A vast sea.
Two warships, one in front of the other, bobbed on the waves, proudly flying the green dual sword flags from their bridges.
However, the sailors on board could not feel proud at that mont; they were busily lowering boats to rescue the soldiers who had fallen into the water.
As spirited as they had been in pursuing earlier, they were now just as disheveled.
Watching his subordinates who looked like drowned rats, Captain Archim stood by the railing with an iron-blue face, his fists tightly clenched around the rail, his sharp eyes filled with gloom.
That rchant ship had taken away more than a thousand Moon people and caused Jin Galun Harbor to lose a whole one million dinar!
And it was not just about money; it concerned the reputation of Governor Nihak and even the face of the West Winds Empire.
If those people successfully landed in Silver Moon Bay, who knew what outrageous rumors they would spread.
Although the survivors of the Poluo Province knew the truth, outsiders did not understand them and might think they were committing robbery.
He had to clarify that this was not a robbery!
But for the prosperity of the West Winds Empire and the peace of the next generation!
Captain Archim turned to his adjutant and said through gritted teeth.
"These guys... what’s their background?!"
"Their ship was built by the shipyard in Silver Moon Bay..." the adjutant said and then added with certainty, "I’m sure it was there, there’s only one shipyard, and we bought our ship there as well."
"Nonsense! I know that already!" Archim rebuked him, scaring the adjutant into trembling silence.
Not only did this officer outrank him, but he also had the noble blood of the Tiger Clan and the Sun People, just like the current Marshal!
This distinguished lineage made him even fear making eye contact with the officer, lest he displease him.
At that mont, a clever junior officer stepped forward, bowed his head and said,
"Sir, I might know sothing about them."
Captain Archim replied impatiently,
"Speak."
The officer imdiately said,
"I saw that white bear emblem when I was traveling in the Cal Hump Kingdom, and combining it with the bears they had with them... those people must be from the White Bear Knights."
Captain Archim paused.
"What is that?"
The officer continued,
"It’s a bank located in the Petra Fortress, I heard that its owner, a young girl, generously helped so nobles persecuted by the Weilante People during the war in the Luo Xia Province. Thus, she has good relationships with the royal nobility of the desert countries, and her business was favored. After a ceasefire between the corporation and the army, the Alliance’s rchants entered Luo Xia Province, and that group of knights made a fortune through currency exchange and then started a lending and deposit business."
Most of this was hearsay that the officer had heard.
However, one certain thing was that the business of the White Bear Knights was indeed famous around the Cal Hump Kingdom, especially at Petra Fortress.
Archim stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly,
"Is that guy rich?"
The officer paused then quickly nodded,
"Definitely!"
A faint glint appeared in Archim’s eyes, and an idea ford in his mind. He turned to his adjutant and ordered,
"Issue my command! All personnel return to the ship imdiately, we depart in five minutes! Head to the waters near Silver Moon Bay!"
With the audacity of the Cal Hump Kingdom, they surely wouldn’t dare to let that rchant ship dock and unload in front of the ships of the West Winds Empire.
If they could detain that rchant ship, not only could they retrieve those one thousand slaves, but they might even be able to demand a ransom from this so-called White Bear Knights.
The adjutant standing by beca flustered upon hearing this and quickly stepped forward to say,
"Captain, our rescue has only reached halfway, there are still a few brothers missing in the water—"
Before he could finish, Captain Archim waved his hand impatiently to cut him off,
"Those guys are the Empire’s disgrace, unable to seize even a single rchant ship, what’s the use in finding them?"
As he finished speaking, he glared at the adjutant, who dared not breathe, and threatened in a nacing tone.
"The governor insisted that we must capture those thousand plus slaves and the few troublemakers no matter what, and he said to spare no expense."
"If you don’t want to end up feeding the fishes, you’d better do as I say."
The adjutant, sweating profusely, nodded his head and hastily turned to trot to the side of the ship, shouting at his subordinates to get aboard imdiately.
