123: The end of the war

The Rise of the East Sea

Year 7 of the Star Sea Calendar, Autumn.

A full year had passed since the order to lay the foundation of East Sea City.

Linn had stepped into the Sky rank, and Destiny had naturally become a Legendary. To stabilize the current five-fold time flow, the Breath of Life Demi-plane stopped expanding once it reached five hundred square kilometers. The magic plant maturation capability also halted at a value of one hundred times.

The former Wild Boar Kings Court valley was long since unrecognizable. Over seventy to eighty thousand captured Orc Slaves toiled between the valley and the coast like a swarm of ants, amidst the cracking of whips and the shouts of overseers. Tens of thousands of human slave craftsmen mobilized from the Star Sea Territory collaborated on the construction; many of them had already earned the status of "Quasi-freemen" due to years of contribution, and were now pouring their architectural skills and organizational abilities into this new land with an almost proprietary air.

The outline of East Sea City was now clear.

The port facing the bay had begun to take shape, with three stone piers extending deep into the sea like the claws of a giant beast reaching into the azure waves. At the docks, transport fleets from the Star Sea Territory arrived in an endless stream, unloading stone, timber, ironware, and grain, while carrying back animal hides, herbs, and Ore produced locally. Behind the port, a fifteen-meter-high stone city wall was being built; its scale was indeed as Linn had desired—no less impressive than Star Sea City.

Inside the city, the main roads had been paved with compacted gravel, and the drainage Systems on both sides were complete. The administrative district, military barracks, warehouses, workshop area, and residential area were orderly planned. In the central square, a three-meter-high obsidian pedestal had been completed, the reserved spot for the Lord's statue.

The construction speed of this city far exceeded common imagination.

At this moment, in the Star Sea City Lord's Mansion.

Linn sat at the head of the long obsidian table, his fingers lightly tapping a parchment scroll. Outside the window, the autumn sun was just right, bathing the study in bright warmth, yet it could not dispel the deep contemplation between his brows.

Morton stood before the table, having just completed the annual comprehensive report. This old servant, the first to follow Linn, had finally stepped into the Gold rank, and the frost-colored hair at his temples had turned completely black.

"Five hundred thousand people, three hundred thousand Freemen..." Linn softly repeated these two numbers, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes. "Morton, do you remember how many people we had when we first arrived at Shattered Star Island?"

"I remember, My Lord," Morton bowed. "The first batch of migrants, including soldiers, craftsmen, and farmers, totaled less than eight thousand. Back then, we didn't even have a complete city wall."

"Less than ten years," Linn lamented. "From eight thousand to five hundred thousand!"

"This is the inevitable result of your wise leadership," Morton said sincerely. "The population incentive policy has shown significant results, with the newborn survival rate reaching as high as ninety percent—an incredible figure in any human nation. Our physician System, food supply, and living conditions have surpassed most kingdom towns."

Linn nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the economic report section.

"Ore, warships, grain..." He listed the three pillar industries. Now, the Star Sea Territory could completely sustain its economic turnover without relying on potion income.

"Yes, My Lord," Morton's eyes shone with pride. "The Star Sea Merchant Guild now owns seventy-six large merchant ships, with a trade network covering seventeen noble territories in the Storm Sea Region, three provinces from Tianhai City to Haige City, and the two northernmost provinces of the Aolai Kingdom. The purity of our refined iron Ore is only a fraction below that of the Dwarves, yet the price is thirty percent lower. The improved 'Sea Wolf-class' warships are fast and have a shallow draft, making them particularly suitable for coastal patrols and rapid raids; forty-three have already been sold. As for grain..."

He paused, adding emphasis: "Among the pioneering lords of the Storm Sea Region, eight out of ten have faced food shortages. Our high-yield crop seeds and storage technology have saved at least twenty pioneering strongholds on the brink of collapse. Now, they are not just customers, but allies! Political ties forged with grain are firmer than those made with Gold coins."

Linn was silent for a moment before picking up a pen to sign his name on the order document Morton had prepared.

The black ink traced sharp handwriting, every word weighing as heavy as a thousand catties.

"Expansion Order."

He pushed the document to Morton. "Three thousand each for the Guard Army and the Dragon Scale Knights, and the Griffin Knights will remain at fifty."

"One thousand for the Orc Legion, five thousand for the Divine Arrow Army... and twenty thousand for each of the three main legions." Morton took the document and did a quick mental calculation. "This means our standing army will reach 73,050 men. And that's not even counting the slave auxiliary forces of the newly built East Sea City or the Mage Corps. My Lord, this already exceeds the military strength of an average Marquis Family and approaches that of some Duchies."

"Not enough." Linn stood up and walked to the window, overlooking the busy Star Sea City port. "Morton, you look outside."

Morton followed his gaze.

Inside the port, two newly launched three-masted warships were undergoing sea trials, their figureheads carved with griffins about to take flight. On the docks, squads of soldiers were drilling, their armor reflecting cold light in the sun. Further away, smoke curled from the chimneys of the newly built residential areas, and the school bells rang melodiously.

"The area around the Shattered Star Archipelago, and now including East Sea City! The land we rule is close to one hundred thousand square kilometers." Linn's voice was calm, yet contained an unquestionable power. "With seventy thousand troops scattered across so many strongholds, defense lines, and patrol routes, how much mobile force will be left?"

"Population is still our biggest shortcoming."

Morton fell silent.

"Have you been following the war between the Aolai Kingdom and the Dwarf Coalition Army in the Great Wilderness Forest?" Linn suddenly changed the subject.

"Intelligence arrives daily," Morton replied immediately. "After dozens of major battles, casualties on both sides are said to have exceeded six hundred thousand. The Human Coalition did indeed seize five hundred thousand square kilometers of land in the east, but at a heavy cost. The Ironforge Legion of the Dwarf Kingdom has seen a thirty percent reduction in personnel, and the 'Golden Lion' Knights of the Aolai Kingdom were nearly crippled. Although the Orc Coalition Army has retreated, their main force is not yet destroyed, and they have established a new line of fortresses deep within the forest."

"War during a period of exhaustion is the most dangerous." Linn turned around, his eyes flashing with a cold light belonging to a commander that Morton was familiar with. "When both sides are exhausted, a single spark could trigger a total collapse. Or it could spawn a desperate, frantic counterattack. Either way, the flames of war could spread to our new territory."

He walked back to the table, his finger pointing at the location of East Sea City on the map.

"This city is not only our nail in the New Continent, but also our shield and spear. It must be strong enough to withstand the aftermath of war that may come from the forest to the west; it must also be powerful enough to become our springboard for expanding deep into the Great Wilderness Forest when the time is right."

Morton took a deep breath: "I understand, My Lord. The expansion order will be executed immediately. Regarding the source of soldiers..."

"Select them from among the human Slaves," Linn had already considered everything. "Those who have served for two full years without major faults and have passed the loyalty test will be given the status of 'Provisional Freemen' to join the army. Those who have served for three full years or have performed military merits, along with their immediate relatives, can obtain full freeman status. This policy will be officially promulgated tomorrow."

"This will greatly stimulate the motivation of the Slaves," Morton's eyes lit up. "Especially those mercenaries and retired soldiers with combat experience..."

"But screening must be strict," Linn emphasized. "Loyalty first, combat power second. The commanders of each legion must personally oversee the process. If a spy infiltrates, the entire selection team will be held collectively responsible."

"Yes!"