Chapter 715.3: Only The Xilande Empire Suffers!

At that moment, light knocking sounded at the door. Ample Time placed the research report in his hand back into the drawer and looked at the entrance.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a young man carrying a thick stack of documents hurried into the office. He had a thin frame, pronounced cheekbones, and deep dark circles beneath his eyes. Yet his bright, energetic eyes gave off a vigorous and spirited impression.

His name was Yadoo, one of the 200 newly recruited civil servants at City Hall, and also one of the very few Snakefolk who had passed the literacy examination.

According to his own account, he used to work odd jobs at the harbor. Because he frequently interacted with merchants and sailors from Silvermoon Bay, helping them run errands and guide them around, he had learned some reading and writing.

Literate Snakefolk were rare enough already, let alone self-taught ones. Ample Time had immediately transferred the young man from City Hall to the Governor’s Office to serve as the governor’s secretary, treating him as a key talent worth cultivating.

And the fellow had not disappointed him.

Not only was he diligent and meticulous in his work, he also communicated extremely well with both Laxi’s side and Bihari.

Ample Time had only recently realized the phenomenon.

Once these people, who had originally been shackled at the bottom of society by factors unrelated to talent, were liberated, the passion they displayed toward life and work far exceeded those who had already lived relatively decent lives during Governor Nihark’s era.

“... Respected sir, the household registration work has basically been completed, including the Port District and the more complicated urban districts. I’ve already organized the documents for you. As for establishing individual records for every resident, I’m afraid that will still take some time.”

“And from my personal observations, aside from the Port District, the various guard stations remain extremely unfamiliar with operations within their jurisdictions. Although this is not entirely their fault, there will inevitably be omissions in the census work regarding survivors living in the slums. Before formal records are established, I believe a second round of screening will be necessary.”

Looking at the stack of documents piled atop the desk, Ample Time nodded in approval. “Well done. I understand the situation. But honestly, getting this far is already enough for now. Later, I’ll have Chief Bihari produce identification cards based on these registries... Actually, why don’t you notify him?”

“It would be my pleasure, sir.” Yadoo nodded respectfully. After a brief pause, he continued, “Additionally, regarding the refugees along the Everflowing River you mentioned previously, I’ve already sent people to investigate. According to the refugees themselves, they originally lived upstream along the Everflowing River. The Empire’s army drove them from their villages and forcibly seized their grain and livestock.”

Ample Time frowned slightly. “Which side of the ceasefire line were they on?”

“The side of the Empire, outside our actual control zone,” Yadoo replied seriously. “If we allow them to pour into the harbor unchecked, they’ll likely disrupt the stability we’ve only just managed to establish. But ignoring them entirely isn’t a solution either. Unless we completely seal off all the ports along the Everflowing River, they’ll always find ways to swim across.”

Ample Time looked at him with interest. His instincts told him the young man already had a proposal prepared. “So, what’s your suggestion?”

As expected, Yadoo respectfully explained, “I’ve already discussed the matter with City Hall. They’ve agreed to allocate part of the budget to establish a refugee shelter beside the labor camp in the suburbs, providing temporary accommodation for refugees fleeing from the Empire into Port Gallon. But this requires your approval.”

Perhaps worried Ample Time might reject the idea, Yadoo quickly continued, “The famine threat in Port Gallon has already passed. We only need to provide some relatively inexpensive food to keep them obediently outside the settlement while awaiting placement. In return, they can help us with road and bridge construction. Honestly, taking in refugees isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Everflowing River has already filtered some people out for us. Anyone capable of swimming to Port Gallon is usually a strong young laborer. And once the ceasefire agreement comes into effect, we can directly merge the labor camp into Port Gallon, combining the two into a new urban area. Relying on industries expanding from the settlement into the suburbs, we can gradually absorb that population.”

Ample Time looked at the young man standing before his desk with slight astonishment. Or rather, what he felt most was delight.

It was like drawing an ultra-rare SSSR card.

Damn. This guy is impressive.

Coming up with ideas was not particularly difficult. But carefully considering what should be done first, what should come next, and how everything should connect. That took real brains. Someone capable of arranging everything so neatly, reducing the leader’s workload to little more than signing a name...

Making Yadoo a secretary was honestly a waste of talent!

