After about half an hourglass period.
The red flying carpet floating high in the sky flashed by, and as Reilo looked down, the bustling buildings and towering trees gradually became Xiao Hei.
With Gubo carrying Reilo, they flew northwest of the duchy, his eyes beneath his white eyebrows constantly alert to any potential pursuers behind them.
After confirming that there were no pursuers, Gubo suddenly turned in the air, changing his route several times before flying rapidly southwards towards the south of the duchy.
The territory of the Grand Duchy is, in general, a somewhat incomplete trapezoidal shape.
In the north, with Saint Grand Fort as its core and numerous fortresses forming its front line, and the Furnace Mountains and the Demon Eagle Forest as its defenses, it resists the powerful Xilan Duchy.
The south is the developed economic center of the Grand Duchy, home to various research institutes and war factories, and engages in frequent trade with several surrounding micro-duchys, contributing more than 75% of the duchy's tax revenue.
Compared to the tense situation in the north, the small trading nations surrounding the southern part of the Duchy of Grand Duchy are practically like its own backyard.
These duchies were influenced by the culture of Gran, and young nobles considered it an honor to study at the Grand Natural Sciences Academy and complete their studies to become magicians.
at the same time.
The various temples and powers of these principalities possessed extremely high prestige.
It wasn't until the last two or three hundred years that, under the influence of scholars from the Grand Natural Sciences Academy, the Imperial Authority nearby duchies gradually broke away from the control of various temples, barely maintaining its due authority, and the nobles also began to develop Enlightenment ideas about rights and freedom.
However, compared to the distant construction of the Academy of Sciences, the Mercenary Association of these tiny duchies are already in their infancy.
The ubiquitous tavern quests can no longer meet the needs of the ever-increasing number of mercenary quests.
The large number of mercenaries who also work as bandits has led to increasing calls from these duchies for the establishment of standardized management of the Mercenary Association, and the royal families are also actively making plans.
after all!
The establishment of the Mercenary Association will almost immediately yield corresponding benefits, bringing in substantial tax revenue.
However, if Academy of Natural Sciences were to be built, it would take at least several decades or even a hundred years for it to gradually achieve a virtuous cycle and bring corresponding benefits to the principality.
Five days later.
Slandino, an inconspicuous little town in the southern part of the Principality.
"The South is still the best."
Gubo and Reilo walked through the small town like two traveling scholars.
Reilo was drawn to the magic crystal buses on the city streets. Each magic crystal bus was about fifteen meters long, and its speed was similar to that of a horse-drawn carriage, but it could accommodate about fifty people. It had a fixed route, and people only needed to pay one copper coin to ride freely.
The people here seem to have long been accustomed to this mode of transportation.
Seeing the curiosity in Reilo Luo's eyes, Gubo said calmly, "It's Practical Technology from Utolan. In recent years, it has been developing first in the southern part of the duchy. Saint Grand Fort has also received a lot of applications, but considering the interests of some traditional nobles, these applications have been temporarily suppressed."
"Such a good product should be widely promoted!"
Reilo said regretfully.
Gubo shook his head.
"You don't understand. The North is the front line against Zealand. The various noble powers and the Royal Family are deeply intertwined, and what they need is stability. Otherwise, if these nobles become chaotic, the morale of the troops on the front lines will be unstable, and something terrible will happen."
Tall, neat buildings line both sides of the street, generally exceeding seven stories in height, a stark contrast to the solid and imposing architectural design of Saint Grand Fort.
City workers are building sewer systems.
The airship routes at the distant Air Port were bustling with activity, and Reilo simply couldn't believe that this was just a small city in the south.
"Don't be surprised, 30% of the Duchy's airships are produced here."
Approaching the Air Port, Gubo casually explained, " Fladick is the real bustling place. Two months ago, during a research mission for the academy, I visited their war production line arsenal. It was truly a magnificent marvel."
His voice carried a hint of reverence.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Gubo hoped Bailing could go to work in Fladick after graduation.
"Mentor, that's enough for you."
In front of the Air Port, Reilo, wearing X Mask, holding the Flaming Dragon Roar Magic Wand, and dressed in a black dragon-patterned robe, looked like a mature and mysterious scholar.
"From now on, I will continue to use your name, Mr. X, when I travel."
Although the Black Dragon Pattern Robe could not be fully restored to its magical properties, its appearance had been repaired. A slight smile appeared on Gubo's aged lips, and he calmly hummed in agreement.
"Let's go, don't worry about the academy."
"Goodbye, mentor!"
Reilo said nothing more, glanced at Gubo one last time, and resolutely turned and left.
Time passed.
As Mr. X, Reilo traveled to more than a dozen cities in the southern part of the Grand Duchy.
In a city rich in Magic Material, Reilo attended a small auction and won an old alchemist's forge for 45 gold coins and 25 silver coins.
He also visited the city of Fladick, where he took out Gubo's letter of introduction and studied there for a short period of a month in a factory that produced anti-wear alloys.
In the port of Zeras, we visited a shipyard where they were researching sailboat technology.
