Novia

The next morning, Jiang Chuan arrived at the blacksmith's place the landlady had mentioned. This was the center of Bilgewater's upper district, a place not just any nouveau riche could afford. Those who lived here were all high-ranking officials and renowned figures. Even if this blacksmith had forged Bilgewater's best cannon for Gangplank, he wouldn't warrant such accommodations.

Jiang Chuan approached an unremarkable house and knocked. "Master Noah, hello! They say you're the best blacksmith in Bilgewater. I don't believe it. Today, I've come to challenge you!"

A child opened the door and looked at Jiang Chuan. "That's the most frequent excuse this month. Don't you guys have any new material? Fine, follow me."

Jiang Chuan, with a dark expression, followed the child through a narrow passage. Ahead was a large hall where an old man sat on a sofa, watching Jiang Chuan.

"You must be Master Noah. I've come to ask you to forge something for me."

Noah shook his head. "Gangplank drained all my talent. I don't want to forge anything anymore."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "If you were to forge according to my intentions, Gangplank's cannon would just be a piece of art with exquisite lines and patterns."

Noah scoffed. "Why should I believe you?"

Jiang Chuan placed a roll of blueprints on the table. "Because I can mass-produce steel."

This statement made Noah laugh. "A high-quality steel ingot requires a worker to hammer it non-stop for three days to remove impurities and turn iron into steel. You're telling me you have a method for mass-producing steel?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I have many other technologies that will surprise you. Steelmaking is just a small part. Take a look at this parchment."

Jiang Chuan wasn't speaking idly. If a steam engine could be developed in Bilgewater, it would be incredibly useful for powering ships and mining. However, achieving steel smelting was very difficult at the moment. Jiang Chuan couldn't currently achieve the high temperatures and chemical reactions required for large-scale steel production. But the blueprints Jiang Chuan had just shown were part of the mechanical diagrams for steelmaking.

Noah picked up the parchment and examined it carefully. According to the diagrams, large-scale steel production was achievable, but Noah had never heard of many of the technologies and terms used!

Noah said calmly, "Mr. Roland, although your method on the blueprints can indeed achieve large-scale steel smelting, how will you generate such high temperatures?"

Jiang Chuan chuckled. "Master Noah, we are in a world of magic and technology. Since human power cannot achieve it now, what about magic?"

Noah closed his eyes and pondered. "Even with the help of a mage, the money earned from selling steel probably wouldn't be enough to hire one."

Jiang Chuan produced another roll of blueprints. "I can handle the mage issue. Before that, you can take a look at this machine. I call it a steam engine. One machine can replace many people and can be used on ships. Imagine a ship that can maintain high speed regardless of wind. How much of a stir would that cause in Bilgewater?"

Noah was deeply captivated by Jiang Chuan's words. He opened the blueprints, and a strangely shaped machine beckoned to him from the paper. Noah stared at the blueprint for a long time, unable to calm down. If this machine could truly be built, then the man before him would quickly become a thorn in the side of the nobles. But he would also become the wealthiest person in Bilgewater. Many captains would surely go bankrupt buying one.

Noah said weakly, "I'm just a weaponsmith."

Jiang Chuan had anticipated the old man's tactic and threw another roll of parchment at Noah.

Noah unrolled it again. This time, a war behemoth appeared before his eyes: a fortress cannon!

Although the cannon on Jiang Chuan's blueprint was a smoothbore, to Noah, it was already an incredible monster. This world already had smokeless gunpowder, so with a little modification, cannonballs could be made. If that didn't work, they could use the structure of shotgun pellets to create a scattershot cannon. For Jiang Chuan, this wouldn't be difficult.

Jiang Chuan saw the astonishment on Noah's face and knew his blueprints had piqued the blacksmith's interest. The rest would be simple.

Jiang Chuan smiled. "What do you say, Master Noah? What I've described is not impossible. This fortress cannon, for example, can sink a ship with a single shot. And this is only a small part of what I've shown you."

Noah thought for a moment and said, "Give me an address. I'll pack up and come find you tomorrow."

Jiang Chuan stood up, bowed, and smiled, "Then I shall await your arrival on Bloodfang Island, Master."

Leaving Master Noah's residence, Jiang Chuan went to the tavern and asked the proprietress, "I need detailed information about the Soul Night. How much will it cost?"

The proprietress smiled, "When the sea is shrouded in black mist, the undead will emerge from it into Bilgewater. No one knows where the black mist comes from. Some say it's from the distant Shadow Isles, where there are countless undead creatures. Anyone who goes there will be devoured by greedy undead and demons. Although the legends are terrifying, I've survived many Soul Nights. During a Soul Night, you just need to light Queen's Grass at home, seal the doors and windows, and pray."

Jiang Chuan asked doubtfully, "That's it? Hunker down at home and pray?"

The proprietress fiddled with her hair and said, "What else? Are you going to go out and hunt undead? The undead that come during each Soul Night aren't just one or two, but a tidal wave. Even Titans stay underwater and don't come out. Ordinary undead are already terrifying. If you encounter the Shadow of War, even offering your soul to Lady Beard won't help."

Jiang Chuan asked doubtfully, "Who exactly is Lady Beard?"

The proprietress said sternly, "Illaoi calls the Lady Beard, Naga Kaboros."

Jiang Chuan laughed, "Aurelion Sol, the highest god in the known universe. Naga Kaboros, the highest god in the unknown universe. If I didn't fear the Titan Race, I would have summoned the Dragon King long ago."

The background story of the Dragon King mentioned that the Titan Race controlled the Dragon King with a crown. If Jiang Chuan were to truly summon the Dragon King, the Titan Race would definitely discover him, and he would probably have to obediently become a lab rat.

Jiang Chuan said, "From what you're saying, there are people who hunt undead during the Soul Night?"

The proprietress smiled, "Of course, but very few survive."

Jiang Chuan: "Can those undead creatures be preserved?"

The proprietress: "They can be preserved with specific techniques. And there are always nobles who are willing to collect strange things, thinking they are safe if they are locked up. In reality, only fools do that."

The proprietress suddenly smiled, "You're not Roland, are you? Who are you?"

Jiang Chuan's hair stood on end at this remark, but he remained calm and said, "Proprietress, what are you talking about? I am Roland."

The proprietress smiled, "Then do you remember my name?"

Jiang Chuan smiled, "Of course, Novia."

The proprietress's eyes narrowed into slits, "During the last Soul Night, Roland caught an undead creature. And now you're asking me for information about the Soul Night? Besides, Roland, as a harpooner, wouldn't not know the route from Bilgewater to Demacia?"

Jiang Chuan stood up and looked directly into the proprietress's eyes, "I am Roland, the Roland who brought you wealth. Don't you agree, Novia?"

Novia looked at Jiang Chuan and smiled, "It seems there are no secrets in Bilgewater that I don't know."

Jiang Chuan said lightly, "Since you know everything in Bilgewater, why not know everything in the world?"

"Or perhaps, I can help you deal with LeBlanc, and you can become the new leader of the Black Rose."

At this, Novia became unsettled. She had come to Bilgewater alone. Since arriving here, Novia had lost contact with anyone from her organization. Why did the man in front of her see through her identity?

Novia looked at Jiang Chuan and smiled, "I think we have more than just business to discuss."