Bernstein.
He had been selected by the 《Imperial Magazine》 as the second most closely watched figure among the empire's new generation.
The empire's greatest inventor.
This single title alone was enough to make countless people look up to him.
And with these titles piled on top of each other, they clung to him like barnacles, impossible to shake off.
Looking at the colossal laboratory before him, Bernstein couldn't help but murmur under his breath.
“How... did things turn out like this...”
When he first became an inventor's assistant, he too had a small dream.
To become a great inventor and contribute his strength to the empire.
However, the turning point of everything stemmed from a single accident.
By chance, he had found some discarded spare parts thrown away by his mentor. Thinking they could still be used with a bit of modification, he tried his hand at crafting a little gadget.
As it turned out, the response to that invention far exceeded his expectations.
It was just a simple toy.
When a button was pressed, the lid of a box would automatically open, a cat's paw would reach out from inside, and then the box would close again.
It was such a simple thing.
When Bernstein heard that this toy had become a sensation among noble ladies, he almost fainted on the spot.
From then on, his life went completely out of control.
Every single invention he made somehow achieved monumental success, inexplicably.
Even though they were just ordinary trinkets, people showered them with wild praise.
He made boots that changed color according to the wearer's mood, which was hailed as an epoch-making invention.
He made a bottle that released a cool breeze when the cap was opened, which was called a masterpiece of the century.
Bernstein even began to suspect.
If the world was playing a practical joke on him on purpose.
“I want to leave this crazy empire.”
So, he went to a government agency to apply for emigration.
However, the response he received was...
...
“The empire never allows outstanding talents to leave.”
...
Bernstein was plunged into utter despair.
Every day, he was invited to all kinds of noble banquets and forced to accept various interviews.
Everyone looked at him with worshipful eyes.
But only he knew.
He was no genius at all.
He was just absurdly lucky.
Until one day.
“Build an airship for the empire.”
“There is no one else besides you who can complete this task.”
“The empire will grant you unlimited support.”
The moment he heard those words.
Bernstein felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his head.
Die?
And then leave?
No.
He wanted to truly “die” once.
He would make the empire's finances plummet right along with the airship.
At that moment, he finally found a way to escape the empire.
After that, Bernstein poured all of his wealth and energy into creating a magic doll that looked exactly like himself.
He didn't even know how long it had been since he had worked this hard.
As for the airship?
Of course he just sloppily threw it together.
After all, his true goal wasn't success.
It was to fake his death and escape.
Bernstein finally completed the doll.
He even had his assistant test it.
No one could tell the difference between the real one and the fake.
Perfect.
Next, all he had to do was remote control the doll, make the airship project fail, and seize the opportunity to flee to the Kelly Kingdom.
The plan was flawless.
...
Of course Bernstein knew the name of Li An Adolf.
The Light of the Empire.
But he didn't believe the evaluations the empire gave to Li An.
In his eyes, Li An was just like him.
Nothing more than an exaggeratedly lucky fellow.
Therefore...
Bernstein decided to test him a little.
Controlling the magic doll, he appeared before Li An.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Bernstein.”
“Although my capabilities are lacking, I am currently in charge of this project.”
“Chief of the imperial Evaluation Department, Li An Adolf.”
Bernstein observed Li An through the doll's vision.
Then, he was disappointed.
Just as expected.
So the so-called Light of the Empire was nothing special after all?
“This magic doll is exceptionally well-made.”
Li An sized up the doll before him from head to toe.
“Indeed, as expected of the empire's genius inventor.”
“However...”
Li An suddenly said.
“If one looks closely, there are still some issues.”
“The movements here are actually too close to a real person, which conversely creates a strange sense of incongruity.”
“If you continue to optimize it, it could still be improved quite a bit.”
Bernstein froze completely.
He was the very first person to see through the magic doll.
“You...”
Bernstein hurriedly stepped out from inside the doll and came before Li An.
“How did you tell?”
Li An wore a puzzled expression.
“Isn't it obvious at a single glance?”
If what this man said was true...
Bernstein gritted his teeth and pulled out another of his inventions.
That pair of color-changing boots hailed by the empire as the “invention of the century.”
“Then, what do you think of this?”
Li An took a look.
“Aren't these just boots that change color?”
“Is there anything special about them?”
Bernstein fell completely to his knees on the ground.
“Haha...”
“Please save me, Li An Adolf.”
“I've really had enough.”
Li An looked at Bernstein kneeling before him, completely speechless for a moment.
...
The deity of the empire.
The sleeping dragon of the empire.
The meeting of two geniuses.
It allowed the two of them to establish an unprecedented resonance.
“This makes absolutely no sense!”
Bernstein clutched his head.
“I only made a toy, yet they call me a genius inventor.”
“Sometimes, I even suspect that the entire world is lying to me.”
Li An nodded in deep empathy.
“Me too.”
“I don't even know what the empire's evaluation system actually is.”
“By the time I came to my senses, I had already become the chief.”
“Li An!”
“Bernstein!”
The two stared into each other's eyes.
At this moment.
They had found their soulmate.
