Chapter 144:1,500 Kilograms per Acre Yield (2)

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

As the ships sailed into the distance, gradually fading from view, Anina took a seat.

The fleet set sail, heading towards the stormy seas beyond, gradually disappearing above the horizon.

The four ships carried a total of 200 elite pirates, 150 Murloc Rangers, several enslaved creatures serving auxiliary roles, and five giant octopuses that had just been recruited the day before, lurking beneath the sea’s surface.

In addition, Sparrow accompanied the fleet as the overseeing hero, ensuring surveillance.

Aside from selling the two ships’ cargo, Sparrow would also take the opportunity to plunder other merchant vessels to supplement their resources.

With this configuration, Ji Chen believed that the fleet would safely reach its destination and return with the desired resources.

After bidding farewell to Raymond and the others, Ji Chen had other plans.

He intended to set sail again in a couple of days.

The goal was the lair of the Black Skeleton Pirate’s treasure map.

After the battle outside the Mystic Realm Gate last time, the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew suffered heavy losses and hurriedly retreated to their headquarters to lick their wounds. They were currently at their weakest.

The Bauhinia Alliance and several commercial alliances wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to annihilate the pirates who had caused them so much trouble, once and for all.

However, the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew could roam the Western Central Ocean not only because of their powerful warships but also due to their well-hidden lairs, allowing them to elude pursuit.

Fortunately, the elite pirates that Ji Chen had recruited knew the location of their headquarters.

As their lord, it was only natural for Ji Chen to share this information and reveal the specific region of their base.

Although the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew had suffered heavy losses, they still had several intact pirate ships. Going there would not be fruitless.

Coincidentally, after the departure of the ocean fleet, only the New Moon and a three-masted warship remained on the New Moon Islands, making the place feel rather empty.

This was a perfect opportunity to seize those pirate ships.

Wait, why did I say “perfect opportunity” again?

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Ji Chen was wary of the numerous warships of the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew in the past, but now that they had suffered heavy losses and only had a few ships left…

The saying “to kick a dog when it’s down” applied perfectly.

Naturally, this opportunity couldn’t be missed.

Furthermore, there were rumors that the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew had plundered a treasure ship bound for a northern continent principality two months ago. Inside, there was a batch of precious resources that hadn’t been sold yet, including mithril and precious metals.

If the rumors were true, then Ji Chen had even more reason to make the trip.

After all, with so many people eyeing them, it was only a matter of time before someone else took those rare resources. In that case, it was better to take advantage of them himself.

According to the pirates, the Black Skeleton Pirate Crew’s headquarters was located between the northwest of the New Moon Islands and the northeast of the Silver Islands, in the sea region between the two.

If they encountered no obstacles, it would take three to four days to arrive.

With the round trip and the time needed for the attack, it would take at least ten days, a quite lengthy period.

So Ji Chen decided to first take care of the affairs of the Crown of the Ocean before setting off.

After contemplating for a moment, he decided to check on the progress of the sea rice cultivation.

He swiftly traversed the path opened in the jungle.

Half an hour later.

The continuous jungle disappeared, and a vast lowland appeared before them.

Across the lowland, patches of vibrant green ocean thrived. Salty seawater flowed into the lowland through open channels, converging into fields ideal for cultivating seaweed.

The sea rice cultivation was thriving, with strands of rice-like seaweed hanging down, emanating a lush green color.

The vibrant scene was truly pleasing to the eye.

Some natives moved about the rice fields, diligently taking care of the sea rice. It was believed that before long, the fields would turn into a golden ocean.

At this moment, one of the natives spotted Ji Chen and hurriedly approached, bowing and asking, “My Lord, why have you come here?”

“I just came to see how things are going here. The sea rice is growing well. You have all worked hard,” Ji Chen said kindly, patting the native’s shoulder.

“It’s not difficult at all, My Lord. It’s our duty,” the natives quickly replied, their faces filled with sincere smiles.

Receiving praise from their lord and seeing their work acknowledged, they suddenly felt invigorated, as if their fatigue had disappeared.

“Now, how many acres of sea rice have been planted? How much longer until it’s ready for harvest?” Ji Chen asked, patting the shoulder of one of the natives amiably.

“Begging your pardon, My Lord. We have already planted over 500 acres of sea rice, and it will take a little over a month to mature. If we use the highly nutritious bird droppings as fertilizer, the yield could reach 1,400 to 1,600 units.”

Over 500 acres… with an average yield of 1,500 units per acre, that’s a total of… 750,000 units of food!?

Ji Chen was shocked by this conclusion.

That’s 750,000 units of food!

Considering the residents’ daily consumption of three units per person, it would be enough to feed around 2,000 people in the Crown of the Ocean for 125 days.

If they factored in the military units, it would be even more, at least over 100 days.

However, the sea rice only took two months, 60 days, to mature in one cycle. Almost enough time for two harvests within 125 days.

In other words, the Crown of the Ocean had finally entered the stage of self-sufficiency.

This realization filled Ji Chen with joy.

Finally, there was no need to worry about food!

“Keep expanding the seawater rice cultivation area. More individuals will join in due course. These seaweed fields are vital to the survival of our territory, and we must not make any mistakes! If we achieve a plentiful harvest in the future, 1 will reward you accordingly based on the circumstances. Do not let me down; meet my expectations,” Ji Chen said.

“Yes!”

Upon hearing this, the natives earnestly responded.

Satisfied, Ji Chen nodded and let them return to their work.

Then he looked up at the clear sky.

The weather was good today, so he decided to go around the island and its surroundings, hunting down beasts and monsters. It had been a while since he had gone hunting, and there was nothing else to do today…

With that in mind, he waved his hand and set off with his army.

They began clearing the wild creatures and beasts around the New Moon Islands.

The creatures and monsters that had finally found peace for a few days were now panicking again, as the terrifying upright apes had returned!

For the entire day, not only the island’s creatures and monsters suffered, but the marine life near the coastline also faced the same fate.

Their screams and howls echoed throughout the area.

It was only after nightfall that Ji Chen returned with his troops, carrying a multitude of prey, which piled up like mountains in the square.

The residents cheered upon seeing such a large quantity of game and eagerly began carrying and processing the meat.

Even Wilus, burdened by various affairs and filled with worries, couldn’t help but smile.

With so much food coming in, the morale of the residents was lifted.

The captive members of the Chamber of Commerce, who had been working with tools, were wide-eyed, almost drooling, eager to rush forward and start devouring.

During their captivity, they had not tasted meat for days. They had been surviving on dry rations and vegetarian food, making their taste buds go numb.

Just as the captives stared longingly, the residents poked them with sticks and sneered, “What’s the matter? Craving for meat? If you work harder, the kind Lord might show mercy and reward you with a meat feast.”

Being poked, the captives seethed with anger but dared not show the slightest hint of it.

In the past few days, they had experienced the consequences of anger—a whole day without food and having to do twice the work the next day.

As for resistance and escape? Several individuals who had taken substantive actions had already been pierced by the spears of the Murloc Rangers and met a swift demise.

The grindstone of life had long dulled their sharp edges.

They sighed and wondered when they could leave this place!

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