Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 613: Verdant Wave Canal

Although Harry was a corpulent knight, he gave out a different aura than Reina. He was approachable and unimposing. Sein felt at ease when conversing with him. Not only that, he was also a master at ingratiating himself with others.

“Have you been away for a long time, Master?” Harry ventured.

After Sein nodded, Harry enthusiastically described the substantial developments at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring over the years.

He could tell that this honorable and enigmatic Rank Two mage was interested in these recent changes.

“The biggest change here is undoubtedly the creation of the Verdant Wave Canal!” Harry said, pointing with his chubby finger toward the massive waterway system.

The canal’s width was nearly ten thousand meters, extending farther than the eye could see.

Given the financial means of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring and the expanse of the Jewel Sea, pioneering such an immense waterway system seemed excessive, at least to Sein.

Moreover, his mentor was not the type to invest in impractical ventures.

Catching Sein’s inquisitive look, Harry proudly explained the emergence of the Verdant Wave Canal and its origins.

Having the chance to impress a knowledgeable mage was a rare opportunity.

Harry’s explanation was straightforward; he covered the canal’s construction timeline, the pioneers behind it, and its function.

As Sein suspected, the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring had nothing to do with this canal.

Harry had limited information, but he understood that the canal was a collaboration among three entities—the Byrne Empire, the Dawning Secret Society on the South Coast, and aquatic races.

He had no idea what purpose it served in detail but knew that it connected the Magus World’s Boundless South Sea with the inland Jewel Sea.

By following the Verdant Wave Canal southward, one could easily and quickly reach the South Coast and the Boundless South Sea.

Since the Byrne Empire was a key contributor to the canal’s construction, it veered eastward, cutting directly through Byrne territory, rather than forming a straight line south.

The creation of this canal significantly boosted the prosperity of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Remarkably, the construction of this extensive canal did not span decades or centuries; under the concerted efforts of the three powers, it took merely three years to become navigable.

Only in the Magus World, with its supremely advanced magical civilization, could such a vast canal be constructed in so brief a period.

In terms of its length, running from Jewel Bay to the South Coast, it might even surpass the straight-line distance from the southern to the northern end of Thunderfall World.

“Mark my words, based on my experience, Jewel Bay and the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring have yet to see their true boom. It will take a century for these places to reach their full potential!”

Perhaps getting a bit carried away in his enthusiasm, Harry shook his head as he showed off his knowledge to Sein, a Rank Two mage.

“I wonder how many business families from the Magus World will be drawn here, simply by the convenience of this canal. Fortunately, we were quick to acquire land in Jewel Bay; it will be worth far more in the future,” he added.

Sein had to admit that Harry was indeed insightful. However, even without his comments, Sein could see that significant development for both Jewel Bay and the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring was imminent.

But then again, how did such a marvel as the Verdant Wave Canal come into existence?

Why would entities like the Byrne Empire, aquatic races, and the Dawning Secret Society of the South Coast collaborate to build this grand canal?

Gazing at the shimmering sea level in the distance, Sein suddenly had a conjecture, a realization that sparked memories of a similar scenario he had encountered during his travels across the Magus World.

***

Sein’s suspicions were quickly confirmed as soon as he reached the vicinity of Jewel Bay.

Before the airship could dock at the outer harbor of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, a vast, dark shadow surfaced from beneath the sea directly below them.

The round shadow was enormous, spanning over a thousand meters in diameter—an extraordinary sight not often witnessed by most.

Even Rank One knight Harry, who prided himself on his worldly experience, was taken aback by the enormity of the shadow under the airship.

Harry had never doubted the existence of magic beasts capable of violence within the Magus World’s borders.

However, he had never before encountered any beast whose size rivaled that of a small island.

Such immense proportions were rare, even among the formidable demigod-level beasts encountered during interplanar wars.

Harry’s only experience in an interplanar war had led him to a life dedicated to business development within his family.

He had thought that war would be the pinnacle of his experiences. Yet here he was, facing a creature that defied his imagination.

“W-What is that creature?! The largest I’ve encountered was a Rank Two Fire Dragon with a wingspan of fifty meters, about a hundred years ago!” Harry stammered, staring down at the pitch-black giant below.

Panic swept through the airship’s passengers; fear was a natural response to such a daunting unknown.

In contrast, Sein remained unfazed, a smile playing on his lips.

“Is this the confidence of a Rank Two mage?” Harry silently wondered to himself.

As the dark shadow grew clearer, Sein leaped from the airship, landing gracefully on the surface of the Jewel Sea.

The colossal beast finally emerged from the turquoise waters, coming into full view. It was a colossal tortoise with dragon-like horns.

“Hey, Sein! You’re finally back!” the tortoise greeted before Sein could speak.

“Yes. It’s been a while, Tourmaline!” Sein replied, acknowledging the dragon turtle, who clearly shared a close bond with him.

Without hesitation, Sein flew up to stand on Tourmaline’s head.

When Sein was with Tourmaline, he usually rode on her back. But now, to better share his thoughts and friendship, he preferred to be closer.

Tourmaline, unbothered by Sein’s presence on her head, chuckled heartily and began swimming toward the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

“It’s lovely here—the water’s warm, and I like it. I invited my sister to join me but she has other matters to take care of. She was the one who sent me here seven years ago,” Tourmaline said.

“Oh? You’ve been here for seven years?” Sein responded.

They gradually disappeared into the misty horizon, catching up with each other like old friends.

All that remained in the sky above was an airship, with its passengers watching the scene in bewilderment.