Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 820 - 703: The Queen Arrives

"Aiven, if the production capacity of Mercury Shipyard can continue to expand, according to your plan of using service life to trade for construction time, launching more than 25 iron-framed wood-hulled level 3 battleships within two years should not be a problem?"

Toot—!

Clang clang clang...

Amidst the long whistle, an unstoppable steel giant beast crushed the white steam, speeding from south to north along the dragon-like railway, entering a pitch-black tunnel through the mountain.

Nowadays.

After a year’s segmented construction by the "Coastal Railway Company," the lines from Buffalo to Kabushir, and from Georgia to Charles are fully open. Together with the original "Georgia Corridor" connecting Georgia and Far Sails Territory, more than one-third of the entire coastal railway traversing Phaletis Colony has been completed.

If progress goes smoothly and the later construction speed can be slightly accelerated, maybe by the end of next year, the entire coastal railway from Saint Aiven City to Far Sail Port can officially open.

It can fully handle a sizable portion of business originally belonging to shipping between colonies. Let ocean-going vessels directly load and unload goods in Saint Aiven City, the saved time might allow them to make an extra New and Old Continents roundtrip during the navigable season, achieving an astounding 300% profit even without involving the slave trade.

By that time, Long Island Port, the finest port on the East Coast, is about to truly soar.

On this queen’s special train riding from Far Sails Territory to Georgia, sitting in a walnut seat of a luxurious carriage, holding a small ivory fan dressed in a gorgeous low-cut court gown with a gem crown on her head, Liweina was dignified and stunning, glowing with radiant charm.

Wearing a women’s major general uniform, with heroic demeanor, Anita, indisputably the first female knight in the Kingdom, temporarily held the queen’s guard duty, sitting closely beside Liweina, appearing intimate.

Similarly, habitually dressed in a general’s uniform, tall and handsome Aiven sat across them, separated by a small table.

"Beautiful Majesty, as long as the money is in place, the posture... cough cough, rest assured, no problem!"

Aiven promised with a pat on the chest.

By now, a week had already passed.

Without letting the [Jade Coronet] fly back the whole way, Aiven directly launched [Dream Cruise] bringing both of them, along with the entire large entourage of Her Majesty’s visit, to the Far Sails Territory.

Liweina’s first trip was not purely to foster relations, the first stop was inspecting Mercury Shipyard and a host of iron-framed wood-hulled level 3 battleships under construction.

However.

Liweina glanced at this stingy fellow in front of her, her gaze couldn’t help but hold a hint of minor grievance, unable to resist in the darkness of the tunnel, gently lifting her right foot clad in golden high-heeled shoes and lightly pressing Aiven’s foot.

With merely a touch of the upper and lower lips, tens of thousands of Golden Lions were spent just like that, and not much discount was offered, yet the money had to be spent.

Southern Continent now has the Oyo Tribe acting as the Kingdom’s agent, replacing the former Dahomey’s status, the slave trade in the Southern Continent belongs entirely to the Kingdom, although the attitude of Prince Clement of Sak Empire, the largest territory, grows increasingly ambiguous.

Ugor Island, after several years of construction, several ports on Ugor Island were partly put into operation at the beginning of the year, becoming a bridgehead for connecting East and West routes. As cargo throughput rapidly climbed, calls for establishing the Fourth Fleet grew louder.

Furthermore, the Portsmouth Royal Navy Shipyard at home had launched three Galliot-type heavy cruisers.

The military department’s overall plan is to build six ships of this type in the future, supplemented by a number of new type level 4 ships, to launch a commerce disruption war against another pillar of Hilus Empire’s "Peacock Islands Route."

To create a strategic advantage for the Kingdom.

While territories appear extensive, everywhere needs troops stationed, and the Kingdom’s fleet size urgently needs expansion!

Only with Aiven stationed in the New Continent, even when impacted by Spirit Tide, the Kingdom did not dispatch a single soldier reinforcement, and resource materials, industrial raw materials, and finished products continued to grow at high speed each year, contributing massively to the Kingdom’s economic development.

Looking at Aiven couldn’t help but exclaim:

"Alas, steering the Kingdom’s chariot to break through amid world nations, it’s truly difficult!"

Aiven didn’t mind Liweina’s gentle foot press, wishing she could step on it a few more times if it meant securing a tens of thousands of Golden Lions worth order. Upon hearing her lament, he chuckled and said:

"Your Majesty, Sak, Atlant, even some individuals within the alliance are unreliable, between nations there are no eternal allies, only eternal interests.

Do you believe if signs appear that Phaletis supplants Hilus, these people would certainly come out to trip us up?

Moreover, while "morality" is a product of humanity’s continual progress, a moral model individual might exist, but there will never be a moral model organization or country.

Even if a saint leads the organization, if he cannot unite the internal members and consider everything for the collective interest, he will surely be overthrown, then trod upon mercilessly by vested interest holders with thousands of feet.

Even if there’s superficial morality between nations, it’s merely to conceal larger interest pursuits! Aren’t we the same?

