Meanwhile, high in the distant sky, a battleship hovers among the clouds, resembling a graceful swim through a sea of clouds, continuously undulating.
Inside the main bridge of the battleship, the mastermind of the rebellion sits at the central captain's seat, his upper body exposed, receiving bandages.
"Please be careful not to disturb the wound," Glendan cautioned as he bandaged Edmund's upper body, observing the blood seeping through the bandages with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness's injuries are more severe than anticipated. Rough bandaging alone won't provide effective treatment. The army has been annihilated, and there's no one here capable of using healing magic. If not careful, the injuries might worsen. Please take care."
Glendan advised Edmund with concern, while Sylphid, standing expressionless, accompanied him.
However, Edmund seemed indifferent to Glendan's advice. "Consider this a necessary expense before ascending the throne and standing at the pinnacle of the world."
Edmund disregarded his injuries, and even though the bandages on his upper body continued to soak with fresh blood, he displayed no signs of pain. Instead, he corrected Glendan, "I'm not Your Highness; I am Your Majesty."
This correction indicated that Edmund already considered the throne of England as his own possession.
Given the current circumstances, it wasn't entirely unwarranted arrogance.
"Open your eyes, Daedalus."
Edmund commanded on the bridge.
"Zing!"
Instantly, within the bridge, the walls and ceiling became transparent, reflecting the scenery outside the ship.
"Is this magic?" Glendan was puzzled but then shook his head. "No, this should be the perceptual ability generated by Eve's Heart within Daedalus. Am I correct?"
Glendan asserted this with confidence, earning Edmund's approval.
"Exactly. What we see before us is not a magic display by Daedalus; it's Daedalus projecting the images it perceives onto the interior of the bridge. Though it requires extremely precise mana control, it doesn't qualify as magic."
Edmund acknowledged this.
This was also one of the miraculous aspects of Eve's Heart.
Although its primary function was to imbue automata with life and souls, this circuit had high autonomy. It not only granted automata intelligence but, when crafted by a skilled puppet craftsman, could reproduce life-like features such as breathing, sweating, and even digesting food—traits characteristic of living beings.
Naturally, it could also manifest various effects like intellect, physical strength, and senses. As long as it was something a living organism could do, with the skill of a puppet craftsman, it could likely be reproduced in an automaton.
The "Setsugetsuka" series of automatons are constructed almost identically to humans, possessing nearly all the vital signs that human girls have, except for physiological phenomena like reproduction. Therefore, Yaya, Irori, and Komurasaki, like human girls, need to consume food.
Similarly, the "Gram" series of Banned Dolls follows the same principle. For instance, Sigmund can inflate and grow larger, as well as fly with wings, mimicking the characteristics of the legendary dragon. This is due to the creator using "Eve's Heart" to imitate the features of dragons.
What Daedalus is currently presenting is just that—projecting the images it sees onto the bridge, not the result of magic.
Thus, both Edmund and Glendan see the scene outside the ship.
Firstly, they see Eva standing at the forefront of the deck.
Eva is singing towards the endless sky, causing the song to continuously expand, enveloping the entire Machinart City.
Under the influence of the song, within the Machinart City, automata are actively engaging in various activities.
Police-type automatons patrol the streets.
Military-type automatons stand in neat formations.
Various other types of automatons are also assigned to different corners of Machinart City, effectively sealing off the entire city.
These automatons operate autonomously, and if they encounter humans, they might even attack, creating chaos and panic throughout Machinart City.
Edmund observes this scene with a rebellious smile.
"With me alone providing mana, Eva can use the effect of 'Infinite Chain Reaction' to spread 'Multi-Controller' to the entire Machinart City. I effortlessly gain a Machinart legion with the power equivalent to that of a country. It's truly marvelous."
This is the terror of combining "Multi-Controller" with the "Infinite Chain Reaction."
"All the automatons within the affected area become my pawns."
"Even the automatons outside the affected area dare not attack recklessly, as they will be brought under my control the moment they step into the city."
"To deal with me, they can only send a pure human army. But even armed, ordinary humans are no match for a Machinart legion capable of using countless types of magic."
"In this situation, the Empire is no match for me. The throne can only obediently be relinquished. Then, I'll use England as a springboard to conquer the world."
"It's going so smoothly."
Edmund sits in the captain's seat, smiling. Although not arrogant or ecstatic, his eyes reveal boundless ambition.
"It's time for the incompetent old man to recognize reality and gracefully step down from the throne, don't you think?"
Edmund speaks in a contemptuous manner.
"Be cautious, Your Majesty," Glendan warns with a serious expression.
"Even if the prestigious Machinart Corps of the Empire is rendered useless, the country still has a fleet. If they launch artillery attacks from outside the range of 'Multi-Controller,' Your Majesty will be in danger."
Glendan expresses concern about this.
"But as long as it's within Daedalus, there won't be any danger," Edmund declared.
This statement triggered a memory for Glendan. "Speaking of which, the attacks from that highly skilled young man seemed to be largely nullified upon reaching Daedalus."
Glendan, recalling the distorted and swaying space around Daedalus, had a moment of realization. "Could this be Daedalus's magical circuit?"
Indeed, this is Daedalus's magical circuit.
"---Force Dimension."
Edmund revealed this.
"It's magic that can freely distort the surrounding space, the power that Daedalus takes pride in."
By distorting the surrounding space, external interference cannot reach Daedalus at all, and no one can get close to Daedalus. Even spatial teleportation cannot breach its defenses.
The reason Edmund immediately headed for Daedalus and appeared in its square upon entering the Machinart City is precisely due to this.
"As long as we're here, it's absolute safety. I just need to sit back and enjoy the rewards."
Edmund proudly declared, reassuring Glendan completely.
With this, the Machinart City is entirely in their hands, using the people here as hostages. The throne is just a matter of time before it becomes their possession.
(The Majesty's character is arrogant and proud, yet he plans so meticulously. Perhaps he can truly conquer the world.)
Glendan thought this way, finally making up his mind.
(I will follow him.)
This is Glendan's decision.
"Come, acknowledge my qualifications, recognize me as the king."
Edmund gazed at the entire Machinart City, smiling proudly.
Just then,
"Hmm?"
Glendan, with sharp eyes, noticed something unusual, his expression condensed as he pointed in a direction.
"Your Majesty, please look over there."
At Glendan's words, Edmund subconsciously looked, and soon he noticed it too.
On top of a clock tower at the highest point of the Machinart City, a three-legged crow descended from the sky, landing on the tower's peak and transforming into a group of people.
"Is it him?"
Edmund's eyes lit up, not surprised but rather delighted, revealing a smile.