Chapter 273: Chapter 200: Days of Happiness
As the season approaches summer, the weather in Seagull City becomes increasingly warm.
The grand solar waterfall bringing warmth during winter and spring has now become the main culprit of the heat. However, the citizens do not mind this minor issue at all; instead, they seize the chance to work wholeheartedly, unleashing greater enthusiasm for rebuilding their homes.
The once ’prosperous’ Northern Border has turned into an empty shell. The ruins of the Royal Palace have been cleared, and the towering walls of the Royal City have become historical relics of the old era. Under the arrangement of the Ark leaders, most people rushed to the Eastern and Western Borders, engaging in fervent reclamation work.
The plains of the Western Border, ravaged by the Abyss’s Celestial Calamity, are now overgrown with weeds.
In the new laws crafted by the Ark Leader, the nation’s territory belongs to the state and the collective. But as long as one is willing to reclaim wasteland, everyone can get long-term usage rights to a large piece of land.
The concept that nobles have everything has been completely eradicated by Lin Lan on this land.
Many citizens cannot fathom the complexities of the new laws. They only understand that they are free to build houses or run shops on the land they gained from reclamation, and the elders of Seagull City even support and subsidize the citizens’ constructions. All profits made fully belong to the people themselves!
That’s enough for citizens who have suffered in the past to give it their all!
More of the young people came to Seagull City, which they dreamed of day and night, with anticipation. The scales of the Dawn Steel Plant and the newly built shipyard have become increasingly large.
Through the efforts of thousands of workers, the Ark’s factories seem like insatiable greedy beasts. The roads built as the bloodstream of industry, countless industrial products are produced endlessly every day, then transported to various borders of the island using the Light-Seeking Vehicles.
Many quick-witted outsiders take this opportunity to do catering business around the factories. Although Foreign Country residents currently can’t buy houses, the Ark Leader allows Foreign Country merchants to temporarily reside on the Ark and conduct legal trades.
Of course, there are also some with malicious intent trying to sneak in.
Recently, a group of sailors from the south used a treasure called ’Shadow Cloak’ to turn into an illusory shadow, attempting to penetrate the manor to search for Lin Lan Leader’s secret vault.
"Did you hear? That unlucky bunch was caught on the spot by the Sun Warriors with golden flame-burning eyes before even reaching the manor’s threshold, then stripped clean and thrown into jail, becoming good roommates with Ford, the Alliance’s golden oak reporter."
As dusk approached, workers who had been busy all day chatted on their way home after work.
"Serves them right!" Someone snorted coldly, "In my opinion, Lord Lin Lan should hang them at the port to fiercely deter those who attempt bad things!"
"That wouldn’t comply with the law, right... Forget it, let’s not talk about this, how about I treat you all to a drink at the nearby stalls?"
"Hahaha! Let’s go, let’s go..."
The cool evening breeze blew across the surface of the lake around the forest, where firelight reflected in small spots. Many had set up stalls here, with rough calls resounding indefinitely, while the outskirts of the factories were full of bustling smoke.
Although the factories offer free worker meals, the worker’s paycheck is quite significant, so many are willing to occasionally spend money on a good meal after work.
"Three stir-fried fruit shrimps, three fragrant grass-baked pies, hmm... and three spicy fish fried rice."
A chubby young boy with orange ears and tail stood before a stall, his eyes shining with excitement as he eyed the ingredients laid out in front of him.
The new stall owner hesitated: "But sir, can you truly eat so much?"
"No problem." Elma’s face remained unchanged as he replied, "I have friends coming over later."
"Alright! The total is five Ark Coins."
The stall owner thought for a moment and added: "Expensive as it may be, but I’m selling fresh goods, you’ll understand once you taste it."
Elma wagged his tail as he paid. Recently, Abel and Mr. Hoffman praised the hardworking and smart Fes without reservation, so much so that Lord Lin Lan simply handed each Fes student a thousand Ark Coins as rewards!
Elma’s pocket had money now!
Lord Lin Lan is really wonderful!
Elma buried his head down, and the mountain pile of food started to rapidly disappear at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Nearby diners cast sidelong glances. Indeed, these young people with unique ears devoured food with fierceness, especially this naive young man with orange ears.
The new stall owner certainly made a profit today.
"You really need to control your eating, Elma."
Someone sat next to Elma, holding a fruity beer: "Your current physique is quite unhealthy, my friend."
Elma looked up; the speaker was Boos, a young technician from the Empire.
Elma too participated in the New Hope’s project, and in communicating with the Empire populace, he befriended the shy Boos. The two young people with similar personalities quickly became good friends.
"I fear the feeling of hunger, so I instinctively eat a little more each time..."
Elma sheepishly shook his ears and rubbed his belly. Speaking of which, he did realize his movements had become somewhat sluggish recently...
Since arriving at Ark Island, it had been a long time since he did any heavy work; his main role was designing new models of Light-Seeking Vehicles and even physically testing current ones.
Transporting those materials was a test aspect too.
Therefore, Elma mostly sat inside the vehicles, causing his weight to rise swiftly.
"Mr. Hoffman really likes you Fes people from the Alliance, saying you are hardworking and smart, grasping many things as soon as taught."
Boos sighed: "Your kind must be well-received in the Alliance?"
Yet, Elma’s gaze dimmed.
"Actually..." He put down his utensils, smiling wryly, "We haven’t really lived well before..."
A moment later, Boos’s face was filled with indignation.
"It’s truly outrageous!"
He slammed the beer cup, gritting his teeth: "How can those malicious people from the Alliance treat you like this?!"
Seeing the stunned Elma, Boos hesitated and quickly added: "Ah... apologies, I didn’t include you Fes when referring to the Alliance people..."
Elma merely shook his head.
"No matter what, the days of hunger are behind us."
He placed a shrimp in his mouth, eyeing contently: "I’ve already found my happiness on Ark."
"How about you, Boos?"
Elma gazed at his Empire friend: "What do you think of the Ark we’ve built together?"
"I..."
Boos hesitated, sipping his beer and spoke quietly: "Since arriving on Ark Island, I no longer have terrible nightmares..."
"So, you don’t wish to return either?"
Another amused voice joined the conversation: "Leader Lin Lan"
Elma and Boos instinctively looked up, finding a strangely dressed young man, wearing sandals, a floral shirt and shorts, and donning a flashy pair of black round glasses.
The ’young man’ had several mechanical arms behind him holding various beers and skewers, the silver-white prosthetics gleaming with the surrounding smoke.
Weirdly, Elma felt the air around him grow inexplicably colder.
"Ei... Elio!"
Boos trembled, standing with nervousness.
