Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 770 - 662: Transaction

The location is the backyard of Saint Aiven City—Long Island.

At the point where the peninsula connects to the mainland, the construction of the Long Island Manor, the new official residence of the Marquis, had already commenced in phases.

Saint Aiven City, being the key port city for future development of the marquisate, and even the first jewel of the East Coast owing to its natural harbor, was not just a place for the enjoyment of Aiven's family. More importantly, it was a powerful signal to the citizens and the outside world.

A shift of the administrative capital of the future marquisate!

And it would allow talents and capital traveling from the Old Continent through this transportation hub of Saint Aiven City to the New Continent to truly settle here with peace of mind.

When the coastal railway is eventually completed in the future, connecting the Phaletis Twelve Colonies from north to south, the combined power of the premier port and transportation artery with double excellence will undoubtedly astonish the world!

Among a group of clergy from the "Black Iron Cross Church," a middle-aged bishop in a cleric's robe couldn't help but express his admiration:

"It seems Saint Aiven indeed has the ambition and determination to properly cultivate this land."

Beside him, Macaulay nodded slightly:

"Obviously, having relocated the entire family estate to the New Continent, it naturally requires careful management. Moreover, Buffalo itself boasts an exceedingly advantageous geographical location."

Long Island stretches 190 kilometers northeastward from the Hartson River, with a width of 19-37 kilometers, totaling an area of 4500 square kilometers.

The easternmost part divides into two narrow peninsulas, with the northern one reaching its peak at Orient Cape with a length of about 40 kilometers; the southern one extends about 64 kilometers to Montauk Point at the easternmost end of Long Island.

All immigrants crossing the Black Sea from the Old Continent to the New Continent first see the Montauk Point at the southern tip and the Montauk Lighthouse standing on it for decades.

The northern peninsula had already been planned by Aiven for a 4000-acre vineyard, with a large number of agricultural vassals settled to cultivate; the first batch of managers were the families of sailors who had already settled into their roles.

According to the plan, it aims to be completed before winter, without delaying the spring grape planting of the following year.

As a "biologist," Aiven was acutely aware of Long Island's unique geographical advantages, possessing an ideal climate for the growth of grapes and many other crops.

Besides ample sunlight, the sandy soil created by glacial movements and the marine climate on the north and south sides provided the optimal humidity for grape growth—sunlight, soil quality, and humidity combined to create a one-of-a-kind large vineyard.

This land could produce high-quality grapes sufficient for making the finest wines.

And when it comes to the critical step of winemaking, "fermentation," if the Vitalist School claims to be second, no one in this world dares to claim the first.

Although the [Clock Tower] adventure had already come to an end.

However, the Iron Wall Knights, led by the Peak Grand Knight Macaulay, had not yet left. Even though their mission failed and they lost the [Libra Balance Holy Sword], knowing that Aiven had obtained the [Ancient Scroll], how could they possibly remain indifferent?

At this moment, their once relied quasi-legendary battleship "Navigator" was slowly circling the west continent, while a group of Iron Wall Knights rushed across the Balboa Isthmus, crossed the "Golden Sea," and arrived at Aiven's territory at once.

After setting foot in Buffalo, they also met up with a bishop sent from the north, and together they went to visit the remarkably talented Saint Aiven.

During their journey, they witnessed a scene full of vibrant life force, teeming with prosperity, even amid developing infrastructure.

Several barges from the Hartson River carried large quantities of furs from the abundant Midwest.

The Hartson Fur Company needed to load more processed fur onto oceanic freighters before the end of the navigable autumn season and send them back home for Aiven to make a 200-fold profit.

Since the eruption of the Spirit Tide, the Hartson Fur Company had been one of the few consistent and high-quality suppliers, and with winter approaching, fur prices naturally surged.

This was not Aiven exploiting the situation, but inevitable economic principles, which he could not change.

Besides this, a port growing busier by the day, vineyards under harvest, fields being re-sown, and construction sites rising...

Seeing these, Macaulay, who lacked neither wisdom nor age, nearing a hundred years old, already had some confidence in the real purpose of his visit.

Next.

Within Long Island Manor, where part of the main building was completed, equipped with respective functions.

When Macaulay met Aiven, wearing casual attire to greet them, even without mentioning the [Ancient Scroll], the first words he uttered struck directly at his soft spot:

"Good day, Saint Aiven! During our journey, I noticed that the faithful under your reign in Buffalo exhibit devotion and an optimistic spirit.

To ensure that the goddess's flock can bask in divine grace on this unfamiliar land far from Tulip, I would like to represent the church in offering you a batch of interest-free loans to support Buffalo's development. A ten-year term, no less than this amount—what do you think?"

As he spoke, he stretched out five fingers to indicate.

"Uh... Five hundred thousand? Golden Lions?"

Seeing him wiggle his fingers, Aiven couldn't help but think that this Holy Knight had such a straightforward style.

Moreover, am I the type of person swayed by money??

"That's right, fifty thousand for a ten-year term!"

Receiving a definite confirmation, Aiven's face instantly lit up with radiance.

Indeed, I am!

Overall, the "Black Iron Cross Church" and the goddess behind it were the true rulers of the Tulip Alliance's six nations. Not to mention their vast enterprises across nations, countless devotees within the alliance donated astronomical amounts annually to the church in reverence.

It was not entirely without reason that Ilya's "Black Iron Cross Church" clergy were once affected.

Moreover, they only needed to govern the spiritual world of the flock, unlike national kings who bore the burden for their people's material life. They didn't even need to pay taxes for the enterprises they owned across countries.

