Mystery: The arrival of the new Black Emperor

Hobert quickly smiled and reassured: "Okay, okay, don't be so angry with the guests. The main ingredients of the potion are with me. You can be promoted whenever you want."

Forsi felt a little more comfortable: No matter how powerful you are, you are still a guest, and I am the hostess of Full Moon Lake! Uh, the mistress of the east bank of Full Moon Lake.

Seeing that the ice was big enough, Hobert injected his spirituality into the "Ocean Pendant" and controlled the water flow to make the ice float to the center of Full Moon Lake.

Hobert dived into the water, following closely behind.

The underwater fish-headed crocodile-bodied beast was killed by Hobert so that it did not dare to show up again. There was only one giant beast, and there was no threat in the water.

Arriving at roughly the center of Full Moon Lake, Hobert used his "low flying" ability to lean over the ice and start writing the sealing circle.

This is the benefit of "knowledge itself". All the occult symbols of the magic circle are in Hobert's memory, and he can reach out and write them when he needs them.

The blood sent by Bishop Simpson was only half used, and the magic circle had already been written.

In order to prevent the ice from melting, Hobert quickly inserted the previously folded "Wood of Order" into the center of the circle.

The magic symbols on the magic circle suddenly glowed, as if alive, breaking through the ice and turning into a black glass cover with inscriptions.

There is a thin black mist surrounding this "glass cover", which isolates the surrounding lake water. The symbols entering the water do not touch the lake water, nor are they diluted by the lake water.

Hobert dived into the water again and guided the "glass cover" to gradually fall onto the "bubble" structure he had seen before.

The "gems" inside the bubbles still glow with brilliant colors under the light of Hobert's cane.

Until the "glass dome"-like magic circle was completely placed on the "bubble", Hobert injected spirituality into the "Order Wood" in the center of the magic circle. The magic circle seemed to become elastic, slowly lengthening itself, and The entire "bubble" is completely covered.

Then the "Tree of Order" under the water suddenly sprouted three small buds. The buds grew rapidly and the leaves quickly spread out.

As a faint circle of black light spread out, the light of the gems in the "bubble" was completely blocked by a thin layer of black mist.

The "trees" in the underwater forest not far away immediately began to shake, and the creatures inside seemed to feel the changes in the environment and became commotion.

Hobert tried to approach the sealing formation. When he was still five or six meters away from the formation, he seemed to have encountered an invisible barrier and could no longer get closer.

This is the protective function of the magic circle itself. Only by using the "Order Crystal" as a medium and using the power of the "State of Disorder" can the operation of the sealed magic circle be terminated.

Otherwise, it must be forcibly destroyed, but these underwater creatures currently do not have such ability.

Hobert waited for a while and saw that although the creatures in the underwater forest were commotion, they did not take the initiative to destroy the magic circle, so he surfaced.

During the process of surfacing, Hobert could feel that the impact of the underwater pollution source was now only at the bottom of the lake. If he had not dived down, he would not be affected by the pollution source.

Returning to the shore, Forsi, who was waiting here, smiled and said, "Success!"

As an extraordinary person, her spirituality seemed to have undergone some changes in Full Moon Lake.

Hobert smiled and said: "Successful. From now on, this channel will become smooth again."

Helen on the side asked: "The source of pollution in the lake has been sealed like this?"

Isn't this too simple? She remembered that senior officials of the "Gnosis Society" once came to study the source of pollution in Full Moon Lake, and the final result they got was that it could not be sealed.

"As long as we find the right method, things will be simple." Hobert smiled and said to Helen: "Thank you for your help today. I won't disturb you for your walk."

He stretched out his arm, and Forsi stepped forward to hold it, and the two of them left talking and laughing.

Helen rolled her eyes and watched the two people showing affection walking away. She gradually realized that this was a big deal! With the problem of Full Moon Lake solved, perhaps the extraordinary power of the Earth Mother Church and the royal family will return to this area.

The more she thought about it, the more important she felt that this matter was more important than contacting the informant on the West Coast, so she simply gave up on the contact and hurriedly reported to Ms. Monica.

More than twenty minutes later, a small boat docked, and a young man quietly came to the river beach. He was shivering from the cold wind in the winter, and his lips were purple, but thinking of Miss Helen's eyes and smile, he suddenly felt that It's all worth it.

But he searched the surrounding reed swamps and wondered, where did Miss Helen go?

After waiting for more than an hour, Helen still did not appear.

Just as the young man was about to search elsewhere in the reed marsh, an exaggerated giant sword composed of red magma and blue flames pierced the young man's back.

The young man looked at the tip of the sword protruding from his chest in disbelief. He wanted to shout, but his throat had been burned to ashes and he could only fall to the ground in pain.

