Chapter 513: Oakland Honorary Mage

The wind network vanished, and the howling gales disappeared as well.

But the capsized warships could no longer be saved.

At departure, there had been nearly fifty warships; now, only twenty-seven remained intact, with nearly half destroyed in the prior battle.

These sunken vessels were all warships—their labor, materials, and scale far surpassed ordinary cargo ships, making their cost exorbitant.

Losing over twenty at once inflicted economic losses so severe that even Oakland City struggled to bear them.

That was secondary.

Compared to economic loss, the fallen mages were what truly wounded Oakland City’s vital essence.

Though elemental wind creatures harbored little intent to kill the mages and did not pursue them after the ships capsized, casualty rates in such a large-scale battle remained extremely high.

Exact figures cannot yet be tallied, but rough estimates suggest a casualty rate between one-quarter and one-third.

Though the Mage Mobilization Call enforced mandatory, unpaid conscription, upon mission completion, the authorities must provide appropriate compensation and relief to fallen mages.

Necessary commendations must also be granted; otherwise, the authorities’ reputation would be ruined.

But all that will be addressed after returning to Oakland City.

The surviving mages on the remaining warships swiftly acted, pulling drowned mages back aboard.

This meant each ship carried over half its theoretical capacity, making the decks instantly crowded.

Yet Oakland City was less than two hundred kilometers away; a little crowding for half a day was negligible.

After rescuing the drowned mages, official mages dove back into the water to retrieve expensive components from the sunken ships—such as power alchemical machines.

Gao De retrieved Tuanzi into his capybara pouch and drifted with the current, boarding the nearest warship with the crowd.

Salty seawater dripped from the hem of his clothes.

Gao De immediately cast [Dancing Wind] to rapidly dry his garments; otherwise, the damp fabric clinging to his skin was unbearable.

Just as his undergarments dried, a high-ring mage from the Thorn Crown arrived.

Water droplets still dripped from his sleeve embroidered with silver runes.

“Are you Mage Gao De?” Under the guidance of another mage on board, he approached Gao De and asked in a low voice.

Gao De was puzzled but nodded.

“Please come with me. Someone wishes to see you.” After confirming Gao De’s identity, the high-ring mage spoke with great courtesy.

Since the mage was so polite, Gao De found no reason to refuse and nodded again.

The high-ring mage extended his right hand and lightly tapped Gao De’s shoulder.

Rich magic flowed from his palm, instantly enveloping Gao De’s entire body.

A light, weightless sensation arose, as if he had become a feather, even his breath feeling like bubbles rising.

[Flight Spell].

“Follow me.”

The high-ring mage then levitated into the air, his robes snapping in the wind as he flew toward the nearby Thorn Crown.

His body leaned slightly forward, legs together, posture elegant and fluid.

Gao De relaxed his body and floated upward—indeed, he began to fly.

But the sudden sensation of weightlessness unsettled him; his body involuntarily arched backward, his pupils contracting sharply.

Gao De took a deep breath, focused his mind, and sensed the magic flowing over his skin.

Then, guiding his movement with that magic, he mimicked the high-ring mage’s posture—leaning slightly forward—and quickly corrected his backward tilt.

The swaying deck below shrank rapidly; the howling wind rushed past his ears.

Gao De caught up with the high-ring mage waiting ahead, his tense body relaxing swiftly, replaced by exhilaration.

The novelty of flight quickened his heartbeat; gazing down at the vast ocean and warships, he felt something profoundly strange.

Upon reaching the Thorn Crown’s airspace, the high-ring mage pressed his arms tightly against his sides and dove at high speed, tracing a straight line through the air.

When still several meters above the deck, he spread his arms, adjusted his posture, and slowed his descent drastically, landing firmly.

Gao De mimicked his posture and motion, diving downward.

The scenery rushed upward, the intense acceleration heightening the thrill; finally, he landed on the deck just as the high-ring mage had.

But since it was his first flight, he lacked ease and control—his landing speed was slightly off, delivering a jolt that bent his knees slightly.

