Draka did not respond to Nukel immediately, but gave Nukel a meaningful look. Newkel sitting next to him has a life span of five thousand years and spent most of his life in Naggaroth. Now Newkel actually calls him cautious. This is so humorous. Could it be that Newkel Aren't you more cautious than him? But now was not the time to be quick-tongued. He knew that Newkel was giving him instructions.
"I know, you are confused, and I am also confused. It was not until recently that I figured it out." After finishing speaking, Newkel poured the wine in the flask on the table. He dipped the wine on the table with the index finger of his left hand. He started painting, and after finishing the painting, he continued, "He changed the previous traditional smelting process. The previous smelting process was completely incomparable with the current Nagor, including the number of personnel, steel quality, and the terrifying production capacity!
Or Either he is too young and not experienced enough, or he... has given us a difficult problem without even knowing it, and this difficult problem is irresistible to us. We can only adapt to him and make changes. ."
Newkel's understanding is correct. The smelting technology that Dakoos improved before was completely at the level of the mid-19th century in the previous life. The sorceresses were even more advanced after studying on the Lustria continent. The technology and system have gone through After perfection, the level has been qualitatively improved, jumping directly to the early twentieth century.
However, due to the political, technological and systemic problems of Hagrid Grave, the ore mining in Hagrid Grave remains at the level of the Middle Ages. The mining tools built by the Nagor before were not effectively fed back due to problems with Hagrid Grave, which resulted in today's embarrassing situation.
To put it bluntly, there is a problem at the source. For example, the Nagol can consume 100 tons of ore every day, but Hagrid Grave's ore supply is far from meeting the demand for 100 tons.
Draka wiped the non-existent cold sweat on his forehead. As a ruler who had ruled Hagrid Grave for many years, he immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.
"In his words, it is the so-called trial operation now, and it has not yet reached the formal operation stage.
As the Witch King returns to Naggaroth, the official operation stage will start immediately. If the Witch King knows that the steel production on the Nagor is going to stop, ...continuously...causing problems in the subsequent assembly..." The candlelight on the dining table made Newkel's face flicker. At the end of his words, he stretched out his tone and looked at Draka.
Draka wiped the cold sweat from his forehead again, and this time cold sweat flowed from his head. He knew that what Newkel said was correct. If it was true as Newkel said, there was no need for him to be Hagrid Grave's night governor at that time.
Draka will not die in Ulthuan as Darkus said, but in Naggarond, and maybe he will die miserably as a warning to others! His family, his children who became pre-admirals and sorceresses, would be wiped out with him, becoming echoes of the old times and the talk of the emerging Druchi elites.
"It's not a transportation problem, and there will be no transportation problems in the future. The Nagor sailing in the Sea of Resentment will regularly stop at Hagrid Grave to replenish ore." Draka said with a hint of trembling in his tone. He began to ask and answer questions for himself. After seeing Nukel nodded in agreement, he continued, "There is a problem with Hagrid Grave's politics and mining technology!"
Draka discovered that Darkus really gave him A problem has arisen. Whether this problem is caused by Darkus actively or passively, it doesn't matter now. What he has to do now is to solve this problem, rather than letting him be the problem that is solved. He knew that Newkel was helping him solve the problem, otherwise the routine reception would have ended at this moment.
"The Hand of the Witch King once told me as the champion of Morayig!" Draka's expression changed, and his hand on the dining table clenched tightly into a fist, and he said fiercely.
"Oh?"
"He said I would not die in Naggaroth, but in Ulthuan!" Draka roared when he said the word Ulthuan.
Newkel's expression changed subtly. This was the first time he heard this. As the champion of Moraygo, his words were full of fatalism. After all, Moraygo is the weaver of destiny. , it goes without saying that he is the champion of Morayig.
"It was fine when the Witch King and the Hand of the Witch King were still in Naggaroth. My rule was extremely smooth. This has never happened before. It wasn't until the fleet went to the south and the accident in Sirsis that everything changed. , although Sirsis did not die, but reached the south through some means.
