Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 212 Naga Escorts Silver's Arrival in Port: A Land of Wonders
Where the sky meets the sea, the clouds hang low, shimmering with a faint white glow, appearing almost within reach from afar.

The sea breeze continued to blow against the fleet's sails, creating a rhythmic whistling sound. With this wind force, the Hanhai fleet unfurled its huge sails and headed south.

Leading the way were two main battleships equipped with fully automatic sail propulsion systems, the "Qiming" and the "Shuguang".

The massive hull, placed on the sea, could only be described as light and agile. The six giant sails, crafted with Dongxia techniques, were constantly captured by the most favorable wind angles under the micro-manipulation of the intelligent system, making their maneuverability significantly "exceeding the limit." As a result, the four locally made imitation sailboats behind them had to start their propellers to barely catch up with the tail of the formation.

Now that we have oil in our territory, we can afford to use the engine!

The other team that was barely keeping up was the Naga.

Since Chen Mo briefly demonstrated his attack effects and fully expressed his friendly intentions towards the sea race, the relationship between this sea race team and the Vast Ocean Territory has become familiar.

We're all in this together; everyone knows a thing or two about the ways of the world, and the same goes for the ocean.

The leader of this sea creature group has a name that sounds similar to "Cersei," meaning "Daughter of the Tides."

Loma had privately explained to the lord that most sea creatures don't have names. Those who have a simple code name like "one, two, three, four" or "big head, small eyes" are considered to be among the best of the sea creatures.

These creatures, with names, syllables, and special meanings, are undoubtedly inextricably linked to the superiors among the sea creatures.

In short, they also have powerful backers and deep connections.

The second generation that truly prominent families cultivate, especially those who enter the national management system, are generally those with both high emotional and intellectual intelligence. Those who are not so intelligent either go into the financial or entertainment industries.

Cersei handled the situation perfectly throughout. She was fierce upon first meeting, but not reckless. She showed great patience during the talks and, despite her skepticism, still cooperated to a certain extent with the proposals from the Highlands.

Although Chen Mo was somewhat lacking in this area, his overall level has improved significantly after being nurtured by Dongxia for so long. Moreover, Lord Chen has an advantage: he is very obedient to advice in areas where he is not good at.

He is surrounded by people and elves who are devoted to serving their lord and actively offer advice and suggestions.

Thus, the communication between the two second-generation individuals was filled with a friendly, harmonious, and efficient atmosphere.

Chen Mo said that they would do their best to help find out the truth about the attack on the Naga islands in the human kingdoms. Cersei immediately expressed her gratitude and summoned several Naga warlocks and guards.

"Thank you for your kindness and commitment, Lord of the Vast Ocean. Your friendship will be remembered by the tides."

"Your fleet has been sailing long distances and will have to deal with many different sea creatures. My Naga clan still holds some prestige in the sea. Please allow me to send a few warriors to escort your fleet. If any minor troubles arise from other sea creatures along the way, we can help you communicate with them!"

This is equivalent to having "special agents" clear the way at sea, which is quite a show of respect.

Of course, in private, Cersei instructed the Naga: "Keep a close eye on them. Do they really help us issue investigation missions through the Land Mercenary Guild? What's the bounty? I need to know if they're sincere, and how sincere they are!"

"Also, this lord is quite interesting. If any other sea creatures try to make contact with him, keep them at bay!"

Faced with Cersei's "protection," Chen Mo immediately reciprocated.

“Go north from here and land at Emerald Bay, and that will be my territory.”

“If any of your members approach the bay, simply raise this flag, or after landing, remain in place and shout out the command of the Han Hai Territory in this pronunciation, and you will surely receive our Han Hai Territory’s rescue and support.”

"Furthermore, it is only polite to reciprocate. If there are any supplies that your tribe needs at our Han Hai Market, as long as our Naga friends ask, we will do our best to provide them!"

He also made a point of speaking openly in front of the sea people, instructing the scribe behind him: "Tell Governor Helan that if the Naga friends come to the Vast Sea, be sure to treat them well!"

