🎄 Christmas Special! 🎄
To celebrate Christmas, enjoy 30% off monthly subscriptions from December 25th to 31st 🎁✨
The adjusted price is available on the Patreon page.
Chapter 522: Underground World Migration
The research results from the Black Land will still take some time.
Matthew wasn't in a rush. After all, he was just the financier—those researchers were the ones who needed to be diligent.
After all, if others beat them to the research results, the rewards would vanish.
Of course, the researchers weren't foolish. With fewer people now, they could choose the directions they excelled at or enjoyed.
In fact, to better utilize these researchers,
Matthew issued rewards in the form of tasks.
This avoided unnecessary conflicts between them!
After confirming their research progress, Matthew shifted most of his attention to gaining control over the Underground World.
Arable land in the Underground World was relatively scarce.
Matthew wasn't eager to develop all the territories they had seized.
After all, the additional 500,000 square kilometers of territory,
scattered across 53 fortresses and chokepoints,
controlled more than 10 critical connecting passages.
These 53 chokepoints and fortresses required large numbers of personnel for defense.
Since garrison forces were essential, Bay Territory needed to reduce the costs of stationing troops and transporting supplies.
Matthew's solution was straightforward: migrate populations to each fortress.
They didn't need to produce much, just be self-sufficient or supplement part of the consumption.
This would significantly reduce expenses.
After all, while Matthew could bear the costs of teleporting people, he couldn't sustain the long-term, large-scale transportation of low-value goods.
The same funds and materials could yield greater returns in developing the open surface world.
With the introduction of Matthew's policy, the announcement of the new migration strategy quickly spread across Bay Territory.
Sean, returning home after a day of patrolling the grain-drying fields, glanced at the smoke-filled farmland and reflected on the reasoning behind these measures.
"It not only kills pests, fertilizes, and removes weeds, but also changes the soil structure, making it more suitable for crop growth."
Initially, Sean didn't fully understand this knowledge.
Luckily, he was quick to learn, frequently asking questions, and gradually grasped the concept.
Thankfully, he hadn't given any reckless "advice" before; otherwise, he would've embarrassed himself.
Thinking this, Sean suddenly caught the strong aroma of liquor in the air.
Outside the brewery near the outpost, brewers were selecting grains for winemaking.
Bay Territory regulations prohibited private brewing but allowed people to purchase high-quality wine from the territory at low prices.
Sean understood the purpose behind this rule.
Firstly, it conserved resources.
Large-scale professional brewing ensured maximum efficiency.
The wine's quality and taste were excellent.
The leftover distillers' grains could also be used to feed livestock or fish.
Secondly, it saved labor.
A team of just 100–200 brewers could meet the drinking needs of over 100,000 people.
The rest of the workforce could focus on collective labor efforts.
Lastly, it ensured safety.
By keeping production like food, clothing, and shelter under the territory's control, it also remained under everyone's control.
With joint supervision, no one could act unscrupulously for profit.
And it wasn't just about brewing…
Sean greeted the brewers with a smile, reminded them to maintain quality and safety, and continued toward the residential area at the center of the outpost.
Hundreds of agricultural golems were lined up neatly, being "charged" under the supervision of staff.
Sean watched the golems expectantly.
From initial skepticism to later support, he now deeply relied on and desired more of these labor-saving machines.
Sean had heard that Victor, the newly appointed deputy director of the golem factory, was researching agricultural golems to aid in land development.
If successful, the speed of development might jump from 2 acres per day with 10 people to 10 acres per day with just one person.
That would be a 50-fold increase!
The thought brought a smile to Sean's face, and he began to hum a cheerful tune:
"Magnificent land in springtime, vibrant blooms filling the air with fragrance…"
At that moment, Sean noticed a significant crowd gathered in the residential area.
Most were seasoned "elders" of the territory, along with a few newly arrived pioneers.
"Oh? So many people are interested?"
Raising an eyebrow and smiling, Sean walked over and asked:
"What's everyone looking at?"
The crowd pointed at the new announcement and began talking all at once:
"The territory just posted a new announcement—they're planning to develop the Underground World and are calling for migrants."
"Is it true? I heard the Underground World is very dangerous, and it's incredibly dark there."
"I heard the conditions are tough, but there are special benefits, like becoming reserve soldiers."
"Reserve soldiers? Doesn't that mean we'd get reserve soldiers' pay too?"
"That's not all. If you stay there for two years, you'll get ownership of 50 acres of farmland, and you don't even have to farm it yourself."
"Really? What do we need to do?"
"It's simple! The Underground World has factories, and after some training, you can start working."
"Not everyone can go, though—you need at least 50 merit points."
"So only outstanding pioneers, farming experts, and agricultural inventors can go?"
"Why is that?"
"Exactly! Why can't we go?"