Ignoring his numb legs, Gao De remained immersed in exhilaration.

Flying through the sky on a vehicle was entirely different from flying barehanded—adrenaline surged, the experience was unparalleled, and just one taste left him addicted.

Unfortunately, [Flight Spell] was a third-ring spell.

He was still only a first-ring mage, with a long road ahead before he could fly under his own power.

After landing on the Thorn Crown’s deck, Gao De had not yet examined the layout of this Oakland behemoth when the guiding high-ring mage led him deeper inside.

Passing through the mid-deck thick with the scent of gunpowder, they descended along a spiral staircase.

After turning several arched hatchways, the floor beneath their feet became polished black walnut wood, and the air carried the mingled scent of ink and beeswax.

Finally, they stopped before an oak door.

The guiding mage raised his hand and touched the door’s knocker.

“Enter.”

A voice Gao De faintly recognized came from within.

Before he could ponder further, the guiding mage pushed the door open and gestured for him to enter.

Gao De stepped in instinctively; the guiding mage did not follow, instead closing the door behind him.

The room was spacious, dominated at its center by an oval oak conference table with an embedded movable sand table.

Blue mist glowed upon the sand table, and miniature warship silhouettes drifted within the light.

Gao De glanced once and deduced the number twenty-seven—exactly matching the surviving warships in the fleet.

Two figures sat at the table.

Gao De knew them both well.

They were Lord Roland and Oakland’s Chief Mage Theodore—the very ones who issued the Mage Mobilization Call.

“The blue spirit that entered the wind network—was that your phantom spirit?” Lord Roland, dignified and elevated, now spoke with exceptional gentleness as Gao De entered.

Gao De, still bewildered after being brought aboard the Thorn Crown and realizing he was summoned by Oakland’s two highest figures, could only nod.

The phantom spirit excuse was his own words—he could not deny it.

Though he didn’t understand their intent, surely they wouldn’t turn on him now?

Seeing Gao De nod, Lord Roland and Mage Theodore exchanged a glance, then nodded in perfect unison.

“The wind network crisis was resolved with barely a scratch thanks entirely to your phantom spirit,” Lord Roland continued.

This statement held not a trace of flattery.

Without the Storm Soul’s appearance, the Wind Dragon would have been the victor.

The thought alone made Lord Roland shudder.

Faced with Lord Roland’s solemn demeanor, Gao De was at a loss for words.

Could I really be the protagonist? Even now, an untimely thought flickered through his mind.

Not just others—he himself never imagined that the outcome of such a war would be tied to him, a first-ring mage, and tied in a decisive way.

As Gao De remained silent, Lord Roland’s eyes revealed an “I knew it” expression. He paused, then softly said: “Mage Gao De, Theodore and I know you must be suffering deeply.”

Gao De still hadn’t processed it: We won the battle—why would I be suffering?

“A mage’s phantom spirit is irreplaceable. Now it has been annihilated alongside the wind dragon in the energy torrent—your loss must be immense.”

Lord Roland continued without pause: “But rest assured, your phantom spirit sacrificed itself for Oakland City. We will remember that.”

“You are the greatest contributor to Oakland’s survival through the wind network crisis. We will not let our heroes bleed and weep—your heart will not be chilled.”

“We will grant you the greatest compensation and gratitude. After our preliminary discussion with Theodore, we intend to bestow upon you the title of Oakland Honorary Mage. With this title, you will enjoy the highest honors throughout the Oakland region.”

“Additionally, Theodore and I will jointly petition the Sea Sentinels to record your contributions and secure you the maximum possible military merits.”

At last, Gao De fully understood.

Lord Roland and Theodore had mistakenly believed the Storm Soul perished in the final energy torrent.

It was no wonder Gao De reacted slowly.

Had the Storm Soul truly been a phantom spirit, its annihilation in the torrent would have been certain death.

But the Storm Soul was not a phantom spirit—it was a Wild Soul summoned by [Wild Alertness+].

Yet only Gao De knew this.

This created a gap between his knowledge and others’ assumptions.

