Ashen Dragon

Chapter 529: Chapter 2: Merchant Chapter 529: Chapter 2: Merchant A caravan headed north along the narrow Anzeta Corridor, bound for Romulo City in the southernmost part of the Empire’s homeland.

Leading the caravan was one of the renowned merchants of the Thrace Kingdom, a key figure of the Pearson Commerce Guild, and the chief officer of the guild’s trade with the Empire—Jose Saracha.

It was said that he had one-sixteenth elf blood, thus making him more handsome than the average person, and he looked much younger. Although he was over fifty, he still appeared to be in his thirties.

At this moment, Jose looked at the seemingly endless narrow valley and impatiently tapped the ground with his cane, “How much longer until we arrive?”

“Sir, once we leave the Anzeta Corridor, we will be in the Ashen Empire’s homeland.”

The guard answered.

“That’s basic knowledge!”

Jose was somewhat irritated.

“How long has this trade route been open, and you still aren’t familiar with the surroundings!”

“Sir, it’s our first time too…”

The guard apologized profusely with a forced smile, causing Jose’s anger to subside somewhat.

In reality, there was a teleportation array in Tahan City in the Cartapa Region that led directly to Isdalia, but Jose had refused their assistance under the pretense of “seeking business opportunities.”

Of course, that was just an excuse. Besides being a guild officer, Jose had another identity—the eldest son of King Wilhelm, Prince Bowers’ “White Glove.”

He used his connection with the prince to gain insider information for personal profit, amassing wealth for His Highness and handling tasks that could not be done openly.

Although trade between Thrace Kingdom and the Ashen Empire had been frequent in recent years, the Thrace Kingdom was preoccupied with war, and most of the transactions were fully managed by the Imperial Southern Continent Company; they only needed to wait in the south to receive the goods.

Moreover, the Ashen Empire had strict defenses and a comprehensive intelligence system, so the upper echelons of the Thrace Kingdom knew very little about the Ashen Empire.

This time, Jose’s mission to the Ashen Empire was to gather intelligence, including but not limited to mapping out layouts, exploring defensive positions, investigating military conditions, and stealing weapon blueprints…

Of course, to better understand the situation, they also hired a guide from the Empire in Tahan City, named Hera Gati.

This guide was extraordinarily beautiful, but Jose always felt that her pupils bore some resemblance to those of a reptile, giving him an inexplicable sense of danger…

“Mr. Jose, don’t worry. We will reach Isdalia before nightfall, and we don’t need to walk out of the Anzeta Corridor.”

Hera came from behind and said softly.

Jose asked suspiciously, “Why?”

Hera smiled and reached out, pointing ahead, “There’s the Anzeta Corridor Station. We’ll take a steam locomotive to Isdalia.”

“Steam locomotive…”

He had heard this term before; it was a unique means of transportation in the Empire and was said to be quite convenient.

Looking in the direction she pointed, Jose saw a cleared area ahead, with metal tracks laid down extending to the end of the valley.

The surfaces of those steel tracks were smooth and uniform, without hammer marks, dents, or cracks, clearly made of good-quality steel.

“Such good steel, just laid on the ground?”

Jose was momentarily dumbfounded; even the former Empire of Fadlan would not be so extravagant.

Hera explained with a smile, “Mr. Jose, the Empire’s steel production far exceeds your imagination. They use those gigantic furnaces to gather all the scrap steel and pig iron.”

And… all of this is His Majesty’s property. In the Empire, no one would dare to steal.”

Jose quickly adjusted his expression, pretending to be composed, “I thought the Anzeta was just a remote and barren place, but it seems to be richer than I imagined.”

However, compared to the former Holy Fadlan, this is still insignificant.”

“Hoo——”
Amid the roar of the steam whistle, a gigantic steel beast approached with billowing steam, halting in front of the caravan.

Immediately, everyone present except Hera gaped in astonishment, including Jose.

Some guards even thought there was an enemy attack, nervously raising their shields to protect the front.

“Everyone, don’t worry, that is the Empire’s steam locomotive.”

