15 Liquid Mana

Archie knocked on his father's study door.

The door opened up, and Alfred Winifred greeted him, guiding him towards a chair.

"Dad, what's going on?" Archie inquired.

Henry wasted no time and replied, "I brought you in because one of our ministers claims to have discovered a new type of resource on our island, deep within the Mystic Peaks."

Intrigued, Archie asked, "Is it something valuable?"

"We haven't conducted thorough research yet, but according to the supervisor, it's a liquid filled with energy. We're uncertain of its uses, but it bears a similar resemblance to high-grade mana crystals," Henry explained.

"I have an idea that involves you using your creation magic to find its purpose," Henry suggested.

Archie immediately agreed, "Yes, father! I'll do my best."

Internally, he asked, 'System, do you have any information about this newly found liquid?'

The System responded, "I have a guess, but I need a closer look to confirm."

Archie left the Royal Palace with Lilly and Mars, making their way to the mine.

Archie briefed them on the reason for their visit.

Lilly asked, "Young master, do you think this discovery will be beneficial for us?"

Mars, too, was curious about Archie's news, nodding in agreement.

"Well, we can't say for certain, but it should be advantageous," Archie replied.

With that, they traveled for several hours in their carriage until they reached Mystic Peak.

The carriage came to a stop, and Helmut, the supervisor, came to welcome the crown prince.

Helmut bowed and apologized, "Your Highness, I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of your visit."

Archie shook his head. "No need to apologize, I chose to come."

Helmut smiled and guided them to their destination.

As they entered the cave and walked down the tunnel, they noticed that the path had been widened in preparation for their visit.

When they neared the entrance, they were met with a stunning underground sea of purple and blue shimmering liquid.

Archie, Lilly, and Mars simultaneously exclaimed, "Wow!"

Helmut stopped and said, "Your Highness, this is the cave we have discovered. You may proceed with your task."

Archie carefully approached the liquid, squatting down to touch it.

As he reached out to touch the liquid, he could feel energy rushing towards him.

A system notice popped up:

"Ding! The host has discovered [Liquid Mana]."

"Reward: 50,000 AP."

[Liquid Mana]:

Description: Liquidized Mana Crystals that have been under high pressure for an extended period, that are found deep underground in mountains and oceans.

Effect: A highly concentrated energy source.

After collecting himself, Archie thought, 'Isn't this like fantasy oil? Haha, I'm wealthy!'

The System added, "Host, based on the data you've collected by touching it, I've determined that this isn't just like oil from your previous life. It possesses a unique property that, if utilized properly, can be converted into fuel for formation arrays."

Formation arrays are magical circles that can alter the properties of objects, such as boosting the power of cannons, reducing friction on ship bows to increase speed, or enhancing carriages to match the speed of specialized horses.

But the drawback to formation arrays is their high cost, primarily due to the need for many mana crystals, which makes them impractical.

Archie inquired, 'So, you're saying this liquid mana is crucial because it can provide energy for formation arrays?'

"Yes," the System confirmed.

Archie began to dance around, leaving those around him questioning his sanity.

Archie asked the supervisor, "How much of this liquid is there?"

Helmut replied, "Based on our tests, the underground vein's depth should be approximately 10 kilometers down and have a circumference of 5 kilometers."

Hearing this, Archie's mind overflowed with ideas for how to utilize this vein, but first he needed to secure it.

Archie issued the command, "Seal off the entrance to this vein, collect the liquid, and arrange for its transportation to the Royal Palace. The Minister of Transportation will contact you regarding the process."

Helmut bowed, "As you wish, Your Highness."

…

They returned to the Royal Palace, where Archie briefed his father on his observation of the liquid's discovery.

Henry's eyes were frozen, his astonishment at the significance of the discovery evident.

He inquired, "So, are you suggesting that this could truly make us a formidable force in formation arrays? Haha, Arch, you never cease to amaze me."

Henry stood up and started celebrating, this would increase the power of his kingdom.

Archie proposed, "Father, since we've already initiated the infrastructure plan, it might be wise to commence the development of our navy. As an island nation, dominating the seas will greatly enhance our defense against naval attacks."

Henry agreed, saying, "You're absolutely right. We should seize this opportunity to strengthen our military. Tensions are high, and it's only a matter of time before the Sunfire Empire and their allies launch an attack."

Henry gave the order, "Alfred, contact all the ministers. Inform them that we'll require even more resources for this project."

Henry gazed out of the window and declared, "If you desire peace, prepare for war. It's time to teach these bullies who have harassed us for years a lesson."

...

Inside the Imperial Palace of the Sunfire Empire.

Emperor Veron Sunfire took a seat and addressed the elderly man before him, saying, "Sage, we must conquer them immediately! I've just received a report that Avalon is undergoing significant development, and our spies haven't provided any recent information from within the royal palace."

The Sage listened carefully and then responded, "Are you certain about this? Their old geezer remains healthy and strong. We'll need to overwhelm them swiftly to avoid a protracted siege."

The Sage's words carried an otherworldly weight, capable of pulverizing anything in their path.

Veron took a moment to calm down. He replied, "That's precisely how I've planned it. We'll send our combined naval forces from all three nations in a swift assault, bombarding their harbors, rendering their navy ships useless, and stranding them on the island. Your task is to engage their Sage while we handle the rest."

After some thinking about the strategy, the Sage agreed, "Very well, I've always longed for a rematch with that guy."