Chapter 568: The Meeting

Cecile City, inside the Lord’s Manor.

Gawain sat behind a large desk, Heddy standing quietly by his side. Before them, the magical network terminal in the study projected a clear holographic image into the air.

In the center of the projection stood a sweet-smiling girl. On the table before her was a strange contraption resembling a low table, supported by four legs, with a flat surface on top. In the middle of that surface sat a flat-bottomed pan, sizzling cheerfully as meat patties and slices of bread fried in hot oil.

Outside the frame, a cheerful voiceover played: “…The Magitek Heating Station, the best alternative to traditional stoves—no need for firewood or open flames, saving you cooking costs and sparing you the hassle of cleaning… Kodex Household Services is always at your service. Magic brings convenience to your life…”

The short video ended quickly. When the screen switched back to the previous program, Heddy broke the silence with a note of admiration: “This is the latest advertisement from Kodex Household Services. Ancestor, you really weren’t mistaken back then—the merchant named Kodex truly possesses a talent beyond ordinary people… Ancestor? Are you alright?”

Gawain remained fixed on the hologram, his gaze unwavering until the program ended. A strange expression lingered on his face, which made Heddy increasingly anxious. After calling his name three times, Gawain suddenly snapped out of it, as if waking from a deep dream. “Ah—I was just distracted.”

“Ancestor, are you really okay?” Heddy asked with concern. The expression on Gawain’s usually steady and dignified face was unlike anything she had seen before. There was a hint of… melancholy.

But it wasn’t just melancholy—it was mixed with clear relief and joy.

“I’m fine, just a bit reflective…” Gawain smiled gently at Heddy’s worried look. “Seeing these things spontaneously emerge among the people makes me feel that all my efforts haven’t been in vain.”

Introducing advanced ideas and magitek technology into this era had never been easy. From the start, Gawain knew that. But what worried him most was never the “difficulty” of the process itself. What he feared was that his efforts might be a one-way accumulation—that society lacked the foundation for real change, that it wasn’t ready to face a new era. Magitek seemed to be advancing rapidly, and the Duchy of Cecile appeared to be rising swiftly, but he had never dared to relax. He feared that if he, the so-called “guide,” were to fall, the land’s progress would stall—or worse, regress.

Even now, he couldn’t be certain whether the duchy would continue to develop after his sudden absence. But one thing was clear: the stagnant waters of the past had begun to flow.

Perhaps they had never truly been stagnant. Even in the darkest, most oppressive medieval times, deep beneath the surface, a small group of people had always waited for the currents of change to arrive.

Calming his thoughts, Gawain suddenly felt his earlier worries were somewhat arrogant. He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. “Heddy, do you think… I might be a bit arrogant?”

“Arrogant? How could you think that?” Heddy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your greatness is recognized by history, and your achievements are firmly established on this land. Compared to those, I think you’re too modest… Even a mediocre baron would carve his dull life into stone, yet you still refuse to have a statue made in your honor.”

“Let’s not talk about that,” Gawain waved his hand. “Besides Kodex Household Services, are there any other similar tech-driven private enterprises emerging?”

“Very few. Most people are still adjusting to the duchy’s changing situation. Those like Kodex, who quickly grasped the opportunity and found business in magitek, are rare. But not nonexistent—there’s a merchant in the Carol region who developed a new ice-making technique using universal rune plates. And in the Hosman area, a few craftsmen partnered to open a workshop, trying to improve the existing magitek water pumps to suit the lower groundwater levels there. Other than that… nothing more.”

“That’s good… that’s good…” Gawain nodded repeatedly.

Social development naturally breeds innovation. As magitek spreads and academies educate the public, the upper classes gain access to the latest devices. Smart minds will start to stir. And as long as there’s enough potential profit, these clever individuals will actively engage with and seek to master new fields. Wealthy merchants and knowledgeable intellectuals will be the main driving forces.

They will reap the earliest technological and policy benefits—and in Gawain’s view, they deserve to.

At this stage, true magitek still rests in “official” hands: research institutes, rune academies, mechanical workshops, and design bureaus. But Gawain has never restricted the spread of non-military, non-confidential technologies and knowledge. Civilian magitek terminals are openly sold. Universal rune plates for “literacy” are available in academies and night schools. Private “tech companies” like Kodex Household Services have grown from this modest foundation.

“These things must be encouraged—not just encouraged, but promoted,” Gawain said with a smile. “We support private, spontaneous research and improvement of magitek. As long as it’s legal, it should be supported and rewarded. Grassroots enthusiasm is key to technology adoption and development… Looks like the patent system needs to be improved soon.”

“Patents? The system you mentioned before to manage various technological achievements?” Heddy blinked. “I understand. I’ll draft a proposal as soon as possible.”

“Good,” Gawain nodded, then glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall. “Speaking of which… the elves should be arriving soon, right?”

