Chapter 251: The Opening of the Overseas Archipelago

Faced with the headache of his younger sister Felicia, the White Dragon Lord felt utterly helpless.

He could only try to tuck her away in some isolated, back-office administrative post to minimize the chance of any accidents.

'I just hope Priest Sinod can bring me a pleasant surprise.'

The White Dragon Lord temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind and resumed planning the grand founding of the Yafiavi Kingdom.

The founding ceremony of the demi-human Yafiavi Kingdom was destined to become a celebrated event across Nordhill, for White Castle's influence spanned the entire continent.

Through decades of development, the commodities of the Overseas Archipelago had become an indispensable part of the lives of the nobility and the wealthy classes, allowing White Castle to accumulate vast connections and trade with numerous mainland factions.

While trade between White Castle and these factions brought mutual benefit, it also generated a fair amount of friction—chief among which was trade competition.

Such competition was inevitable, and nations handled it in various ways. Some chose compromise and entered negotiations with White Castle, some opted for trade wars, and a few even resorted to unscrupulous means to suppress their competitors.

Yet no matter how fiercely they fought behind the scenes, everyone maintained a polite facade on the surface.

Upon receiving White Castle's invitations, whether driven by a desire to understand a rival or simply a thirst for spectacle, these factions were certain to dispatch envoys to Kumlinge for the founding ceremony of the Yafiavi Kingdom.

This grand gathering of factions from across the Nordhill Continent would be the perfect moment for the newborn Yafiavi Kingdom to flex its muscles for the outside world.

The White Dragon Lord intended to emulate his past life by holding a magnificent military parade, displaying the Yafiavi Kingdom's formidable might to deter any petty villains plotting in the shadows.

The White Dragon Lord held plenty of trump cards: his navy boasted an astonishing number of Murloc armies and bizarre warbeast legions; his army featured strong, rugged Ogres, fierce and fearless gnolls, and terrifyingly powerful trolls; and his air force possessed swift Harpies and formidable Wyverns.

On top of that, the New Murlocs, dragon beasts, and Dragon armies would completely shatter the understanding of the mainland nations.

The White Dragon Lord planned to unveil these trump cards before the nations to subdue the enemy without fighting, thereby cementing the Yafiavi Kingdom's hegemony in the East Sea of Nordhill.

As for the idea of holding back his cards to spring a surprise should a war break out, the White Dragon Lord had considered it thoroughly, but he felt the probability of direct military conflict between the Yafiavi Kingdom and the mainland nations was exceedingly low.

This was because the mainstream focus of the Nordhill Continent lay in exploring alien planes. The resources gained from such exploration far surpassed what could be won by waging war on other nations—just as the Madilan World had brought massive profits to White Castle.

Nations were unlikely to go to war with one another. When contending for interests within their native plane, they relied solely on their soft power. Stalwart allies, mainland influence, and military strength all formed crucial components of that soft power.

As a newborn demi-human kingdom, Yafiavi was bound to encounter heightened skepticism and even hostile gazes.

Therefore, the White Dragon Lord had to seize the opportunity of the founding ceremony to display the mighty military strength of the Yafiavi Kingdom to every faction in Nordhill.

The most direct method of demonstrating military power was war, but Nordhill was currently at peace, and the White Dragon had no desire to proactively provoke a conflict. Thus, a grand military parade remained his only way to flex his muscles.

The order in which different troop branches marched during the parade was of immense importance. Frowning, the White Dragon Lord used Mage Hand to hold a pen, scribbling and sketching on paper.

Just as the White Dragon Lord was mapping out the jaw-dropping military parade, an Ogre guard clad in gorgeous crimson-gold enchanted armor walked into the hall.

The stalwart Ogre guard strode to the center of the hall, dropped to one knee, hoisted his terrifying Spiked Club in one hand, and pressed the other over his chest.

Winter sunlight streamed through the lattice crystal dome overhead, casting a glow upon this Master Tier Ogre Warrior. He raised his head to gaze up at the majestic figure of the giant Dragon upon the throne, lowering his voice in a respectful tone.

"Master, several leaders of the Forgotten Adventurer Group seek an audience."

The White Dragon Lord put down his pen, dismissed the Mage Hand, and lifted his head as he recalled the four-person adventurer squad he had rescued from the jaws of sea beasts during a stormy night many years ago.

Later on, the stuttering Mermaid singer had also joined the party, accidentally triggering the Gold Dragon Christina incident that ultimately led to a cataclysmic explosion that shook Nordhill.

Perhaps the Gold Dragon incident had exhausted the Forgotten Adventure Party's bad luck, for over the years, the party had enjoyed smooth sailing. Backed by White Castle's formidable manpower, material resources, and wealth, they had explored one ancient ruin after another, bringing back valuable magic items and lost ancient codices to White Castle.

