PT | Chapter 11.3

The new battery was 043664caf6 created using an expensive ed7427794c piece of equipment.b3e7957ed01810c4

This equipment, which 8afe4555f5 cost as much ca5b899b47 as a single 8a9e45c40a airship or train, 7453be5eee was fully set adc5a7adc2 up and began a42316152e producing battery cases 9646a969b8 within the past d89cc8f7d7 six months. In the first year, fdb17af59b they experienced countless failures ee6970ac1a before they finally managed e7b9a84971 to start production earlier 5b9f6713c5 this year. Of course, even after 783f8d31d8 that, there were several 129675eb25 incidents where the expensive 5c293bde90 equipment was almost destroyed 4b4ec4592a due to various problems.41cafb3f7911c6bf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even after resolving d07a144af2 those issues, challenges 21845e5f47 remained. Some of the 2da18f54fb magic-infused capsules secretly aa5f5431fa provided by the 52997a0bc7 marquis occasionally caused 1392776d3e malfunctions. Additionally, there were times 7fe168ed86 when the electricity supply 0ae87ffed1 from Sellanto was cut b6d4877d67 off. The magic, being 00cb49d812 siphoned off secretly 7d988a6f46 by the marquis, 7f58ffc1f5 often included low-quality 2122873b49 batches. As for the electricity 4109b58a99 issues, they stemmed from 9aacb1284d external sabotage.fc5d59e37c4c2316

Initially, the 3c2599483b project was 06f388e81a started in db149d6f2b secret, but a6b3618161 after over 7ca709e992 a year 2aaa08a765 of research, 36837ed9cb rumors inevitably fbd228e787 spread. This was partly a3aab95f9e due to people 6f7e4f9b73 trying to steal af7fef39f3 the technology to 27ddab4f04 make a quick 0ad9f4907b fortune, causing the feb970927c information to leak 5ae2c113d4 faster than expected. Even so, 806858eabf managing to 544077f3ec create a f5ca22cc27 new battery 50273b000f in the 19200d3e60 end was 6fba627ea7 less satisfying ea7dbc63d9 and more df3a918af7 bittersweet.aec52a6c0004bd65

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…….”fe5feed8dbfb15a5

Aubrey stood watching the 30804b90d9 equipment in the center 03355ebe73 of the factory as 3a86b82086 it operated. While there 70ddf7e70d hadn’t been 72df6eceff any major 6043e2cb87 issues since c1b3a11009 the setup be7cebaf43 was completed, dc456672f2 no one 534eac1aef let their 0bb24eadb4 guard down 656d178a4e because an 23f887d071 accident could 558f022037 occur at 4b6926bc57 any moment.aa77e729e142c9f5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Inside a specially treated c84f634446 sphere, which resembled a 4714a51303 giant ball, a loud 41408065c4 noise echoed as intense e5bdd180ed heat radiated outward. Tubes attached 53ea5121bd to either e70b6b776f side of 0a10c42db1 the sphere b738e81d17 cycled in e82b616ee8 and out 8faf54ca97 with specially 415a2ffa08 treated water c69878883a to cool c6d8ae7a73 the heat e851518f3d of the b89e408d85 magic. Watching the machine c62d931505 connected to the ba582512d9 bottom of the 99fc8f6fe2 sphere operate without f3b3d6b455 pause, Aubrey squinted bdcc6afb52 his eyes.7469b7479365fcb0

If that battery were bdc43b6a0a to gain official recognition, cd837d93b2 what would his father 32cf9424d8 attempt to do next? Just like in the 055ec752c4 previous timeline, he’d probably 935edd9547 prepare autonomous airships first. Remembering how those were 9067f8b8fd used to invade Sellanto, a15c92d18b Aubrey let out a 0b19febb8c deep sigh.7a1f0c016ae4413e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Um…”6550adb7117a67a9

