After a simple test flight, Perfikot ended the first flight test of the Flying Airship, without immediately conducting further performance tests.
Although she had enough confidence in her technology, she did not plan to skip the necessary tests.
However, the visits from James and Oliver forced her to take time to meet with them, delaying the airship's tests.
The two visitors did not know each other and had no prior communication, yet coincidentally chose the same day to visit Perfikot, making her marvel at the coincidence.
James was the first to arrive; he came mainly to report to Perfikot about the assembly of the exploration team.
"Honorable Lady, as per your request, I have assembled a professional exploration team." It was the same receiving room as last time, but this time James was standing as he reported his work to Perfikot: "I hired an existing exploration team from the Empire Exploration Company and chartered one of their exploration ships for your use.
They provided professional engineers and relevant staff for this expedition. They all have quite rich work experience and form a very capable team.
Additionally, I recruited two relevant personnel; one is a history professor from the Royal Langton University. He is a famous adventurer with rich exploration experience. He is very interested in your Arctic expedition plan and wants to seize this opportunity to go to the Arctic in search of traces of ancient civilizations.
The other is a professional security personnel who previously served France in the Desert Kingdom. He is an excellent mercenary with rich combat experience and certain command capabilities, capable of providing reassuring security services for the exploration team.
However, he seems very concerned about the issue of remuneration. I have not yet reached an agreement with him on the conditions, and need you to decide whether to offer him double the market rate.
With the inclusion of these two individuals, along with the professional team from the Empire Exploration Company, I believe our exploration work will be completed smoothly, achieving your predetermined goals."
James made full use of his eloquence and, after taking good rest over the past few days and spending some time and money to groom himself, no longer exhibited the disheveled look that Perfikot always detested.
At least now, James looked somewhat like a Langton gentleman, rather than a disreputable colonial playboy.
"Predetermined goals? You haven't even figured out what I want to do, yet you're certain you can achieve my goals?" However, in the face of James's confidence, Perfikot was not too pleased.
Fortunately, she only mentioned it casually, then asked again: "What are the names of these two people? Do you have their relevant résumés? Did you do a background check? I do not wish to encounter frauds."
"The history professor from Langton University is Dr. Henry Jones. He has undergone quite thrilling adventures in the Desert Kingdom and other parts of the world, possessing rich wilderness survival experience." James introduced Dr. Jones's details to Perfikot, seemingly holding him in high regard: "Though the doctor is specialized in history, because field investigations and archaeological excavations are necessary, he sometimes had to double as security against those robbing ancient artifacts. He has developed quite decent skills. Combined with his rich adventure experience, he will undoubtedly be a major assistance to you."
"Sounds pretty credible, but a historian? Field archaeological digging... why not just call it tomb raiding, after all, everything in the Victory Museum is looted." Perfikot curled her lips in disdain and picked up the teacup in front of her to cover her slight disdain.
James naturally understood Perfikot's meaning regarding this evaluation, but even he had no good rebuttal.
After all, any Langton citizen knew that the precious collections in the Victory Museum, rather than being historical artifacts, were better described as the spoils of the Empire's robbery and plunder.
But what did such matters have to do with Perfikot? Regardless of whether Dr. Jones was impressive, or how many historical sites and artifacts he had "discovered," as long as he was as experienced as James claimed, he could assume the role of leader or deputy leader of the team, reducing Perfikot's daily responsibilities during exploration.
As for the other individual James mentioned, Perfikot was less concerned.
After all, he was merely a foreign mercenary from France, and though his combat capability was good, it did not earn Perfikot's approval.
In combat with true Extraordinary professionals, even someone like Perfikot, who lacked combat ability, represented considerable overwhelming force to ordinary people, a so-called hierarchical suppression attack.
Not to mention that in Perfikot's plan, the old butler Foster was about to be promoted to a high-level Extraordinary, capable of confronting an army in the era of cold weapons.
Moreover, what she prepared for Foster was not just a vial of concentrated life potion but a whole set of strong equipment she meticulously crafted for the old butler.
Therefore, after noting that the mercenary's name was Richard O'Connor, and that his background was clean with no suspicion of espionage, she didn't inquire further.
And after reporting all this, James chose to take his leave.
However, before he left, he received permission from Perfikot to hire these two people he recommended.
Additionally, Perfikot approved a new sum of funding for him to purchase various materials needed for the journey to the New Continent.
The amount was not large, but for James, it was akin to a reassuring stabilizer, allowing him to prepare for matters related to the exploration team with greater peace of mind.
On the other hand, Oliver, after using some connections to gather a bit of related information, decided without hesitation to firmly seize the opportunity Perfikot offered him.
Even though the information he obtained was vague, and everything was just piecemeal, without clear understanding of the events, he only knew that something significant happened in the Empire, an event he couldn't fully inquire about even after exhausting all his connections and networks!
He only knew that the Empire's high-level officials were very concerned about the project Perfikot was overseeing, and the Royal Family even gave her a special mission with full authority, allowing her to mobilize all resources under the Royal Family's name.
If it were typical people of the Empire, it might be difficult to understand what mobilizing all resources under the Royal Family's name meant, but for a businessman like Oliver, he clearly understood what this truly signified!