Magic Industrial Age

After looking into the magic mirror, Archmage Timo pressed his hands on it, his brow furrowed, a hint of displeasure on his face.

A fourth-tier Calamity-class mage wouldn't dare to look down on royalty, but could certainly interact with them as equals.

If he were truly displeased, he could simply leave. No noble family would be foolish enough to order an assassination; that would be irresponsible with their own lives.

Therefore, Archmage Timo greatly disliked Marquis Carlisle's commanding tone.

Moreover, everyone present knew that contacting their allies would be futile.

The reason was simple: even if their allies had made progress, it wouldn't solve the immediate problem.

It was a case of 'distant water can't quench a nearby fire'!

In fact, if the news really spread, Loya would only fight harder and kill more.

He would have to recoup the losses from other places from the Carlisle family.

In other words, contacting them in the current situation would be extremely unwise.

But seeing the Marquis Carlisle, who had already descended into madness, the Pale Knight beside him slowly shook his head, as if explaining everything.

Finally, Archmage Timo moved. Using the magic mirror, he attempted to contact the Castro family, the McKinley family, and the Gloomsea Pirates.

Strangely, all three responded very quickly!

However, when the news was announced, there was silence—deathly silence!

...

Edge of the Magnificent Forest.

The Castro family's army marched to this point, a fully armed knightly order presented a grand spectacle.

But here, their path was blocked by several individuals.

There weren't many, only seven or eight, but they were all floating in mid-air.

Some unfurled their Battle Qi wings, some used flying spells, and others simply sat cross-legged on magic carpets.

They didn't speak, but simply watched quietly, their expressions calm.

They had the Magnificent Forest at their backs, the trees swaying behind them, seemingly only moved by the wind, yet concealing countless enemies.

Seeing this scene, Marquis Sane Castro's face was unusually grim. After a moment of silence, he finally spurred his horse forward.

Reaching the center, he gathered his Qi and spoke, "Floyd, I know you're here. Come out and meet me!"

"Whether you know or not, Sane, you've really gone too far this time!"

The seven or eight people stepped aside, and an old man walked out. He held a cane and stepped through the air, as if walking on solid ground.

When he was close, the two men faced each other, as if invisible forces clashed, filled with murderous intent.

The old man looked at Marquis Castro and said, "Sane, some things cannot be made exceptions, because once there's a first time, there will be a second.

When you tried to dismember the Flower Territory, did you ever think that when your Castro family declines and weakens, you might be dismembered by other nobles?"

"You've broken the rules. Perhaps the Lionheart family is suffering now, but who's next? Have you never considered it might be you?"

Sane Castro seemed to have heard something ridiculous. He tilted his head, looked at the old man, and said, "Marquis Floyd, everyone agrees that you're the least worldly and dislike the infighting among nobles.

But now, now, you're actually lecturing me? What a curious feeling!"

Marquis Floyd's expression stiffened, but he still said, "Grand Duchess Aphra told me this!"

"Aphra, Aphra, a woman. Why are you so convinced by her?"

"Do you look down on women, or do you look down on Aphra Norman? Do you dare say that to Aphra's face?

Or, should I help you convey it?"

Marquis Castro's face darkened, and he was unwilling to argue unreasonably. "I've brought a powerful knightly order, which you few cannot stop.

So, be wise and retreat quickly, lest we harm our harmony!"

Marquis Floyd was not afraid at all. "You can force your way through. Although there's a fifty percent chance that I have no ambush in the Rose Forest,

there's also a fifty percent chance that I've set a trap inside, waiting for you to walk right in."

"If you have the guts, come on?"

As he said this, he led his men backward, eventually disappearing into the Magnificent Forest.

Leaving Sane Castro standing in the distance, a look of tangled emotion on his face.

He was actually very confident that there were no ambushes in the Magnificent Forest, because there wasn't enough time.

But he still didn't want to gamble, nor dared to gamble!

The Floyd family were all geniuses. Whether it was Battle Qi or magic, they all had amazing aptitudes.

However, there's a saying that the distance between a genius and a madman is only a step!

Who knew what crazy things these lunatics would do?

If, just if, if they insisted on intervening?

Then the Castro family would face huge losses. At that time, the conflict in the duchy would completely escalate. Was it really worth it?

When a person begins to hesitate, they lose decisiveness, especially a smart person. In the end, although Sane Castro did not retreat, he never moved forward again.

...

Over here, the situation was still good, but on the other side, the situation was about to erupt.

Moonlight Castle.

This was one of the roads from the McKinley family's territory to the Raymond family's.

Without anyone knowing, the McKinley family's army had already gathered here, preparing to enter the Flower Territory, but they were surrounded by a pursuing knightly order.

