The First Magic World War

Charles arrived in Cappadocia and found that although the city was prosperous, there were also minor problems, too many people had been sent there, and many of them were "his opponents," causing slight chaos in Cappadocia. The jails held at least several thousand people. Cruz was terribly troubled by this; he could neither kill these people nor set them free, and changing their beliefs was next to impossible.

Upon learning this, Charles decisively chose to send these people to the Agres Archipelago, where there was a severe shortage of hands to cultivate the land.

Cruz hadn't expected that the problem which had been plaguing him could be resolved with such a simple and brutal method...

Charles also gave Simon an order to establish a base in the Agres Archipelago and, in passing, promised him a hundred Ghost Ships. Charles had too many of these on his hands, and they needed to be put to proper use. Simply keeping them was not only for show but also a waste of resources.

Of course, that promise could only be fulfilled after the Ghost Ships arrived in Cappadocia, but Simon trusted that Charles would never break his word.

Over the years, both Cruz and Simon had come to understand Charles's temper and character. Every action he took had a purpose, and as long as it fulfilled that purpose, he didn't mind conceding other benefits. Even the benefits he had taken in the past for his purposes, he would slowly return to those who cooperated, sometimes even more. Once, Simon's merchant ship had been plundered by Charles Meklen, but now he had at least five ships to his name, not to mention other profits.

Simon learned that he was about to take command of a hundred Ghost Ships and shook with excitement.

To Charles, Ghost Ships were a fighting force. To this trader, however, Ghost Ships were tireless money-making tools that worked without asking for wages! Charles tasked him with opening new trade routes, a clear hint that he could use these Ghost Ships to make money, and even keep all the profits for himself.

Charles spent one night in Cappadocia and set off the next day to St. Michael Island with his fleet.

When the fleet, composed of four Legendary Warships, seven Magical Alchemy Warships, and eleven ancient magical Ghost Warships, appeared on the surface of the sea, St. Michael Island, like Cappadocia, was thrown into a panic—until someone saw the flag of the Mekren Family and a Magical Alchemy Warship came forward to greet Charles's fleet.

Menilman was still strikingly heroic in appearance. Now, she had become a significant figure in the Fars Empire, and although her strength was not yet on par with Duchess Meisu of former years, her position in the navy was much higher because Duchess Meisu had other naval forces to contend with at the time, unlike the current Fars Imperial Navy...

There were no forces that could contest Menilman's power!

This Empire's First Rose was truly the foremost person in the Imperial Navy.

When Menilman saw Charles, she was slightly surprised as well. She knew that Charles had left Fars to lead a fleet on a long voyage, but she did not know why he had left, and Charles had not explained to anyone. Yet in less than a year, the returning Charles already possessed a naval strength comparable to that of an Imperial Navy!

Although Charles's fleet numbered only twenty-something vessels, just those four Legendary Warships were enough to make any empire's fleet pale in comparison.

Menilman didn't know that Charles had more than a thousand Ghost Ships. If she did, she would probably suspect that Charles was preparing to rebel!

Charles met Menilman and felt a strong sense of affection. After all, upon crossing over to this world, the first thing he embraced was this senior's long, straight, and shapely legs. Menilman had given him a generous return, too. If she hadn't promoted him to Clerk Chief, he wouldn't have been able to win Anne's favor, and many things that followed would not have happened.

Stepping forward, Menilman moved gracefully, blooming like a rose, as if she were casually walking in the sky. As she stepped onto the Holy Light Divine State Title, the entire ship seemed to brighten for a moment, as if capturing her radiant glory!

Charles was a bit surprised and exclaimed, "Senior Menilman, have you made a breakthrough again?"

Menilman hadn't expected Charles to notice this so quickly. She smiled slightly and said, "Indeed, I've made a bit of progress!"

Charles took a deep breath and whispered, "Level twenty-three!"

This noblewoman, known as The Empire's First Rose for her beauty, was already a legend before entering the navy—yet no one knew she had already broken through the Sacred level. To many, she was still considered a High-Level Transcendent, and even Charles had thought back then that this senior was an extremely rare High-Level Transcendent. In fact, when Menilman pursued Baron Leo of the Blood Clan, he opted to let the skilled vampire escape rather than reveal his transcendent powers. It wasn't until his confrontation with Princess May that Charles first saw Menilman unleash his Sacred-level prowess.

With a hint of envy, he said, "Senior, you truly have extraordinary talent. I am currently stuck at eighteenth grade and have been unable to make a breakthrough for quite some time!"

Andreas couldn't help but interject, "Have you been stuck at the eighteenth grade for a year now?"

Charles hesitated. He really couldn't remember the exact time.

Andreas said with no small amount of irritation, "One year counts as a long time without a breakthrough? Are you boasting, Charles, or are you just showing off what arrogance looks like?"

Charles shrugged and responded, "That's really not what I meant!"

"Andreas! Aren't you also at level twenty now?"

"You're already stronger than Vigo."

Upon hearing this, Vigo quietly stepped back. As the weakest member of this Sacred level group, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being wounded.

Andreas's face turned red; in Charles's team, he was second only to Vigo...

Well, in terms of weakness!

Menilman couldn't help but give a faint smile and said, "When we first met, you were just a Level One Transcendent!"

Charles let out a sigh and replied, "Yeah."

"A few months before I met you, Senior, I thought I would never be able to ascend to Transcendence."

Even though Charles was the leader of the group, this confession elicited looks of scorn from many people!

Despite Charles's eighteenth-grade status, almost no one underestimated him because nearly everyone, including Juno, believed that it was only a matter of time until Charles ascended to the Sacred level. His rate of breakthroughs was so rapid, it was as if a True God bestowed divine favor upon him every day.

Well, it wasn't just "as if."

Menilman showed keen interest in the four Legendary Warships and casually inquired about their origins. Charles first invited Menilman to his cabin before letting Andreas narrate their experiences from start to finish.

Charles had grown weary of boasting himself and now felt the need to have others do it for him, with Andreas evidently being the perfect candidate. After all, he was the son of Constantine, the former strongest warrior of the Black Phoenix Dynasty and the youngest Sacred-level of the former Black Phoenix Dynasty. When he bragged, he had the air of an old noble!