Free Web NovelChapter 2044: Chapter 2044: City of Wealth - Moon Bay City
After getting ready, Shard continued on, entering the passage connected to the Dragon Nest.
The passage was enormous, clearly not meant for creatures of human size. Like the wide cavern, the walls and floors of the passage still had traces of polishing, and the murals were almost completely indistinguishable.
It was obvious that the passage was ascending. At the same time, signs of paths leading to other branching caverns gradually appeared on both sides of the passage. Unfortunately, those caverns were either completely collapsed or visibly destroyed by great force, leaving only the one at the deepest spot open for exploration.
"I remember ’Architecture of the Dragon Nest’ was an elective course. Maybe I should look for some books to see if I can guess why this lair was abandoned."
After fifteen minutes of rapid movement, Shard felt like he had climbed a mountain and finally reached the end of the passage. The exit was blocked by a massive stone, five or six meters high, but the key was the faint silver glow shimmering on the stone.
A complete ritual circle inscribed with Dragon Language Runes was engraved on the enormous black rock. With his basic understanding of the Dragon Language, Shard roughly gleaned its meaning: "Only dragons can pass through here."
This was not a blockade specifically aiming at those leaving from the inside; the stone itself had this capability from all directions. "Witch Echo: Fiona" contains descriptions of such blockades, preserved in the racial memory Fiona inherited, describing how powerful dragons sealed their nests. Although the stone was limited in size, as long as the rune ritual circle on it remained, the entire Dragon Nest was impossible to enter or exit from any direction, even if you were to dig through the earth.
"A lock, is it?"
Thinking of this as a kind of lock, Shard initially considered summoning the [Yggdrasil’s Staff] to try the "Key of the Door" for forcing it open. But considering that this was a precious and complete Dragon Language Rune circle, it would be a pity to damage it. Moreover, if this place became his in the future, such a door lock would be quite reliable, so he temporarily set aside the idea of forcibly opening the ritual.
"Only dragons can... Let’s try this."
He took out the right-hand glove Fiona had given him again. Originally, if this wasn’t enough, he planned to bring out the "Higgs Dragonhead Stone" as well. But unexpectedly, the moment the glove touched the dull-colored ritual circle in front of him, all the lines on the ritual lit up.
The stone also began to glow, then dissolved into light points and disappeared, revealing the cavern behind it. And as Shard walked through, the stone that had just turned into light once again blocked that position:
"Convenient indeed... Thank you, Fiona."
The image of the Red Dragon Girl with a big tail appeared in his mind. Shard chuckled and put the glove away again.
Passing through the stone gate, he left the range of the Dragon Nest, and the peculiar mental pressure completely vanished. He was still in a dark cave, but this cave was notably low, with the smell of animal dung around, suggesting it was naturally formed.
The cave wasn’t deep, and it was easy to reach the outside by following the direction of the light.
He found himself in a sparse forest on the hills, the 2 PM sky particularly gloomy, as if rain was imminent. The Moon Bay Region consists of coastal mountains, forests, and a city of iron shrouded in smoke, so there are quite a few hills outside the city.
Upon reaching the surface, Shard didn’t even need to take out a map to reorient himself; he knew exactly what to do. Listening to the distant noise, he walked southwards, and in less than five minutes, the sparse woods came to an end. On one side of the broad road, the villages scattered outside the city were connected, while on the other side stood a stone bridge wide enough for seven or eight carriages to pass simultaneously.
On the rail posts on either side of the wide stone bridge were small dragon sculptures, showing signs of erosion. Below the bridge was a ravine, with trees and weeds growing rather than a river. Plus, the massive city gate with an antiquated look on the other side of the stone bridge made Shard almost feel like he had stepped into a medieval fantasy era.
"Saint George Stone Bridge."
The city walls of Moon Bay City during the cold weapon era had eight exits connecting to the outside world. Saint George Stone Bridge, located in the northeast of the city, was built around 1400 and has stood the test of four centuries, still functioning today. It’s considered one of the most famous structures in the northeast of Moon Bay City.
Though by 1854, only the part near Saint George Stone Bridge remains of Moon Bay City’s walls, it is still an important trade route in and out of the city. On the afternoon of this cloudy day, the people and goods-laden carts coming in and out made Saint George Stone Bridge and the rural village on the other side busier than even the urban area of Green Lake City.
As Shard emerged from the woods, he smoothly blended into the crowd, observing the scenery and officially stepped into Moon Bay City after crossing the stone bridge.
