Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 461: Section 212: Before the Harvest Festival (Part 1)

Chapter 461: Section 212: Before the Harvest Festival (Part 1)

The Chart of Stars beneath his feet was forming connections, with pure white threads stretching from each star to interlink with one another. Malin stood in the very center, surrounded by the boundless Sea of Stars, expanding outward every second.

For any creature, the universe is endless, because travel measured in light-years is so protractedly long that it seems to have no end.

Some star clusters were shrouded in mist, others burned fiercely, and still others were being torn apart by pitch-black holes, but from even more clusters, there came singing.

It was as if calling out to Malin, as if blessing something, or perhaps cursing something.

Eventually, Malin felt the winds from Subspace, the breeze blowing from the direction he faced.

A familiar presence appeared in the distant reaches of the star chart; it was A’Krong, and he had found himself.

Then, what about the other Evil Gods?

As Malin asked himself this question, a second Evil God’s presence emerged, even farther away, also somewhat familiar—it was the aura of the Fifth Evil God.

Indeed, Subspace transcends both time and space.

With that thought, Malin spread his arms and leaned backward into the star chart.

The moment he fell onto the star chart, Malin passed through it, and the Malin who awoke from meditation was drenched in sweat. He noticed the door to the quiet room was already open, and a group of Paladins looked at him as if they were facing a great enemy.

Malin didn’t move but nodded at the Bishop on duty, "I’m fine, the Lord of Justice is watching over me."

Then Malin and everyone present saw a young man push open the small window facing the street, the latter poking half his body out of the void, and he glanced at Malin, "I don’t have time to watch over you right now, don’t talk nonsense in front of my Bishop."

The people from the Church of the Lord of Justice were already kneeling on the ground.

Malin, who had been kneeling there all along, rolled his eyes, "You are a Deity, after all."

"That’s exactly why you can’t be seriously spouting nonsense. You’re very bold, opening the Chart of Stars on the edge of Subspace; do you know how many Evil creatures were stirring at that moment?"

"They didn’t come, and isn’t that because you were watching over me?" Malin said as he carefully got to his feet—the ritual had left Malin utterly exhausted, and all he wanted now was to combine the soft bed with Clovis in an organic manner.

"A’Krong also helped, and just then, another version of you from a different timeline arrived." Nameless furrowed his brow, "Your timelines are down to just this one now, take good care of yourself, kid."

After saying this, the Lord of Justice turned and bestowed a blessing on his own Paladins and Bishop, then closed the window.

When the Bishop stood up, his gaze towards Malin had changed.

When Malin asked to take a bath, he agreed instantly and even provided Malin with a change of clothes.

After getting himself together, when Malin went back to find Mage Bruny, he confirmed his new abilities on the carriage—Mages of native professions needed Malin to record the Spell Formations himself. Apprentice of the Star Observer sequence was the most basic rung, enhancing only the fundamental qualities; even the Author at Sequence Nine offered only some basic enhancements.

Cartographer, as Sequence Eight, was the lowest rung amongst all the long sequences capable of granting Transcendent abilities to their bearers.

Cartographer.

First was Iron Hand: Your hands are like forged steel, steady holding a pen, unshaken wielding a sword.

Malin checked, and finally, trying it out, found he could draw a perfect concentric circle with a single stroke on paper.

Well, this would have been unimaginable before, and Malin drew a few more patterns, realizing that even sitting in a carriage with some jolts, he could still achieve flawless results.

If so, wielding a sword would indeed be more skillful.

Thinking this, Malin looked at the second Transcendent enhancement.

Precise Vision: You have an excellent pair of eyes.

The effect is an increased probability of finding any flaws... Well, as a Cartographer, being able to spot imperfections is indeed to be expected.

With this thought, Malin turned to the last Transcendent ability.

Paper Manipulation: Paper in your hands can bear history and also sever ill omens.

Malin tore a piece of paper from his diary, and then watched it change into a dagger under his manipulation. Malin gently stabbed it into the door of the carriage and discovered it pierced a hole.

Hold on, that’s five millimeters of iron sheeting, and you’re just a piece of paper.

Malin fell silent for a moment, then looked at the diary in his hands.

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At the next moment, the ropes on the journal animated, maneuvering themselves to detach from the log and soon after, the pages of the log flew up one by one, forming a circular solar pattern in front of Malin.

With a thought from Malin, the pages then assembled into a staff... identical to the one he had left behind in Carterburg.

Malin pulled out the sword grip at the front end of the staff, a slender blade also made of paper.

With another thought, the exterior of the long staff developed the unique texture of a wooden staff. Malin took out a few gold coins given to him by Ails for play, which quickly melted and eventually formed the decoration at the top of the staff where it intersected with the blade.