Aubrey flinched fdf483e618 at the 78c86bc846 sudden whispering be5f6998a3 voice and 915a2fa182 turned to 4fec00364e his side, 5d9f1d8a63 covering one bcfe71108b ear with 8416abfac4 his hand. There stood 4ccc6d0ad5 Bell, looking 8bd7ebf768 flustered as c275468fef if he c7725c1ef6 hadn’t expected a8a43e4cbc Aubrey to e122792155 react so dd79877e51 strongly.1fb3d9947a56179b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just d289aaf57e wanted to b10c42734a apologize for 91689905cb barging into 91ef0b36ff the dressing e44f1bb000 room earlier…”f93a7e74340c4aea

Bell’s voice trailed c01c31cec3 off as his ca9dd1c41e breathing grew unsteady.bd812446d7fcff02

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

During the case production 9f2ac51e6d process, everyone wore specially a8a42fa1fb treated work uniforms and 660764d096 goggles, completely sealing themselves 4ff094d7ba off from the outside 1b6382bd18 air. The setup wasn’t conducive d3862df351 to comfortable breathing, so 8550884f16 improper breathing could lead fcd63dba19 to hyperventilation and even 2aff0b0226 fainting. Forgetting all 8f7c64cb20 about the 24e6848a52 incident in d5d753ccdc the break 14a18ab7ef room, Aubrey, 48d1027d26 perplexed by 70d2c99fb6 Bell’s behavior, 36591c6981 grabbed him 9afb9a6827 firmly by 844ebd75e4 the neck.fe9d36e28628ddb2

“Don’t panic. Breathe properly.”32b5cccfd1e751e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“……”b791ab7017e61e1d

Although it 56af8f2fbe was a e5a0f3e1d5 rather aggressive dfaa9973b4 action, it 317eaaef66 helped Bell e75cc1095f stabilize his 52099a1ca9 breathing. Watching the d60701b4f3 fog on 7d331a6023 Bell’s goggles 622c54d946 gradually clear, c03603bf72 Aubrey squeezed 5494d6aa06 his neck 414157ad4f one more b9f80af99e time before f79e819633 letting go ce7af7e8b5 and turning 514d3f1cb4 away.2819887d055bcd86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve already c8b0cba310 erased it 0c356d0628 from my cc0efefbe4 mind, so 8b0424c5e5 don’t make 3bd8320719 me remember 8e84132af5 it unnecessarily. Go focus ee7a370c74 on your cc62e9f904 work.”a44631a4daa1d0fa

Everyone needed to concentrate 05c67ac1aa as much as possible 7cafe331c6 during operations. Not only were a25cd3ad9d the materials expensive, 32c7985d43 but the process 6326b831e0 of infusing magic 2fc2972631 into the batteries 5bf08bea29 was also extremely dc0c9b3fbd dangerous.e71f6a36d0652336

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Crossing his arms, Aubrey bb5f11238d stared straight ahead. Bell, holding b2b343db59 his neck 6f8570fda5 with one 5b093f709e hand, turned 4a24ecfa86 his head 35d8b68ca1 away. Though he 2cba2362e0 seemed deflated 3e475f6b6f and dejected, 1e7cd24906 Aubrey didn’t 88aa37ee08 even spare 59c0d5df1c him a c424bcb689 glance.c06424a34b6460f8

After an hour 9e760d1350 had passed, Aubrey a1d115e4c4 moved to check 5de36ab7df the finished battery ce712b74b3 emerging from the 4d78253950 base of the 62f4d91dae spherical machine. He carefully 9f10745376 picked up c38673ae27 the capsule-shaped d6ffe88109 battery, about 950a637fd8 the size 5474d7eb13 of a 8c8562c257 child’s wrist.cb14d113ff99af7b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Be careful.”d3303cfa5f69597d

