Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 63: The Rescue Begins

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Rescue Begins

After everything was ready, Perfikot also boarded the Morgan. She stood at the bow of the ship, watching the ice surface below as O’Connor and the others completed the final checks and were withdrawing.

Although they needed those skilled in explosives to lay the charges and fuses, the actual detonation was entrusted to Perfikot’s Alchemy Puppet to execute.

After all, this was an explosive operation on ice, and if a problem were to occur and someone fell into the water, they’d freeze into an ice sculpture immediately.

For the sake of safety, it’s more secure for the puppet to execute the final detonation, and because the puppet is more efficient and accurate, minimizing error or deviation.

Despite the rescue plan being almost conceived by Perfikot on the spot, without actual tests or verification for any of the steps and processes, even the alchemical solution used to melt the ice was concocted by her at the last minute.

But for Perfikot, she remained confident, full of trust in her own plan.

This is the self-assurance of a top alchemy master in herself, and confidence in her own creations.

"Miss, everything is ready, the boiler of the Morgan is already pressurized, just awaiting your command to execute the plan." The old butler Foster appeared beside Perfikot with a flintlock rifle, reporting the situation to her.

Perfikot nodded, seeing everything was in place, she reached out to hold the railing on the ship’s edge and nodded to the old butler: "Then let’s begin!"

Hearing Perfikot’s command, the old butler raised the flintlock rifle in his hand and pulled the trigger towards the sky.

However, no bullet was fired, causing the old butler to sweat nervously on his forehead.

Seeing Perfikot frown at this sight, she disliked such unexpected mishaps and sounded stern: "What’s going on?"

"The hammer has frozen, this flintlock wasn’t designed for use in such cold environments," the old butler hastily explained, then knocked the ice off the gun, successfully triggering the ammunition in the chamber, issuing a loud gunshot.

With the sound of the gunshot, O’Connor and others in the distance also launched the agreed-upon red signal flare.

Seeing the signal flare rise, the captain of the Morgan immediately ordered full-speed ahead. The boiler, already instructed to burn at maximum pressure, instantly transferred the surging power to the propulsion system, driving the propeller beneath the ship to spin.

Meanwhile, an Alchemy Puppet activated the alchemical solution buried around the Morgan’s hull as arranged.

Upon activation, these solutions were released almost instantaneously, covering the ice surface around the Morgan in the blink of an eye, emitting a large amount of heat to rapidly melt the ice.

A billow of white steam rose, enveloping the hull of the Morgan.

But this didn’t affect the captain who had been briefed by Perfikot; he steered the Morgan personally, controlling it to advance at full speed forward.

However, the path ahead was still blocked by frozen ice; if they couldn’t break the ice in time, the Morgan couldn’t escape, and a full-speed collision with the ice layer might rupture the hull or even sink the ship.

But at that moment, the captain displayed great courage and trust in Perfikot. Even with no route visible ahead, he let the Morgan charge forward without hesitation.

He believed Perfikot wouldn’t gamble with the lives of hundreds on board, especially since she was on the ship herself.

Perfikot evidently did not betray the captain’s trust; after the Morgan moved, the first detonation point ahead exploded precisely as calculated by Perfikot.

While blowing open the ice surface, it allowed the Morgan to enter the blasted area before the ice could refreeze.

"Looks like my calculations were accurate; next time I could leave a little more buffer." Standing at the bow, Perfikot held onto the railing with one hand and checked her pocket watch for time with the other.

Feeling the vibrations from the ship beneath her, a satisfied smile appeared on Perfikot’s face.

"I don’t recommend you engage in such dangerous tasks again, Miss." The old butler, eyes filled with worry, cautioned Perfikot.

Back at Brandelis Manor it was fine; though Perfikot loved researching various things, overall it wasn’t dangerous, and she’s not the type to fiddle with perilous objects.

The butler only needed to manage the manor, aside from safeguarding Perfikot’s personal safety.

But this time, stepping away from Brandelis Manor, despite having escorts like a queen’s entourage, the old butler remained worried all along, fearing for her safety.

First the Imperial Guard Knight had issues, then the floating ice on the northern route, and now personally rescuing a trapped ship; Perfikot had engaged in too many perilous behaviors in Foster’s eyes.

This made the loyal old butler compelled to advise his mistress to avoid such adventures.

Yet facing the butler’s counsel, Perfikot simply smiled slightly and said, "Grandpa Fu, don’t worry, I have calculated the safety factors for these matters; I won’t be harmed.

Moreover, at this moment, some dangers must be faced, especially since the world is about to perish. If preparations aren’t made before disaster strikes, then all so-called safety would become meaningless.

Hence, some risks must be taken when necessary; at the very least, I can’t and won’t just stay in so-called safe places. Some things I must do myself."

"I don’t intend to stop you, Miss, but as your butler, I must fulfill my duties to ensure your safety," the old butler said.

Despite feeling uneasy about Perfikot, he couldn’t stop her.

For he understood that what Perfikot was doing, though appearing dangerous to him, was indeed necessary.

"Hmm? What happened, the last detonation point didn’t explode?" Perfikot suddenly looked down at her pocket watch, noticing the hands had reached the scheduled time, but the last detonation point ahead had not detonated.

During their conversation, the predetermined detonation points had all erupted following the planned sequence, allowing the Morgan to burst through along the blasted ice surface.

But just as the Morgan was on the brink of escape, the last detonation point failed to explode; the detonator seemed to malfunction.

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