Nearly two days later, the ship, laden with a group of shipwrights, quietly emerged from the Calm Belt, arriving at the docks of Morass unnoticed by the outside world.
The people on the shore were all stunned when they saw the giant beast pulling the ship. If Wilder hadn't appeared at the bow, Vice and the others would have likely attacked, treating it as a major threat.
Nevertheless, the Jiao's terrifying aura still made everyone's hearts tremble. Even Vice couldn't help but swallow hard as he looked at the massive creature.
With this, Morass welcomed its third top-tier combatant—the Great Jiao. And it was the most terrifying one yet, giving off an even more powerful feeling than Vice or Claire.
Putting everything else aside, even Wilder couldn't match its physical strength.
As Wilder and the hundred-plus shipwrights disembarked, Vice was the first to greet them, though his eyes never left the Great Jiao. He swallowed and said, "Boss… where did you find this big guy? This is… this is too much."
As he spoke, Vice even raised a hand and waved at the Great Jiao, intending to say hello, only to be met with its cold, crimson eyes.
"Holy crap… talk about unfriendly," Vice said, sheepishly lowering his hand.
Wilder offered a rare joke. "You know it's not a person, so where would you find any friendliness?"
"Uh…" Vice paused. "That's true."
The others were just like Vice. After hearing the explanation from the disembarking shipwrights, they learned that the Great Jiao was the Boss's subordinate. Filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement, they all tried to get closer and greet it, but without exception, they were met with a gaze that looked like it was ready to eat them at any moment. Even the lovely and beautiful Claire was startled by its stare.
"This… this guy… Boss, are you planning to make this guy one of the top combatants? With that temper… oh, for crying out loud," Vice said, pointing at the Jiao, at a loss for words.
"Nyahahaha, that's not for me to decide; it's decided by its combat power. Putting it simply, you couldn't beat this guy, Vice."
"Really?" Vice wasn't defiant upon hearing this, but rather incredulous.
Wilder nodded and said seriously, "Really."
"No way…!" Vice didn't think Wilder would exaggerate, and he believed what he said was true. If nothing else, the sheer pressure this big guy exuded was enough to tell him that much.
"Sigh… I'm no match for a beast," Vice lamented, looking up at the Jiao's proud and aloof head.
As the group discussed, the ship's moorings were untied. A tidal wave of swamp erupted from Wilder's body, enveloping the Great Jiao and pulling it back into his swamp space. The entire process was incredibly cooperative, making everyone who witnessed it envious.
Afterward, the group led the hundred-plus shipwrights on their way. It was only right to be hospitable to the newcomers and arrange a welcome banquet.
When the procession arrived at the royal palace, some went to prepare the feast, while others took the shipwrights to bathe and experience the local culture of Morass, though there wasn't much to experience just yet.
Of course, through the introductions from the accompanying members of Morass, the hundred-plus shipwrights finally learned what kind of place they had come to, what kind of force they had joined, and Wilder's true identity. When they first heard the news, every single one of them was stunned.
"It's… it's actually Lucifer Wilder." Beck and the others stared with their mouths agape, swallowing hard. They were just glad they hadn't said anything they shouldn't have or shown any disrespect on the way here. The mere thought of Wilder's fearsome reputation sent a shiver of fear down their spines.
Regardless of Beck and the others' reactions, Wilder convened a meeting in the main hall of the palace, issuing a series of tasks.
Sitting on the throne, Wilder's gaze swept over those below, landing on an old man. "Agriculture Department."
"Here." The old man stepped forward, looking at Wilder with confusion.
Wilder didn't waste words, giving a direct order. "I don't care what methods you use, whether you transplant from the outside or cultivate them yourselves. Starting today, you will plant trees."
"Yes." The old man from the Agriculture Department answered just as directly, but he quickly looked up and asked, "But Your Majesty… what are we planting trees for?"
