Durkes City

Porter suddenly lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. He spoke with difficulty, "We've known each other for a long time, yet there's so much about me you're completely unaware of. So, why can't there be things you keep from me? Isn't that better? Why must we always pry into every detail?"

"Porter, I consider you a brother..."

"I know. To entrust me with the full military and administrative power of your territory – for that trust, Porter is eternally grateful!" Porter understood in his heart that his recent performance had been too outstanding, painting an entirely different picture of himself in Francis's eyes. Therefore, Francis wasn't waiting for him to ask questions today; he was waiting for Porter to offer an explanation!

For a moment, Porter almost gave in to the impulse, wanting to ask Du Chen, 'What power did you use to annihilate a hundred thousand Merfolk? Can you tell me? I want to use that power to seek revenge on the Sea Clan, to rebuild a homeland for my fallen kingdom's people...' But Porter also knew that to hear Francis's explanation, he first had to provide one that satisfied him! So, he uttered those words! Between two people, why must one always pry!

His identity concerned the fate of his kingdom's displaced people; he bore too many burdens on his shoulders. These were things he could not reveal to anyone – 'Francis, I don't want to weave a beautiful lie to deceive you either...'

Confusion. That was Porter's current state. Du Chen stared at Porter for a long time until Porter turned his head, unable to meet his gaze. Then, he suddenly smiled, pointing into the distance. "We'll discuss it another day. Cassian is here..."

Watching Du Chen greet the running Cassian, Porter turned to face the sea. He slowly knelt on one knee, scooping up a handful of sand still stained with Merfolk blood from days past, and gently kissed it.

"Francis, you helped Liana save over two thousand children who lost their homeland. Liana will return a prosperous territory to you. Isn't that fair? Why insist on probing further?"

Du Chen watched Cassian approach, a growing smile on his lips. This rascal had changed. Though his face was still boyish, it now held a resilience forged from struggling in the most difficult, most humble strata of society. His former arrogance and debauched wastrel demeanor were gone, replaced by a profound thoughtfulness unbefitting his age.

Upon hearing Du Chen had awakened, Cassian rushed over. He had so many questions. Looking up at Du Chen, he exclaimed, "Senior Brother, I want to be a good emperor! Tell me, what should I do? How can I become a good emperor!?"

Du Chen knelt before Cassian, deliberately glancing westward. "Strange. The sun is still setting in the west today, my Junior Brother. Didn't you used to think you were already a future good emperor?"

Cassian snorted, turning his head away. "That's none of your business! Just tell me what to do! Master said you're a good Lord, that there isn't a single starved beggar in your territory! That's a fact I acknowledge. I just want to know how you did it – it's that simple!"

"Hah, how truly strange! My Junior Brother has actually turned over a new leaf!" Du Chen patted his head, but Cassian stubbornly dodged. Du Chen laughed, "I can tell you how to be a good emperor, but first, tell your Senior Brother, how do you know you won't be a good emperor in the future?"

"I... I just know! Stop wasting words, hurry up and tell me!" Cassian urged. Seeing Du Chen smile silently, he grew even more anxious. He shouted, "I... I shouldn't have beaten beggars before! The old me was a scoundrel!"

"Is that all?" Du Chen shook his head, stood up, and patted his head. "To become a good emperor, the first step is to fully understand just how much of a scoundrel you used to be! As for where to begin contemplating this..." Du Chen smiled faintly. "I've had you perform many good deeds and help many people before. Think about it: if you were one of those people who received help, what would it be like?"

Cassian stood frozen, lost in thought. Du Chen walked towards the port with his hands behind his back. "Once you've figured it out, go to the square in front of the Lord's Manor! Something will happen there at noon... carefully consider everything you hear and see!"

Porter had provided Du Chen with a detailed plan for territorial development, and with the Merfolk eradicated today, it was time to officially launch it! In less than a month after Du Chen's return and speech at Newin Port, over ten thousand commoners once again gathered in the square before the Lord's Manor. Compared to the speech a month prior, their faces now brimmed with genuine fervor, without the need for the Holy Church's Secret Technique of spiritual manipulation.

All the Merfolk were dead, haha! Now we no longer have to worry about being eaten by suddenly appearing beasts when we approach the coast. We can fish at sea again, and we don't have to bypass three mountain ranges to transport goods by sea... With the Merfolk gone, a great burden has been lifted from the hearts of the Newin people...

And all of this, Lord Francis bestowed upon us! Among the nearly ten thousand commoners, a simmering excitement subtly surged! The Holy Church's Secret Technique further fanned this emotion to its extreme! "Praise Francis!" Initial scattered shouts gradually coalesced into a unified roar. The Lord's Manor had just announced that the Lord, who had collapsed from exhaustion during the battle against the Merfolk assault and only just awakened today, had summoned the commoners of the port. He would announce a matter of paramount importance at noon, and now, the Lord was already approaching from the direction of the docks...

