Above The Sky
Chapter 374 - 374 346 Shark Electromagnetic Cannon 13

374: Chapter 346 Shark Electromagnetic Cannon (1/3) 374: Chapter 346 Shark Electromagnetic Cannon (1/3) “What are they planning to do?”

After muttering to himself, Ian certainly didn’t think the Nineteenth Legion was just strolling around the Labyrinth for leisure.

Rather, it would have been truly unbelievable if the Nineteenth Legion hadn’t intended to make a fortune in the Labyrinth.

In the Terra Continent, a Labyrinth represents danger, opportunities, Magical Beasts, wealth, ancient legacies, precious materials, and ‘sustainable productivity’.

Owning a Labyrinth basically means owning an almost inexhaustible treasure trove.

Not to mention, if you could utilize the ecosystem within the Labyrinth to breed specific rare Magical Beasts, in a world where Magical Beasts are required as various Sublimation Materials, it’s like having renewable gold.

Even more precious, in fact.

As long as one is strong enough to exploit the Labyrinth rather than being killed by it, wealth is indeed within easy reach.

And at the level of the Great Labyrinth, besides representing a colossal amount of wealth and resources, it can also essentially equate to ‘major families’ and ‘great powers’.

If a family or power could control an entire Great Labyrinth, then their surnames and titles would be sung across the entire continent.

Their Sublimators would emerge in an endless stream, their upper echelon of power would never be cut off, and they would have enough wealth and resources to ensure all members of their family were literate, learned knowledge and skills, and mastered the highest productivity.

Ian knew all too well that Viscount Grant harbored such thoughts.

That’s why he had always intended to conceal the affairs related to the South Sea Labyrinth and the cluster of ruins, wanting to develop them alone.

But obviously, that idea was no longer realistic now.

Putting aside other issues, even the South Sea Fleet, which was tasked with engaging foreign fleets, now wanted a share of the spoils.

Theoretically, it’s indeed within the South Sea Fleet’s duties to drive away foreign fleets, but if everything in this world were done according to logic and rules, there would be far fewer complications.

Since the Labyrinth hasn’t fully opened up yet, the Viscount wouldn’t allow them entry.

Therefore, it’s totally normal for the South Sea Fleet to try their luck at the Labyrinth.

Perhaps even Viscount Grant had tacitly agreed—who could tell?

Behind this must be some political struggles he couldn’t comprehend, full of complex and intricate strategies.

But here comes the problem.

Forget the struggles, Ian had no intention of letting them succeed.

“So you want to explore the Labyrinth, huh.”

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Ian gazed at the domed ceiling of the Crystal Cave and murmured, “It’s also time to let everyone understand the dangers of the Labyrinth, and thus proceed with caution when exploring this place.”

“What I need are Adventurers to gradually disarm the traps in the Labyrinth and eliminate the dangerous Magical Beasts, not for you lot to violently exploit it.”

Ian raised his voice, “Shasha, let’s go!”

“Oooh!

(Charge!)”

Meanwhile.

South Sea Fleet.

“Commander, according to Master Gossay, there are still a considerable number of dangerous Magical Beasts within the Labyrinth.

By approaching recklessly like this, we’re likely to provoke a Magical Beast attack…”

The South Sea Fleet official, Baron Gervain, was listening to his subordinate’s report.

But upon hearing this, he lightly patted his hand, indicating for them to stop.

This experienced old naval noble raised his head impatiently, then said to his second-in-command, “So we’re not going then?”

“Of course not…” The second-in-command hesitated.

“Since that’s not the case, you should be preparing to deal with Magical Beast attacks, instead of telling me ‘it’s very dangerous ahead’.”

The second-in-command, helpless, said, “Commander, if we’re attacked by Second-Level Sea Monsters without deploying defensive formations and releasing Sea Battle Armor to intercept, we’re most likely not going to hold them off.”

Baron Gervain was amused.

“Such a grand display—do you wish to be discovered by little Grant?

It is the noble’s tacit agreement: we come to the labyrinth to seek wealth, and he profits from the information returned by the first wave of explorers.”

“But this is forbidden by The Empire.

