The salty sea breeze passed through the wide strait, echoing with a whistling sound among the rugged rocks on the coast, like the strange cries and roars of terrifying winter ghosts on the Permafrost Plain, varying in pitch, making it hard to distinguish between desolation and a mournful wail.
A few miles from the Golden Coast's commercial port, the Ancestral Red Dragon stood shoulder to shoulder with Ocean Dragons Naxon, the law enforcement officer responsible for the security of the entire sea area, overlooking the newly built ship port.
This new port was slightly smaller than the Golden Coast's natural harbor because, due to natural terrain limitations, the surrounding sea area, apart from the natural harbor, was surrounded by high mountains and cliffs.
This slightly remote strait, being a dead water area, was used by the Golden Empire to mobilize a large amount of labor to level the high mountains and cliffs, and hollow out dangerous rocks and mountains, to build a specialized port for warships, serving as a testing ground for the Empire's ship research center and a station for the future Imperial Navy.
In the construction of this port, the Lich residing in the Forest of Sin once again leveraged the advantages of necromancy.
Countless skeletal undead, after completing the massive project of digging canals and connecting the sea to the inland river mouth, were once again 'voluntarily' assigned this grand project under the diligent contractor Lich.
Every night after the deep chime of the bell, the diligent Lich would punctually awaken those skeletal beings who had no morning grumpiness, and they would follow secluded paths to this place to cut mountains and chisel stones, filling in the nearshore, saving the Empire a large amount of manpower and resources.
So, even now, the two Dragons would occasionally see skeletons floating in the sea; those diligent workers, after falling to the seabed, would sometimes remain in eternal slumber with the seawater due to the Lich's oversight.
The accompanying officials and Imperial Guards waited quietly at the foot of the two Dragons; these officials were already accustomed to the Emperor's inspections.
Although the Golden Empire had a gradually maturing system, it also tried its best to discard some red tape, such as the Emperor and Dragon Lord's impromptu arrivals, which were never announced to the relevant officials in advance.
This also led to the officials within the Empire strictly adhering to the Empire's regulations in their daily conduct.
"How has the Imperial Ship Research Workshop been doing recently? Fafna's report the other day stated that the Ship Research Workshop applied for another large sum of research funds. Although I can still afford these funds, I don't like things that only have input without any return."
Kalon's gaze fell upon the large ships in the harbor; these experimental new ship models were covered with a layer of iron, much larger than any existing ships and warships in the Ekania World.
The hull, including the ram, was three hundred meters long and ninety-one meters wide, allowing Dragonss to move freely on it, making them veritable sea behemoths, mobile landmasses.
However, these ships had never been put into formal production or use; apart from their overall structure and hull, they had no extra features, not even the arranged magic cannons or armor-piercing ballistas were equipped, making them resemble giant models.
"The researchers at those ship workshops have indeed built these ironclad ships, but they are still quite far from the giant ships you envisioned. Even with the guidance of mature knowledge and systems, but..."
Naxon, who was beside him, hesitated. The scope of this Ocean Dragons law enforcement officer included the shipyard center, so in terms of overlapping responsibilities, he was also one of the superiors of these research centers.
"Kalon,"
Naxon looked at the Ancestral Red Dragon leisurely flicking his tail, and then spoke: "Not everyone possesses powerful talent. Even with a mature knowledge system laid out before these people, their established concepts and fixed ways of thinking make it very difficult for them to deeply learn and understand."
"Or, perhaps, we should give them more time. After all, these people originally only built small boats for inland river navigation; there's still a technological gap between them and sea-going vessels, let alone the super warships we envision."
"The Ship Research Center has also been working hard recently. Perhaps we should first gradually introduce these updated warships to the market for application, and then gradually improve them through practical experience."
Naxon observed the subtle expressions of the Ancestral Red Dragon before him. In front of the twenty-meter-long Ancestral Red Dragon, the Ocean Dragons's linear serpentine body appeared particularly small, so much so that Naxon had to crane his head to fully see the changes on the Red Dragon's cheek.
This Ancestral Red Dragon, it seemed, was not troubled by these matters; instead, he seemed to be enjoying the salty sea breeze blowing directly at him.