The shipyard's greatest wish was to build a high-altitude metal ship in its lifetime, completing its upgrade and transformation. It also invited Reilo to taste a rare crab roe sauce and had the good fortune to witness its first hurricane and mirage.
Because of the Star Core, Reilo also unexpectedly discovered several rare biological specimens during his travels, which he then collected.
Before we knew it, three months had passed.
Three months.
During his constant travels, Reilo gained a great deal of experience and matured considerably, developing a more objective understanding of the vast differences between the north and south of the Grand Duchy.
However, due to the scarcity of natural energy in the outside world, far less abundant than at the High Tower, Reilo has not reached the expected 7th rank in the past three months.
now.
Reilo, posing as Mr. X, a traveling scholar, temporarily joined a D-rank mercenary group called the Thunder Hammer Guardians, accepting a mission to escort travelers to the Cell City in the Morsi Duchy.
Using this mercenary group as cover, Reilo had already made an agreement with them that he would leave the group after arriving in Cell City.
The Thunder Hammer Guardians mercenary group consists of four members.
A brother and sister, two men from their hometown, and four Apprentice Fighter were overjoyed to learn that the mysterious magician Reilo was going to temporarily join their team, and they agreed without hesitation.
Given the rarity and prestige of mages, even many C-rank mercenary groups might not possess one.
A single mage was enough to scare away most bandit groups, so the group accepted the mission to go to the Cell City, as Reilo had requested.
Yellow sand stretches endlessly, a vast expanse beyond.
The group had left the border of the Grand Kingdom and arrived at the desolate northwestern frontier of the Morsi Duchy.
"Hehe! I'm finally back in Mooresey!"
The employer was a young girl Mitina, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a youthful and innocent look, light blonde hair, a round face, and two dimples when she smiled.
Beside her was a female soldier in her thirties, who looked tired but was quite serious and meticulous.
"Sister Mia, I'm already a real magician. The family's situation isn't good right now, so there's really no need to hire this mercenary group."
Mitina glanced at the five mercenaries behind her, lingered on Reilo for a moment, and whispered.
The female warrior, however, appeared quite serious.
"Morsi is not as good as Gran, and in order to secure a spot in that ruin, the family has made enemies with many other families. Moreover, the reason we called you back this time is to try to establish some connections with the Guyue Family through you. After all, you are both mages and have common ground. The family head's intention is... it would be best if you could marry that person."
Mitchina's expression darkened, and she didn't say anything more.
The sun is setting.
"It's really barren."
Beneath the X Mask, Reilo gazed into the distance at the earthen houses, looking at the few farmers next door with blank and fearful eyes, and murmured in a low voice.
Having grown accustomed to the bustling cities of southern Glen, upon arriving in Mooresey, the familiar scene brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of the Lake Onyx Town.
"This is Morsey, certainly not like Gran."
As the only female member of the Thunder Hammer Mercenary Group, Yuna possesses a unique mature woman's charm and an enviable figure that even the large leather armor cannot conceal, exuding a full-bodied, wild vitality.
"It's good that this remote little country has maintained its original ecology. Occasionally, when some nobles are tired, they can come here to relax, and it also allows us to take on some easy leisure tasks."
"Perhaps to the Great Empire of Light Aurora, our Grand Duchy is nothing more than another backyard."
Reilo's words stunned Yuna.
Yuna's Yuri, asked, "Mr. X, have you ever been to the Great Empire of Light, Aurora?"
"No."
The five people followed their two employers and arrived at a barren Gobi desert town before nightfall.
Night fell.
This small town, with a population of only a few hundred, was already fast asleep, with only a dilapidated tavern called Desert Oasis keeping some lights on.
"Six! Six! Six! Six..."
As soon as you enter, you hear the roaring of several mercenaries throwing dice.
Inside the tavern, a mercenary was drinking cheap ale and roughly ravaging a tavern girl. When a customer arrived, a heavily made-up tavern girl walked over gracefully.
"What would you like to order? We have..."
"One guest room, and hot water."
"What about you?" Mitina asked impatiently, then looked at the mercenaries behind her and asked, "What about you?"
"I'd also like a quiet guest room."
Reilo spoke up.
Yuri, Yuna, and the other two mercenaries glanced at it.
Yuri laughed and said, "No need for that. Let's just have a drink here. We have to keep traveling tomorrow."
Reilo knew that since the Thunder Hammer Guardians Mercenary Group was only a D-rank, they could only earn two or three gold coins at most after a mission, and a mission would take more than half a month to complete, and the commission would have to be split among several people.
Struggling financially, these mercenaries were reluctant to spend money on rooms.
Yuri was speaking, a burly, drunk, bald man staggered over from inside the tavern and rudely hooked Mitina's chin.
"Not bad, chick. I'm Grellos, the leader of the Battle Flag Mercenary Group. Come over and have a couple of drinks with me, hehehehehehe."
Mitya's round little face was squeezed out of shape by the burly man's large hands. Caught off guard, Mitina stared dumbfounded at the tall man, seemingly completely terrified.
"Let her go!!"
The members of the Thunder Hammer Guardians mercenary group immediately drew their weapons and roared loudly.
The female warrior Mia, who was standing nearby, snatched Mitina away and shielded her behind her.