It's been two days since the unexpected accident during the excavation of the shipwreck treasure.

Everything is currently normal on the island.

Although Aiven frequently communicates with his senior Major General Demong Brand from "Dierben Castle", the intelligence he receives shows that the front has remained at a stalemate, and as the deep winter weather worsens, Hilus's advantageous position is rapidly diminishing.

Sak and Atlant's commanders are even somewhat optimistic, believing they can drag the delaying tactics all the way to next spring when reinforcements arrive from home.

If so, they would indeed make great contributions to their country!

Receiving such reports continuously, Aiven hasn't thought much of it. Although his strength has increased considerably compared to the past, his influence in large-scale warfare is still limited.

Moreover, Major General previously promised personnel supplements, but they haven't arrived yet, so Aiven is just enjoying the leisure.

After all, he has too many research projects piling up at hand right now.

For example:

The "Totem Warrior Training Method" concerning the future of Knights, the Adventure's Blood suppression plan, his first "Spirit Realm Exploration" after becoming an Official Wizard, the adjustment of the "Ocean Current Horn", updating the "Sea Bird Reconnaissance Network", preparing "Activated Beast Hide" for all crew members who fought heroically, handling the old guy in the "Cursed Painting"...

These endless matters are works that no one else can replace, and sometimes Aiven thinks about whether he should bring Angie over to assist him in his research.

In the meantime, she could also help train his second disciple.

In addition to that.

Since it's uncertain how long they'll stay at Hatrafa Port, Aiven hasn't let the fully recovered soldiers idle during his busy time.

Apart from regular training, they also need to chop wood to build houses, port facilities, reclaim land to grow vegetables, etc.

Currently, the personnel on the island include:

The "Storm Horn" originally had a full crew of 350, after combat losses and those unable to return to combat due to disabilities, now only 209 remain.

The situation of the "Endeavor" is slightly better, originally 352, now reduced to 268.

Hilus's prisoners amount to 623, oh, one was eaten, now there are 622 left.

More than a thousand adult men on this island, only exiting without entering, is a huge consumption as well.

Aiven conveniently found some work for them, which not only helps East Lenz build a fine hidden private port—earning future use with good relationships—but also solves their issue of having no outlet for their energy.

After all, Phaletis can't compare to Hilus in terms of wealth; throughout the New Continent, the military bases that can openly and covertly provide logistical support for battleships are just a handful.

Being a qualified captain isn't merely about fighting and killing; having one more relationship-friendly private port secures another guarantee for his battleship and crew, as well as an additional chance for survival.

The best news over the past few days is that with the help of a ship engineer sent from "Dierben Castle", the "Storm Horn" was finally repaired ahead of schedule today.

Returning to the sea.

Even amidst busyness, Aiven took time to personally preside over the warship's relaunch at the port.

"Captain! Do you need a trial sail? I can accompany you for a trip, retune this beautiful warship, and ensure it achieves the best status in its service life."

Looking at the "Storm Horn" relaunching, the skilled engineer, Mr. Walkley Jeffrey, confidently trusted his craft.

Indeed, for a Senior Engineer who once oversaw the construction of brand new battleships, this kind of minor project poses no difficulty.

At this moment, the Level 4 ship's stern quarter has been repaired with colonial-produced white oak, and its balance has been corrected.

The crew conveniently cleaned the copper-plated bottom and gave it a major maintenance.

Without needing to personally test sail, Aiven knew from its current sailing posture that the "Storm Horn" was already in excellent condition, ready to be thrown into another combat at any time.

He nodded with satisfaction, acknowledging the skill of this Senior Engineer.

"However, is the repair progress of the 'Stendeburg' so slow?"

Shifting his gaze from the "Storm Horn", Aiven looked at the Level 3 battleship still sitting in the dock, mildly frowning; though temporarily it can't boldly sail for show, not being able to sail and not choosing to sail are entirely different concepts.

"Captain, mainly the materials are lacking; this battleship's hull and ribs are severely damaged.

The damaged section was the former thickest part of the midsection, with the Level 3 battleship's outer skin, ribs, and lining totaling up to 60 centimeters.

Suitable ship materials for such battle vessels are too difficult to find; the ones East Lenz got earlier have all been used up.

There seemed to have been a batch of fine teak on their side earlier, unfortunately, the trade department's people acted too quickly and grabbed it at a high price long ago."

Actually, this engineer primarily came for the "Stendeburg"; getting a complete Hilus Level 3 Battleship is a rare opportunity.

Though confident that shipbuilding technology has surpassed the "rough, bulky, and large" Hilus design concept, as a ship engineer, he certainly wouldn't miss the chance to learn from all sides.

However, even the most advanced technologies are helpless without materials; the repair of the Level 3 battleship has been intermittent, considerably slowing the project's progress due to a lack of raw materials.

He spoke while shaking his head, feeling sorry for the batch of premium teak, which ultimately is unknown where it would be used.

"Cough cough..."

Next to him, Aiven listened to Walkley's words, coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, realizing that this matter circled back to being his responsibility.

But back then, who could have imagined that he would end up needing a Level 3 Battleship for repairs? Of course, getting a hold of the Golden Lion was more practical.