But during that gap, those families who reacted joined the Witch Queen or had some kind of connection. You may know that now Hagrid Gray Regarding the political situation of my husband, the Valhalla and Crooked Claw families are on my side, and the other remnants and emerging families are fighting against us!" Draka was talking, and at the same time he also made some kind of decision. .
This is also the reason why Draka stays at the Night Governor's Castle without leaving home. He knows that Morathi will not do anything to him. After all, he is the Night Governor who accepts the Witch King's fate. But he still had to be on guard, because he couldn't die at the hands of the family he was fighting against. The vitality of the families that Darkus had done in Hagrid Grave was severely damaged. The remaining forces of those families would inevitably take it out on him after they came to their senses. Moreover, the interest entanglements in the past few years have intensified the conflicts and conflicts between them. contradiction.
"Are your subjects afraid of you? Or do they love you? Ha! Fear! What if you deprive the rich and powerful of their property at will? Hate! How to eliminate hatred? Kill them all! In this way, hatred will be eliminated!" What did Kerr say? Draka continued. He told Newkel the conversation between Darkus and him. He is now just like he responded to Darkus at that time. His expression is unusually ferocious. He There was cruelty and malice in his eyes.
Nukel nodded calmly, knowing that Draka had already made a decision.
"This group of powerful people who have surrendered to the Witch Queen shouldn't! They shouldn't see the Witch King! They shouldn't cause trouble for the Witch King! As the night governor of Hagrid Grave, I should give the Witch King a satisfactory answer!" Draka, who was clenching his fists, stood up and said sternly.
"It seems that I can't keep you overnight at the Night Governor's Castle in Krakarond tonight. You can command Krakarond's army and fleet at will. By the way, don't make a scene like Rohan did last time. It's too much noise, that's all...it's up to you!" Newkel, who was still sitting, said with a smile.
Looking at Draka's leaving figure, Newkel smiled and shook his head. In his opinion, Draka had only solved one problem at the moment, and the subsequent problem of increasing the productivity of dark rock would be enough for Draka to bear. But who made Draka the night governor of Hagrid Graves? While accepting this honor, we must also fulfill corresponding responsibilities.
At the port of Krakarond, Chagorosh, who was about to disembark, returned to the ship again. As a vested interest in Hagrid Grave Varahar and this fleet expedition, under Draka's order he wanted to Resolutely carry out his duties. Just as he has not gotten off the ship now, he and his family will never get off the ship.
At the same time, Krakarond's army and fleet began to mobilize, and a new round of purges began in advance.
The next day, Krakarond's Night Governor Castle still maintained orderly preparations, and it seemed that there was no change at all due to the dispatch of the army and fleet.
Dignitaries from various cities arrived in Krakalond one after another. The first thing they did when they got off the ship was to talk to each other about what happened in the middle of the night last night. These dignitaries did not sleep well in the second half of the night. The firelight and the sound of fighting on the sea constantly aroused their sensitive nerves, leaving a deep impression on them.
Under Newkel's reception, the flowers in the garden of Night Governor's Castle bloomed like never before, and the banquet was held as scheduled with great fanfare.
However, the welcome banquet that lasted for three days was mixed with cruel reality. The dignitaries gathered in the hall of the castle, their brows furrowed and their expressions solemn. The topic cannot be separated from that disturbing night. Rumors and speculations continued to spread in the exchanges, and some phenomena also confirmed the rumors and speculations in disguise.
Some dignitaries who were supposed to appear failed to come, and their absence enveloped the entire hall like a heavy atmosphere, making people feel suddenly lonely. What's even more cruel is that some of the dignitaries present have injuries on their bodies, and the obvious scars are silently telling a silent story.
Although the banquet continued, with wine glasses clinking and laughter and music echoing in the hall, the atmosphere in the hall had fundamentally changed. Behind this seemingly glorious banquet, there is a cruel truth hidden. The powerful people are full of anxiety about meeting the Witch King who is about to return to Naggaroth. They have seen some terrible omens.
