"Damn..." Bag muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with traces of alcohol and gritted teeth, "Who the hell said this was a shabby little port? This doesn’t look like a port... It looks more like the offshore treasury of so dog official from the Empire."
He kicked the side of the ship, feeling a slight urge to retreat, but it quickly dissipated. Despite the alcohol filling his head, his mind was still functioning.
"Saying we won’t fight now? Then I might have to jump into the sea myself tonight." Bag said quietly, his mouth twisting into a grin, "If this bunch of drunkards hears I’ve backed down, they’d tie to the mast and feed to the seabirds."
He suddenly turned back, raising his voice, filled with both alcohol and fury: "Don’t charge during the day, do it at night! We’ll launch a surprise attack under the cover of darkness."
The helmsman had just nodded and hadn’t turned around when the cabin erupted into chaos.
"Brilliant, boss!"
"Hey, his brain hasn’t completely burned out, he really has a way with things!"
"Now that’s a strategy!"
"Killing at night, clean and sharp!"
So started clapping the deck, while others directly raised their axes and spun in a circle as if they were about to dance.
The air was filled with drunkenness, the sll of sweat, and excited shouts.
Bag had intended to curse a bit more, but with all the chaotic flattery, he couldn’t help but let his lips curl upwards.
"A bunch of drunkards, another complint and I’ll start believing I’m an Imperial general." He cursed, but didn’t stop them.
He even stepped forward, looking at that light in the mist, which seed more and more like a seductive woman.
Bag chuckled, raising his hand: "Turn the rudder west, slow down. No noise, wait for my command."
......
The eting hall was located on the high third floor of Dawn Port’s administrative building. The building’s exterior walls were painted red and blue, completely different from the wooden huts of the past.
The only unchanged feature was the emblem of the sun eting the tides hanging on the exterior wall.
From the window, the entire port basin and newly built breakwater could be seen, with several ships docked at designated spots, as the fog gradually dispersed, revealing the port’s outline.
Louis sat in the main seat, wearing an everyday uniform without any insignia.
Eliot, Russell, Bernard, and Rhys stood by the table, ready to report on the progress of their respective work.
Everyone was fully prepared, knowing that today’s reports were not only about the future of Dawn Port but also directly related to their standing in Louis’s eyes.
In the corner of the eting hall, a conference board from the wooden hut era was still preserved.
The surface was wiped clean, with the six phases of port construction and current progress listed in Red Tide scripts.
Red lines marked the completed parts, while the unfinished parts were attached with note papers, appearing sowhat cluttered in places.
Even though the board’s content was clear, Louis insisted each official report in person.
"Data is data, judgnt is judgnt." Louis glanced at the seated individuals beside the table and didn’t waste words: "Start with the port engineering."
Russell stood up and reported: "Currently, the basics are ninety-five percent complete. The breakwater structure is stable, berths and tracks have been put into dispatch, and the sewage channels are smooth.
The cargo handling area is not yet finished; materials were delayed by two days, expected delivery within fourteen days."
Louis nodded slightly and then asked: "What about the transportation tracks? Will they freeze and crack in winter?"
Russell looked down at the board in his hand: "Pressure tests have been conducted. Problematic areas have been reinforced with modified buffer adhesive, it will hold."
"And the welded seams?"
"We’ve inspected a part of them, temperature differences have little effect, and arrangents have been made to check all remaining seams."
"Hmm, treat it seriously." Louis murmured, "Simply saying there’s no issue won’t stop a snowstorm."
Russell didn’t retort, just nodded.
"Next one." Louis gestured with his hand.
Bernard stood up; he was now the shipbuilding chief, having spent a lifeti building ships. Sitting at the eting table to officially report for the first ti, he looked a bit nervous.
"Uh... The batch of warships nad Dawn, nine have been constructed." He swallowed, "All have undergone launch tests and have been through several combat drills... During simulated enemy attacks, they successfully intercepted twice and showed good pursuit accuracy."
He paused, glanced quickly at Louis, and added another sentence: "Average hit rate is above eighty percent."
"Tested in extre seas?"
