly understanding something but also feeling like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit, not quite savoring any flavor.
His eyes flicked, and without turning around, he picked up the "Unicorn" and ran down to the next floor.
The second floor was relatively empty since many of the display cases were standalone. Those gorgeously outfitted solo armors placed in delicate gold-edged glass cases, with nameplates inlaid with emeralds next to them, narrated the heroic tales of their owners. There were staff members responsible for their maintenance daily, but with Li Yan’s arrival, all these prized steam solo weapons had their days numbered.
[Dual-Core Semi-Automatic Steam Soldier "Wildfire"] equipped with high-power flamethrowers. Kou: Duke White once relied on it to annihilate the Dark Spider Den.
[Dual-Core Semi-Automatic Steam Soldier "Golden Bullet"] the cherished collection of Duke Clarke, the former kingdom’s military commander, said to be faster than the now extinct sphinxes.
And...
Li Yan’s card identity continued to change rapidly. From [Cunning Thief] to [Greedy Thief] and then to [Mad Thief], and finally, [Deranged Thief].
Among the sparse glass shards, the structure of the steam-powered soldiers became clearer in Li Yan’s head. Seeing that the second floor had been nearly wrecked, the still unsatisfied Li Yan ran down towards the first floor.
[Quad-Core Semi-Automatic Steam Soldier "Polaris"].
Li Yan was about to move towards it, when a heart-wrenching roar filled his ears!
"Audacious scoundrel! Fool! I’m going to kill you!"
The main doors of the arsenal on the first floor slowly opened, and dozens of track-steaming vehicles belched black smoke as they charged toward Li Yan with overwhelming force.
————————————————
"The banquet must have already started by now."
Jane thought to herself.
Suddenly, a white pigeon flapped its wings outside the window. Jane turned her head and decided to open the window, only to see a handsome blonde man wearing a velvet jacket and knee-length breeches standing outside.
"Dear princess, I am St. Yves. My father is His Majesty’s Minister of Military Affairs. We met earlier today."
Although Jane was in a bad mood, her attitude softened considerably out of respect for St. Yves’ family background.
"Greetings, Lord St. Yves. I am aware. My father wishes for you to wear my Unicorn and lead the punitive force to defeat the Cyclops. Shouldn’t you be attending the banquet? Why are you here?"
"The Unicorn shall only belong to the truly courageous and wise, and that, undoubtedly, is you, Your Highness."
Jane couldn’t help but be moved, "You, you mean?"
St. Yves knelt on one knee, his eyes wet and brimming with emotion, "Princess, ever since you defeated me in the arena, I have pondered for a long time. Neither my knowledge nor my bravery is comparable to yours. It would be unfair for me to lead the punitive force. I am willing to persuade His Majesty to allow you to lead the expedition."
Jane shook her head and curtsied to St. Yves, then said, "I must apologize to you, sir, for you are a gentleman of noble character. However, my father will not agree, for he is more stubborn than a hundred-year-old granite."
"If that’s the case..."
St. Yves pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Your Highness, the moment you defeated me in the arena, I was already in awe of your heroic figure. You are my moon..."
Jane was a bit overwhelmed by St. Yves’ cheesy words, but given the groundwork laid before, she still had a good impression of him.
Finally, after a long "passionate confession," St. Yves vowed, "I am willing to steal the Unicorn for you, and under your command, fight the Cyclops!"
Jane was taken aback, initially touched, but then hesitant.
"But, sir, that’s too dangerous, and I think your family will face tremendous pressure because of this. And I have already..."
Jane’s words were not yet finished when a robust voice suddenly interjected, "Sir, I, Michael, will bring the Unicorn back for Jane."
The blacksmith’s son emerged disheveled from the bushes and waved at Jane in the attic.
"Are you alright? Jane."
"Michael?"
Jane responded instinctively.
It turned out that although Michael was merely a blacksmith’s son, he not only mastered skilled steam equipment forging techniques from a young age but was also Jane’s childhood friend who had grown up playing with her.
Talented and a childhood friend.
This was the identifying advantage on the business card of Michael, the mayor of San Francisco.
"Jane, rest assured, I will definitely get the Unicorn back for you."
"Dear Michael, listen to me, I have actually already agreed..."
Ratatat, ratatat, ratatat!
Amid billows of black smoke on the distant horizon, Li Yan drove a steam car with a silver Unicorn soldier beside him, charging toward the attic like a wildly frolicking rabbit. At least a dozen steam cars trailed behind him, with the guards gritting their teeth and firing their muskets.
