Monarch of Evernight - Chapter 990

Chapter 990

Chapter 990: Some Riches

Whether they believed it or not, everyone was delighted to see Song Zining’s rare demeanor of confidence . The Eternal Flame’s presence or absence would make a fundamental difference . If he were to settle down in the neutral lands, then there was nothing else left for the others to do . All they could do was return to the empire with their tails tucked between their legs . It was a different thing altogether if he would leave after three days . There was no need for Song Zining, even . Many of the people here could think of plausible countermeasures .

Discussions proceeded rapidly, and a conclusion was reached very soon afterward . The empire’s forces would pull three hundred kilometers away from Tidehark and avoid the arriving Evernight army . They would then move back to lay siege after the Eternal Flame had departed .

The only regretful thing was that the Great Maelstrom passage had started to stabilize again these days, and they would be able to send another group of people in after a few days . It just so happened that the Evernight alliance had arrived at this point, so the second batch quotas would surely fall into their hands .

Judging from the current state of the passage, however, it would probably take some time before it could be used again . The families weren’t too worried, especially the ones who had been listed as candidates for the second batch . The Great Maelstrom wasn’t a place anyone could go to . According to divination results, the passage was still fairly dangerous, and all those below the champion realm were destined to never return .

Additionally, Song Zining had revealed some fairly important news . Younger people would obtain greater benefits from entering the Great Maelstrom . It was best for those over seventy years old to refrain from entering, otherwise, it was more than likely that they would die there .

This information was extremely important because families with more quotas were planning to send elder-level people in to act as protectors for the younger scions . After hearing Song Zining’s warning, they quickly got rid of such thoughts . Elders were a precious commodity for every aristocratic family, and none of them would be willing to enter knowing they were heading to their deaths . After all, no one knew what awaited them at the other end of the passage . It would be a wasted death if they were to fall there .

With the elders out of the equation, the quotas became much more forgiving . Although the second batch would be deprived of the fortunes of first exploration, they would also be safe from many unknown dangers . Many of the lower-ranking aristocratic families would rather seek a stable outcome—it was a blessing if their scions could walk out of the Maelstrom alive . It would be even better if they could bring out some special products . As for the amount they could harvest, that wasn’t really important .

With the plans already settled, everyone started to take action . In just two hours, the camp outside of Tidehark had been dismantled, and the dragon of steel crawled back toward Southern Blue . After a while, the imperial fleet—fully loaded with materials and personnel—also started flying back . The entire city of Southern Blue was also loading materials into cargo trucks, ready to withdraw .

Ji Rui was both happy and worried about the Empire’s haste . He was happy that the empire was finally leaving and Southern Blue was once again his . He was also worried about whether he should join the empire right there and then . Although he would lose a degree of freedom, he would gain access to a vast world . The power balance in the neutral lands was too restrictive for smaller characters .

The factories in the city kept operating just like before . Song Zining’s factories weren’t moved away, either, and were running as usual . These companies had long since gotten used to the fighting between major powers . Whoever the ruler was, they would still have to pay the same tax more or less . There was a tacit agreement between the competing powers and the merchant companies—no matter how fierce the fighting, they would not touch the industries . Besides, the bigger merchants had their own mercenary forces and could be considered a power on their own . It wasn’t wise to offend them .

In the eyes of the merchants, both the Empire and Evernight were the same . The only difference was in scale .

Song Zining had built a wonderful foundation in Southern Blue . In short, all the factories here had only one purpose: to build warships . The demand for airships was endless in the neutral lands . Every produced vessel was destined to have a buyer .

Not to mention in the neutral lands, this level of warships would see good demand in the smaller vassal states, or even among the aristocracy back in the Empire . They could even sell to Evernight if needed .

Hence, the factories in Southern Blue had no intention of stopping even with the Evernight alliance bearing down on the city .

One day later, no more imperial soldiers could be seen in Southern Blue . All that remained were the natives of the neutral lands .

Not far from the city, in Song Zining’s flagship . The vessel had been disguised once again to look like an old cargo ship, one so rickety that it might fall and crash any minute .

At this point, two jeeps arrived on the ground, and Song Zining’s flagship descended gradually in response to a signal flare fired by someone in the car .

When the seventh young noble walked out onto the deck, three people had already alighted from the jeep and were waiting for him . “Greetings, Seventh Young Noble . ”

Song Zining said satisfactorily, “No need for ceremonies . How is your lord?”

“My lord has already left the Throne of Blood and I don’t know where he has gone . He gave us some instructions before leaving, however . Seventh Young Noble can hand the goods to us . If you have something to say, you can also tell us . He will hear of it during his periodic return to the throne . ”

Song Zining nodded . “There’s no such thing as too much prudence against the Eternal Flame . Your lord is correct . The things are here, check them . ”

With a wave of his hand, Song Zining gestured for his men to hand over a small briefcase . The elder on the other side received the container and opened it up for inspection . He found a dazzling array of jewels, jade, and gold inside, so many that it was hard to discern their value . “There’s no way Seventh Young Noble will pay less than was agreed . There’s no need to check . ”

Song Zining nodded . “One more thing, has your lord finished considering?”

