69: Unexpected guests

Everyone was striving hard for their shared new home.

Morton displayed astonishing logistical management skills; he brandished his whip, efficiently deploying ten thousand Slaves and Freemen.

By the end of July, in the northern part of the Shattered Star River, several well-planned villages, primarily made of wood and equipped with complete roads and drainage facilities, had sprung up.

Even more gratifying was the vast expanse of farmland that had been reclaimed, with crisscrossing paths, and the first batch of crops planted was growing promisingly, lush and green.

The output from these high-quality farmlands was already fully capable of meeting the food needs of the entire population currently in the Star Sea Territory, achieving initial self-sufficiency.

On the Star Sea Bay dock, brand-new wooden piers extended into the sea, with the star flag of the Star Sea Territory fluttering in the wind above them.

The dock was officially in use and appeared bustling.

Several cargo ships traveled back and forth, continuously transporting timber felled from the mountains and stone quarried from the quarry through the widened and deepened Shattered Star River to the central area of the city construction.

This waterway, which Lynn named the "Star Sea River," had become a transportation lifeline, thanks to the powerful physiques of the Orcs.

The construction of Star Sea City had also officially begun.

On the vast flat land, the foundations were tamped down, and lines of white lime marked out clear areas—the future warehouse district, commercial streets, central plaza, and the foundation of the grandly planned Lords Castle at the core position were all beginning to emerge.

Although it was far from taking shape, the skeleton of a future city was already faintly visible.

Just amidst this bustling scene, two large merchant ships flying the flag of the Star Sea Territory slowly sailed into Star Sea Bay, entering everyone's view.

This was the fleet led by Guild Master Barton, who had been appointed as the president of the Star Sea Merchant Guild, and they had returned from the prosperous Haige City!

Lynn rushed to the dock upon hearing the news, his eyes scanning the crowd, when suddenly, he locked onto a figure standing excitedly on the ship's rail, waving vigorously.

That familiar face, bearing the usual enthusiasm and a touch of cynical smile, was none other than his only close friend from his time at the Royal Academy—Payson!

Lynn had not yet recovered from the shock, rubbing his eyes hard for fear that he was seeing things.

He really had not expected Payson to come, and the longing buried deep in his heart welled up.

The hand crossbow from the breath of life had been carefully preserved by Lynn.

Before the ship had fully docked, Payson impatiently rushed down the gangplank, spread his arms, and shouted loudly: "Hahaha! Lynn! I'm here! I've come to see you!"

A genuine, brilliant smile also appeared on Lynn's face, and he hurried forward to greet him.

The two good friends embraced tightly on the dock, patting each other's backs hard; all their longing and friendship were conveyed without words.

"You good lad! I knew you weren't meant to stay in a small pond! How long has it been, and you've actually established such a large foundation in the Shattered Star Archipelago! You've even started building a city!"

Payson released Lynn and punched his shoulder hard, his eyes full of amazement and genuine joy.

He looked around at the budding dock and the busy construction site in the distance, feeling incredulous.

"Just good luck, let's not talk about that for now."

Lynn impatiently pulled Payson towards the temporarily constructed rest area, "I'm so happy you could come! How did you find this place?"

"Haha, of course I followed Guild Master Barton's fleet!"

Payson laughed and pointed at Guild Master Barton, who was directing the unloading, "A while ago, I happened to hear that a new merchant guild had opened in Haige City. Once I asked around, I found out it was the commotion you had stirred up! After I finished dealing with some trivial Family matters, I immediately followed the fleet here to give you a surprise!"

As he spoke, Payson's expression turned serious, and he pointed to a group of ragged but relatively sturdy-looking people being unloaded from the ship: "There, this is a gift from me, your brother! 3,000 Slaves, all obtained through reliable channels, as support for your great cause of building a city!"

Lynn looked at the dense crowd, a warm current surging in his heart, while simultaneously being filled with doubts.

The two sat down, and after the attendant served drinks, they began to recount their experiences since they parted.

Lynn briefly described how he gained a foothold in the Saru Archipelago, how he moved to the Shattered Star Island, went through bloody battles, subdued the Orcs, and finally decided to build a city here.

Although Lynn's tone was calm, the dangers and difficulties involved made Payson listen with alternating tension and amazement.

"By the way, Payson, where did you get so many Slaves?"

Lynn was curious about Payson's experiences during this period, as Payson's starting position was not much better than his own.

The cynical smile faded from Payson's face, revealing a hint of bitterness and helplessness: "After I returned to the Family, the situation... was not very good. My stepmother and the son she bore were squeezing me out everywhere, fearing that I would take away the Family property and power. My father... sigh, he was also in a difficult position."

He shook his head, seemingly not wanting to talk more about the frustrating Family matters, then cheered up again, "But fortunately, my uncle has always supported me, and with his efforts, I finally obtained a portion of the trade rights in Haige City. Although it's not big, it's finally a starting point. I bought these Slaves."

Listening to his friend's account, Lynn could feel the pressure and difficulty behind his smile.

The infighting within the Count Lonsen Family was no easier than starting from scratch himself, and the enemies faced were more complex and sinister.

"Come here, and treat this place as your own home!"

Lynn said firmly, "Let's consider these Slaves as bought from you. Since you are in charge of trade, we can cooperate in the future. The Shattered Star Island is rich in resources, timber, Ore, and in the future, there will be potions, and even magical items. If we join forces, we will definitely be able to open up the situation!"

With this batch of Slaves, the total number of Slaves in Star Sea City reached 15,500.

"Get lost! You become a Baron and suddenly you're a big shot, talking money with me?"

Payson looked at Lynn and smiled again: "You and I are brothers, let's not talk about money. My struggle is not in this area, while you need population and money to develop. When you become strong, raising an army to back me up will be more useful than anything else."

"Good! It's a deal then!"

Lynn knew Payson's personality and raised his glass: "Let us brothers join forces and achieve something great! Let those who looked down on us take a good look!"

"Cheers!"

Night gradually fell, the dock was brightly lit, and the unloading work continued, while from within the temporary lord's hall, the long-lost, hearty laughter of Lynn and Payson could be heard.

Lynn could not remember the last time he had been this happy; now he had no disguise at all, and the two of them drank until they were dead drunk.

Elise, who was serving on the side, saw the look Lynn was showing for the first time and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.