Gox, the president of the Death Advent Guild, picked up the signal amplifier from the ground and stared silently at the endless black pine forest for a long time.
They lost nearly a regiment of men and a fast dhow, and in the end they didn't even catch a single hair from the opponent. The only information obtained is that the other party may have a ship, a two-masted fast sailing ship equipped with a wind element shield.
"Take it and analyze its production method." He handed the signal amplifier in his hand to the guild's alchemist and ordered. But in fact, it is no better than this. This kind of thing is very common in the hands of craftsmen and has long formed a standardized process. It is difficult to analyze the characteristics of the person who made it from the personal characteristics.
"President, the message from the Shadow," a person brought the latest information from the front, "They have arrived at the location of the previous battle. The wind element detector shows that the target is sailing south, at least twenty miles away. The other party The speed is astonishing, at least more than fifteen knots. I'm afraid none of our ships can catch up, not even a fast sailing ship.
In addition, about fifteen people were lost on the dhow, and several were missing in uncertain circumstances. They assessed the situation of the ship, but it was not optimistic. Fortunately, the sailors on the Dereban rescued our people.
"Seize the Dereban," Gox replied: "Ask them about the battle in detail."
It was probably after the man left that the vice-president on the side said, "We may have to ask people from Iron Thorn College for help."
Gox shook his head and said: "The people from Ironthorn Academy can't help. Only the Imperial Navy's ship can catch up to a fifteen-knot fast sailing ship. Even if we find such a fast ship, the other party won't know how to escape." Where did it go? The key is that we have too little information..."
Two-masted caravels, these types of ships are everywhere in Aitalia. Do they want to seize every such ship for questioning?
As long as the opponent does not unfold the wind element shield, outsiders cannot see it.
"Could it be...D or someone from the Brotherhood?" the latter asked.
"It's unlikely," Gox still denied, "...it's impossible that the higher-ups didn't notice that D and the Brotherhood entered our sphere of influence. But this is a way, just report it to them. Anyway, they are heading towards the empire. , let those people have a headache."
"What about us, just forget about this mission?"
"Of course not," the former gritted his teeth, "We also entered the empire to join the people of the General Assembly. Death has never been tricked like this since its establishment. No one can swallow this tone."
"I'm just worried about the principality."
"Don't worry," Gox said disdainfully, "Omen of the Stars and Dreams are nothing but rotten fish. People from Ironthorn Academy are watching, and they don't dare to fight in the Principality."
The vice president glanced at him and nodded silently, knowing in his heart that this trip was not just for revenge, but that the mission itself was no small matter. If the guild stays out of this matter, it will only be an outsider when things are done in the future.
…
But the Seven Seas Traveler did not actually go south directly into the empire's border as they expected.
Instead, they went in a big circle, sailing westward for nearly thirty miles until the signal source behind the wind element detector completely disappeared, then turned and sailed eastward.
This time they even came close to less than ten miles away from Tagli, flying over the village they passed before entering Tagli. Unfortunately, it was early in the morning, the sky was not bright yet, and the village was silent.
Otherwise, everyone can see if the villagers' big machine has been repaired.
Then the Seven Seas Traveler turned south again. At this time, the opponent's attention should have been completely drawn to the border, and the principality seemed completely defenseless.
They can take the "Wind Gorge Route" leisurely, enter the heart of the empire from the gate of the empire - Lavender - Ronoor, and finally reach their destination, the hometown of magic, the 'City of Steel' Ai Yin Bullock.
It is also the hometown of the great alchemist Ed, where he came to this world and where he left it.
The Holy Land of Alchemy.
It is also the location of the Mobile Fortress 'Mobius', the headquarters of the Craftsmen's Guild.
It is said that this fortress, designed by Ed himself, became the first line of human resistance against the invasion of giants during the Essoline Disaster. It was severely damaged in that war and lost its ability to move.
After that, it stayed in Ayinbrok.
Or to be precise, it was the Oshu people who later built the magic city with it as the center.
And that is also one of the largest magical structures designed in human history. As a war fortress, as its name suggests, this fortress is the size of a small town.
Although 'Mobius' has been damaged for nearly a thousand years, it is still standing today. After years of repairs by alchemists, people can still have a glimpse of its majestic style even today, a thousand years later.
After the war, it became the headquarters of the Artisan Guild, a transcontinental organization established by the alchemists.
Although the craftsmen's association does not have an obvious jurisdictional relationship between the general associations in each continent, it is divided into countries and regions to communicate on an equal footing and exchange what they have.
