Henwell deliberately spends a full day at the dock, wanting to see how this fleet is maintained on a daily basis.

  Contrary to his expectations, it’s not spellcasters who maintain the ships.

  Instead, it’s people who don’t even qualify as magic apprentices, tasked with inspecting the ships’ rune arrays.

  These special workers, known as Rune Artisans, climb up and down carefully checking every line of the rune arrays.

  Curious, Henwell asks one of the off-duty Rune Artisans, “Do you understand magic?”

  The Rune Artisan, a man in his forties who looks no different from an ordinary person, smiles awkwardly at the question.

  “Sir, you’ve misunderstood! I’m not a spellcaster. I just follow diagrams and inspection protocols. I don’t have the ability to cast spells.”

  ”When I was young, my family paid for me to study under a spellcaster master, but I was slow to learn. I never even reached the level of a magic apprentice. I’m just a bit more sensitive to extraordinary elements than most.”

  ”People like me, who have no magic talent, can only do minor work reted to extraordinary runes, mostly maintaining extraordinary items.”

  Henwell understands the man’s point, then mutters a tricky word under his breath.

  As he speaks, a tiny glow appears at his fingertip.

  The light is faint, like a small decorative bulb.

  Even so, it surprises the Rune Artisan greatly: “So the knight can cast spells too!”

  Becoming a spellcaster has a very strict threshold.

  You must be able to cast at least three basic theoretical spells to qualify as a spellcaster apprentice.

  Henwell, after years of practice, can only manage two basic spells: Radiance Spell and Gentle Breeze Spell.

  As for their effects?

  Just look at the tiny light in Henwell’s hand.

  It’s not bright enough to serve as a fshbang, and barely enough to light a path at night.

  Still, it’s a recent success for Henwell.

  After being promoted to Iron Knight st year and stabilizing for over half a year, Henwell only managed to cast these spells successfully during his westward journey.

  It’s less about innate magical talent and more about how, as an Iron Knight, his strong willpower forcibly connects with extraordinary elements to produce these spell effects.

  Even so, Henwell is happy to study these spells.

  He doesn’t expect to fight with magic; he just wants to understand the essence of spells a little better.

  Henwell doesn’t bother correcting the Rune Artisan’s misunderstanding and instead continues the conversation.

  They talk for over an hour.

  Henwell realizes this man has a solid grasp of extraordinary knowledge, especially regarding spellcasters and rune theory.

  Still, Henwell doesn’t try to recruit him.

  After all, the man grew up in the Western Federation, with his family all here.

  More importantly, the man views the Eastern Territory countries on the continent as backward backwaters—an extraordinary wastend.

  His youngest son is studying at a magic academy and has much greater talent than he ever did.

  There’s a good chance the boy will become a qualified magic apprentice.

  Once he does, he can find a decent job anywhere in the Western Federation.

  His son will then build wealth and connections, giving the next generation even better opportunities.

  Step by step, the family will rise and eventually become a spellcaster dynasty.

  Many powerful spellcaster families have followed this path.

  Because of this, people here look down on the Eastern countries, believing they have nothing of value or opportunity.

  Henwell knows well how difficult it is to lure away knowledgeable, experienced talent like this.

  Especially since he’s only a lord himself and has no spellcasters currently under his wing.

  Henwell has worked hard to attract knights. After all, he represents the highest achievement for the younger generation of knights, a benchmark figure in the profession.

  But not a single spellcaster has come to him.

  So this trip to the Western Federation is an important chance for Henwell to recruit a spellcaster.

  Fortunately, there’s Galgher, the owner of Peace Tavern, a seasoned and steady Arcanist.

  Henwell still needs to cultivate his own extraordinary talent and can’t rely solely on poaching from outside.

  After observing the docks, Henwell pns to contact some private fleets.

  He sees that many things from Peace Haven have good potential here in the Western Federation.

  Some of his industrial products, including delicate items like telescopes and clocks, are scarce here.

  It’s not that simir products don’t exist, but their prices are too high.

  Henwell calcutes that even with the long journey, he can still maintain over three times the profit margin by shipping goods here.

  Moreover, the high consumption level means that products only affordable to nobles back home are accessible to middle-css families here.

  Henwell isn’t aiming to earn gold here; his goal is to generate enough operating funds for the Western Federation’s various intelligence stations.

  Additionally, partnering with a fleet would create a convenient new channel for intelligence transmission.

  He also needs a new source for extraordinary materials.

  And what could be more stable than the Western Federation for sourcing extraordinary materials?

  After some inquiries, Henwell finds the owner of a fleet.

  Mishasa is visibly anxious, drowning her worries in the tavern.

  At that moment, a tall man takes a seat nearby.

  “What’s the best drink you have here?”

  The server, recognizing a big spender, replies, “Sir, that would be the Radiant Sun!”

  “I’ll have a gss.”

  The server warns, “It’s a bit pricey, one gold coin per gss.”

  Henwell tosses a gold coin onto the bar. “Not cheap, but I hope it’s worth the price.”

  One gold coin isn’t pocket change in the Western Federation.

  Though prices here far exceed those in the Eastern countries, a single gold coin can support a decent lifestyle for a week in town.

  Craftsmen and borers drinking here typically earn just over thirty gold coins a year.

  So one coin equals nearly ten days’ wages, drinking a single gss is quite a luxury.

  Satisfied with the coin’s authenticity, the server happily pockets it and quickly brings Henwell the drink.

  Soon, a gss of golden-hued liquor arrives on an elegant tray.

  Henwell lifts the gss, takes a sip to savor the fvor, then drinks the rest in one gulp.

  Setting down the gss, he gives a thumbs-up. “Worth every bit.”

  With a smile, the server watches as Henwell tosses two more gold coins onto the bar.

  “Two more, please.”

  Then Henwell turns to Mishasa, who’s been quietly nursing her drink, and says, “My lovely dy, may I offer you a gss of the Radiant Sun?”