Chapter 800: Whirlpool Town

This chapter is a bonus update sponsored by "The Childhood of Insects."

The preparation of experimental equipment will take some time. Acher did not conduct theoretical research but mainly focused on gathering these experimental materials.

The entire process is expected to take about a week.

During this period, Acher visited the Great Whirlpool three times and helped explore the surrounding archipelago, ultimately discovering seven large islands within a week—using Black Horse Island as reference.

However, the largest one was still the previously discovered island, about the size of Coral Island.

Additionally, there were many scattered small islands and coral reefs.

This archipelago was clearly unsuitable for establishing a nation. Liszt, disappointed, named it the Second Archipelago, serving only as a transit supply point. Nevertheless, the discovery of the legendary ancient teleportation magic array made the Second Archipelago highly valuable.

Unfolding the nautical map, Liszt once again studied this map painstakingly drawn by Acher.

Eight hundred kilometers south of Black Horse Island lay three islands—Island One, Island Two, and Island Three—all smaller than Black Horse Island.

Southeast of these three islands, 1,200 kilometers away, was Dragon Turtle Island.

Further to the southeast, 2,500 kilometers from the three islands, lay the First Chain Islands, all smaller than Black Horse Island.

Four hundred kilometers south of the First Chain Islands was an island inhabited by the Lightgreen Gem Dragon, newly-christened Midway Island, roughly the size of Coral Island.

Another 500 kilometers south of Midway Island was the Second Archipelago, featuring seven islands larger than Black Horse Island, with the largest nearly as large as Coral Island, named Whirlpool Island.

The distance from Black Horse Island to the Second Archipelago was approximately 4,000 kilometers.

The Great Whirlpool was located 23 kilometers south of Whirlpool Island, so the magic laboratory was set up on a beach of Whirlpool Island. To study this whirlpool, Liszt even planned to build a small town there, fittingly named Whirlpool Town.

He also intended to construct a Mage Tower to house the magic laboratory.

"It would be best to build small towns on all islands along the route that can provide docking and supplies. After all, the serf population in the territory keeps growing, and resettling them to farm the land is easy... As long as the serfs in these supply towns can sustain themselves, I don’t need them to pay taxes."

The daily sea trade in salt, paper, and glass were already cash cows. Coupled with a few expeditions each year that gathered resources like an autumn harvest, the income was substantial.

So Liszt hardly cared about the meager taxes from serfs. Were it not for risking disruption of the current social system, he would have abolished all agricultural taxes. While he didn’t rely on taxes, other nobles—including his father and the Tulip family—still depended on exploiting serfs for their livelihoods.

"Build a small town on Island One of the three islands—Redwood Town (where Nami once managed the mangroves). On Crescent Island in the First Chain Islands, establish Crescent Town. On Midway Island, build Greenlight Town, and on Whirlpool Island, Whirlpool Town... It's decided!"

He marked the four towns on the map as part of the upcoming plan.

However, another issue he'd overlooked came to mind: "I’ve been having the exploration fleets search for islands but seem to have forgotten to map their distances from the mainland coastline... They should still be within the Eagle Kingdom's coastal waters, though most of the coastline remains undeveloped."

Human settlements on the Legendary Continent were mostly concentrated in open plains and freshwater river basins.

Mountainous areas, ancient forests, and coastal regions were sparsely populated.

"Once Acher has time, I should have her explore from the Second Archipelago toward the mainland coastline to assess the land there. Perhaps, with development, the Second Archipelago could serve as a base for launching raids on the Kingdom of the Eagle, seizing resources and strongholds."

At the very least, he could use this route for personal expeditions to the mainland, where the untamed wilderness would be a treasure trove of unexplored riches.

Having marked the map, Liszt stepped onto the balcony.

Gazing at the distant sky, he was about to compose a poem when his thoughts were interrupted by a chorus of chirping. It was Xiao Huang, Xiao Hong, and Xiao Zi—three Flame Dragonbirds—circling Ai Ni’s Phoenix Perch Tree, a plant-insect hybrid. After leaving the volcano, Ai Ni had planted the tree near Thorn Fort.

Fire Drake Rio often slept soundly beside the Phoenix Perch Tree, allowing Ai Ni to sneak touches of his scales and revel in self-indulgence.

Though this was a phenomenon of the Grand Sprite’s evolution, Liszt still found it rather peculiar.

When looking at Ai Ni, it always feels like its tastes are even more unconventional than Pea Grand Sprite Ai Xi, who enjoys bondage art.

Suddenly.

Another Grand Sprite flew in from the distance, with an emerald-green, refined appearance and a small sapling on its head bearing a red fruit. This Grand Sprite landed quietly in front of Liszt, letting out a crisp and pleasant sound: "*Jigu*, Liszt, is Acheronides in the laboratory?"

"She is, Nami. You can go find her yourself."

"Thank you, Liszt, *jigu*." Nami flew from the balcony into the castle to play with Acheronides.

Just a few days ago, Nami finally shook off her lethargy, rapidly grew in size, and successfully evolved into the Redwood Grand Sprite.

She became the fifth Grand Sprite in the territory, following Giant Kelp Grand Sprite Parker, Pea Grand Sprite Ai Xi, Phoenix Perch Grand Sprite Ai Ni, and Bramble Grand Sprite Jie La.

With a circle of five Grand Sprites surrounding him, Liszt once again gained countless honors.

However, the reaction was much milder. When Liszt's Grand Sprites were mentioned, all the subjects and nobles simply took it for granted: "His Highness Liszt is a Dragon Knight—isn't it normal for him to have a few Grand Sprites? If a Dragon Spirit were born in the Flame Territory, now that would be something worth talking about."

In truth, this was highly unusual.

But from high-ranking nobles like Marquis Niuwei down to street vendors, everyone found it completely normal.

It must be said that the magic aura of the Dragon Knight identity was simply too dazzling—so much so that unless Liszt did something like slaying a dragon, he couldn’t even make headlines anymore.

*Wuwa!*

As soon as Nami flew into the corridor, she was met by the sight of a Grand Sprite, Jie La, standing with arms akimbo, proudly patrolling the insect chamber corridor.

"*Jigu*, hello, Jie La."

Jie La glanced at Nami haughtily, not wanting to engage.

But Nami, like a magician, pulled out a small bag of purple gemdust—Jie La's favorite variety: "*Jigu*, Jie La, this is for you."

Jie La wanted to maintain her haughty demeanor, but after a glance at the gemdust, she couldn’t resist. She took the bag, took a sniff, and then hung it at her waist. When she looked back at Nami, she gave a slight nod: "I like purple gemdust. Remember that."

"*Jigu*, Nami remembers."

"Hmph, bring me purple gemdust next time too."

"*Jigu*."

*Wuwa!* Thanks to the purple gemdust, Jie La reluctantly exchanged a few words with Nami before continuing to strutted about, inspecting her "territory."

Nami giggled, a smug confidence in her expression, and flew straight up to the fifth-floor laboratory. Handling this *tsundere* Grand Sprite, Jie La, wasn’t something to rush—she’d bide her time.