Sunlight shone into the spacious study, casting a faint glow on the oak desk and the magic network terminal beside it. The refreshing incense slowly drifted into the air and into Byron's nostrils. The mercenary general could not help but sniff and almost sneeze.
"… The emissaries from the Dukedom of Holy Dragon will arrive at the northern border soon." Gwen sat behind the desk and casually put a document on the table. "You go and meet them."
Byron scratched his head, but halfway through, he realized that it was the "Age of the Empire". It seemed inappropriate for a general to be so casual in front of the Emperor, so he quickly put his hand down. "I understand. But I don't know anything about diplomacy."
Gwen smiled and glanced at the "mercenary general". "Aren't you always eloquent? Even Philip was persuaded by you. "
"Your Majesty, it's different. I didn't communicate with Philip because of my eloquence, but because of my adherence to justice and the Knight's creed …" Byron immediately spoke with his habitual fluency, but as he spoke, he noticed Gwen's half-smile, so he cautiously and tactfully added, "Of course, there's also the element of shamelessness …"
There were some things that couldn't be changed by wearing the Imperial General's uniform — at least, it couldn't be changed so quickly.
But Gwen did not care. On the contrary, he rather admired the various shortcomings and habits of a group of "founding ministers", including Byron.
He wasn't sure if this was due to Gawain Cecil's memories affecting him, or if it was because he could see the shadow of the founding doves of Ansu from seven hundred years ago in Byron. But there was one thing he was very sure of, and that was that when dealing with people like Byron, Amber, and Wright who had followed him for several years, it was far more comfortable and relaxed than dealing with those "professionals" who had migrated from the old king's city and did everything by the book.
So, he relaxed his posture and leaned back in his chair. He said with a smile, "Let me say something that I shouldn't say directly. Among the many skills required in diplomacy, 'shamelessness' is the main component. It's even equivalent to the role of 'eloquence'.
"Of course, in fact, you don't have to care about this, because the person who is really responsible for the negotiation is not you. You're just a general of the Empire who goes to the border to welcome the ambassador to show our sincerity and act as a face of equal status. The person who is really responsible for contacting and escorting the ambassador to the capital is Count Cromwell Baishan."
"Cromwell Baishan?" Byron recalled this somewhat familiar name. "Oh, that dwarf hybrid Lord Knight. I've seen him in Saint Sunil."
"Although he's a noble of the Captical, he's also quite familiar with the affairs of the north." Gwen nodded. "You and him go to the northern border to meet the ambassador of the Dukedom of Holy Dragon. After that, you can leave everything to him. As for you, you need to stay in the north for a while. There's a new mission for you."
"So … the mission of meeting the ambassador is actually incidental." Byron nodded in understanding. Then, with a hint of curiosity, he asked, "What's my real mission?"
"Build the North Harbor and the supporting naval base." Gwen stood up and walked slowly to the wall not far away where the map of the entire territory was hung. His eyes fell on the north of the Empire. "Prepare for the establishment of the Empire's navy and the reopening of the northern route around the continent."
"North Harbor …" Byron's eyes followed Gwen's gaze and fell on the map, gradually focusing on the coastline between the Violet Kingdom and the Dukedom of Holy Dragon outside the mountains in the north. "… The Dukedom of Holy Dragon's peninsula at the sea left a warm current for the northern continent, and there's a natural ice-free harbor outside the mountains in the north … It's indeed the most suitable starting point for reopening the northern route around the continent."
Gwen looked at Byron with some surprise and a smile appeared on his face. "Seems like you've already noticed it?"
"Your Majesty, I didn't just spend my vacation at home with my daughter." Byron smiled and spread out his hands. "You said a long time ago that we should focus on the ocean. It's just that the southern border was once surrounded by the continent and had no outlet to the sea at all. But now that the north is under our control, that precious coastline has attracted my attention for a long time."
Gwen smiled.
Obviously, he and Byron had reached a tacit understanding: the two of them had been coveting the northern coastline when they were in the southern border …
"It seems like letting you lead the fleet is the right choice." Gwen maintained his smile and said, "After the North Harbor is built, we'll have the opportunity to connect the Dukedom of Holy Dragon's peninsula at the sea, the northern border of the Empire, the Augulay tribal country, and the western coast of the Dwarf Kingdom. If the Augulay tribal country is willing to cooperate with us and set up a safe harbor at the southern seacliff of the continent, this route can even extend to the border of the Kingdom of Kaolin, including the northern, western, and southern parts of the continent. It will become a true 'route around the continent' …
"With the performance of the arcanotech mechanical ships, this is completely achievable.
"When the time comes, our fleet will also become a real 'naval fleet', and no longer just a small skirmish in the inland river … You've led the fleet for so long, so you must have felt it, right? Those mechanical ships can be used on a broader stage."
"I've felt it a long time ago. The inland river … is not very spacious for our mechanical ships," Byron immediately replied, but then he frowned. "But as far as I know, the environment in the ocean is far more complicated than that in the inland river. It's not like the inland river warships can be turned into naval warships by driving the inland river directly into the ocean. Miss Tyre also reminded me that the ships she helped us design are only suitable for relatively stable inland navigation. If we want to challenge the ocean … we still need to modify them."
"Of course, that's why this is a long-term mission. Humans have been away from the sea for too long. We need a long time to gather information about the ocean and adjust our ship design. Fortunately, Tyre is willing to continue to be our consultant, and the Wilde Family in the Northern Region has also observed the ocean to a certain extent in the past few hundred years. Their records will be of great use.
"In addition, the construction of the North Harbor is not our only 'ocean plan.' After establishing diplomatic relations with the Duchy of Holy Dragon, we will redevelop the Dragon-Calling Fjord at the border between the Eastern Region and the Duchy of Holy Dragon. When the time comes, this mission will also be handed over to you."
