I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 536 Wonderful Thoughts

Time flies like water. This winter, Chris stayed in the city of Treasure Island, meeting with representatives from various parts of the Miniscia region as the king.

These representatives were a diverse group, including former Minisian nobles who had submitted to the regime, respected local gentry, wealthy merchants, and local officials who had risen to prominence under the new policies implemented by Chris.

With their own purposes, filled with trepidation and anticipation, they passed through layers of passages and entered the temporary palace to pay homage to the young yet powerful and prestigious King Bagnia.

Chris did not always receive them in the solemn council chamber; sometimes it was in a more private study, and sometimes even in the warm pavilion in the palace gardens.

He deliberately created an atmosphere that was not too formal, yet maintained a proper sense of distance.

Chris's attitude towards the former Minisian nobles who had sought refuge with the kingdom was a combination of kindness and severity.

He would listen carefully to the nobles' views on local affairs, expressing "understanding" of their complaints, mainly about the weakening of their power and the loss of their interests, but he would never give in easily.

He would clearly inform them of the benefits of integrating into the Bagnia system… a wider market, a more stable order, and, if there were outstanding members in their families, the possibility of entering the kingdom's bureaucracy through civil service examinations and obtaining positions of real power.

Chris, on the other hand, focused on outlining a blueprint for the future for the local gentry and merchants.

He would unfold a meticulously drawn map of the city and its surrounding area, pointing to the new port marked on it, the planned workshop district, and the schools and hospitals that were about to be built, showing them the changes that would be brought about under Bagnia's rule.

"What the kingdom needs is prosperity, steadily increasing tax revenue, and a continuous flow of goods and talent."

Chris would speak in a very seductive tone.

"And this is inseparable from your efforts. The kingdom's commercial laws guarantee fair trade, the kingdom's fleet eliminates pirates to ensure the safety of sea routes, and the kingdom's policies encourage technological innovation and expanded production... Your investment and business here is not only for the kingdom, but also for your own and your descendants' foundation."

He would also introduce preferential policies from time to time, such as providing tax breaks for a certain period to the first batch of businessmen who invest in specific industries, or promising that the Kingdom government would give priority to purchasing qualified local products.

These tangible benefits are far more persuasive to these pragmatic people than empty slogans.

For newly appointed local officials who passed the exams, Chris was both a strict mentor and a staunch supporter.

He would carefully review their resumes and performance evaluations, inquire about the actual situation in the places where they worked and the difficulties they encountered, and then provide assistance.

Sometimes, these meetings are not always amicable; some representatives attempt to test the kingdom's limits or subtly make excessive demands.

Faced with this situation, Chris would immediately abandon his gentle demeanor, his gaze would turn cold, and he would retaliate with a tough attitude.

If things go too far, the judge will then come to their home and send their entire family on their way.

Chris's repeated meetings with representatives from northern Miniscia were like meticulous stitches, weaving these previously detached, hesitant, or even resistant forces into the ruling structure of the Kingdom of Bagnia.

Through these people, Chris infiltrated his will, the kingdom's laws and policies, into every aspect of Minisian society.

He showed the old aristocracy a way to survive through compromise, the emerging class saw future opportunities, and new officials felt a sense of mission and constraint.

This process is slow and steady, like the chill that quietly seeps into the earth in winter; though not intense, it changes the texture of the land silently.

As winter passed more than halfway through, Chris could clearly feel that the atmosphere in Treasure Island City and even the entire Miniscia region was quite different from when he first arrived.

The intense turmoil and widespread unease caused by regime change have gradually been replaced by a sense of stable order.

The Blue Flag Army soldiers patrolling the streets stood even more proudly, and it became natural for flags with double-headed eagles to fly above government buildings.

Although undercurrents still exist, on the surface, the Minicia region is integrating into the body of the Kingdom of Bagnia at an unprecedented speed.

Chris stood atop the palace, overlooking the increasingly prosperous and orderly port city, and the sense of urgency he felt due to the "natural disaster" warning eased slightly.

At least, his backyard is becoming increasingly secure, which lays a solid foundation for Chris to deal with any storms that may arise in the future.

