Late at night in the King's Suite of the Sea Dragon's Breath Inn, tranquility filled the room. The earlier storm had passed, and the curtains were drawn tight. A luxurious rug imported from Araby lay on the floor, and the room was scented with high-quality ambergris.
Ryan, dressed in a bathrobe, leaned against the headboard, a soft pillow behind his back. Olica lay in his arms with her eyes closed, while Veronica, her face flushed from the indulgence of earlier events, had also changed into a white bathrobe. Mimicking Ryan, she propped up her pillow and leaned back against it, enjoying the lazy comfort of resting against his shoulder. "Darling?"
"Hmm?" Ryan tightened his embrace around Olica. "What is it?"
"It's just… something on my mind…" Veronica hesitated, which was rare for her.
"What's bothering you?" Ryan rubbed his chin, a habit of his when reflecting on recent decisions and policies. He often used moments like this to review relationships and strategies—his mind was most active during these times. After all, he was only human.
"Well… ever since the Dawn Wizard Tower was completed, both the witches on the council and my apprentices seem to think I took a shortcut." Veronica sighed softly, kicking the blanket with a foot clad in nude stockings. "It's frustrating… as if they've forgotten how hard I worked and how I gambled everything I had back then. Don't I deserve this?"
"It's normal. People tend to forget," Ryan said gently, wrapping an arm around Veronica's shoulder. "People always want things handed to them, and chasing success is part of human nature. But you're right—this is what you earned. As for those who don't have the resources, they'll find other ways to grow. Resources are limited, after all, and those who act first get the most."
Veronica pouted, reluctantly nodding in agreement. Ryan's words made sense. Fully nurturing a wizard required immense resources, which was why the position of Imperial Royal Head Wizard was so hotly contested, and why so many witches in the coven were constantly eyeing Ryan. The limited resources available naturally created competition.
But a wizard without resources wasn't completely out of luck. There were other ways to survive, though the path was much harder. Ryan, as the King of Bretonnia, was already supporting several legendary casters in his court.
The question of why wizards didn't make money themselves but instead relied on nobles was almost laughable. It was like asking why archers weren't skilled in close combat or why dwarves weren't known for their speed. Wizards dedicated nearly all their energy to the pursuit of arcane knowledge. Where would they find the time to manage territories or accumulate wealth? Veronica knew that many of the Garland witches only resorted to selling potions, making scrolls, or taking on missions when they were broke or in debt.
Seeing that Ryan hadn't continued the conversation, Veronica pushed further. "Don't you think it could be that mother and daughter duo behind this? Spreading rumors to smear me?"
"You mean Aurora? Is that even in question?" Ryan shot Veronica a glance. "Aren't you doing the same thing? Spreading rumors that Aurora lost favor and shamelessly clung to me through her daughter, Theresa?"
"Hehehe~ You knew all along?" Veronica giggled, her little scheme exposed.
"How could I not know what my chief lady-in-waiting is up to?" Ryan teased, then suddenly grinned. "Right, Olica?"
"Those spreading the rumors should be made slaves. As for Lady Veronica and Lady Aurora, let's lock them both in my Pale Court!" Olica lifted her head from Ryan's chest, flashing a wicked smile. "Master, leave it to me. I guarantee they won't have the strength to resist afterward."
"No way. I prefer the original Veronica, not a hollowed-out one," Ryan said firmly, while Veronica puffed up with indignation. "Olica, what do you have against me? We don't have any deep grudges, do we?"
"The Master's desires are the only standard. Nothing else matters." Olica's eerie smile lingered. "Don't fall into my hands, Lady Veronica."
The three of them exchanged a few playful words before dropping the topic. Ryan never expected Teresa, Aurora, and Veronica to get along smoothly. In fact, some rivalry was healthy—it helped Ryan control the situation and distribute resources. For instance, since Veronica and her coven were part of this great expedition, resources would naturally be directed toward her in the coming months.
"Oh, by the way, I'll be visiting the Engineer's Guild at Seagate Pass tomorrow. Anyone interested in coming?" Ryan asked casually. "If not, feel free to do whatever you like."
"Why are you going to the Engineer's Guild, Master?" Olica asked, her head nestled against Ryan's chest, her black hair draping over his body. "Do you really think those dwarves will share their technology? Let me tell you, even if Bellegar-Ironhammer is desperate, he won't seek your help unless he has no other choice. Dwarves are stubborn, conservative, rigid, and deeply traditional."
"You act like you know dwarves so well," Ryan laughed, gently holding Olica. "I plan to commission an ironclad warship at Seagate Pass. You saw their ironclad ships today, didn't you? I want one for myself. The Poseidon Fleet of Bordeleaux is impressive, but we can't rely on others forever. We need to build our own strength."
Before Veronica could respond, Olica scoffed. "An ironclad? Those tin shells are just for show. They're nothing compared to the Black Arks of the Druchii. Until you've seen a Black Ark, Master, you won't know what a true navy is."
"Until you've seen a Queen Gloriana-class battleship, Olica, you won't know what a true navy is," Ryan shot back. "Black Arks might be powerful, but we don't have a way to get one, do we?"
"Getting a Black Ark isn't that hard. Just steal one," Olica mused. "Of course, you'd have to fight an entire Druchii pirate fleet. If you've already made up your mind, I won't object, but I won't be going. Druchii aren't exactly welcome among the dwarves, and even less so among those stuffy engineers."
"I won't be going either, darling," Veronica added, shaking her head.