Thus, their wealth accumulated increasingly, far surpassing what Her Majesty Queen Isabella could remotely compare.

Subsequent proceedings became simple.

"Cough, Knight Macaulay, I've already understood your intentions. Since feelings are in place, everything is negotiable..."

At the time, apart from Milan, who entered the seventh layer with him, no one knew that the [Libra Balance Holy Sword] was also in his possession. However, the [Ancient Scroll] is different. It is something that the Seven Gods Church and many top forces aware of the world's tide secrets covet.

Jelos once said that the [Ancient Scroll] depicted the currents, wind directions, geography, plants, animals, minerals, resources, and unique natural disasters of all known and unknown seas.

And after becoming the Ocean Treasure, it could even present real-time changes on the sea, shorelines, islands, reefs, water depth, and habitats of dangerous marine creatures.

But after obtaining it, they found that the annotations only covered the area within the Storm Belt, from the east to the Peacock Islands and west to the Broken Star Sea, not including the Endless Ocean Phorcys as they initially thought.

It's unknown whether new changes will appear once they truly cross the Storm Belt.

And rumors not involving biological categories are true; currents, wind directions, shorelines, islands, reefs, and water depths are marked in detail, but moving creatures become somewhat vague.

Take the "Broken Star Islands," for example. It couldn't display the location of each creature, but it marked the dangerous boundaries with different colors, ranging from blue, yellow, orange to red.

The danger level increases step by step.

If multiple people touch the scroll simultaneously, the warning color regarding power changes will change accordingly.

Though slightly disappointed, for an adventurer, it's already powerful enough.

As an ancient proverb says: "When you don't know where, the world is vast. Once you know where, the world becomes as small as a map."

With wolves around, Aiven had been contemplating how to avoid bringing trouble upon himself, and now he could follow the current smoothly.

Moreover, with his strength, when he held the [Ancient Scroll], he could see large areas of red within it, let alone others?

Since the "feelings" were already in place, following Macaulay's request, Aiven, without hesitation, duplicated this nautical chart using the power of a Grand Knight from the Iron Wall Knights as a standard and gave it to him.

Besides not being able to display the latest real-time dynamics, it has already surpassed any nautical chart in the world.

However, the Iron Wall Knights, who breathed a gentle sigh of relief after achieving their goal, did not hurry to leave. Macaulay hesitated for a moment before speaking again: "Your Excellency Saint Aiven, I've heard you also deal in arms?"

"Hahaha, just a small business."

Aiven remained expressionless.

But in his mind, a little man was already rubbing his hands eagerly, 'What would you like, sir?'

"The Black Iron Cross Church" is wealthy, but previously, neither new battleships, penicillin, nor the Mind Network were needed by the Church, and Aiven never found an opportunity to do business with them.

Now.

Obviously, they didn't know what deal was reached with the "Alchemy School," and the Goddess chose to fully embrace productivity.

It used to be more inclined toward secular kingdoms' spontaneous actions, but now it is jointly promoted by both religious and secular realms.

"I'm very interested in the explosive missiles you used back then, I wonder..."

During the sixth layer, a hundred missiles were exchanged for a Peak Grand Knight holding a Divine Artifact, and to Macaulay, this deal seemed extremely cost-effective.

Pa——!

"No problem."

Arriving by the sea, Aiven once again demonstrated his multi-track cannon to him, which had a total of 8 launch rails, mounted both above and below with 16 conical shells with stabilizing fins, each with a caliber of 132mm.

"Knight Macaulay, this weapon can be used even by trained mortals.

It has fierce firepower and a large destructive radius; it's a powerful weapon capable of wiping out dense enemy troops, suppressing enemy firepower equipment, and destroying enemy fortifications. The combat part of the rocket is filled with black powder, and the chamber is composed of seven tubular propellant cases, with simple construction and high reliability!"

Summed up in two words:

Durable! Fierce!

"The only problem is it's a bit pricey."

However, Aiven still underestimated the Church's extravagance.

Although Macaulay needed to bow to Saint Aiven outside, internally within the Church, as the Knight Commander (clerical) of the rare Tier 3 Peak Iron Wall Knights in the entire alliance, his real power far surpassed that of the unofficial personnel Saint Aiven aspires to.

After a brief discussion with the bishop beside him, without even frowning once, they wholesale ordered a whole thousand at the price of two hundred Golden Lions each.

After losing the [Libra Balance Holy Sword] to the "Oathbreaker," this was another piece of insurance he prepared.

For Aiven, with just a flick of the tongue, two hundred thousand is in hand. He's already completed... um, one-fortieth of the goal of wielding the next sword.

Though the Missile Priest, Gunpowder Nun, and Namo Gatling Bodhisattva styles may be too beautiful.

However... I like it! The more, the merrier!

Excluding the labor costs of those apprentices from the "Mechanical Immortality School," all material costs don't even add up to two thousand Golden Lions.

Furthermore, with saints having such esteemed status, there's no need to worry about them embezzling funds and fleeing, directly transferring the full sum through the Royal Central Bank of the Phaletis Kingdom.

Following that.

As if it was agreed, aside from the "Volcano Knight," who was clearly identified as an enemy, and the "Oathbreaker," who had explicitly become a nemesis.

The remaining holy knight teams that hadn't left jointly arrived.

The "Frost Knight" and "Secret Magic Knight," even the "Silver Knight," nearly wiped out by Aiven, with only stray Official Knights surviving, sent a bishop stationed in the Sak Colony of Saint Lawrence Territory.