Mulong Duchy heartland.
Celeste had a very strong personal initiative, not only helping Black Sail but also for her own benefit. However, Celeste, already being a high-status, wealthy woman, didn't need the money. More importantly, she aimed at the deeper strategic game between her homeland and Aran.
If Aran were to extend the railway to Green Oasis Country Wadina, setting up stationed engineers along the way and bypassing the Narrow Sea to form a major artery across the Western Continent,
Emperor's influence would inevitably be unstoppable; the artery must be formed.
Even if the Army General of Crocodile Island died, talent-rich Aran would certainly send more strong troops.
Time.
Delaying was enough; to provide Lostra with a window for infiltrating Wadina as the Emperor's grand railway entered the small territories of Green Oasis Country, only to find his beloved had already fallen, becoming a plaything of the major nations west of the Narrow Sea.