As for those who hadn’t been found in the water, they would just be considered dead.
Clean and decisive, Captain Archim finished the rescue operation and summoned the helmsman and navigator to give them a firm order, looking at the sea chart.
"I don’t care how you do it, we need to reach the waters near Silver Moon Bay ahead of those stowaways, and we must not let them land."
The crew mbers looked at each other, not daring to say a word of refusal, and nodded like pecking chickens.
"Affirmative."
"Yes, sir!"
...
Though in Cal Hump Kingdom, especially Petra Fortress, the White Bear Knights had almost beco the embodint of justice.
However, their operations weren’t going well in the nearby Poluo Province, recently even becoming a symbol of evil.
Ultimately, it was all because so busybody liked to ddle too much.
Slave trade was not uncommon in the Wasteland, but inexplicably shackling free people on a large scale was extrely rare.
Even the fools of Giant Stone City knew a bit that there were contracts far more efficient than slave agreents in this world. A heavily indebted worker could generate ten tis more value than a slave and accept a lower standard of living.
Yet, this unthinkable situation still occurred on the land of Poluo Province right in front of the Alliance players.
A group of people were inexplicably labeled as traitors and then beca legitimate targets for others to rob or even slaughter.
Initially, Si Si was reluctant to intervene, consistently covering Ah Wei’s eyes and reminding her not to cause trouble on other people’s turf.
However, when she realized that those beasts wouldn’t spare even children under twelve, she couldn’t hold back and took the lead.
Later they used the 155 howitzers and the six 100mm short-barreled field guns on the at at to bombard Jin Galun Port, sinking two warships being refitted at close range, and then gave the military supplies worth a million silver coins, originally planned to be sold to local arms rchants, to thousands of Moon people imprisoned at the port.
Perhaps inspired by the courage and generosity of these outsiders, or perhaps after realizing that the Imperial Army was not as formidable as they had imagined, the resigned Moon people finally decided to take up arms and rebel, freeing other oppressed tribes.
They entrusted won and children to the hero who wore the red headscarf into battle, while the n and elders chose to stay, taking the materials looted from the Empire’s port and following a few veteran Moon people into the forests in the central part of Poluo Province.
And this was also the direct reason why the governor of Jinkalon Port furiously ordered the capture of the crew of the at at.
Although the deal not only earned them nothing but also resulted in a considerable loss, nobody felt regret.
There were plenty of opportunities to make a fortune in life, but the chance to stand up like a hero might only co once or twice.
Wrapping that red headscarf around her head, Ah Wei felt incredibly cool.
As for the lost ga currency, it didn’t matter at all!
...
The next day.
The rising sun shone on the endless sea, casting layers of golden gleam on the rolling waves.
Sesa Paste, enjoying the sea breeze, stretched lazily, comfortably squinting her eyes and suddenly struck by a thought, wondered what planets five light-years away looked like.
Whether they too had such vast oceans.
"Ah, my cara, my cara..."
Realizing it would be a sha not to capture this beautiful scene, she hurriedly rummaged through her shoulder bag.
Although they had experienced a tense sea battle just last night, for the majority of Wasteland OL’s veteran players, they were accustod to the ga’s pace.
As long as they didn’t die, there wasn’t much of a problem.
And if they accidentally died—
Well, that wasn’t much of a problem either.
The business the White Bear Knights operated in Cal Hump Kingdom was not only financial but also included information transmission services and save points open to players.
For 2000 silver coins, they could have a trader from City of Dawn or a player keen on trade routes bring a sleep cabin for saving.
She had saved before the last voyage, so she wasn’t too worried.
However, while players were accustod to surviving such ordeals, the feeling was vastly different for NPCs who only had one life.
Observing the cat-eared young girl amusing herself by taking photos on deck, rcenaries and sailors from Cal Hump Kingdom were full of admiration.
Truly worthy of being the ssenger of the Silver Moon Goddess!
