<h4>Chapter 151. Shining And Shimmery</h4>
Golden sunlight bathed Hope Ind. In a shed erected above a gentle rise, a topless Charles studied a detailed map of the ind in his hands.
"This plot ofnd can be designated as a residential area, this section for the harbor district, and this fairly t terrain can be used for cultivation," Charles pondered as his hands added quick sketches on the map. "However, the ryegrass of this subterranean space will surely wither under such intense sunlight. We''ll need to find more suitable crops to cultivate."
Drawing maps was of no challenge to Charles. Soon enough, he hadpleted the blueprint of the entire ind. While ind nning was typically a task for experts, unfortunately, theycked someone like that on the ind, so the responsibility was naturally thrust upon Charles.
It had been a month since they had sent the photos out. With ample time on his hands, Charles started working on his duties as the governor of Hope Ind.
However, his actions weren''t solely because of his new title. He had another intention. If he did find his family and the surface world was not habitable, then he would be able to bring them down to Hope Ind as a n B.
With the structured map in his hands, Charles emerged from the shed.
Surveying the expanse before him, the ind was peppered with makeshift shelters erected by the crew members. From an aerial view, the arrangement resembled a sprawling, chunky centipede nestled within the forest.
On such a picturesque ind, the crew was no longer content to stay under the shelters. Many could be seen running around withrge leaves acting as makeshift sun umbres. They sampled an array of fruits found on the ind, and despite having been poisoned several times, they remained undeterred.
Their adventurous spirits led them to explore every nook and cranny of the ind, and at the same time, they also gathered essential information for Charles.
Hope Ind was vast, its area stretching slightly beyond Charles'' expectations. Measuring 63 kilometers in length and 42 kilometers in width, the ind''s shape resembled an irregrly shaped polygon.
Forests and shrubs covered most of the terrain, and thend was predominantly t without any significant peaks. The most ideal construction site was the Foundation''s ruins. Charles nned to establish that area as the central ind district.
Just as Charles was admiring his territory, he noticed the sailors chopping down trees once again in the far distance. His brows furrowed in disapproval, and he sprinted toward them.
Arriving at the scene, he found a topless Dipp with an oversized leaf umbre overhead. The young man was enthusiastically shouting orders.
"Stop! Did I not explicitly say no more logging?" Charles barked.
Dipp turned with a grin stered on his face and said, "Captain, we n to build a governor''s office for you! The Waverazor''s carpenters are really amazing! We''ll definitely construct the most magnificent mansion in the entire world just for you!"
"The mansion can wait. No more cutting down of trees. I''m not joking about it. This is an order," Charles stated firmly.
Felling trees was simple, but renting them proved to be much more challenging. Charles didn''t want his ind to turn barren in such a short span of time.
As Dipp trudged back dejectedly toward the makeshift shelter, Charles called out to him. He knew he had to find something productive for the restless young man to do to upy his time.
"Dipp, gather a team and log every nt species on the ind. And make a detailed note on the edible ones."
Trading coal was clearly not an option. Beyond its radiant sunlight, the true treasure of Hope Indy in its distinctive fruits. This could very well be the ind''s golden business opportunity.
<i>"Sir, reporting to request an additional two hours of activity time," </i>Richard''s yful voice suddenly sounded in Charles'' head.
<i>"What''s your purpose this time?"</i> Charles asked.
<i>"I have to prepare gifts for our sister. We''ve been out for so long; we can''t possibly return empty-handed, right? We ought to bring back some local specialties," </i>Richard tried to justify himself.
"So your trip to the shorest night was to gather these <i>local specialties </i>as well?" Charles retorted, and Richard fell silent instantly.
Charles didn''t press on. He already knew what his other persona was thinking, and asking any more questions would be a waste of time. Both of them were bound to have a showdown someday, but that day wasn''t today.
Just when Charles turned back and was about to return to the shed and add more details to his ind''s blueprint, a sudden cacophony of ship horns caught his attention.
Not just one, but dozens of ship horns red in perfect unison. ording to themon code, that meant to be on the highest alert.
<i>Why would the guarding ships sound the highest alert? </i>In an instant, the oppressive shadow of dread, Sottom, emerged in Charles'' mind.
Moments ago, the crew members had been basking in joy. But now, they raced frenziedly under the shelter toward the coast.
However, when they arrived at the sandy beach, they froze in their spots. What seemed like another sun was rising from the southern horizon.
Snatching the telescope from a nearby sailor, Charles glimpsed into it and discerned the true identity of the <i>sun.</i>
The colossal ship gleamed a shimmery gold and spanned a staggering four hundred meters. The dazzling beams of light bounced off the mirrors on the ship and pierced through the surrounding darkness.
A surge of relief flooded Charles as he noticed the distinctive white triangle emblem on the ship''s hull. They weren''t pirates of Sottom but disciples of the Divine Light Order.
Ships of various sizes surrounded the gigantic ship belonging to the Divine Light Order.
The armada sailing toward Hope Ind was a spectacr sight. Charles felt as though he was witnessing a grand naval parade.
If Charles was overwhelmed by the spectacle before him, those onboard the ships were even more so. Their reactions were simr to how Charles and his fleet had been when they first arrived. They either stood motionless in awe or continuously pped themselves to confirm their reality.
As the fleet drew nearer and was close to running aground, Charles hurriedly gestured to the Narwhale to st the horn as a warning.
Immediately resting, the shining and shimmery golden ship rapidly released smallnding boats, which darted toward the shore. Some impatient souls who couldn''t get onto the boats jumped overboard and swam frantically toward the beach.
Witnessing their crazed behaviors from the beach, Charles gathered his men and shouted in urgency, "Stay out of the sunlight! It''s deadly! Walk under the shelter!"
Even though Charles had reacted timely, a dozen or so individuals fell face-down onto the sand. Serene smiles graced their visages as though they had returned to their mother''s embrace.
The multitude disembarking from the ship in batches soon crowded the makeshift shelter constructed by Charles and his men. They were in a state of fervent excitement as they scanned their surroundings while their voices merged into a continuous hum.
The ovepping of voices made it hard for Charles to even single out someone for conversation.
Just as Charles was on the verge of a headache from the surrounding din, an eagerly-looking man with a monocle and a neat mustache approached him.
"Mr. Charles, I''m George, the branch manager of the Coral Archipgo Explorers Association. Please sign here, and your ownership of this ind will be registered with the Association."
Taking the paper in his hand, Charles replied, "I don''t recall notifying the Association."
He had noticed earlier that apart from the glimmering golden ship, the passengers from the other smaller ships were not disciples of the Divine Light Order. So, he couldn''t understand their unbridled excitement in rushing over.
Clearly distracted by the wondrous nature around him, the bearded man responded absentmindedly, "We''ve coborated with the Divine Light Order in the past. When they told us that they had found the Land of Light, we found it ridiculous. Yet here it is; it really exists."