I built the Black Tower City in Sumeru.

Chapter 124 The Divine Child Spying on the Heart Sea Again, the Heart Sea of ​​Impotence and Rage, Chen Bo Who Still Has to Work in the Middle of the Night.

The nights on Haegeishima Island are always damp and rainy.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, drifted through the heavy curtains of the Coral Palace, bringing a cool, damp feeling into the room.

Xin Hai sat behind a large wooden table, with stacks of files piled high beside her, almost blocking her view.

She looked very tired, with obvious dark circles under her eyes.

Although both Shinkai and Shinko are priestesses, Shinkai is much busier than Shinko.

Compared to Shinkai's and Shinko's work, Shinkai also had the workload of the Three Commissioners.

She had to handle everything, big and small, on Haizhi Island.

Xin Hai's slender fingers flipped open the top register and slid down the rough pages.

The document above contains the latest material accounting report submitted by Wanglong Village.

(I'll expand the map size a bit; I might come up with many new place names later.)

The data in the "Income" column was scarce, while the numbers in the "Outflow" column were glaringly large, indicating that the supplies accumulated over a long period of time were almost completely used up.

Goro stood in front of the table. He had just finished collecting information from various places and rushed over to report.

"Lord Coral Palace, the food supplies in the three villages to the south are almost gone." Goro spoke rapidly, his voice revealing barely concealed anxiety. "The merchant ships that were rescued earlier did fill the gap in herbal medicine and stabilized the sick residents. But herbs can't be eaten as food, and the food reserves are dwindling every day."

Xin Hai closed the roster, pushed it aside, and rubbed his throbbing temples.

She pointed to the map of the Inazuma Sea area spread out on the table, her gaze falling on the markings of the shallows around Kaiji Island.

"Has the catch in coastal waters dropped again?" she asked.

Goro nodded, his tail drooping behind him, and he flicked it twice in annoyance.

"The fishermen have caught even the smallest fish fry, no bigger than a finger. And just eating fish isn't enough; in the past, most of our daily necessities had to be brought in from overseas by merchant ships in exchange. Now—"

Goro stopped speaking and clenched his fists.

That storm barrier stretching across the open sea severed the lifeline of Haizhi Island.

The isolationist order was a devastating blow to Haizhi Island.

Even without the shogunate's army attacking, if the status quo is maintained for another two years, more than half of the people on the island will starve to death.

"We must bring in outside help." Goro placed his hands on the edge of the table, leaning forward. "Since the Eye Hunting Order was issued, Narukami Island has been in chaos, with many samurai whose God Eyes have been confiscated fleeing in all directions. If Umijima openly takes them in and gives them shelter—"

"You need to recruit them into your fighting force," Xin Hai continued.

"Yes." Goro said urgently, "These people have the Eye of God, and their combat power far exceeds that of ordinary soldiers. If we gather them together as the spearhead of our assault, we might be able to forcibly break through the Shogunate's blockade, occupy the outlying islands, restore normal trade, and allow merchant ships to enter."

She gently shook her head.

This proposal was decisively rejected.

"Why did those who possess the Eye of God flee Narukami Island?" Shinkai asked rhetorically.

Goro was taken aback: "To prevent the Eye of God from being taken away, to protect myself—"

"That's right, they're doing this to protect themselves." Xin Hai pointed at the blueprint. "A group of people who abandoned their families and livelihoods to protect their own wishes have come here seeking refuge. What makes you think they'd risk their lives against the magistrate's regular army for the survival of Haizhi Island?"

Goro opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a rebuttal.

That's absolutely true. Why would anyone risk their life for you?

After all, they weren't familiar with Haiji Island.

"Then what should we do?" Goro asked.

Xin Hai put the sea map aside and picked up a map of the entire Inazuma territory. Her finger swept across the outer perimeter of Narukami Island and pointed directly at the highest building, the castle tower.

"We need to give them a reason to fight."

Shinkai's voice was soft: "We cannot recruit them under the guise of 'survival on Umi-gi Island.' We must raise the banners of 'protecting the people's wishes' and 'resisting the Eye-Hunting Order,' and formally form a resistance army."

"Only in this way will these people be of use to us."

Goro opened his eyes wide and his tail snapped straight up.

Umijima Island doesn't really care about any Eye Hunting Orders.

There were very few people with the Eye of God on this isolated island, and since there were no Shogunate troops on Umiji Island, no one was scavenging for the Eye of God.

The Eye Hunting Decree deprived a very small number of people of their desires, while the Isolation Decree deprived the inhabitants of the island of Haizhi of their right to survival.