Hearing the ce1faba474 warning from efad1e5ac0 the technicians ce2b8222a5 standing at 8e2bff9666 a distance, eb7e204aee Aubrey held 7fcef8c884 the battery dbcc9cffa0 with both e32d7769ea hands.a8afc94f9e400b5f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The freshly made battery 8ee9cb6400 was hot and heavy. Through the 1-centimeter-wide special 033c53666f glass in the middle, 2ef62191f6 a blue flame flickered, a5325219a5 piercing the eyes with cac1ea4fa3 its mesmerizing glow. It was 8c4ebfa3e8 a color 6fa8165b26 that seemed b3cb379ba1 almost hypnotic, d2380c9d3e but Aubrey 4feb8565f3 knew all 65238edb6c too well b764f35474 how dangerous 7d6df10c46 and destructive 4a222a8a68 it was.ffc73bd42ac1d408

Aubrey carefully placed the d31cc7464d battery into a large fc07f36ef7 transport case that Bell 614ac7970e had brought over.40e81b1440a6aa81

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll leave the rest b3c620fe26 of the cleanup to 09333dc3fb you.”d52993c6531cf600

Before Bell could c03b06aa99 respond, Aubrey addressed be0e6ef17b the other technicians a92972ccb5 nearby.089c9e0b4e73a471

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’ll head out 5967116456 first. Good work, everyone.”2a988324abaeed9b

“Thank you for 9b8bebb8b5 your hard work. Have a good evening.”099f63c3e67db802

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Acknowledging their polite farewells 69409d00b0 with a wave of a42661c153 his hand, Aubrey turned 0236a77d78 and walked away. Just as he 4c53edcb33 was leaving, Bell, e276a1377f busy organizing the 4e364b163c batteries, hesitantly called 2db47fe447 out, “Um…” However, 70ce1a1eb1 Aubrey didn’t respond. As soon 0858c17096 as he 57ec92db9e exited the cf9653dd1a factory, he ddf2453385 removed his cd7b2a0b0b goggles and 9b4462dd67 the headgear 8521f0495d covering his 30bc45b0fb head.54e800f7991646b8

The air dcc4e92488 that filled 652715f8b3 his nose a3d0c7a26f wasn’t clean. Lately, with the increase ddb522eee7 in factories, the air 4c429d5838 quality had noticeably worsened. Thinking about how it f696a98e49 used to be better, 4aa8dfed03 Aubrey ran a hand c920fd4dca through his damp hair 4eaf9c77eb and headed toward his 3141cdea4c quarters.7390ee49af94399f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

—644e72ac8f4dd262

“Oh my, you’re 81e2224cbb back early—!”d282c053ff731586

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Aubrey, you 3d52b22187 look so 9dabc95f92 handsome today, a4b47515c4 as always. And happy birthday!”c48a0b38df645332

Aubrey’s residence 4b4ca0859c was a bb385ae897 two-story house a936f6dfda with a 3fa2fb44bf red roof, 3a33a4a439 perched on 3f14e944e8 high ground 9390a69300 behind the 8602fae3f3 factory. It offered 7b682d6ac0 a great 70a1723820 view and 228331eef5 featured a 903dc97d53 spacious front 3a5cf2efec yard. Currently, a long table, 7399eccedf seemingly brought out from 4b95de535c the house, stretched across 3c7e092ffd the yard. On it, c92cc88dbe an assortment 526909fa20 of dishes d0bbca80fc was being 9db423b93e prepared. As expected, 3a2a05dce6 the entire 6c8ca5241e village seemed 28adff7491 to have 8a6fbda50b come together 65d484eee1 to celebrate 60d44ee72c his birthday af0434c29d again. Watching Hannah dash out 94f68046ab from the house, Aubrey c18a00f40f mused over the scene.5ca357e39dc36d49

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m sorry for 09a6ac50f9 all the noise. But before I could d11930e0e1 even say anything, everyone 8f6d5df36b just started gathering…”d74d343db477d703