"…"
Seeing the heated discussion, Sean stepped in to clarify:
"That's right, these are rewards from the Lord."
"They earned it by excelling in pioneering and farming."
"Surely, everyone agrees they deserve the merit they've gained?"
At this, the crowd's expressions shifted.
Most remained silent, a few were thrilled, and the newcomers were filled with curiosity.
Everyone recognized the efforts of those rewarded.
After all, during the selection process, everyone had cast their votes.
Achieving such titles depended 70% on public recognition and 30% on the territory's evaluation.
Each selected individual had outstanding qualities that most people couldn't match.
Naturally, there was no argument.
Silently giving a mental thumbs-up to Butler Ralph, Sean earnestly addressed the group:
"Besides this, everyone still has a chance to develop in the Underground World by passing training and assessments."
Hearing this, the initially resigned crowd became energized once more.
After daily work, outpost staff organized skill and knowledge training sessions for everyone.
While enthusiasm was high at first, as the content became increasingly complex, interest waned.
Few took the assessments seriously, leaving only a handful who passed.
Now, many were filled with regret.
Sean didn't say much more, subtly reminding them:
"Additionally, as reserve soldiers, you'll get more training opportunities and a better chance of becoming Professionals…"
"And once you become a Professional, even as a reserve soldier, you'll earn 1 gold coin per month."
One gold coin per month!
The recent harvest had just brought everyone their first substantial income.
Based on last year's average allocation of 22 acres per person, they harvested 12,000 pounds of grain.
Civilians received 70% of the yield, while soldiers kept 100%.
After reserving 2,000 pounds for personal use, the territory purchased the remaining grain at 6 copper coins per pound.
On average, pioneers earned about 3 gold coins, while soldiers earned 6.
However, the most valued reward was the farmland that could be permanently cultivated.
Beyond the busy farming seasons, everyone joined pioneering teams to earn more land.
It was a tangible and visible path to a better future.
Now, with effort and passing the quarterly assessments,
they had a chance to gain 50 acres of land and earn a few years' worth of income in one go.
This naturally ignited enthusiasm.
Soon, another wave of excitement for pioneering and learning swept across Bay Territory.
This led to improved skills, better efficiency, and higher overall productivity.
Bay Territory's role was simply to provide a fair environment to turn learning into tangible rewards.
That alone was enough.
People would naturally strive hard.
Of course, these were just additional benefits.
The most pressing task was arranging for the registered migrants.
"First of all, there's no need to worry about your current jobs or contributions."
"The territory will tally your efforts and provide appropriate rewards at the year's end."
"Additional bonuses will be distributed by the territory."
Butler Ralph paused, then raised the development manual for the Underground World:
"As the first group heading to the Underground World, you'll enjoy numerous benefits, but you must also maintain confidentiality about the Underground World."
"As long as everyone does their jobs well, you'll receive corresponding rewards…"
Bay Territory's policies had always been transparent.
Pros and cons were clearly outlined, and people could still change their minds now.
But once a decision was made, there was no turning back.
Upon arrival in the Underground World,
the pre-adapted staff and military representatives immediately began assigning tasks to the first batch of migrants.
At first, there wasn't much work.
Initial activities involved semi-military training.
While enhancing everyone's abilities, new cultural learning courses were also introduced.
"The underground world is different from the surface; be wary of enemies from all directions, even beneath your feet."
"You must thoroughly understand the various dangerous creatures you might encounter in the underground world!"
"The military and guards will protect everyone, but they cannot eliminate 100% of the dangers."
"Therefore, your learning now is ultimately for yourselves."
"Moreover, based on your abilities and learning progress, different job positions will be arranged for you."
"Simply put, the highest positions can earn you more than 10 gold coins per month."
Training was tough, and the learning tasks were demanding.
However, everyone showed an incredible passion for learning.
After all, those who wanted to enter the underground world were generally adventurous individuals seeking better opportunities and rewards.
Compared to last year's tough farming work, this level of hardship was absolutely bearable.
And so, they "rolled up their sleeves and got to work"!
Ten days later.
After completing their learning and job assignments, everyone began working busily in the underground world.
Their tasks were numerous and closely related to their future lives.
Internally:
Learning to control engineering golems to improve fortress defenses.
Building solid bunkers, anti-magic walls, and watchtowers.
Constructing more houses, factories, barracks, hospitals, and other facilities.
Externally:
Clearing and reinforcing various tunnels.
Constructing sturdy outposts.
And completing two crucial tasks.
Building roads and laying rail tracks.
Each road connecting tunnels and fortresses not only needed to be flat and sturdy but also resistant to some magic and corrosion.
As for railways, their importance was self-explanatory.
They would strengthen connections between fortresses and transport various resources efficiently.
Both military and civilian needs heavily depended on them!