However, as the first craftsmen's federation established by alchemists in the history of the Oshur Craftsmen's Federation, its status is obviously more special and respected among the craftsmen's associations.
In fact——
It is a pilgrimage place in the hearts of all alchemists across the continent.
Fang Plover is naturally no exception.
Before he came to this world, he had heard the story of the Oshu people from many places, about the great alchemist Ed and his students, the first generation of alchemists in history, and the construction of the of the first human cities.
How the empire was established, and how the Oshurs ignited the fire of civilization belonging to mortals from the wilderness. They forged sailboats, armed mortals with magic furnaces, defeated extraordinary creatures with their mortal bodies, and established the most powerful empire on the continent in one fell swoop.
The Oshur Empire.
This is the home of magic technology, the birthplace of alchemy, the kingdom of miracles, and countless legendary names belong to this mortal empire. It is the pride of mortals and the birthplace of civilization.
But that was only the glory that once belonged to the Oshurs.
It is not that the empire has never declined. In the past thousand years, hundreds of dynasties have been born in this ancient land. The longest ones lasted for hundreds of years, and the shortest ones lasted only a dozen years or even a few years.
Countless great rulers once ruled this land and looked at this ancient country with their eyes, but those great people left one by one, leaving only a few records in history.
Kingship does not last forever, dynasties change, but a thousand years later, the Oshur empire still exists.
For Aitalia, that is almost an immortal name.
It is old but new at the same time. The empire has just experienced the rule of Stuart IV and completed the transition between the old and new royal powers nine years ago. The previous tyrant injected some new ideas into this ancient empire. Vitality, using new magic technology to achieve the revival of the empire.
The Oshu people hated him because of his harsh and oppressive rule, heavy taxes, endless military service, labor, war and harsh criminal laws.
But the Oshurs also commemorated him.
It is because during the sixty years of this monarch's reign, the decline of the empire in the past two hundred years since Auretois VII has been wiped out, and this ancient name has returned to the position it deserves. .
Over the past half century, the Empire's magic technology has returned to its peak with the help of the Chosen. The alchemists of the Oshur Craftsmen Association also proved the glory of the empire in craftsman competitions.
The Empire opened up the territory of the Second World and established a foothold there. It seized the richest land in the vast world from the coalition forces of Corin-Ithurion and the Giant Tree Hill.
Rich materials and countless wealth transported back from another world are flowing into the empire, and everything seems to be developing in a prosperous direction.
The legendary revival of the Oshur Empire has become one of the most dazzling events in Aitaria in the past two centuries.
Even the seven major magician families in the empire, which had been languishing for hundreds of years, seemed to have begun to shine in the context of the empire's revitalization, defeating their old enemies for nearly a century - the magicians of the Hart Principality.
Their footsteps did not stop there. With the newly developed magic skills, the empire's magicians began to expand their influence outwards, and established a wide reputation in several cross-continental exchanges.
Now that great monarch has passed away.
The new monarch has been in office for nearly ten years, has begun to stabilize his own power, and implemented a new round of new policies. But for the Oshurs, they have not yet gotten over the influence of that powerful monarch.
It’s just that I have just begun to adapt to this new era.
These are all that Fang Plover knew about the Oshu Empire before entering the Star Gate.
In addition to the knowledge related to the first division, he also knew that for nearly a century, since the implementation of technological innovation, the empire's magic skills have always been the best in Aitaria.
Although some of those technologies have spread to other craftsmen's guilds, the Oshu people have always mastered the core secrets. The magical skills that are second to none in Aitalia allow them to play a leading role in main battleships, magical constructs, and even individual combat. It is ahead of other countries and regions in all aspects of tool and artillery technology.
When he was in the Kapka Craftsmen Association, Fang Pultru heard various legends about the Oshu people, not only the strength of the other party's alchemists and selectors in the craftsman competition.
There are also many battle reports sent back from the second world.
The Kaolin-Ithurian Alliance and the Wood Elves of the Giant Tree Hill formed an alliance in the second world, but they also suffered more defeats against the Oshurs. It was often heard that one of the two parties, or the alliance of both parties, was in the muddy area. The news came that the domain had suffered a big loss.
This information is rarely circulated among ordinary people, but the information of the craftsmen's guild is very well-informed.
Fortunately, in the past ten years, there have been many outstanding players in the second division, and they have surpassed the first division. It is called the glorious decade. In addition, the strength of the selectors in the third division is second only to the first two divisions——
The two joined forces and worked together with the aborigines to stop the Oshurs.
