Chapter 1016: Chapter 625, Giant Claw Island
After leaving Pigmen Village, Fang Hao visited the cities of the Trolls and Dwarves, delegating the matters of the Aerial Ship trade fleet.
At this moment, Fang Hao was sitting in the grand hall of Lyss City.
Opposite him were Rebecca, and several officials from the city.
“The progress of the school is going smoothly, according to what you’ve said, separated into teaching buildings and dormitories. However, the number of teachers applying is not high, and some nobles also have significant objections to this,” Rebecca said softly.
Rebecca was relatively enlightened, considerably better than those nobles who only knew to preserve their own interests.
Fang Hao explained the benefits of the school to her, and they soon delineated the area and started building the school.
...
The construction was an alteration of existing buildings, thus speeding up the process.
But having a plan was one thing, finding teachers was another.
Those who possessed knowledge and could teach were mostly in the hands of the nobility.
Apart from the fallen nobility, who would want to take up teaching for you?
They don’t care about the meager remuneration you offer.
“According to the previous idea, what kind of teachers have you managed to recruit?” Fang Hao asked.
“Literacy, history, arts, physical education, and herbal identification,” one official responded.
At this, Fang Hao realized another issue.
While needing teachers, weren’t textbooks also necessary?
Learning required textbooks.
The children couldn’t just listen; they needed to read and practice as well.
After considering, Fang Hao nodded and said, “Alright, you continue hiring teachers, I’ll also think of a solution here, let’s first discuss the trade fleet’s matters.”
Rebecca nodded, then addressed the other officials, “Alright, you may leave now. I’ll notify you if there’s anything.”
The group of officials got up and directly exited the room.
Once it was only the two of them left.
Fang Hao started speaking, “I will provide you with several aerial ships to help you transport goods, do you have any plans?”
“Now that Lyss City has entered the upper senate, I plan to divide the trade fleet into two directions, one is to trade within the territorial cities, and the other is external, which is all the cities inside the Federation, selling and purchasing various materials to maintain a healthy cycle,” Rebecca replied, sipping her tea as she elaborated her plans.
This cycle was beneficial for Lyss City.
Bringing Federation goods in, then selling them to the local Orcs and Trolls.
A slight increase in profit margins would result in significant earnings for her.
Moreover, she acted as an intermediary, so she didn’t need to supply much labor herself.
Fang Hao nodded, “I will arrange for someone to oversee the pricing; prices must not be sold arbitrarily.”
Rebecca glared slightly in disapproval and said, “You don’t trust me?”
“I do trust you, but the oversight is for the entire region, especially concerning the Orcs and Trolls, each one of them is restless.”
Rebecca nodded, apparently satisfied with this answer.
Fang Hao continued to ask, “How many aerial ships will you need?”
“At least a hundred.”
“That many?”
“The territory of the Hundred Cities Federation is not small, and a large amount of materials cannot be handled by just one ship, hence the need for more,” Rebecca answered.
Fang Hao also planned to make Lyss City into a crucial city closely connected with the Federation.
A deliberate tilt of resources seemed justifiable.
“Alright, that’s fine. The aerial ships need technicians for operation. You can use Undead technicians within the territory, but for those facing the Federation, you’ll need to recruit some living creature technicians,” Fang Hao added.
“Can do, understood.”
Decisions regarding the trade fleet were affirmed.
With this, Fang Hao had essentially achieved his goal for this trip.
Upon returning, he could have the aerial ships distributed according to plan to the cities.
This would also expedite the internal functioning of the trade fleet.
Summer was nearing.
It was the best time to start.
After discussing business, Fang Hao stood up unreservedly and squeezed into Rebecca’s soft couch.
He lifted her up, sitting her on his lap.
Instantly, he felt his leg enveloped by soft cotton candy.
“Ah— what are you doing!” Rebecca exclaimed.
Her arm still wrapped around the man’s shoulder.
Fang Hao wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, asking, “What did the council say? Did they make things difficult for you afterwards?”
“There has been no action yet, but it’s uncertain if they might have ideas later,” Rebecca shifted upward slightly, answering softly.
Perhaps it was Rebecca’s resolute demeanor of late that made the council realize she was not to be trifled with.
So far, there was no movement from the council.
Even though Rebecca had provided evidence and arrested those opposed to her.
The council had acquiesced.
Of course, this tacit approval was based on solid evidence.
“Yes, quickly establish economic ties with the various cities, and Lyss City can gain a group of supporters. With your capabilities and intelligence, it won’t be hard to replace Dordy as the new Federation Leader. Then more men will pursue you, so don’t overshadow me,” Fang Hao half-teased, half-coaxed.
Rebecca slightly furrowed her brows, bit her lip, but didn’t immediately reply.
