Chapter 86

Afternoon.

On the battlements of Crescent Castle, Luosen stood there again, and this time Selena also came.

The two stood side by side, together gazing at the river valley plain west of Crescent City.

There, an endless stream of transport convoys stretched out of sight.

First came smuggling by merchant Aji of High Mountain County, then a large batch of maritime supplies from Muradi, together bringing in as much as fifteen thousand tons of grain.

The island has only over sixty-six thousand people.

Even if the island itself grew no grain, estimating a yearly consumption of 200 kilograms per person, this supply would feed the islanders for more than a year.

Moreover, the small island itself produces grain.

Winter wheat planted in the fields, fish caught from rivers and nearby seas, seaweed, shells, wild game from the forests, and assorted local products from scattered cultivation—all together barely let the islanders eat their fill.

Food is the people's heaven.

If people aren't hungry, their hearts are steady; with steady hearts, no matter how Luosen tosses and turns, the island will come to no great harm.

Besides grain, other supplies total over four thousand tons.

Not only did it greatly make up for previous consumption, it also added a batch of materials for building a navy.

Without a navy, the island is like a man without toys in his pants—utterly unacceptable.

We must have a navy, and we must organize it as soon as possible, make it as strong as we can; in the short term, at least achieve near‑shore denial.

Otherwise, all the wealth accumulated on the island would be nothing more than a temporary money bag stored by the strong.

Of course, this is extremely, extremely difficult, especially because it is expensive.

According to Luosen, the most advanced iron‑clad rune warship on White Continent, also called the Fearless Warship, weighs 2,000 tons and costs at least 500,000 Ogre per ship.

This is still just a ship.

Such an expensive item—let alone Luosen now, even the Earl of Shire County wouldn't dare imagine.

Yet, starting from the ground up, no matter how hard, we will find a way to build a navy.

On the guard wall, the two stared for a while, and Selena whispered, "The island summit is convening tomorrow; a group of brave Knights heard you will no longer appoint town lords and will likely be disappointed."

The island has five towns, and the five town lords and their core Knights were all captured at the banks of the Cold Water River.

However, according to island tradition, the five towns always require a lord, so the high‑ranking, sufficiently qualified Crescent Knights naturally set their sights on the Knight's investiture.

Now that Luosen says he won't appoint, those with good temper feel disappointed, while those with bad temper will secretly curse.

This is human nature.

But the Knights will not rebel because of it.

Because it's merely an unfulfilled expectation, not a deprivation of something already possessed; the former provokes far less resistance than the latter.

Luosen could hear the worry in Selena's words.

Because she grew up under the traditional feudal system; although she supports Luosen's new policies, the sudden change leaves her feeling insecure.

People always feel comfortable in familiar things and surroundings, while subconsciously resisting wholly unfamiliar things.

This is human nature.

He smiled, "Thank you, madam, for the reminder; I will be very careful."

These days he hasn't been idle; he has summoned each high‑reputation, senior, and capable Knight for individual talks, and has long since taken control of the situation.

Seeing his face as calmly indifferent as always, Selena found familiar reassurance and relaxed.

Amid a bustling, fulfilling joy, the island quietly passed the night.

The next morning, at dawn, the island's new policy proclamation assembly officially convened!

The venue was Crescent Castle.

The main hall was in the Lord's Longhouse; over three hundred notable figures from White Sturgeon Island attended, filling almost the entire second tier of the hall.

This group included Crescent Knights, mages from the Magic Method Center, prominent island gentry, elders of the Igo tribe, and so on.

The commander of the Flame Brigade, Yopu, and several deputy commanders were also present.

In total only four people, hardly noticeable; they came of their own accord, merely to fulfill their hired contract and put on a show.

The first tier of the hall, opening onto the courtyard outside, served as the civilian audience seats.

The invitees were outstanding civilians from all walks of life on White Sturgeon Island.

Included honest small merchants, exceptionally skilled artisans, farmers with outstanding cultivation abilities, and anyone with some influence in the countryside.

The group numbered a full thousand.

It was their first time receiving such a summit invitation.

Although merely observers, witnessing the island's highest authority in action up close made every invitee unusually excited.

In a corner of the courtyard outside the hall, Muradi, Maxime, and his attendant were also present.