"If the quantity of the supplies they want isn't excessive, they'll give them to their friends. If the quantity is large, they can only calculate the cost price!"

The accompanying personnel understood immediately and opened the map, explaining the location, route, and contact point to the sea creatures in detail. They also subtly hinted: "The lord has already said that you can take it for free. As for the claim that there will be a cost charge if there are too many, just take it in several trips."

Both parties are very satisfied that the initial contact has advanced the relationship to this stage. As for future cooperation, there will be plenty of opportunities!

So, after the main Naga fleet left, a group of Naga sailed the waves and circled around the fleet.

They maintained a polite, safe distance, neither being impacted by the wakes of ships nor unable to send signals or influence the convoy at any time.

Looking down from the ship's side, the triangular dorsal fins left clear watermarks on the surface of the sea, faithfully fulfilling their escort mission.

Occasionally, a young Naga warrior, unable to contain his excitement, will leap out of the water, displaying a fluid and powerful physique, his scales shimmering in the sunlight.

As the body fell from its highest point, it crashed back into the sea with a "plop," splashing up a cloud of white spray.

Among the accompanying party were several Naga sorcerers who would occasionally utter chants that sounded like hymns, their voices sometimes high-pitched and piercing the clouds, and sometimes low and melodious, blending into the waves.

This strange song, mingled with the eternal crashing of the waves, resonated with an ancient and mysterious rhythm, possessing a breathtakingly wild beauty.

This is a song passed down among the sea people, used to soothe the ocean.

You know what, the journey here really did feel quite calm and uneventful.

This made Chen Mo even more eager to continue their relationship.

A day and a half later, the fleet passed by the Xiasha Port of Xiyue in the distance. Here, Princess Liushuang's seasickness symptoms suddenly worsened, and she showed signs of severe discomfort.

The girl was pale and nestled tightly in Chen Mo's arms, murmuring in a low voice, "I don't like it here, I feel so uncomfortable, let's leave quickly, okay?"

Chen Mo immediately instructed the fleet to speed up and circle around the area, while adding a note to the logbook.

"When we're qualified, we'll have a good talk with the Xiyue Federation and have this port demolished!"

On the fourth day, the fleet entered the borders of the Silver Duchy.

From here, the winding coastline suddenly changes its style. The lush hills are replaced by more exposed rocks, presenting a rugged and hard landscape. On these hard rocks, a large number of man-made structures begin to emerge, and even the lighthouse is much taller than the neighboring Xiyue.

Soon, the fleet attracted the attention of the Silver Duchy's coast guard.

The negotiators from the Vast Ocean presented a triangular, dark iron badge, forged with intricate gear and anvil patterns, with a small, silver-gray metal shimmering with a faint magical glow in the center.

This is the identity badge from the dwarven master Norton Ironbrow. It was with this item as a guarantee that Chen Mo's fleet was able to successfully complete the landing.

On the sixth day, after several detours, the fleet sailed into the port of Fusion in the Duchy of Silver.

Looking up, you are greeted by a huge stone tablet. Although it is called a stone tablet, it is probably less than half stone. It is made of a single, monolithic boulder with thick layers of molten metal added on top.

The outermost runes and reliefs are exquisitely crafted, with each relief corresponding to a legend of a Silver Duchy, and the material of these reliefs is clearly a large piece of silver.

The white raised lines and dark carved borders exude a sense of weight and luxury.

In the center of the stone tablet, a line of large characters is engraved.

"Welcome to the Silver Kingdom," Loma murmured, a hint of envy in her voice.

Indeed, this magnificent building is a silver boundary marker to welcome guests!

If a boundary marker like this could be erected in our Dark Forest of the Elves... then without a doubt, as soon as the guard turns around, the metal on it would be scraped off long ago!
Sailing inland along the coastline, the fleet entered the docks of the Harbor of Fusion. The further in they went, the more spectacular the scenery became.

