Chapter 774: The Northern Plan

While Philm was still dazed, Victoria was carefully studying this young man with golden hair, who looked about the same age as her nephew.

So young, yet he had created something as incredible as the “Phantom Shadow Play.”

This wasn’t just a technical invention—it was a conceptual breakthrough. The duchess couldn’t help but marvel: when it came to new things, true creativity still belonged to the young. Compared to the previous generation, they adapted far more quickly to this new era.

Though she herself wasn’t exactly old, her role as an elder and years of navigating the upper echelons of nobility had sometimes made her feel that her mindset was no longer youthful.

If Philm’s character was trustworthy… then it wasn’t a bad thing that Findel had found such a friend. As for the supposed gap in status and rank… with the old order of ancestors already signaling reform, it was better to go with the flow.

These complex thoughts flickered through Victoria’s mind in an instant, but her expression remained unchanged. To outsiders, she was still the cold-faced duchess. She simply nodded at Philm with just the right amount of warmth: “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Philm.”

“I… I’m very pleased and honored as well,” Philm hurriedly bowed his head. “I’ve often heard Findel speak of you.”

“Oh?” Victoria’s tone held a trace of curiosity. “How does he speak of me?”

“He said you…” Philm started nervously, but after a few words, he caught Findel’s sharp glance beside him—a look that silently said, “We’re friends and partners today; no need to treat your aunt like an enemy.” Hastily, Philm adjusted his words: “He said you are full of authority—strict but respected, the Ice and Snow Duchess whom the northern mountains revere.”

“That’s not something he would say, but thank you for the compliment,” Victoria nodded. Then she withdrew her gaze and turned to High King Gawain. “Your Majesty, I apologize for taking up your time.”

“No, I enjoy seeing my subjects get along so well,” Gawain said with a smile, clearly amused by the scene. “Besides, since you’ve arrived today, we might as well discuss some matters.”

As he spoke, he stood and gave a slight nod to Philm and the others, who were still bowing their heads. “I’ll leave you young people to it—the upcoming screenings are just as important. I wish you all the best.”

Several voices responded in unison: “Yes, Your Majesty!”

…

After leaving the theater, which had been temporarily converted for the Phantom Shadow Play, Gawain and Victoria boarded a mage-powered carriage waiting at the back exit. The others Victoria had brought were assigned to different vehicles.

Outside the window, the capital’s streets receded behind them. The architecture was a blend of classical and modern styles, rising and falling in varied heights. Citizens dressed warmly for winter and children ran and played everywhere. Decorative banners and drapes fluttered in the wind.

“I heard you came to Rockhold by train?” Gawain casually asked, glancing at the “Ice and Snow Duchess” sitting opposite him in the back seat.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Victoria nodded slightly. “It was a personal whim—I wanted to experience riding the train myself, to see firsthand how the train and the entire railway system operate.”

“And what did you think?”

“I did see the trains in operation, but understanding the railway system is no simple matter,” Victoria said frankly. “It’s a complex and vast network requiring many people’s involvement. It’s not like magic, where one can rely on personal insight or talent to master it.”

Gawain watched the duchess’s poker face as she shared her observations and impressions, and a faint smile of satisfaction and relief appeared on his face.

This former ruler of the Northern Duchy was paying close attention to the mage-powered trains and railway system’s practical workings—and had even taken the initiative to experience it herself. That was encouraging.

Because the North also had plans to build railways, this new mage-powered train technology would eventually spread across the entire empire.

For a traditional old noble and orthodox mage like Victoria to set aside her identity and old ways of thinking, and actively engage with new things, was already remarkable.

Lost in thought, Gawain casually asked, “Tell me about the situation in Saint Suniel, and the construction of the main magic network hubs in the central and northern regions.”

“The situation in Saint Suniel is fully under control,” Victoria reported clearly. “The Administration Office is managing city operations. The purification and reconstruction of the southeastern plains of Saint Suniel have reached expected goals. Nearby refugees have been relocated into the city or dispersed to nearby towns. Food supplies from the Western Territories have arrived, so at least no one will starve this winter.”

“The nobles remaining in the old capital have all been ‘reorganized.’ Each family has sent the required number of direct or collateral members, who have been added to the immigration lists. Speaking of which, due to the Gorgon River being closed to navigation, all immigrants heading to the Southern Territories must now travel overland through the Holy Spirit Plains, which is slower and more costly. I’m preparing to request that some of the construction teams be stationed in the Holy Spirit Plains reconstruction zone to assist with rebuilding while waiting for the spring thaw.”

Gawain nodded. “That makes sense. Prepare the relevant documents. If there are no issues, we’ll proceed as you suggest.”

“Thank you for your understanding,” Victoria continued. “Regarding the main magic network hubs in the central and northern regions… progress remains stalled, especially in the North. The mountainous terrain is difficult to work in, and winter’s ice makes it even harder to bring in large equipment. We can only complete node installations within cities for now. As for connecting the network… that will have to wait until summer or autumn.”

Gawain had already heard a rough outline of this from Hetty, so he wasn’t surprised. But after the basic report, Victoria added a detail not mentioned in previous reports.

