Chapter 83: You Never Expected to Be Stabbed in the Back While Plotting, Did You? (3)

A few days later, the key figures of the Kanas Territory gathered at the village hall in Drak Gorge.

Alongside Raion were the lord, Shtefan, the butler Patrick, the knights Jade and Calsios, the engineer Dike, the mage Caldein, Regina of the Eye of the Moon, Knight Commander Alkas, and Vice-Commander Pavilion.

In front of them sat the large communication device Raion had completed earlier—the Post.

“Are you saying that we can really send and receive messages with the lord’s castle using this?”

Even after a brief explanation, Shtefan couldn’t easily wrap his head around it.

Of course, it was the same for everyone else.

It was only natural, since Raion had not shown the completed device to anyone until now.

“That’s right. With this, we can send and receive messages in real time—not only within the territory but also with other regions.”

“But such a technology…”

“Yes, that kind of transmission is just…”

The words trailed off, as if what they were hearing was simply too absurd to believe.

“Anyway, let’s have a look.”

Raion, anticipating their reactions, stepped toward the Post and activated it.

When a button glowing blue light appeared, everyone stared in fascination.

Then, just like in his earlier tests, he pressed it.

Everyone watched with anxious faces.

Gulp—!

The tension in the air was so thick that the sound of someone swallowing echoed through the hall.

Before long, a screen rose above the button.

On it appeared the image of the female knight Nesia, who was standing by at the Post installed in the lord’s castle.

—Oh my! Your Highness? Is that really you, Your Highness?

Startled, Nesia turned her head this way and that, inspecting every corner of the screen.

“Yes, Nesia. It seems like you can see me fine. How about my voice?”

—Ah! I can hear you clearly! Can you see me over there, too?

She asked in genuine wonder.

“Perfectly. There’s no delay or distortion in the sound or image, right?”

—It’s as clear as if you were speaking right in front of me! I can’t believe something like this is possible…

—Wait, me too! Let me see!

At that moment, the knight Cayman pushed his head into view beside her.

—Your Highness! Can you see my face too?

“Yes, I can see you clearly.”

Other knights were also standing beside Nesia.

They were being trained on how to use the device properly.

With a satisfied smile, Raion turned around.

“My lord, what do you think?”

Those standing behind him were speechless, unsure what to say.

They had just witnessed an unbelievable display of magical technology.

After a long pause, Shtefan finally spoke.

“That background behind her… That’s definitely my office…”

The Post in the lord’s castle had been installed in Shtefan’s study.

He was still too overwhelmed to speak properly, and all he could do was let out a hollow sigh.

“With this, any location with a Post installed will be able to communicate in real time. However, it won’t work unless this wooden plate is placed next to it.”

The palm-sized wooden plate bore a deeply engraved dragon emblem—the symbolic crest of Dragonia that Raion used as a fictional noble insignia.

“How in the world is something like this possible?”

“Well… you could call it a change in perspective. Of course, it wouldn’t be achievable with conventional magic alone.”

It was possible only because Raion—Kang Inhyuk, who had lived thirty-two years in the Republic of Korea—retained the knowledge and memories of his former life.

There were many other technologies he knew, but on the Phalon Continent, where scientific advancement was minimal, items could only be created within the limits of what could be fused with magic.

“Sir Caldein. Do you think such a thing is possible?”

At Shtefan’s question, the mage Caldein shook his head firmly.

“It’s beyond me as well. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it’s achievable through magic.”

Caldein had spent many years conducting research in the 13th Mage Division, which recorded magical knowledge, applications, and history.

He was well-versed in nearly every branch of applied magic.

But the communication magic that Raion had shown through the Post did not exist in any recorded magical history or technique.

“Just where does Your Highness’s limit end, I wonder.”

“I don’t know either. Every time, I’m astonished… and yet he always shows us something new.”

As they conversed, Regina approached Raion.

“Is it true that you’ll also be installing this Post for our Eye of the Moon?”

“For now, two will go to the Kanas branch, one to the Canel Kingdom branch. Beyond that, I’d like to speak directly with the head of your organization.”

The leadership of the Eye of the Moon remained veiled in secrecy.

The highest publicly known position was that of branch leader.

“I’ll deliver your message. I doubt our side could refuse an offer like this anyway.”

If the Post were installed across the continent, it could come to dominate all information networks.

Naturally, for the Eye of the Moon—an organization that thrived on information—it would be an invaluable asset.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Understood. Ah! By the way, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“Today’s information came via messenger hawk from the Royal Capital branch. It said that Duke Saliann Arenvatz arrived at the Royal Capital a few days ago.”

“…What? My maternal grandfather?”

At her report, I was taken aback and began digging through my memories of the future.

‘So that time has already come? I’ve been too occupied with territorial matters to notice.’

In the original future, my maternal grandfather, Saliann Arenvatz, had also visited the Royal Capital.

Of course, I knew the reason why.

‘The Prios Kingdom’s movements were suspicious back then. But in the end, no war broke out.’

Following Duke Saliann Arenvatz’s report, the Royal Capital had predicted the possibility of war.

