There was another knight order accompanying the fleet to Flame Island: the Black Horse Island Knight Order led by Fox. Their task was not to explore the forest, but to protect Hearthfire Plain and the mages stationed there.
The Magic Guild was preparing to establish a branch on Hearthfire Plain. In the future, the mages would relocate there and explore the vast forest alongside the knight orders—Liszt had gradually been turning these mages into specialists and scholars, having them devote their lives to scientific research.
As for the mages sent to Hearthfire Plain, those selected were ones whose loyalty was questionable.
Given Flame Island's isolation, once these mages arrived at Hearthfire Plain, they would be cut off from the world. Even if they were part-time rats for other countries, they would still have to obediently work for Liszt. By the time Flame Island's routes to the outside world opened up a few years later, they would probably already bear the mark of the Flame Kingdom, with no way to change it.
June 22.
The weather on Black Horse Island was fine.
The Flame led the way, followed by ten framed ships, the fleet setting out in grand procession.
Standing at the bow, Liszt looked at A Ke, who sat primly rather than burying her head in a book, and asked with concern, "How is it, A Ke? Can you hold out while controlling eleven large ships?"
A Ke nodded. "It's somewhat taxing, but if we lower our speed to three hundred kilometers per hour, it will take less effort."
The sailing distance from Black Horse Island to the Great Whirlpool was 4,200 kilometers. At three hundred kilometers per hour, it would take fourteen hours. Including rest stops along the way, they could arrive within a day.
"Then slow down. Don't