"They would make all sorts of efforts, constructing formations, building vehicles, or simply relying on their own continuous acceleration, trying to reach the place rumored to contain endless magical mysteries... Could it be that some of those people actually reached their destination?"
I find this hard to believe. Partly because I'm shocked, and partly because I wonder if there might be some error involved.
That island that cruises through the sky must be at least several hundred years old. If, as Joe said, someone did indeed reach Yong'an Island, their experiment would certainly have left a distinct mark on the academic world, instead of remaining shrouded in a vague and sacred veil, or even listed as a strictly prohibited matter, as it is now.
Even so, we still hear from time to time about the deaths of some dedicated individuals who have focused their attention on it after a series of experiments.
As Joe said before, it is difficult for a person to accomplish the feat of soaring in the sky for a long time on their own.
That airship is the only successful example I've heard of that has actually made contact with Yong'an Island.
But had someone already succeeded before that?
Hikari didn't seem to understand these convoluted details, but simply echoed Joe's narration, her breath turning into a white mist that quickly dissipated in the blink of an eye.
She asked curiously, "Then why did they eventually agree to trade with you? Was it to ensure the survival of the residents living on the islands?"
Joe shook his head: "It's to exchange for the necessary spellcasting materials; the food is just an extra bonus."
"The island's main products are magic stones formed from the magic stones that are affected by the barrier in the high sky and eventually condense, as well as a large amount of dried wyvern meat obtained from hunting wyverns. Apart from these two, the only other things on the island are coniferous forests that can still grow normally in the extremely cold climate and the rare tundra snow lotus."
"We eventually agreed to the deal, on the condition that it not be disclosed to outsiders, in exchange for a reasonable price and the mage tower's assistance if necessary—although these were just additional conditions, they ultimately agreed, which is better than nothing."
"What about the trading frequency?" Hikari blinked.
Qiao pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling: "If I remember correctly, supplies are usually traded on a six-month cycle. As for the time it takes to travel between them, it varies depending on the patrol position of Yong'an Island, ranging from three months to three days. Therefore, the No. 2 boat is the empty boat among our three boats that can carry the most supplies."
As he spoke, he suddenly counted on his fingers and a hint of joy appeared on his face: "If I'm not mistaken, the cruise route to Yong'an Island this year should be very close, and we should be able to return in a week at the latest."
"So, those lucky guys just made it to the young master's engagement party!"
"You'll need to take off again in a week, right?" I asked. "Won't that be affected?"
"It's alright. Simple data collection tasks like this can usually be completed in half a day, as long as the weather isn't unstable with strong winds and heavy rain. If we're lucky, we might even be able to bring the crew of the second boat back with us."
Qiao raised an eyebrow smugly, then suddenly hooked his arm around my shoulder, winked, and whispered, "Young Master, let me tell you something. There's a young man on the second boat who has a really likable personality, and he's about the same age as you. He's a little brother that everyone likes. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll soon be promoted to the second-in-command of the second boat."
"I'll make sure he gets to know you properly then; I'm sure you'll like him!"
A voice calling for Joe came from afar, as if something had been noticed during the measurements and needed his attention.
Dali patted my shoulder and waved goodbye. Qiao, wearing heavy leather boots, strode confidently toward the group of people working in the distance, his light steps brimming with undisguised joy.
Turning to look at the distance, our curious girl Hikari was chasing after several employees carrying materials, asking them questions. Although they kept walking, they patiently answered their questions.
Turning my gaze back to the distance, I saw gray-white snow covering the continuous mountain ridges. These were mountain ranges I had never been to before, and their course happened to start from the edge of the gray zone, cutting off the main road from Piss City to the Sacred Tree Stronghold from due north to southwest. The only way to get there was to either cross the mountain range or take a detour.
Taking the path along the edge of this dark area is extremely dangerous; it's not uncommon to encounter a few monsters halfway across the mountains.
Speaking of which, I remember that after parting ways with Miyuki last time, she expressed her intention to go into the mountains to continue her training and hone her swordsmanship. I wonder how she is doing now.
Occasionally, a giant bird capable of soaring high into the sky would appear a short distance away, flying alongside the airship, casting a questioning glance in their direction. But seemingly certain that it couldn't provoke such a behemoth, the bird would quickly flap its wings, turn, and fly away.
I pondered for a while, then pulled my cashmere cloak tighter around me and turned my mind to the other side, staring blankly at the seemingly endless sea.
An endless expanse of azure stretches to the horizon, dotted with a few islands that shimmer like seashells. As we ascend higher, the sky, becoming slightly paler, seems to fall, perfectly merging with the sea.
At the junction of the two, the line shimmering with a thin, pale white light forms a rounded arc, like an upside-down bowl on the ground, or something else, with a hazy glow emanating from both sides.
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