Chapter 757 — The March of the Times
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
Goods from the Cecil Empire were gradually flowing into the many nations of the continent's north. Even in the depths of winter, driven by exorbitant profits and backed by the imperial crown, merchants braved the bitter cold and the perils of the road to carry those novel, curious, or profoundly useful things to distant lands.
In the towering mountains of the Far North, a massive grey-white stone fortress stood upon a peak. The howling wind swept through the ranges, whipping up layers of snow and freezing mist around its walls. Great braziers blazed throughout the fortress, their oil mixed with frostfire herb juice and brilliant crystal dust giving the flames a blood-red glow that even the shrieking gale could not extinguish.
Invisible veils draped over this ancient "Dragon's Approach Keep," joining the great braziers in holding back the howling wind. Inside, in an exceedingly vast hall, great braziers and fire pits likewise roared. A middle-aged man wrapped in a dark crimson cloak sat in a broad chair, watching the magical device before him with keen interest.
The firelight played across the middle-aged man's face, casting flickering brilliance over his resolute features, short grey hair, and the high ridge of his cheekbones and nose.
"Your Majesty, these are magical terminals brought by the Cecil merchants. By inserting different plug-in plates, they can cast various simple spells—equally handy for self-defense or as tools," said a tall courtier with a thick beard and a broad forehead, standing beside the throne and introducing the objects a servant had presented. "In addition, these alchemical potions they sell are rather ordinary in effect, but their price is astonishingly low. In fact, by our own prices, the liquid inside is cheaper than the bottle itself..."
The grey-haired middle-aged man—Bayanor, the present Dragonblood Duke who had ruled the Holy Dragon Duchy for a thousand years—nodded. "I have been hearing much of this of late."
By the tradition of the Holy Dragon Duchy, though the head of state was titled "Duke," his subjects still addressed him as "Your Majesty," not the "Your Highness" used in the southern kingdoms.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the courtier said with a bow. "Over the past half year, merchants from the south have been arriving in growing numbers. The new 'Cecil Imperial House' strongly encourages commerce, and the curious things those merchants bring are much beloved by the duchy's young people—especially the machines that run by themselves, and the crystal devices that can record images."
Bayanor regarded the magical terminal in silence for a moment, then said unhurriedly, "It is... rather interesting."
Standing on the other side of the throne, a white-bearded, white-haired courtier in a white twill robe could not restrain himself. "But the young of late are overly enamored of things from beyond our borders—they even speak of going south to 'see the world.' This hardly seems a good sign."
Bayanor did not turn his head. "And why is it not a good sign?" he asked casually.
"Excessive curiosity about the outside world will unsettle the resolve of the younger generation. When the duchy's people begin chasing the curiosities of foreigners, they easily forget the teachings of our ancestors. The long exile is not yet over; to step rashly out of the mountains is no noble deed..."
"Our ancestors' teachings only told us not to go north—they never forbade going south," Bayanor said mildly. "The reason we took no interest in those southern kingdoms in the past was simply that they were stale and weak, not worth a glance."
As he spoke, the Dragonblood Duke shook his head, a playful smile on his face. "But now... something curious seems to be happening in the south."
After a pause, the ruler of the Holy Dragon Duchy turned his gaze to the white-bearded courtier. "And as for these so-called 'noble deeds'... Sir Eugene, nobility is defined by men."