Chapter 801: Beyond 0 Miles

When Liszt had arranged his plans for building the town and the mage tower, and Acheronides and the other mages had almost prepared the necessary experimental materials,

Lucy and Ruth, the twins operating the magic platform in the laboratory, received a signal from the Discovery's magic platform.

At first, the signal was chaotic and indecipherable, but after half an hour, it became clear.

The first message received was from Captain Gernier Treebark Roundshield:

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Discovery has crashed. Fifty-six dead, sixteen missing, twenty-eight survivors... We fell into the maelstrom but emerged from a cave behind a mountain waterfall. The area is surrounded by primeval forests with magic beasts, making exploration impossible. We can only hold our position at the camp... Eagerly awaiting rescue."

"The Discovery still has survivors!"

Liszt could hardly believe the news. The terrifying abyss-like maelstrom was indeed a safe magic array passage.

However, the exit was jarring—emerging from a cave behind a mountain waterfall, causing the Discovery to plunge from a great height and resulting in the deaths of over half the crew.

"Lucy, reply to Gernier and tell them to wait patiently. I am decoding the maelstrom's magic array and will come to their rescue soon."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lucy quickly tapped the magic platform's compass controls to send the message.

Acheronides reminded him, "Brother, we should immediately determine the Discovery's coordinates."

Liszt nodded. "Right. Lucy, ask Gernier for their location."

A short while later, the magic platform received a response: "Your Highness will not abandon us—the Glory of Knighthood watches over us! The sextant is broken, so we cannot determine our exact position. However, based on calculations by two mages, we should be at..." A string of nautical coordinates followed.

It was a rough estimate.

Acheronides only needed a glance at the data to calculate: "Brother, if the Discovery's coordinates are correct, they are located nearly seven or eight thousand kilometers south of Black Horse Island. Using the maelstrom as a reference, it's about ten degrees south-by-southwest, with a straight-line distance of nearly four thousand kilometers."

A single transportation magic array had sent the Discovery four thousand kilometers away.

Jay Chou and Fei Yuqing would have to sing "A Thousand Miles Away" four times to cover that distance—or eight times if measured in *li* (since one kilometer equals two *li*)!

"Lucy, ask them if they've experienced any adverse physical effects."

Soon, the magic platform responded: "No adverse physical effects. Some injured crew members are still recovering, but the knights' mana flows smoothly, the mages can cast magic freely, and everyone is sleeping well, mentally sound, and fully conscious."

"Ask them if they saw the rocks, trees, and magic beasts we threw into the maelstrom during the earlier magic experiment."

"We did, but these objects landed far away. The route is barred by magic beasts, so we couldn't investigate."

"Have them detail their journey through the maelstrom and the waterfall cave's layout."

"..."

After over an hour of detailed questioning, Liszt and Acheronides had a clear understanding of the maelstrom's transportation magic array. It was indeed a safe passage.

The only two dangers were: first, the whirlpool's violent currents, which risked ripping the ship apart; and second, the moment of exit from the waterfall cave, where the ship would be hurled high into the air before falling.

As long as these two dangers were avoided, the maelstrom was essentially a safe and efficient transportation magic array.

"Brother, we should dispatch supplies and research materials to the Discovery's survivors, including equipment like sextants, and have them aid our research from their location."

"Absolutely!" Liszt nodded. "But you might need to make the journey there yourself, Acheronides, to see whether there’s an island or if it’s part of a continental landmass."

"Understood."

The unexpected contact with the Discovery has completely shifted the direction of research on the Great Whirlpool.

Although experimental studies still need to continue, the urgency has diminished, especially for Liszt, whose focus now lies entirely on the other end of the Great Whirlpool. According to Gurnier's description, it is a vast, boundless primeval forest, indicating that their location is either a large island or a corner of a continent. In any case, with the Great Whirlpool serving as a teleportation magic array, capable of bridging thousands of kilometers, its developmental value is immense.

Communication continues, with Gurnier reporting their situation every hour.

Acheronides has already set off swiftly for the unknown sea area, while Liszt begins organizing supplies, preparing to send them through the Great Whirlpool to the Discovery.

"All supplies must be wrapped in leaves coated with rubber, padded with cotton and linen inside, and finally bound tightly with cords woven from Hemp Rope Vine!"

When instructing Administrator Isaiah of the city of Giant Kelp to gather supplies, Liszt carefully emphasized: "Additionally, the ships must be continuously reinforced. Don't spare any materials—it’s best to apply several coats of rubber water to ensure the vessels can withstand tremendous impact, even a fall from great heights."

Baron Isaiah had grown steadily more capable: "Rest assured, Your Highness. Isaiah will meticulously prepare the supplies and reinforce the ships, ensuring every step minimizes the possibility of damage."

Assignments made, night has fallen. Liszt stands on the balcony, gazing at the starry sky, hoping for good news from Acheronides—he isn’t worried about her safety, as she has become an Archmage, mastering both water and ice magic, powerful enough to rule the seas.

Moreover, Acheronides can swim at underwater speeds approaching the speed of sound—over 1,200 km/h.

No sea creature could match her speed, not even a water dragon—though water dragons' ocean habitat remains unconfirmed. Recorded sightings place them in a great marsh far from the sea.

From Black Horse Island to the Discovery’s location, 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers away, Acheronides would need the better part of a day to make a round trip at full speed.

However, she has taken a magic array communicator with her.

Before dawn the next day, Ruth, working the night shift, is led by a servant to knock on Liszt’s bedroom door: "Your Highness, Archmage Acheronides has sent a message. She has arrived at the coordinates of the Discovery and discovered several enormous islands, the largest of which is several times bigger than Iron Hoof Island!"

"Several times bigger than Iron Hoof Island?"

Liszt immediately gets up and, still in his pajamas, heads to the magic laboratory to communicate with Acheronides via the magic array.

Acheronides shares her findings. Unable to pinpoint the Discovery’s exact location, she explored the surrounding sea area and has already identified over ten islands. The largest is several times the size of Iron Hoof Island—even larger than Blue Dragon Island—with several others approaching the size of Iron Hoof Island.

"Perfect!"

After hearing her report, Liszt declares: "This will be my founding archipelago!"