They had also earned generous rewards of their own. By now, the party had long since expanded into a large-scale adventurer group numbering in the hundreds, and the initial five members had all amassed considerable fortunes, becoming legendary figures among adventurers.

The White Dragon Lord realized he hadn't heard the Mermaid's singing in a very long time.

"Let them in."

The Ogre guard acknowledged the order and withdrew from the hall. Not long after, the four original members of the Forgotten Adventurer Group walked in.

A frown crossed the White Dragon Lord's brow. He did not see Hurohr Rust, the goblin rogue, among them. Combined with the poorly concealed sorrow etched on everyone's faces, the White Dragon Lord understood that the goblin had likely returned to the embrace of the gods.

Sure enough, after some brief pleasantries, the leader of the Forgotten Adventurer Group, the dark elf Mogesang Bleecker, stated their purpose.

The goblin rogue had perished in the traps of an ancient ruin, and they wished to retrieve his property deposited within White Castle to send back to his family.

This went without saying. In light of the goblin rogue's outstanding contributions, the White Dragon Lord granted his family a substantial relief fund and instructed Mogesang Bleecker to pass along an invitation welcoming them to settle in the Overseas Archipelago.

After thanking the White Dragon Lord for his benevolence, Mogesang Bleecker departed with the forest elf ranger and the gnoll warrior, leaving the Mermaid standing somewhat nervously alone in the grand hall.

The White Dragon Lord gazed down at the fidgeting Mermaid in the hall. Reckoning the time they had agreed upon, the contract she had signed back then had finally reached its expiration.

"You've come to say goodbye, haven't you? Since the agreed term has expired, you are free to leave whenever you wish."

The Mermaid froze, caught off guard that the White Dragon Lord had brought it up first.

Over the years, Daisy the Mermaid had spent a thoroughly delightful time in White Castle. Singing songs and embarking on adventures with her companions had made her almost forget to return home.

Yet the news transmitted from her home left her with no choice but to leave. Taking a deep breath, the Mermaid bowed deeply.

"May the ocean protect you," she sang.

The White Dragon Lord watched the Mermaid's retreating back as she turned to leave, a faint trace of loss stirring within his heart.

Over the years, the Mermaid's singing had served as one of the few forms of entertainment for the White Dragons. All four Dragons had grown very fond of this timid, stuttering Mermaid, forming a complex friendship that hovered between master and servant, friend and companion.

Even the hot-tempered Felicia openly admitted that the Mermaid was one of the few alien creatures she could actually tolerate.

"If one day you wish to return, the gates of White Castle will always remain open for you, little Mermaid friend."

Just as she was about to step out of the palace hall, the Mermaid's body trembled slightly before she vanished around the corner.

Not long after, enchanting singing echoed throughout Oqi City. The melody was distant and lingering, reminiscent of the crisp, clear bubbling of a spring deep within a tranquil mountain.

A song titled Blessings of the Sea conveyed the singer's heartfelt wishes for the newborn Oqi City.

The White Dragon Lord listened intently until the voice of the song's owner faded into the rushing waters of the Snowpaint River flowing out to sea.

Having weathered the interlude with the Forgotten Squad and the Mermaid, the White Dragon Lord quickly readjusted his state of mind and resumed planning his grand undertaking of nation-building.

If a country was to enjoy long-term stability and peace, it required a rational system to maintain the normal operation of its state machinery.

Regarding the institutional framework of the Yafiavi Kingdom, the White Dragon Lord intended to establish eight ministries beneath the prime minister to keep the kingdom running smoothly: Military, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Civil Administration, Public Security, Agriculture, Law, and Supervision.

First, the Ministry of Military Affairs would oversee military-related work, such as conscription, troop training, and garrison placements.

The candidate for Minister of Military Affairs was the gnoll chieftain, Hogg Riverclaw. Hogg Riverclaw was completely clueless when it came to other administrative domains, but he was an absolute genius when it came to military matters. Combined with his sterling service, entrusting him with the heavy responsibility of Minister of Military Affairs made the most sense.

The Ministry of Finance would manage the industries under the White Dragon's name, collect taxes, and calculate the kingdom's revenues and expenditures.

As for the candidate for Minister of Finance, the White Dragon Lord planned to select a talented individual brought back from the Madilan World, have them sign a contract, and promise them appropriate benefits so they would wholeheartedly serve the kingdom.

As a side note, everyone brought back from the Madilan World had to undergo rigorous interrogation, verified through Lie Detection to ensure they harbored no ill intent toward White Castle.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, true to its name, would be responsible for dealing with other nations. However, this department proved to be the most troublesome headache for the White Dragon Lord.

The Yafiavi Kingdom was a demi-human nation, and the chosen Minister of Foreign Affairs needed to possess a certain representative quality; therefore, the post could not be held by a human. Yet among the monster armies, no suitable candidate stood out, forcing the appointment to be temporarily shelved.