Still, being surprise was one thing. Whether he truly had ability depended on how well things were executed.

Keeping his thoughts hidden, Ample Time merely nodded calmly. “I’m very satisfied with your proposal. Proceed exactly as you suggested. I’ll inform City Hall and the militia to cooperate with your work as much as they reasonably can.”

Yadoo’s eyes lit up with joy. “Please leave it to me, sir. I won’t disappoint you.”

Hearing what Ample Time said, he already roughly understood how the matter should be handled.

Just as he was about to bow and leave, he suddenly remembered something and stopped. “Oh right, there’s one more matter. You may already have heard about it, but just in case, I still think it should be reported...”

Ample Time leaned back in his chair and took a sip from his teacup. “Go ahead.”

“It concerns West Sail Harbor on the western coast of the Poro Province.” Yadoo carefully chose his words before continuing cautiously. “Rumors at the harbor say the Army recently dispatched a governor-general there. Judging by the timing, he should have already arrived by now. Perhaps this isn’t my place to worry about, but from current appearances, the Army seems intent on intervening in the Poro Province’s situation. That may create unknown variables in our ceasefire negotiations with the Empire.”

A governor-general from the Army?

Ample Time frowned slightly, though his expression quickly relaxed again. “Mr. Yadoo, you are my secretary and also a survivor of this settlement. As long as it concerns the safety and interests of local survivors, I don’t believe there is anything you shouldn’t care about.”

“You’re right, sir.”

Watching Yadoo lower his head, Ample Time nodded lightly. “I understand the situation now. Go focus on the tasks I assigned you.”

He had indeed already heard about the Army’s activities. He had even asked Chen Jianhong to pilot the Dolphin nuclear submarine over there for a look.

Only some industrial equipment, a small number of Wislander infantry, and a handful of officers had landed. It was worth remaining vigilant about, but not enough to warrant excessive concern.

With the negotiations of the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee underway in Dawn City, the Army was unlikely to directly clash with the New Alliance. At most, the Wislanders might help the Xilande Empire train a few additional Grey Wolf Army.

Compared to that, the increasingly powerful warlord factions growing along the border concerned him far more.

“Understood.” Yadoo bowed respectfully, then turned and left the office, gently closing the door behind him.

Ample Time glanced at the time displayed in the upper-right corner of his VM. Less than 10 minutes had passed from the moment Yadoo entered to the moment he left.

Within those 10 minutes, the young man had not only reported all the necessary matters, but had also presented complete solutions to the problems on Ample Time’s behalf. It was obvious he had prepared thoroughly.

Working with people like that was incredibly comfortable.

Perhaps he could step down from his role as Acting Governor of Port Gallon earlier than expected.

“... Looks like this place isn’t completely devoid of capable people after all. It just takes some time to find them.” Ample time sighed as his gaze fell upon the dust-covered construction sites outside the office window. Watching the busy laborers and the foremen directing them, a faint smile unconsciously rose at the corner of his lips.

Honestly, the situation in Port Gallon was not nearly as terrible as they had imagined when they first arrived.

The curse brought by the red soil was not entirely a debuff.

While traits like obedience, even absolute obedience, had turned those people into natural slaves, to the point where they could carve a pig into a totem and worship it like a god, that did not mean they had no chance of escaping their wasteland fate.

It was just like those workers rebuilding their homes outside the window.

If someone was willing to point them toward a path more reliable than reincarnating into an imperial household, they were willing to move their legs forward.

And if someone gave them a pull, or even a push, they might run faster than Boss Xia Yan of Boulder Town once they opened the door to a new world.

The Moonfolk girls building new homes in the Baiyue Strait were the perfect example.

Their extraordinary endurance toward harsh environments allowed them to survive conditions ordinary people could never bear. And when applied differently, that same trait of obedience transformed into diligence, resilience, and tireless hard work.

The idea of natural-born slaves had always been a false proposition. No slave had ever truly been born one.

And when Ample Time thought about the thighs... No, the girls, on the beaches of the Baiyue Strait, he suddenly realized something.

Their defensive counterattack on the Xilande Empire had already lasted nearly two months!

“Damn... time really flies,” he muttered with a sigh.

At that rate, the freshwater pipeline project in the southern seas would probably be completed in another two days.

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