Chapter 95: This Island Is Huge!

Only now did Gervas realize he had underestimated the power of Flame Triple Layer.

That target was made of tree stumps thick enough for two men to embrace, combined with leather armor.

Though worn, the leather armor's defense was still considerable.

Combined, the two had once been impossible for Gervas to sever with a single sword strike.

Yet under the power of Flame Triple Layer, he cut through it effortlessly, as if slicing tofu.

It was easy to imagine: if Gervas used Flame Triple Layer in battle, he would be utterly overpowered.

"No wonder Duke Radiant boasted so proudly that he accomplished many level-skipping victories with Flame Triple Layer!"

"I've only trained the first layer—and already I could likely defeat most opponents of my own rank!"

"If I master the next two layers, level-skipping kills might truly become effortless!"

Gervas's eyes gleamed with determination; he dared not delay, and while the potion's effect still lingered, he pressed on to train the second layer.

Of course, the second layer of Flame Triple Layer was far harder to master, requiring passage through many more minor qi channels.

By the time the Blood Fruit's effect faded, Gervas had only reached halfway through the second layer.

"What a pity!" Gervas sighed in regret.

Yet he had already gained a tremendous advantage!

Halfway through the second layer would normally take three to five months to achieve—yet he had done it in just one hour.

……

【Ding, daily intelligence system has refreshed…】

【Intelligence One: At the northernmost edge of Stormhold, seventy li from the coast, lies an island roughly one-quarter the size of Stormhold.】

【The island is densely vegetated, and more remarkably, it hosts a plant rare on the continent: sugarcane.】

【Intelligence Two: Refugees are a universal phenomenon across all kingdoms, especially near borders.】

Thus, refugees are not only found in the Chaos Wastes, but also on the open sea.】

【On an island fifty li off the southernmost coast of Count Kenneth's domain, over three hundred refugees reside.】

【Among them are several craftsmen, including shipwrights, carpenters, jewelers, and navigators.】

【However, they are deeply hostile to outsiders—approaching them recklessly could provoke an attack!】

【Intelligence Three: The Wagga fish-man you previously rescued has found his tribe—he is the son of the Buwa fish-man chieftain.】

【Upon learning his son was saved by you, the Buwa chieftain is deeply grateful and will bring a large quantity of seafood to Stormhold to thank you.】

【Intelligence Four: This afternoon, a group of over a hundred goblins will raid Stormhold.】

【They are a hunting squad from the Claw tribe; having failed to hunt successfully in the Wastes, they plan to capture some unguarded two-legs in Stormhold.】

【In their eyes, Stormhold is a weak two-legs territory!】

【Intelligence Five: Your father, after over a week of travel, will arrive at Stormhold at dusk.】

【Coincidentally, Count Violet will also arrive at Stormhold around dusk.】

【Intelligence Six: The Beckert family became one of the few count families on the border because a rich iron deposit was discovered on their land.】

【After forty years of mining, the Beckert family's iron deposit appears nearly exhausted.】

【This troubles and grieves Count Beckert deeply, as it means the most stable income his family has enjoyed for decades will vanish.】

【Still unwilling to surrender, Count Beckert has issued a mobilization order, commanding all miners to burrow underground and frantically dig for any possible new veins.】

Time slipped by in a matter of days.

These past days, Stormhold had been developing at high speed.

Under the efforts of the vassals and craftsmen, houses rose one by one from the ground.

Especially the wooden houses—there was no great technical skill required; with a steady supply of materials, they could be built rapidly.

Stone houses, however, were slightly more troublesome, requiring the shaping of stones.

This was the most time-consuming step: using only the most primitive hammers and tongs to chip each stone into the desired square shape.

Of course, Gervas only built stone houses as a side project; his main focus remained on wooden houses.

Additionally, new farmland reclamation was underway in full swing, with over one hundred and fifty mu already cleared.

By this winter, Stormhold would likely reclaim three thousand mu of farmland—double the original amount.

At that point, the population it could support would double… no, that was without bird droppings or Druids.

With Druids and fertilization, crop yields could increase by at least seven to eight times.

Thus, next year Gervas could support at least eight times his current population—over sixteen thousand people.

That was the normal population of a baronial domain.

Two thousand people? That was fewer than a small town in the kingdom's heartland.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Waves churned.

"Huh, feels softer today."

"Does it, my lord?" Carolin turned, puzzled.

"Must be my imagination," Gervas shook his head.

Carolin the maid nodded and carried the washbasin out of the bedroom.

Instantly in the corridor, her cheeks flushed red, a hint of annoyance crossing her face.

"Fool, I deliberately wore one less garment today—didn't you notice?"

Notice?

"The waves are clearly more turbulent today—I couldn't miss that. But again: the grass right by my nest—I'm in no hurry!"

……

"What? Dog-men are going to invade Stormhold?"

In the castle's war room, Gervas informed everyone of the dog-men's intelligence.

"That's right. Those dog-men have already begun advancing toward Stormhold and will arrive around afternoon—about a hundred of them."

"My lord, the dog-men are stronger than the Demon Serpents, but if there are only a hundred or so, and we knew of their approach in advance, Stormhold's strength is more than enough to handle them!"

Knight Captain Lei Meng appeared calm.

"Exactly. That's why I'm telling you now—to prepare your minds!"

Gervas turned to Lawrence. "Captain Lawrence, cancel today's morning training. Put the guards on war alert. Inspect all weapons and equipment!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The plan to deal with the dog-men was settled so easily.

Even before this, Gervas had spare time to investigate the sea's treasures.

This was the confidence that came with increased strength.

"Lei Meng, prepare yourselves. We're setting sail!"

……

"My lord, where are we sailing today?"

On the shore, the Stormwind was fully ready to depart.

After boarding, Old Jack bowed respectfully and asked.

"Old Jack, head north today. First, reach Stormhold's northernmost coastline!"

"As you command, my lord!"

As the sails unfurled, the Stormwind cut through the waves toward the north.

But after more than half an hour, the ship reached the Dark Line at Stormhold's northernmost tip.

"Sail east fifty nautical miles!"

"Yes, my lord. Helm to starboard—east fifty nautical miles!"

Old Jack skillfully turned the helm, and the ship immediately changed course.

The back-and-forth between master and servant, combined with Old Jack's occasional orders to the crew, created a full atmosphere, making Gervas feel as if he were truly aboard a Caribbean pirate ship.

"My lord, an island spotted due east!"

An hour later, the lookout on the mast shouted excitedly.

He paused, then added: "This island is enormous, my lord!"