About 200 kilometers northeast of the Valley of the Wind.
It is said that the Eftal Desert originated from the " Seven Days of Fire," where ancient civilizations were melted in the flames of destruction and gradually crumbled under the erosion of winds over thousands of years, eventually transforming into this vast sea of sand.
As a result, a large number of ancient civilization relics that were not destroyed by fire are hidden beneath this desert.
Since a thousand years ago, this place has been a treasure trove for adventurers, scavengers, and speculators, continuously producing ancient technologies and exotic materials that are difficult to replicate.
The Mining Town, which once belonged to Pejite, is one of the most famous ruins in this desert.
A caravan of over forty people and sturdy Horseclaw was moving through the desert, with crates and packages hanging on the sides of the horses' backs swaying gently as they traveled.
Nausicaä rode a pure black Horseclaw, the dry, cold wind whistling through the air, carrying fine sand that flushed her fair cheeks.
This place is hundreds of kilometers away from the Sea of Corruption, so there's no need to wear a gas mask.
Gazing at the approaching land, his golden eyes were filled with curiosity.
This is the first time Nausicaä has come to a place so far from the Valley of the Wind.
In the past, even when exploring the Sea of Corruption, their activities were mostly limited to the area around the Valley of the Wind.
Attending this trade fair, spearheaded by the " Commercial Federation," was a completely new experience for her.
"What makes the Mining Town special is that it was built on top of historical sites."
Elder Trudeau's voice came from the side. The old man with thick eyebrows and ruddy cheeks controlled the Horseclaw and walked alongside Nausicaä, continuing his explanation along the way.
"A large portion of the houses and workshops were built directly using the original structures of the ruins."
Nausicaä nodded, her gaze never leaving the increasingly clear outline of the massive "hill" ahead.
It bears obvious signs of artificial construction.
Legend has it that the ruins were once a giant flying ship capable of traversing the stars in ancient times.
"The entire site is constructed of Ceramic Steel, and it's high-quality, high-strength Ceramic Steel that can be used directly without smelting."
"The early inhabitants of Mining Town gradually established themselves and developed into one of the most important trading posts in the desert today by mining these ready-made Ceramic Steel from the ruins."
Nausicaä listened intently; she knew that there was also a Ceramic Steel mine in the Valley of the Wind, and that this material was precious.
However, compared to the scale of the ruins before us, the Ceramic Steel mine in the Valley of the Wind is just a drop in the ocean.
( The Mining Town is also the prototype for the airship ruins in the movie Valley of the Wind.)
Trudeau pointed to the ruined "hill" and continued, "What's even more incredible is that what we're seeing now is probably just the uppermost Bridge section of that airship; most of the rest of the hull is buried deep underground."
"Some have estimated that the underground Splinching of the above-ground portion. After so many years of mining, we still haven't reached the end. I really don't know what those ancient people were trying to achieve by building such a massive spaceship."
With Trudeau's presentation concluded, the caravan finally arrived at the outskirts of the Mining Town.
Like the Valley of the Wind, this place is close to the coast, where the ceaseless wind howls westward.
The town did not build city walls, since most of the townspeople relied on the incredibly thick Ceramic Steel of the ruins themselves for shelter, so there was no need for city walls to protect them from the wind and sand.
As the distance closed, the scene became more lively.
The sounds of people, Horseclaw, and metal tools mingled together, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.
The Valley of the Valley of the Wind team didn't arrive early; many of the earlier arrivals had already unloaded their goods and were setting up tents in the designated area.
Nausicaä's gaze was drawn to an open space on the outskirts of the town, where more than twenty aircraft of varying sizes and shapes were neatly parked.
There are light transport ships with two wings and a relatively simple design; and there are heavy cargo ships with a four-wing layout, large size, and bulky cargo holds.
Their outer shells are mostly made of riveted metal plates, exuding a rugged industrial feel.
Modern shipbuilding technology in most of the Sea of Sea of Corruption countries was learned from Tolmekia, emphasizing practicality and mass production, and has long lost the smooth and elegant aesthetic style of the Eftal civilization.