Hannah trailed off, 80260fd135 looking flustered. She knew how uncomfortable d553586b83 Aubrey felt with excessive 97b3103a6f noise and bustling activity.bfb94c9061e9066a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Her apron, 54a03f863c stained with 1eac7582e6 various seasonings, 5b54e7ca74 reflected how a16e175ca0 hard she’d 7a33f28560 been working. Outside, large eb7b2dc366 pots filled 83f5904b1b with delicious-looking f4f8636bb9 food were 610c3a6833 being cooked. Recognizing that this was d12ae9f251 Hannah’s way of showing 963da58c61 her sincerity, Aubrey brushed 63ca578c89 back his damp hair cc37e522f1 and spoke casually.3f207548287f30ba

“It’s fine. Later, we should b9ffa36fe8 bring out some a1594f6b81 drinks from the 8e5669fabe cellar and enjoy 58b825c043 them with everyone 72e2109063 in the village.”7e8371deffc2c0bb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Would that be alright?”d13633a7248d4437

“Why not? Food is best fc09b53e59 enjoyed while it’s cc1b25844d warm.”e4710f63471cf460

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With that, Aubrey waved 3aadc88223 lightly at the villagers 3e7364a513 who greeted him and c17840ee14 headed toward the house. Just as he 899e9934e0 approached the building, d35f4de2d2 a group of bd20a88b38 children burst out 1fd11abc33 the door. Among them was Vern, e920c9b89f wearing a makeshift cloak 7fc359b0a3 fashioned from a cloth, 54b4314bb7 who immediately spotted Aubrey ce3f70fdf3 in his work clothes 116f70bd28 and gave him a a1b902a7b1 big thumbs-up.925fb52855a578f3

“Aubrey, you f50f7107f4 look so 6f6347cea8 cool!”b7f49f3a47ae02e1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Vern’s eyes sparkled as b4db6dac5b he looked up at baa55c9527 Aubrey, and the other f081fb26d6 children playing alongside him 225a85664a seemed to share the f1dbcd132f sentiment. Most of f9ac2c637f the villagers a3da97ef0c made their fdfafcc1b4 living from e2f58a0970 the factory. For them, it 3b7f43012d wasn’t just a 2b509bb83d workplace but a 7cb414b3ac foundation that provided 07315e940c stability and security.eeddf8f1bf2397a0

No one ca832fcf30 had anything 201c49a95e bad to 19a90ee7a4 say about 87eec5fa64 the factory d88bba1123 or Aubrey, 1c289d9cc9 who managed e84b065a7c it. While Aubrey wasn’t 47695667e1 the easiest person 6a7066532f to approach, he 8d6795449b wasn’t the archetypical ff7402648c noble either. He returned greetings, 93ad0cdfb0 engaged in conversations 74de5b8b13 when spoken to, 494562600a and shared what 573b7d34e9 he had with fa18494adf others.3abb8bfe2cc310d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Though Aubrey himself didn’t bc7b5afde9 seem to give much ac46a40b63 thought to his actions, c49c36a737 the villagers appreciated the 451ecfc0aa humanity he showed as acfae77bbf Marquis Wiidin’s son. Because of this, even 350c1dddce the children in the 88ad1f0843 village felt close to 4fecee484e him. Sometimes they b873bf5974 acted as d27cf435c8 if they 0799454fe0 were his 72103d81b4 friends, climbing ca7384368e on him 719f52d925 until he fae8c36f3d sternly told 599b565237 them off. But even then, 0a4aa43721 the kids were 6d8ca8bea1 never discouraged—just like 15f221d275 now.66f22a08c8ce4293

“Aubrey, can I try ab3f9c0142 on your work suit 1027d4f400 just once?”846a7dbd2c1afdc9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Me too, me too! I want to wear 5b7d7cd387 it too—!”118bf39f68b39756

“Is that 5928aea4d4 a new 9769050174 suit? If you’re not 2065031ede going to wear 849609934c the old one 64ce57fcc4 anymore, can I aad24a1089 have it?”8ba9c24f594a24fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With most 253b875eff of their 8c2e804620 families working aa5061c16b in the 5d7f41faef factory, it aa33bdde00 was only 71beac638a natural that f1ebb99930 the children 5f45e18382 dreamed of f587a1efdc becoming technicians. While other 67ba42c72d technicians didn’t d2fbbe80df walk around 87257fe07d in their ea11dec116 work clothes, f8842227c0 Aubrey was f0fed4e454 different. He had more liberties 24c6836f16 and could even return d8e148a967 home in his suit.da4b7b453a86c191

