Chapter 717.2: Water

Just then, a ship horn echoed from the harbor and a massive cargo ship slowly approached the dock.

The youths sitting on the steps instinctively looked up and immediately revealed expressions of shock.

“The Roro Boat?!”

“Those people are back?!”

Still staring toward the harbor, Sunil’s eyes instantly lit up, the glow of sunset reflected within his dark pupils.

What incredible timing.

Just as he finally resolved to step into the wasteland, the sea breeze carrying dreams once again blew into this lonely harbor.

Perhaps this was fate after all...

...

“Welcome! Friends from French Fry Harbor, friends from the New Alliance!”

At the docks of Ring Island, surrounded by a group of soldiers clad in exoskeletons, Governor Channing walked forward with a smile and greeted Midnight Pubg personally.

However, after getting a clear look at the commander of the Jungle Corps, the smile on his face became a little difficult to maintain.

The guy was practically stuffed full of cybernetics. Not only did he have a massive chainsaw and gun barrel welded onto his arm, but most of his body had already been replaced with steel.

Other people wore exoskeletons on their bodies but the dude looked more like he had simply moved his head into a new house.

With that many cybernetic implants, won’t your brain break sooner or later?

Completely unaware of what the NPC in front of him was thinking, Midnight Pubg gave an honest grin and extended his right hand toward the governor. “We’re very happy to deepen our cooperation with you! Our administrator asked me to pass along his greetings!”

Channing shook his hand briefly before letting go, maintaining his bright smile as he continued, “We feel the same way. We’re very happy to cooperate with you as well! Also, please allow me to take back what I said before... I truly didn’t expect you to establish yourselves successfully in that place. We attempted it many times over the past century and failed every single time.”

Those words came straight from the heart. If, two months ago, his feelings toward the New Alliance had mainly been caution and concern, then now all he could say was they were too damn impressive.

That water supply agreement had brought Ring Island far more than just hundreds or thousands of tons of freshwater. The currency exchange clause bundled into the agreement had restarted nearly half the island’s factories that had shut down because of the war!

Especially recently, with French Fry Harbor and Port Gallon both going all-out on infrastructure development, an enormous market had opened itself to every ally of the New Alliance.

The profits earned from exporting industrial products and equipment had not only relieved the financial pressure caused by unemployment subsidies and wartime taxes, but the coal-fired power plants that previously survived only through subsidies had even turned profitable again thanks to cheaper coal priced in silver!

If those bluecoats on the mainland could solve the electricity problem too, then that would truly be perfect.

Of course, he had already discussed that issue with the CEO of Baiyue Strait Development Company beforehand. Soon, a high-voltage undersea power cable would follow the same route as the freshwater pipeline and reach the island. Once that happened, they could finally shut down the coal plants and use silver for more meaningful things.

As for the Heavenly Court and the Hive hidden beneath the sea, it would naturally be best if they could eliminate them. But even if they couldn’t, life would continue regardless. Besides, the River Valley Province already had successful precedents for dealing with Hives. They had never truly needed to rely on the Torch Church’s methods in the first place...

...

After shaking Governor Channing’s hand, Midnight Pubg followed him toward the plaza connecting the harbor to the docks.

At the center of the square stood a marble fountain, with a giant hammer symbolizing order erected in the middle.

The statue decorating the fountain had been completed in Dawn City, transported by cargo airship to French Fry Harbor, and then transferred by cargo ship to Ring Island.

As a blessing celebrating the activation of the undersea freshwater pipeline, and as a symbol of friendship, the New Alliance had gifted a massive fountain to the local survivors.

The fountain was directly connected to the undersea freshwater pipeline. As long as freshwater continued flowing from French Fry Harbor to the island, the fountain would never run dry.

At almost the exact same moment the two men stepped onto the harbor plaza, 200 players from the Jungle Corps assembled on the ship deck also disembarked in orderly formation behind them.

One after another, the brilliantly polished K10 Iron Wall exoskeletons gleamed beneath the sunlight with a dazzling radiance, like miniature suns walking upon the land.

The harbor was packed with spectators. Even the countless windowed apartment blocks stretching along Ring Island’s coast had their windows thrown open.

There were young men and women, the elderly, and even children. Everyone stared curiously at the disciplined, heavily equipped force marching ashore. Even crane operators sitting inside their control cabins stopped working to look toward the harbor.

It was the first time they had ever seen an army from the mainland. And it was also the first time they had seen combat exoskeletons so heavily armored and deployed in such overwhelming numbers.

Although the Federation’s navy also equipped some personnel with exoskeletons, most were designed for underwater work. Only a small number of sailors possessed combat models fitted with ballistic armor modules. Yet even those combat exoskeletons designed for close-quarters warfare looked like toothpicks compared to these walking tanks.

The scratches across the painted armor looked like medals. Those coming onto the docks were true veterans who had walked straight off real battlefields, and countless battlefields at that.

The eyes watching them unconsciously filled with admiration and awe. After all, those men had marched from the very direction the islanders once fled from in terror.