"Alright, I'll take Calard and Fedemond with me then," Ryan sighed.
——Black Arks Are Superior——
Early the next morning, Ryan set out with Calard and Fedemond, heading toward the Engineer's Guild of Seagate Pass.
Their guide led them past forges powered by waterwheels. These wheels had been turning for thousands of years without stopping, and the furnaces inside burned brightly. The Engineer's Guild of Seagate Pass was second only to those of Everpeak and Zhufbar, filled with benches and all kinds of machines, from precision clockwork to cranes used to assemble the finest cannons. The workshop was abuzz with the sound of hammering, heated discussions, and the hum of grindstones and lathes.
"The engineers are in a meeting," their Hammerer guide informed Ryan. "Please return in the afternoon."
Ryan and his companions were left with no choice. Dwarven meetings were notoriously long. "Can we know what the meeting's about?"
"One of the master engineers, Jerrick-Grimm, broke dwarven tradition and tried to develop a new steam-powered ironclad ship. He was expelled from the guild for it, but instead of accepting it, Jerrick left with his entire clan and the engineers who supported him. Rumor has it he's headed to Lustria to find a special type of 'Omnitech Stone' for his invention. It took months before the guild even realized he was gone. Now, they're trying to figure out how to handle the situation." Their guide, Glen Silverbeard, seemed to like Ryan for his fluent dwarven and was happy to chat. "Judging by how much beer they've consumed, you should come back later."
"Well, those engineers are something else… I mean, no offense, but they're a peculiar bunch." Calard chuckled but quickly realized his mistake and added, "I mean, shouldn't new inventions be encouraged?"
"Yes, but only if Jerrick hadn't blown up Grungni's Forge in the process," Glen muttered. "He destroyed two forges and an entire drydock! And he still insists he did nothing wrong."
Ryan could only shake his head. His attention soon shifted to the nearby shipyard, where a massive ironclad was being built. "Can we take a look at the shipyard?"
"I'll have to ask." Glen walked over to negotiate with the engineers guarding the shipyard. At first, they refused, but after some back-and-forth and mentioning King Beornov's orders, they begrudgingly agreed.
When Ryan and his companions entered the shipyard, they were met with the sight of an enormous steel behemoth.
"This is the *Thunder of Grimnir*, 80 meters long, 25 meters wide, and with a draft of 12 meters. It can carry over a hundred dwarf engineers, as well as an entire dwarf regiment, including the Ironbreaker boarding party and the Trollslayer battle group, who seek an honorable death in the mouths of sea monsters. Its cannons, engraved with runes of destruction, are fitted with automatic loading mechanisms. The hull is made of star-iron, nearly a meter thick
, impervious even to icebergs. The deck features a gyrocopter platform for reconnaissance missions, with the signals sent back via rune relays. Whether it faces strong winds or waves, the *Thunder of Grimnir* will press forward relentlessly, driven by the dwarves' hatred for their enemies. Slow but inescapable, it is our pride and joy," boasted the dwarf engineer.
"By the gods!" Fedemond, the Grail Knight with the most naval experience, looked up at the massive ironclad in awe. His heart swelled with a mixture of admiration and unease. "How much does something like this cost?"
"Without counting materials, about 50,000 gold marks. Including materials, around 140,000 gold marks," the engineer said proudly. "Most of the star-iron came from Blackwater Lake near Karak Varn. These days, it's not easy to get more from there."
"Can we board the ship and take a look?" Ryan asked, eager to see more.
"Of course not! Letting you into the shipyard is already a favor, thanks to the king's orders. If you have no other business, leave! Don't overstep your bounds, human. This is our ship, not yours!" The dwarf engineer was clearly displeased.
In dwarf kingdoms, the king wasn't the absolute ruler. Dwarven guilds, particularly the Craftsmen's Guild and the Engineers' Guild, held considerable power in deciding matters and policies. Ryan had seen this firsthand with Bellegar, who, after taking Blackstone Post, wanted to establish a gunpowder workshop and a smithy, only to be overruled by the guilds, who insisted on building a brewery first. In the end, Bellegar had no choice but to agree.
Incidentally, the rapid reconstruction of Gisoreux after Heinrich Kemmler's invasion was thanks to the cooperation between the duchy and the dwarves in building infrastructure. Duke Hagen of Gisoreux had visited Blackstone Post three times, dining with Bellegar and his queen, Kormanik.
"Engineer, we'd like to commission an ironclad warship," Ryan said.
"You'll need to speak to Master Engineer Brooke-Gunnarsson about that. Now, leave quickly so we can get back to work. Don't disturb us any longer, human. If you want anything, negotiate with the Engineers' Guild. I'm just a supervisor, not a master engineer!" The dwarf engineer waved them off, clearly annoyed.
The three Grail Knights were ushered out.
"My lord, an ironclad?" Calard stroked his goatee with a smile. "Not a bad idea!"
"It's a great idea, but only if we have the money!" Ryan said with a wry smile. "Did you hear that? Fourteen thousand gold marks, and that's just the cost price! It's absurdly expensive."
"While a single Bordeleaux warship may not rival an ironclad, that kind of money could build us three or four large sailboats," Fedemond mused. "That's typical of dwarves—quality over quantity."
"Isn't that always the way with dwarves?" Calard chuckled.
"Alright, we still have some time," Ryan said, pulling out a dwarven-made pocket watch. It was only ten in the morning. "Let's wander around and discuss something I've been meaning to talk about."
"Of course, my lord!"
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