Perhaps it is the blessing of that deity that this broken boat has still not sunk...
Just as the rcenaries and sailors were staring in awe at the "ssenger of the Silver Moon Goddess," Si Si suddenly dashed onto the deck.
"Sesa Paste!"
"Hmm?"
As Sesa Paste, who was holding a cara, blinked in surprise, Si Si quickly walked over with great joy.
"Do you need to snap a couple of photos for you too?"
"Forget the photos for now, big news! Co with !" Si Si excitedly grabbed her arm and led her towards the direction of the cabin.
By the ti Sesa Paste regained her senses, Si Si had already pulled her into the cabin, where at at and Tail were also yawning.
Seeing that everyone was gathered, Sesa Paste who sat down after pulling out a chair couldn’t help but ask curiously.
"What’s so official?"
Si Si took a deep breath, scanned the friends around her, and said excitedly,
"Last night, when I logged off, I received an email from the planners behind the ga!"
Tail, having never seen Si Si lose her composure, swallowed.
"What did the email say?"
"New Map Test Invitation!" Si Si said trembling with excitent, "I got a 14-day experience activation code for the manager authority of Shelter No. 70! That shelter is located not far from us in the southern sea area, and it’s underwater!!"
The two people and one bear were first stunned, then almost in unison, erupted into an unbelievable shout,
"Activation code?!"
"An underwater shelter?!"
"Giao!"
Suddenly thinking of sothing, Tail propped his hands on the table, and sprang to his feet.
"Wait, that’s weird, why did Si Si receive the activation code!"
Sesa Paste thought earnestly for a mont.
"Umm, maybe... Chu Guang thought Si Si might be a bit more reliable?"
Tail: "Damn, isn’t Tail reliable enough!"
Sesa Paste: "Huh? No, of course, Tail is very reliable too."
at mountain big stead bun pressed his palms together, rubbed them, and made a praying gesture with a devout face.
"It seems that doing good deeds usually does have its benefits, Amitabha."
Tail, now calm, suddenly rested his finger on his chin, muttering seriously.
"Understood, that’s it... It looks like Si Si made a huge sacrifice without our knowledge, Tail should be nicer to her these days."
at at also stretched out his bear paw and patted Si Si on the head.
"Not easy at all, Amitabha."
Watching the noisy cabin, Si Si, whose head was being rubbed by at at, said with a wry smile,
"What are you guys talking about? I don’t understand a word... Okay, Ah Wei, let’s not fret over who got the activation code, such a trivial matter. Once we are in the shelter, everyone will have a share. Let’s discuss our next course of action instead, should we continue as planned towards Ideal City, or—"
"Is there even a need to discuss?" Tail looked at Si Si in amazent, "Of course, head straight for the new map! Is there any other option?"
at at also excitedly raised his paw.
"Absolutely! I vote for the shelter!"
" 1!"
With cat ears swaying left and right, Sesa Paste with her hands on her cheeks, showed a longing expression on her face.
"An underwater shelter, huh? I really want to see what it looks like... Speaking of which, isn’t there a survivor settlent nearby? Maybe they can take in the survivors on the ship, or at the very least, we should be able to buy the supplies we need."
Seeing that the group had quickly reached a consensus, Si Si paused.
"Is that decided then?"
"Why not?" Ah Wei looked at her strangely. "We don’t have a specific place we need to go, right?"
That sentence made a lot of sense.
Si Si couldn’t think of a counterargunt for a mont.
Sesa Paste and at at exchanged glances and said with a smile,
"Then it’s decided, just like that!"
...
Captain Archim never would have imagined that the so-called big fish in his eyes hadn’t swum towards his palm at all but had headed straight east towards the Southern Sea Area instead.
This was destined to be a futile wait.
Watching the ships coming and going in front of Silver Moon Bay, Captain Archim was itching with irritation but powerless, venting his frustrations on the inferior clan sailors.
