Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start

Chapter 466 - 439: Rapids Island Strikes It Rich

A massive shadow once again fell over the docks of Rapids Island, drawing the eyes of the busy workers.

Although the island’s inhabitants had grown accustomed to the Giant Dragon’s presence over the past few days, they still showed reverence and awe every time they saw it.

"Does it feel like the Giant Dragon has gotten bigger again?"

Karda, who was busy repairing the warships, asked with a hint of doubt. He had interacted with the Giant Dragon Carlos many times and was quite familiar with him.

It was obvious the Giant Dragon was larger today than ever before.

"You’re right, it definitely has!"

Reis, who had recently been helping defend Rapids Island, nodded in agreement. He’d had the same feeling.

Just then, Ronin activated Wind’s Wings and leaped from the dragon’s back, landing steadily on the deck of a warship.

"It’s the Lord!"

Karda and Reis were stunned for a moment upon seeing Ronin, then greeted him enthusiastically. The other busy Knights and Sailors also bowed in respect.

If they felt reverence for the Giant Dragon, then their feelings for its master standing before them bordered on fanatical worship.

After a brief greeting with the men, Ronin gestured for them to continue with their work.

"Carlos told me you captured three intact warships in the battle. What about this one?" he asked, pointing at the ship beneath his feet.

Karda explained, "This ship was pretty badly damaged. We only managed to tow it back in the last couple of days to see if it can be repaired."

"Also, Lord, aside from the warships, we also captured ten Magic Energy Cannons—one sixth-level and three fifth-level—along with nearly a thousand arrows and several hundred sets of high-quality armor."

Ronin’s eyes lit up with delight.

’Ten Magic Energy Cannons and three intact warships... A loss this great would make even the Fleming Clan, the overlords of the sea, feel the sting.’

"Congratulations, Karda. Rapids Island has really struck it rich this time!"

Speaking of which, Ronin had utterly dominated the war on all four fronts.

Karda remained modest, insisting that the credit belonged almost entirely to Carlos; they had only played a supporting role.

However, he took advantage of this victory to make a suggestion to Ronin:

"Lord, our port can barely accommodate so many ships now. I’d like to expand it. However, we lack the startup capital, and there are very few skilled professionals here."

Back when we only had one or two ships, Captain Vic and a few sailors and repairmen could handle everything.

But with so many ships now, the port needs professional harbor pilots, or else mistakes are bound to happen.

"And what’s your plan?"

"I plan to recruit more people from Horn Bay, but to convince them to come to this still-barren island, we’ll definitely have to offer high wages, and maybe even grant them some land here."

Ronin understood. Karda was short on money.

He smiled. "You’re the Governor of Rapids Island. You can decide how you want to develop it."

Arming Rapids Island and even building a shipyard here was already part of Ronin’s plan. It was just that Wubei Port wasn’t finished yet, so the work hadn’t been assigned to this location.

If Karda could recruit the men and start the work himself, Ronin was more than willing to provide financial support.

"I’ll give you Thirty Thousand Gold Coins to start. Go ahead and recruit the personnel you need."

Karda’s face lit up with joy. "Thank you for your generosity, Lord. I believe that in the future, Rapids Island will become the most prosperous area in your domain."

Ronin couldn’t help but smile. The once melancholic, down-and-out man was now much more cheerful and driven.

"Last time, you told me you found Dream Flowers on the island. What’s the status on that?"

The Dream Flower was one of the ingredients for the Support Enhancement Potion and was crucial for Elron’s magic potion-making.

"Lord Elron has already been here to survey the area. He taught us how to cultivate them. Based on the amount growing on a few of the island’s mountains, if we plant them properly, we can have a sustainable harvest for many years."

Ronin nodded. "From now on, whenever you transport Dream Flowers, timber, or anything else to Wubei Territory, treat it as a normal sale and settle the accounts. As for the specific prices and payment methods, find some time to go to Wubei Territory and work out the details with Chahar."

He knew full well that developing Rapids Island would require far more than thirty thousand gold coins, so he decided to use the island’s resources to support an internal economic cycle within his domain.

