After a week in the curing room, the cement ship finally reached the day of launching and outfitting.
The workers who had been summoned stood dumbfounded. When Prince ordered the bath tub—hardly completed—into the water, everyone doubted they hadn't heard right.
Yet Roland's command was indeed so.
He had the shed temporarily dismantled and removed, then dug a sloping channel beneath the concrete vessel leading directly into the river. This section required extreme caution, as concrete products exhibit poor tensile and seismic resistance. While developing a few cracks would be manageable, if the vessel were to shatter upon impact with the ground, the entire effort would be rendered futile.
The logs were rolled up, with ropes tied to control their descent speed. Once all preparations were complete, workers wrapped hemp ropes as thick as their wrists around the newly driven piles and stretched them into a straight line. At each command, they gradually loosened the ropes, allowing the boat's hull to glide along the logs, producing a sharp, grinding sound.
Fortunately, all went smoothly. Roland watched as the cement ship gradually sank into the river, its draft measuring about half a meter, with the hull still protruding about one meter above the water. The workers were astonished to see that this object, heavier than a stone, did not sink with a thud to the riverbed but instead floated on the water like a leaf.
"Quickly wrap the rope around the wooden stake several times, then tie it securely!" Roland commanded. The hemp rope still tied to the hull couldn't be untied, or the cement boat would drift south with the river current.
Though the nightingale remained invisible, her voice was already filled with disbelief: "How does it float?" "Well... simply put, its average density is lower than water, so it floats," Roland mused before answering. "Whether it's iron or concrete doesn't matter much. You should know from sailing ships that a large vessel is far heavier than a stone." His voice faded as he guessed the other was deep in thought. Even Anna might not have reacted immediately. Roland smiled and continued directing the workers on the next task.
The subsequent outfitting process is a lengthy endeavor. When heavy snowfall occurs, work must be halted, and only during lighter snowfall can crews make temporary progress. The primary task involves deck installation, where pre-planed wooden planks are laid onto the vessel. Numerous short wooden supports are erected between the deck and the hull to provide stability. While this arrangement may seem space-consuming, given the primary function of the concrete vessel, such considerations are deemed unnecessary.
Next came the anti-corrosion treatment. The carpenters were well-versed in this process. They first applied a pungent oil to the deck, which would solidify, followed by multiple layers of red paint. Once the deck coating was fully completed, the outfitting transitioned to the superstructure installation phase.
The upper section was nothing more than a wooden shed between two masts, designed to store cannons and ammunition. It also served as a shelter for the crew during rain. The shed's roof featured a specially installed platform for standing, clearly prepared for Wendy. From this vantage point, her ability's range could sweep across both the upper and lower sails.
The rudder at the stern is forged from cast iron. Its installation is somewhat cumbersome: the handle must be threaded through a pre-drilled hole underwater to emerge above deck, then a metal ring is slid onto the deck and secured with a right-angled triangular clip. The clip's long arm is welded to the handle, while its short arm rotates freely within the ring's groove.
The welding job was naturally left to Anna. After being equally astonished and puzzled by the stone bathtub that floated on water, she asked the exact same question as Nightingale.
Roland repeated the answer several times before noticing Anna sitting nearby, lost in thought.
No... there is still a long way to go in terms of universal education.
...
Meanwhile, Fan Na was torn between joining the artillery unit or the musketeers.
It all started with an order three days ago.
His Royal Highness ordered the reorganization of a special unit by selecting the most outstanding members from Militia Squad One and Militia Squad Two. When Fan Na learned his name was included, he was delighted. However, when Iron Axe asked if he would join the Artillery or the Musketeers, he was taken aback. He knew muskets were the ultimate weapon against the evil beasts on the city walls, far more lethal than crossbows. At that time, only Iron Axe, Chief Knight, and a few hunters could wield such deadly weapons. Fan Na should have joined the Musketeers without hesitation, but he couldn't resist asking, "What is artillery?"
When he learned it was a tenfold magnified musket, its power far exceeding that of a standard one by a hundredfold, he was left in a dilemma.
Clearly, the more powerful the weapons one wields, the more it demonstrates Your Royal Highness's high regard for him. Joining the artillery seems like a better choice than the musketeers, but carrying that straight, imposing musket through the town streets and drawing everyone's gaze—that's the scene he's always dreamed of. Though cannons are mighty, ten times their power would make them impossible to carry, wouldn't it?
Until the final deadline, he gritted his teeth and chose artillery. The decisive factor was the monthly salary five silver wolves higher than that of musketeers.
Then the rigorous training began.
A cannon required five operators, and Vanne was assigned to work with Youtai, Cat Claw, Nelson, and Rodney. Having previously served as deputy commander of the Long Gun Unit, Vanne was appointed as the gunner.
This contraption was a tenfold more cumbersome to operate than a musket! For over a month, he had secretly studied the iron axe's musket operation, believing himself to be fully versed in the process. Yet even the simple transition from firing position to ready position required a series of tedious maneuvers.
The entire process—stopping the horse, removing the pin, lifting the hook, moving the gun carriage, positioning it at the firing point, and lowering the support—requires five people to work in coordination. For instance, when lifting the hook, the others must immediately push the gun to separate it from the tractor, reducing the four wheels to two, before lowering the support. This transition demands flawless teamwork; otherwise, the heavy gun carriage would be impossible to remove from the tractor.
After positioning, the gun was loaded with ammunition and prepared for firing. This process was remarkably similar to that of a musket, except that the barrel had to be cleaned by alternately inserting two brushes. The gunpowder was pre-packaged and simply loaded into the barrel. The ignition relied on a fuse, which Vanne thought would hardly work in the rain.
Fortunately, the gunner mostly just needs to direct others from the sidelines, which doesn't require much physical effort.
During the initial three days, the four selected artillery teams were given only one cannon for training. Under the command of Iron Axe, the crew repeatedly loaded and unloaded the gun carriage, preparing for firing before reloading it. Faner suspected that the barrel, under constant cleaning, might be cleaner than his own face.