Chapter 230: Five Years

Five years later, spring, early morning.

At the Harbor District of the High Tower Territory, a magical mist perpetually shrouded the outer perimeter, concealing the area. Large-scale Suggestion Rune Arrays made any passing ships feel a sense of danger, urging them to leave quickly.

Only the territory’s own ships, led by the fleet’s Wizards, could navigate through the fog.

Carlo had been stationed here for over six years. Today, he was exceptionally excited.

“Lads, I’m telling you, today is the day Uncle Carlo retires. You’ll have a new Company Commander soon.”

Hearing Carlo’s words, the young militia lads expressed their reluctance to see him go.

Carlo waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet, then said: “You should know that for formal soldiers, one year of service counts as two for Work Points. So, two years ago, I became a Formal Citizen, eligible to exchange for a ticket to the supernatural.

Today, I proudly tell you all that relying on my contribution during the Night of the Waning Moon and the Work Points accumulated over these six years, I, Carlo, have finally reached the front of the line to exchange for the Lesser Mental Blessing.”

Hearing this, the crowd stopped trying to keep him and instead congratulated Carlo, hoping to ride his coattails in the future.

Just then, the magical mist dispersed, and a fleet slowly sailed into the Harbor District.

“Finally returned to Hope Port, bringing the ‘New Freemen’ we bought ashore,” Eddie stood on the deck and said to a captain.

Hope Port was the name of the Harbor District. Due to the Monster Tide, the barbarian tribes in the entire Larr Mountains had dwindled sharply, and the plan to capture barbarians to replenish the population had been declared bankrupt.

The only options left for population sources were purchasing slaves from the Northern City-States or raiding coastal populations.

Ace considered everything comprehensively and believed that disguising themselves as dispersed merchant caravans from Cimali and Medimus to purchase slaves was safer. The purchased population would have lower resistance. Raiding populations would easily raise alarms, increase the risk of exposure, and result in higher resistance, which was unfavorable for assimilation and rule.

Therefore, the entire territory implemented the Hope Plan, and the Harbor District was named Hope Port by Ace.

Carlo and the others were ready. Holding their rifled muskets, they marched in goose step to the shore to help maintain order.

Luther’s hair was a mess like a chicken coop. He was skeletal, and two months of tossing on the sea made him even weaker. His steps were unsteady.

Thirteen-year-old Luther was a debt slave from Norton City-State. He was originally the eldest son of an ordinary Freeman family, with both parents and a not-so-cute younger sister.

But all of this was shattered a year ago. His father was set up and owed usurious loans he couldn’t repay. The whole family was sold as slaves by the creditor to pay off the debt, and they had been separated ever since.

“I must survive. I have to find a way to save myself, and then save my parents and sister.”

His steps became even more unsteady. Amidst the exclamations of bystanders, Luther’s vision went black, and he saw nothing more.

Carlo noticed the commotion and directed the militia lads to support the skeletal boy to a shady spot nearby. Eddie, on the deck, did not walk down. Instead, he opened an arm-sized gray leather pouch at his waist, pulled out a human-height plush blanket, and threw it into the air.

Attached to the blanket was a metal tag that read: “Nightlight 005 Classic Model Activated Flying Magic Carpet.”

Below was a line of text: “A magical flying carpet with life. Self-driving. Maximum load 300 kg. Hovering distance 1 to 80 meters. Speed 20 to 80 km/h. Requires periodic replacement of Mana Stones.”

Eddie skillfully jumped onto the Magic Carpet. Using the telepathy ring on his finger, he commanded the carpet to fly quickly off the ship, arriving beside the unconscious Luther.

Eddie waved his hand gently, and the Spell Model for Magical Trickery appeared in front of him.

He recalled the book 300 Common Lesser Incantations he had copied from the True Knowledge Magic Bookstore. He opened his Grimoire, retrieved a specific incantation, and attempted to cast the spell.

He remembered the content of the fifth-year course at the Elementary Magic School: “Pronounce with supernatural language, drive with intention, assist with gestures, Mana moves automatically.”

His lips trembled rhythmically seven times. His gestures followed the Mana. His intention was repair. The incantation with a strange intonation sounded: “Repair · Biological Recovery!”

Accompanied by the influx of Mana, the weak Luther felt as if he had been given a shot of adrenaline. He woke up quickly, his spirit revitalized.

Eddie smiled at Luther, then turned to Carlo and said: “Get some ready-made dry rations and a little boiled water from the warehouse. Magic can only restore him temporarily; he must eat something to replenish nutrients.”

Subsequently, Eddie handed over duties to the Wizard Apprentice stationed at Hope Port. After confirming there were no issues with this “cargo delivery,” he jumped onto the flying carpet, drew an arc in the air, and flew toward Nightlight City.

Having successfully brought the people and supplies to the port, his mission was complete. Today was the publication day of the latest issue of Magic (or Spells), and he didn’t want to delay.

Luther felt as if he were dreaming. Not only was he forced to take a warm bath, but he was also scrubbed hard with a pig-bristle brush to remove layers of old dirt.

Naked, they walked through a so-called Rune Array. The people holding sticks said this was the Magic Disinfection Rune Array, invented by a man named Warren.

Luther changed into clean gray work clothes. His chicken-coop hair returned to its original state—smooth blonde hair. After cleaning up, Luther looked fair and clean. Having studied a few books with his father, he even had a bit of a scholarly air.

After eating a hot meal in the port canteen, Luther and the other slaves bought by the territory were sent to the port platform.

Ever since Betty published the principles related to the steam engine, Ace had highly praised it and encouraged her to deeply research its applications. In just five years, three railways had been built, closely connecting the Northern Mining Area, the Western Dam, the Eastern Port, and the central Nightlight City.

The Wizard Apprentice at Hope Port saw everyone onto the train and arranged for Carlo to lead men to manage and escort them.

“Once you reach Nightlight City, your military career will be completely over. I hope you successfully achieve Mental Overdrive and become a Quasi-Wizard Apprentice.”

Before leaving, the Guardian Wizard Apprentice of Hope Port said to Carlo.

After five years of development, the total population of the territory had reached 30,000. It consisted of one city and three towns: Nightlight City and the three aforementioned locations. Each town had a certain number of Guardian Wizard Apprentices stationed there.

With the roar of the train, Luther watched the scenery fly by outside the window, touching the cold glass, feeling like he was in a dream.

Those people holding strange sticks said they had arrived at the High Tower Territory, a kingdom of Magic. Here, they would all become Preparatory Freemen. As long as they worked according to the territory’s laws and did nothing illegal, they would become Freemen in three years.

This was simply incredible. He had never heard of slaves being liberated directly. What kind of place was the High Tower? What was Magic? And what was this steel monster racing them along? At this moment, Luther’s mind was filled with questions.

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