The old man replied, “My lord thinks it’s doable but some of the terms need to be changed . He wants a custom corvette for each all-out attack from the Shattered Moment . ”

Song Zining contemplated briefly . “That’s reasonable . Go back and tell your lord that I agree . ”

The old man seemed delighted . “I will bring this good news back . My lord wishes to put in more orders, how many can seventh young noble supply?”

“This will depend on your master . The less disturbance Southern Blue receives, the more we can produce . Additionally, the Eternal Flame needs to be pressured at every turn . We can’t let him do as he wishes . ”

“My lord has his own considerations regarding this matter . ”

Song Zining nodded, and then returned to his airship . The elder also drove back toward Southern Blue .

At this moment, the guard beside Song Zining removed his hat, revealing the fair countenance beneath . “Who would’ve thought the Throne of Blood has agents in Southern Blue, a human no less . ”

This well-groomed man was Eunuch Zhang .

Song Zining smiled . “It’s not surprising, considering he’s been operating in the neutral lands for several hundred years . I’m sure Zhang Buzhou also has numerous assets among the vampires . ”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll pry on your secrets?”

Song Zining replied calmly, “What’s there to be afraid of? Southern Blue is there for them to see . It’s fine even if they know what components are being used . It’s not like they can open up the engines . Even if they could, they won’t be able to produce anything without the alloy formula . ”

“But…” Eunuch Zhang was skeptical .

Song Zining said with a smile, “Rest assured . Be it Zhang Buzhou, the Spider Emperor, Wolf King, or the Thundergod, all they want are airships, not money . They are fundamentally different from us!”

Eunuch Zhang smiled . “I have no other thoughts now . All I want is to follow the seventh young noble and earn a small fortune for my retirement . ”

Song Zining replied, “You jest . We took great pains to come to the neutral lands, there’s no way we can stop at a small fortune . ”

The two exchanged glances and broke into laughter .

After returning to the command cabin, Song Zining spread out a map of the Eastern Sea . After studying it for a moment, he pointed toward the border of the continent . “We’ll head here first . ”

Eunuch Zhang didn’t quite understand . “What’s there?”

Song Zining replied, “I’m going to see someone and return a favor in passing . ”

Eunuch Zhang was a shrewd old man . Seeing that Song Zining wasn’t willing to elaborate, he no longer pressed the issue . The flagship turned about and set out immediately after receiving the order . Halfway along the journey, a beam of light shot into the sky and flew into the void . Eunuch Zhang’s eyesight was sharp enough to see that there were two metallic sealed tubes in the radiance . This item was used to carry secret missives and intelligence . He was shocked to see Song Zining already using such advanced methods . It would seem the seventh young master maintained a close connection with the empire despite being in the neutral lands .

Half a day later, the flagship arrived at the continent’s edge . Song Zining ordered the vessel to wait while he flew down toward the land . Eunuch Zhang watched the seventh young master with a deep frown . His expression became stern, and no one knew what he was thinking .

The weather around the edge of the continent was adverse with void storms rampaging the land ever so often . Even Qianye had to be cautious when he traveled here back then, so it should be doubly more stressful for Song Zining . However, the Three Thousand Flying Leaf Art domain specialized in making use of the environment . The more extreme the conditions, the more power he could borrow . Hence, he was able to tread calmly through the blizzard, waving his fan in a graceful manner .

He searched through the snowy expanse for a good half-day, following what little information Qianye had given him . Finally, he found a vampire warship parked far off in the distance .

He had just heaved a sigh of relief when a person appeared before him . Clad in vampire attire, the cautious man sized Song Zining up from head to toe with razor-sharp eyes .

Song Zining cupped his hands . “You must be Marquis Jared? Please inform Lady Nighteye that enemies have arrived . ”

Jared was surprised . “You know me?”

Song Zining smiled . “How could I not know the great Marquis Jared?”

Jared felt hesitant as he couldn’t figure out anything after observing Song Zining closely . In the end, he said, “Please wait here, I’ll report back to my lord . ”

Song Zining smiled . “Please do . ”

Jared returned in swift steps and arrived near the warship . “Someone wishes to see you, he claims that enemies are at the door . ”

Moments later, Nighteye’s voice echoed through the air, “What kind of person is he?”

Jared hesitated for a while . “A young man who knows both your name and mine . His looks are fair, his strength is mediocre, and he’s carrying a fan in this weather . I’m not sure if he’s right in the head . ”

Nighteye produced a rare chuckle, saying, “Can’t you just say he’s an idiot?”