The giant sword that pierced the young man's body turned into a blue fireball, setting the young man's body on fire, and even the bones burned.

In the darkness of the reeds, there was a voice that seemed to be asking itself: "It's strange, how did the person at the joint find me?"

…

Early Thursday morning, Fenneport City, Cathedral of Life.

Simpson came to his office as usual. As soon as he entered the door, he found the letter on the table.

Bishop Simpson guessed that it was a letter from Hobert. Recently, he only communicated with Hobert through spiritual messengers.

To be honest, Simpson didn't have much hope for Hobert's plan to seal Full Moon Lake. He checked the relevant files and found that the church did send an angel to solve the problem of Full Moon Lake. That angel did After many attempts, they all ended in failure.

As Hobert mentioned in his letter, Bishop Simpson believed that it would be difficult to seal with a magic circle. The power of the magic circle was too weak. Without a high-level sealed object to continuously provide power for the magic circle, the power of the magic circle would be impossible. The source of pollution cannot be sealed.

And if there was a high-level sealed object, who would waste it on sealing a source of pollution?

Bishop Simpson pondered as he opened the letter.

Inside the envelope were two pages of letter paper and a simple drawing.

After reading a few lines, Simpson stood up unconsciously: "He succeeded!"

As he continued to read, Simpson became more and more surprised. He hurriedly took the letter to the archbishop.

When he arrived at the door, he tried to take a deep breath, carefully folded the letter, and calmed down his emotions.

As soon as he opened the door, he turned into the smiling, knowledgeable, patient and calm-looking bishop again.

When he arrived at the archbishop's office, Simpson properly showed his surprise: "Your Excellency, Hobert succeeded! He said in the letter that we can send someone to Full Moon Lake to check the seal.

“At the same time, he also said that as soon as he arrived in the territory, he was repairing the church we abandoned before, and now the church can be reused.

"He is willing to provide some food, poultry, and necessary daily necessities for the bishops we send."

Archbishop Gabriel also didn't believe it. He took the letter from Simpson and took a look at it: "Send someone to contact Hobert immediately! And investigate the specific sealing process!"

It would be a great merit if South Colson could be brought under ecclesiastical control.

At the level of Archbishop, there are not many achievements that interest them. Spreading the radiance of the Mother Goddess to an unfamiliar area is within the scope of their interest.

Simpson showed the painting in the envelope to the Archbishop: "This is a giant beast that Hobert hunted in the lake. It looks like an ancient Canglong beast?"

Gabriel took a look and nodded: "It's the ancient Canglong beast. The church thought it was extinct!"

He looked at Simpson: "Be sure to ask Hobert to sell us the liver crystal of the ancient Azure Dragon Beast, and don't begrudge Jinlisuo."

The liver crystal of the ancient Azure Dragon Beast can replace one of the main materials of the Sequence 4 "Ancient Alchemist".

To be precise, in ancient times, the liver crystal of the ancient Canglong beast was one of the main materials of the "ancient alchemist". Later, because the ancient Canglong beast was almost extinct, other materials were used instead.

Simpson said: "Hobert said in the letter that he was only willing to sell the crystal to the bishop of Geoffrey."

Gabriel smiled and said: "This is a very good opportunity. You can go to South Colson to practice. As long as you re-establish the parish there, you can apply for another main material of 'Ancient Alchemist'. "

Bishop Simpson was moved, how could he not be moved? If you want to be promoted to a demigod in the church, you also need huge merit.

Most people wait their entire lives for such an opportunity.

But Simpson's reason finally defeated his desire for credit: "Sir, according to the information we have received, there is more than one cultist demigod in South Colson. It would be best to send one demigod, right?"

"Are there any extra demigods in the church?"

Simpson smiled bitterly: "No."

When they reach the level of demigods, they are the quasi-high-level leaders of the church. They usually wear multiple hats and cannot escape from them at all.

"You can continue to establish a good cooperative relationship with Hobert." Gabriel smiled: "Based on Hobert's performance, the Jeffrey family from Loen definitely has a family to support them.

"We can make use of their strength, and they will definitely need our strength. We can make some compromises and concessions when necessary."

The archbishop said: "Of course, this is a matter for the future. You put down your work and immediately organize an investigation team of priests and bishops who have never taken potions.

"After the investigation team confirms that there is no pollution, you can go there in person."

…

Jeffrey collar.

Wayne, who drove a small steamboat back from Bugas City with a full load, almost didn't recognize Full Moon Lake.

Especially the corpse of the ancient Azure Dragon Beast, which almost scared Wayne and turned around and ran away.

Fortunately, he finally chose to believe in the new lord and his nephew Sil, so he bit the bullet and continued sailing to the dock.

Under Roy's organization, dozens of people were cutting reeds, and the big dock was also bustling with people.