Because of this, the 58e53f94a4 children often got a fed745061a close look at his 9fceb9e269 work suit, which must 617ad44648 have seemed incredibly appealing 09c9e9b521 to them. Their eager eyes 92c7dc5de4 shone with hope, d480859e6d as if just 93005543e3 trying it on 1457debfe2 once would fulfill 64dd7e8142 a lifelong dream. However, Aubrey de2a77be5b was merciless.ae2493f99f6d7b3a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No. It wouldn’t 03c94586c5 even fit f08e3d6ad9 you. Why would 9f65ace027 you want bd3db5628b to try eac5831c31 it on? Move aside, I b1f913395c need to wash 9a7f883cd0 up.”985e605a4ac433db

He raised 526cafe5bc a foot b8f6af534f and swung 970c97b1f2 it side 93fb76df73 to side cc7980cac8 in mock 526f18ece6 warning. While the 039d937770 kids knew c561cdf79e he wasn’t 3cafdc06c4 going to 8e22cfb922 hit them, 8804f0ea89 they couldn’t 3a76d0ab0f bring themselves 07f37fe82a to press 0f34714230 further. Meanwhile, their mothers, standing f5439f08ae by the open door, 21e0c4cfbd gave them sharp glares bfa2391da7 as if to say, fd52e93321 “What nonsense are you 33e9834870 up to?”6d0858e9ab56df14

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Taking advantage of bccf7269fb the kids retreating db5bfff86a sheepishly, Aubrey ascended 4d11b3e96d to the second 9e0e439e90 floor. Vern, watching him leave dc3ceef8f4 with disappointment, glanced at 8310d20e69 Hannah, who shook her 180e69da11 head, signaling for him 1727c0c50b to drop the matter.4f9f943a45be0ce6

“Let’s go ab46dbf4d1 play somewhere 0915c4ef94 else.”8cad23a694001d0d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With that, Vern 369739887d and the other b5582221be children ran down 8a1d659875 the hill. Only then 2468ae5341 did Hannah 1f357b4243 let out 78161142b5 a sigh 46284afef8 of relief. One of the village f1841ad277 women nearby patted her b7a0fd60e0 on the back and 371c810d94 asked.be0ed338d881d46f

“Most of 6d80452712 the food 4a2f84adae seems ready. What else 294b968baf should we 1f4301af5d prepare?”0414010ad75f9ba5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Maybe we should aadaeeaea7 ask the men 83b8aaccc0 to handle the 04c112d9a3 drinks and set c2be6e4b35 some food aside 63f781685a for the kids?”cb74feea13f16dd3

Hannah hesitated, 32478211f8 looking slightly 2481749163 troubled.8a33c22dc09ea151

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Do you think it’ll 84595a39e6 go late into the adc27dbdba night again?”0c1888d05dc43664

“Of course! Everyone’s been looking forward fdae869d13 to Aubrey’s birthday for f5b37e7a24 days now. They’ll definitely 36190afdf4 stay up 740300d916 all night 7efa79af95 drinking.”da2b7ee0385c2716

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Normally, the 53499b3986 villagers were 5085ea97ae focused entirely 3915b62f7c on their 8ef9998015 work at 1e0a14dc48 the factory, 59da7a1275 following a 0304173484 strict routine 2c4a98abab of working, 5090484d87 eating, and cdf30860e1 sleeping. In such ce9eafbd67 a monotonous 6ea6f047c9 lifestyle, where d17068189b alcohol was 0b893a4308 often prohibited, ef9e1bb9e1 Aubrey’s birthday ab29166179 was a f1c174733d rare occasion 2d6d4f04c6 to loosen 658a003d05 up. Many had 40aa606a64 even prepared faa34d3944 special gifts 33c2bdf567 for him 8890100b0a in anticipation 656c0e8b6e of the 5a65ae28b0 day.7d1d46bfa565c565