At the entrance to the pier's mooring area, two mountains, resembling the arms of a giant god, extend into the sea, forming a natural breakwater.

Most incredibly, the two "arms" of the mountain are covered with a dense array of giant holes arranged in a regular pattern. Countless thick metal gears and connecting rods are exposed inside the holes, slowly turning with a deep, steady, and rhythmic roar, propelling the two massive mountains to open and close slowly at a speed visible to the naked eye!
As the fleet entered, the two mountains slowly closed in, enclosing the berth in their embrace, leaving Chen Mo, who had witnessed the power of many machines, somewhat dazzled.

The dwarf accompanying him puffed out his chest proudly; he was Norton Ironbrow's third son, sent to guide the lord.

"This is the renowned Tide Forge of the Silver Kingdom, powered by the combined forces of tidal power, magic arrays, and steam engines. It can move mountains and suppress seas! My father participated in the major construction of the Tide Forge back then and even left his name on many of the castings inside..."

Further in, when Chen Mo and his group finally stepped off the dock and onto solid ground, everything before them constantly reminded each visitor in the most direct way: this is a wealthy, wealthy, and still wealthy country, with a bold and hardcore nouveau riche atmosphere that was overwhelming.

The upper part of the Harbor of Fusion is a complex of buildings built against the mountain, almost entirely made of metal, rock and glass. Thick pipes, like giant pythons, are wrapped around the surface of the buildings. Some of them are covered with thick insulation layers and spew out white steam; others are translucent, and you can see the unknown solution flowing inside.

Every so often in the building, a tower clearly intended for military use is erected. These towers are circular and also expose huge screws, mechanical supports, and stacked gears, shimmering with different lusters of copper yellow, iron black, and silver white in the sunlight.

At the top of the tower, Chen Mo also saw several giant crossbows mounted diagonally from top to bottom.

Loma Wind Chaser noticed Chen Mo's gaze and added, "Those big guys on top of those towers are 'Storm Ballistae,' which use enchanted giant arrows that are said to be able to pierce even dragons! The smaller ones next to them are rapid-fire 'Armor-Piercing Hammers,' which are very effective against heavily armored units or small to medium-sized ships!"

Chen Mo understood why the dwarf masters liked this place. It wasn't just that they were rich; they were also willing to spend money, creating "spectacles" of a grand scale.

This is simply a collection of man-made wonders! Whether they are useful or not, the Silver Kingdom builds itself to be as large and as high as possible, highlighting its immense wealth and power.

Of course, it is enough to make every outsider who comes here feel a heartfelt shock.

Led by the pilot ship, the fleet slowly docked at the designated berth. Amid the roar of the steam engines, a wide metal gangway was slowly lowered and placed on the side of the "Qiming" ship, with the grappling hook at the end firmly gripping the hull.

Chen Mo pulled Liu Shuang toward the gangway. The little girl took off her blindfold and looked around at everything with great curiosity.

Led by port officials, Chen Mo met the governor of the "Port of Integration".

This was a typical nobleman from the Silver Duchy, tall with deep-set eyes, and his white hair, combined with his rather young face, made him exceptionally eye-catching.

Of course, in the starry world, gray hair does not necessarily mean old age.

Chen Mo secretly speculated that it might be some kind of heavy metal poisoning, since it was a country located above a mine!
"In the name of the Silver Lord and my King, welcome to the Harbor of Fusion, friends from afar!"

“I am the Governor of the Port, Clay Storm. Oh, was Master Norton introduced you? That master was once our pride. If he hadn’t retired, he might have been named one of the Kingdom’s Seven Great Craftsmen!”

"Since you possess Master Norton's token, you are guests of the Silver Kingdom!"

Governor Clay Storm's speech was delivered with a heavy local accent, but it was still quite clear.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Excellency.” Chen Mo bowed slightly, displaying proper etiquette. “I am Chen Mo, Lord of the Vast Ocean Territory, and this is Liu Shuang, Lord of the Cloud Mist Territory.”

