Chapter 897: Squire Knight

"We shall build a city here, to be named Drake Vale City. Then, a road will be constructed from Ember City leading here, called the Dragon-Ember Avenue. From Drake Vale City, another road will extend to Rivermouth City, named the Dragon-River Avenue. Ember City will also need a road connecting to the Reed Marsh, known as the Reed-Ember Avenue, and a city must be established at the Reed Marsh, called Reed City!"

Liszt sketched casually on a map.

Fire Island was roughly square-shaped but slightly tilted. The Sacred Mountain, home to the Moon Slayers' Sacred Tribe, lay near the island's center. A diagonal line from here divided the island into northwestern and southeastern halves. Currently, the Flamefolk's activities were concentrated in the southeastern half.

The geographical center of the southeastern half was roughly Whirlpool Mountain, making Ember City at its base the transportation hub and central city of the region.

The Reed-Ember Avenue would stretch eastward from Ember City, crossing two upstream tributaries of the Whirlpool River, reaching Reed City near the Reed Marsh. Reed City, guarding the Xinlu Teleportation Array, was destined to become a trade hub. Further east lay the eastern coast, where a suitable port city could be established.

The Yuxin Avenue would extend northwest from Ember City to Jade Mountain, a branch of the Fire Mountain Range, connecting the under-construction Jade City. In the future, roads could be built from Jade City further northwest to the Sacred Mountain—Liszt intended to establish a city at this central point of the island.

The Dragon-Ember Avenue would stretch southwest from Ember City to the Dragon Pit Mega-Mine, with Drake Vale City serving as the future mining hub.

The Dragon-River Avenue would run due south from Drake Vale City to Rivermouth City at the mouth of the Whirlpool River. This city would be Fire Island's sole port city for now, facilitating trade with the Tulip Isle.

Essentially, these four avenues formed the developmental framework of Fire Island. All agricultural and industrial activities would revolve around them.

With the Xinlu Teleportation Array now operational, a steady stream of knights and serfs was arriving on Fire Island. Once they arrived in large numbers, the island's rapid development would begin in earnest.

"The Dragon-Ember Avenue must be completed as soon as possible, Emily. Once finished, lead the Giant Elephant Knights to construct the Reed-Ember Avenue, and then proceed to the Dragon-River Avenue."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

After delegating the road and city construction tasks, Liszt, as usual, took a hands-off approach. He rode the Invisible Dragon Bard, circling the Dragon Pit Mega-Mine several times from above.

The mine, located in a valley, was unimaginably vast—spanning approximately 20,000 square kilometers.

To put it into perspective, Liszt's former home, Coral Island, covered about 10,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of an average Chinese prefecture-level city. The Dragon Pit Mega-Mine was thus equivalent to two Coral Islands or two such cities, containing five types of ore.

Of course, when averaged per ore type, the mining areas didn't seem as expansive.

Currently, it was confirmed that galena (lead ore) lay deep in the valley, covering a small area; mercury ore was on the valley's right side, also small; dark-iron ore occupied the left side, the largest area; bronze ore was in the valley's heart, sizable as well; and titanium ore was near the valley entrance, its extent still uncertain.

Prospecting mages from the Magic Association, alongside the knights, were surveying to determine the exact ore distribution and devise mining plans—though calculating reserves was difficult. However, these ores were all shallow deposits, making extraction relatively easy.

Unlike Earth, where many mineral deposits lay deep underground, this world's metal and gem ores, originating from dragons, were buried close to the surface.

Perhaps deeper deposits existed—but no one had the means to explore or extract them yet.

"Once this mine is operational, it will sustain the Fire Kingdom's resource needs for decades. Combined with the jade deposits of Jade Mountain, resources will never be a concern... Fire Island truly deserves its reputation as a land of abundance." Liszt was elated. "But is there an Elemental Dragon's skeleton buried beneath the Dragon Pit Mega-Mine?"

This was a question worth exploring.

Mining was no easy task. Fully excavating this valley would take a long time: "A pity that even with my Magic Eye fused with the dragon, I cannot peer into the underground magic." The Magic Eye was already remarkable, yet he still found it lacking.

...

Soul Island.

Knights supervised serfs in construction projects, with Mbappé Rubble serving as the chief architect—he was the mentor of Joamaya Hammer, Liszt's head architect. Joamaya had once nearly been executed for sleeping with Mbappé's daughter-in-law but was ultimately pardoned by Liszt.

Mbappé had long served the Tulip Family as an architect. With Soul Island urgently needing development, Liszt hired him to oversee the construction of the island's coastal castle.

Though he might harbor resentment toward Liszt for shielding Joamaya, Mbappé didn't dare show it. He worked diligently, especially under the watchful eyes of the Darkhorse Island knights—no one dared cut corners.

“This pour is substandard; sufficient cement must be used here!” he shouted.

The construction craftsmen immediately pushed another wheelbarrow of cement, pouring it into the shallow tidal area of Mind Island. The high-quality cement made from volcanic ash had become another key asset for Liszt's construction projects. Once solidified, the cement was harder than rock.

Whoo whoo whoo!

Suddenly, a horn sounded as a fleet bearing the red Tulip family banners slowly approached the hastily built dock of Mind Island.

Above the fleet, a massive black bird circled in the sky.

The bird landed directly at the construction site where Mbappé and his team were working, and a knight in silver-white armor jumped off its back. The supervising knights immediately approached and saluted, “Marquis!”

“Carry on with your duties. I’m just here to inspect.” The visitor was none other than Liszt’s father, the Knight of the Black Albatross, Marquis Niuwei Lee William.

“My Lord,” Mbappé also hurried over to pay his respects.

Lee William smiled. “Mbappé, you’re laboring diligently on the island, I see.”

“It is an honor to serve His Highness the Dragon Knight. The labor is no burden,” Mbappé replied hastily. Though he was a renowned master architect, in the eyes of nobility, he was little different from a commoner—the gap in social status could not be bridged by skill alone.

“Good, keep up the good work.” Lee William waved a dismissive hand. Though Mind Island was not his territory but his son’s, he still felt a sense of ownership. “Build Mind Castle well. This island and the gate behind it must be strictly protected—not the slightest lapse can be tolerated.”

“You may rest assured, my Lord. Mbappé’s construction quality has always been the best.”

“I believe that.”

As Lee William prepared to inspect other areas, Mbappé hesitated before suddenly speaking up. “My Lord, there is a matter I hesitate to bring before you.”

Lee William frowned slightly. “What is it?” He disliked followers and subjects making requests of him.

Mbappé spoke quickly. “My grandson, Steve Quarrystone, is studying at the Knight Academy. He’s only seventeen but already an Earth Knight. I heard that the Dragon Knight is recruiting new squire knights. I wonder if you could recommend Steve to His Highness.”

After speaking, he bowed deeply.

Lee William was reluctant to agree, but considering Mbappé’s years of service to the Tulip family, he reluctantly nodded. “As long as Mind Castle is perfectly constructed, I guarantee your grandson will become Liszt’s squire knight.”

Just a squire knight, after all.

He was certain Liszt would honor his father’s request!

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