A day passed since the end of Saint Louis and Gascogne's battle.
Ironblood dispatched a wolf pack of U-boats, U-81, U-96, and U-101 to search for the remains of both Kansens. Following the position that Gascogne left in her last report, they soon found the bodies of both PR ships.
Saint Louis and Gascogne are both PR ships that consist of technologies beyond modern science. While losing Gascogne certainly hurts the combat power of Vichya Dominion and Ironblood, finding their remains allows the engineer Manjuus at Ironblood to fix them.
Prinz Eugen comes to the port to check the collected result.
"Prinz Eugen, Guten tag," greeted by U-81.
Prinz Eugen replied, "Guten tag, wolf, how are the condition of these two Kansens?"
"Regarding that, I believe you should see them with your eyes."
Did something happen to those two? Prinz Eugen goes to the storage room where both PR Kansens have been carefully placed in freezing capsules.
Both of them have their eyes closed. Even in the freezing wind in the capsule, they do not show any sign of reaction.
Prinz Eugen finds an engineer manjuu and asks, "What happened to them?"
The engineer Manjuu gives Prinz Eugen an inspection report.
The two PR Kansens have multiple visible wounds, bruises, and cuts all over their bodies. Some deep wounds, well, let's just say they can certainly cause disturbances to public eyes.
These Kansens's body temperature had fallen to a critical level. No matter how many nurses Manjuus applied external heat and adjusted air conditioning to them, their body temperature did not rise at all.
Based on these conditions, the engineering department requests permission to use full-body scans and X-rays.
Prinz Eugen is not familiar with the knowledge of the medical field. However, based on Manjuus' reports, she feels as if they passed away like humans, something that functions differently for Kansens. As long as Kansens have their wisdom cubes intact, they can always resume full function within a certain period.
"Wisdom Cubes?" Prinz Eugen noticed something critical.
She calls engineer Manjuus to examine measuring a Kansen's energy circulation. Similar to humans' blood flows, Kansens' energy circulates from their Wisdom Cubes, a trip to the full-body, and then return to the same cube.
When an engineer Manjuu pushes the start button to initiate the testing process, a red alert sign shows on the screen: No energy detected.
"Impossible, both Kansens do not have any energy within them?" Prinz Eugen believes her speculation is right: Something happened to their Wisdom Cubes. Either the cubes malfunction because of certain causes or the cubes themselves are missing.
She orders a Wisdom Cube examination to finalize her speculation. The engineer Manjuus carries both PR Kansens to a large maintenance room. They sealed the door and lit the red signal "Operating."
After 30 minutes of examination, the engineer Manjuus who operated in the room delivers a report that both PR Kansen's cubes are missing. They did not have any wounds or signs on their bodies around the Wisdom Cubes, which means the extraction of the cube did not go forcefully.
Either they willingly ejected their cubes or whoever extracted their cubes knew the subtle or harmless way to do so.
Prinz Eugen has many questions to consider, study, and investigate. Revising her report took a week to finish.
After finishing checking the progress of engineer Manjuus, Prinz Eugen reports to the newly appointed leader of Ironblood after Bismarck, Friedrich der Große (FDG for short).
When Bismarck brought the records of their operations against the Royal Navy back to the HQ, those records generated enough experience to construct FDG.
When Ironblood successfully manifested FDG, the Bundestag ordered Ironblood to put the second-generation pseudo-stone onto her. As the theory of the new pseudo-stone suggested, her development level has instantly raised to level 25.
The previous generation completely prevents all thinking capacity. With the second generation, the wearers can perform an extent of logical, calculated, and predicted solutions based on the collected information.
As a result, FDG became the Kansen who prioritize the benefit of Ironblood over everything else, regardless of the cost. A truly fitting theme for Ironblood.
"Führerin, here is the report of the two PR Kansens' status," said Prinz Eugen.
"Reports received, you may go," replied FDG.
Prinz Eugen left the command room.
Technically there is a human commander of Ironblood, but he rarely shows up in Ironblood. Some even doubt if he even exists. Therefore, the command room has been FDG's seat since she became the new leader.
This room has been heavily remodeled to incorporate the Siren technology Ironblood obtained, analyzed, and replicated. Her desk does not have any pen or paper, but several screen-showing devices.
Right now, she watches the list of priority tasks:
Saint Louis who reached the threat level SS: Requires investigation on her remains. Their Wisdom Cubes' locations are unknown. Temporarily considered as partially resolved.
Disappeared Iris Libre: Low threat level calculated but they may rise again if left enough time. Will conduct an extended search.
War with Northern Parliament: Ironblood fleets have superior strength in most aspects but the extreme weather and storm have been obstructing their engagement with enemy fleets. Counter-weather measures are required to make further progress. Currently ordered them to establish sea fortresses to include research facilities to collect the data on the weather.
Sirens: No visible information regarding them. Past reports suggested they often appeared near the activities of the Royal Navy. No action is needed for now.
FDG slid up the screens to close them, but she left only one screen active: the information of the Royal Navy, the highest threat, in terms of a nation, to Ironblood.
The latest information highlighted the Royal Navy sent most of its main forces to support Eagle Union. Therefore, some suggested that Ironblood should attack the Royal Navy which has only a partial main force.
However, after repeated complex calculations, FDG determined that establishing a fortified control of the western continent takes a higher priority. While the movement of the Royal Navy remains important, they cannot do anything for Europe once Ironblood fully controls the nearby ocean.
Someone knocks on the door.
"Come in," said FDG.
Z23 quickly opens the door, "Führerin, we received an emergency transmission. The aircrafts of the Royal Navy are bombarding Hamburg."
If the Royal Navy takes Hamburg, then attacking Berlin would be easily possible.
"Recall the fleets in Vichya Dominion. Deploy all available Kansens and form the anti-air formation."
"Understood," said Z23
As Z23 bows and is about to make her leave to deliver the orders, "halt," said FDG
FDG looks at Z23 for a few moments.
Z23 feels nervous as if she did something wrong but she did not notice, "Um… are there additional orders?"
"Change of plan, I need you to lead a destroyer team and a wolf pack to a different location. Your 'instructor' will be waiting for you over there," said FDG.
Z23 does not fully understand why FDG divides a small part of personnel, but she follows the order regardless.