Perfikot could not know the discussion between Duke Gloster and James, although she could deduce that James must have understood her words and conveyed the information to Duke Gloster as she had anticipated.
However, she was unaware of what response Duke Gloster would give and how it might impact her subsequent plans.
Perfikot did not want to dwell on this matter; according to her calculations, the annual average temperature in Langton would drop below freezing within three years. Her preparation time was already very tight, and reminding Duke Gloster was the limit of what she could do.
Unless Duke Gloster could offer her a sufficiently compelling condition, Perfikot would not consider listing the crisis response committee's matters as part of her priorities.
Her position did not allow her to concern herself with governance; her time and energy only permitted her to focus on accomplishing a singular task.
Though the calculations suggested that three years was the ultimate deadline, Perfikot could not possibly finish building the shelter at the last moment.
Reality is not a game; the reduction in temperature wasn't as directly as decreasing by ten degrees at seven o'clock every morning but was a continuous decrease in a linear fashion.
For the past decade, the environmental temperature of this planet had been decreasing constantly.
Three years was merely the time when it would drop below freezing; in fact, after the second year, it would become almost impossible to continue construction.
Therefore, time was truly pressing for Perfikot.
In the upcoming months, she must complete the construction of the Flying Airship within a year, so that she could set off for the New Continent before the earth completely froze, and there, build a shelter enough to withstand the harsh cold before the ground froze.
Now, according to plan, she had long left her laboratory, bringing along the partially completed designs for the Flying Airship to Puse City, home of the Imperial Royal Navy's main harbor.
This was one of the most important ports for the Royal Navy, because the Imperial Royal Shipyard, a large shipyard with over two hundred years of history, was located here.
And this was precisely Perfikot's destination; the large parts needed for constructing the Flying Airship could only be manufactured at the Royal Shipyard.
"Hello, young lady, welcome to Puse Royal Navy Shipyard!" A young and enthusiastically vibrant salesperson greeted Perfikot and her loyal old butler, wearing a bright smile that was welcoming without seeming overly enthusiastic: "Please forgive my impudence, it's rare to see a noble young lady as beautiful as you visit the Royal Shipyard. Might I inquire what business you need to handle?"
The Royal Shipyard handles various shipbuilding businesses, regardless of your needs, the Royal Shipyard will wholeheartedly serve you."
While inquiring, the salesperson's gaze fell on the leather cylinder used to store designs that Perfikot carried with her.
It was something very familiar to the salesperson at the Royal Shipyard, as he encountered similar items nearly every day.
Thus, this salesperson boldly speculated that the young lady in front of him was undoubtedly here for business, which filled his heart with excitement, as if seeing his commission on the rise.
For nobles, the salesperson's inquiry might seem somewhat presumptuous and impolite, but Perfikot did not mind these things, simply saying: "I need to custom order some large ship parts, but the requirements are quite special. I need to confirm whether the Royal Shipyard can meet my needs."
Upon hearing Perfikot say this, the salesperson's face showed a proud expression, standing straighter with confidence, "You can rest assured! As the oldest and largest shipyard in the Empire, the Royal Shipyard has the most professional engineers and alchemists. We can produce and manufacture any parts you need! So long as they're used on ships."
"Oh? What if I say what I want is a ship that flies?" Perfikot chuckled, then gestured for Foster to open the designs she had brought and laid them out on the coffee table before her.
While the salesperson looked at the designs with amazement and confusion, Perfikot lifted the cup of tea he poured for her and took a sip, saying: "I suggest you call an engineer and alchemist with at least the 'Technician' title to take a look; I'm not sure if you can understand my designs."
Perfikot's words caused some embarrassment for the salesperson, but after unsuccessfully attempting to understand the designs, merely judging that this wasn't a joke, he awkwardly excused Perfikot to wait, then rushed out of the reception hall to find engineers and alchemists from the shipyard to authenticate the designs.
It must be said, the Royal Shipyard indeed lived up to being the largest shipyard in the Victor Empire; soon, two individuals with the title of "Combined" engineer and alchemist appeared before Perfikot, browsing her designs.
Seeing these two holders of the "Combined" title, a level higher than the "Technician" title she requested, Perfikot suddenly reached into her handbag and pulled out three badges. In their surprised expressions, she pinned them to her collar.
There were two badges representing the higher-level "Royal Charter" professional titles: "Royal Charter Engineer" and "Royal Charter Alchemist," and the other badge was the "Imperial Engineers Association Honorary Member" badge.
In the Victor Empire, professions like engineers and alchemists were divided into different ranks based on business expertise, ranging from apprentice, practitioner, technician, combined, to chartered.
Practitioner level is required to work in related industries. A technician is already the technical director of a small general factory, while the combined level can serve as a technical supervisor in places like the Royal Shipyard, responsible for the entire construction of a large vessel.
The chartered badge requires issuance from the corresponding royal association, representing the highest professional title in the entire empire.
"Are you Miss Brandelis? I have read your articles published in 'Engineer Weekly'!" The engineer, after seeing the badges on Perfikot's collar and confirming they were not fake, quickly recognized her, showing an excited expression: "Is this your design? It's simply perfect like a piece of art!"
This engineer was evidently excited to meet an idol, and for Perfikot, this was the first time encountering such a situation.
After all, typically the first reaction of others was suspicion, thinking she had stolen the badges from her elders; encountering someone acting like an enthusiastic fan was a first for her.