Under the guise of the Eye Hunting Order, they recruited soldiers and gathered fighting power. The purpose of Haigi Island was to resist the isolation order.

"Only by raising the flag high enough and standing on the moral high ground can we resonate with those exiles who have lost their way. Only by giving them a sense of righteousness will they feel that they are not working as mercenaries for Haizhi Island, but fighting for their own dignity and aspirations, and willingly join our ranks."

In order to survive, Haizhi Island must disguise itself as an idealistic fortress.

This is a survival battle disguised as a rebellion against the Eye Hunt Order.

There was only one goal: to expand the war and break the isolationist policy.

Fishing is restricted to nearshore waters, and all commercial communication has been cut off. If this continues, the people of Haizhi Island will only starve to death.

Therefore, only by fighting can we have any hope.

There is no turning back.

Xin Hai continued, "According to the historical records preserved on Haiqi Island, General Leidian was also a benevolent deity. Do you think it's possible that the Heavenly Commander and the Imperial Commissioner are deceiving their superiors?"

"The gods' gaze is trapped in the castle tower. If this continues, Umiji Island will only perish in silence. Perhaps if we attack the castle tower, things might change."

Having thought this through, Xin Hai immediately gave an order to Wu Lang.

"I will prepare a declaration of war."

"Goro, starting tomorrow, you will secretly recruit young men in various villages. At the same time, spread the word on Narukami Island that Umijima Island will accept all those who refuse to submit to the Eye Hunting Order."

Goro stood at attention, his right fist pressed against his chest.

"I obey."

The footsteps faded into the distance, and the Coral Palace fell silent once more.

Xin Hai maintained her dignified posture until she was sure that Wu Lang had gone far away and there was no movement from the other guards outside the door.

She stood up, rubbed her sore shoulders, and walked alone toward her secret base.

Only when she was most exhausted would she retreat here to escape the heavy identity of a living, divine priestess, let down her guard, and be herself.

Pushing open the stone door, the cave was filled with military books on the walls, and several unfinished tactical simulation drawings were scattered on the desk.

Xin Hai walked to the table and slumped down beside it, completely losing her composure.

She buried her face in her arms, exhaled a long breath, and shed her perfect disguise.

Seriously, I'm so tired.

Calculating people's hearts and plotting the war, how many young people from Umijima would die on their way to Narukami Island if war were declared against the shogunate?

She couldn't figure it out, and she didn't dare to calculate it in detail.

But if we don't fight, even more people will die.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and take a rest.

The air in the center of the cave suddenly rippled.

A beam of light shone in from outside the cave, weaving into a human-shaped silhouette on the open ground in front of Xin Hai.

Yae no Miko, dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, crossed her arms and looked down at Shinkai, who was slumped over the table in a panic.

Xin Hai suddenly raised his head, his elbow knocking the military treatise off the table, which then slammed to the ground with a thud.

She stared intently at the projection in front of her.

The priest of Narukami Shrine has no manners whatsoever.

He's spying on himself again.

The secret base is no longer a secret.

Hey~

Unable to stop the spying, he could only feel powerless rage.

The divine child ignored Xin Hai's loss of composure.

She drew out her words and ruthlessly revealed Haizhi Island's trump card.

"They want to use the Eye Hunt Order as a pretext to recruit soldiers and then spread the war to Narukami Island?"

The voice of the divine child echoed in the cave, carrying a languid air of knowing everything.

"Don't even think about it. Now that I've heard your entire plan, I'm definitely going to intervene and stop you."

Now that the Divine Child knows about this, he will absolutely not allow it to happen, as it involves dragging all of Inari's wife into the conflict and drawing innocent civilians into the flames of war.

After a brief moment of panic, Xin Hai quickly sat up straight, forcing herself to regain her composure. Her gaze met the divine child's without flinching; at this moment, retreating would be pointless.

"Since you overheard the whole thing, Lord Kuji should understand the dire situation that Haiji Island is currently facing."

The voice in my heart is very steady.

"Declaring war is a nine-out-of-ten chance of death; not declaring war is a certain death. The islanders are already starving on a large scale. Does Narukami Shrine expect us to sit idly by and wait to die?"

These words carried a sense of resolute determination, as if they were willing to fight to the death.

Looking at Shinkai's posture, ready to fight at any moment, the Divine Child rested her chin on her hand, her tone still relaxed.

"Of course I know you're starving to death."

"7

"Otherwise, why do you think I intervened to protect your merchant ship carrying those life-saving herbs when the authorities intercepted it?"

The divine child sighed, adopting a helpless expression.

