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nChapter 399: Integration of the Refugees, Graveyard, Ghost Ship

nTranslator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

nThe day after Ji Chen completed three days of continuous leveling, the fleet that was returning from Maple Harbor arrived at the port at a leisurely pace. However, they were all taken aback when they saw what looked like a combination of ruins and a construction site, interspersed with the remains of the Crown of the Ocean.

nEspecially the several steel battleships that looked fierce in terms of firepower made the dwarf Thotmudo widen his eyes.

n“Hey, kid, how did you manage to get your hands on such good ships?”

nAs soon as he disembarked, he hurriedly ran over on his short legs and asked anxiously.

n“These were confiscated from the Bass Kingdom…” Ji Chen didn’t explain much, “Let’s head back first. I’ll fill you in on what has happened these past few days on the way.”

n“Okay.” Thotmudo looked at the ruins that had yet to be cleaned up but were obviously damaged by explosives. He had a hunch about what had occurred and nodded in comprehension.

nAfter some explanations, Thotmudo finally understood the enmity between the Crown of the Ocean, the Bass Kingdom, and the Lienhardt Grand Duchy, as well as the events that had occurred a few days ago. “So, you clashed with the Bass Kingdom this time? Is there a possibility they’ll send more fleets in the future?”

nJi Chen nodded, unable to deny it.

n“Yes, this time, the surprise attack was partly due to our lack of preparedness, but it also exposed the fact that the Crown of the Ocean lacks sufficient defensive facilities.”

n“Sir Thotmudo, we might need to ask for your help in this matter.”

nThotmudo reassured him, patting his chest. “You can count on me. I’ve been busy on the way back too, getting ready with some defense installations that’ll work well for your territory.”

nJi Chen expressed his gratitude. “Thank you for that. Oh, by the way, 1 don’t know if this information will be useful to you.”

nWith that, he took out a stack of blueprints, covered in characters that resembled a mixture of text and numbers. These were another batch of support materials sent by the special envoy fleet of the Lienhardt Grand Duchy. According to the young commander’s explanation, these were data on three military alchemical technologies. According to the data on them, they could be manufactured.

nThese were not the common blueprints that could be constructed or generated with a single click. In other words, someone who understood them would be needed to manufacture them.

nClearly, as a legendary dwarf blacksmith with considerable expertise in alchemy and forging, Thotmudo was the best choice.

nThotmudo took a look at the blueprints and quickly gave a definite answer, “No problem, I completely understand this level of technology, and I can produce it for you soon.”

n“However, you’ll need to provide me with a group of apprentices to assist me, or else it would be too slow with just me working.”

nJi Chen readily agreed, “No problem, 1’11 have Wilus select fifty apprentices to send over.”

n“If you have any specific requirements, you can directly discuss them with him, and 1’11 do my best to meet your needs.”

nThotmudo was very satisfied with Ji Chen’s attitude towards him, which made him feel that this place was indeed a good one.

n“Kid, you’ve earned the favor of the great legendary dwarf blacksmith Thotmudo!”

nThe return of the fleet brought nearly three thousand refugees who were willing to come to the Crown of the Ocean. Like the residents who had come here before, they felt unfamiliar and uneasy about this land.

nAs usual, Ji Chen gave them a speech to initially calm their emotions. He then had Wilus arrange their housing and assign them jobs.

nAfter multiple waves of population influx, the Crown of the Ocean had gained quite a bit of experience in pacifying refugees.

nAllocating housing, providing food and clothing, assigning work, holding regular feasts, organizing lectures, and so on – these were all effective means of pacification. They not only helped the newcomers alleviate their anxiety and integrate into the life of the territory but also quickly turned them into a labor force.

nInside the Lord’s Castle.

nJi Chen stood by the window, gazing at the undulating sea in the distance, with a hint of worry on his face.

nWhen he returned from the Northern Continent, he had sent Benbo with some Dragon Blood Murlocs to investigate the Mystic Realm Gate located in the middle of the ocean.

nHowever, it had been seven or eight days, and they had not returned yet. This made him suspect that there might have been an accident on the way.

nHowever, when he checked the territory panel, it showed that Benbo had not died. Otherwise, he would have already set out for the Mystic Realm Gate.

n“I’ll give it another two days. If Benbo hasn’t returned by then, I’ll depart immediately,” Ji Chen thought to himself.

nThe return of the fleet didn’t bring much turbulence to the Crown of the Ocean. This was because, except for a small number of native residents, most of the Crown of the Ocean’s population had come from the outside world, mainly as refugees.

nSince most of the residents in the Crown of the Ocean had come from the outside, there was little reason for them to reject newcomers. Therefore, the majority of the residents welcomed the new arrivals to the territory.

nAs a result, this group of refugees, equivalent in number to the original residents, quickly integrated into the Crown of the Ocean, providing significant assistance in the post-war reconstruction efforts.

nIn less than a week, new houses sprouted up rapidly, and the roads damaged by artillery fire were repaired and even expanded.

nThe bodies and wreckage floating near the coast were collected, and the chaotic harbor returned to normal operation.

nUnder Ji Chen’s orders, a large cemetery called the Heroic Cemetery was established based on the burial grounds of the fallen half-orc warriors. This cemetery was designated for burying soldiers who had died in battle.

nJi Chen believed that this was an excellent way to foster cohesion within the territory.

nAfter all, besides recruiting various military units, such as lizardmen, kobolds, and half-orcs, the Crown of the Ocean had received invaluable contributions from these non-human races, and he couldn’t overlook their contributions..

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