Hera smiled and gestured with a “please” motion before saying, “Get on board, Mr. Jose.”

No need to feel embarrassed; everyone reacts like this the first time they see it.”

Jose quickly closed his mouth, managed a stiff smile, and retorted, “Compared to Fadlan’s steel guardians, this is equally insignificant.”

I’m just curious, do these steam trains serve ordinary citizens, or are they exclusive to the nobility? And what about our cargo?”

Hera patiently answered, “The steam locomotive is a blessing given to all citizens by His Majesty. For a negligible fee, anyone can use it; it’s very convenient.”

A poet once said that His Majesty used steel to pierce through mountains and plateaus, bringing people closer together.”

She chuckled and continued, “As for the cargo? You needn’t worry. This steam locomotive can carry up to three hundred tons of goods.”

These giant steel beasts, laden with cargo, roar between the north and south, transporting thousands of tons of goods each month, distributing the Empire’s merchandise throughout Fianso.”

Jose wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and whispered, “Indeed, very convenient…”

At this moment, however, he considered the Ashen Empire’s military mobilization capabilities.

It was known that not every place had a permanent teleportation array; such things were extremely expensive to create and maintain.

Yet these steam locomotives could transport hundreds of tons of goods, not to mention soldiers.

This meant that with a single order from the Emperor, the entire Empire’s army could swiftly concentrate in the south—that would be a disaster for the Thrace Kingdom.

And these were obviously magic artifacts used for the commoner class! Even the former Holy Fadlan wouldn’t do something so foolish.

Jose thought to himself.

After paying twenty-one Ginnar in fare, the nearly hundred-member caravan boarded the train, and their cargo was loaded into the freight cars.

“Hoo——”
With the sound of the steam whistle, accompanied by billowing gray smoke, the steam locomotive started again, speeding along the tracks toward the north.

It was not slow, and it quickly passed through the Anzeta Corridor, truly entering the vast Anzeta Great Wilderness.

Jose looked at the scenery outside the window, secretly recording with the Memory Stone disguised as a medal on his chest, but with the train speeding along, the outside view rushed by, and he could only capture a limited portion.

Suddenly, he squinted his eyes.

“Is that… farmland?”

In the distance were vast, flat fields stretching to the horizon, with neat furrows in the fertile soil.

“Compared to the Central Plains’ farmland, this is hardly…”

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he stopped mid-sentence.

Steel beasts with giant wheels moved through the fields, using their wide “mouths” to plow the land and sow seeds.

Billowing smoke also rose from the backs of those beasts, and this sight seemed utterly absurd to Jose.

Magic.

Absolutely magic artifacts.

These Anzeta people, in this magic wilderness, were using precious magic artifacts for the most menial, base task of farming?

What on earth is going on?

You’re using magic artifacts for this?

Even in the former Holy Fadlan, spellcasters were of high status and wouldn’t engage in such lowly work.

Seeing the shock in Jose’s eyes, Hera proactively spoke, “Those are combined seeders, another blessing from His Majesty.”

She gazed at the distant fields and sighed, “Once, Anzeta was shrouded in hunger and cold, but now we’ve overcome the struggle for basic sustenance.”

This Lir Farmland is modest compared to the grand Matra Great Farmland to the north, which was once a desolate land.”

Years ago, His Majesty Cassius wielded supreme power, causing the earth to rise and form towering mountains that blocked the cold winds from the north, warming the land and making boundless fertile black soil appear from the snow.”

Now, seventy percent of the Empire’s grain comes from the Matra Great Farmland.”

As she spoke, Hera’s tone became reverent, with her beautiful eyes filled with admiration and fervor.

Hearing this, Jose’s eyes showed immense shock, even a hint of disbelief.

Alter the terrain?

Create mountains?

If what she said was true, even a legendary mage would struggle to achieve that; it would require spells above the ninth tier of the magic web.

Without yet reaching the legendary capital of Isdalia, just this part of the journey had deeply shocked Jose, even causing some fear.

Would such an Empire, brimming with ambition, be content with just the modest lands of Anzeta and Cartapa?