Yet despite possessing every reason to show off, the men in iron did not swagger arrogantly through the harbor. They hadn’t even brought weapons ashore. Neither did they stomp forward with intimidating thunderous footsteps.

They simply wore the New Alliance insignia and jungle-pattern paint, marching neatly in disciplined formation.

Compared to fearsome killing intent, the survivors watching from the harbor felt something else much more strongly from them. They felt like a symbol of safety and reliability.

Nobody doubted that they had come in peace.

The Jungle Corps players stopped at the harbor entrance, lining up in formation before the fountain without advancing further.

The Ring Island residents were not the only ones observing the army. Channing himself carefully examined this steel-clad force, secretly filled with admiration.

It was no wonder the Xilande Empire couldn’t beat them. In fact, he suspected those people probably hadn’t even fought seriously during their counterattack.

Soon, Channing’s gaze drifted toward the rather shabby cargo ship behind the soldiers, and he quietly sighed to himself.

What a pity.

Their land forces were undeniably terrifying, but their naval strength was still clearly lacking, far from enough to rival the Southern Archipelago Federation’s navy.

Of course, he wasn’t making that comparison because he harbored disloyal thoughts or intended to lead Ring Island toward independence. He simply wished their great tree could grow taller and stronger.

If it did, Ring Island’s strategic importance within the Federation would naturally rise as well.

His biggest concern was that the New Alliance might become viewed as a potential threat by the Federation when they were not quite threatening enough.

Still, although slightly disappointed, Channing revealed none of those tiny concerns on his face. He was the kind of man who was easily satisfied. Overall, he was extremely pleased with his new ally.

As the Jungle Corps completed their landing, the band onshore began performing welcoming music, and the ceremony entered its most important stage.

Looking toward the New Alliance commander standing beside him, Channing smiled and performed a standard Federation salute before speaking solemnly. “May our friendship last forever!”

Midnight Pubg also placed his fist against his chest and replied in a booming voice, “May our friendship last forever!”

Witnessing the historic moment, the crowd surrounding the harbor erupted into enthusiastic applause, whistles, and excited cheers. Staff members in the square threw prepared streamers and confetti into the air, while the band’s music pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

The harbor instantly became as lively and festive as a holiday celebration.

And at that exact same moment, water burst forth from the warhammer atop the fountain, while a faint rainbow appeared amidst the scattering droplets.

Everyone’s eyes gathered upon that rainbow as excitement and hope filled every face.

Those days of water shortages were finally ending, and tomorrow would be even better!

Channing and the harbor officials also smiled and applauded, the worries hanging over their hearts finally seeming to dissolve alongside the fountain’s spray.

Yet at that very moment, a shrill alarm suddenly echoed across the harbor sky. The festive atmosphere and music halted instantly like a punctured balloon.

The band members froze in confusion, staring toward the direction of the alarm.

The survivors gathered at the harbor did the same, panic and bewilderment instantly appearing on countless faces as people looked around anxiously, unable to understand what was happening.

Normally, such alarms only sounded when vessels from Shelter 70 attacked nearby fishing boats, cargo ships, or underwater facilities. Ring Island, located on the remote frontier of the southern seas, hadn’t heard the alarm in a long time aside from drills or special circumstances.

It had been so long, in fact, that most people had nearly forgotten they were still technically at war.

Governor Channing himself was equally stunned, staring blankly toward the source of the alarm, completely unable to understand what was happening.

Yet while everyone else panicked, the only people showing excitement were the players standing beside the fountain.

Holy shit. Content finally arrived?!

The cutscene had already been running for a while now. If they waited any longer, by the time the promotional PV for the new map came out, clueless newbies and forum lurkers might start mistaking them for NPCs.

Every player instantly felt their blood pumping. They practically wanted to sprint back onto the ship, grab their weapons, and start flexing on these poor clueless locals immediately.

Just then, a harbor office employee came running over frantically and whispered several urgent words into Channing’s ear.

Channing froze before his expression changed.

Looking toward the New Alliance commander beside him, he spoke in a grave tone. “Our patrol team near the minefield detected an explosion signal... it appears to have occurred near the area where the freshwater pipeline passes through.”

After a pause, he continued, “We suspect vessels from Shelter 70 may have attacked that location.”

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the fountain. The flowing water showed no signs of stopping whatsoever. The water continued pouring endlessly outward as though completely unaffected.

Looking at Governor Channing, who appeared ready to face a great enemy, Midnight Pubg laughed heartily. “No need to panic, it’s a small problem.”

Channing froze, wondering if he had misheard. “A small problem?”

Midnight Pubg nodded and smiled honestly. “We already predicted something like this might happen two months ago. Honestly, by the time you finished panicking just now, the issue was probably already solved.”

After a pause, he looked toward the dumbfounded harbor staff nearby, secretly pointed toward the band, and whispered quietly, “Could you maybe turn off the alarm and let them continue playing? We’re recording a video.”

Channing tilted his head in confusion. “...?”

“???”

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