The three wore hats, casual clothes, and kept low profiles.

Watching the boiling crowd ahead, Maxime whispered, "If the courtyard weren't so narrow, I doubt the Baron would have invited everyone on the island."

Muradi shrugged, "The Baron could indeed do such a thing, because he always has many wild ideas."

Maxime chuckled lowly, "Indeed, they're wild ideas, but I'm afraid they'll end without a proper conclusion."

The attendant beside him added, "Young master is right; look at these civilians—most aren't here to attend, but to gawk."

At that moment, a clear yet solemn young woman's voice rang out from the hall.

"Please welcome Lord Luosen and Lady Dawn Princess to take their seats."

The spacious doors of the Longhouse opened, the interior lit by countless Shushu Deng, bathing the hall in daylight; through the dense sea of heads, Muradi and the two others clearly saw the Baron and his wife ascend to the seats.

Glancing, Muradi whispered, "He looks far more imposing now."

A month ago he was just a tall, outstanding youth, but now, looking at him, Muradi feels a heavy weight in his heart, a pressure that cannot be ignored.

This is a trait possessed only by lords who wield great control over their territories.

Because on this territory, he is the sole ruler, and his will can easily decide the fate of anyone on this land.

Knight Maksim also felt it, and he whispered: "Looking at it, it's a bit like Aaron's Xiong Shi Wang, oh no, compared to Xiong Shi Wang it has more of a mage's elegance and less of a warrior's savagery. It seems to be a little deeper."

Xiong Shi Wang is another name for King Dange; no matter how everyone criticizes his bad habits, Dange is indeed the most powerful king in the Natural Alliance.

Attendant Ade grinned: "Young master, this is just a small island baron, with only tens of thousands of subjects; how can it compare to a king with over a hundred million subjects?"

Knight Maksim smiled faintly: "Whether it can compare will be known from the content of the new policies he later announces."

Ade blinked: "No matter how you toss a small island, it's still a small island. The new policy isn't a divine edict; can it even crown him?"

Besides, nowadays even a divine edict isn't effective.

Knight Maksim whispered: "Tall trees under the heavens all grow from tiny seeds. The baron was originally just a seed of a small shrub, but he married the princess."

Having said that, he fell silent and raised his hand to stop the attendant's words: "Continue reading on, Ade."

At this moment, the tall female warrior beside the Baron shouted again: "By the honor bestowed by the lord, I declare that the first Citizen Assembly of White Sturgeon Island is now officially open."

"The first step of the assembly, promulgate the new policy!"

The female warrior's voice was young yet resonant, with clear pronunciation and tone, and under the aid of spiritual magic, it clearly reached the ears of every participant.

"The Island New Policy, formally titled the Island Citizen Participation System."

"Citizens refer to every individual residing on White Sturgeon Island, Shengan Island, Hank Island, and within the triangular sea area inside the three-island connection, who has been recognized by the lord as having a legitimate identity."

These words sound somewhat complex, the meaning is clear, but the complexity mainly lies in the series of place names.

There are many more places compared to White Sturgeon Island.

Having said that, the female warrior scanned the crowd and then spoke loudly again.

"Every island citizen will possess five fundamental rights."

"These are the right to life, property rights, protection rights, education rights, and most importantly, the right to participate in governance!"

This statement drew much feedback, but because the right to participate in governance had not been explained in detail, although the people were concerned, they didn't know where to begin discussing it.

The female warrior continued.

"Every citizen also has four fundamental duties."

"They are paying taxes, obeying the law, safeguarding the island's public interests, and fulfilling military service."

Since it directly concerns everyone's personal interests, the island residents attending the meeting perked up their ears to listen attentively, and whispered discussions among themselves.

"Seems like there isn't any special change compared to before?"

"Rights exceed duties by one item; the lord is truly benevolent."

"Who knows how significant the right to participate in governance is?"

The female warrior waited a moment, then emphasized her tone and spoke loudly: "Now, please invite the lord to speak."

Luosen, who had been sitting all along, stood up.

All the islanders also instinctively perked up their ears.

Luosen's gaze swept over the crowd, and he spoke in a deep, solemn tone:

"I know that everyone here is curious about the right to participate in governance, also confused, not knowing what these three words mean."