"You're really a handful. Let's avoid war, it's such a thankless and exhausting task. As for the food problem, I'll figure something out for you."

1

My mind went completely blank.

She had anticipated the Divine Child's threats, warnings, and even direct military suppression, but she never expected that the Divine Child would actually propose to take the initiative to find a solution to the survival problem of the Sea Island.

She was just about to ask for specific solutions.

The divine child stretched out his finger and casually made two strokes in the air.

The projected image began to split. A new communication light screen lit up in the cave.

The environment inside the newly appeared light curtain seemed somewhat hot and stuffy.

Chen Bo was sitting cross-legged on a charred rock, the special place where the original Formless Flame was born, surrounded by a high concentration of fire elements. He had his eyes closed and was concentrating on tempering his clone.

"Brother Chen Bo," Shenzi said confidently to the light screen.

Chen Bo opened his eyes, feeling a little annoyed at being interrupted from his cultivation, but he didn't have any morning grumpiness.

He recognized the people in the picture: the Divine Child and the Heart Sea. Hmm, a three-way meeting.

"Sea Island is running out of food." The Divine Child issued the task in an extremely calm tone: "Find a way to solve their problem."

Chen Bo froze, staring at the divine child in the light screen, his face full of black lines.

"You really know how to find me work. I'm just a researcher. I don't know how to farm, and I don't have that much Mora to support the people on a giant island."

"The capable should do more," the Divine Child said, completely ignoring Chen Bo's protests. "Anyway, I'm leaving this to you. I've already paid you in advance, so hurry up and give me a plan."

Xin Hai's mind was racing, trying to determine the identity of the boy who could be ordered around by the divine child at will.

The other party seemed to have no reverence for the divine child whatsoever; they were equal partners.

"Your skills in shifting blame and manipulating others are truly unique in all of Teyvat," Chen Bo sighed and waved resignedly.

He pulled up a holographic control panel in front of him and began working on-site.

"Give me the basic data." Chen Bo got into work mode and got straight to the point.

Xin Hai subconsciously reported the current amount of grain stored, the rate of consumption, and the minimum requirement for bulk commodities on Hai Zhi Island.

As Chen Bo listened, he thought, "It really is an astronomical figure."

"Perhaps I can help you restore normal business and trade. I've crossed through thunderstorms many times, so I'm very experienced."

"I can directly create and deploy a giant Faraday cage tunnel in the thunderstorm area near Haizhi Island."

He explained it in plain language and casually pulled out a 3D model to demonstrate.

"Use electrical conductivity to build a large bridge. The metal bridge is sunk to the seabed. When lightning strikes it, the current will flow directly into the sea through the metal structure. The internal electric field strength will always be zero, allowing merchant ships to pass under the bridge."

"With this gate, merchant ships can sneak in and out and resume trade. I also know a few big merchants in Sumeru, and it won't take long to get the first batch of supplies."

Technological superiority is a game-changer.

My heart was stunned; it was truly a vast and magnificent undertaking.

"The shipping route issue seems to be solvable; the next issue is the economy," Chen Bo casually suggested. "You'll need money to buy food, and I can't advance it. If you earn Mora, since you already have experience from before coming to Haizhi Island, I won't think too much about it."

For Xin Hai, Chen Bo's proposal was like stuffing a thick rope into the hand of a dying person.

Forcibly opening a safe trade route in the stormy seas, and contacting merchants from Sumeru to transport supplies—if all of this can be carried out smoothly, the civilians of Haizhi Island will no longer need to go to the front lines to die.

She leaned forward, pressing for an answer: "This miraculous equipment, Haizhi Island will sell everything it owns to build it! Mr. Chen Bo, how long do you estimate it will take to complete?"

On the other end of the holographic screen, Chen Bo did not respond immediately.

He rested his chin on his hand, looked over the screen, and began to calculate.

"No, no, no, this would require far too many materials. Considering the depth of the ocean, the width of the ship, the length of the thunderstorm, and the amount of conductive metal needed to build a fixed passage, the total is an astronomical figure."

"The construction time will probably have to be measured in years."

The newly kindled flame was extinguished, leaving not even a wisp of smoke. Xin Hai's breath caught in his throat, and his shoulders slumped limply.

Sigh, all that excitement for nothing.

They gave hope, only to extinguish it in an instant.

One year from now, Haizhi Island will only be weaker than it is now.

"However, it's not like there's no way out. I just thought of a second plan."

"We're not going to build a long corridor over the sea anymore; we'll just convert it into a ship and build a Faraday cage on it."