All along, it seemed as though a heavy curtain separated Lin Lan and the Otherworld.
The common knowledge from his previous life was useless, and the Seagull Town he was in was too remote, making it nearly impossible to gather useful information.
But now, he finally lifted a corner of the curtain.
The hall was warm and bright, and a serene girl in a simple, light white dress sat beside Lin Lan, carefully sketching something on the paper with a pen.
A crude map was gradually taking shape in Wendy's hands.
Using her memory, she began adding corresponding symbols, annotations, and several important trade routes onto the map.
"Lord Roland, actually, I've drawn many parts inaccurately."
A moment later, Wendy put down the pen and softly said, "This map is far from comparable to the ones made by professional scholars..."
"You've already been a great help."
Lin Lan gazed at the map's clean and crisp lines, expressing sincere appreciation.
The original owner of this body had only pursued pleasure in life and was utterly indifferent to world affairs, leaving Lin Lan completely in the dark after crossing over.
He picked up the map, studying it carefully, focusing on the main outline.
The area Wendy depicted most in detail was the Alliance, with three large landmasses arranged at the bottom of the map, surrounded by dozens of medium-sized islands.
"The Alliance is a nation formed by many southern islands united together, governed by three Governors who each oversee one of the main islands."
The girl softly explained, "Our family comes from the western 'White Oak' main island, where the Alliance's second heart 'White Tower Academy' is located, making the island's academic atmosphere richer than the other two main islands."
The other two islands are labeled as 'Fortress' and 'Spiral Star Ladder.'
Lin Lan nodded, his gaze moving upward; there lay the Northern Empire, the Alliance's arch-enemy.
The Empire was an astonishingly vast continent.
It took up nearly a third of the paper, like a giant beast looming over the northern border, glaring menacingly at the islands below.
"The Empire's dukes rule the Northern Border through the Supreme Council. My father once told me that the Empire was the birthplace of machinery."
Wendy continued her story, "Countless wise and learned people gathered there, forging an unprecedented era with brass, steam, and Deep Sea Treasures under the Black Emperor's rule."
"But the Black Emperor suddenly went mad in his later years."
The girl recalled her historical knowledge carefully, "He proclaimed under the name of 'All-Knowing Celestial Principle' that the Empire should declare war on the Gods."
"All-Knowing Celestial Principle? Gods?"
Lin Lan's heart skipped: "What is that?"
"No one knew what the Black Emperor's words meant."
Wendy shook her head: "According to scholars' records, the insane Monarch declared that the world had already fallen into its twilight, and human civilization had lost its future."
"The Black Emperor began maniacally building war machines with the nation's full power. Any minister who doubted him was executed publicly. In just a year, scholars and artisans built mechanical giants capable of overthrowing all order under the tyrant's oppression..."
"But the Black Emperor believed the giants were far from enough. He awoke from nightmares each day, becoming more and more deranged, executing more people, and forcing scholars and artisans to create even more extreme war machines..."
The girl recounted that dark history:
"In the end, the rebels overthrew the Black Emperor's brutal reign, stabbing the crazed Monarch to death on his throne, and founded a new Empire on the war-torn land."
Lin Lan listened, his brow furrowed deeply.
A moment later, he softly asked, "Did anyone ever believe in the Black Emperor?"
"Even a century after the Black Emperor's death, there is no evidence to suggest the 'twilight' he spoke of actually exists."
Wendy replied, "Scholars from both the North and South agree that the Black Emperor suffered from some kind of mental illness in his later years."
Lin Lan fell silent.
He was sure the Black Emperor was not mad; perhaps...
The Black Emperor had simply failed.
The 'All-Knowing Celestial Principle' the Monarch spoke of, could it be the God 'Dr. Tianli' that the Roser Technology Company worships?
If that were the case, why did he want to wage war against the Gods, and what crimes did they commit?
"Lord Roland? Are you alright?" The girl noticed the Lord's unusual expression.
"It's nothing."
Lin Lan shook his head slightly and resumed focusing his attention.
He looked at the center of the map; a vast ocean lay between the Alliance and the Empire, dotted with scattered islands of various sizes.
The Lion Heart Kingdom was one of them.
Situated on the map's left, this island resembled a small crescent moon. The Lion Heart Kingdom leaned more towards the north, so the nobility's conduct might have been influenced by the Empire to some extent.
The Royal City 'Camelot' and Seagull Town were located at the crescent's two points.
Well then, the original owner really was exiled to the frontier in every sense...
It's known that the closer to the Royal City, the more prosperous the towns are, while nobles living in the frontier lands couldn't even enjoy leisure; even if they forcibly took ninety percent of the tenants' income, they could only ensure they didn't starve.
Luxury goods were completely out of the question.
For nobles who valued their reputation highly, being sent to the frontier was undoubtedly the most terrifying punishment.
No wonder the original owner cleanly ended his own life...
Lin Lan silently smiled, starting to examine the dotted lines Wendy had drawn connecting the islands; they meandered and twisted, some even forming closed circles over the sea.
The world's seas had always been enigmatic and changeable. Only the most experienced navigators could chart safe and stable routes through such a bizarre world.
——Sea routes.
'Fog Strait,' 'Round Table Banquet,' 'Thorn Cloud Valley,' 'Red Candlelight'...
Beside each dotted line, the girl left her delicate handwriting.
Lin Lan's eyes grew brighter.
He had finally obtained the sea routes of the merchant fleets!
"Worthy of being the daughter of an oceanographer!"
He looked at the girl beside him, showing an incredibly sincere smile: "Wendy, it's wonderful to have met you!"
Wendy was stunned, her lovely face quickly turning crimson: "Lord Roland... these are only the most basic routes..."
At that moment, Lin Lan felt like worshipping the intellectual before him.
With Wendy's provision of the sea routes, he could adopt a more proactive stance in negotiations with merchant fleets...
In his eyes, the Lion Heart Kingdom was beyond saving, and he had no intention of playing power games with the Princess, Prince, and native nobles.
Lin Lan planned to forge a new path. He intended to establish a port and foster friendly trade relations with the surrounding major benefactors through the merchant fleets.
After all, his warehouse was already brimming with precious 'Deep Sea Treasures.'
Lin Lan only wanted to accomplish three things in Seagull Town now:
Development! Development! And more development!
Just then, an Attendant hurried in, kneeling on one knee before Lin Lan:
"Lord! A large number of refugees have appeared on the outskirts of the town!"