Gwen spoke unhurriedly. His gaze gradually fell on Byron, and there was some expectation in his eyes.
"When the time comes, you'll be the real 'Imperial Navy Commander'."
"Ah, that sounds much more impressive than 'Navy General.'" Byron's lips curled up. "I'm looking forward to that day."
…
The giant sun gradually rose into the sky, and the bright sunlight generously sprinkled down from the sky. The air was still cold, but the heat contained in the sunlight seemed to be indicating the arrival of the warm season. In the light and heat, Byron stood in the garden square in front of Cecil Palace, raised his head, and slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Imperial Navy Commander …" The mercenary Knight had a faint smile on his face. He could not help but mutter softly to himself, "It does sound pretty cool."
As he spoke, he shook his head slightly and walked unhurriedly to the magic car that was waiting for him at the edge of the square.
My vacation is over. I need to go back and say goodbye to Pea.
A sweet and clear ringtone suddenly came from nearby, interrupting Byron's thoughts.
He raised his head curiously and looked at the source of the sound, only to see Rebecca, who was wearing a winter hunting suit and riding a certain weird two-wheeled "machine" in an empty space among the flowerbeds not far away. She was wobbling toward him.
The strange 'machine' did not look like any arcanotech device he had seen before. It did not use any magical mechanism as its power source. Instead, it was simply assembled with iron wheels, frames, chains, and so on. It was powered by manual pedals. The crisp and melodious sound of a bell came from a small device hanging beside its handle.
Rebecca was fiddling with the small device enthusiastically, making it ring. Her face was full of excitement, but Byron could see that the situation was not very optimistic for the princess. She obviously could not control the two-wheeled 'car' well. Riding on it was swaying violently. Although it looked like it was riding towards the open road, it was getting more and more crooked. It looked like it was about to crash into Byron.
"Ah, Byron!" Rebecca had already noticed the person in front of her and immediately shouted, "Don't move, don't move!"
Byron thought for a moment and stood still. He then watched as Rebecca fell from the two-wheeled car when she was still a dozen meters away from him. She was sprawled on the ground, looking miserable.
But she still smiled brightly.
Soon, a bodyguard ran over and hurriedly helped the princess up from the ground. Byron also stepped forward and looked at the girl who he had watched grow up with a doting expression on his face. He smiled helplessly and said, "I thought you told me not to move because you were going to aim and crash into me. I've already activated my protective aura."
"Hey, I told you not to move, and then I'll find a way to avoid it. But it seems that the development is not what I imagined … Anyway, we didn't crash into each other in the end. Isn't that good?" Rebecca said as she rubbed her head. She then turned to look at the 'two-wheeled car' that had just been helped up by the attendants. She could not help but look a little distressed. "Oh, don't break it … There are only a few of them sent over …"
At this time, Byron had the time to observe the strange 'car'. He found that the style of this thing was very different from many of the other mechanical creations in Cecil. He could not help but be curious. "Your Highness, this thing … Did you just invent it again?"
In his opinion, as long as there was a strange new thing in Cecil City that happened to be near Rebecca, it was most likely the invention of Her Highness or her research team. The things that the former came up with accounted for half of all the new things.
Recently, due to the continuous improvement of various research facilities, more and more intellectuals were involved in the development of technology, and the proportion of Rebecca's' creations' in various new things was decreasing. But due to long-term habit, Byron still subconsciously associated it with Rebecca when he saw a new thing.
However, Rebecca shook her head. "No, this is a gift from Typhon when the merchants imported textiles from Typhon recently. I think it's called a 'two-wheeled car' …"
"Typhon?" Byron was a little surprised and could not help but look at the strange looking car again. "Hmm … No wonder the style is a little weird, but it looks very delicate. But the people of Typhon are really strange. This kind of two-wheeled car … It's not easy to control. "
"You guessed wrong. Actually, it's very convenient to learn this thing." Rebecca suddenly put her hands on her waist. "I saw it was very easy when people demonstrated it. It's convenient and fast. I fell just now because I'm not familiar with it."
Listening to Rebecca's excited chatter, Byron looked at the 'two-wheeled car' from Typhon in front of him and could not help but have a thoughtful look on his face.
The people of Typhon had a late start in magical technology, and in this almost symbolizing the new era of technology, they were indeed far behind Cecil. But they had always been very ahead in other aspects. A very clear example was the 'mechanical clock', which used to be exclusive to the nobles and the church. In the recent two years, with the 'punctuality requirements' brought about by the construction of factories and the operation of railways, it was gradually promoted to all parts of the country. It was first invented by the craftsmen of Typhon about half a century ago.
Like many technologies of the old era, it was first used in theological ceremonies to let the church determine the time of mass and call the believers to come to the church to pray by ringing the mechanical clock. Later on, it was used in the castles and manors of the nobles, but still had little to do with the daily life of the commoners.
The world's best clock craftsmen were in Oldenheim, and the world's best crystal glass technology was also in Oldenheim.
Of course, the key technology of the latter had been leaked to Cecil through some unspeakable channel. The 'floor-to-ceiling windows' that were gradually becoming popular in the southern part of Cecil was one of the 'results of the influence'.
Now, the clever people of Typhon had invented this' two-wheeled car ', and compared to the mechanical clock and crystal glass at the beginning, this thing had a very obvious difference.
It was not elegant enough, nor was it luxurious enough.
This thing seemed to be for the commoners when it was first born.
Byron frowned. He was not as good as Gwen or Heti at analyzing the changes in the situation from the information. He just instinctively thought, instinctively felt that …
The people of Typhon who had mastered the knowledge seemed to have some changes in their way of thinking.
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