Rising god-Chapter 119: Lone Warehouse

Baines had already pieced together that Shuphern was entangled with an organization, likely tasked with constructing a ship of immense power. Whether Shuphern aimed to pull Baines into their fold remained unclear.

However, Baines had a thought. ’They must have made some progress, right?’ At least a foundation to build from. While awaiting word from the Orion Assembly, he decided to probe how far Shuphern’s group had advanced.

"Can I see your progress?" Baines asked, keeping his tone casual.

Shuphern blinked in confusion. "What?"

"I got a message about sourcing some materials you might need," Baines lied smoothly, watching Shuphern’s reaction. "But I’d like to see how far you’ve gotten, to avoid double spending."

’Already?’ Shuphern’s eyes flickered with surprise, then narrowed as he sank into thought. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, let’s go." He stood, brushing dust from his cloak, and gestured for Baines to follow.

"Now?" Baines raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Shuphern said, his fist clenching with resolve. "I need every hand I can get to meet my goals as soon as possible."

With that, he led the way from the dorm, through the winding corridors of the Moon Tower, to the academy’s gates. The academy was located between the two territories, with the Moon Tower bordering the Lunar Dominion, and the Sun Branch touching the Solaris Empire. After presenting permits and verifications—etched scrolls pulsing with mana—they passed into the Lunar Dominion.

"Follow me," Shuphern said, his voice clipped as he veered from the academy’s paved road onto an off-path winding through dense forests.

The air grew thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, the canopy above filtering sunlight into dappled patterns. They stopped at a clearing, and Shuphern rubbed a ring on his finger. Mana flared, a soft hum resonating, and a sleek, white, two-passenger flying vessel materialized.

Baines stared calmly. Well, after seeing the future, nothing here really seemed enticing anymore.

Shuphern grinned, though his eyes remained guarded. "I know what you’re thinking, but no, these aren’t common. There are a few, sure, but given my origins, crafting a small vessel like this isn’t so hard, right?" He gestured for Baines to climb aboard.

Baines nodded. The sky destroyer blueprint alone is inspiration enough. A part of him wondered if the Weltons were tied to some divine power, or were they similar to his Baek family, who were skilled in trade.

The vessel’s interior was surprisingly comfortable, its seats cushioned with a strange, yielding material. As the transparent glass canopy sealed them in, Baines could see the forest through its crystal-clear surface, as if no barrier existed.

"Shadow," Shuphern said, patting the console. "That’s what I call her. I used steel for its body, designed some defensive runes, and an invisibility rune." As he activated the vessel, it hummed softly, lifting off the ground. He explained its construction: rune-etched circuits, a mana core siphoned from rare crystals, and a propulsion system that mimicked wind magic but ran on something mechanical, almost alive.

The vessel shimmered, its form fading into a faint ripple as the invisibility rune engaged.

They streaked across the sky, the world below blurring into patches of green and gray. Shuphern glanced out, a wistful smile crossing his face. "The view never gets old." Villages and small cities dotted the landscape, their spires glinting under the Lunar Dominion’s pale light. Lunar dominion wasn’t so much different than Solaris except for their structure system, size, large influx of mages instead of warriors, and their structures flowing with organic curves and glowing runes.

"We’re in Miol kingdom now," Shuphern said, breaking the silence. "A small kingdom ruled by a warrior family. Though they are nothing special, their proximity to the academy makes them useful in a pinch."

Baines barely listened, his mind elsewhere, sifting through Shuphern’s words for hidden meanings.

Hours passed, the vessel’s hum a steady companion, until Shuphern’s voice snapped him alert. "We’ve arrived."

Baines scanned the surroundings. A lone warehouse loomed in a desolate clearing, its iron walls weathered but imposing, surrounded by an empty forest. Even after spreading his senses, maybe except for the few moving shadows he discovered with his sixth sense.

’He doesn’t think I can see them,’ Baines reasoned. No, no one would believe he could even see the hidden figures around. It didn’t make sense for someone his age to have that ability.

One shouldn’t forget he died over two hundred times to achieve this.

The warehouse was massive, large enough to hold the scale of operation such as the Sky Destroyer. Its metal doors groaned, requiring multiple verifications, runes scanned, passwords whispered, and a pulse of mana from Shuphern’s ring. The doors parted with a shudder, revealing a cavernous interior lit by flickering orbs.

"Welcome to my secret laboratory," Shuphern said with a smile.

Inside, workers bustled, their movements precise yet hushed.

They entered, only to find workers moving about the place, holding devices and reports, speaking in hushed tones, as if secrets clung to every word. At the center, a massive opening gaped, a partially constructed frame rising from it, a skeletal structure of steel and runes, pulsing faintly with mana.

’Is that it?’ Baines wondered, his eyes tracing the curves of what could only be the sky destroyer’s foundation.

Two figures approached Shuphern and stood behind him like guards, without saying anything.

Baines stared and activated a technique from the Eternal Echo, a subtle spell that let him eavesdrop on their whispered exchange without detection.

"Welton, what’s the meaning of this?" one demanded, voice sharp.

"Team leader, I’m sorry," Shuphern replied, his smile unwavering as he glanced at the warehouse. "I thought he could join our cause."

"You know the consequences," the team leader hissed. "Explain yourself."

Shuphern nodded, turning to Baines. "Come on, you’ve seen enough of the warehouse." He began walking, the team leader trailing him, the second figure shadowing Baines.

As they moved, Shuphern spoke casually. "Sorry for the crowd. This is my crew. As you can see, we’re in the middle of nowhere, but it’s safe." But he also addressed the team leader.

"I set some traps for my new roommate’s belongings," Shuphern whispered to the leader. "Among them, I found a one-sun star."

"One sun?" the leader echoed, startled.

"Yes. And piecing everything together, only one person recently earned that rank and was sent to the academy."

"I heard he was dead!" the leader said, regaining composure and asked. "And what of it? He works for the empire."

"He’s not. All he wants is revenge, and he needs authority and fame for it."

The leader fell silent, piecing it together. Baines, he realized, needed a ship for his vengeance. "What have you told him?"

"Nothing," Shuphern said. "He’s here because he has some connections that can get the materials we need."

"Hmm..." The leader’s eyes narrowed. "We have to tread carefully. We can’t rule out the chances that he works for the empire. But in the meantime, I’ll report this to him."

At the mention of "him," Shuphern’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear breaking his facade. They reached the central opening, the skeletal frame of the sky destroyer looming above, its runes glowing faintly, promising devastation.

"This is it," Shuphern said, turning to Baines with a forced grin.

Baines nodded, his face impassive. ’So, I was correct,’

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