The Ministry of Civil Administration would handle internal affairs within the kingdom, such as urban management and the household registration of kingdom residents.

The ideal candidate for Minister of Civil Administration was originally the Murloc Old Jimmy; however, Old Jimmy and Old Blind had resigned from all posts to focus entirely on cultivating and making a breakthrough toward the Legendary Rank, leaving the position to be filled by another talent brought from the Madilan World.

The Ministry of Public Security would complement the Ministry of Military Affairs, taking charge of internal public security within the kingdom.

According to the White Dragon Lord's vision, the backbone of public security would consist of gnolls and Harpies. The gnolls were practically a hybrid of bloodhounds and police officers; guided by a wolf's nose, no criminal could hide, while the Harpies would take charge of the pursuit and capture operations.

Moreover, criminals who resisted arrest would be handled dead or alive.

The Ministry of Agriculture would oversee the development of agriculture and animal husbandry within the kingdom—planning the reclamation of new islands, managing existing farms and ranches, overseeing Murloc-farmed aquatic products, and researching new techniques and agricultural goods.

No nation without laws could be considered a complete country, and the Ministry of Law would take charge of this domain. The White Dragon Lord decided to personally oversee it for the time being, carving out a legal code suited for the demi-human Yafiavi Kingdom.

Of course, in any world or nation, laws were merely tools used by rulers to constrain the populace, their sole purpose being to safeguard the status and interests of the ruling class.

The Ministry of Supervision would monitor the work of all departments, unearthing corrupt elements and turning them over to the Ministry of Law for processing.

In this manner, the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security constituted the Yafiavi Kingdom's military might. City governance practiced a separation of powers, managed jointly by the city lord from the Ministry of Civil Administration, the financial officer from the Ministry of Finance, and the precinct chief from the Ministry of Public Security, while the Ministries of Supervision, Law, and Foreign Affairs ensured the kingdom walked a righteous path.

Once the legal code was finalized, the White Dragon Lord intended to become a completely hands-off ruler, handing all of this over to the Two-Headed Ogre Chieftain, Gurgalu.

Even after the kingdom was fully on track, Gurgalu would retain his official title while delegating most duties to subordinates so he could concentrate on his own cultivation.

This mirrored the true reality of other powers across Nordhill: most administrative posts within kingdoms were held by individuals with unremarkable cultivation talent, whereas true geniuses with a shot at breaking through to the Legendary Rank would never waste their time on mundane affairs outside of cultivation.

When all was said and done, this was a world where the strong preyed upon the weak, and strength was the absolute foundation of everything!

With strength, one could ensure subordinates never dared to betray!

With strength, one could establish a powerful regime in any world!

...

During this period, the Nordhill Continent remained peaceful as people followed their usual life trajectories and carried on with their respective occupations.

Yet, at some unknown point, a piece of news swept rapidly across the entire continent: the White Dragon Lord of the Overseas Archipelago was about to establish a new demi-human kingdom, and was opening up the entire Overseas Archipelago to welcome travelers from all walks of life.

This event became the prime topic of conversation over tea and after meals.

No one was unfamiliar with the term Overseas Archipelago.

For the nobility, there were luxurious spices, exquisite pearl ornaments, and rare submarine delicacies...

For the commoners, there were affordable and practical marine products like kelp, sea fish, and clams.

Decades ago, these items had abruptly burst into the field of vision of people across the Nordhill Continent, eventually becoming regular staples in their daily lives.

Yet for the vast majority of people, the Overseas Archipelago remained shrouded in mystery.

Ogres that didn't eat people, civilized gnolls wearing clothes, Murlocs that helped passing ships drive away sea beasts and combat pirates, and Dragons of legend.

All of these elements filled the Overseas Archipelago with an aura of mystery. Coupled with the exaggerated tales told by those who returned from the trading port city of Kasos after striking it rich, the Overseas Archipelago became synonymous with mystery and wealth in the eyes of the masses.

To most people, the news was nothing more than casual table talk, but in the eyes of a select few, it represented a golden opportunity to alter their destinies.

To merchants, an open Overseas Archipelago promised endless opportunities to make a fortune.

To mercenaries and adventurers, the mysterious Overseas Archipelago fit their exact requirements, brimming with sea beasts, primitive jungles, and ancient ruins.

To bored nobles and the wealthy classes with a bit of spare coin, the novel environment and unique customs of the Overseas Archipelago promised excitement, amusement, and bragging rights when conversing with ladies down the road.

However, the opening of the Overseas Archipelago was still just a whisper on the wind, and most interested parties preferred to stand back and observe.

A month later.

The White Dragon Lord officially announced to the outside world that the Overseas Archipelago was open, and maritime routes leading directly to the islands had been established.

This blazing piece of news set the cold winter of Nordhill ablaze.