Accompanied by the dignitaries, Malekith stood on the deck of the Temple of Malevolence and looked at the approaching Krakarond, at the black arks moored in the distance, and at the connected ships in front of the shipyard. Defense nodes and chains. Everything felt so strange to him, and he couldn't help but think back to when was the last time he came to Krakarond? After thinking for a moment, he discovered an embarrassing fact, that is, he had never visited this city that was loyal to him in these thousands of years.
Malekith had been to Grond, to Hal Gonsi, and when he went to Ulthuan, he passed by Kalond Kal, but he deliberately ignored this city located in the southernmost part of the Sea of Malice.
At the wharf of Krakarond, led by the Druchi dignitaries headed by Krakarond Night Governor Annasara, Hagrid Grave Night Lord Draka and Kallond Carl Night Lord Kira, the powerful people They stood according to their respective cities and factions to welcome the coming Witch King.
The dignitaries saw the Witch King, Sirses who had an accident before, and Dulias, but they did not see Darkus. Then they expressed full respect for the Witch King who came down, and they welcomed the Witch King back to Naggaroth who was loyal to him.
However, Malekith stopped halfway. He drew out the Sun Sword from his waist and assumed his classic show-off pose. This unique shape immediately aroused the consternation of the dignitaries present. He activated the fire element in the Yang Yan Sword and turned its power to the maximum.
In an instant, a blazing flame erupted, and the blade of the Yang Yan Sword flashed with dazzling light. Under the illumination of the flames, the atmosphere of the entire dock changed.
The expressions of the dignitaries changed from astonishment to shock. In their opinion, the previous rumors were indeed true. The Witch King found the sword belonging to Aenarion in the continent of Lustria, and found the sword marked on Sovereign. The sword with the demon-slaying picture on the back was found. This sword has great political significance in Druchi society.
Immediately afterwards, under the leadership of the night governors, the dignitaries knelt on the ground and shouted praises in unison, congratulating the Witch King for finding the Sun Flame Sword.
Even if some dignitaries doubt the authenticity of the Sun Flame Sword in their hearts, thinking that the Sun Flame Sword was forged by the Witch King in the continent of Lustria, thereby achieving the effect of confusing the real one with the fake, after all, no one knows where the real Sun Flame Sword is, and where can it be found? What a coincidence. I went to the Lustria continent and found the Sun Flame Sword? Why not make it more outrageous? The Witch King simply claimed to be the chosen champion of Asuryan and Kane.
But this moment did not prevent the sound of congratulations from filling the entire dock.
The face behind Malekith's mask remained smiling despite the congratulations, and as he found his father's sword, his authority and status were more firmly confirmed in Druchi's mind. But he knew that these were all appearances. Some powerful people would think it was fake even if they saw the Sun Flame Sword. After all, he and his mother were the only ones in Nagaroth who had seen the Sun Flame Sword.
But it doesn't matter, as long as this Sun Flame Sword is indeed the sword of Malekith's father, and his authority in Naggaroth does not need this sword to be reflected. The Sun Flame Sword is more of an appearance. The memory of his father gave him comfort in his heart.
All these changes were like a clever drama. Regardless of whether the Sun Flame Sword was real or fake, the dignitaries quickly turned from shock to fanatical worship. It seemed that Malekith's reputation had really reached a new height.
Adhering to the concept that Darkus is here, Malekith did not go to the Night Governor Castle immediately after getting off the Malevolent Temple. Instead, he led a group of dignitaries around the dock area.
Malekith walked very patiently from one end of the pier to the other. He stopped there and looked at the wood floating down the Red Poison River with interest. After a while, he called the night governors over. Ask Newkel about Krakarlond's throughput.
"Not enough, far from enough." After receiving Nukel's detailed reply, Malekith said lightly. After seeing the dignitaries bow their heads, he continued, "Not only Krakalund, but also the docks of other cities. It needs to be expanded."
