Chapter 164: The Department of Aviation
The Valley Base, Central Clearing.
Six gargantuan Frost Wyrms were currently crowded around Kaito. These massive necrotic entities, capable of freezing entire armies with a single breath, were currently behaving like overgrown golden retrievers.
One Frost Wyrm rhythmically nuzzled Kaito's arm with its skull, letting out a series of vibrating, low-frequency gurgles. Another lay flat on the dirt, its tail sweeping back and forth in a slow, rhythmic arc that kicked up a constant cloud of dust.
Greed stood to the side, holding a ledger. "Master, according to the reports from the other Generals, the rogue dragons within our borders have been systematically neutralized."
"Those who initiated hostilities against our settlements have been terminated and converted into Frost Wyrms. Those who remained non-aggressive have been escorted beyond the perimeter."
Kaito, who was currently being nudged so hard he was sliding across the grass, finally shoved the dragon's massive skull away with both hands. "Alright, enough! If you keep rubbing against me, you're going to start shedding bone-shards!"
The Frost Wyrm, having been rejected, saw its blue Soul Fire flicker sadly. It retreated two paces and began using its front claw to draw dejected circles in the dirt, looking every bit the part of a kicked puppy.
Kaito ignored the needy colossus and turned his attention back to business. "Casualty report?"
Greed checked his notes. "The Empire sustained negligible casualties; only a handful of non-essential structures were damaged. As for the dragons..." He flipped a page. "Thirteen confirmed kills. Six were Tier 5, resulting in these Frost Wyrms. The remaining seven were Tier 4 and have been integrated as standard undead units."
Kaito surveyed the six Frost Wyrms. They were magnificent—wingspans exceeding twenty meters, frames wreathed in a chilling necrotic aura.
"These Wyrms..." Kaito turned to Greed. "How do we utilize them?"
Greed pondered for a moment. "Master, while their combat potential is significant, their sheer size makes them unsuitable for non-wartime deployment within city limits. Assigning them to the Legions as standard mounts would create a massive logistical footprint."
Kaito nodded. It was true. A Frost Wyrm was an aerial apex predator on an open field, but in a populated city, they were just a massive traffic hazard.
However... they're fast. And they're strong.
If we aren't at war, they're essentially high-speed cargo haulers.
Kaito began to pace between the dragons. As he moved, the six massive heads followed him like sunflowers tracking the sun. Six pairs of ghostly blue eyes fixed on him with an intense, "good boy" energy.
He skidded to a halt. "Greed."
"I am here, Master."
"What is the current census of our settlements?"
Greed flipped through his records once more. "Five thousand four hundred cities and forty-three thousand towns and villages."
Kaito nodded, then posed the critical question. "Can our human residents use the Teleportation Arrays?"
"No, My Lord. Currently, the arrays require a direct interface with an Undead Soul Core to function. The living lack the necessary Od-signature."
Kaito's Soul Fire pulsed. As I suspected.
The Empire's transportation system was a disaster. For the living citizens, they were still stuck in the age of horse-drawn carriages. This meant the vast majority of his subjects would live and die without ever seeing a city other than their own.
Population stagnation is the death of an economy.
No movement, no trade. No trade, no cultural exchange.
And if they don't move, how am I supposed to enjoy the various 'local delicacies' of the continent?
Kaito turned back to the Frost Wyrms, his eye sockets igniting with a "Visionary" glow.
"I have an idea."
Greed bowed, all ears. "Please, enlighten me."
"Establish a new administrative branch," Kaito said, pointing a bony finger at the dragons. "We shall call it... The Frost Wyrm Aviation Department."
"We distribute these Wyrms to major hubs. Their sole function will be passenger and cargo transport."
Greed blinked. "Passenger transport?"
"Exactly," Kaito nodded. "We build simplified 'Landing Platforms' in every major town. The Wyrms will run fixed flight paths, commuting between cities on a strict schedule. We charge a fee for the service."
"As for the price..." Kaito tapped his jaw, calculating. "Let's start with... twenty silver coins per hundred kilometers."
Greed performed a mental audit. Given the Empire's current economic tier, a commoner earned between twenty and thirty silver a month. Twenty silver was a luxury price, but for a journey that usually took months by wagon, it was a bargain for merchants and travelers.
"The Master's foresight is boundless," Greed said, bowing. "This will trigger an explosion in population mobility. A journey that once claimed a season will now be completed in mere hours."
Kaito nodded, satisfied. "I'm putting you in charge of the rollout. Site selection for the platforms, flight path optimization, tiered pricing models, and—most importantly—safety protocols. I don't want people falling off at ten thousand feet."
Greed recorded the points with mechanical speed. "Understood, My Lord."
"Oh!" Kaito added. "You'll need to install 'Passenger Modules' on their backs. Make them stable. Add guardrails. Maybe some luxury padding. Not every human has the stomach for dragon-riding."
"I shall have the craftsmen draft a prototype immediately."
Kaito walked up to the most affectionate Frost Wyrm. The beast immediately lowered its head, nuzzling Kaito's hand with its cold, hard snout.
"Good boy," Kaito whispered, giving the skull a patronizing pat. "You've got a real job now. Your mission is to carry the subjects of the Empire across the sky. Show them a view they've never seen."
The Frost Wyrm let out a low, vibrating rumble of acknowledgement.
Greed watched the scene, then spoke up. "Master... once we have subjugated the Dragon's Nest..."
Kaito turned his head. "When that day comes, the living Great Dragons will take over the commercial routes. As for these Frost Wyrms..." He paused. "We'll retire them from public service. They can become the personal mounts for the Seven Generals and high-ranking officers."
Greed bowed deep. "The Master is most generous."
Kaito waved a hand. "Enough flattery. Go. I want to see the Aviation Department operational within the month."
"By your command."
Greed turned and vanished into a ripple of blue light. Kaito was left alone with the six skeletal dragons. He looked up at the clouds, his mind already drifting to the next phase of his empire.
The Aviation Department was just the first step. Once he had the Nest, he would turn this continent into a truly connected world.
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