Aiven certainly couldn't give a second answer.
"Yes! Absolutely necessary!"
Not to mention the Holy Baptismal Water from the Divine Kingdom, even if it were something else from the Goddess, he'd drink it without hesitation!
"By the way, drinking the Holy Baptismal Water during the Church's holy ceremony is equivalent to receiving the highest level of baptism, and you automatically receive the title of 'Divine Favored Knight.'
You will also receive a fief in the Tulip Duchy equivalent to the size of a manor and home to 20 farmer households. Although you can enjoy it for a lifetime without succession, it is still your first piece of land."
"So, Knight Galliot, you'd better work hard!"
Although titles are mutually recognized among the alliance countries, I currently hold the title of Baron of Ilya and Knight of Tulip (all who have fiefs are considered upper-class knights, recognized as nobility, whereas lower-class knights do not even count as the lowest nobility), yet I do not have a title in Phaletis (being the Guardian Knight of the Princess is a status, not a title).
Particularly when facing my sovereign with an expression not quite resembling happiness, Aiven could only offer an awkward yet polite smile.
"Hehehe..."
Afterward, Liweina did not linger on this issue for long. Following the Kingdom's successive political reforms, it is almost impossible for the practice of dividing national lands into fiefs, a historical regression, to occur.
However, there might be opportunities beyond the country's territory!
This was also the other reason for summoning Aiven, the Guardian Knight, in person.
Thus, the Princess did not sympathize with him for just having faced the hardships of the "War of the Gods," and solemnly entrusted Aiven with a new task.
"Luckily, with this bottle of 'Holy Baptismal Water,' your strength can be enhanced, allowing me to feel more at ease.
Before you returned, the elders 'Between the Thrones' were already preparing to assess the impact of the 'Sea Witch' revival on sea navigation.
The last batch of autumn voyage escort fleets has begun to form, with a spot still open for a battleship; I recommended you."
Pausing slightly to observe Aiven's reaction, Liweina continued:
"To an Extraordinary person, especially to a wizard, the Old Continent governed by the Church for countless ages is too stifling.
Therefore, your vacation will not be long; prepare for a journey across the entire Black Sea soon!"
She said with a wink:
"Besides... the Kingdom Guardian has a pretty good impression of you and advised me to try letting you take on greater responsibilities!"
"The New Continent?"
Aiven silently chewed over this term. In the Age of Navigation, if anywhere could claim to be the center of activity for sailors, merchants, adventurers, and Sea Hunters, it would have to be the New Continent.
Unlike the Southern Continent, which has been colonized for nearly two centuries with a relatively mature colonial system, as Professor Mitchellson once said in his lectures at the Royal Navy Academy:
"With developments of barely a century, the vast lands four times the size of the Old Continent have many secrets yet to be explored by newcomers, and countless treasures awaiting their destined masters to find them."
Furthermore.
Countless pirates, enemy navies, Native Wizards predominated by the Voodoo sect, shamans, deeply rooted Primordial Spirits, Spirits of Nature, wandering demons... These dangers are hurdles to our continued expansion.
"I hope your generation can complete the exploration of the New Continent, achieving success and even acquiring personal fiefs!"
As a land filled with golden wealth, it's also plagued by natural disasters and human strife, making it precisely the place needing a strong Navy to suppress.
In comparison to the stable Old Continent, it's a real, vast training ground, using the harsh natural environment and constant struggles to cultivate a batch of outstanding sailors and soldiers for the Kingdom.
Particularly as Phaletis' national strength steadily grows, the spirit of ambition and progress permeates from top to bottom, sharpening their knives from economy to military in preparation for maritime dominance.
This is not simply limited to the upper-level strategies but is the common aspiration of countless levels and interest groups from top to bottom, even turning back to accelerate the country's advancement!
There's even a saying circulated within the military: Navy officers who haven't been baptized by the storms of the New Continent find it hard to assume great responsibilities and naturally stand shorter next to others.
Moreover, for Aiven, this place holds another significance.
The primitive and mysterious New Continent very likely harbors the "Dust of Evil Spirits," which he currently needs most, to break through the last barrier before promoting to an Official Wizard, through the "Spirit Communication Potion," thus completing the ultimate transformation!
Although his "Storm Horn," as a battleship, already has the qualification to embark on the New Continent's journey independently, and there are veterans who have run the route aboard, moving with the kingdom's merchant ships and escort fleets evidently offers greater security.
Especially when running this route for the first time.
Hence, even though just returning from the supportive task in the "Leiden River Valley," feeling somewhat exhausted, Aiven agreed without hesitation.
