841 Dragon Island Part 2 (2/2)
”Where is this Dragon Island? How big is it?”
”Twelve-thousand miles away from the Peninsular of Blue Mountain. Ten-thousand and six-hundred miles long, four-thousand miles wide. The island is filled with mountain ranges, which are habitable for humans, about one-third of it by the way,” Tam'enm answered in a precise manner.
”Is that where the ruins of the first dynasty lay?”
”Yes, the grand duke had been managing Dragon Island for four generations, and nurturing personal mages on the island. His true capabilities are well beyond what the royal family is able to control.”
”Tell me, Tam'enm. Who is in control of this Ancient warship?”, the water puppet jumped about with its questions. Tam'enm was unable to lie even if they wanted to.
”That would be Master Symoraikar, a grade-9 sorcerer.”
”How many grade-9 sorcerers are there on this warship?”
”Just him.”
”Fine then,” the water puppet smiled. The grade-9 sorcerer that it wiped out was the commander of the ship, and the only grade-9 sorcerer on the ship.
That was hardly surprising, as there were eight grade-9 ancient warriors under control on the warship. That meant there were nine grade-9 professionals holding the place down. If they had not encountered Nailisi, the damage potential of the ancient warriors would have surpassed that of a grade-9 sorcerer. Their defense capabilities were also terrifying. Even with grade-9 spells blasting about, only a few pieces of the plates on the tainted blood armor were damaged.
”Tam'enm, do you intend to surrender to us, or prove your loyalty to Grand Duke Iron Blood?”
”Sir, I have just advanced into the rank of sorcerers. I have not signed contracts with the grand duke. I can surrender!”, Tam'enm pounded their chest saying so, as if they were doing something righteous and noble.
”Cloudflow people…” Saleen was exasperated, thinking what use he could have had for Tam'enm if he took the fellow in. If he had not sign a contract with them, they would be able to betray him anytime. If he was to sign a contract with them, he would have wasted one contract slot by keeping a useless weakling. What would have his other followers thought of him then? ”No matter. I will just have him under my thumb doing so, until I am done researching an absolute way to control such rules.”
”If you are able to surrender, come with me then,” the water puppet said, and made its way for the metal corridor. It was being shrouded by a cloud of mist, before flying upwards for the deck.
Tam'enm hesitated for a bit before picking up their staff and following. The Mechanical Soul locked its gaze on the grade-7 sorcerer from behind, waiting for the sorcerer to sneak up on the water puppet. Tam'enm was simply too cowardly to be capable of such feat. They had chosen to truly submit, not pulling any tricks at the water puppet when its back was turned.
”Soldier, Cloudflow armies are weak, but their navy forces are too powerful. This Ancient warship obviously has yet to be under complete control. If the Cloudflow people actually control this ship, we have no choice but to run,” Saleen said to the winged skeleton.
”Master, there is no way for the Cloudflow people to control an equipment of such level, given their limited capabilities. Even Alchemy City would not be able to do so.”
”We have underestimated the Cloudflow people. Alchemy City has not blocked off the sea route and the Cloudflow armada made it here. Soldier, looks like you will have to stay at the sea to protect the route for a long time.”
Saleen was simply telling the truth. Grand Duke Iron Blood would not just sit by having just lost the Ancient warship. If he actually had equipment from the first dynasty at his disposal, and something like the Ancient warship deployed, the trade routes established by his Metatrin City would see the last of their days soon. A warship of such a class was something even the weapons on the pan's turtle alchemical boat would be able to do little about it.
”Genga would make good use of this ship, master,” the winged skeleton opened his mouth and smiled. As his powers rose, he had lost all interests in naval operations. Being able to fight alongside Saleen became its top priority.
Eleanor listened to their conversation in silence, and then spoke all of a sudden, ”Weren't the top floors of the warship modified? The strength of the metal was so pathetic that even the Dragon Skeleton Combat Vessel was even to break through it without problems. The Cloudflow people had yet to master the techniques of the first dynasty then. So my liege, there is no need to worry. If the Cloudflow people had actually mastered such techniques, they would have been able to crush Alchemy City with this warship alone.”
”I know. The original deck of the Ancient was probably something that would have been able to withstand attacks from grade-10 magic. I feel rather heartbroken that they just took it apart. I wonder what they are going to do with it.”
Eleanor was rendered speechless. Saleen was actually feeling unsatisfied with a war trophy like that.
”Eleanor, I'm just kidding. What I'm wondering now is if we can actually have complete control over this warship. Failing to do so will mean that it will be taken from us just like how we took it from the Cloudflow people. If that is the case, it would be best to just take the whole warship apart.”
”Alright, my liege. Your thoughts are just too wise for someone like me to comprehend...”, Eleanor told a joke from Cloudflow, but making Saleen the butt of the joke instead. It was clear nonetheless that the elf understood what Saleen meant with his words.
What the Ancient warship would have brought the denizens of Metatrin was more than only wealth; it would bring them a crisis as well. Saleen felt a weight on his shoulders with the prize, so he joked around to relax, just so that he would not be affected by such emotions, enabling him to make plans with all his might to deal with any revenge from Cloudflow.