Besides maintaining stability, many interesting things also happened in the Minicia region this winter.

For example, the Minisian Restoration Army, which occupied the city of Treasure Island and vowed to kill Chris and complete the restoration of their nation, was destroyed in infighting.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't Chris who did it, but rather Simon and his gang who did it... They found Earl Lawrence this winter and killed him.

In the process, they also managed to uncover the supporters behind Count Lawrence... who were the Maconites.

Unfortunately, Simon and his gang were too ruthless. They wiped out all the Macon people who were hiding in Treasure Island City and paying for their services, leaving none alive. Then they set fire to their houses, so Chris had no evidence when he found out about it.

However, despite doing such a big thing, Ximen Da Guanren and his group didn't get any benefits... They were caught and captured alive by the Judge player and his men.

Now that's settled. Even if Ximen Da Guanren and his gang have a hidden resurrection point, they can't cause trouble for the time being... They're all locked up in prison, and they can't even commit suicide.

Now, Ximen Da Guanren and his dozen or so men have only two choices.

One option is to wait until their sentence is over, or to pay someone to rescue them.

Where there is demand, there is a market. There is currently a group of bounty hunters in the game. As long as they are willing to spend money, they will try to break into the Inquisition prison to rescue people.

The second option is to delete the account and start over.

Chris didn't actually have any ill feelings towards players like Ximen Daguanren, because they just wanted to kill Chris, not players who randomly killed innocent bystanders based on their own preferences as soon as they entered the game.

They are essentially villains with ideals, even if those ideals are crooked. Their starting point is bad, but the result is good. Chris has no intention of completely eliminating them. Therefore, Ximen Daguanren and others can delete their accounts and start over; it's not the kind of complete deletion.

However, the destruction of the rebel groups on the island was a minor matter; what happened at the port of Omdur was the real big deal.

Before winter arrived, weren't the players gathered there preparing for a second revenge fleet, planning a second expedition to capture Pokémon in the Blue Flame Islands of the Tranquil Sea?

Because they needed battleships to sail, and Chris rejected their purchase request, but this did not stop the formation of the revenge fleet. These players decided that since the quality of the warships could not be guaranteed, they would focus on quantity.

So they purchased a large number of armed merchant ships. In the process, the formation of the revenge fleet encountered many problems... Because of the large number of ships purchased, armed merchant ship owners on the market quickly raised their prices, and secondly, with more ships, the number of people to operate them also became a problem.

These problems are not a big deal on their own, but when they accumulate, they become a real headache.

To solve this problem, the players of the Vengeance Fleet came up with a brilliant solution after a meeting: selling the Vengeance Fleet's dividend shares.

This plan is brilliant, full of the unique "creativity" of players, disregarding real-world rules and potential risks.

Instead of relying solely on the core members' funds, they packaged this expedition as a massive, high-return investment project.

Roughly printed yet highly persuasive prospectuses began appearing at various taverns, stock exchanges, and even street corners in Omdur Port, thanks to the Ludong branch of the bank.

+Tranquil Sea Blue Flame Islands Expedition Plan...Revenge Fleet Phase II Share Subscription

Project Summary: Assemble a powerful fleet and sail to the legendary elven homeland—the Blue Flame Islands—to acquire rare elven handicrafts, magical materials, and… (the wording here is euphemistic, but everyone understands) high-value “special labor.”

Expected Returns: All loot from the expedition, including but not limited to elven property, artwork, and magical items, will be distributed in proportion to shareholding.

Core Profit: The capture and subsequent sale of "special labor," with an estimated return of 500%-1000%! (Attached is a blurry "estimate" table, supposedly leaked from participants of the first expedition, regarding the black market price of elven slaves in the Old World.)
Additional benefits: Permanent dividend rights to newly discovered sea routes and resource points.

Subscription method: Each share is priced at 100 silver dollars, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares. Shares can be exchanged for silver dollars, equivalent goods, or specific military merit/prestige certificates.

Risk Warning: (Highlighted in almost invisible small print) Ocean voyages involve natural risks, risks of attack by hostile creatures, and risks of getting lost. Investment returns are uncertain, and this company (referring to the Provisional Committee of the Revenge Fleet) does not guarantee principal or interest.
This sent speculators throughout the port of Omdour and beyond into a frenzy.