“Two hours ago, the Tanzan Nexus Tower reported sightings. Based on the giant eagle’s flight speed, they should be here shortly,” Heddy confirmed. “Are you ready to receive them?”

“Prepare, then,” Gawain stood. “They’re important guests.”

Heddy sighed. “The royal family has really declined—such important envoys have to rely on outsiders.”

Gawain smiled at her. “What choice do they have? If they spent another half month arguing with the Easterners over who’s more qualified to contact the Southern Realm, the whole delegation might not even make it out before winter.”

The elves had arrived.

Massive, majestic gray-black giant eagles swept across the sky like rolling storm clouds, flying in from the northwest. The watchtowers on the city walls sounded sharp whistles and blaring horns. Bright banners stretched from the northwest corner of the walls all the way to the administrative district in the city center. In the open square before the Lord’s Manor—the “Autumn Palace”—Cecile soldiers in gleaming armor had been waiting for some time.

Gawain, accompanied by Heddy and Rebecca as representatives of the family and the administration, along with Solderin, the temporary “Elven Affairs Officer,” and several other officials, stood in the square watching the enormous raptors descend.

Facing such exotic beasts was a rare experience for northern humans, but even as the giant eagles landed one by one, the soldiers remained perfectly still, without a single unnecessary movement.

Once the eagles touched down, tall, graceful figures dismounted and strode toward Gawain and the others.

Nearby, the military band struck up a fitting tune.

As the music played, Gawain’s gaze swept over the giant eagles, then he turned slightly to Heddy. “Did they fly all the way from the northwest border?”

“Yes,” Heddy nodded. “They were first spotted by the magical network nexus tower in the Luan region, then flew along the Hosman-Asok-White Lake Bay-Tanzan line to get here.”

Gawain pondered briefly, muttering to himself, “Though it might be a bit early… we can’t have a blank slate when it comes to air defense and air force concepts…”

Heddy blinked. “Ancestor, what did you say?”

“Oh, nothing,” Gawain shook his head. His eyes then settled on the approaching elves. The first to come into view was a short-haired female elf, whose stature was considered small even among humans. A memory from Gawain’s past in Cecile flickered to life, and he muttered under his breath, “…I even see a familiar face?”

Rebecca, standing nearby, immediately grew curious. “Ancestor, do you know these elves?”

Gawain smiled and nodded, stepping forward. “Sonia Frostleaf—we haven’t seen each other in seven centuries.”

The short-haired elf quickened her pace, coming to a halt before Gawain. Instead of greeting him first, she scrutinized him up and down with a strange, appraising look. After a few seconds, a faint smile appeared on her face as she extended her hand. “Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it’s real… You’re really alive?”

Gawain took her hand and performed the customary kiss of knuckles, a gesture common to both humans and elves. Then he shook his head with a wry smile. “If it weren’t for my old lands being burned to ashes by a passing blue dragon’s breath, I could even show you my coffin lid as proof.”

“No need for proof. Elves have excellent memories—I still remember your features and voice,” Sonia Frostleaf nodded. “Queen Belsethia sent me to convey her regards, as well as those of General Lomar, Countess Serya, Count Queldoan, General Shana, Sage Gidorn, and Chief Messenger Jilie.”

She then turned to a messenger beside her. “Write it all down—I’ve delivered the message.”

“Got it, all noted.”

Gawain listened to the long list of names, all etched deeply in his memory from Cecile’s past, and shrugged helplessly. “I left in a hurry back then and couldn’t meet everyone as promised. But sudden death in battle… that wasn’t part of the plan, was it?”

Sonia waved a hand. “Anyway, the message’s been delivered.”

At that moment, Rebecca, who had been trailing behind, couldn’t hold back any longer and chirped excitedly, “Ancestor, you really know them? Who were those people? Were they your friends? You’re amazing!”

“I knew a lot of people back then. No need to be so surprised,” Gawain glanced at Rebecca, then gave Heddy a look, silently urging her to keep the impulsive girl in check before she embarrassed herself. Turning back, he led the special envoys toward the Autumn Palace, beckoning to Solderin not far off. “Solderin—don’t stand so far away. Come over and say hello.”

Solderin had been deliberately standing off to the side in an inconspicuous spot since earlier, but now he had no choice but to step forward. The high-ranking ranger approached Gawain’s side, casting a strange glance at the compatriots from the Silver Empire before finally resting his gaze on Sonia Frostleaf.

Sonia merely gave Solderin a quick look, saying nothing, waiting silently for him to speak.

Those walking alongside Gawain clearly noticed the shift in atmosphere. Under everyone’s curious stares, Solderin finally broke the silence. He lowered his head, a hint of awkwardness in his voice as he said, “Mother… it’s been a long time.”

Several faces instantly lit up with surprise. Rebecca’s eyes went wide as she glanced between Solderin and Sonia—who was nearly her height—before she couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “…Wow!!”

(End of chapter)