With just a brief meeting.
The two instantly became close friends.
This was the first time in a very long time that Bernstein had met someone who understood him so deeply.
He brought out an expensive, long-treasured liquor.
He poured a cup for Li An.
And took a sip himself.
Just then.
Li An noticed the necklace around Bernstein's neck.
It was an old, worn-out necklace.
It was completely unbefitting of his current status as the “deity of the empire.”
But Li An found it somewhat familiar.
It seemed as though he had seen it somewhere before.
Crafted in his childhood...
“Cough.”
As the alcohol went down his throat.
The secret hidden deep in Bernstein's heart could finally no longer be suppressed.
He spilled out his entire plan.
“The airship is bound to fail.”
“It uses an obsolete mana crystal engine.”
“The person in charge of piloting the airship is also a fraud who forged his resume.”
“When the time comes, he will definitely be held accountable, and perhaps even executed.”
“You still plan to go through with this?”
Li An asked.
“Of course.”
Bernstein did not hesitate in the slightest.
“The one who will ultimately be executed is only my doll, not me.”
“Hahaha.”
“But, compared to myself, I'm actually more worried about you.”
“Why?”
“If the airship project fails to this degree, do you think the empire will only hold me responsible?”
“As the person who approved the project, you will be implicated as well.”
“No matter how great your past contributions were, the empire will absolutely never go easy on you over something like this.”
“...”
Li An fell silent.
He finally realized the gravity of the situation.
In the next moment.
His expression turned incredibly solemn.
“Why on earth would you do this?”
“Bernstein!”
“As someone honored by the empire, you treat a national project so recklessly!”
“As an official of the empire, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch!”
With that said.
Li An shouted toward the door.
“Erin!”
“Come in!”
Erin hurriedly ran into the laboratory.
“Chief, what happened?”
“We have the airship's engines here.”
“Conduct a thorough inspection.”
“Understood!”
The next second...
Boom!
A colossal explosion resounded.
Bernstein was stunned.
Right inside his laboratory, the airship's engine had directly blown apart.
“How is this possible...”
His face went pale.
“I clearly still had four spare engines...”
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Four consecutive explosions occurred.
Every single spare engine was completely destroyed.
Bernstein was completely dumbfounded.
How was this done?
How could they have been so precisely blown up, every last one?
Just what kind of monster is she?
Just then.
The laboratory automatically detected a fire.
The automatic sprinkler system manufactured by Bernstein activated.
*Splaaash!
A torrential downpour of water cascaded from above.
Li An said calmly:
“It seems we must rebuild the engines from scratch.”
“We can no longer use the old-style mana crystals.”
“An improved, new-model engine is required.”
“Of course, the entire development process must be fully supervised by the Evaluation Department.”
Bernstein stared at Li An.
He finally understood.
They were already in the same boat now.
There was absolutely no way he could escape on his own.
...
“I highly recommend Li An Adolf to serve as the airship's first pilot!”
Bernstein proposed to the Emperor.
Li An had not anticipated this turn of events at all.
His original plan was simply to have all the old engines dismantled and then assign some fake pilots, allowing the project to fail naturally.
As a result...
Bernstein had actually run off to see the Emperor directly.
And once Li An caught wind of the news, he had no choice but to rush there at top speed.
And kneel before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty!”
“Although I may have outstanding abilities, I have absolutely no experience piloting an airship!”
“If we allow a novice to pilot the airship, in the event of an accident...”
“Cough, cough!”
The Emperor waved his hand.
“But Bernstein is right.”
“For someone with such talent, it is not impossible to master piloting an airship within a month.”
“As for the empire's first airship, We cannot accept having an ordinary person pilot it.”
“It must be piloted by the Light of the Empire in person.”
Li An nearly coughed up blood.
This guy.
He actually dumped the responsibility directly onto me.
“Your Majesty!”
“Please reconsider!”
“I cannot allow my own shortcomings to jeopardize such a critical project of the empire!”
“See!”
“This is what humility and prudence look like!”
Bernstein said excitedly.
“These are precisely the qualities an outstanding pilot needs most!”
“Your Majesty!”
“He can definitely do it!”
“Cough, cough.”
The Emperor nodded.
“That makes sense.”
“Li An Adolf.”
“We command you to take charge of piloting the airship.”
“Your Majesty!!!”
The matter was already set in stone.
Li An could only grit his teeth.
However...
There was absolutely no way he would shoulder this alone.
“Your Majesty!”
“As far as I know, the airship's cockpit is spacious enough to accommodate two people!”
“If someone as inexperienced as me is to pilot it, why not have Bernstein board as the co-pilot to assist me!”
The Emperor contemplated for a moment.
“Cough, cough.”
“That also makes sense.”
“Bernstein.”
“We command you to assist Li An in piloting the airship.”
“Your Majesty!!!”
Bernstein was plunged into absolute despair.
Meanwhile, Li An leaned close to his ear and whispered:
“Did you really think I would die alone?”
“Not a chance.”
“Bernstein.”
“We go together.”
“To the skies.”
“Hahaha.”
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