Chapter : 610

Luna shuffled over to a stack of clean, folded canvas tarps. She rubbed her sleepy eyes. She let out a massive yawn. She collapsed onto the tarps. She pulled her knitted blanket over her head. She fell asleep instantly in the middle of the noisy factory.

Risa stood near Princess Iris. She hugged her teddy bear. She watched the glowing sparks fall from Heart's welding torch. "The sparks look like tiny fireflies," Risa smiled sweetly.

Ken Eliot sat down on an empty wooden crate. He slouched his shoulders. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped piece of strawberry candy. He unwrapped it slowly. He popped it into his mouth. He chewed the candy.

"This is exactly like the support crew scene in a mecha anime," Ken mumbled lazily to himself. He swung his legs back and forth. "The main characters just sit around while the smart mechanics upgrade their gear. It is the perfect filler episode. I do not have to do any cardio. I just have to wait."

Naomi walked over and sat down on the crate right next to him. She rested her elbows on her knees. She looked at him with a warm, caring expression.

"You are very quiet today, Ken," Naomi teased gently. "Are you actually enjoying this?"

"I am enjoying the absolute lack of running," Ken replied truthfully. He offered her a goofy grin. He pulled another strawberry candy from his pocket. He held it out to her. "Do you want a candy? It tastes like fake strawberries. It is very good."

Naomi chuckled softly. She took the candy. "Thank you, Ken."

They sat together on the wooden crate. They watched Sayma and Heart build the advanced gadgets. The temporary truce was working flawlessly. The two units combined their unique skills perfectly. They were getting ready for a massive underwater adventure, and Ken was totally content to just eat candy and wait for the show to begin.

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The workshop hummed with intense, productive energy. The sound of metal clinking and tools turning echoed across the large brick room. Sayma and Heart stood side by side at the large metal workbench. They were deeply focused on their project.

Sayma held a piece of chalk. She drew complicated mathematical formulas directly onto the metal surface of the table. She calculated the exact atmospheric density needed for deep water survival. She pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"The structural integrity of the mana bubble must remain absolutely perfect," Sayma explained politely. She tapped the chalk against a drawn circle. "If the aquatic pressure causes the field to fluctuate even slightly, the water will breach the perimeter. It will crush the user instantly."

Heart nodded firmly. She wore her thick leather apron. Her face was covered in dark soot. She held a blazing welding torch in her hand. Bright blue sparks flew into the air as she melted a piece of silver metal.

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"Do not worry, Sayma," Heart grinned confidently. She lowered her welding mask over her eyes. "My metal housings are completely unbreakable. I am using reinforced titanium alloy. The magical crystals will sit securely inside these chest pieces. The energy output will never fluctuate."

They worked together seamlessly. The neat, organized scholar and the tough, greasy mechanic formed a brilliant team. They understood each other perfectly.

Laxmi leaned against a nearby copper pipe. The fire user watched the sparks fly from the welding torch. She crossed her arms. She looked slightly worried.

"Hey, Heart," Laxmi called out. She tossed a tiny orange flame between her fingers. "Is this bubble thing going to block my magic? I use fire. Fire and water absolutely hate each other. If I throw a fireball underwater, will it just turn into a sad puff of steam?"

Heart turned off the welding torch. She lifted her mask. She wiped sweat from her forehead with a dirty rag. She laughed a loud, rumbling laugh.

"You are entirely fine, Laxmi," Heart promised cheerfully. "The localized breathing field acts as a perfect atmospheric barrier. It creates a pocket of dry air around your entire body. The water never touches you. You can throw all the fireballs you want inside your own personal bubble. The flames will just shoot right through the mana shield."

Laxmi’s golden eyes widened with pure excitement. She punched her open palm. "Yes! That is fantastic news! I can roast sea monsters underwater! I am totally ready to dive into that lake!"

Ira stood perfectly still near the workbench. Her pale face showed zero emotion. She stared blankly at the metal chest pieces.

"Statistically speaking," Ira stated in her robotic, deadpan voice. "The water pressure at the bottom of a crater lake is immense. A failure in the device will result in immediate drowning. The survival probability relies entirely on the quality of these crystals."

Sayma smiled a calm, reassuring smile. She clicked her pen. "I have personally calibrated the crystals, Ira. They are functioning at peak efficiency. The risk of mechanical failure is mathematically negligible."

Ken Eliot sat on his wooden crate. He slouched his shoulders as far as they could possibly go. He finished his strawberry candy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small chocolate bar. He peeled the wrapper back. He took a bite. He chewed it slowly.

He looked at the small, metal chest pieces resting on the workbench. He let out a loud, dramatic sigh.

"This is completely unacceptable," Ken complained lazily. He pointed a piece of chocolate at the gadgets. "Those things look incredibly uncomfortable. They look like metal dog collars. Am I supposed to wear that around my neck?"

Naomi sat right next to him. She chuckled softly. She did not look annoyed. She just shook her head.

"Stop whining, Ken," Naomi teased gently. Her green eyes sparkled with warm amusement. "It is just a small chest piece. You wear it like a necklace. It will keep you alive underwater."

"But it will ruin my outfit," Ken whined goofily. He looked down at his navy blue suit pants and his untucked white shirt. "My collar is perfectly messy right now. If I put a heavy metal ring around my neck, it will wrinkle my shirt in the wrong places. This is a massive fashion disaster. I cannot go out in public looking like a cyborg."

"You already look like a walking laundry pile," Naomi laughed brightly. She reached over and gently straightened his collar. Her touch was very soft. She liked taking care of him. "You will survive wearing a small gadget for one hour."

"It is a tragedy," Ken mumbled. He took another bite of chocolate. "I am submitting a formal complaint to the costume design department. I want a cooler gadget. Something like a magical wristband. Wristbands are very stylish."

Prince Hephaestus walked over to the crate. The 9th Prince held his metal thermos of black coffee. He smiled a tired, friendly smile. He liked Ken's casual attitude.