The lawmakers and nobles of Silver Moon Bay trembled as they watched the two warships moored at their doorstep.
Though their shore cannons could sink the two warships in an instant, the massive Xilan Empire lay only a mountain away.
For those living in the corner of the desert, the empire, boasting a population of over a hundred million and known as "Thousand Tribes and Thousand Gods," posed a more direct threat than any Army.
Moreover, there were rumors that the Xilan Dynasty, which had recently unified the Poluo Province, was a puppet propped up by the Weilante People, with the Ripper Rifle and 100mm cannons of the Imperial Army as compelling evidence of this.
However, there were also claims that the Army wasn’t very interested in Poluo Province, rely so borderland lords were trading with the so-called Xilan Dynasty, exchanging dinar for exotic beauties and young, strong slave labor.
Regardless, the Xilan Empire was an undeniable force to be reckoned with for the Cal Hump Kingdom.
The twelve city-states had, for once, reached consensus on an issue; both the new followers of Silver Moon Sect and the conservatives clinging to old traditions agreed they needed to seek help from an alliance to the east.
At this mont, Captain Archim was unaware that his rash decision for a ransom and a group of slaves would bring substantial potential trouble for his governor and His Majesty.
Had he known the trouble it would cause, perhaps he would have restrained his greed.
But that was a matter for later...
As Captain Archim helplessly vented his rage on the inferior clan sailors, the distant City of Dawn was enjoying a serene calm.
The three-day celebration had just concluded, leaving people returning to their posts with a lingering joy and hopeful anticipation for a brighter future.
A lot had happened in those three days.
Firstly, official diplomatic relations were established between the Alliance and over fifty survivor settlents involved in trade with the Wasteland.
This included Old Neighbors like Garbage City, harboring suspicions towards the Alliance, and distant locales like Dam City in Yue Ma Province, even the Free State to the north.
Next, significant progress was made in negotiations with the cross-regional cooperation organization, with the Academy showing an openness to limited collaboration with corporations.
Which was, perhaps, the first ti in nearly half a century.
Regarding the naming of the cross-regional cooperation organization, the corporations and Academy suggested letting the Alliance decide, easing explanations to each of their constituencies.
Chu Guang, unsure of what to na it, simply conducted a poll on the Forum, resulting in the unexpected choice of "Sticky Nation."
Although he marveled at their ingenuity, Chu Guang ultimately discarded this popular choice for a more apt "Mucor Research Community," which he reported upward.
The Academy was quite satisfied with this na; the corporations had no objections, hence the na of the cross-regional cooperation entity was settled.
Furthermore, news ca from Mayor Teresa that a ssenger from Weilante had arrived at Pioneer City, applying to join the cross-regional cooperation organization.
While Chu Guang had considered this possibility, he was surprised by the Weilante People’s swift action.
Yet, Chu Guang wasn’t concerned and allowed the ssenger to travel by airship to the City of Dawn to discuss the matter.
The disputes between the Alliance and the Army were internal affairs of human civilization, whereas the "mutated sli fungus" represented a common challenge.
Chu Guang was clear about the priorities.
As long as the Alliance maintained a dominant position ensuring Xiaoyu’s control over various "sub-bases," he didn’t mind cooperating on the "mutated sli fungus" issue, even if future conflicts might likely erupt with the other party.
Though Chu Guang felt indifferent, both the Academy and corporations showed certain reservations about the arrival of the Army.
Yang Kai ntioned needing to consult the Chief Technical Officer while Luo Yong stated he would need to ask other mbers of the board.
Chu Guang understood this and stated that if either the corporations or the Academy opposed the new mber, the Sticky Community would not accept them.
This would also set the standard for admitting new mbers to the Sticky Community in the future.
With the backstage work of the celebration finally wrapped up, it was now ti for the etings with the Army’s ssenger and to finalize the detailed terms of cooperation through lengthy negotiations.
As the only person who hadn’t rested during these three days, Chu Guang finally had so ti to take a few days off...
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