Since Rapids Island had resources, it could sell them to circulate money within the territory. This would also prevent the problem of them having to ask Ronin for money every time they were short.

It was fine if he visited Rapids Island frequently, but if he didn’t come for half a year, wouldn’t development here just grind to a halt?

Therefore, it was better to leave matters of construction and finance to the people under him.

After all, his domain was large now. To manage it well, he had to establish a system. Ronin only needed to be the creator and maintainer of that system.

Reis listened to their conversation without interrupting. Only after they had mostly finished discussing the affairs of Rapids Island did he voice the question on his mind.

"Lord, since you’ve come to Rapids Island, does that mean the battle in Moonlight Valley is over? My father..."

"The battle in Moonlight Valley is over, and we won a decisive victory. As for Sharp Horn City... rest assured, no so-called pirates attacked Dennis Port."

Back then, to prevent an attack on Dennis Port from Screaming Island, Lurans and Ronin decided not only to decline Vitorino’s offer of reinforcements but also to send Toru with the First Knight Order from Wushan Castle to defend Sharp Horn City.

It was the first time in thirty years that Sharp Horn City had received protection from Wushan Castle. Regrettably, however, the enemy never showed up.

Ronin briefly recounted the war situation in Wushan Territory, and his story made both men’s blood boil with excitement.

Attacked on four fronts, yet victorious on all of them—it was a great triumph for Wushan Territory!

"By the way, Lord, we’re also holding a special prisoner," Reis said with a smile. "He has a very special identity."

"Oh?"

Ronin’s interest was instantly piqued. "And who might that be?"

Reis glanced at Karda, who replied with a grin, "The lord of Crescent Island, Viscount Patridge."

"That day, before their warship even got close, the Giant Dragon snatched Patridge with his claws. He spared his life, but he broke every bone in his body. Now he’s bedridden and can’t take care of himself. I found a woman from Blue Sky Town to look after him."

Karda took a captive of such high status quite seriously. Generally speaking, captured nobles were entitled to a certain level of preferential treatment.

Ronin had looked into Screaming Island and knew that Viscount Patridge of Crescent Island was a Meteor Knight.

A sarcastic smile touched his lips. "So MacLaren even sent a Meteor Knight. It seems he was dead set on taking Rapids Island by force."

Karda also chuckled. "It’s a pity he didn’t expect your dragon to be so powerful, or that you had already set up defenses here."

"Come on, take me to see him."

In a small, relatively clean room, a female servant was dozing in the corner while Patridge moaned in pain from his bed.

As a Meteor Knight, his physique was exceptionally strong.

Even after having every bone in his body crushed, he had managed to cling to life.

However, it would be a very long time before he could move again.

"Hey, Auntie, what do you think you’re doing?"

Karda’s call dragged the woman from her dreams. Wiping drool from the corner of her mouth, she scrambled to her feet in a panic.

"I’m sorry, my lord, I’m so sorry! I just accidentally dozed off..."

Karda felt a bit awkward and didn’t reprimand her further. He just waved for her to stand aside and then led Ronin into the room.

The room had an unpleasant smell. The thoughtful Reis Knight opened a window, letting in a fresh sea breeze.

"To make the noble Viscount of Crescent Island suffer in such a small hovel... my sincerest apologies."

The unfamiliar voice made Patridge open his eyes.

He had never seen Ronin before, but he could deduce the man’s identity from Karda’s and Reis’s attitudes.

"Baron of Rapids Island, Lord Ronin! Treating a nobleman like this is disgraceful! It shows a complete lack of noble etiquette and brings shame upon the Wushan Clan!"

Ronin’s lips twitched into a smirk. "It seems you’re in high spirits. That must mean my Governor has been feeding you, giving you drink, and serving you well, letting you sleep on this relatively clean bed."

Hearing this, Patridge was on the verge of losing his mind.

’Yes, he was being fed and given drink, but what kind of slop was it?’

’And that woman! Her rough hands were coarse enough to chafe his skin raw.’

’He was a nobleman used to a life of luxury! When had he ever suffered such torment?’

"Ransom! I want to pay my ransom!"

Patridge shouted, "Crescent Island is willing to pay the ransom!"