After hearing Newwood’s explanation, Henwell feels a chill run down his spine. “What problems do I have here? Why can't I get the attention of the people from Abundant Continent?”
Newwood shakes his head. “That, I don’t know. All I was told was to distract the Abundant Continent delegation’s attention.”
Henwell suddenly thinks aloud, “Is it because of my slting industry and that steam engine?”
Newwood laughs. “There are plenty of smart people in the world. Don’t think your little projects are enough to make the Abundant Continent’s empire nervous.”
”Besides Abundant Continent, there’s the Divine Continent, where magical tech is incredibly advanced. At your current pace, it’ll take hundreds of years before they even start to concern about you. The real reason outsiders shouldn’t notice probably has more to do with your system and ideology.”
Newwood jumps down from the bed and forcefully breaks free from the Shackles of Civilization.
At this mont, both Newwood and Henwell suppress their killing intent. The strength of the Shackles keeps fading until Newwood easily breaks them, and no new chains appear.
Newwood walks over to the window, gazing out into the night. “While I’ve been healing here, I’ve seen a lot. You’re effectively wiping out the entire noble class, aiming to build a unified feudal dynasty. Sure, nobles will still exist, but those without land won’t have the power to resist the central authority.”
“Losing land ans losing armies. Without those two, nobles beco nothing more than puppets the emperor can dispose of with a word.”
Henwell knows this all too well, which is why he never dares to rebel. Otherwise, every noble would see him as an enemy.
Only if Peace Haven is strong enough, with new social classes rising outside the nobility, can Henwell continue expanding.
But it’s a slow, gradual encroachnt—not a swift conquest.
That’s why Henwell carefully lays plans across regions.
Only when Peace Haven has enough new ruling classes to replace the nobles can it launch major expansions.
This is a long ga, asured in decades or more.
Rushing won’t work.
Conquering the world isn’t a gambler’s all-in bet.
It’s about steadily accumulating small advantages until they beco overwhelming.
There’s no room for luck or carelessness.
Underestimating or belittling your enemy is just digging your own grave.
Newwood then turns to Henwell and asks, “Brother, what’s your na?”
Henwell pauses for a mont before saying a na that feels a bit unfamiliar to him: “Barry Allen.”
“Heh! Barry Allen! That na reminds of a certain superhero,” Newwood chuckles.
Henwell laughs along, “It’s just a kind of ntal anchor for .”
Newwood extends his right hand. “Well then, Henwell! Nice to et you! I’m Newwood!”
That long-lost formality strikes a chord with Henwell, who also reaches out his hand. “Hello, Newwood! eting you in this damn world makes glad too!”
Their palms clasp tightly. Two lonely souls, fighting in a strange world, finally find a genuine mont of comfort.
They sit down together, and instead of diving into his own questions, Henwell asks Newwood, “So, what’s your plan now? How’s your injury? Need any help? Money? Or extraordinary resources?”
Newwood shakes his head. “I’m almost healed. I’ll stay here no longer than a month, then I’m leaving this continent. Right now, I’m mainly hiding from a round of detection. The Holy Spirit Church’s Oracle Magic and the Groias Empire’s Great Prophecy Magic can’t lock onto this place.”
Henwell frowns. “Why is that?”
Newwood shrugs. “I don’t know, but that’s what my superiors told . He said you can avoid a lot of surveillance here. I’m curious about it too!”
He smiles and adds, “But don’t worry, I’m not just freeloading! I’ll pay rent! So, tell , what do you need here?”
Henwell doesn’t hold back. After all, they’re essentially tied together now.
“I need high-level tal formulas. I want to create even better extraordinary alloys!”
Henwell expects Newwood, who’s well-traveled and knowledgeable, to agree right away. But to his surprise, Newwood refuses.
Frowning, Newwood says, “I do know a lot of high-level extraordinary alloy formulas, but I can’t give them to you. Not just that, anything related to magic here, like potions or magical knowledge, I’m not allowed to share.”
Henwell is taken aback for a mont, then cautiously asks, “You an... that’s the order from above?”
Newwood doesn’t answer directly, but his silence confirms it.
Henwell starts to piece things together. Maybe the higher-ups want him to develop these things himself, not just copy them outright. It probably ties into that whole civilization advancent, the light of civilization, and the shackles of civilization stuff.
Still not satisfied, Henwell presses on, “What about intel on Abundant Continent? Surely you can tell sothing!”
But Newwood shakes his head again. “No. Saying too little is pointless; saying too much would put you in danger. Rember, this is a world full of magic with countless incredible abilities. So things, so people—once you know about them, powerful professionals involved will notice. So don’t rush. When the ti cos for you to access that info, you’ll have your channels.”
“For now, your main focus should be on expanding your territory and influence.”
Henwell thinks it over and realizes Newwood’s right.
His primary mission remains making Peace Haven stronger.
Later, he’ll have to plan how to seize a kingdom’s lands, whether to start with Ogiro or Vorry.
But that doesn’t an Newwood holds no value for him.
There’s one organization that’s always lurked in the shadows for Henwell.
Maybe Newwood can shed so light on it.
Henwell tells him about the Veil Organization.
Newwood thinks for a mont. “Yeah, that group exists. They have ties to Abundant Continent and even Divine Continent. But from those two continents’ perspective, they’re a terrorist organization. You can cooperate with them, but be careful—getting involved with them is a headache if others find out.”
Henwell asks, “Worse than if they found out about you?”
“About the sa, maybe even worse,” Newwood replies.
Henwell drops the topic, ntally recalibrating his plans around the Veil Organization.
Then he makes a request: “Can you help get so weapons and gear? High-level stuff. I’m already at Iron Knight rank, but my old equipnt’s broken. I have no way to get Iron Knight-grade gear right now, and I don’t want anyone here to know I’m at that rank. It’d ss up my plans to quietly sche against them.”
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