The moonlight spilled like water, and an eagle in the sky flapped its wings with the speed of lightning.
Byron had just enjoyed a lavish dinner with Catherine and had escorted her to the treasury to partake in the day's greatest joy—counting the spoils of war.
No sooner had he done this than he projected his consciousness onto Alvin the "Falcon," transforming into an eagle. He departed from Uxmal City, heading north along the Candelaria River.
He set out to find the most suitable fortified location for Violet's new home.
During this time, Alvin, the Wild Hunt Servant, happened to be staying in the Taya Empire.
He was instructing the new king, Mixteca—Byron's "bargain" disciple—and a large group of the Father of Healing's Clergy.
Since there was no longer any chance to grovel before his beloved Beatrice, he had channeled his grief and indignation into motivation, enjoying a second spring in his medical profession.
Under Byron's advanced theoretical guidance, his medical skills improved dramatically.
In the three great city-states of Uxmal, Tayapan, and Chichen Itza:
The epidemic had been most severe in Uxmal City. After surviving the disaster, the residents, led by the new king, became the most zealous in their faith towards the Father of Healing.
They were all but ready to enshrine Byron's skull in the temple and venerate it as a Sacred Relic right then and there.
Furthermore, Geronimo, who was originally the Captain of the Guard of the temples in Chichen Itza City, also benefited from his association with Byron.
First, he led his tribe in taking revenge on the Aztec Empire. Then, he helped the city-state weather the plague, earning himself immense prestige among all social strata.
Moreover, Great Shaman Ye'ek K'at'el, a wizard who communicated with spirits, was burdened by the price of three afflictions, chosen randomly from: widowerhood, widowhood, orphanhood, solitude, disability, or illness. As he had no wife, children, or descendants, and little desire for power, and with the royal family line having ended, this high-ranking noble had already become the new king with the support of many of the city-state's nobles!
Wayne Dote, the Gunner Chief onboard Byron's ship, also saw his status in Chichen Itza rise accordingly. It was not out of the question for him to inherit the throne in the future.
These two city-states were essentially in Byron's pocket, offering him the greatest level of support.
Of the three city-states, only Tayapan had fewer connections, currently maintaining a strictly professional relationship with no overly intimate personal ties.
"Iron ore, coal, deepwater harbors, inland canals, a huge labor force... My dear lady, your requirements for a new home are indeed too exacting," Byron communicated.
"I have gathered intelligence from several Great Shamans and visited five or six places along one of the island's six major rivers, yet none are suitable."
As the distance between the two [Echo Conches] rapidly decreased day by day, their communication delay shortened considerably from when they first started talking. This content belongs to novel_fіre.net
Now, one could speak a sentence and, after a short wait, hear the response from the other side.
Soon, a girl's silver-bell-like laughter chimed from the [Echo Conch]:
"TEE-HEE-HEE, these things depend on resources and locational advantages.
Do you think just any place can readily accommodate the industrial city you've planned?
I'm only listing the essential requirements. Only if these prerequisites are met will the plans you've provided—for revolvers, blast furnaces, lathes, coke-smelted steel, and so on—become truly viable.
If we can realize all of these in the future, adding a few Sacred Relics for you would definitely not be a problem.
You should know, right now, the iron output of all countries on the Old Continent is determined by the extent of their forests.
Mixing charcoal with iron ore and smelting it is the only way to produce quality iron.
Approximately 100 kilograms of wood are needed to smelt 1 kilogram of iron. An ordinary iron-smelting factory on the Old Continent consumes approximately 400 acres of forest in just one year.
If the solution you've devised works, its significance will be epoch-making.
The limit of steel production is the limit of your military strength.
Of course, besides these, there's one more crucial element..."
Upon hearing this, Byron couldn't help but blanch:
"I know. The new fortress not only needs all those conditions, but it would be even better if there were also a... gold mine for you to squander, right?"
Having been "net friends" for so long, Byron knew her nature deeply.
He was even more aware that if this plan of his fell through, his sister, who was diligently earning Gold Coins one by one, would likely go mad enough to want to kill someone.
And his own death would surely be too horrible to contemplate.
The joys and sorrows of individuals are not always mutually understood.
Hearing Byron's somewhat stiff voice, Violet on the other end laughed even more cheerfully:
"Correct! Mr. Good Citizen has learned to preempt answers. Not bad, not bad.
All other conditions can be negotiable, but the money must be there!
Whether the so-called 'Panacea' can offset all the costs of Black Sorcery, I don't know.
But I am quite certain that gold can truly compensate for all shortcomings in economic production.
As long as you have enough money, with my abilities, I can just power through it all for you. Rest assured, it'll be absolutely no problem.
And I actually do know of a place that perfectly meets all the resource requirements."
After a pause, a teasing voice came from the conch:
"Of course, it's... the Hetting Kingdom Channel Islands, your family's territory.
I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Mr. Good Citizen.
I hope that when I come to seek refuge with you, you won't let poor little Violet end up homeless on the streets."
With that, she hung up the communication with a giggle.
Byron helplessly shrugged his shoulders.
Once again, the Bay Citizen Princess had rubbed salt in his wounds, something he had grown accustomed to.