Players from another world are masters of making grand promises and creating hype.

Several core organizers first subscribed to a large number of shares themselves, creating the illusion that "insiders are extremely optimistic." Then they hired shills to talk loudly in pubs about "insider information" such as "a certain big shot has bet his entire fortune" and "the first batch of shares were snapped up within three days."

Soon, not only the players, but also many native merchants couldn't sit still anymore.

The expected returns, which are several times or even ten times higher, are like tempting poisoned apples, emitting an irresistible aroma.

The exorbitant prices of elven slaves on the black market were no secret, and the stories of the meager fortunes brought back by the survivors of the first expedition were embellished and spread.

Greed overwhelmed reason.

An unprecedented stock market frenzy is unfolding in Omdour Port.

On the blackboard in the port area, people began writing down the ever-changing prices of "Revenge Fleet Shares" in chalk. Initially, it was 100 silver dollars per share, but a few days later it was driven up to 150, 200... The price soared like a runaway horse, fueled by rumors, panic, and even greater greed.

This was like blowing bubbles, and the bubbles kept getting bigger and bigger until, after winter ended, the Second Revenge Fleet had become a massive fleet with 10,000 personnel and more than 150 ships.

These 150 ships were all armed merchant ships with ocean-going capabilities, along with a small number of warships. The ships came from all walks of life, including some merchants from the Macon Alliance.

Although Chris viewed this stock manipulation as nothing more than blowing bubbles, the players in the Revenge Fleet who did it genuinely wanted to continue the expedition.

Therefore, in addition to purchasing with money, the fleet's leaders also allowed others to exchange resources for shares... Whether it was ships, supplies, or personnel, anything the revenge fleet needed could be exchanged for shares.

Therefore, the revenge fleet has swelled to this size, with more than 10,000 people, of whom more than 8,000 are players and 2,000 are NPCs.

When spring arrives, this expeditionary fleet should set sail.

Well, if I calculate the time, it should be in three days.

“What a talent.”

Chris sighed.

No one knows what will happen to this mixed fleet after it sets sail, whether it will successfully conquer the Blue Flame Islands, or be destroyed by the storm while crossing the storm belt and have to slink back.

Who knows.

Let them be.

There are things Chris needs to take more seriously than the players' antics.

Before players could actually assemble their second-generation revenge fleet, the Macon Alliance's colony of Casarina Island was attacked by murlocs. The Maconians appealed to the Kingdom of Bagnia for help, hoping to hire a third-generation mercenary force as soon as possible.

Chris signaled to the Commerce Department to offer a high price to secure a piece of land on Casalina Island.

Then, at the negotiating table, the Maconese negotiators flatly refused.

When Chris heard the news, he thought it was normal. When doing business, there is bound to be a bargaining process, so he was not angry. He simply asked the Ministry of Commerce officials to continue to maintain contact, but not to appear too eager for the time being.

However, as the talks progressed, things took a turn for the worse. The negotiators from the Macon Union appeared calm and composed, as if they held a trump card in their hands.

No matter what Bagnia's negotiators said, they were unwilling to give up land on the island, and even unwilling to pay a high price for labor costs, insisting on a flat price.

This completely baffled the staff at the Ministry of Commerce.

After more than a month of negotiations with no progress, the Makon Union's negotiating team began to get anxious.

They began to imply at the negotiating table that the battle on Casarina was dire, that not only were the soldiers of the Macon Union nearly wiped out, but the two thousand mercenary veterans of Bagnia had also suffered heavy losses, and that without reinforcements, they would be completely annihilated.

At this point, Bagnia finally understood... Oh, so these Maconians were using the lives of over two thousand second-phase mercenary players as bargaining chips, convinced that the Kingdom of Bagnia wouldn't do anything that would cause these veterans to die in battle.

When Chris learned of the situation, he was shocked, and then he laughed in anger... The Maconians were practically handing over Casarina Island; they wouldn't let him refuse.

"That's settled then. Negotiations are over, and we're not doing this mercenary business anymore."

(End of this chapter)