"Jaina, let's use the second option!" Rhodes said.
After weighing the pros and cons, Rhodes decided to use the second plan; a month and a half for ship modification was still feasible time-wise.
A month and a half from now, Arthas should just be starting his return journey, and he would still have to play with the Scourge on Northrend for another month.
Putting his own spatial magic ship onto a Kul Tiras warship was simply ridiculous!
"I also think the second option is better, but I'm not sure if the Kingdom of Lordaeron has the capability to modify this kind of magic ship!
Why don't you go to Kul Tiras instead? Our shipbuilding industry in Kul Tiras is second to none in the entire Alliance," Jaina said.
As a naval power, seventy percent of the Alliance's warships were manufactured by the shipyards of Kul Tiras!
Although some other nations wanted to build ships independently, their technological level lagged far behind Kul Tiras.
Moreover, and more importantly, this miraculous magic ship held great significance for Kul Tiras, and she really wanted to acquire one.
Upon hearing this, Rhodes agreed somewhat; modifications in Kul Tiras would be safer, but the problem was that they needed to pick up the citizens of Lordaeron here!
Furthermore, the money was being paid by King Terenas, and the old king probably wouldn't just give this magic ship to Kul Tiras for free.
And the facts were exactly as Rhodes had expected.
"Sending it to Kul Tiras will take half a month, and modification will take a month and a half, plus the return trip, totaling two and a half months. That is too much of a delay.
This would delay the departure by a month. It is only simple modification work, and the Kingdom of Lordaeron can handle it," King Terenas said.
Are you kidding? This miraculous spatial magic ship holds immense strategic importance. Using it to transport soldiers and materials would be incredibly convenient.
How could he possibly give them to Kul Tiras? Whether they would even return if they reached Kul Tiras was questionable.
"I think it is safer to modify it in Lordaeron, Terenas. You can modify the ships while simultaneously gathering the citizens who will travel west. I will return from Dalaran in a month and a half, and then I can take the people and depart," Rhodes said.
Are you kidding? If they delay for another month, Arthas will arrive.
King Terenas was quite satisfied with Rhodes' answer. This was correct; after all, he had granted Rhodes the title of Baron. If Rhodes sold this good thing to Kul Tiras, he would be letting him down too much.
Jaina sighed helplessly, nodded, and agreed to the plan, though she would not give up on the idea of this spatial magic ship.
The two parties communicated further and discussed the specific details of the ship modification. King Terenas then began gathering the best shipwrights in the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron and commenced the modification work on the magic ships Rhodes had left behind.
First, the seven massive compartments needed to be divided into layers, determining the locations for the kitchen, storage rooms, and living quarters. Then, bunk beds needed to be installed in the living quarters, and finally, the entire hull had to be reinforced and enlarged.
According to King Terenas' estimate, one ship could carry fifteen thousand people, meaning Lordaeron would not need to dispatch any other vessels.
That evening, King Terenas held a farewell banquet. The two sides agreed that in a month and a half, Rhodes' fleet would depart from the Lordaeron royal port and head to the continent of Kalimdor for exploration.
When he returned to the inn to rest that night, Jaina knocked on Rhodes' door.
"Is something the matter, Jaina?" Rhodes asked with a smile, looking at Jaina at the door. Sure enough, this was exactly what he had expected!
"Why are you asking me? You must have known I was coming, right? Your spatial magic ship is far too important to the Kingdom of Kul Tiras," Jaina said, rolling her eyes.
As the Princess of Kul Tiras, she knew exactly how much impact this spatial magic ship would have on naval warfare and maritime transport. If this magic ship could be installed on her father's vessel, the grand admiral's vessel...
Or if it could be directly modified into a new vessel, the grand admiral's vessel, that would be absolutely perfect!
Furthermore, if they acquired a large quantity for shipping, it would be incredibly profitable!
This was extremely lucrative. The cargo capacity inside this magic ship was greater than what an entire fleet could carry, especially for commercial trade between Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms!
Even for Kul Tiras' own commerce, if they could use this type of magic ship for transport, the shipping fees alone would be substantial.
"Rhodes, I'll be direct. We consider ourselves good friends. In fact, Kul Tiras' mighty fleet is in great need of your spatial magic ship!
I want to purchase some. I wonder if you could ask the Titan Keeper behind you to build a few more of these magic ships and hand them over to Kul Tiras?" Jaina asked.
"Since we are good friends, in principle, of course, I can. You know what I need: large amounts of timber and ore, as well as those four precious resources," Rhodes said.
Rhodes naturally knew the function and immense commercial value of this miraculous spatial magic ship. Since Jaina had asked, he would not be polite.
"This matter won't be negotiated between you and me, but between you and my father. I will notify Kul Tiras, and when we arrive in Dalaran, an envoy from Kul Tiras will come to meet you," Jaina said.
She could only act as a go-between, but the true decision-maker was still her father, Admiral Daelin.
In any case, this journey west to the continent of Kalimdor required mobilizing Kul Tiras' ships, so she needed to inform her father about these matters.
"No problem! Who told us to have such a good relationship! You even voluntarily taught me some magic before," Rhodes said.
Since he still needed to freeload on Jaina's spells in the future, he naturally had to maintain a good relationship.
The future Jaina would be the First mage of the Azeroth World, the kind who was even stronger than Khadgar!
"There is still one issue with this matter, and that is Lordaeron. I worry that King Terenas might not approve of the transaction between you and Kul Tiras," Jaina said.
"Don't worry. Although I am a Baron of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, the one trading with Kul Tiras is the Titan Keeper.
These magic ships weren't built by me; I'm just acting as a messenger," Rhodes said with a laugh.
"Pfft! Hahaha! You really are something, Rhodes!" Jaina chuckled and nodded in satisfaction.
Early the next morning, Rhodes and Jaina bid farewell to Uther and King Terenas, preparing to return to Dalaran.
Since there were only two of them, Jaina directly cast a teleportation spell, taking Rhodes with her to Dalaran.