"Shipbuilding requires a large amount of timber. In addition, building houses also uses a lot of wood. You're in charge of this. You're the expert on what quality of trees to use and where to plant them. After surveying, give me a plan. Remember, don't limit yourself to one thing. If you can harvest other things while planting trees, even better. Also, don't be afraid of planting too many. If you have the ability, you can turn all of Morass into a forest."
"Yes." Hearing this, the old man's confusion vanished, replaced by excitement.
Planting trees… I love planting things more than anything! And His Majesty is telling me to plant as many as I can! This is great! Not just in the uninhabited areas, I'll even make use of the city. I'll plant short fruit trees in the middle of the roads to act as barriers, leaving a gap every six meters. And next to the short trees, I can plant other mutually beneficial plants. Hmm… this is wonderful!
"In addition, the main focus for the near future will be on shipbuilding and trade relations." Wilder's eyes shone as he looked at the crowd below. "I hereby announce the establishment of the Royal Shipyard."
As Wilder's words fell, the hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in a wave of enthusiastic cheers!
"His Majesty is awesome!" Vice's cheer was the most genuine and fitting. The others quickly followed suit, whether they were cadres or scholars, all chanting in unison: "His Majesty is awesome!"
Everyone understood the importance of establishing a shipyard. It was the foundation for trade with the outside world. And strictly speaking, in Morass, a shipyard was even more important than in other places!
Why?
Because the ships of Morass were different from others. The establishment of the shipyard meant that Morass could now sail in the Calm Belt.
Seeing the excitement of everyone below, Wilder smiled faintly, then his expression turned serious. "Research Department."
"Here."
"Construction Department."
"Here."
"Department of Industry."
"Here."
Wilder looked at the three department heads who had stepped forward and said gravely, "The three of you will be responsible for establishing the shipyard. It must be up and running within two days! The Research Department will be responsible for providing the ships' power systems. The Construction Department will be in charge of building the docks and piers, and you must listen to the opinions and requirements of the shipwrights. The Department of Industry will handle all other related matters. At the same time, plans for new piers and monitoring fortresses in all directions must be drawn up and construction must begin as soon as possible."
"Yes!" the three of them replied loudly, their faces grim and solemn.
The task Wilder had given them was a heavy one. A shipyard wasn't just a single dock; it was the construction of several huge docks in different directions within Morass. In the future, it could even develop into a city centered around shipbuilding.
If that were all, it would be manageable. But the tasks that followed were the main point. Wilder had mentioned the piers and monitoring fortresses before, and although everyone was mentally prepared, they hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. To create a complete plan in such a short time would require a great deal of investigation and on-site surveys, followed by calculations. This would take a lot of time. And when it came to construction, the materials, manpower, and financial resources involved made the difficulty unimaginable.
Piers were one thing, but the so-called monitoring fortresses were military installations for coastal defense. These would generally be located near the piers, and according to Wilder's plan, the coastline of Morass was to be densely dotted with these fortresses.
The word "densely" alone was enough to imagine the sheer scale of the project.
Fortunately, it didn't need to be completed to that extent in the short term, nor was it possible. This project would be gradually expanded as they developed.
Although the responsibility and pressure were immense, the three of them showed no signs of retreat or fear. Instead, a sense of excitement and fighting spirit rose from deep within them.
Once a project like this was completed, one could only imagine the stir it would cause in the world.
This was unprecedented! No other island or kingdom possessed such a thing.
"Very good." Wilder was very satisfied with their solemn and powerful reply. "Next, I will outline the short-term plans and steps. The issue of trade with the outside world will have to be put on hold for a while. At this stage, we will focus on internal development, and our main area of growth will be shipbuilding."
"Once the first batch of ships is built, with powered vessels, the common people can go out to sea to fish. They can fish in the nearby waters that are not part of the Calm Belt to increase their income. But remember, they must not go beyond this range to trade with the outside world. Otherwise… Big Mom is watching closely."
No one dared to take a risk on this point. They all knew Wilder's choice was the right one. Several batches of Big Mom's spies had already been discovered entering the waters of Morass recently.