But now.
The glory of the second division is gone, and it seems difficult to maintain the former glory...
Fang Yu shook his head gently, throwing these thoughts out of his mind.
After all, he is more concerned about the present than these profound things.
I have longed for this Oshur empire for a long time. After all, it was once the hometown of the great alchemist and had the most advanced magic technology in the world.
But now, this information is bad news for him.
After all, qualification for the Craftsman Competition is the ticket for the Seven Seas Troupe to enter the second world.
In the past ten years, with the exception of Loofah, the top three qualifications for the Craftsman Competition have been almost entirely controlled by the Empire. Even among the top ten, the majority are from the Empire.
Otherwise, why would the self-willed King of the Kaolin people stop at asking them to enter the top ten?
But is it that easy to enter the top ten?
Kaolin-Ithurian's craftsmanship has long lagged behind the empire. The alchemists of the Ithulian Craftsmen Association in the craftsman competition are as if they are holding textbooks from ten years ago and competing with those at the forefront of alchemy. Warlock competition.
Easier said than done?
The top selectors in the second division were able to overpower the Empire back then, because Tree Hill and Caolin-Ithurian combined to barely equal the score with the Empire in the second world.
Behind this is actually the shaping and division of the power patterns of the second world.
Which top selector is not cultivated with massive resources?
But in the first world, this is the absolute home of the empire.
Before Loofah rose to prominence back then, he only got the top three spots in the first world craftsman competition. Although the first and second place alchemists were not as successful as her later on, this did not prevent the other from overpowering the former in the first world newcomer stage.
After all, those in the second world belong to the second world, and the newcomer stage belongs to the newcomer stage.
It was only after Loofah emerged that he received attention, which allowed him to obtain more resources and achieve his subsequent achievements.
For the Oshurs, due to the rich resources they occupy, the trickle-down effect is that more benefits can be distributed to the lower-level selectors.
There is not much fundamental difference in the distribution systems of various countries, but the selectors of the empire are stronger than those of other regions in the new era.
Fang Plover himself knew his own affairs. The Seven Seas Brigade had many adventures, otherwise they wouldn't be where they are today.
But in terms of basic resources, I might not be able to compare with Loofah back then. After all, the latter was a first-line player from the Grand Guild before he left the Rose Crusade.
And if he wants to get results in the Craftsman Competition, he can only take one step at a time. What he wanted to do was to first observe the level of the selectors of this generation of the empire.
Fortunately, he is not completely helpless.
Judging from his exchanges with the president of the Tagli Craftsmen Association, at least the ancient alchemy he mastered had unique advantages over the Oshurs.
After all, the Kaolin-Ithurian Craftsmen Association did not completely follow suit. They and the selectors of the second division also obtained a lot of good things from the second world.
The only problem was that he had good luck in the Southern Territory - or thinking about it now, Anlose might have guessed the test questions in the craftsman competition in advance and helped him win the bet.
But it is still unknown whether the finals of this year's Craftsman Competition will test ancient alchemy.
Fang Yu could only hope that his luck would be better, after all, this was related to the Seven Seas Traveler's ticket to the second world.
A sky-blue voice came from outside——
Fang Plover looked not far away.
Sylvide was using a ruler to draw out the route from the Empire's Gate to Lavender on the map nearby. The route ahead might be their first stop on the way to the Empire, and it was also the first city in the Empire that they really wanted to see.
The ship officer made a rough estimate, and it might take only one day for the Seven Seas Traveler to reach that place after passing through the Empire Gate. At that time, people from the guild might still be circling the borders of the empire when death came to them.
Tian Lan's voice outside the door became louder and louder, and he didn't know what he was yelling about.
In order to prevent the other party from disturbing the ship officer who was thinking, Fang Lu motioned to the other party to go out and have a look to see what trouble the little girl Tianlan had caused.
Sylvide then raised her head, smiled slightly at him, and nodded.
Fang Plover pushed open the door and walked out.
But before he could say anything, he saw Tian Lan running towards him, almost hitting him in the face. Fang Yu was so frightened that he quickly stopped the other party with his hands.
Before Tianlan could stop, she hurriedly said to Fang Plover:
"Brother Ed, you came out just in time, go and see, there's someone down there!"
"Is there anyone down there?"
Fang Plover was startled
But Tianlan had already dragged him to the side of the ship. Looking down, he saw two people on the avenue, waving vigorously to the Seven Seas Traveler.
