Before the early spring mist had completely dissipated, a long, sleek clipper cut through the waves of the Tranquil Ocean and sped into Port Franklin.
The sails bear the silver anchor insignia of the Aldor Navy fleet, which is the Navy's communications ship, HMS Flying Pigeon.
The letters carried on the ship were sent to Lakeheart Town by special personnel as quickly as possible.
The letter was written by Gran himself, the handwriting remaining clear even after the turbulent voyage. Paul unfolded the letter in Lords Manor, his eyes quickly scanning the lines of text, his expression shifting from solemnity to surprise, and then to ecstasy.
Things went even more smoothly than he had optimistically anticipated.
In his letter, Gran wrote: "Starting with the Da Xi Liu Tribe, the Northwest Fleet destroyed a Serdan slave-hunting fleet attempting to land with a Cannon, freeing dozens of bound cat-people prisoners on the spot and burning the ships off the coast. This act quickly spread among the tribes on the east coast of Anawak."
The atrocities committed by the Serdans made the Northwest the best lobbyist.
The terrified indigenous tribes began to actively contact the Aldor camp. They no longer questioned the motives of these hornless people, but instead urgently asked: Can you protect us? Can your firearms protect our children?
Under the leadership of the Da Xi Liu Tribe, within just two months, more than twenty beast-like tribes, including Bull-Headed People, Cat People, and Rabbit People, have sent envoys willing to conclude a protection agreement with Northwest Bay.
The terms closely aligned with Paul's vision of the New Zealand model— Gran didn't quite understand why the Marquis chose that name—allowing the Northwest to establish defensive outposts and trading posts within their tribal territories, permitting the exploration and mining of precious metal deposits, and enabling some young men to voluntarily join the joint garrison, receiving basic training and being equipped with firearms.
In return, Northwest provided weapons, medicines, and ironware, and promised to send patrol fleets to monitor the southern waters, and to immediately issue warnings and intercept Serdan vessels if they were spotted heading north.
"They didn't treat us as intruders," Gran wrote at the end of the letter. "They called us guardians."
Paul slowly put down the letter. He had intended to use goods and technology as bait to gradually open up the New World, but he never expected that the Serdans ' atrocities would pave the way for him. It was a pleasant surprise.
He immediately convened the Political Affairs Council and key military members at Lakeheart Town. Lords Manor convened an emergency meeting, briefly relayed the contents of the letter, and immediately issued three directives with unprecedented decisiveness.
First, establish the New World Development Bureau. Directly under the Political Affairs Council, it will coordinate the exploration, mining, transportation, and smelting of precious metal deposits. Immediately issue recruitment notices in all cities of the Northwest, conscripting miners, engineers, smelters, surveyors, and logistics personnel. The first team of one thousand people must complete assembly and training within one month and travel to the New World with the fleet.
Second, establish an ocean-going expeditionary fleet. (Order the Naval Commander) Austin personally took charge, selecting experienced captains, sailors, and navigators from the existing navy to rebuild a highly self-sufficient, permanently stationed fleet. The fleet was to be equipped with supply ships, armed merchant ships, and repair barges to ensure long-term anchoring and independent operations across the ocean, without being limited by voyage range.
Third, establish a permanent military presence. Austin must personally lead the fleet to escort Development Bureau personnel and supplies to the east coast of Anawak, and select a site to build a permanent fortress on the basis of the existing Aldor camp. The fortress must have fortifications, cannon positions, docks, and storage facilities, becoming a strategic foothold for the Northwest in the New World.
Meanwhile, the Marines accompanying the ship will serve as a permanent armed force, responsible for protecting the safety of development bureau personnel, mining operations, and trading posts, and preventing Serdan attacks or conflicts with local tribes. The Marine Corps commander will report directly to Austin and Paul, ensuring a high degree of coordination between military and development operations.
After the order was issued, the administrative machinery of Lakeheart Town began to operate rapidly. The Political Affairs Council drafted recruitment regulations overnight, the Navy began to reorganize the fleet roster, and the shipyard received an urgent order to modify cannons and reinforce the hulls for the expeditionary fleet.
Naval Commander Austin was extremely excited.
Since the end of the Horn Bay War, the Northwest Navy has been in a long period of calm, with pirates appearing sporadically and their missions being trivial and repetitive—escorting merchant ships, clearing out small groups of bandits, and patrolling coastal waters.
Even these miscellaneous tasks were carried out by the fleet commanders, without Austin, the Naval Commander, having no need to personally handle them. Austin's duties were reduced to signing documents, reviewing budgets, and attending political meetings, making him a respectable but suffocating office general.
He was tired of this life; he longed for storms and voyages, hoping to stand on the bridge and watch the horizon be cleaved by the bow.
Paul has now given him a completely new battlefield—crossing the Tranquil Ocean, venturing into uncharted lands, establishing fortresses, commanding a permanent fleet, and spearheading an unprecedented long-range deployment.
Thanks to the Lord of Light, a true expedition is beckoning him!
Upon returning to naval headquarters in Port Franklin, Austin immediately summoned his adjutant and said in a loud and forceful voice, "Notify all fleet commanders that there will be a meeting at naval headquarters at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. I will personally select the captains and sailors for the expeditionary fleet."
He opened the nautical chart again and traced the route from Port Franklin to Anawak with his finger: "Have the shipyard prioritize the repair of the Anvil and the Wavebreaker. This time, I will personally lead the team."
In Northwest Bay Thanks to the adventurers ' tireless exploration at sea, the vast Tranquil Ocean is no longer a waterway filled with the unknown and fear.
Countless sailors risked their lives and voyages to record wind direction, map ocean currents, and mark reefs, finally creating a complete transoceanic navigation system.
They discovered a stable circulation system in the Tranquil Ocean: a warm equatorial current flowing from west to east, a cold current flowing from north to south along the west coast of continents, and a backflow from east to west in high-latitude regions. Understanding these patterns, ships no longer blindly cross oceans but cleverly utilize ocean currents and monsoons, shortening the round trip from Port Franklin to the east coast of Anawak by nearly a third. When sailing with the current, clipper ships move like arrows, crossing the ocean within two months; when sailing against the current, they can also use the wind to navigate along lower-latitude routes, avoiding treacherous sea conditions.
Several isolated islands scattered along the shipping route have long been incorporated into the Northwest's maritime network. These islands were initially developed because they were covered with layers of guano several meters thick—a natural phosphate fertilizer crucial for increased agricultural production in the Northwest. As mining progressed, Alda established permanent stations there: freshwater collection systems, simple docks, grain silos, lighthouses, and medical stations were all available. They served not only as fertilizer production sites but also as indispensable supply relay stations on the long-distance shipping routes.
With the full launch of the New World development plan, shipping demand is expected to surge. The Political Affairs Council has responded swiftly by expanding all relay stations. Engineering teams have been deployed to the islands to expand docks, build additional storage facilities, and deploy more technology personnel and garrison troops. Some of the larger islands are even beginning to plan permanent communities to support the increased frequency of ship berthing and maintenance needs in the future.
These islands are transforming from mere resource points into a maritime staircase spanning the Tranquil Ocean, making ocean voyages no longer a risky endeavor.