Chapter 819: Journey to Red Crab Island

In the following days, Liszt spent nearly half of each day conducting bonding exercises with the invisible dragon. Although he hadn’t developed any new mana techniques, he had mastered the use of crystalline vision, even discovering several spirit bugs in the nearby forest.

No Grand Sprites or spirit bugs were found—just six ordinary plant spirit bugs with limited economic value.

By now, he had over a hundred spirit bugs, so his attention to individual ones had waned. However, a spirit bug was still a spirit bug, with vast potential value. Who knew if a weed-type spirit bug might suddenly become invaluable by producing a variant magical weed?

Thus, every spirit bug had to be meticulously cared for.

To this end, he was already planning to establish a specialized department dedicated to researching, discovering, protecting, and cultivating spirit bugs, responsible for managing all the spirits in his territory. The most suitable candidates for leading such research were undoubtedly magicians, but Liszt had been striving to phase out the "magician" role and didn’t want them too deeply involved in territorial governance.

"Better to downplay the role of magicians and promote the Arcanist system. Not only can magicians join the Arcanist system, but knights can as well... Iron Knights are borderline research units, making them easier to control under the Arcanist system."

After careful consideration, he decided to use the establishment of a spirit research and cultivation unit as an opportunity to overhaul the territory’s magic-user system, officially transitioning to the Arcanist system.

"The new research institution will be called the Spirit Academy, serving as the foundational scientific unit for Arcanists in the territory, combining R&D, education, and industry... The Spirit Academy will handle spirit-related research, the Arcane Academy will study the essence of magic power and magic, and the Knight Academy will focus on knight training."

"Additionally, an Agricultural Academy will oversee farming research, a War Academy will handle intelligence and strategy, an Equipment Academy will manage magical equipment and weapon production... and a Royal Academy will coordinate and guide all academies, reporting directly to me while also researching and raising dragons."

Liszt planned to personally serve as the head of the Royal Academy, with Acheronides as the vice president and Cris as the chancellor.

He would also serve as the head of the Knight Academy, while Acheronides would lead the Spirit Academy, and Cris would remain the head of the Arcane Academy. The leadership of the other academies was yet to be determined.

As for the main positions within the academies, they would be determined by Arcanist tiers.

Entry-level researchers and instructors must at least hold the title of "Arcanist."

Those responsible for independent research projects or leading teaching topics must hold the title of "Grand Arcanist."

To oversee an entire academy, one must possess the title of "Chief Arcanist," and only Chief Arcanists would qualify for positions in the Royal Academy.

To hold leadership roles in the Royal Academy or engage in dragon-related research, one must hold the title of "Arcanist Mentor."

Undoubtedly, Liszt and Acheronides met the qualifications for Arcanist Mentors—and for now, they were the only ones who did.

After jotting down the "Academy-Arcanist Plan" in his notebook, Liszt didn’t announce it immediately. It was merely a concept for now; reforms could wait until after the founding of the nation. Currently, the old territory was still accumulating wealth, and the new territory needed development—there was no need to rush. After all, once reforms began, the Magic Guild would inevitably dissolve.

For now, the Magic Guild remained the best way to gather pilgrimage magicians and still held significance.

Only when magicians had adapted to the Guild’s management and began transitioning into researchers would it be the right time for reform.

...

However, just as Liszt was preparing to ambitiously develop the Flaming Isles, grim news arrived from his territory. A message relayed through the magic console soon appeared on his desk: Marquis Merlin of the Sapphire Duchy, a prominent noble of Red Crab Island and former captain of the royal fleet, had departed this world on July 3rd, 154th year of the Sapphire Calendar, with his funeral scheduled for July 15th.

Today was July 5th.

Setting down the message, Liszt leaned on the table, rubbing his forehead. The high spirits of recent days had faded, replaced by a slight ache in his chest.

Though he had long been prepared—knowing the frail and aging Marquis Merlin could pass at any time—when the moment arrived, he still struggled to face it calmly. Aside from Acheronides, the man had been the closest to him in this world.

While noble alliances often outweighed blood ties, the care Marquis Merlin had shown for his maternal grandson had earned Liszt’s deep respect. As a transmigrator, his few shared moments with the old man were perhaps his fondest memories of kinship.

This also made him feel much closer to the Longyu family than to the Tulip family.

"Philip, inform Count Cross and Viscount Fox to come to the camp for a meeting."

"Yes, my lord."

A short while later, Cross Shaji and Viscount Fox arrived together.

"I summoned you here because I will soon leave Flame Island and return to the territory. The development work here will be entrusted to you—Cross will lead, and Fox will assist."

"Rest assured, my lord!" The two accepted their orders.

"You must quickly complete the layout of Torch Town. I will return soon with ten new framework ships, still configured with half supplies and half personnel. Additionally, Duert Hongxingguo has already mustered seven hundred land knights, thirteen hundred squire knights, and a large number of serfs, who are currently sailing here. Their accommodations must also be arranged."

"Understood."

"However, the riverside passage along the Whirlpool River does not need your attention. I will personally oversee its opening when I return. There are many high-tier magical beasts along the way, likely quite formidable," Liszt added.

As one of Liszt's three count followers, Duert Hongxingguo had previously been sent to gather knights from Ironhoof City for the large-scale development of Flame Island. Their fleet had no outside aid and would take a long time to sail from Black Horse Island to Flame Island.

However, Liszt would send Acher to help, ensuring the fleet arrived at Flame Island as quickly as possible.

Once there, these knights would travel upstream along the Whirlpool River, reaching Ember Plain while simultaneously opening a passage along the river, paving the way for future residential development.

After giving his instructions,

Liszt dismissed the two and went straight to the temporary laboratory, finding Acher busy with her work: "Acher, I may need to interrupt your experiments."

"What is it, brother?"

"Marquis Merlin has died. I need to return immediately."

Acher was not particularly concerned with human affairs, but she understood Liszt's feelings toward Marquis Merlin, so she nodded gently: "Mm, I'll pack up the experimental data right away."

Once the data was gathered, they set off immediately.

Instead of summoning the Fire Drake Rio, they mounted the invisible dragon, Bard, and headed for the coast. Along the way, Liszt let Acher experience the sensation of being enveloped by spatial mana and penetrating the material boundary, deepening her understanding of spatial magic and thus improving her grasp of the Teleportation Circle's principles.

Riding through the night, they arrived at the shores of Crimson Crab Island on the afternoon of July 6.

Then, they summoned the Fire Drake Rio and began flying toward Longtaro Castle at the center of Crimson Crab Island.