Nausicaä recalled Trudeau's earlier introduction, in which she learned that most of these ships belonged to the " Commercial Federation," International Confederation of Wizards had brought out its entire assets for the logistics and leasing business of this gathering.
Then, Nausicaä's gaze lingered on one of the aircraft for a moment, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
It was a spaceship with a rather unique shape. It had no wings and its overall shape was more like a ship sailing on water, with a distinct bow structure.
The hull was made of dark wood and inlaid with gold relief decorations, its style completely out of place with the surrounding rough-hewn spaceships with metal riveting.
"That's... the Dorok's boat?"
This wooden spaceship, which does not rely on traditional aerodynamic shapes and is said to use ancient anti-gravity engine technology, is a specialty of the Dorok Principalities.
Because it has very low requirements for take-off and landing sites, it is very suitable for use in the mountainous and rugged terrain of Dorok.
Although somewhat unexpected, it makes sense upon reflection. The Ceramic Steel of the Mining Town are attractive to any country, and the Dorok and the countries of the Sea of Corruption have occasional exchanges.
The Monk Council had attempted to spread their faith here in the past, but their strict doctrines and domineering style were not welcomed by the border people who were used to a more relaxed and free environment, and they eventually had to give up.
Nausicaä kept this small question in mind, without delving too deeply into it.
Soon, the group arrived at the temporary registration point near the town entrance.
A sign hung on the simple wooden shed, depicting three interlocking gears—the symbol of the Commercial Federation.
Behind the registration area, a large wooden fence enclosed a large area where many tents had already been set up, clearly intended as a campsite for participating caravans.
Personnel wearing uniform windproof jackets and International Confederation of Wizards armbands were maintaining order, accompanied by numerous sharp-eyed guards carrying weapons to ensure the safety of the venue.
Trudeau, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted an old acquaintance. He promptly dismounted, a warm smile spreading across his face, and strode over.
He was a middle-aged man with a square face, a neatly trimmed short beard, and a well-proportioned and muscular build.
He was dressed in windproof clothing that allowed for easy movement, and was standing at the entrance, exchanging pleasantries with the leaders of the first few caravans to arrive.
Upon seeing Trudeau, he also flashed a hearty smile and opened his arms to greet him.
"Mr. Trudeau! You must be tired from your journey. It's been quite a while since we last met."
"President Haideng! It's really kind of you to personally greet us here." Trudeau warmly embraced him, and they patted each other on the back.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Trudeau stepped aside and introduced Nausicaä, who was following behind him. "Your Highness, Haideng is Pejite's Minister of Commerce and also the Chairman of the Commercial Federation."
"Chairman Haideng, this is Princess Nausicaä of our Valley of the Wind, daughter of Chief Jihl, and currently serving as acting chief."
The man called Haideng turned his gaze to Nausicaä, his smile unchanged, but his eyes held a touch of just the right amount of appreciation.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Elder Trudeau. You flatter me. The chairmanship of the International Confederation of Wizards is just an empty title to serve everyone. But you, Miss, have inherited your father's bravery and your mother's beauty. The future of Valley of the Wind is something to look forward to." Haideng bowed slightly.
"Hello, Chairman Haideng. Thank you for the invitation from the International Confederation of Wizards. It's my first time visiting, and I hope you'll take good care of me." Nausicaä also nodded politely in response, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.
The registration process was completed quickly. Haideng said a few more polite words, then excused himself and turned to greet another caravan, looking quite busy.
The Valley of the Valley of the Wind's party slowly entered the camp, searching for their assigned area.
Nausicaä walked in the group, unable to resist turning back to look at Haideng's departing figure one last time.
"What's wrong?" Trudeau noticed her movement and asked casually.
Nausicaä did not answer, but gently shook her head.
Using her intuition, she could sense that Trudeau and Haideng, though seemingly passionate, actually harbored deep mutual dislike for each other.
Did the two have some unpleasant past conflict?