“Your Majesty, there was a strange incident during the magic network installation in Winterhold. The cause is still under investigation, but I thought I should inform you first.”

“A strange incident?” Gawain frowned. “What happened?”

“The night after the magic network was connected to the city’s central mana obelisk, all active network terminals emitted an eerie howl lasting over ten seconds. At the same time, every terminal projected a flood of unrecognizable strange symbols and flickering lights. Neither the howling nor the projections could be identified by anyone.”

This sounded like something out of an urban horror story, and Gawain instinctively furrowed his brow. “Was it a malfunction?”

“No,” Victoria shook her head. “Technicians checked repeatedly, including several experts sent from the capital. I even returned early from Saint Suniel to Winterhold myself to confirm that the network hadn’t been attacked or corrupted by high-level magic.”

Gawain’s mind raced with various guesses and hypotheses, but none had solid theoretical backing. Frowning, he pondered what could cause such a bizarre phenomenon, looking into Victoria’s eyes. “Do you have any ideas?”

“I can only speculate,” Victoria said. “Perhaps the far northern mountains, being near the continent’s edge, are affected by magical surges from the Endless Sea. The local magical environment might differ from inland areas, causing unexpected interference in the magic network. It’s also possible that Winterhold itself is generating interference…”

She went on to explain, “Winterhold isn’t just a castle—it’s a massive magical fortress, or rather… the ancestral mage tower of the Snow-Wilde family. Our ancestor reshaped the mountain with magic, making the peak part of Winterhold’s foundation. Deep within the castle is a powerful mana well, housing all kinds of potent and strange magical artifacts. Over time, the Wilde family expanded the castle and collected extraordinary items. Now, Winterhold is the strongest source of magical interference in the North. Although the castle has shielding and protective measures, there’s no guarantee these disturbances won’t affect the magic network running in the city below.”

Listening to Victoria’s explanation, Gawain rubbed his forehead as memories surfaced. “Snow… we always joked he was related to a hamster. He collected everything. Charlie said he’d probably die buried under his dangerous hoard someday.”

Victoria’s expression didn’t change, but inside she felt a bit nervous hearing the king reveal these family secrets about their founding ancestor. She couldn’t help but think silently—

If His Majesty Gawain hadn’t risen from the grave, Snow Wilde would probably be the longest-lived among the founding four dukes and the founding sovereign…

But that was not something to say aloud—it would be highly disrespectful.

Gawain couldn’t guess what the ever-stoic Victoria was thinking. As he mused and joked, he also considered—

The strange phenomenon Victoria described couldn’t be dismissed as a “mysterious glitch” or “urban legend”!

The magic network was still new. Even after several years of operation, many of its properties remained to be explored, and improvements were ongoing. As the foundation of mage technology, any anomaly it revealed must be treated with caution. Even without that—

In a world filled with supernatural powers, mysterious phenomena, and strange occurrences, any sufficiently bizarre event with a wide impact demanded vigilance!

Was it, as Victoria suggested, some external interference affecting Winterhold’s magic network? Or… was something trying to corrupt it?

Would this interference spread to other regions’ networks?

If so, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Noticing Gawain’s suddenly grave expression, Victoria fell silent for a few seconds before asking, “Your Majesty, did you think of something?”

Snapped out of his thoughts, Gawain recalled some bold proposals Rebecca had made long ago…

“Perhaps… some key nodes in the magic network should have a physical self-destruct function…”

Victoria was startled by his last words. “Ah?!”

“Don’t worry about it for now. It was a technical consideration from the network’s initial design,” Gawain waved his hand, setting the thought aside for the moment. “In any case, the ‘anomaly’ you mentioned is very important. When you return, investigate thoroughly. Even if you can’t find the cause, keep monitoring the network’s operation. Report any further abnormalities to me immediately.”

Victoria bowed her head. “Understood.”

Gawain exhaled and shifted topics. “Anything else going on in the North?”

“Yes,” Victoria nodded, then explained one of the reasons she had come to the capital in person. “We have successfully opened the ‘gate’ to the Saint Dragon Duchy. Grant Duke Balogur Knarl has agreed to formally establish diplomatic relations with the Empire. He has entrusted me to personally deliver his letter of credence and convey his intentions. Before spring, the Saint Dragon Duchy will send an official envoy to prepare for a permanent embassy, dispatch students abroad, open trade routes, and other related matters.”

Gawain paused for a moment, then couldn’t hide his excitement. “Ha! This is truly great news! We’ve managed to open the toughest door in the North! With this, the situation will definitely tilt more in our favor.”

“Exactly,” Victoria, usually so stoic, allowed herself a faint smile. “Once that door is open, the Holy Dragon Principality will lean more toward the Cecil Settlement. After all, it’s not just bordering Cecil—it’s also close to Typhon. And Typhon has been trying to establish ties with the Holy Dragon Principality for years, which has always been a cause for concern. Now… we can worry a little less.”

“But we shouldn’t get carried away,” Gawain said with a smile. “Opening the door doesn’t mean the Holy Dragon Principality is fully in the Cecil Settlement’s camp. They could still ally with the Typhonians. Besides, I’m really curious—what exactly moved those stubborn ‘Dragonborn’ of the Holy Dragon Principality?”

(End of chapter)