It was the Royal Knightly Order, hundreds of earth dragons carrying their knights approached.

Even though the dragon's aura was faint, it accumulated, and was like a river. Coupled with threatening roars, it made the warhorses on the opposite side restless.

Marquis Ricardo McKinley, known as the 'Silver Fox,' had a very bad expression. He looked at one of the earth dragon knights and almost roared, "Ethel, what are you trying to do?"

"Lord Ricardo, before I answer your question, can I ask one first?

Why did you, Marquis McKinley, bring the family knightly order to Moonlight Castle?"

Ricardo argued, "I was just holding a hunt, to train the bravery of my vassals and knights, is that not allowed?"

Ethel also smiled and said, "My Royal Knightly Order are the guardians of the duchy. It's reasonable for us to appear anywhere in the duchy, isn't it?"

"Ethel! Don't forget that the earth dragon knights are supported by the entire duchy, not just the Norman family.

So, it's better not to interfere in some things."

As Marquis McKinley said this, he added, "That's enough. You lead your team back, and it'll be considered that you've completed your mission. As for us, just pretend you didn't see us."

Ethel smiled nonchalantly, "I think that's fine, but it's useless to tell me.

You have to tell her!"

As she said this, Ethel spurred her mount to the side, and the entire earth dragon knights also made way.

A luxurious carriage passed through the passage formed by the earth dragon knights and came to the front.

Grand Duchess Aphra's voice came from within, "Ricardo, compared to those two, you are a smart man.

So, I'll give you one sentence!"

"What?"

"Get back where you came from, or you'll bear the consequences!"

...

On the Silver Sea.

Davis, the leader of the Gloomsea Pirates, had been annoyed recently because things weren't going smoothly.

Not to mention Sea Siren Port, with that mage tower and the fourth-tier water-based Calamity-class mage, it was already impregnable.

So, he sent pirates ashore to burn, kill, and loot!

But this time, it wasn't so smooth.

Because, pirates landing ashore meant losing their home advantage, and their strength was greatly reduced.

Even more so because of Grand Knight Thor's methods, which made the people of the Flower Territory realize the pirates' brutality.

As a result, after the pirates landed, they would be reported as soon as they encountered anyone.

Then, Grand Knight Thor would lead people to hunt them down, kill them, and even hang the captured pirates on the coastline.

Over time, the pirates became afraid and unwilling to go ashore.

As a result, a stalemate was formed!

But this stalemate was unfavorable to the pirates, because Davis knew clearly that as long as the war in Frostmoon Canyon ended,

regardless of whether the Raymond family won or Marquis Carlisle gained an advantage, they would have to deal with these pirates who were jumping around.

So, these days, he had been seeking a way to break the situation.

But even after killing countless brain cells, he still had no inspiration.

Just as Davis was thinking hard, a crew member shouted as he approached, "Captain, Captain Davis, we've discovered passing merchant ships, it looks like they're going to Sea Siren Port.

Should we rob them?"

"Do you even need to ask! All pirates move out! Quick! Move!"

The order was issued, and the surrounding pirate ships were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Davis also went to the deck and looked into the distance. He saw three merchant ships running around like headless flies!

He shouted excitedly, constantly issuing orders to encircle and intercept!

But just as success was about to be achieved, a loud 'boom' came.

An ironclad ship with a silver shimmering hull appeared in everyone's sight, and extended a row of dark gun barrels, firing directly.

In an instant, the pirate ships were blown up and overturned!

Davis was also anxious. He roared loudly, "Emden, Emden, how dare you attack me for no reason outside the empire's territory?"

On that ironclad ship, an old general with a lot of age and a full head of silver hair grinned and said, "Davis, don't talk nonsense!

We are not without reason, but are providing escort!"

"These three merchant ships are all loaded with goods that we are trading with the Raymond family, escorted by my Emden, so what? Is that not allowed?"

"It's you, Davis, you dare to rob the empire's ships in broad daylight.

You are ignoring the dignity of the Habsburg Empire, ignoring the glory of the navy. As an escort ship, shouldn't I strike you?"

This time, it was Davis's turn to be dumbfounded?!

That's right, this was the method that Loya and the imperial ambassador had discussed.

Direct imperial intervention was naturally not possible, as it would easily escalate the situation and provoke the sensitive nerves of other empires.

However, the empire and the Raymond family had a transaction, so sending some goods was normal, right?

But if they were robbed by pirates at this time, then the empire's ironclad ship would naturally be able to take action, and no one could say anything!

Three updates are here, tomorrow I want to start a burst and make up for the extra updates in the shortest time!