48: Good things keep happening

The night was as dark as ink, and the sea breeze was gentle. Linn's figure quietly appeared on a small hillside behind his residence, the moonlight stretching his shadow long and thin. On his shoulder, an elf only the size of a palm, surrounded by faint emerald light spots, was wide-eyed, looking at this real world with great novelty.

"Master, is this the outside world? Such a strong wind! So many stars! And... is this the smell of the sea?" Dolia communicated with Linn through faint mental fluctuations, her voice filled with irrepressible excitement and joy. She greedily inhaled the salty air, looking at the boundless sea shimmering under the moonlight in the distance, and the Iron Sand Town below the hill with its flickering lights and emerging silhouette, feeling that everything was incredibly fresh.

"Yes, Dolia, this is the world we live in." Linn responded with a smile, his gaze also sweeping over the foundation he had built with his own hands, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart. The reason he chose to bring her out quietly in the dead of night was out of extreme caution. The existence of the breath of life space was his greatest trump card and secret. As the Spirit of the Space, Dolia's significance was even more extraordinary. Once exposed, it would surely attract unimaginable greed and disaster. Therefore, even to those closest to him like Elise and Clay, he had never revealed a single detail. Everyone only assumed that the simple-looking thumb ring he wore was a magic storage ring with a slightly larger capacity.

"Remember, in the outside world, unless it is absolutely necessary, you must never let anyone discover your existence," Linn warned solemnly once again.

"Mm-hmm! Dolia understands! Don't worry, Master, I will definitely be good and won't cause any trouble for Master!" The little elf nodded vigorously. Although she was full of curiosity about the outside world, she understood the importance of protecting her master and the secrets of the space even more.

Shortly after Linn took Dolia to quietly experience the night world, an even more heartening piece of news arrived.

In the morning, Linn had just finished a short meditation to consolidate his Gold Rank Realm when the respectful voice of a personal guard came from outside the door: "Lord, Captain Ocean requests an audience, saying... he has important matters to report."

Linn's heart stirred, as if he had a premonition: "Let him in."

The door opened, and Ocean stepped in. Compared to before, his entire temperament had undergone a world-shaking change. His originally sharp aura was now deeper and more restrained, but occasionally, when his gaze shifted, a heart-palpitating pressure naturally leaked out. He seemed to be surrounded by invisible water vapor, and his movements seemed to blend with the surrounding environment, carrying a natural rhythm.

He came before Linn, and instead of just bowing as usual, he knelt on one knee, his voice loud and filled with unmistakable excitement: "Lord! I have fortunately not failed my mission. Ocean successfully made a Breakthrough last night and has formally stepped into the Gold Initial Rank! I have come to report back to you!"

Although he had expected it, hearing the news with his own ears still caused a flash of surprise and joy to erupt in Linn's eyes. He stepped forward quickly, personally helped Ocean up, and patted his shoulder hard: "Good! Good! Excellent! Ocean, you truly did not disappoint me!"

Feeling the Gold Rank power fluctuations with a distinct attribute from Ocean, Linn's heart was filled with heroic spirit. This meant that from this moment on, Iron Sand Island finally possessed two true Gold Rank combatants!

"Lord, you have also broken through!" After breaking through to Gold, Ocean's perception was powerful, and he also sensed that Linn's elemental fluctuations were much higher than those of the Silver rank.

Linn smiled faintly: "A day before you."

A Gold Initial Rank mage and a Gold Initial Rank knight—a unique water element knight! This power, even if placed in the outer regions of the entire Storm Sea Region, was enough to make people take notice, completely changing the power landscape of the Salu Archipelago and even the surrounding waters!

"In this way, we can be considered to truly have the capital to establish ourselves!" Linn looked at Ocean with burning eyes. "Many plans that had to be restrained before due to insufficient high-end combat power can now be put on the agenda. The exploration of the Shattered Star Archipelago must also be accelerated!"

Ocean felt the ambition in Linn's words and was also deeply moved. He said solemnly, "I am willing to be the sharp sword in your hand, My Lord, to cut through the waves and expand our territory!"