"So, we can choose to fish in the nearby Calm Belt, or trade directly with the islands and countries within it. However, as far as I know, the closest country in the Calm Belt to Morass is not that close, and it is a small, backward country. It won't be easy to make progress in that area."
At this point, Wilder paused, as if remembering something. He turned to Claire. "Claire, find an opportunity to contact the Pirate Empress. Perhaps we can establish a good cooperative and trading relationship with the Kuja. The Kuja possess great military strength, and most importantly, compared to other forces, they are not cruel. Relatively speaking, the danger to our civilians in trading with her will be much lower."
Wilder's words made everyone's eyes light up. It was indeed a good idea.
Claire replied, "Yes."
"But there's no rush. We'll have to wait until the first batch of ships is built. In addition, while we are establishing the Royal Shipyard, we must also ensure that more people learn this skill. Talent Development Department."
"Here."
"Formulate a plan for the establishment of a shipbuilding academy. I want to see it within three days."
"Yes," Akira replied with a nod.
Wilder then gave various short-term tasks and plans to the other cadres and department heads.
"Discuss the detailed plans among yourselves, draw them up into a chart, and I will review them then. If there are no problems, meeting adjourned!"
That night, a lively banquet was held in the royal palace to welcome the arrival of the shipwrights. This was a sign of how much Wilder valued these people, and it was also to help them genuinely integrate and see themselves as a part of this place.
Of course, the treatment Wilder offered them was not bad, which was one of the reasons they were willing to follow him.
A few days later, the Royal Shipyard was established, and construction began. Convoys of transport carriages rumbled toward their destination—a new, large pier on the eastern side of Morass, facing the depths of the Calm Belt.
The procession transporting materials and equipment stretched from the Direct Rule District to the furthest district of the capital. This massive convoy had to make three round trips to transport all the necessary building materials and machinery for the shipyard.
At the same time, construction began on a total of eighteen large piers in all directions.
A large number of impoverished people living on the brink of starvation were recruited into the construction teams. They worked with great enthusiasm, and as a result, some civilians were able to survive.
Although the capital was developing, Morass was too large. Many areas were still inhabited by self-sufficient civilians, and many were starving to death.
Fortunately, the war had ended with the establishment of Morass. Now, whether they were the ones who had survived in the capital with the great help of Morass, or those who had not had the chance to receive aid, they all had a foundation for a stable life. Without war and turmoil, towns would sooner or later be established in various places as people struggled to survive. People would gather together for warmth, and in that warmth, they would build stable homes.
Wilder did not ignore these people. This was his country; he had no reason to ignore them. Therefore, to the best of his ability, he helped them in the ways he could now, at least to ensure their survival.
If for no other reason, it was because they were the incubators of future cities and towns. One day, these towns would grow, prosper, and bring progress and benefits to the country.
Wilder did not participate in the subsequent events. After seeing that everything was proceeding in an orderly manner, he once again plunged into the Beastland forest to train.
Time was short, and he had to seize every opportunity to grow stronger.
"I hope to see a different scene when I come out again, and I hope… my strength has also grown commendably."
With those words, Wilder once again temporarily handed over all administrative authority to Claire and buried himself in the Beastland forest, training day and night.
His physique had already reached an invisible bottleneck in his last training session. To grow further, he had to switch things up.
So, this time, Wilder did not focus on his physique. And his Observation Haki had already reached a powerful level, or rather, it had reached the pinnacle in terms of application, after the last time. So, this time, Wilder's training plan focused mainly on Swamp Armament and the development of his swamp gas.
Swamp Armament was an idea Wilder had wanted to implement for a long time. He had had this thought ever since his Armament Haki broke through during his fight with Big Mom on the battlefield, but it had been delayed due to other more pressing matters. Now, he finally had the chance.
As for the swamp gas, that went without saying. As long as he could develop it to the point where he could use it freely at will, Wilder was confident that his combat power would rise by several levels.