Great doubt arose in Naxon's vertical pupils. Although Dragons were not afraid of water, they generally did not like the sea, preferring even to bathe in magma.
In a strict sense, a Red Dragon that had advanced to the Ancient rank was already a completely different species from an ordinary Dragons, as could be seen from the Ancestral Red Dragon's brilliant scales and magnificent horns.
But the basic elements rooted in dragon blood meant that a fiery Dragons could not possibly like the sea.
In fact, Kalon was indeed enjoying the sea breeze, which he used to find somewhat foul.
This stemmed from the Ancestral Red Dragon's achievements after digesting the Blue Dragon Demon's heart over the past few months.
By devouring the Blue Dragon Demon's heart with his own innate bloodline, he extracted the chaotic creation characteristics of the demon, and a trace of the storm and tide's properties was captured and absorbed by the Ancestral Red Dragon's bloodline.
Therefore, the Ancestral Red Dragon now, like the young of those Blue Dragons, enjoyed the taste and gentle caress of the sea breeze.
Tiny threads of lightning flickered beneath Kalon's scales, which were primarily golden-red, tinging the Ancestral Red Dragon's scales with an almost imperceptible pale blue.
Kalon carefully maintained this rare source of bloodline, allowing it to curl deep within his bloodline, enveloped by a vast amount of psionic light, carefully making contact with his own origin, gradually harmonizing and merging.
Then he turned his head, as if deep in thought, and said: "Hmm, perhaps we could recruit some innovative technical talents. In the shipbuilding industry, I'm not blaming these people; the Empire's initial focus was not on this aspect."
Although the Empire's talent reserve already surpassed many human kingdoms, the shipbuilding industry was never one that high-end Scholars and mages were willing to venture into.
Nor were there Scholars and mages willing to change professions to research these things. Therefore, these projects, which were temporarily filled with lower-level personnel, found it difficult to rapidly grow and develop within an Empire starting from scratch.
Naxon wagged his tail, his expression visibly relaxing. After the Ancestral Red Dragon spoke and no longer pursued accountability, all the naturally condensed aura and majesty seemed to be swept away, making the Ocean Dragon less cautious.
"But now, the establishment and rapid development of the Empire have aroused the vigilance and hostility of those human kingdoms. It's difficult for us to openly recruit the talents we desire in their territories, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of our work."
Naxon said somewhat angrily: "The 'Golden Empire Threat Theory' is beginning to spread among some human nobles. Some nobles who were already hostile to our Empire have even refused the stationing of imperial diplomatic envoys, and imperial goods and related trade are being subjected to more taxes by those nobles."
"Those nobles are all afraid of the Empire's growing power because the policy of Dragon rule over the Empire has made the commoners of those nobles restless. Even some rebellious slaves are flying the Empire's banner, causing the Empire's external affairs to become difficult."
Kalon clicked his tongue. Such a situation was indeed within his expectations, but he could not change his policy of ruling the Empire. And the civilized nations of the outside world, now that the Empire's basic industries were gradually developing, had become increasingly important dumping grounds for goods.
This channel could certainly not be abandoned; development in isolation would never lead to strength.
"It's a pity. I had originally planned to contact the Storm Giants, with whom I once had a passing acquaintance, and use their tribes to open up a land transportation route from the Empire to the Northern Continent."
Kalon said regretfully: "But the course of events is always more unpredictable than the events themselves. The former Storm Giants have now gradually withered away, rendering my idea moot."
The battle situation in Bay Stream City had already been communicated to Kalon by Dragon Lord Carlit. What others considered a luxurious means of magical communication was insignificant to Dragonss, so the Lords who maintained order in the Empire had all already learned of the matter.
But thinking of Dos, who had traveled the furthest, going to Bay Stream City to fight to escape burdensome duties, and two indescribable Dragons who were stuck before the Dragon Lord's teleportation passage because they couldn't shapeshift, Kalon still smiled.
Camid couldn't learn it, and Red Dragon Kadilos was unwilling to learn it.
"It seems Kadilos still needs more urging," Kalon thought to himself.
However, Kalon's former idea falling through also meant that maintaining maritime transportation channels was even more important, rather than relying on leased or purchased merchant ships.