"Master Malin, we have arrived at Lord Bruny’s guesthouse,"

Malin alighted from the carriage and casually tossed a five Mowish note.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," the coachman beamed with joy—such a generous passenger was a rare find.

"By the way, no need to wait for me," Malin told him, "When you go back, tell Baron Tony and your master, Baron Anthony, that they can find me if there’s anything they need, through the Church of the Goddess of Harvest or the Church of the Lord of Justice."

"Yes, Your Excellency, I will be sure to deliver your message," the coachman replied, bowing, and then drove off.

Malin turned, smiling apologetically at the elderly Mage Bruny, "I’m sorry, there was a small issue with the Sequence. I rested a bit at the Church of the Lord of Justice."

"The Bishop there has already sent a messenger to inform me. You’ve pioneered a new Sequence, congratulations," Mage Bruny congratulated with a smile, "That Excellency said it’s a secret. If it weren’t for my messenger asking and my responsibility to look after you, he wouldn’t have told me, so my lips are sealed as well."

"Thank you for your hard work, Your Excellency. We can go back now."

"I will open the teleportation portal for you."

Speaking of teleportation portals, Malin was filled with resentment—this Spell Formation seemed like an exclusive trick within the Mage Tower. Someone like Malin, who had the power of a six-ring Mage but neither had been certified nor paid the membership fee, would not likely learn it.

After he was done with Hoffman’s business, Malin felt he should also go get his certificate from the Mage Tower, then pay a lifetime membership fee—considering Malin’s current strength and wealth, plus Clovis’s assistance, he should be able to learn the teleportation spell.

It would be convenient for himself, whether it was for leading people to cut through enemies or fleeing, he would be a cut above the rest.

With that thought, Malin bid farewell to Mr. Bruny and dived into the teleportation portal.

..........

Emerging from the portal, Malin confirmed his location; indeed, he was in Carterburg’s plaza. Observing the staff busy with repairs and hanging flags, Malin smacked his forehead—only then remembering that the Harvest Festival was about to start again.

Ah, the Harvest Festival again, I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve almost driven myself idiotic. This time I must enjoy it, cuddling with the fragrant Clovis and sleeping in every day.

With that thought, Malin pulled up his hood—there were crowds everywhere outside, and he didn’t want to be recognized. Just responding to their greetings would be enough to exhaust him.

He crossed the plaza and dropped a ten Mowish note into the donation box of the Church of the Goddess of Harvest. Bathed in the thanks of the Apprentices and flashing the emblem of the Church of the Goddess of Harvest, Malin patted their small heads before he entered Central Avenue.

There was the swollen-faced instructor... ahem, I mean Professor Aemetsailke from the Sayer family, who was sitting in his convertible motorcar parked not too far away, seemingly waiting for someone.

Who else could he be waiting for?

Considering this, Malin decided not to waste any more time and hopped on a tram, ready to head back to the church.

The ride was lively. Malin’s factories had been growing larger and more numerous, and the families in Carterburg who depended on Malin for their livelihood were increasing as well. Now, even the mayor sometimes had to consider Malin’s mood—of course, Malin would never give the highly survival-driven mayor a hard time; everybody earning money together was the righteous path for all.

Of course, having many people had its downsides, like the police station had to expand the Carterburg force several times but still faced an awkward ratio of two hundred to one. Carterburg had become a major commercial port with nearly two hundred thousand permanent residents, the city wall had been expanded twice, and the core area was double its previous size. The port investment previously made by Malin had also been included in the core city area.

As for Malin’s establishment of private security forces in his Manor and the port, both the police station and the national defense forces turned a blind eye—obviously, Malin had reported this, the regional nobility knew about it, and the private security forces’ armament was primarily shotguns, the only firearm civilians could use without a license.

So, nobody wanted to clash with Malin over such trivialities, after all, Malin was a favorite in the eyes of the Church of the Lord of Justice. Who would dare to add trouble for him on this matter? That would just be asking for trouble for oneself.

Furthermore, the presence of Malin—especially that massive oak and the war ancient trees protecting it—were considered real protective forces. There was already a common saying among the Carterburg nobility—don’t bother Malin if it’s not necessary, and even if it is, pretend it isn’t.

Naturally, Malin wouldn’t want to trouble them either; after all, saving face goes both ways.

Once the tram reached near the gateway of the church district, Malin hopped off and immediately noticed Maya holding something small and watching the excitement from atop a carriage.

He couldn’t see what the fuss was all about due to the crowd, so Malin approached the carriage and knocked on its side, "Maya, what are you looking at?"

As he asked, Malin realized that the small thing was a Domestic Fairy.

Huh, isn’t that Rewo from the Moka family?

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