However, looking at the currently grounded Level 3 Battleship, while secretly feeling regret, a great idea suddenly popped into Aiven's mind, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, his eyes shining brightly in the end.

Turning to the engineer beside him, he said with slight excitement:

"Mr. Jeffrey, why don't we modify this battleship?"

"Modify?!"

Walkley Jeffrey wondered if he had misheard. The Battleship was the pinnacle creation of human military might in this era, but it was also a complex structure where a single change could have extensive repercussions.

Currently, ship types of various countries are the culmination of decades and even centuries of experience by countless maritime engineers and senior craftsmen. Random modifications could easily lead to failure, not just in battle, but even causing it to sink immediately upon sailing is not out of the question.

"That's right, modification. Let's modify this Level 3 Battleship into a Heavy Cruiser! A peerlessly invincible... Heavy Cruiser!"

Listening to Aiven speak word for word, Walkley felt as if he was being blinded by the light in Aiven's eyes and was captivated by a term he had never heard before.

That term seemed inherently magical, prompting him to murmur: "Heavy... Cruiser!"

In reality.

Although the great navigation era had been ongoing for two hundred years, and maritime technology had made significant advancements in various aspects.

In this era, however, people's mindset was still at a stage where they believed more cannons meant strength. They were determined to build bigger warships with more decks to mount more cannons!

Then, in the battle lineup version of execution by firing squad, they would use their superior firepower to send the opponent into the sea first.

Of course, any invention or tactic cannot be separated from its historical context, and what may seem laughable in modern times was actually the best choice for that specific era.

In large-scale wars that employed "battle line" tactics where no one could escape, this idea was not wrong at all.

But what if one steps out of this framework? Or out of the limitations of this era?

With Aiven's insights beyond most, he saw that aside from Legendary Battleships that participated with extraordinary power, the era of sailing warships on the Blue Star eventually took a huge leap in terms of design, ideology, and tactics compared to this world.

Particularly before the launch of steam ironclads, in those final glorious years of sailing warships, humanity undoubtedly brought this technology to a certain pinnacle.

Just like the Difference Engine, eventually replaced by computers, the sailing warships, replaced by steam ironclads, if they had continued to develop, no one could predict what their final form would be.

And during those glorious years.

It is hard to say which sailing warship was the strongest because there are various "best" categories like the largest, the one with the most shipborne artillery, and the fastest.

But in terms of the most legendary and most suitable warship for the current situation, it had to be White-headed Eagle's "Constitution."

During its service, it engaged in over forty naval battles and earned the reputation of "invincible in single combat" without a single defeat!

However, it was not a battleship claiming to dominate the era but a cruiser, more precisely, a uniquely designed "Heavy Cruiser."

[Specifications] Total length of 62.2 meters, width of 13.6 meters, depth of 6.85 meters, displacement of 2200 tons, speed of 13 knots, crew of 400, no forecastle or sterncastle.

[Military Preparation] Two-tier cannon deck: 30 24-pound cannons, 20 32-pound cannons, 2 24-pound fore and aft cannons (data at the peak of firepower in 1812 after many re-fittings)

[Sail rig] Full rig, head-sail with triangular jib, stern with fore-and-aft sail.

Compared to contemporary battleships, this enhanced super cruiser had several advantages:

First, the heavy cruiser with a lower center of gravity compared to a Level 3 Battleship could accommodate more heavy cannons, even an all-heavy cannon configuration, thus possessing firepower almost as formidable as a Level 3 Battleship in naval warfare.

Second, the same tonnage with no forecastle or sterncastle allowed for thicker hull plating, earning the "Constitution" the nickname "Old Ironsides."

Third, lowering the height closer to the water, increasing the length-to-width ratio, allowed for greater speed (although the Flying Clipper had a length-to-width ratio up to 6:1 for faster speed, it lacked stability and strength, making it unable to mount heavy cannons).

The design philosophy was to forgo large-scale fleet battles.

Creating a situation where those who could defeat it couldn't outrun it, and those who could outrun it couldn't defeat it, and more often, no one could either outrun or defeat it!

With powerful firepower and superior speed, this type of Heavy Cruiser dared to challenge any warship on the Blue Star at the time.

In fact, in terms of displacement and specifications, this type of cruiser was on par with the Level 3 Battleship in the battleship sequence, making it perfect to modify a "slightly deficient" Level 3 Battleship.

Moreover, Aiven's idea was not an outlandish fantasy, nor was it unprecedented.

To deal with White-headed Eagle's problematic Heavy Cruisers, such as forming squadrons to specifically hunt down their solitary warships and merchant ships, John Bull had also implemented deck-trimming designs, modifying Level 3 Battleships into Heavy Cruisers.

How similar is this situation to the current power comparison between Phaletis and Hilus?

"So, Mr. Jeffrey, shall we try this together?"

Aiven extended his right hand to the maritime engineer beside him.

Walkley Jeffrey, already stirred up by Aiven's words and almost feeling blood-pumped, unhesitatingly hit Aiven's hand heavily.

If it failed, it was the captain's spoils anyway, but if it succeeded, he could leave a significant mark in the history of the Kingdom's warship development!

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