Chapter 487 Envoy Part One (1/2)

Starfall Year 834, the 15th of October.

In the outskirts of Moldavia, an airship fully loaded with gifts was slowly landing on a landing pad constructed by magical means. Fierce airflow, along with the sounds of wind element mana core working, scattered dust and gathered frost over the surface of the ground.

Since the arrival of the Great Mana Tide, trivialities that recurred for the Imperial Royal Technological Guild such as issues of 'insufficient mana core pressure' were gone with the wind. With the exponential concentration of airborne elements, even mana core made from the cheapest materials could provide enough mobility for bigger airships. That was why in half a year, steel constructs belonging to human flew freely in the sky alongside birds.

Under the ground crews' instructions, the airship that had just touched down stopped steadily upon the landing pad. Streaks of white air were ejected from the nacelle near its core, and the sounds of delicate magical machinery could be heard even as it slowly stopped, dispelling residual mana elements. Any who knew their machines would be able to tell from the stable and noiseless venting that this small craft that was not over a hundred meters long has been built with no expenses spared on its materials, and possessed the most expensive and prestigious third-generation [Glory-class] supercharging core.

With the help of a servant, Albert Warner alighted the airship while winds billowed at his clothes, causing it to flap. The old noble whose hair was now white merely pressed over his chest where a finely crafted golden coat of arms glinted.

It was the coat of arms of the Imperial Ambassador.

Although he looked advanced in years, the ambassador stopped his servant from helping him all the way. As he walked down the stairs, Albert surveyed the vast landing area where other unique magical flying constructs were parked.

—Starlight Ship of the Far Southern Elves, Flying Fortress of the dwarves and the Holy Light Halo of the Far Seas Sacred Mountain.

It seems that he was not late. After the unimportant flashed past his mind, the ambassador studied the magical constructs of the various factions with much curiosity.

Due to the Great Mana Tide, virtually all nations and their sorcery technology had broken through several technical checkpoints and bottleneck. The Empire themselves were collecting information regarding those flight constructs that were built largely on the same concepts behind airships. But before Albert could study them longer, the other envoys had finished preparing, and were heading to the nearby main city under the overseeing of the Moldavian guides.

Before they departed, a young guide in black uniform approached Albert.

”Would you be needing a carriage, honorable ambassador?” he asked respectfully. ”We've already prepared one for you if you don't mind.”

”No, thank you. I wish to take in the sights of Moldavia along the way.” Albert cordially declined the goodwill. He most certainly wished to witness with his own eyes what the city that stood in the heart of public opinion was—as a noble known for his thoroughness and prudence, he was perfectly aware that one could tell about a liege's personality from the intricacies of a domain.

Joshua van Radcliffe was the objective of his visit on this occasion. But before he would meet the young Legendary champion, the ambassador desired more information about him.

A new stone avenue was built between the landing zone and the main city of Moldavia, composed of sturdy rocks that were flattened and augmented by magic as well as capable of supporting the weight of a charging Armored Mountain Dragon. As the few envoys slowly walked across the avenue leisurely, Albert could clearly observe the current state around the main city.

—The city is expanding.

With just a single glance, the experienced ambassador could tell the city was in the midst of a large-scale expansion. On the empty land outside the city, quite a few workers wearing extraordinary labor attire were busy evening out the ground and digging to establish building foundations. Outlines of roads had already been carved out with magic—it was the base of what would be the main road in the future, while the skeleton frame of one or two buildings that would be constructed much quicker had also been set up.

Noting Albert's gaze, the young guide smiled. ”That building is the knight faculty branch of Winter Fort Academy,” he explained. ”The liege has mentioned that the city's expansion will be completed with the academy, hospital and magical factory at its center, which is why those buildings were completed much earlier.”

Nodding in understanding, Albert could not stop himself from taking another glance at the completed steel frames.

Winter Fort Academy was an academy chaired by Nostradamus, also the chief of the Imperial Royal Mage Guild—would the old ambassador not know that? But since when did the mage academy for the peasantry have a knight faculty branch? Indeed, with the availability of the knight faculty, there should also be warrior, alchemical, and theological disciplines… Perhaps not that many, but it definitely meant that the scale of this academy that never received acclaim from imperial nobles was not so limited.

Is there really enough funds, or could it be completed out of some compromise?

The ambassador narrowed his eyes, carving down the information into his mind.

Soon, he arrived at the city gates.

Hiiiiss–

A sudden chill swept through the vicinity, causing Albert to shudder and unconsciously take one step back, while his attaches and aides behind him were worse off—their legs seemed to be softening. Bewildered, the knowledgeable scanned the seemingly ordinary steel gates, observing the huge and sturdy city walls that seemed to have been refurbished recently as if sensing something.

In response, the young guide quickly called for others to help the envoys, while he apologized personally to Albert.