Chapter 342: Returning to Daxia Territory

"Tower Spirit, report the energy reserve status of the Tower of Time!"

"Agent Xia Duo, current energy reserves are insufficient: Wind Elemental Pool 7%, Water Elemental Pool 10%, Earth Elemental Pool 9%, Fire Elemental Pool 5%, Positive Energy Pool 3%, Negative Energy Pool 3%."

After capturing Aquilain, the Tower of Time had already begun to restore normal operations. Although energy reserves were still insufficient, they were indeed growing steadily, though the rate of increase was somewhat slow.

And as the various past consumptions of the Tower of Time were restored, it was foreseeable that this growth rate would slow down even further.

The greatest consumption among these was countering the external Magic Net riots; as long as this portion was reduced, the energy reserve growth rate would be greatly increased.

The Savile Territory, Daxia Territory, and even all the members of the Tower of Time combined, plus various backgrounds and backers, might not necessarily be more intimidating than the Tower of Time itself.

Thinking of this, Xia Duo knew what needed to be done right now; he immediately left the Tower of Time and arrived at Savile Town.

At this time, the commoners in Savile Town were not aware of the predicament the Tower of Time was facing. For them, perhaps the only discomfort was that the departure of the Tower of Time meant they could no longer see the Timing Rune.

……

Town Hall.

Xia Duo found Town Mayor Sain and proposed to conscript another batch of territory residents to go to Daxia Territory to dig a river channel. That river would become an Elemental Channel, related to the riot state of the Magic Net.

Once connected, it would weaken the Magic Net riot state in the Mythallar Ruins, indirectly increasing the energy reserves of the Tower of Time.

Previously, Niya had conscripted 50 river workers. Although this river was not long—just a little over one li—because it was in the forest, trees, stones, and such needed to be cleared before digging the river, so this many people were clearly not enough.

Perhaps Niya needed to consider the actual situation of the territory before, but a few days ago, Xia Duo had already called a halt to the expansion of the Savile Territory. It was only August now, and there was still some time before the autumn harvest and autumn planting.

The manpower was just about sufficient.

"How many people does the Lord need?" Sain asked.

Xia Duo had considered this question when he came, so he said without hesitation: "At least 500 people, the more the better."

Considering rotation for rest and potential attrition, Xia Duo had actually underestimated the number; if it were truly up to his own thoughts, he would start with a thousand people first.

But upon hearing this number from Xia Duo, Sain frowned deeply. The number five hundred did not seem large compared to the nearly one hundred thousand residents of the Savile Territory.

But it was not easy to suddenly pull out so many able-bodied men who could perform river-digging work. Especially since, due to the losses from the Orc War, the Territory Guard had replenished a batch of able-bodied men, and 200 households had been allocated to Daxia Territory.

Now there were even fewer available to be drawn.

Sain hesitated for a moment, not daring to refuse directly, and instead asked: "Lord, are women allowed?"

"Women?" Xia Duo thought for a moment and did not completely refuse. "If they are with their husbands, yes; if not, then forget it. Besides, they must be able to do the work!"

"Lord, please rest assured, I will arrange it properly; they will all be able to do the work!"

"Very good, hurry up and get it done; they will set off in these two days!"

"Yes!"

Afterward, Xia Duo inquired about new financial sources for the territory and the situation of opening roads in the Green Pearl Forest. It had only been a few days since he had arranged this, and Sain already had a preliminary plan.

There was no news from Dailike, however.

Xia Duo first listened to Sain's plan for opening roads in the Green Pearl Forest, which was standard and acceptable. Xia Duo encouraged him a bit and told him to continue perfecting it before leaving.

……

The next day, Warren, the External Affairs Director of the Tower of Time, sent word that an Envoy from the Lord of Huo Ke Territory had arrived in Savile Territory, wanting to discuss the matter of Aquilain. Xia Duo received the other party at the Tower of Time.

Huo Ke Territory wanted to take Aquilain away and could pay a certain price for it, but Xia Duo had already decided not to release the person; this fundamental issue could not be negotiated.

In the end, the Envoy from Huo Ke Territory left in anger. Xia Duo did not make things difficult for the other party; whether as a hostage or a bargaining chip, having the Arcanist Aquilain was enough.

Afterward, Huo Ke Territory never sent anyone again, and Xia Duo was happy to have the peace, busy every day according to his advancement schedule.

Three days later, Town Mayor Sain sent someone to pass on the news that the first batch of river workers had boarded the ship. Only then did Xia Duo realize that he should set off as well!

The environment of the Tower of Time was simply too comfortable, making one reluctant to leave.

……

At the port, Xia Duo waved goodbye to Aiboke, who had come to see him off, along with a group of officials from the Savile Territory, and boarded the cargo ship "Lucky Owen". Seeing this, Captain Lao Ouwen shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Set—sail—"

Some crew members retracted the gangplank, some retracted the mooring ropes, but more crew members were rowing in the hold. With the rhythmic chants of "Hu-ha," "Hu-ha," the "Lucky Owen" slowly sailed out of the port.

Following the current, they headed south all the way.

At the bow, Xia Duo temporarily deactivated the faint elemental balancing ability of the 【Crimson Shelter Robe】, and a wave of warm air rushed toward his face. He turned his head to look at the morning sun, which had just risen less than a finger's width in the east.

"Midsummer, indeed!"

Xia Duo was somewhat worried about the state of those river workers digging the river, but since this was the most suitable season for labor, he could not give up now. At most, he would do a good job with logistics to avoid accidental attrition.

The ship kept sailing, and even with a slight breeze, the heat grew heavier. Xia Duo restored the elemental balancing ability of his robe and then went into the cabin to create a few large blocks of ice to help people cool off.

Only then did he return to the captain's cabin, take out his notebook, and begin to flip through it.

……

In the afternoon, the "Lucky Owen" docked at Linshui Village in Daxia Territory.

Xia Duo noticed that this section of the river channel had been renovated. Although it had not been widened, ships could already dock. It seemed the batch of river workers who arrived earlier had repaired this place first.

There was a warning by the river. After Xia Duo went ashore, Priest Laidun was already waiting on the bank, covered in sweat.

"Lord, welcome back to the territory!"

"You've worked hard."

Laidun was somewhat moved and immediately said: "It is not hard work; this is what I should do. Every time I see order being established, I am filled with motivation!"

"Are the newly arrived residents adapting well?"

"Very well. They have meat to eat and work to do every day; this life is even better than what they had before!"

"Hmm." Xia Duo nodded with satisfaction and asked again, "By the way, how is the situation with the houses? I saw that only one new house had been built while I was on the ship?"

"Lord, that is a model house. According to your Indication, I had them prepare standard parts first, and then we will build the houses uniformly. Moreover, with that model house as a reference, ordinary people can try to build them themselves without needing help from the carpentry team."

"Then, how much material has been prepared so far?"

"Not counting the model house, there are materials for about three more houses."

Xia Duo calculated the time. It had been less than half a month since the Midsummer Festival, and this efficiency was already much higher than the previous rate of building one wooden house every seven or eight days.

Furthermore, as proficiency increases and more hands are added, the speed will become even faster; before long, all of his subjects will be able to settle down.

"Very good!"

As he spoke, Xia Duo pointed to the Lucky Owen behind him and said, "I have brought fifty river workers this time, and there will be more later. You arrange things first; I am going to take a look at the north side."

"Yes, my lord!"

Laidun responded, then called over two newly recruited Clerks to register and then arrange them according to the usual practice.