However, contrary to their expectations, nothing happened.

Instead, it was the Dekelan Kingdom—which had shown no prior movement—that launched an attack on Moratz.

Of course, that war wouldn’t take place until several years later.

“Regina. I have only one condition. Share every piece of information across the continent with me.”

“What? But that’s…”

That was essentially the same as privatizing the Eye of the Moon.

Naturally, to Regina, such a demand was utterly absurd.

“Just tell them this—say that I wish to cooperate with the Eye of the Moon. They should decide for themselves which path benefits them more.”

At my earnest proposal, Regina nodded.

“Understood. I’ll pass on your words.”

Everything I had accomplished so far had been extraordinary.

Even in terms of information, I sometimes outpaced the Eye of the Moon itself.

Each time that happened, Regina couldn’t help but be astonished.

Perhaps because of that, the upper echelons of the Eye of the Moon regarded me as both their greatest client and a man to be cautious of.

“Anyway, I’ll be counting on you. The Post to be installed at the Royal Capital branch is already prepared—you can take it with you. Of course, only you, as the branch leader, are permitted to use it.”

“Understood.”

Regina accepted the authentication wooden plaque that I handed her.

Since it connected directly to the Kanas Territory, she would no longer need to send messenger hawks.

After completing both the demonstration and installation of the Posts, I moved to the port village of Azura.

There, three massive flat-bottomed ships had been completed.

Thanks to the combined skills of Dike and the dwarves, the completion date had been moved up significantly.

At a glance, they appeared quite ordinary.

The sails and deck structures looked no different from typical ships.

The only visible distinction was that, being flat-bottomed, their undersides were broader and flatter than pointed-hull vessels.

I entered the lower hull area on both sides, where discharge port–like structures had been installed.

There, I engraved the formula for the 1st-Circle wind magic Wind, expanding it through Engraving Extension to a much larger scale. Then, using the mana channels crafted from Steeloud, I installed the 3rd-Circle spell Mirror Illusion in the helm, just as I had done when creating the Post.

A total of ten were made—two at the front, two on each side, and four at the rear.

“Everyone, move away from the exhaust ports! Not backward—sideways!”

At my shout, the clustered workers quickly scattered to the sides.

Once safety was ensured, I activated the control panel on the deck.

Several buttons appeared on the wide surface.

When I manipulated them, wind began to blow out from the discharge ports.

Wuuuuuuuuuuung―!

Pressing another button, the sound grew louder and the wind’s force intensified.

Fwooooooooooosh!

The power was so immense that even the warehouse built behind the dock trembled.

“That’s another success.”

I activated the exhausts in other directions as well.

Fwooooooooooosh!

Fwooooooooooosh!

Just like before, fierce gales burst forth.

After finishing all the tests, I shut down the system and turned the rudder to check the response.

Then I stepped off the ship.

A crowd similar to the one that had gathered for the Post demonstration stood before me.

Everyone looked between me and the ship with the same bewildered expressions as before.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“What exactly did you just do, Your Highness?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? I just made the ship’s power source. It’s far simpler than the Post.”

The gusts that had erupted moments ago were extraordinary.

Seeing it with his own eyes, Shtefan realized that the vessel before him was unlike anything he had ever encountered.

“With such propulsion, how fast can it go?”

“Probably four to five times faster than an ordinary sailing ship. No—since it can move backward and sideways as well, even faster than that.”

Everyone was left speechless at my explanation.

“Gasp—!”

“How could something like that…”

“We’ll hold the launch ceremony immediately. Jade will serve as captain, and Caldein as vice-captain.”

At that, both men’s names were called.

Since I hadn’t told them in advance, Jade and Caldein both looked startled.

“Me?”

“Do you mean me as well?”

“Yes. From now on, these ships will be used for trade with foreign nations. However, the function I just demonstrated must only be used in dangerous situations.”

“But…”

Before Jade could argue, I cut him off first.

“There will be plenty of people aiming for our exported goods. But with a Swordmaster and a 5th-Circle Grand Mage guarding them, that won’t be a problem.”

“For such a reason, Your Highness?”

“The head of the trading company will be Fordman. He can’t protect the cargo alone.”

Currently, Fordman was stationed in the Theron production district.

He was spending his days managing and checking the quantities of exported goods.

“You’ll only need to stay aboard until trade stabilizes. And Caldein—you could use some real combat experience, couldn’t you?”

“……”

Although we had fought together once in the Sellios Dungeon, that alone wasn’t enough.

Despite having reached the 5th Circle, Caldein still lacked real experience with applied magic, making him nearly useless in actual battle.

I was sending him out deliberately—for the sake of his growth.

“I’ll follow Your Highness’s orders.”

“Thanks for understanding. You’re fine with it too, Jade?”

“If I’m aboard the ship, who will handle the knights’ training?”

He seemed to have come up with an excuse after thinking hard.

But of course, I had already thought about that.

“I’ll take care of their training, so don’t worry.”

At that moment, I noticed the faces of the knights standing behind me go slightly pale.

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