By the way, Your Majesty, has the ’Dismemberment Plan’ we discussed last time been initiated?"

Upon this topic, Liweina instantly got excited, swiftly unfolding the delicate ivory fan and fanning a couple of times, her vibrant face nearly radiating light:

"Ha, according to the plan we discussed earlier, a large number of intelligence agents from the Kingdom have entered the Frisia Kingdom under various identities, buying newspapers, theaters, poets... and starting to guide public opinion to incite hatred towards Hilus, especially among the upper class.

The same is happening on the side of the Hilus Empire. We have subtly leaked the intelligence we collected in the past related to the "Wealth Church" movements to relevant departments in Hilus.

Even though Empress Teresa, who is said to be pregnant and rising rapidly in status, is trying to mediate, it won’t be long before the Empire’s senior officials deepen their vigilance against Frisia Kingdom, this key moneybag, and will certainly want to do something to strengthen control over Frisia.

In fact, our intelligence agents have found there is no need to risk contacting any core figures. Because of systemic and irreconcilable contradictions, plus the "God of Black Wings" watching closely, the only thing missing for a conflict is a tiny spark."

Upon hearing this, Aiven immediately interjected:

"Clearly, Hilus’s good days won’t last long. What we need to do is to ensure that their losses are... as devastating as possible when they split!"

At this point, a pair of black and a pair of lake-green eyes met and then shared a knowing smile:

’Oh hehe... we are quite the little schemers!’

Even Anita, who had been listening the whole time, as their sister and close friend, couldn’t integrate into their conversation at all, nor did she understand the hidden meanings in their words.

She shrugged her shoulders and admired the rapidly passing autumn scenery outside the window.

Although, due to the witchcraft triggered by Aiven, the elite entourage in the carriage couldn’t hear what national secrets they were discussing, they couldn’t help but feel envious of Marquis Galliot, who could joke freely with Her Majesty the Queen.

Originally a Guardian Knight, during his time at the military academy, he was under Liweina, who was then a Crown Prince and Second Princess, and rapidly advanced to become an Upper-Rank Wizard. He has long been the most core and trusted minister of Her Majesty the Queen.

The first stop after her accession when leaving the mainland was the territory of the New Continent Galliot Marquisate, which fully illustrates Marquis Galliot’s standing in Her Majesty the Queen’s eyes.

Undoubtedly, within Her Majesty the Queen’s future reign of at least another thirty years, even after getting married and having a notably prominent partner, Marquis Galliot will definitely be the hottest figure in the Kingdom, enjoying continuous favor.

As for whether the Marquisate will surpass the Kingdom within thirty years? Not even the most careless individual among this group entertained such absurd thoughts.

The thoughts of others did not affect the two’s enthusiasm for their conversation. After discussing follow-up plans for a while, Liweina suddenly remembered something else:

"Aiven, our intelligence agents embedded in the New Hilus Vice-Kingdom have already sent back news.

The ’Thorny Fire’ you encountered in the ’Broken Star Sea’ might have received a request for aid from Vice King Flavio, coming to the New Continent to deal with the threat of ’Mother of Water’ Melro.

Moreover, they previously retreated the border line by a thousand kilometers and lost large areas of precious metal mining districts. At the time, Hilus Mainland couldn’t spare the effort, but now that the ’Religious War’ is gradually subsiding, it is obviously impossible for them to continue sitting idle.

Ha, the output of gold and silver directly correlates to the quality of life for the empire’s aristocrats!"

The tone carried undisguised sarcasm; the Kingdom used the gains from plunder and operations to support the steam industry’s development, yet these guys used it for indulgent high-end consumption, which is quite... enviable, isn’t it?

Who wouldn’t want to live well? Right?

"Hmm... This possibility does make sense."

Since it wasn’t aimed at himself, Aiven didn’t intervene further, only instructing Bess to closely monitor and prevent this formidable "Titled Knight" from seizing the opportunity to cause trouble.

Then, as dusk settled.

After Liweina experienced the charm of steam trains and promised to convene a parliament discussion on introducing this new transportation method as soon as she returned.

Snap—!

A snap of fingers.

The group on the steam train was directly teleported by Aiven to Buffalo Saint Aiven City in the far north.

Olivia, who had been preparing for the welcome banquet for ages, donned in full formal attire, led a team of "Night Spirit" maids at the "White Swan Castle" to await them.

...

Under the same night sky.

In the New Hilus Vice-Kingdom, located inland on the western coast of the Golden Sea, in the capital Huarez.

"Prince Manolo assassinated? Death Messenger... fleet... [Legendary Battleship: Flame Radiance]... target... Phaletis Colony?!"

Having been attacked by an unknown magical transcendent in the "Broken Star Sea," and returning alone to the New Hilus Vice-Kingdom, "Thorny Fire" slowly unfolded the Spirit Realm Communication sent by the stationed "Tinder Sect" priest.

At this moment.

The light from the candles on the desk flickered on his face, which had been extremely somber for several days, wavering like an evil ghost!