Relying on leased merchant ships, it would be difficult for the Empire to extend its reach to other continents and form stable relationships and channels with other powers and nations.
Moreover, in the Empire's military system, naval platforms and military strength were also a very important part of the Empire and had to be developed and supplemented.
"It is regrettable, so I have also been paying close attention to the work of the shipyard workshops recently."
Naxon's caudal fins gently flapped. The Ocean Dragon seemed particularly interested in this topic, just as governing a city was to Alina.
In the distant sky, a shimmering Silver Dragon flashed across, her graceful figure drawing two extra glances from Naxon, and even the Ancestral Red Dragon couldn't help but be attracted by the Silver Dragon's posture.
This was not due to desire, but merely the instinct of most males.
Recently, Kalon always felt that The Silver Dragon Christiana's figure appeared more frequently around him. Even the most restrained Dragons couldn't help but feel a little proud of his charm.
Although the Ancestral Red Dragon never boasted about his appearance, he would not pretend not to know about his outstanding looks.
But fortunately, the Ancestral Red Dragon was not a Dragons driven by desire. The Silver Dragon Christiana being able to see him also meant that the Ancestral Red Dragon could also observe this Silver Dragon, and the Red Dragon's mischievousness began to shroud the Silver Dragon's back.
"Let's go. Since we're here, we might as well go see it ourselves."
After The Silver Dragon Christiana's figure disappeared into the distance, Naxon and the Red Dragon simultaneously withdrew their gazes and spoke.
Beside the newly built port, Kalon descended with the sound of wind and flickering subtle electric light, but he frowned slightly.
The source of storm and thunder, which had always been carefully enveloped in psionic energy within the bloodline, suffered a slight impact under the Ancestral Red Dragon's overly active power, like a tender seed eroded by wind and rain, or a flickering candle flame blown by a strong wind, on the verge of extinction.
The Ancestral Red Dragon's blood within Kalon's body had always been controlled by him to absorb the subtle characteristics of this storm and thunder source. This characteristic had also constantly received sustenance from psionic energy, a power born of spirituality, and a large amount of spiritual nourishment.
But it was still not enough to contend with the immense fire, solid earth, and cold, hard steel within the Ancestral Red Dragon's body.
Every time he used his power, the innate power filling the Ancestral Red Dragon's body would impact this nascent force.
The roots of these innate talents wanted to chew up this weak power characteristic, like three ruffians who had taken over a nest, unable to tolerate a new, young child in their room.
Especially the fire element that filled every inch of the Ancestral Red Dragon's body, which was particularly vexing. The expanding power, imbued with the Ancestral Red Dragon's will, did not allow any other extraneous power to contaminate its territory.
As long as Kalon relaxed his control over his power even slightly, that weak power characteristic would be impacted; this was a natural reaction within his body.
Kalon's control, on the contrary, seemed to suppress his body's instinctive reactions.
Kalon knew in his heart that his body was no longer keeping up with his leap-like growth in power, unable to spontaneously balance and accommodate more things. He could only rely on his own control to achieve a harmonious balance of power within his body.
Compared to the abilities mastered by the Ancestral Red Dragon, the Dragons's true form had now become the weakest link, a fact that even the Ancestral Red Dragon had found somewhat unbelievable before.
The growth of Dragons in the material plane needed to follow basic age, with strict limitations within age brackets.
Even though the Ancestral Red Dragon's bloodline talent allowed him to expand the limits of his body's growth to its current maximum, he had still touched the Dragons's ceiling.
Because an Ancestral Red Dragon was, after all, only a juvenile Dragons, and the power he could bear also had its limits.
If the Ancestral Red Dragon continued to develop in this way, it might not be long before he would be constrained by his True Dragon true form being unable to fully bear his flames, thus unable to exert his full power.
In short, the Ancestral Red Dragon's natural growth rate was no longer keeping up with the power he comprehended and his ever-increasing abilities.
"It seems that not only is the annual interest almost due, Rosani should reunite with the True Dragon. Even without them, I must proceed."
Kalon looked at the giant ships swaying slightly with the waves on the sea, clenched his claws, and sighed to himself.