She knew the transformation of Lyss City didn’t start from her taking the seat in the city lord’s residence; it had begun when Fang Hao arrived in Lyss City.
If one day, she really did take a higher position.
Even truly replacing Dordy and becoming the newest leader of the Federation, would she change?
These thoughts flickered through her mind. She turned her head and pecked him on the lips.
In a soft voice, she said, “Why do you say these things? I am your legally recognized wife by the Federation, you also gave yourself to me. Even if you have nothing left, you will still be my man. I will support you in the future…, no matter what I become, I won’t look at anyone else, just you.”
In the tender and affectionate words, her feelings were clearly expressed.
This was also the first time Rebecca had set aside her city lord demeanor, speaking like a wife confiding in her lover.
This was probably also a confession!
After all, it was usually him who spoke, and this was the first time Rebecca had said these things.
Fang Hao’s lips curved into a smile, surprised by this unexpected gain.
He tightened his hold on her waist and their lips came together.
He reached inside and began to search boldly.
Rebecca’s expression became strange, and her body started to twist.
The two of them embraced each other, their hands moving up and down.
Shortly after.
Rebecca lay half-reclined on the soft chair, a cushion underneath her, shaking her head and humming.
Fang Hao stood in front of her, looking at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle, holding her jade feet in his hands, reciting a text from memory.
…
Silver Wing City.
Church, Temple.
The Archbishop, dressed in his exclusive attire, dragged a huge cape behind him.
Wearing a mitre, he held the staff that represented his status.
Amidst the choir’s singing, he slowly walked up the stone steps.
There seemed to be rhythm beneath his feet.
Step by step, he walked towards the summit.
At the end of the stone steps was a massive statue of the God of Light.
The statue looked down from above, its face stern yet gentle.
The Archbishop reached the top, knelt devoutly before the statue, and began to praise God’s mercy and everything else.
The devout praises continued for about half an hour.
The Archbishop then slowly stood up.
He waved his hand behind him.
Several templar knights, carrying a coffin, slowly walked forward.
They placed the coffin at the bottom of the stone steps.
The Archbishop walked back down and said, “Open it.”
With a creak,
the heavy coffin lid was opened, revealing the body inside dressed in holy robes, its complexion pale.
Xu Haide…
This young saint, greatly valued by both the council and the church, had died on the night the war ended.
Resurrecting him was not fair to the other competing saints.
But the role Xu Haide had shown was enough for the church to make an exception and choose to resurrect him.
Xu Haide in the coffin.
His complexion was unusually pale, with a thin long wound on his neck, which had also been joined together, leaving only a keloid scar.
Although he had been dead for about half a month, no special features had appeared.
Nor had his appearance changed much.
The Archbishop briefly looked at the body and continued, “Alright, prepare.”
Non-essential personnel exited, and several bishops fetched some materials and items.
They began the final preparations.
Once everything was ready, the Archbishop and the bishops knelt before the statue and started muttering incantations.
Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the statue’s magic wand.
It enveloped the body below.
In the coffin, Xu Haide’s hair and eyebrows began to fall off, but his skin was no longer pale.
The protruding wound on his neck gradually healed.
The figure in the coffin no longer resembled a corpse but rather a person in deep sleep.
The next second,
the light from the statue disappeared.
The Temple fell back into silence.
Just as the bishops looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.
Snap!!
A crisp sound.
A palm rested on the edge of the coffin, slowly sitting up.
…
Located to the south of the Hundred Cities Federation.
The vast sea, Giant Claw Island.
In the center of the island, the core area’s domed white stone building is the Island Master’s hall.
It can also be called the Island Hall.
Inside the hall, adorned with pearls and seashells, the Island Master – Hirosh, was holding a goblet, leaning on a stone couch.
His thick snake tail rested along the couch surface.
Several alluring Coral Witches knelt beside him, massaging his shoulders and tail.
At that moment, a Sea Tribe guard entered.
He spoke softly, “Leader, Mr. Shi He Ming has arrived.”
Shi He Ming, a transmigrator.
But on Giant Claw Island, he also held a status comparable to that of the Sea Tribe.
The reason was simple, Shi He Ming had a high level of smithing skills, capable of forging a finely crafted, slender blade, the katana.
This katana was favored by the Sea Tribe warriors and had already been inscribed into blueprints.
Other transmigrators were handling the manufacturing.
Meanwhile, ‘Shi He Ming’ had become the local researcher, developing and improving new weapons.
Hirosh waved his hand, the Coral Witches retreated, and he continued, “Let him in.”
“Yes!”
The guard left, and soon returned with a human man.
“Hey! Lord Hirosh,” Shi He Ming immediately greeted.
Hirosh nodded and said, “Yeah, sit down. This time, you are going to Silver Wing City in the human Federation to discuss peace issues with the sea world. Since you are human, I’m planning to send you.”