"If only I worked for the Ship Bureau, that would be amazing."
In the crowd gathered at Liyue Harbor, someone watched the boarding experts with envy. "If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have gone into business. I would have learned shipbuilding."
"Do you think you have the brain for shipbuilding?"
The person next to him rolled their eyes. "They're going on the Steam Battleship for research—to improve Liyue's naval technology, not just for a tour. You just want to go up out of curiosity. It's completely different."
"Exactly. Now that the Ship Bureau experts are aboard, once they understand the technology, our ocean-going vessels will surely evolve into ocean-going warships!"
"Yeah! Liyue's fleet will dominate the entire ocean. I can't wait!"
"Just thinking about it gets me excited."
...
Liyue's citizens cheered as they watched their experts board the ship.
They envisioned a future where the Ship Bureau produced ships superior to anything else on the seas. Liyue's fleet would be the uncrowned kings of the ocean!
A better Liyue meant pride for every citizen.
"If the Ship Bureau needs funding for research, I'm willing to invest," a Liyue merchant declared, clenching his fist. "For the sake of Liyue's commerce, I'd gladly give half my fortune to fund their work."
"Hehe, no need for that. Your sentiment is enough. Don't forget, Lady Ningguang stands above us. She will undoubtedly allocate the necessary funds."
"True. Lady Ningguang thinks further ahead than any of us. Just watch."
"I just wonder when the Ship Bureau will be able to mass-produce these advanced ships."
...
While the crowd speculated, the Ship Bureau experts followed Huixing into the Steam Battleship.
The moment they stepped inside, they were floored by the luxury.
Is this really a ship?
Even the finest restaurants in Liyue weren't this well-appointed.
The sleeping quarters were luxurious beyond belief. It felt more like a holiday resort than a vessel for sailors.
On a normal ship, comfort was nonexistent. You were lucky to have a small, simple bunk.
But here? Every cabin was beautifully decorated and spacious. It was sheer luxury.
"These are the crew quarters. Up ahead is the mess hall, and the control room is in the center," Huixing explained with a smile as she led the way. "As you can see, when designing future ships, you should reference this layout. If the crew sleeps well and is comfortable, their morale and efficiency improve."
Huixing knew the reality of life at sea. Sailors usually slept crammed together on the floor or in hammocks. Even The Alcor, which had individual rooms, couldn't compare to this.
She used to think The Alcor was the peak of comfort.
Now, after seeing the Steam Battleship, she realized The Alcor's quarters were basically dog kennels.
"Mhm, mhm."
The head of the Ship Bureau nodded like a pecking chicken.
Behind him, his team sketched layouts and took furious notes.
This was valuable data.
Seeing their diligence, Huixing smiled brightly.
They moved to the mess hall, inspected the modern kitchen, and finally arrived at the control room.
"Hiss!"
Seeing the array of high-tech buttons, screens, and levers—things they had never seen before—the experts gasped in unison.
They felt like country bumpkins entering the big city for the first time. They didn't recognize anything, but they could feel how advanced it was.
"Incredible... there are so many strange devices. Can one person even operate all this?"
"This truly transcends the concept of a 'boat'. It's a 'battleship'."
"Now I understand the meaning of a fleet."
"Miss Huixing, what does this do? How do you read this? How do you operate that?"
"And this! It's so convenient! Just a light push! The construction is so precise. Even with this blueprint, I doubt Liyue could build an exact replica."
...
The experts chattered excitedly, sketching and asking questions.
"We must study hard and record everything we see today," the Bureau Chief said seriously. "We need to research ships that are superior to our current ones. We might not match the Steam Battleship, but we must upgrade Liyue's fleet to a higher tier."
"Don't worry, Boss. We know what to do."
The experts nodded earnestly.
"Miss Huixing, may I ask about the propulsion principle of this steam ship?"
The Bureau Chief turned to Huixing. "And how does it achieve buoyancy with a steel hull? Where is the steam engine located?"
He needed to understand the core mechanics, not just the control layout.
"Eh?!"
Huixing's face fell. "I... I don't know that. You should ask the Captain. I don't know everything."
She had only read the operation manual. She knew which button did what. She didn't know the physics behind it or how to build the engine.
She immediately passed the buck to Beidou.
"Uh."
The Bureau Chief paused. She didn't know?
That was a problem.
They needed to understand the design principles, not just how to steer.
"Wait, Boss!"
One expert suddenly spoke up. "Doesn't Zhang Xuepeng come from the Fontaine Ship Bureau? We could ask him to come take a look. Maybe he can identify these systems."
"Right! Zhang Xuepeng is from Fontaine! He's always bragging about their steam ships. We haven't seen them, but this is a steam battleship. Maybe the technology is similar?"
"He might understand the principles. It could give us a reference point."
"Exactly."
The group remembered Zhang Xuepeng, a shipwright from Fontaine who had ended up in Liyue by chance and stayed.
He often talked about advanced shipbuilding, and they had always looked up to his knowledge.
Compared to him, they felt their knowledge was limited.
Now that a Steam Battleship was here, surely the expert from the nation of Hydro and machines would understand it?
"Good idea!"
The Bureau Chief's eyes lit up. He immediately ordered someone to fetch Zhang Xuepeng.
"Eh?"
Huixing blinked. "You have someone from Fontaine's Ship Bureau working here?"
"Yes. He settled in Liyue after some travels. He knows a lot about ships," the Chief explained. "He says Fontaine uses steam ships, so he should understand the principles."
"I see." Huixing nodded.
While they waited, the experts continued to document the control room, asking Huixing about the functions she did know.
Time passed.
The Bureau Chief waited at the entrance of the bridge.
"Boss! Zhang Xuepeng is here!"
A shout announced the arrival of a Liyue Ship Bureau staff member leading a stout man wearing a somewhat comical hat.
"Xuepeng!"
The Chief greeted him warmly. "Come quick! Take a look at this Steam Battleship. Some of the crew don't understand the steam principles, so we need you to explain them."
"Uh."
The Chief stopped mid-sentence.
Zhang Xuepeng looked... frozen.
The shipwright from Fontaine stood before the Steam Battleship, his eyes bulging like copper bells, a look of utter shock plastered on his face.
What is this thing?
A ship made of steel? So luxurious?
This wasn't a steam ship!
Fontaine's steam ships didn't look like this!
This thing looked far more advanced than anything in Fontaine!
Zhang Xuepeng was stunned, staring blankly at the vessel, his mind completely blank.
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