The crowd of nearly ten thousand parted like waves, spontaneously clearing a path for Du Chen as they watched him ascend the central podium.

Du Chen smiled and waved. Under the radiant glow of the Holy Church's Secret Technique, the people quieted, leaving only their heavy breathing. "Ten thousand eight hundred people!" Du Chen began his speech with a number. "According to the records of the Lord's Manor, over the past decade or so, ten thousand eight hundred of our Newin people have perished in the maw of Merfolk. And these are only the recorded cases... Here, let us observe a moment of silence for our departed compatriots..."

At Du Chen's sorrowful tone, the commoners in the square bowed their heads in solemn grief. Some, who had lost loved ones in recent Merfolk attacks, broke down in tearful sobs.

"But today, I solemnly declare to you..." After the moment of silence, Du Chen abruptly raised his voice. "Those accursed Merfolk no longer exist! Our fallen compatriots can now rest in peace!"

"Praise Lord Francis!" Led by members of the Holy Church, cheers rose in tumultuous waves. Du Chen smiled, waiting for the cheers to subside, then shifted the topic: "However, Merfolk are not the only problem that has plagued us for years! Remember, the scoundrels who attacked Newin Port a month ago, causing you to lose over a thousand loved ones, also include those bandits on land!"

As he delivered his speech, a cold glint appeared in Du Chen's eyes. Yes, the Merfolk deserved to die, but Adams, that mysterious Third Master, and the mysterious organization represented by Brockman – they all deserved to die! For the great catastrophe a month ago was orchestrated by all three factions working together!

Your deadly strife over the Star of Turaam has nothing to do with me, but you shouldn't have brought disaster upon Newin Port, causing a thousand of my people to die and tens of thousands to be maimed! This debt, I have recorded! You will pay the price!

Taking a deep breath, Du Chen spoke loudly, "Today, I don't want to offer words of encouragement or stir up emotions... I will simply ask you three questions!"

He raised his arm high. "First, I intend to completely clear out the bandits along the Newin River, but I only have three thousand new recruits. This is not enough, far from it! Can you, within the bounds of imperial law, provide me with enough fearless warrior-militiamen?"

"Yes!" The sound shook the heavens.

"Second, I plan to build a massive dam upstream on the Newin River to control floods. This will be a colossal undertaking, and my funds are insufficient. Can you work diligently for meager wages?"

"Yes!" The sound resonated throughout the entire city!

"Very well. For the third matter, the Merfolk destroyed half of our city..." Du Chen pointed to the ruined southern and eastern districts. "I want to rebuild this city, and it will no longer be merely a long-abandoned port. I will transform it into the most prosperous metropolis in Southern Lanning, on the Aethelgard Continent, and even across all Three Continents!"

The commoners' eyes immediately lit up. To be residents of a small port versus a grand metropolis – that was a difference of worlds!

"To rebuild the city, many of you may have to move out of your current homes and surrender your land. While I will offer generous compensation, I still want to ask: Are you willing?"

This time, there was a delay before the shouts erupted. "Willing!" "Our homes were originally given to us by Lord Francis!" "Yes, as long as there's compensation, we're willing to give up our land!"

The voices were jumbled, but the majority opinion was 'willing!' Du Chen breathed a sigh of relief. This proposal to expand the port into a city was the final page in Porter's dossier, involving countless complexities. He had genuinely feared it would stir up public resentment. But, if successful...

"Very well, I announce that from today onwards, the name Newin Port is history. In the future, there will only be... Durkes City!"

Amidst the cheers celebrating the birth of Durkes City, Cassian below the stage stared blankly at his Senior Brother, carefully pondering those three questions. But he was only twelve years old, and the complex issues made his mind feel like it was about to burst, yet he still found no answers!

He mulled over it bitterly until the speech ended and the commoners dispersed. Du Chen quietly came up behind him and spoke in a deep voice, "Do you understand what those three questions mean?" Cassian looked at Du Chen, bewildered.

"Life, currency, land – these are the fundamental pillars of the common people. If a Lord can make commoners willingly offer these to him, then he is a good Lord!"

Cassian abruptly clenched his fists. "I understand! So how can I make the commoners willingly give these?"

Du Chen smiled faintly. "It's very simple: give them more..."

He entered the Lord's Manor. "Give them more..." Cassian murmured this phrase. Meanwhile, at the edge of Hidden Boa Mountain, outside Newin Port – no, Durkes City – Constantine was preparing to demand an explanation from Du Chen. However, they were moving very, very slowly; in fact, they were standing still! "Andy! You..."

After the initial excitement of father and son reuniting, Constantine suddenly realized that his 'son,' whom he had never met before...