"No problem, Your Highness! I will ensure the mission is accomplished!"
It did not surprise Liweina; to any Extraordinary aspirant wishing to advance along the Extraordinary Path, the New Continent with its dual dangers and opportunities is highly enticing.
Suddenly.
Liweina seemed to recall something, brushing a stray lock behind her ear, feigning nonchalance as she spoke:
"Before you set out, make sure to complete the next quota of 'Extracting Potions.' You know how viewing those tempting 'Essence Fruits'... serving as an extra Extraordinary supply from the military, it's such a big sin to let them go to waste!"
Silently chastising the Princess for masking her gluttony with such high-sounding pretexts, he could only respond:
"As you command! The maintenance on 'Storm Horn' following this damage will take a few days, and it should be a while before the fleet is assembled too."
"This period is enough for me to prepare a sufficient amount of 'Extracting Potion.'"
After chatting for a while, Aiven took his leave.
This time back, he hadn't had the chance to tell his uncle and aunt the good news that he had found his sister.
It was as if destiny was playing tricks; he had been eager to acquire a battleship to have the sole qualification to go to the New Continent, mainly to inquire about his sister's whereabouts.
Unexpectedly, in a twist of fate, this ultimate goal had already been perfectly accomplished ahead of time.
However, his "Adventurer's Blood" had already begun to boil, and his anticipation for the journey to the New Continent hadn't diminished in the slightest. Once he returned, he planned to start preparing immediately.
However, he had just reached the door when he heard Liweina softly say from behind:
"Aiven!
The matters regarding the Eldest Princess that you relayed earlier don't need further attention; just let things take their course naturally.
Additionally, according to reliable information, the one you encountered in the Tyrone Kingdom was the newly risen Great Pirate 'Jade Light' from the Golden Sea. The situation at sea is getting increasingly chaotic.
Take care of yourself!"
Aiven paused slightly and nodded gently:
"Alright."
....
Cooper Manor.
In the outdoor testing ground shrouded by foliage.
A young girl stretched out her fair little hand, scattering a handful of seeds the size of pinky fingers, sparkling like black grape seeds.
flo——
Her incantation resonated with the world, stirring the omnipresent natural energy.
Snap!
Within the green magic spiritual light, the seeds rapidly took root and sprouted upon falling to the ground, instantly growing into clusters of peculiar plants with long stalks and two thick leaves with fringed edges like eyelashes.
Unlike ordinary flytraps.
This special variety, named "War Flytrap" by Angie, besides being enormous with exceptionally tough leaf veins, also has leaf surfaces with serrated bristles inside, offering excellent cushioning effects.
The base of the bristles can secrete a potent adhesive, preventing anything caught by the leaves from escaping again.
At that moment.
Even though it was only an Intermediate Apprentice using the [Witchcraft: Activated Plants], it had nurtured them to the height of an adult's chest, swaying gently in the wind, resembling some alien "animal."
"Fire!"
At the girl's command.
Three servants, equipped with heavy crossbows, aimed at the bizarre cluster of plants and simultaneously pulled the triggers!
In terms of destructive power, the crossbow bolts with blood grooves were much more formidable than lead bullets; heavier and better capable of simulating artillery effects.
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!
In the blink of an eye, the three heavy crossbow arrows were captured by the rapidly closing flytrap leaves. Because of the cushioning of the bristles and the adhesive effect, not even a sound was emitted.
Obviously, this plant's capture ability far exceeds the limits of crossbow bolt attack power.
"It can already conclude. Next, it needs to be stimulated by an official wizard, using artillery to test its actual defense capability!"
Spending over three months, Angie utilized her magic-like ability to attempt to breed Aiven's envisioned "Super Flytrap" capable of capturing cannonballs, with the astonishing speed of evolving once every two days.
Following numerous failures in the process.
Finally, after using the colossal "Titan Flytrap" sourced from the northern New Continent, the thorny "Toothed Flytrap" with firm leaves, the highly adhesive "Merging Tooth Flytrap," and the quick-reacting "Dracula Flytrap" for hybridization.
Finally, half a month ago, they obtained this miraculous plant fulfilling most of the imagined requirements.
Then, after selecting and breeding the best seeds for several generations, finally obtained these finished products.
Observing a sparkling flytrap seed, the girl's eyes curved like crescent moons.
The dual sense of accomplishment from independently completing her first research project and fulfilling Aiven's commission almost made Angie's face radiate light.
"Angie, anything worth being happy about that you can share with me too!"
An unexpected yet laughing voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
"Ah! Teacher, you're back?"
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