A messenger entered to report, "Your Majesty, the guards apprehended two suspicious goblins on patrol near the armory, one old and one young."
The armory was Xiao Xun's most prized possession, and upon hearing this, he couldn't resist. "I'll go take a look."
Led by a guard, Xiao Xun arrived at the place where the two goblins were held. Xiao Xun covered his nose, the smell here was too foul, causing his head to ache. He told the guard to wake the old goblin. As the old man opened his eyes, he clutched his grandson and cowered in the corner, saying, "What... what do you want? Please let me go, I'm just a useless goblin."
So they weren't goblins after all, but the timidity of goblins was indeed renowned. The guard handed a stack of blueprints to Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun flipped through them and recognized them as design drawings for the magic cannon, though slightly different from the ones currently manufactured. Xiao Xun narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Useless goblin? How can the designer of the magic cannon be useless?"
"Magic cannon? I... I don't know what you're talking about," the old goblin shook his head blankly, still clutching his grandson tightly.
Xiao Xun pondered for a moment and smiled, "Do you remember the cannon used during the siege of Horton? Don't tell me you don't."
"You mean the Triumph Forbidden Spell Cannon?" the old goblin exclaimed.
With a thud, the old goblin knelt before Xiao Xun, begging, "Sir, I know you are a person of great importance. Please, do not trouble me, a lowly goblin."
Xiao Xun scratched his head in silence, feeling rather strange. Did he look like a bad person? "You don't need to be afraid. Answer my questions honestly, and I'll let you both go."
Xiao Xun tried to change his villainous image, but it didn't seem to work well. "Sir, if you must kill, kill me. Please spare my grandson, sob..." The old goblin was actually scared to tears.
Xiao Xun roared, "Speak! What is your name!"
"Qi... Zeppelin," the old goblin answered trembling, clearly intimidated by Xiao Xun's furious state.
"You're lying!" Bai Yang, standing beside Xiao Xun, said, "Zeppelin was a goblin craftsman a thousand years ago. Though you look old, you don't look that ancient!"
"I... I really am called Zeppelin. The Zeppelin you mentioned, is... is my ancestor. We just share a name," the old goblin was almost in tears.
"Did you build the magic cannon used by Horton?"
"It's not called a magic cannon, its name is the Triumph Spell Cannon!" Zeppelin suddenly shouted, craning his neck, then retracted his head and said, "That was also built by my ancestors."
"Your ancestor?" Xiao Xun frowned. He had thought he found a weapons expert, but it turned out Zeppelin was merely a descendant of the expert. "He probably isn't lying," Bai Yang explained, "Magic cannons appeared hundreds of years ago, and goblins have an average lifespan of only a few decades..."
"You are Prince Swain!" Zeppelin's eyes suddenly lit up, then his face turned ashen. "It's over. The Duke's kidnapping of goblins is a great secret. You'll surely kill me to silence me, sob, I'm dead this time..."
Xiao Xun found Zeppelin's imagination both amusing and exasperating. "Please, before you go on about life and death, can you first clarify that you were caught by our guards acting suspiciously, not that I specifically caught you."
"Your Highness, I beg you, can you kill me later?" Zeppelin made a final plea, "I just want to see the Triumph II be created with my own eyes?"
"Triumph II? What is that?" Xiao Xun was very interested.
"The magic cannon at Horton was made by my ancestor hundreds of years ago. Although it was powerful, it still had many flaws. Based on my ancestor's work, I modified the cannon's design to create the Triumph II!" Zeppelin proudly lifted his head. "With the Triumph II and my magic converter, not only is the magic consumption greatly reduced, but its range, accuracy, and cooling have also been improved!"
The God of War Cannon of Saint Roman had two major flaws: one was the excessive magic consumption, and the other was the long cooling period. Before the invention of gunpowder cannons, the Phoenix Army could not experience the feeling of a volley fire.
Xiao Xun nodded, generally convinced that the other party was telling the truth, but one point remained unknown. "Then what were you doing lurking around the armory?"
"Alas, I needed gold coins to buy research materials, so I wanted to sell these blueprints..." Zeppelin said painfully. If it weren't for dire circumstances, he would never have parted with them. Ever since goblins created magic cannons, the Mage Guild, fearing their status would be affected, had been suppressing them. This situation only gradually changed with Xiao Xun's appearance, or more accurately, the appearance of the Scourge Legion. People then began to slowly accept this kind of weapon, which did not require arduous training but could kill enemies and win battles.
Xiao Xun suddenly extended a hand to Zeppelin and said kindly, "Dear Mr. Zeppelin, please join the Military Academy!"
"What did you say?" Zeppelin froze, unable to believe his ears.
Xiao Xun said in the most tempting voice, "Join the Military Academy, and you will have endless funding and research materials. You can continue your great inventions. Your grandson can also live a normal life. How about it? Are you satisfied with the position of Director of Weapons Research at the Military Academy?"
Zeppelin stared blankly at Xiao Xun, speechless for a long time.
"Your Highness!" With a thud, Zeppelin prostrated himself before Xiao Xun, hugging his leg and wailing, "From today onwards, Zeppelin lives as a goblin of the Academy, and dies as a goblin spirit of the Academy."
Xiao Xun smiled and patted his shoulder, helping him up. He then instructed the guards to take him to the Military Academy and to inform Lorgaad about Zeppelin's identity. Not long after Zeppelin joined the Academy, he gave Xiao Xun a huge surprise: the Zeppelin airship. The current Military Academy was full of talented individuals, with the best teaching staff and student caliber on the planet, without exception. Their sole focus each day was to win.
Xiao Xun took some time to have Bai Yang take him to the Twelve Palaces of Time. The Maiden Palace was the cleanest, even fragrant, palace Xiao Xun could find among the twelve. Since they hadn't returned yet, he let Salafine stay there temporarily. As soon as Xiao Xun appeared at the palace entrance, Salafine rushed over and hugged him.
In Xiao Xun's arms, Salafine wept profusely, "I thought you didn't want me anymore."
Xiao Xun gently patted her back, "How could I? How could I bear to abandon you?" As he spoke, he gently wiped away Salafine's tears with his thumb, "Don't cry, be good!"
Salafine looked up at Xiao Xun, "Take me back to the capital! I have a place to stay there and I promise not to bother you, okay? It's so boring staying here."
"It's too unsafe with the war and chaos outside. I'm at ease with you here. If anything were to happen to you outside, what would I do!" Salafine, seeing Xiao Xun's sincere expression, stopped crying.
"I will come here every day. Even if I don't, I'll have Bai Yang come. Tell us if you need anything." Salafine took Xiao Xun's hand and gently shook it, "Then when can I leave here and stay with you forever?"
Xiao Xun thought for a moment, "In a few days. I'll take you with me when I go on campaign in a few days, okay?" In truth, he didn't want to bring Salafine, as it was the front lines, too dangerous, and he would have to divide his attention to care for her, but at the moment, this was the only temporary solution. Salafine was not afraid of the front lines, so she agreed.
After a moment of tenderness, Xiao Xun had Bai Yang take him back to the castle, but it was already past dinner time. Xiao Xun had no appetite. He arranged for the kitchen to make something for Bai Yang and then returned to his bedroom. As soon as he entered, Mu Jiahe said unapologetically, "Did you go to see your lover?" Xiao Xun scratched his head embarrassedly, "Are you jealous?"