“Ah,” Gao De sighed, feigning sorrow, and declared firmly: “I merely did what every Sea Sentinel mage would have done in that situation.”

“The moment was urgent—I had no time to think. I only wanted to contribute whatever small strength I could. I believe anyone else with the ability would have done the same.”

“Fortunately, the specialty I awakened upon reaching first ring granted my phantom spirit unique abilities, allowing me to contribute in this battle.”

“Though the cost was great, I do not regret my choice—if I had to do it again, I would make the same decision.”

Lord Roland and Mage Theodore paused, momentarily stunned by Gao De’s “righteous resolve.”

Something felt off—but somehow, it felt too right.

“Mage Gao De truly embodies the spirit of a Sea Sentinel mage. Your conviction, spirit, and moral character inspire me deeply.”

“Lord Roland overpraises me,” Gao De replied humbly, then hesitated before asking: “What duties does the title of Oakland Honorary Mage entail?”

Lord Roland smiled slightly. “Mage Gao De, do not worry—the Honorary Mage title is purely honorary, imposing no restrictions on you.”

He raised his voice slightly: “But the privileges are numerous—including voting rights on major Oakland policies, such as port expansion, urban planning, and mineral opening proposals.”

“Of course, you are not required to attend every vote. If you are unavailable, you may delegate your vote. If you delegate none, we will assume you abstain.”

Gao De nodded slightly.

At first glance, it seemed merely a simple voting right, unremarkable—but he understood this power was anything but ordinary.

Under the Jin Quehua Dynasty’s system, voting rights on major city decrees were held only by a select few nobles and high-ring magicians.

And these decrees often involved immense interests.

Thus, to secure his vote, one could foresee various “treatments” from other nobles—including but not limited to courting and Liyijiaohuan .

These were all implicit, long-term benefits.

“Moreover, in commerce, as an Honorary Magician, your merchant ships may enter the territory of Oakland without paying customs duties;

purchasing commercial shops exempts you from stamp taxes; our official offices will prioritize supplying you with top-quality raw materials such as oak timber and iron ore;

even more, with the title of Honorary Magician, you may secure large unsecured loans from the Oakland Gold Bank.”

“In short, the title of Honorary Magician grants you no actual property or noble rank, yet across all sectors of Oakland, you enjoy privileges nearly equivalent to those of local nobility.”

“Furthermore, you need not fulfill many duties or obligations—only ensure you never use the title of Oakland Honorary Magician to bring disgrace upon Oakland.”

“Your grace’s generosity moves and humbles me deeply—this Honorary Magician title is so precious. Granting it to a first-ring magician—could it not be...” Gao De had already agreed a thousand times in his heart, yet outwardly he furrowed his brow with feigned concern.

“Magician Gao, no need to refuse,” Lord Roland interrupted Gao De’s hesitant words, the ruby on his finger gleaming. “Your contributions during the Oakland Defense War merit any reward.”

“The title of Honorary Magician is granted for your deeds, not your magician rank.”

Gao De lowered his head as if in thought, then slowly raised it, a flicker of “determination” in his eyes. “If that is so, I accept this honor.”

At these words, both nobles smiled simultaneously.

What followed was a string of empty pleasantries and formalities; once the atmosphere seemed sufficient, Gao De politely took his leave.

They did not send him back to his original warship; instead, they assigned him a private cabin aboard the Thorn Crown.

No further complications arose—the fleet arrived safely at Oakland Harbor.

The authorities still needed to tally losses and consumption; thus, the conscripted magicians were dismissed on the spot.

After a full day of intense marching and combat, everyone was utterly exhausted and needed rest—even Gao De.

So even though the disaster had not yet ended, that was tomorrow’s problem—right now, the most important thing was to sleep well and restore one’s strength.

Since the Catfish Typhoon had just passed, many inns had suffered damage or closed down; Gao De searched for a long while before finding one still open, and rented a private room.

After closing the door, Gao De did not immediately wash or rest—he activated the magical model of [Wild Agility+].

A flash of magical energy passed.

A green figure appeared in the room.

(End of Chapter)