Chapter 10

The druid's mode of transportation is very natural, either transforming into an eagle or riding an exotic golden eagle. When traveling at full speed, a hundred kilometers per hour is no big deal, and it's a straight path without any detours. Therefore, it takes less than a day to travel from Florence to Atlas.

As for the necromancer's inspection team, they first ride ghost carriages to the border town of Twilight City at the edge of the Death Nation, then take airships there to cross the Randis Mountains, and finally find the isolated Florence deep in the vast Maya Great Forest, to visit the druid's natural academy.

Don't underestimate the ghost carriage as a land vehicle; its speed is not much slower than that of a golden eagle. The Death Nation is famous for its extensive transportation network, which is so developed that even the most densely populated and economically advanced Holy Empire's Holy Sword Province can't compare. After all, the Death Nation is never short of labor, with various skeletons, zombies, and alchemical puppets being the best laborers. They never tire, don't need wages, and don't complain. As long as an ethereal tower is established, and the action mode is set, once activated, the ethereal energy signal from the tower will be received by the undead within a certain range, causing them to mechanically repeat the same labor—this is how the road network covering every corner of the Death Nation was built.

On the wide main road, ghost carriages race at high speed, with specially designed carriage wheels tightly fitting the bone light tracks. The bone light tracks, reinforced by necromantic secrets, seamlessly fit the specialized wheels, ensuring that even at high speeds, there's no risk of the carriage flying off. There are four such light tracks on the main road, used for transporting valuable goods, delivering important messages, rapidly mobilizing reinforcements, and transporting important guests. The non-track roads are also very wide, with flat concrete roads that are grayish-white, perfectly matching the necromancers' aesthetic.

On one of these light tracks, six ghost carriages race at high speed, each maintaining a certain distance from the others to prevent accidents. In the last carriage, Sigma sits on a simple, almost shabby seat in the spacious cabin. Despite the excellent shock absorption of the carriage, he still feels very uncomfortable.

"Really, if you can make such a stable and sturdy carriage, why not take the time to decorate the interior? I don't even ask for leather seats, but at least put some wooden boards to cover the walls..." Sigma points to the carriage made with necromantic engineering and materials, lamenting, "Is this a wild boar's rib? Is that a兽人的大腿骨？这样堂而皇之地告诉乘客‘你们正坐在一个移动的骨牢里’真的好吗？"

The person opposite him snorted, showing disdain for the pampered Sigma.

"Also, what I really want to say is..." Sigma's eyes twitched, "Why are you coming along?"

Luluvi glanced at Sigma, sitting in a highly alluring crossed-legged position. Upon hearing this, she shifted her legs, and the graceful posture of her long, shapely thighs almost made the inexperienced Sigma lose his composure. He had to repeat "She's a female ghost, she's a female ghost, she's a female ghost" in his mind to suppress his wandering thoughts. Seeing Sigma's almost flustered expression, Luluvi smiled smugly and then huffed, "Of course I have to come. Do you think the Council would let you act alone?"

Sigma feigned concern, "But there are leading mentors and seniors, right? How can it be acting alone?"

"Phew." Luluvi rebutted mercilessly, "With their rigid minds and stiff personalities, they probably won't even notice when you leave the group. The Council wants you to get as far away as possible, but not to skip school openly! Listen up, the druids' natural path has its unique aspects and can even complement the power of necromancers. You must learn enough new things from the druids this month, or else... you know what will happen."

Luluvi's smile suggested she had come up with a new way to torment Sigma.

Sigma, being rational, didn't argue with Luluvi on this point. He produced a small flame and lit the phosphorus lamp on the wall, which was also a grotesque skull, showcasing the necromancers' twisted aesthetic.

He took a book from his luggage, calmed his mind, and opened the elegant cover. Following the bookmark, he turned to the latest page and began reading. This is Sigma's second bad habit besides his fear of ghosts: he is an incurable literary youth. In his previous life, he had the dream of becoming a great writer. After crossing over, he was even more delighted, thinking that with his knowledge of literature from five thousand years of world history, he could easily become famous by copying anything. However, this idea was shattered when he encountered the grand works of the Noren continent. The elegant style of elven writers and the flamboyant writing of human bards directly shattered his literary palace...

After humbly kneeling, Sigma honestly became a reader, giving up any pretentious intentions. No wonder people in his previous life said that novelists are all perverts; it's true.

Luluvi glanced at the engrossed Sigma and sighed quietly. This is the second thing necromancers can't stand about Sigma: he lacks interest in the robust and simple books that explore the essence of the world, but he can't put down these vulgar and lowbrow leisure books. What's so good about these shallow books written by pointy-eared elves and pretty-faced bards? Can they enhance your death power? Can they guide you to the essence of the cycle? Can they help you advance your Loen runes to level six?

Thinking about this, she tapped the table and asked, "What are you reading?"

"‘History,’ written by the father of imperial historiography, Herodotus. It's simple, easy to understand, humorous, yet rigorous and true, a very good book," Sigma shared his thoughts casually. "I'm currently reading the sixth volume, which talks about the great transformation of the Holy Empire sixty years ago. The author believes that the first Augustus, who led the transformation, granted large tracts of land in the rich eastern and southeastern parts of the empire to six powerful dukes, allowing them to establish duchies. However, he also took the opportunity to purge the powerful nobles within the empire, confiscating almost all their actual power. He then vigorously supported the so-called new nobility, consisting mainly of military officers and wealthy merchants, to balance the old noble forces. He established the Royal Magic Association and the National Magic Academy to counterbalance the church. More ingeniously, the emperor abandoned the plan to conquer the west and instead encouraged the new and old nobles to form so-called frontier teams, advancing westward under the name of the Royal Construction Corps. The empire provides logistical and military support to all royal construction corps but does not directly interfere. The construction corps establish their own cities in the west, enjoying complete autonomy, but they must pay high taxes and tributes to gain nominal recognition and titles from the empire, as well as smooth trade routes and strategic supplies—quite a win-win approach."

Sigma seems to admire the emperor, perhaps because the Washington family's rise was due to his frontier policy: "What a smart emperor, to recognize the fact that the central government's control is limited. No wonder the author says that after the great transformation, the Holy Empire finally shed the label of 'successor to the first empire' and established a highly centralized and powerful empire. Although the actual territory has shrunk, the emperor's orders now flow smoothly through the reorganized Holy Sword, Dragon Spear, War Hammer, and Sharp Spear provinces, and the national cohesion and control have never been higher. Everyone in the empire must obey the emperor's will, and the overall national strength is even greater than before..."

Sigma continuously praised the wise measures of Augustus I.

Luluvi watched the eloquent Sigma for a long time, then her lips curled into a very noble and cold smile, "Hehe."

***

PS1: Second update today... another one tonight. The book has been signed, and I continue to seek recommendations, collections, clicks, and support. The competition is fierce, and it's not easy for a new author and a new book (wiping tears).

PS2: Yes, in the next chapter, it's time to showcase my special world-building skills...