The two Gold Rank experts looked at each other and smiled, a strong sense of confidence flowing between them. The ship of Iron Sand Island, which had just set sail not long ago, would surely sail toward the deep blue full of unknowns and opportunities at an even faster speed now that it had dual Gold engines.

As if to prove that Iron Sand Island's luck was at its peak, shortly after Ocean successfully broke through to the Gold Rank, an official ship flying the flag of the Aolai Kingdom sailed into the port of Iron Sand Island. Viscount Philip Gresham, the Royal Inspector whom Linn had met once at Nocturne's promotion ceremony, arrived as scheduled to conduct an on-site inspection of Iron Sand Island before its promotion to a Barony.

Linn had already received the notification and personally led the core members to welcome him at the dock, his attitude respectful yet dignified. When Viscount Gresham stepped onto the land of Iron Sand Island and felt the well-organized order on the island, the sharp aura of the soldiers, and the relatively full spirit of the subjects, a hint of surprise couldn't help but flash in his eyes. This was completely different from those dilapidated and backward pioneer territories struggling to survive in the Storm Sea Region that he remembered.

"Your Excellency Gresham, welcome to Iron Sand Island to guide our work," Linn stepped forward with a smile to greet him.

"Lord Linn, it seems that your Iron Sand Island is managed even better than I imagined," Viscount Gresham looked around, a hint of genuine admiration in his tone.

Gresham seemed unwilling to stay idle; after saying a few words to Linn, he impatiently asked Linn to take him on an inspection.

Over the next two days, Linn personally accompanied Viscount Gresham, taking a boat to inspect the peripheral islands centered around Iron Sand Island. They inspected the newly reclaimed farmland with its promising crops; visited the blacksmith and woodworking workshops that were beginning to take shape; and reviewed the well-disciplined and well-equipped combat teams. Especially when he saw the Divine Arrow Army under Angus's command practicing their precise archery, Viscount Gresham nodded slightly.

Linn even arranged for the inspector to "pass by" and see Ironwood Island, which was undergoing intensive construction. Although it was still slightly cluttered, the scene of a large number of slaves and soldiers working in full swing, as well as the preliminary shipbuilding workshop, clearly demonstrated the vigorous development momentum and huge potential of this territory.

Viscount Gresham looked and asked questions all along the way, and Linn answered them all fluently, explaining the territory's population, taxation, military defense, and future development blueprint in an organized manner. He deliberately hid the information about Ocean's recent Breakthrough to the Gold Rank and some of the troops, but the strength displayed was already far beyond the standard of an ordinary pioneer knight's territory, even exceeding some Baronies that had been managed for many years.

When the inspection ended, before sending Viscount Gresham back to the ship to rest, Linn found another moment when no one was watching and skillfully handed over a cloth bag that was even heavier than the last one, containing exactly 200 gold coins.

"Your Excellency has worked hard during these days of inspection. Please accept this small token of appreciation to compensate for the fatigue of your journey." Linn's smile was sincere, and his posture was perfectly humble.

Viscount Gresham brushed his sleeve over it, and the weight made the smile on his face even more genuine. He patted Linn's arm, his tone full of praise and assurance:

"Lord Linn, you are young and promising, managing this barren land so prosperously. You are truly a model for the kingdom's pioneers! I have witnessed your ability, the prosperity of the territory, and your loyalty to the kingdom with my own eyes. It fully meets and even exceeds the standards of a Barony. Rest assured, after I return to the royal capital, I will immediately submit the inspection report and do my best to facilitate this matter. If everything goes smoothly, it is expected that in one month, the kingdom's official appointment decree will be issued, and a grand Baronial investiture ceremony will be held for you on Iron Sand Island!"

"I shall rely entirely on Your Excellency's efforts!" Linn bowed again, a weight lifted from his heart. This investment had once again yielded a rich return.

After sending off the satisfied inspector, Linn returned to the castle and shared the news with the core members, immediately sparking a wave of celebration. An official Baronial title meant that Iron Sand Island would receive official recognition from the kingdom, its legal status would be elevated, and it would have greater autonomy and convenience in many matters, which would be of great benefit for attracting immigrants and conducting trade.