When people saw Wayne coming back, they called him to dock quickly. The big dock now needs the cement and steel bars on his ship!

After chatting with some reed-cutting workers for a while, Wayne found out that the monsters in the lake had been killed by the lord so that they did not dare to go ashore. It turned out that the corpses of the giant beasts on the river beach were hunted by the lord!

Finally, there is another big news: the lord exempted all his subjects from agricultural taxes.

Whether it is Wayne who runs a boat or a businessman who opens a shop in a small town, his family has land. Their main business has always been farming, and running a boat and opening a shop can only be regarded as side jobs.

Wayne called on the workers to help unload the goods, but he was already very surprised. He had only been away for a few days. Is this still the same Jeffrey Town as before?

He asked the assistant assigned by the lord's palace to watch the workers unloading the goods, while he and the clerk sent by the lord's palace went to the lord's palace to return to work.

At this time, Hobert had just received a letter from Bishop Simpson. He immediately called Allen over: "Go find some helpers and remove the eyes, blood, brain, tongue, teeth, skin, and forelimbs from the corpse of the giant beast by the lake." Collect more than a dozen scales, bones, and meat from the two hind limbs on the abdomen. If you have any questions, ask Roy."

Hobert had only collected the internal organs and part of the blood of the ancient Azure Dragon Beast before, but he didn't expect it to have so many rare spiritual materials.

Bishop Simpson said in the letter that the blood of the ancient Canglong beast will not coagulate, and its muscles can be squeezed to continue collecting.

As soon as Allen left, Schill reported that Wayne was back.

Hobert met with Wayne and Clifford, the clerk sent by the Lord's Palace, in the main hall. Clifford first reported the financial income and expenditure.

They first sold the dried fruits provided by the lord's mansion, and with the income they earned plus 22 gold riso, they bought a large amount of building materials.

Hobert asked about the unit prices of several types of dried fruits, and then asked about the unit prices of building materials, and found that the prices of building materials were much higher than he expected.

But he soon realized that he came from a country known as an "infrastructure maniac". Not all countries can do this, and there are limitations of the times.

Then Wayne briefly reported on the process of leaving the ship: Bugas City and various small ports along the way were still the same.

"Great changes are going to happen in Jeffrey Town!" Hobert smiled: "In this regard, as the initiators of great changes, we must seize the opportunity."

He paused and then said: "Now that the waterway has been reopened, your boat is no longer enough to support the consumption of Jeffrey Town. When there are more projects in the territory in the future, more construction materials will be needed.

“I talked to Schill, and you know not only the driving of small steamships, but also large steamships.

"I will give you the official position of 'Ship Knight', and you will buy a large cargo steamer and three small and medium-sized passenger ships.

"As soon as the ship is purchased, freight and passenger flights from Jeffrey to Bugas City will be launched immediately!"

Wayne never thought that he would become a knight in this life: thanks to his nephew! No, giving my nephew as a servant to the lord is the wisest choice in my life. Look, this boy is holding the sword on his waist with an air of dignity.

Hobert said to Clifford again: "As Wayne's deputy, you will still be in charge of the ship's finances and hand over accounts to Philip on time."

He added: "Don't stop the small steamship shipping, we must start immediately to purchase more building materials."

Wayne took the order and prepared to go home and then set sail again.

At this moment, he didn't feel hard at all. His position as "Ship Knight" gave him great motivation. Now he only thought about where to buy a ship and run errands for the lord.

When I thought that after buying these boats, they would all obey my own command, and the fatigue of more than a week suddenly disappeared.

After meeting with Wayne and others, Hobert returned to the study and gave all the more than 4,600 gold riso he had to Philip. The money was definitely not enough to buy a boat.

He came to Feneport City again and first inquired about the approximate price of cargo ships and passenger ships used for river transportation. At this time, an ordinary cargo ship or cruise ship traveling on the ocean was worth about 24,000 gold liso.

The largest cruise ship in the world, the Umbria, is currently in service in Loen. It is said that this cruise ship cost 78,000 pounds, which is 93,600 gold riso.

The reason why so much money was spent was because many of the structures of this cruise ship were experimental in nature. At this time, most of the structure of the cruise ship was still wooden, while the main body of the "Umbria" was made of steel.

The "Etruscan" after the "Umbria" has similar performance and structure to the former, but the cost has dropped to 56,000 pounds, which is equivalent to nearly one-third cheaper.

Ships on the inland rivers are much cheaper because there is no need to consider the strong winds and waves at sea. You can buy Hobert's favorite cargo steamer for about 4,000 gold liso.

With a displacement of up to 800 tons ('high' in terms of this era), it was a giant on the river.

The passenger steamships that Hobart needs cost about 1,500 gold riso each.

The reason why it is so expensive is mainly spent on decoration and supporting facilities.