"I will explain it to you later, but first I want to tell you some things."

After everyone focused, Luosen spoke again.

"I want to tell you that the world we live in is rapidly advancing, and the power of the nations beyond the island is rising at an astonishing speed."

"To meet this challenge, we must make profound changes, strengthen our own power, to resist those strong enemies attempting to invade the island."

"Otherwise, the next ones to land on the island will not be me, the son of the old lord returning from Dawn City, but brutal bandits coming to enslave the island, even to destroy it!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the enlightened people of the island all felt a chill run through their bodies.

Yes, this landing is the son of the Old Baron; although he possesses great power capable of destroying everything, he has always maintained the utmost restraint.

But this is because Luosen is everyone's lord.

But if it weren't so? Then the island would be utterly destroyed, and everyone would become slaves of the invaders, enslaved to death!

For a moment, many people broke out in cold sweat on their backs.

From the expressions of the crowd, Luosen knew his words had struck a chord in their hearts.

"We must change, change quickly, and everyone must change!"

"You must change!"

"As the lord, I too must change!"

"The so-called right of island citizens to participate in governance means that the numerous military, political, business, and many other new fields that will emerge on the island will all be open to island citizens!"

"As long as an island citizen demonstrates sufficient ability, regardless of your background or gender, you can obtain a position matching that ability."

"Even if that position is Chief of Administration, New Moon Knight Commander, or even the mayor of a small town!"

After the last sentence was spoken, all the islanders present instantly erupted in an uproar.

The first two positions are fine; they are ministers serving the lord, and with effort plus some luck, ordinary people can barely manage to attain them.

But the five great towns were originally fiefs of knight lords, hereditary through generations, having nothing to do with ordinary people; now they are being offered for all island residents to compete for! The value of the citizen participation right has instantly surged to an astonishing degree.

This change is indeed astonishingly great, even shocking to the world and contrary to convention.

If this had happened before, the island's knights would certainly have risen in opposition, quickly helping the lord correct this absurd mistake.

But the knights of White Sturgeon Island were all wiped out.

The interest groups attached to the knights were also completely purged.

Moreover, due to the harsh survival environment, the islanders' innate belief that "ability makes one king" is much stronger than that of people in other regions.

Without ability, one will truly die.

Therefore, Luosen saying that the capable should serve as town mayor fits perfectly with the islanders' thinking.

Those capable people, if they don't step forward to lead the masses ahead, who would lead? Would we entrust the leadership to fools like Mubaha Te and Alais?! Thus, whether it's the New Moon Knights, elites from all sectors of society, or even the Forest Spirit walking out of the mountains, after careful consideration, they all feel the lord's idea is quite reliable.

This is what the lord of White Sturgeon Island should do! Consequently, the crowd erupted in loud cheers, with the ordinary people listening outside being the most excited.

The cheering was so loud it nearly lifted the roof of the lord's longhouse.

Of course, there were also calm onlookers.

Attendant Ade whispered, "I thought it was some great new policy, but this is just a copy of our national reform."

Levinde's national reform began ten years ago.

Muradi lightly shook his head: "No, not really the same."

Knight Maxim also nodded: "Indeed, not the same."

"Where is it different?"

Maxim said: "He increased educational rights. Moreover, the island's upper nobility were all slaughtered. Thus, this could be the most thorough reform carried out on the White Continent."

Levinde's national reform did have some effects.

The problem is that the noble class still firmly grips the kingdom's lifelines and channels of advancement, so the so-called national reform is merely a splendid fireworks display.

Speaking of which, he too is of the noble class, even the upper stratum of it, and he saw many of the nation's ills, but alas........ Attendant Ade muttered, "It's not completely thorough either, the Baron's family is still around."

Maxim's ears are sharp; hearing this, he gave a light smile.

Pursuing absolute perfection in the real world is impossible. The Baron is the island's most indispensable leader; with him comes everything else, without him this place would just be a remote little island.

Attendant Ade was convinced: "The young master is right."

At this moment, the Baron spoke again: "After days of discussion, we have introduced a new island governance system of the Three Treasuries, Six Ministries, and Twelve Garrisons."

Next, we begin appointing the heads of all the new departments on the island.

(End of chapter)