"Perhaps you don't know the richness and vastness of Ashriel. Our Chief Consul has set a tone." Malekith turned to a group of confused dignitaries and said at the end, he stretched out his Two fingers.
"Your Majesty, do you mean two million?" Annasara had no reason not to know what the two fingers extended by the Witch King meant, but she still raised her head and tried to ask.
In the confused expressions of the dignitaries, the other two night governors nodded, and they also knew what it was.
"The Chief Consul conservatively estimates that Ashriel can nurture a population of two million in Nagaros within a hundred years. Of course, this is his conservative estimate. I think it will far exceed this number. I don't know... everyone?" See the rest The dignitaries still didn't understand, but Malekith patiently explained.
The dignitaries now know what this means is not enough. According to this two million figure, the current ports in various cities in Nagaroth simply cannot support the corresponding throughput. By then, ships will be congested and need to queue up to unload, which will cause trouble. At the same time, the dignitaries were also shocked by the figure of two million, and then a new round of agreement began. Regardless of whether it would be reached within a hundred years, at least they had to come to terms with it now.
Malekith nodded. He did not give a deadline. He knew that this would require linear growth, and it would be useless to expand it all at once. Then he started shopping again as if everything he saw was new. He vaguely felt that he was back to the time when he was in the Kingdom of Nagaris and Ersin Alvin, but he had Alandrian by his side, and now Darkus... He got angry again when he thought about this, so he might as well not mention it.
After walking around the dock area and visiting all areas of the dock, Malekith came to the end of the Nagares Bridge. He looked at the bridge and suddenly thought of something. He joked to Newkel and asked the person on the bridge Why are the gang members collecting protection fees missing? Newkel, who was smiling a little awkwardly, replied in a flawless manner, saying that after the Battle of Grond, all of them had been destroyed according to the CEO's instructions.
Malekith, who had been standing on the Nagareth Bridge looking at the dock and shipyard for a long time, decided to go to the shipyard to have a look. The outlet of the Red Poison River isolated the dock from the shipyard. From the dock to the shipyard, one had to pass through Nagaris. You can also take a boat to the hub of Garris Bridge.
The sweaty boatmen and slaves worked hard to build the ship. In the dry dock, the bare keel lay across the ground, like a huge skeleton, waiting for the subsequent splicing of the hull.
Only a few dry docks began to join the hull, and these docks became busy centers, where shipwrights worked closely together to connect corresponding timber piece by piece. During the splicing process, they relied on superb carpentry skills and close collaboration to ensure that each piece of wood was firmly placed on the keel.
Each new ship built represents a symbol of hope and power for the future, and these ships will sail the seas with the blessing of Matheran, bringing glory and wealth to Druch.
Malekith asked about the production of ships again, but this time he was really dissatisfied. According to the conservative forecast data, there was a big gap in ships.
"What's the problem?" Malekith didn't question Annasara and her son. Ten years ago, he told him to increase the number of ships. While he taught Dacus a lot, he also learned from Dacus. There are a lot of things, such as finding problems and solving them.
"Your Majesty, there are many problems, and they are all linked together. Under the guidance of the Chief Consul, we have adopted an assembly line method of operation. Each boatman and slave only needs to be responsible for one area now, and will be assembled later. But... the number of shipwrights, slaves and tools we have is far from enough, and the wood cut is not enough. Moreover, there are also problems with the recruitment and training of sailors after the ship is launched." Annasara mother and son first looked at each other with embarrassment. In the eyes of the powerful people who were looking forward to the disaster of hell for the family, Newkel followed the routine of telling everything and spoke in detail.
However, those powerful people miscalculated. Malekith did not get angry, but nodded calmly. He knew that if he kept going against the Kane sect as he did before, something strange might happen. Moreover, Krakalund is okay and relatively stable, while the problems in other cities will be more serious. He knew how to solve the problem, but he didn't want to solve it right now, at least not here in the shipyard.