City of Wealth - Moon Bay City, is generally regarded as one of the wealthiest cities on the West Coast of the Old Continent. Before the arrival of the Steam Age, the city already held the position of the economic center of Western Carsonrick, thanks to its advantageous location and oceanic trade. After the Steam Age, the city council took hold of a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, turning Moon Bay City into a hub for distant sea trade goods on Carsonrick’s West Coast.
As a result, unlike the dilapidated Green Lake City and Coldwater Port with its old-era buildings, most of Moon Bay City’s buildings have been newly constructed in the past century. The accompanying steam pipes and gas pipes make this coastal port city seem more progressive and advanced than inland Velindale and Carsonrick.
Even though Shard is accustomed to the splendor of the Northern Capital of Tobesk, he has to admit that the construction level of Moon Bay City does not lose to Tobesk, the "Northern Pearl - Steam City."
The "Taton River," flowing from the northeast to the southwest and eventually into the sea, divides Moon Bay City in two, but both the eastern and western sides of Moon Bay are equally prosperous.
Tall city buildings showcase the power of the era, and the magnificent opera houses, concert halls, city parks, and noble manors display the city’s cultural characteristics. Even in Moon Bay City’s Lower District, the thriving citizen economy and diverse shops for commoners are very different from the typical "slums."
Outlanders entering the city from the Saint George Stone Bridge are instantly dazzled by the big city views that differ from Tobesk. Although he has traveled to many cities in this world, only Tobesk and Moon Bay City can truly be called steam metropolises.
Following the clues given by Miss Benanis, he admired the bustling city scenery as he walked and stopped, eventually arriving at "Herring Street" on the east bank of the Taton River. This street belongs to the Lower District, and the fishing boats that do not unload in the Dock Area usually enter the Taton River and unload in the nearby neighborhoods, hence the street’s name.
Shard, standing by the riverbank, gazes out at the southeastern river channel embedded in the city. Under the darkening sky, the Taton River is even broader than the Terael River in Bitobesk, with ships coming and going, seemingly blocking the entire river channel.
On the opposite riverbank, amidst the dim light of the city, rows of houses extend from the riverside to the distance, tall towers and grand skyscrapers adorning the city’s skyline.
Behind him, the calls from Herring Street vendors are incessant, while pedestrians on the opposite bank’s streets move back and forth like shuttles. Shops along the river are not lacking in customers, four-wheeled cabs weave through the streets and alleys, shop windows display various goods, evenly arranged gas lamps along the river and the stone-brick paved streets below exhibit the wealth of this city.
The bustling city is alive with energy, and though it is also a harbor city like Coldwater Port, it is utterly different from Coldwater Port.
Looking to his left, Shard even sees a Tower Bridge under construction downstream along the riverbank.
The bridge is divided into upper and lower sides, seemingly intended to raise the lower bridge when ships pass through. Under the dim and gloomy light, construction is taking place on both sides of the riverbank simultaneously, with iron, scaffolding, ropes, and workers on the bridge, instead of ruining the beauty of the cityscape, this chaotic scene makes the City of Wealth - Moon Bay City appear even more vibrant and lively.
Judging by the current construction progress, the bridge should be completed by the end of this year or early next year.
"Very grand, isn’t it?"
A voice comes from behind, and then a man in a brown robe whom Shard has never seen walks up from behind and stands beside him.
This person’s attire is odd for summer, but considering the recent unpredictable weather, it’s understandable.
[A regular person.]
"Yes, very grand."
Shard nods, and the unfamiliar middle-aged man introduces it to him:
"This bridge is the largest project in Moon Bay in recent years, named Moon Bay Bridge by City Hall. The bridge is almost as wide as the Saint George Stone Bridge, connected by steam-powered automatic elevators on the upper and lower levels, both allowing pedestrian passage. As a new bridge linking the eastern and western districts of Moon Bay, the city councilors in City Hall hope it will bring more wealth and prosperity to this city."
The stranger speaks Carsonrick language with Moon Bay accent, proficiently introducing details Shard wasn’t familiar with:
"The design blueprints came from the Kingdom of Carsonrick Design Institute, and the engineering and architectural styles adopt the industrial style of this era. You can now see the iron structure, high towers, stone pillars, and exquisite decorations. This bridge has been under construction for three years, with the budget increasing repeatedly, now exceeding the original 12,500 Krone budget, approximately 150,000 Gold Pounds. Everyone in this city holds expectations for the completion of this bridge, as if once completed, everyone’s lives will immediately improve."