The Seven Seas Traveler was at an altitude of several hundred meters at the moment. The figures below looked as small as two black dots. However, Fang Yu looked closely and recognized the identities of the two people - they were Yayo and his companions. .
"Why are they?"
Fang Plover was startled. Although the Seven Seas Traveler made a large circle back from the border, it returned to the vicinity of Tagli and got rid of all the people who died in the guild. But this place is at least fifteen miles away from Tagli. Why are these two people here?
Could it be that the members of the Death Come Guild determined the location of the Seven Seas Traveler through means unknown to them? After all, this is not impossible. After all, Aitaria is a magical world.
Fang Plover doesn't dare to say that he knows everything about every magical power in the world.
He was worried that something had happened that he didn't know about, so he quickly asked the Seven Seas Traveler to lower its height, and then brought the two people below onto the ship. As soon as they got on the boat, Fang Plover discovered that the two of them were dressed as if they were going on a long journey. Not only were they wearing travel clothes commonly used by adventurers, but they were also carrying a huge luggage.
"What are you...?"
Fang Yu looked at the two people and was startled, wondering whether the person who came to death noticed that the two people came to inform them, and then planned to take revenge on the two people? Is that why they had to leave Tagli?
However, Yayo said excitedly: "I didn't expect to meet you here again, Mr. Ed, we are so lucky. Fortunately, I saw your ship when I went to inform Mr. Reid and them. Otherwise you won’t be able to recognize it.”
"Didn't you escape?" Fang Yu became more and more confused as he listened.
"Escape?" Yayo was stunned, "Of course not, why should we escape?"
The other party suddenly reacted and quickly shook his head and said: "We didn't escape, Mr. Ed. It's just that after listening to what you said, we finally made up our mind to go outside and have a look."
"Go outside and have a look?" Fang Pliover recalled where he was going in this direction, "Are you going to the empire?"
"Yes," Yayo replied: "Actually, we have had this idea for a long time, but we have never been able to make it happen. It is Mr. Ed who gave us the motivation to fulfill this wish. Just like you said, What’s the point of staying in a small place like Tagli? We can only realize the alchemy in our minds after we go further afield and see the wider world.”
Fang Yu finally understood, but he didn't expect that his words would lead to such a fuss. However, he did not object to the two people's ideas, and only asked them if they had told the Tagli Craftsmen Association about this matter.
If these two guys ran out on their own overnight, and the Craftsmen Association found two people missing during the investigation, what would happen?
After receiving a positive answer, Fang Plover felt relieved. Since the Seven Seas Traveler was also going to the Empire, he simply asked the two of them if they wanted to go together.
After all, the Tagli Craftsmen Association and these two young men had helped them a lot before, and he didn't mind reciprocating the favor.
Yayo originally had this plan and readily agreed.
"Mr. Ed," Yayo asked at this time: "Are you planning to go to Lavender in this direction?"
"Yes, we got rid of the people from the Death Advent Guild in the west, and we plan to go to Lavender. But we don't plan to stay there, what about you?" Fang Plover asked.
"We plan to visit the imperial capital first, and then go to the holy land in the eyes of alchemists, the Iron City Ain Block." Yayo suddenly reacted, "Mr. Ed, you plan to take the 'Wind Gorge Route', you also want to go Go to the Ronoor area to see the steel city?”
He slapped his forehead and suddenly realized: "That's right, why am I so stupid? Mr. Ed, you are a high-level alchemist from Corin-Ithurion. Of course, you must first go to Ayinbrok, where now..."
Seeing that the other party had already guessed it, Fang Yu didn't intend to hide it and nodded directly: "You guessed it right, it's a craftsman competition."
"Mr. Ed, are you a contestant?"
Fang Plover nodded.
"That's great," Yayo's eyes lit up, "We haven't seen the grand occasion of the craftsman competition yet. If Mr. Ed doesn't mind, we want to go to that steel city with you. I want to say that with Ed With your skills, sir, you should be able to at least win the top three crowns, right?"
The young man looked forward to it: "I really want to see that scene. When I return to Tagli in the future, I can brag to others that I have traveled with the winner of the Alchemy Competition."
Fang Yu couldn't help crying or laughing after hearing this. This guy had confidence in himself.
But it is true that according to the tradition of the craftsman competition, anyone who enters the top three can be called a winner, so Loofah can also be regarded as one of the winners of her time.
Yayo was not wrong.
Seeing the other party's excited expression, he found it difficult to refute. Instead, he felt pride rising in his heart and nodded vigorously:
"Okay, then let's go to Ayin Block together."
Go and see that legendary city.
…