In the evening, when Malekith walked to Yedu Castle as if for a walk, a dazzling array of gold and various jewelry had filled the garden of Yedu Castle and bloomed flowers, like a gorgeous and extravagant treasure.
These treasures exude a dazzling light and sparkle in the sun. Against the background of flowers, the dazzling luster of gold and the colorful light of gemstones complement each other, forming an extremely luxurious picture. Moreover, there is a steady stream of gold and jewelry being queued up to be moved into the garden.
After the powerful people saw all this, expressions of greed and disbelief appeared on their faces involuntarily. Their eyes flashed with the temptation of wealth. The amount of gold and jewelry here was huge, simply beyond their imagination. Some families had accumulated and looted for hundreds of years but there was not as much as they had now.
For a time, greed and desire for wealth occupied the hearts of the powerful, but they quickly suppressed their desires. They knew that these wealth belonged to the Hell Calamity Family and were beyond their reach. Although they didn't know why Darkos was not there, they judged from the Witch King's behavior that the power of the Hellscourge family became stronger after the fleet returned to Naggaroth.
Malekith looked at the expressions of the powerful people. The effect he had expected before was achieved. He knew very well what these powerful people wanted. He showed a disdainful smile, but his face was behind the mask and no one knew his expression. He ignored these powerful people and did not make any exciting remarks.
In the evening, the banquet in the hall of the Night Governor's Castle was held as usual. Malekith sat in the seat belonging to Annasara and looked at the bustling dignitaries in the hall with his cheek. Tonight's banquet was completely different from the previous three days. This banquet It was more like an Ashril merchandise fair. Like the piles of gold and gems, the dazzling array of merchandise was placed in a specific area to attract the rich and powerful to watch and eat.
Some dignitaries related to navigation gathered around Loxia and looked at the moving Kraken mask. Others gathered around Dulias and tried to find out something, such as Dulias's nephew and the details of this expedition. After waiting.
Malekith sat for a while and looked at the people below. He suddenly felt... a little bored. He could neither taste the wine nor enjoy the food. He couldn't even smell the strong smell of tobacco that enveloped the hall. Maybe Darkus will come up with some new tricks here, but unfortunately Darkus is not here, but in the distant Elsin Alvin, and he doesn’t know that Darkus will arrive in Esso Tara at this time. Lean? Thinking of this, he stood up, signaled to the dignitaries who stopped to look at him to continue, and then left straight away.
Annasara didn't need to give her son a look, Nukel knew what to do, and after seeing Nukel leave with the Witch King, she continued to stay in the hall to accompany these dignitaries.
"My adjutant, this chair of yours has some time left." In the study, Malekith put his hand on the top of the backrest of Newkel's usual chair. He looked at the chair carefully and said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this is the chair my father sits on when he works. I brought it out when I left Tal Anlek." There was a trace of sadness in Newkel's tone, as if he was telling a painful fact. .
After hearing Newkel's words, Malekith retracted his hand from the chair as if he was stressed. He turned his head and looked at Newkel standing there silently. He knew what Newkel was talking about. This departure from Tal Anlek was not a brief return before, but after the collapse of the earth four thousand years ago.
For a time, the atmosphere in the entire study was solidified and filled with suffocation.
"I was the same as you when I left Tal Anlek. I brought my father's throne with me." After the silent stares continued for a long time, Malekith spoke first.
"Your Majesty..." Newkel's face was distorted, tears flashed in his eyes, and he choked and said, "Your Majesty, can we really return to Ulthuan?"
Malekith did not respond immediately, Instead, he turned around and walked slowly to the window where Newkel often stood. His standing posture was exactly the same as Newkel's usual posture when standing by the window.
"I know that I have let you down, and I know that you are resentful of me in your heart. You don't have to believe me, but you have to believe in Darkus, who you watched grow up!" "
He said that the next time King comes, Ulthuan is our last chance. If we fail, we will really fail. Your Majesty...do you believe it?" Newkel's words were filled with weakness and confusion, as if all the strength in his body had been drained.
