Chapter 156 - 123: Everything Moves Forward (Part 2)

But where does this building come from...

Look at this ground and wall of unknown material, this thing has clearly been broken for several eras...

Or rather, everything brought by Lord Lin Lan comes from the oldest unknown epoch.

"Lord Lin Lan..."

Old Dean’s tone was somewhat hesitant: "To be cautious, should we put this building aside for a while..."

"Don’t worry, Dean, these buildings were personally chosen by me, absolutely guaranteed quality!"

Lin Lan noticed the worry in the fat merchant’s eyes, and took the initiative to pat Old Dean on the shoulder: "Besides, the academy and hospital have been used for a long time with no issues at all."

Actually, I’m not talking about quality issues...

Old Dean felt embarrassed, with an appearance as if he wanted to say something but held back, and finally nodded helplessly.

Charles seemed indifferent.

After all, he had long firmly believed in his conviction to go all the way in the Apocalypse Ark.

Considering the pros and cons was never his way, in a sense, Charles was no different from that wealthy man worshipping the giant flesh tree...

Since the Ark Kingdom could fulfill his life’s ambitions, he didn’t mind giving everything to the Ark.

Watching Old Dean’s changing expressions, Charles chuckled silently. The days the fat merchant spent on the Ark weren’t long, so he might not yet understand what kind of existence Lord Lin Lan was.

Ever since witnessing the entire process of the Abyssal Calamity spreading and then declining, put simply, Charles had practically assumed that Lord Lin Lan was something filthy crawling out of the deep sea.

And Lord Lin Lan was even more sinister than those filthy things that only knew how to use underhanded tricks, focused on harming the innocent...

Just like those two Chaos Pirates, Charles had also gotten involved with Lin Lan.

Everyone was a lunatic pursuing the future and never looking back.

"Old friend, my opinion is just the opposite of yours."

Charles squinted his eyes, following the idea that ’Lord Lin Lan is a huge deep-sea evil entity’, he had discovered the real advantage of this room.

He asserted confidently: "There’s nowhere safer than here!"

Considering quality, without a doubt, this ancient century building with special material is a heavyweight fortress that is not afraid of standard cannon fire.

From a mystical perspective, as long as Lin Lan this monster exists in this world, even if this building sinks into the mysterious sea, Lord Lin Lan can salvage it!

This is the true value of Ideal City architecture! The so-called comfort is merely an extra.

Lin Lan was unaware that his image had already become something strange in the minds of his subordinates.

He wandered around, touched this and that, occasionally nodding, having a relaxed demeanor reminiscent of a retired old man inspecting a house.

Lin Lan twisted the shower knob.

Of course, there was no water flow.

However, the pipeline installation project was already scheduled, and this residential building even came with a purification function, just needing the ordinary seawater to be connected.

"Charles, Dean, each of you pick a room on the top floor."

He turned back with a smile: "Thank you both for your hard work during this period."

"Thank you for your recognition, Lord Lin Lan!"

Charles’ face immediately beamed with joy, and the Ark leader’s recognition gave him great satisfaction!

And this clean, tidy, and meaningful room also hit his aesthetic point.

Old Dean nodded complicatedly, his expression seemed to possess an awareness of ’I, this old body, must actively pave the way for old friends and young Feis’.

At this moment, Charles recalled Lord Lin Lan’s recent remarks on housing prices.

"Lord Lin Lan, I’d like to discuss future planning with you."

After hesitating for a moment, Charles finally voiced his deepest suspicion: "Could it be that you want everyone to be able to live in such a house?"

Everyone said Lord Roland was cruelly destroying the local nobility and the Royal Court to occupy an island, ultimately becoming a tyrannical king in power.

Only Charles knew the Ark leader had buried more extravagant ambitions deep inside, attempting to keep pace with Lin Lan.

"It’s not that exaggerated."

Lin Lan shook his head, chuckling: "You’ve guessed my ideas too ideally, Charles."

"My real intention is not to be blinded by short-term benefits."

He came to the window, looking at the busy figures outside, calming down his gray-haired voice:

"Exorbitant prices will indeed bring a large sum of Bright Gold Coins, but it also means we’ll abandon the majority of the Ark Kingdom citizens."

Charles furrowed his brow, while Old Dean nodded in agreement.

"After all, these houses are ultimately just small shelters."

Lin Lan continued: "There are plenty of such buildings in the Gray Realm, no need to endow them with high value and then turn them into shackles on the people."

The sunlight outside the window illuminated the gray-haired youth’s profile.

He laughed: "We must always give Ark’s citizens a goal to move forward."

Charles was thoughtful.

If it were before, he would have scoffed at Lord Lin Lan’s words. Even on the flourishing Main Island of the Alliance, most commoners were seen as crops ready for harvest in the eyes of the Chamber of Commerce.

Even if the Ark Kingdom can rely on the Sun Mine to expand in the Age of Exploration, where could the benefits come to be shared among everyone?

Gold coins will only be held by a very few, ordinary people only need to sacrifice flesh in the development of the era to maintain the most basic survival.

And at this moment, Charles vaguely captured the direction described by the Ark leader.

This was beyond ideal and ambition...

—What He wants is everything; what He wants is a world according to His heart.

This is not an easy road...

Compared to Charles’ serious contemplation, Old Dean’s expression became increasingly excited.

"Everyone’s interest in deep-sea relics is strong, if we announce the house prices are too cheap, Seagull Town will have to give up this rare business opportunity..."

With a hint of regret, Charles shook his head, extinguishing a series of speculation ideas in his mind.

"That may not necessarily be the case."

Lin Lan shifted the topic: "Of course, we cannot miss this chance to expand influence."

"Since the Alliance’s chamber of commerce has always sought to manipulate the Ark..."

He smirked, his voice turning malicious: "We must find a way to squeeze them hard!"

"Oh? Do You mean..."

Charles’ brow immediately relaxed, his eyes lit up as he instantly followed Lin Lan’s train of thought.

"It’s a simple principle."

Lin Lan stated solemnly: "To ordinary Ark Kingdom citizens, the houses aren’t expensive, but for external merchant guilds or sailors, obtaining the qualification to purchase a house is not easy."

"I understand..."

Charles was deep in thought: "Building the opportunity for development based on rules..."

"Lord Lin Lan is correct, relying on short-term profits in front of those Demon-formed major chambers of commerce is unreliable."

Old Dean then joined the conversation: "Even if the newborn Ark Kingdom is quite weak, we must strive to pursue and maintain an ’equal’ trade relationship with the Alliance."

Relying on a ’cooperation letter’ to beg favors, attempting to earn money from the shrewd to the bones Demon people is absolutely unrealistic.

Blindly pursuing money, the Ark will only fall into the traps they meticulously laid.

As an old sailor who has spent half a life on the sea, Old Dean has already witnessed too many examples.

The Small Islands near White Oak Main Island and Star Ladder Main Island, which accepted the letters, have become factories and money bags of the Alliance, ultimately at the mercy of those major chambers.

"We must stand tall and tell those Alliance chambers that the Ark is not a target to be easily harvested."

Lin Lan patted Charles’ shoulder, his tone solemn: "This is the direction you should exercise."