Chapter 259: Chapter 186: Bringing Business to the Empire

Today is a day of enormous significance for the Ark Kingdom.

Lin Lan deliberately waited for the time when all the Ark citizens had enough to eat to establish the Ark’s ’Victory Day’ in the mid-spring.

The development of Ark Kingdom is indeed very rapid, but this means everyone is on edge, never daring to relax. Yet on this day, the colossal machine of the Ark took a rare brief rest.

Children dressed in brand-new clothes shouted and played in the streets, and many citizens gathered in the plaza in front of the administrative building.

"...From the Lion Heart Blood Plague to the Alliance Legion, we have overcome challenges one after another!"

Chief editor Sean and a group of young people were on the podium, speaking passionately: "Under Lord Lin Lan’s watchful eyes! We are destined to achieve victory after victory!"

Although Sean’s speech recounted experiences that the citizens personally went through, people loved to hear it. After all, these inspiring words were a testament to the Lord’s approval of their lives.

Lin Lan stood beside Sean, smiling as he looked at the citizens below.

The streets and alleys were crowded with foreigners who came to witness Victory Day, with many already raising alchemical cameras manufactured by the Alliance, capturing the scene from all angles.

This firsthand information could be sold for money!

Now, kings of various islands showed immense interest in the Ark Kingdom, known for its resistance against celestial calamities.

However, on the sea, only the Southern Alliance had the fastest message delivery, though under the deliberate vilification of the Alliance press, the Ark Kingdom and Lord Lin Lan had been blackened beyond recognition.

There’s every sort of bizarre news out on the sea, and many foreigners were forced to come with a mindset prepared for hardship. Yet, the prosperity of the Ark Kingdom greatly surprised these foreign visitors.

Lin Lan looked at the citizens below and stepped forward.

A multitude of admiring eyes gazed upward at the young figure on stage.

Lin Lan didn’t bother with unnecessary words or boast about his achievements; he habitually raised his right fist above his head.

"I declare that the Ark’s Victory Day will become the most important milestone in our history."

He maintained a gentle smile, yet his words carried an undeniable tone: "Ladies and gentlemen, let’s celebrate the beautiful future together! Ark’s Victory Day forever belongs to you!"

"Long live the Ark Kingdom!!"

"Long live Lord Lin Lan!!"

With a chorus of cheers like mountains and seas, Ark’s Victory Day officially commenced!

Lin, with a flushed face, looked at the figure on stage, while the old Hunter beside her supported his daughter, the old man looking up with slightly moist eyes.

The people finally awaited a wise and great leader.

Just moments ago, each injured person received a medal of honor personally awarded by the leader. From now on, they no longer lived in fear, facing arbitrary abandonment.

The hopeful and cheerful faces always touched hearts.

The central shopping street in the city was equally bustling.

To celebrate the rebirth of the people, the leader specially granted most public employees a full two-day holiday. Since the Blood Plague Curse was officially eradicated from Ark Island, Lin Lan gradually lifted the ban on alcohol.

To prevent anyone causing trouble in the streets after drinking too much, Ed enhanced the patrolling efforts of the Sun Warriors.

The warriors had no so-called ’holidays’; from the moment they donned the Ash Soil armor, they were destined to devote everything to the order of the Ark Kingdom.

On this crucial day, they had to even more calmly adhere to their duties.

The two commercial managers of the Ark sat in the tavern managed by the old butler, Charles took a sip of the long-missed drink and sighed in relief.

He looked at the scene outside the tavern.

Charles vividly remembered that when he first arrived in Seagull City, it was merely a rudimentary, shabby town. People were pale and thin, living harsh lives under the oppression of the Lion Heart noble.

In less than half a year, transforming from the simplest wooden camp to a beautiful city of soaring towers, Lord Lin Lan practically moved a brand-new civilization onto this barren land.

This pace really was somewhat exaggerated.

"Old friend, how much of our art collection is left?"

Charles looked at the large and small stalls outside the window, asking his old friend across from him.

"There’s only some useless Ideal City toy cars left."

Old Dean clinked glasses with him and sighed: "Now most of the newly brought-out art collection is piled in Lady Eleanor’s room, where no one is allowed to touch it."

Charles merely smiled helplessly.

Actually, those collections also rightly belonged to that Doragon person; both merchants wholeheartedly acknowledged this, considering the Black-winged Calamity Master’s massive contribution to the Ark Kingdom.

"By the way, I remember you bragged to me before about the preciousness of ’Merfolk Tears’."

Old Dean chuckled suddenly: "Back then, you were so enamored with these ’art collections’."

"Can you not bring this up?"

Charles’s face darkened, glaring at his old friend, slightly showing signs of embarrassment: "Now I know that thing was just a battery!"

He even used the Molecular Reconstructor as a ’magical melting furnace’ and poured magic potion inside to make cookie weapons... 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Now thinking about it, it feels so embarrassing...

This incident was entirely Lord Lin Lan’s fault, as he kept persuading him back then, leading to Old Dean catching this teasing handle...

However, thick skin had always been Charles’s strong suit; this matter was laughed off by the old friend, and it passed. Besides, he understood Lord Lin Lan’s actions back then.

If he were in that position, he would have persuaded as well. Now that he thinks about it, Lord Lin Lan was actually quite merciful then...

With his perspective broadened by the Ark Leader, Charles now stood at a high vantage point and saw a new landscape.

"Now the White Oak Main Island is basically completely severed from us in trade relations. We are currently only able to connect with the Fortress Main Island."

Charles continued to speak in a conversational tone: "But Fortress Main Island is really... just too poor..."

Old Dean nodded.

Currently, all resources of Fortress Main Island are piled around the forbidden navigation line by the Fortress Governor. They probably endure more celestial calamity pressure than Ark Kingdom.

They’re all in rough conditions; Ark Kingdom’s development has just started and can’t help that barely ’clean’ alliance main island for now.

"We can’t always deal with these small island countries, old friend."

Charles just tasted the drink before setting down the glass, needing to keep a constantly clear mind: "As managers, Ark can’t always rely on Lord Lin Lan’s arrangements; we have to actively negotiate with the Empire’s guests."

Old Dean paused: "Are you saying you plan to take business to the Empire?"

"Why not?"

Charles looked at the fledgling shipyard on the city’s edge: "I believe our imperial friends still need our Ash Soil resources."

He stood up, smiling slyly: "We will let the sun’s rays illuminate the vast land covered by snow."