In other words, it will cost at least 8,500 gold liso to buy a boat, hire sailors and a captain, and prepare at least 10,000 gold liso.

This investment may not be earned back in the next few years, but Hobert still feels that he can spend it as he should. For a place like Jeffrey's Land that relies on shipping, of course he must have a few ships.

Hobert converted all the 7,140 pounds in his hand into gold riso. After deducting the handling fee, he got a total of 8,559.2 gold riso.

The construction of the next railway and other projects will cost more money. Hobert is ready to sell the gold in his hand when he is short of money again. The gold is worth about 7,200 gold liso, even if the purity is not up to According to the bank's requirement, it's no problem to sell it for 6,500 gold riso.

Only then did Hobert realize that he was so rich that he could basically complete the initial investment in a territory.

After exchanging the currency, Hobert came to Count Christian's mansion again.

He planned to leave 1,000 gold riso to Dophis and ask him to hire some reporters.

But Dophis didn't want it: "The 1,000 pounds you left before has not been spent. I exchanged it for 1,200 gold riso, and it only cost 800 gold riso to hire the design team.

"400 gold riso is enough to hire reporters from some major newspapers."

Hobert smiled helplessly: "Actually, that's the reward I gave you."

After all, he is Christine's butler, not his own.

But Dophis said seriously: "I get paid every week from the Earl's Mansion."

"Okay." Hobert took back the 1,000 gold riso, and planned to help Dophis find clues about the "Skeleton Lord" when he had time.

According to the intelligence he had received before, there was a "Skeleton Lord" who should be somewhere in South Colson.

Dophis added: "Mrs. Monlisa just arrived in Feneport City a few days ago. Yesterday she hired a ship and took Donna to Jeffrey."

Hobert was stunned: "Then I'll send someone to pick him up as soon as I get back. South Colson is in a mess right now."

"You don't have to worry about their safety." Dophis said, "Your father sent people to protect them."

Hobert breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

However, he still planned to send Sil to greet him.

After saying goodbye to Dophis, Hobert used "travel" to return to his study. He first called Schier and asked him to take a few people to Bugas City to rent a small steamship, and then sailed in Bugas. Waiting for the ship from Count Christine's Palace at the port.

Hobert said bluntly: "Mrs. Monlisa on the ship is my mother, and Miss Donna is my sister. You must be respectful and polite! Also, go to Bugas City to buy some new clothes, and dress neatly."

Sil was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that the lord's father was actually an earl!

After watching Schier leave, Hobert asked the valet outside to call the knight Albert Lewis.

And the people who were sent to beg for Grove yesterday also came back, and naturally they returned without success.

Albert already knew about Grove's defection, which was completely beyond his expectation, so he was always frightened on the way to the main hall today.

Hobert smiled and asked: "Grove defected, and you have a chance to choose. Do you want to be a 'Justice Knight' or a 'Tax Knight'?"

Albert didn't seem to be unhappy when he heard the lord's tone. He quickly said: "Knight of Justice!"

Agricultural taxes are completely exempted. The "tax knight" is obviously a trap!

Hobert took out a piece of parchment and a copy of the "Feneport Constitution": "I have summarized twelve simple and easy-to-understand regulations from this constitution. The specific contents are on the paper. You will need to Take people from village to village to explain these twelve laws to the villagers.

"At the same time, you have to find the corresponding details in the Constitution so that you can have a basis when judging the case."

At this time, Albert, who was in his forties, lamented that he was still studying at this age.

Hobert added: "But now I have to give you another errand. In the afternoon, you go with Wayne's ship, take a few followers, and go to Feneport City to report to His Majesty the King that shipping has been reopened. .

"Hold it, this is the official document."

Such a big thing happened in Nancolson. As a baron conferred by Fernando II, of course he had to report to the king.

The key is that after Fernando II receives the report, he will definitely have some policies to restore navigation on the Taidig River, and the Jeffrey Territory will also benefit from it.

Of course, we cannot place all our hopes on Fernando II. After all, the interests of another waterway are involved.

Albert took the document with both hands and was suddenly confused: Why would the lord send me for such an exposure?

Hobert added: "Remember, after arriving in Feneport City, first ask the butler of Baron Jeffrey's Mansion to take you to see Count Christine.

"That's my father. Just tell him why you're here and follow his orders."

Albert’s hand holding the paperwork trembled slightly: “You didn’t tell me earlier!” If I knew you were the earl's son, I would have greeted you as soon as you came to the territory and pledged my allegiance to you!

On the surface, he said calmly and respectfully: "Yes."

After watching Albert leave, Hobert gave the valet the pattern he had drawn long ago and asked him to find someone to make a flag.

Hobert was ready to take action personally to drum up business for the newly dredged Taidig River.

Thanks to [Ice Black Tea 28] for the tip.