“Master Norton told us that this was a place of miracles. At the time, we were too ignorant to understand the meaning of his words until we saw it with our own eyes.”

"The Silver Duchy is truly a magical place."

Governor Clay laughed heartily.

Leaving most of his guards on the ships and docks, Chen Mo entered the port area with a group of about twenty guards. They were then invited to board a luxurious steam-powered carriage with ornate metal decorations.

The steam engine provided power for this heavy carriage, although the heaviest part was the steam engine itself, while the horses in front were mainly responsible for steering the carriage.

Well, although it's hard to evaluate, it's still a great invention.

The vehicles sped along the tracks that circled the mountain, carrying them upwards and deeper into this incredible metal mountain city.

Finally, the vehicle stopped at a huge platform located halfway up the mountain. From here, the view overlooks the entire port and the vast sea, making it an excellent viewpoint.

Behind the platform are twelve towering, massive relief walls, polished from obsidian-like material, with patterns depicting mountains, oceans, roaring furnaces, and armored knights—symbols of the Silver Duchy's historical heritage—outlined in metals such as brass and silver.

The relief wall gleams under the light, dazzling the eye.

Governor Clay Storm hosted a grand welcome banquet here. It appeared to be an open-air feast, but the Norton children secretly told the lord that if it rained or snowed, a magical dome on the mountain behind them could extend at any time to cover the sky above the platform.

Chen Mo looked at the enormous platform, and his understanding of the Silver Kingdom's grandeur deepened once again.

It was still daytime, but the venue was brightly lit, with moonstones embedded in the surrounding fences and a magic lamp in the center of the table emitting a soft glow.

The long table was carved from a single piece of black basalt and was set with thick, heavy plates and glasses. The food was lavishly prepared, including a whole roasted ibex, a mountain of spiced stew, bread bigger than a human face, and various carefully prepared plant tubers and leaves.

Judging by the portion size, it seems like each table could easily feed a hundred-man orc squad.

The liquor was drawn directly from huge wooden or metal barrels using taps, and it had a strong aroma, indicating a high alcohol content.

The elven archer Loma Wind Chaser leaned closer to the lord, subtly giving him a sarcastic remark: "This is the style of banquets for entertaining dwarves. It seems the governor treats us like accessories to the dwarven master."

Chen Mo smiled and remained silent, continuing to slowly turn his body to record the panoramic view.

Next comes a lengthy pre-meal ritual, in which the Lord of Silver is thanked, praise is given to the Mother Earth, the dwarves call upon the name of Granni, and the mages murmur prayers to the god of wisdom.

After the prayers ended, the governor waved his hand vigorously: "Welcome, friends from afar! Let the feast begin!"

The show begins.

Harps with metal strings that need to be struck with metal rods; mechanical harps powered by steam that emit rhythmic steam jets; war drums of various sizes that are struck with a thud; and graceful male and female dancers swaying to the music.

Chen Mo wasn't particularly interested in the performance, but most of his entourage seemed quite excited. Even the real "nobles" on stage, Princess Liushuang and the senior elf, were watching intently.

During the banquet, toasts were exchanged and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Chen Mo is not good at drinking, let alone such strong liquor. Fortunately, Liu Shuang was with him, and the young girl did not hesitate to take the lead in drinking for Chen Mo.

It was no problem for the newly promoted fifth-tier swordsman to drink a little alcohol, but he still seemed a bit tipsy. His face was flushed, his eyes were starting to glaze over, and his big, watery eyes kept glancing at Chen Mo.

Taking advantage of the break between toasts, Chen Mo seized the opportunity to present his request to the governor.

"Your Excellency, the people and customs of the Silver Kingdom are truly captivating."

Chen Mo tried his best to make his tone more sincere, and the translator beside him also spoke with great emotion, "Besides visiting the homeland of Master Norton and appreciating the charm of your country, I have a small request to make."

“I have heard that there is a place called ‘Valley of Exile’ in the southern border of your country.”

"I hope to obtain your country's permission to conduct some...academic visits and exchanges there."

(End of this chapter)