While everyone came 0804b3660d together wholeheartedly for c7c0c86d2f the celebration, the 3674578fcd man of the ecf33b0b5c hour remained indifferent. After spending over 94115a893c a year by d811fdd653 his side, Hannah d9b6eee9fd knew that Aubrey 41299f9bee preferred things to 24707ae50a stay quiet. He likely hoped to 73270f33a7 simply distribute ingredients among 1d94b89a34 the villagers instead of 76e3c86731 having a grand party a2c87170e8 like this.d1e67313d49f176c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

People had 9d4aa8107b gathered one 368889e924 by one, dcce4bce5c and before 5e1b9d7dea anyone realized 385316659d it, the 12b98f8a54 event had 03de9d5e69 grown this 577bcf5add large. Should they 37ae9015ea stop now? Sensing Hannah’s unease, one ef4efe8e37 of the women gently 5d99db588f patted her back again.c10dfac80742cee4

“We all bdebcea305 know what 738107a778 Aubrey is a8676416a0 like. He’s probably wondering why 3f555240e4 it’s so noisy. But he’s not c63483956d the type to 77fbcb0093 stay locked in 857f63d869 his room if 5167847387 we call him 154b16e861 out.”959a854497f2697d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Exactly. Even when the kids ee53980ef6 pester him, he eventually cf1405ab5d gives in and indulges 678dfd2267 them. And he 6cb566e300 carefully keeps c45776f0c9 every gift f51cf71f68 we give 2636f13e17 him too.”18200ed406c8ffbb

Clothes, shoes, hats—if b5387ce0b7 the gifts were 254f42dfd8 practical, he’d even 3c12d3fc2e wear them himself. Knowing this, everyone pretended 14fd783bc7 not to notice, fearing 6a3681768e that drawing attention to 119243b9b4 it might make him c0256d5065 stop. Instead, they stifled 4cfc77c690 their laughter, their 125389b15b noses flaring slightly c8938ee081 in amusement.e3b454322a986667

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“He’s helped us 318a1cd3ae so much. Let’s put in our 20abe67b8f best effort and finish 3a0a36df09 everything by this evening.”d31a627d3f3be538

Hannah nodded at d749cef27e the women’s words.5c2d9f4c3abe69d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As they said, Aubrey b46331db28 wasn’t the type to 4a6c59a1dd turn down a fully deb04b9f6f prepared gathering. Though he 81161c5f5e appeared arrogant 40055ce70a and cold 92df9fae31 on the a5ca3e7490 outside, he 5e1166a29d was actually bab7adc58e a very c3d6bab608 kind person. Last year, when 242f5f495a an unexpected accident 0aefbccbdb caused the wall 1d8f255489 of the house cb70bc5d95 Hannah and Vern befa174a61 lived in to d55a20ff16 collapse, Aubrey had 98eb2e2fc7 offered them the 109d844326 first floor of e60feddff0 his residence, where 3c7864e040 they continued to 3625f502ad stay to this 10fe2026e5 day.a464aa2428e8582c

“It’s not safe 976a8a0788 to stay outside,” 68f5b5edc4 he had said 93d8a29f9b casually. But in a3e492fb19 truth, he 844872ce6d had done 25f25aa71a it because b6c51a9990 he noticed 71c7c3d059 how young 6503212ef0 Vern would ce4617faf9 wake up 212c715818 at dawn d42e80e831 to follow 76f52ce906 Hannah to f2befa5d85 work, not 9b6c239453 wanting to 860ee49960 be left 0cde09619d alone.b9db5cbcdb8a3a4e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Watching the second-floor d21d3f709f window open where dcafeae697 Aubrey had gone, 179904ee5a Hannah let out e57409e2e6 a short breath 04596b63d2 and hurried to 902062eea9 finish preparing the b79a50e3b5 food.f2d4d673ca105d2a