Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 641 Sea Area Development Rights
Ash led Zaka and Upton to the royal palace in the center of the capital in an alchemical chariot. After the chariot came to a stop, Ash stopped the two from getting off and patiently reminded them, "Let me reiterate, although His Majesty is gentle and approachable most of the time... he especially dislikes the style and manners of the Southern nobles. When you meet him later, be sure not to be bound by tedious etiquette. Just get straight to the point with any requests you have. If you are hesitant, you are more likely to offend him."

Zaka pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he nodded repeatedly... Finally, he didn't forget to ask, "Besides this, does His Majesty have any particular dislikes or likes? How can we please him?"

Ash scratched his head, pondered for a moment, and said with a blank expression, "His Majesty was a spellcaster by training, and I cannot reveal his past deeds, but it is true that he likes some strange and unusual things, unlike ordinary spellcasters who are rigid."

Upton looked somewhat troubled. He took out a coral jewelry box inlaid with gold wire from the pouch at his waist and said with a wry smile, "This was originally intended as a gift for His Majesty. It is the most dazzling aquamarine diamond in the Coral Sea... It is even more valuable than those that Lord Elliott rejected. However, His Majesty possesses the territory of an entire country and does not like ordinary treasures. I estimate that it will be difficult to please him."

Ash pursed his lips, raised his hand and patted the other person's shoulder, comforting him, "His Majesty often says that it is a small gift but a great sentiment... Besides, your gift is not cheap, the sentiment is enough. Just give it to the secretary of the palace before you go in to see His Majesty."

The two were then relieved and followed Ash into the “palace” that did not appear grand or magnificent, and whose interior decoration was not luxurious at all.

Unsurprisingly, the two were searched by two royal guards in the hall. The guard captain, whose face looked as if it had been burned by flames, was both twisted and ferocious. He personally inspected their belongings and even ran his hands over Upton's several thick arms and legs, making Upton feel both embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"Alright, hand over the gift box to me... You may go in and meet His Majesty."

Zaka and Upton took a deep breath, exchanged a glance, and found that their companion, like themselves, had an uncontrollable tension in his expression.

Following the guards up to the second floor of the castle, I watched as Ash left alone and entered a temporary reception room before being led to His Majesty the Emperor's spacious and bright office and study.

The room was furnished simply and neatly, without much decoration... Beside the large, dark wood desk, a man who looked almost too young put down his official documents, looked up and smiled as he sized up the two of them.

He was wearing a casual beige shirt, and his shoulder-length, slightly wavy black hair was loosely tied behind his head. He was not wearing a majestic and luxurious crown as one might imagine, nor did he have any other ostentatious ornaments. The only thing that stood out was his pair of exceptionally bright, light gray eyes, which seemed to be able to see right through people's hearts.

This... this is the emperor who single-handedly built the Northern Kingdom and swept through Saint Valen, intimidating the Southern Kingdoms?

However, there were only a few strange humanoid alchemical prosthetic bodies standing against the wall in the room, and there was clearly no other person for them to guess their identity.

Didn't Mr. Lambert say that His Majesty was a high-level spellcaster with unfathomable power? Why is he so young?

After hesitating for a moment, the two straightened their robes and, following the traditional etiquette of the sea tribe, bowed and knelt to greet each other.

"Your Majesty, the diplomatic envoys of the Abyss Sea Clan and the Coral Sea Clan extend their greetings to you, and wish your kingdom to be as vast and abundant as the ocean."

“Rise, no need for formalities.” Harvey chuckled and said casually, “Welcome to Starfire City. I heard that Dean Arturo extended an invitation to you, and you arrived in the North several days ago… I’ve been too busy with official duties to see you. Have you settled in well with life here?” He glanced at the two of them casually and noticed that, just as Ash had said, several thick, smooth tentacles were indeed growing under one of their colorful silk robes.

With its bulging eyes and octopus-like appearance, it doesn't look like a subspecies that shares genetic ties with humans at all. It's truly baffling how species evolution has progressed in this world.

Just as he was trying to suppress his laughter, he heard "Drum Eyes" bow slightly and reply humbly, "Your Majesty, thank you for your trouble. We have had a very pleasant time in the capital these past few days, and we are even more flattered by Lord Lambert's personal reception."

Harvey hummed in agreement, then picked up another document and casually flipped through it, saying, "Since you've requested to see me, you must have something to ask for... Tell me."

Upton quickly replied, "Your Majesty, we would like to request that, considering that your country and our people have just concluded a cooperative alliance, we would like to purchase some indestructible ironclad warships from you. If you could also sell us some of the magical weapons on the ships, we would be extremely grateful!"

“Civilian ironclad ships? That’s not a problem, but magical weapons are out of the question… They’re absolutely forbidden from sale under the kingdom’s laws, and… even if I agree to sell you a ship, without the magical fuel to propel it, you’ll just be buying a metal lump that floats on the water.”

Harvey paused, then patiently explained to the two who were still stunned, "When our navy visited the Coral Sea before, you saw those military ironclad ships and should know their unique features... Magic fuel cannot be delivered via teleportation arrays. In order to get the ship moving, the fuel air transport costs you need to pay continuously are almost equal to the value of the ship itself."

Zaka hesitated for only a moment before decisively saying, "No, Your Majesty... We can bear such high costs. Whether it's the magical airships you dispatch to transport fuel or the subsequent maintenance and upkeep of the ships, our race is willing to pay the full price!"

Before Harvey could speak again, Upton quickly added, "That's right. If His Majesty is not interested in gold and silver coins, we can use precious sea gems and magical materials to offset the bill."

The offer was generous, and the attitude was sincere enough… Harvey nodded, then immediately revealed his true intentions.

"I can sell you at most five ironclad warships, civilian models... You won't have to pay a single penny for the ships themselves, or for the fuel and air transport costs over the next year."

As he spoke, he raised a finger and pointed vaguely at the huge map of the Southern Territory hanging on one side of the study wall. "I demand that we sign a deep cooperation agreement, a more formal and official cooperation than the previous friendly alliance... the joint development rights of the Coral Sea."

"What...what is joint development right?"

"From Coral Holy City to the sacrificial sea area, within a radius of 500 miles, all resources, whether minerals, materials, fish catches, or even other exploration outputs whose uses have not yet been discovered, I will send the Kingdom's navy to rent a natural deep-water port in your Coral City, build a garrison port at their own expense, and at the same time, unite your two races to jointly develop the surrounding sea area, with all profits split 50/50."

(End of this chapter)