Right now we are patrolling the sea, ‘accidentally entering the labyrinth,’ ‘accidentally encountering a magical beast attack,’ ‘forced to defend ourselves’—and little Grant is completely unaware of it, understand?”

The aide choked back a response; of course, he understood—how many times had they exploited such loopholes?

But the issue was, previously, the advantages they took were from minor labyrinths, small places—where could they find something as dangerous as the South Sea Great Labyrinth?

According to Master Gossay, the labyrinth housed Crystal Dragons and Worm Nests, and possibly even other ‘Second Tier Powerhouses’…

Although no Third Energy Level beasts had appeared yet, given the power of the Great Labyrinth, it was estimated that one would emerge within a few years.

The South Sea Fleet was mighty in name only; when it came down to it, it was just a part of the Nineteenth Legion, nowhere near comparable in scale to The Empire’s Tranquil Sea Fleet.

As for the Second Tier Powerhouses, there was only Baron Gervain.

Facing a Second-Level Magical Beast, the fleet would certainly suffer losses.

When that happened, this Baron couldn’t possibly be the one to take the blame; it could only be his low-ranking soldiers.

“This isn’t just my own doing.”

But Baron Gervain was obviously not senseless.

He bore other missions, and after giving his aide a nudge, he revealed some information to put him at ease: “Marquis ordered just last night that we need to assess the danger of the South Sea Great Labyrinth.”

“If possible, we will establish a sub-fleet base in Harrison Port.”

“After all, the traces of those two Second Energy Level Tenglan Giant Eels at Odell Reef have disappeared, and the threat that affected the fleet’s patrol route no longer exists.

In order to better protect The Empire’s merchant ship routes, as well as prevent incidents like the Fiery Flame Land and Canaan-Moore Fleet nearing our territorial waters, it is necessary to build a sub-fleet base.”

“Is that so?!”

The aide was taken aback.

Building a sub-fleet base in Harrison Port?

Wouldn’t that mean direct power struggle with Viscount Grant?

But fundamentally, Marquis Barton’s intent was that of the Imperial Capital—it was a probe from above, no wonder they couldn’t let the other party discover their real intentions.

If the other party did find out, on the surface they naturally couldn’t oppose, but what if Viscount Grant shamelessly used an Aether Armament disguise to attack and sink the main warships of their Second Fleet?

Then, they would have to rely on Viscount Grant alone to defend the Southern Sea, and they wouldn’t be able to investigate him any further.

It was the same old conflict between local and central powers: agreeing overtly, but refusing to execute, paying lip service, and even resisting in secret.

“In the end,” Baron Gervain gazed at the dim night sky, “how could we let the Grant Family monopolize the South Sea Great Labyrinth?

The Marquis, the Legion—they all certainly want a share…

The more we do, the more we get to share later.”

“But sir,” the aide though still seemed a bit dismayed and puzzled: “Is there a possibility that the disappearance of the Tenglan Giant Eel is because there’s a more powerful Second-Level Magical Beast in the labyrinth?

Disregarding the labyrinth’s wealth, sir, the orders are not absolute, we don’t necessarily have to fight so desperately…”

For these military leaders, unless specifically tasked by those above to forcibly undertake a mission, most would be apt to slack off and preserve their strength as top priority.

“Haha,” Baron Gervain laughed.

“Impossible, absolutely impossible!”

“If there really were such a beast, we would have been attacked during our patrol a few days ago.

How could…”

“Report!

High-energy reaction ahead!”

Just then, the shrill alarm sounded at the most inopportune moment: “Traces of a Second Tier Magical Beast detected in the surrounding waters!”

The slap in the face came so swiftly that no one had time to react.

However, once they snapped back to reality, the complexion of the South Sea Fleet commander became remarkably lively.

If his aide had to describe the changes in Baron Gervain’s complexion, he would probably say ‘like a squid in human form.’

In almost no time at all, the old noble’s face changed through several hues before darkening to an inky black.

Wordlessly, he stood up and scanned the surrounding seas.

Then, he stood rooted to the spot.

Because, not far off in the nearby waters, a massive oval-shaped glowing blue object, trailing wisps and arcs of electricity, was hurtling towards the South Sea Fleet at an inconceivable speed!