"Scheduled for ice field test next week. The ribs are of double structure, with buffer space inside."
Louis nodded.
Seeing him silent, Bernard mustered the courage to continue: "For our two new models, Dawn and Tide, the blueprints have been finalized... remodeled based on your previous ideas."
He hesitated for a mont, then added softly, "Larger, with more draft, capable of carrying people and cargo, with reserved steam engine space in the aft compartnt... also based on your last sketch."
"Can it withstand sudden gusts in sea fog?"
"Yes, the keel is made of Cold Iron. I used to not believe in these fanciful ideas, but now I’m truly convinced. Your previous designs seed odd at first, but all worked after trying them."
Bernard scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "I’ve spent decades building ships, first ti sitting at this table. To be honest... a bit uneasy."
Louis gently said: "As long as you explain clearly. Take it slowly."
He paused, "Keep an eye on the blueprints, the rhythm of the shipyard mustn’t be disrupted. There’s no rush, but no lapses allowed."
The third to stand was Eliot, as stalwart as ever in deanor.
"Three rounds of fleet training completed. Current tactics cover night combat, long-range projection, and boarding operations. Sailors are in stable condition."
"Casualties?"
"Three minor injuries, fractures, no fatalities. dical team keeps pace, and food supply is stable."
Louis didn’t respond imdiately, tapping the table as he thought, then said: "Increase the frequency of knights’ hot als, serve hot soup during night shift shift changes."
Eliot nodded.
The last was Rhys, now the city dispatching officer and one of the earliest refugees to join Louis.
Louis initially discovered her managent talent through the Daily Intelligence System and promoted her as a temporary coordinator for Red Tide Territory’s construction, gradually advancing to this day.
Dressed in official robes for the first ti, his deanor was sowhat reserved, but he spoke faster than the others, as if accustod to switching between multiple affairs.
"The urban area layout is stable, and coordination among residential areas, workshops, and markets is smooth. Three bathhouses, two theaters, and two groups each for laundry and infirmaries. Population over three thousand, security is relatively stable."
"Anyone still sleeping outside?"
Rhys shook his head: "Currently none, but so workers are still housed in wooden huts; seventy winter shelters are still lacking."
"Building material status?"
"Inventory is at fifty percent."
"Submit the plan to in three days. If insufficient, transfer from Red Tide City."
Louis paused and added: "Don’t let people worry about leaking roofs this winter."
Rhys replied: "I’ll have soone keep an eye on things these two nights, especially in corner housing areas. If any stove issues arise, our warehouse has spare brazier baskets, enough for a few days."
Louis nodded: "Good job, keep an eye on it, ensure no one is left behind, especially in schools and hospitals."
"Understood, I’ll reconfirm with the hospital administrator and also check on the school." Rhys nodded in response.
After Rhys sat down, several officials who hadn’t reported yet took turns standing up to report on matters like port patrol scheduling, shipyard logistics, supply procurent, and external district site selection.
Their tones, although not as seasoned as the main executives, were clear and their answers based on practical experience.
Louis didn’t interrupt, simply listened quietly, occasionally jotting down notes.
Although he had been away from Dawn Port for so ti, the city hadn’t loosened up; in fact, it was more orderly than he had anticipated.
Once the last person sat down, Louis swept a gaze around the room and said: "There are three months left before the sea freezes. Our goal is not just to complete a project, but the foundation of all Dawn Port.
City, port, shipyard, citizens, everything must remain tight. Ensuring everyone’s stable winter is our most crucial task moving forward. Though there are many tasks, as long as plans are clear and protocols are precise, nothing is impossibly unmanageable."
After the words fell, the eting hall was silent for a mont, followed by the sound of chairs being moved in unison.
The officials gradually stood up, first nodding, then applauding in unison.
The eting then adjourned, and the crowd gradually filed out of the hall. So were exchanging whispers, while others had already taken out notebooks to modify scheduling sheets, all walking with quicker steps.
Once the last footsteps faded away, the hall returned to silence, leaving only Eliot behind as Louis had requested him to stay.
User Comments
0 comments from readers