"Maybe he is right, so we have to work harder for it! The previous method proved that we were wrong, so we have to change a way! Change a way that is completely different from the previous one!" Malekith's words Full of determination.
"Your Majesty, the Hell Calamity Family will always support you and be loyal to you until the end of the world." Newkel regained his previous calmness and bowed to Malekith.
Malekith turned around and nodded, and then carefully looked at the classical elf-style decoration in the study. He felt stung, and the decoration in front of him reminded him of his youth.
"I heard that Krakarond's army and fleet moved a few days ago?" Malekith asked, turning around again and looking out the window.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What do you think of Draka?"
"Your Majesty, this is not a question I should think about, and Darkeus didn't kill him at that time, which may indirectly indicate something." Nukel cautiously He said that he knew that he had no decision-making power. It was not his place to decide or provide advice on Draka's life and death. He simply pushed it to Darkus.
"Then what do you think the current problem is?" Malekith nodded and then asked.
"Your Majesty, I don't know. According to Darkus' classification, I belong to the old era. Although I don't agree with this sentence, I know..." Nukel stopped at the end, and he frowned. After thinking for a moment, he then said slowly, "Your Majesty, some remnants of the old era should be properly cleaned up. They are no longer adapted to the current way, and they are not even aware of the arrival of the new era."
"Continue, I hope What can you say that is different from what Darkus said?"
"But... Your Majesty, it turns out that what Darkus said is correct. By the way, I'm taking the liberty to ask. , Where are the others? Didn't they come back from Asriel?"
"Didn't he tell you? He and Maranur went to Elsin Alvin, maybe they would be in Eshor Talarian. ” joked Malekith.
"Eso Talarian." Newkel muttered in a low voice. This name was too closely related to the Hell Calamity family. He abandoned his messy thoughts and continued, "The new method requires economic and material support. Now that we have all these, what we are lacking now is population, we..."
"Boring, you are still as unfavorable to me as ever." Malekith interrupted Newkel's words and said bluntly. Both Newkel and his father had served as his adjutants, but he had never been able to treat Alandrian as favorably towards the Newkels. The relationship was more of a superior-subordinate relationship. Not to mention Darkus, the same words spoken by Nukel and Darkus gave him completely different feelings.
"Darkeus is enough." Newkel nodded in agreement. He had served as Malekith's adjutant. Of course he knew Malekith's attitude towards him, he said silently in his heart.
"Let's talk about what you are good at. I will stay in Krakarond for a while. The military system was adjusted when I was in Asriel, but it has not been implemented. During this time, you can study it and start in Krakarond. Kalonde organized three branches to form a large army that is absolutely loyal to us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"At the same time, a census was carried out in Kalonde, including the population and age structure of slaves and powerful families. , occupational composition, gender classification, all these detailed data must be available. He wants to know these data, can you do it?" Malekith turned his head and glanced at Newkel speechlessly. After looking at each other for a moment, he continued.
"This..." Newkel was a little stunned. After Darkus gave Draka a difficult problem, he gave him another problem. He concluded that this was probably what Malekith meant, not what Dacus meant. Perhaps it was just a casual comment by Dacus, and Malekith took it seriously because he and Dacus had studied this issue. , which requires a supporting set of bureaucracies.
Although Newkel had foresighted the establishment of a bureaucracy, he did not know whether the current bureaucracy could accomplish this difficult task. Census is a complex task, especially in a city with a large and mobile population like Krakalund.
"Five years! I predict that he will not stay in Ersin Alvin for too long, and will definitely come back within ten years. I know this is a bit difficult, but he needs these data to implement corresponding policies, such as prices, population, and occupational deployment. It's all what he needs to do. If he doesn't have these data when he comes back... Newkel, maybe we really don't have much time left." Malekith said seriously.
"I won't sit on the chair that belongs to you now... After the banquet is over, ask your mother to find me. By the way... I will stay in Darkus' room."