Chapter 750 Message Magic Circle

No one on the sea could match Acheronides’ speed.

On the day before the New Year’s festival, Liszt first traveled with Acheronides to Ironhoof Island. After landing, he switched to riding Leo and headed straight to Ironhoof City to preside over the celebrations.

Since taking over Ironhoof City from the Sapphire family, Counselor Gort, Administrator Blair, and Knight Commander Jia Xiya of Ironhoof City had struggled to maintain operations in the island’s largest city. Their first task was conducting a household census and farmland survey.

Unfortunately, no trace of spirit bugs remained—the Sapphire family had thoroughly looted the place before handing it over.

Not a single master-level artisan could be found among the residents, as the Sapphire family had clearly relocated them long ago. Beyond stonemasons, carpenters, blacksmiths, tanners, and tailors, few other craftsmen remained—mostly just worker-level hands employed in workshops.

Most of the population were serfs who lived by farming.

To prevent starvation, Gort and the others had to buy grain from nearby cities and put the serfs to work—work-for-relief was an advanced governance strategy that Liszt had introduced. Rather than handing out free food, serfs had to work for their rations.

With farmland slated for gradual leasing, Ironhoof City would focus on trade as its primary industry. The serfs’ task was cleaning up the city’s filth.

Using the winter months, they first cleared away waste and demolished empty wooden huts to build toilets.

Once a city of 150,000, the mass exodus had ironically freed space for renovation—though Liszt had no intention of funding a full overhaul. A veneer of respectability would suffice: basic sanitation, new toilets, and minimal street planning.

"You won’t be able to return to Black Horse Island for family reunions, but your hard work won’t be forgotten."

"Renovate Ironhoof City—maintain a population of 50,000. The rest will be relocated gradually. When the work’s done, I’ll record a merit for each of you."

At the banquet, Liszt raised his glass and drank heartily with his followers, dishing out the usual leader-to-follower pep talk. They vowed earnest dedication in return, and the mood grew warm and lively.

After the feast, Liszt mounted Leo and left Ironhoof City with Acheronides, returning to the sea before riding a seashell back to Black Horse Island overnight.

By the next day, the island buzzed with festive energy. Most civilians were on holiday, and those working overtime earned triple wages.

Mexiro and his wife showed up at noon, followed by Lee William and his wife, Levis and his wife, and young Richard. Thorn Fort hummed with unprecedented life.

As night fell, before the banquet began, Cris and the Magic Guild’s wizards launched a slew of magical fireworks in the fort’s square—a research task Liszt had assigned. It wasn’t particularly difficult, hence the dazzling display.

He remembered the New Year’s celebration at Longtuber Fort, where the court’s great magician Grimandan of Truth had set off similar fireworks.

The memory had stuck with him.

What’s a New Year without fireworks?

"So beautiful!"

"So lively!"

"So joyful!"

As the magic-fueled explosions painted the sky, faces below shimmered with a rainbow of light, shifting hues with each burst.

"Three years already..."

Liszt mused to himself—his third New Year in this world. Festivals always stirred homesickness, but with no family to miss, he brushed off the fleeting gloom. He belonged here now.

"I’ve sent for a potted plant from the castle as your gift. Treat it well, and it’ll reward you—just like Thorn Fort’s living stone plants."

Penelope took his hand, chattering away.

The fort was decked out with living stone plants everywhere, serving as decorations.

After learning the spirit bugs within them came from her gifted plants, Penelope grew convinced hers were special. These days, she hesitated to give them to outsiders, saving them only for family, like Liszt.

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Since the stone flower bloomed, she had given away over a hundred potted plants, yet not a single spirit bug had been discovered.

Liszt received ten pots in total, but none of them produced a spirit bug either.

Still, he appreciated Penelope’s kindness: "Don’t worry, Grandmother. Every potted plant you’ve given me is placed on the balcony and carefully tended to, in case one day it produces a spirit bug."

"Exactly, that’s the way to do it!"

...

The lively New Year’s celebrations died down by midnight.

Liszt returned to his bedroom, drank a cup of Banpo milk tea, and channeled his Dragon Aura to evaporate the alcohol in his system, clearing his mind.

Then, he opened a knightly novel, waiting for the transition between the old and new year.

Moments later.

The castle’s bell tolled—the year 153 of the Blue Gemstone Calendar had passed, and 154 had arrived. At the same time, the smoke task silently updated.

"Task completed. Reward: design for a communication magic array."

As the smoke slowly outlined the serpent tongue writing of the New Year’s unknown reward, Liszt’s spirits lifted instantly: "It’s actually the design for a communication magic array!"

The value of this reward was nearly as valuable as a dragon!

Because once the communication magic array is widely adopted, the profits it could generate would be unimaginably vast—roughly equivalent to the invention of the telegraph or telephone on Earth, bringing about a revolution in society.

"Excellent!"

"I like this reward. As for where the design for the communication magic array is located, it’s either with Acheronides or in the mage tower. I’ll make inquiries tomorrow to see who exactly invented it." Liszt was in high spirits.

He took several deep breaths to calm himself before checking the new smoke task.

"Task: The new year will mark the beginning of the Age of Exploration. It is time for the expedition fleet to set sail and explore the seas. Maintain constant communication. Have Yevich lead the fleet to sail forth and seek new habitable islands for you. Find three islands outside the Blue Gemstone’s sphere of influence. Reward: the rubber bug triplets’ restlessness."

"The rubber bug triplets are getting restless again?"

"It seems that ever since I shifted my focus back to spirit bugs and kept assigning tasks related to them, my proactive strategy is working. The fate power of the Smoke Dragon is now targeting the spirit bugs."

Liszt pondered the task details: "Yevich’s expedition fleet can set sail, but before that, the communication magic array must be constructed first. That way, I can keep track of the fleet’s progress at all times. Once Yevich discovers an island, Acheronides and I can quickly get there to organize workers for development."

Moreover, he and Acheronides could also resupply the fleet as needed.

In truth, Acheronides would be the best candidate for exploring the archipelago, but her energy is fully devoted to magical experiments. As an Archmage, sending her to search the open seas for islands would be somewhat wasteful—especially with so many important mysteries awaiting her research.

Lost in thought, Liszt drifted into deep sleep. The next morning, after completing his daily knight training, he headed straight to the upstairs laboratory, where Acheronides was, as expected, already conducting experiments.