The ongoing construction projects would continue for quite a long time.
Until the Bay Territory had fully brought this region under its control.
Only a small portion of the populace could participate in these tasks.
After all, they were quite dangerous and required certain knowledge and professional skills.
However, the rewards were very generous, with each participant earning 10 gold coins per month.
Initially, Liana, who led the guidance and training efforts, was puzzled by the territory's arrangement to include non-spellcasters in these tasks.
But as she interacted more with everyone, observing their progress and discovering their talents, she gradually came to understand.
"Spellcasters are responsible for resolving most critical challenges."
"Using magic to solve problems and drive better development."
"Of course, we can't fully detach from reality. Solutions must be tailored to specific needs and conditions."
"Next, your task is to collect information on these engineering golems."
"Identify functionalities that need strengthening or features that can be modified or removed during their tasks."
Matthew's thorough explanation highlighted the Bay Territory's expectations of spellcasters and the responsibilities given to them.
Having never worked with other spellcasters before, Liana quickly grew while finding immense enjoyment in her tasks.
Helping others, developing the territory, and improving oneself were not mutually exclusive goals.
Apart from military-related work, most immigrants focused primarily on livelihood-related tasks.
After addressing issues like lighting, ventilation, temperature, and fire-making,
their most important challenge remained—farming.
Food is the foundation of life!
Even the magical golems, indifferent to human sustenance, required repair materials and mana for their channels.
Tens of thousands of people, if not more, needed sufficient food and living supplies.
Therefore, developing arable land in a terrain composed almost entirely of rock was the key to solving this series of issues.
This challenge was divided into two steps by the Bay Territory.
Step one: Turn rock into soil.
Many plants could grow on rocks.
However, this didn't include the high-yield crops preferred by humans.
Thus, transforming rocks into soil capable of retaining more water and nutrients was essential.
This would fully unlock the Bay Territory's agricultural potential!
Most immigrants' tasks.
Involved controlling farming golems to continuously cast *Transmute Rock to Mud* within designated farmland zones.
Just like previous attempts,
the resulting soil was dry and barren.
It couldn't hold water or nutrients effectively.
Step two, the crux of the solution, was to quickly and efficiently transform this infertile soil into fertile, black soil.
According to Matthew's calculations, similar technologies existed in the real world.
However, most nations and regions showed little interest in these technologies.
Only the agrarian nation where Matthew originated was fixated on turning deserts into arable land and barren areas into oases.
Solving this problem through conventional means wasn't feasible, so magic became the answer.
In fact, after Matthew explained the concept of fertilizers and offered substantial rewards,
Druid researchers led by Old Li began enthusiastic experimentation and research.
Within just ten days, they had achieved notable results.
"Organic compound fertilizer, ordinary-grade, enhances soil fertility, converting barren land to arable land, increasing crop yields by 30%."
"Phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, ordinary-grade, boosts fertility, increasing yields by 20%."
Aside from these two, there were various other elemental fertilizers.
However, their production was low and impractical for widespread use in the underground world.
Organic compound fertilizer was already in limited use within the Bay Territory, applied to newly cultivated farmland.
After studying the "ecosystem" and composition of the Black Land, Old Li further refined it.
He added more nutritious humus, reportedly inspired by the Guardian Fig Trees.
Naturally, Old Li's organic compound fertilizer mainly relied on fermenting and processing food waste.
Meanwhile, the phosphorus-potassium fertilizer came from the underground world itself.
Near lava rivers, the Bay Territory discovered abundant phosphorus-potassium mines derived from volcanic ash and magma.
The reserves were enormous, totaling billions of tons, and continued to grow.
These resources only required mining, simple processing, and grinding to yield high-concentration phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
How could their effects be maximized?
The answer was simple.
Druid researchers formulated research plans while delegating specific tasks to the immigrants.
Their job was to inspect and collect data, enabling rapid results.
With the Druids' *Rapid Growth* spell, many agricultural testing challenges were easily resolved.
The Bay Territory quickly determined the optimal usage ratios and began widespread implementation.
The research team that achieved this breakthrough received a 500,000-gold reward from the Bay Territory.
Their findings not only turned barren soil into fertile land but also boosted crop yields by nearly 50%.
The Bay Territory allocated a total of 1.5 million gold to reward fertilizer research alone.
This generous initiative significantly enriched many Druid researchers, further motivating others.
Consequently, another wave of research and invention swept through the Bay Territory.
However, soil and fertilizer alone weren't enough.
Matthew proposed a "tailored crop rotation" plan, giving Druids new research directions.
For these Professionals embarking on alternative development paths,
the Bay Territory's substantial rewards were a major driving force for progress.
Simultaneously, Matthew didn't let the spellcasters remain idle.
Their responsibilities were equally demanding.
All crops required sunlight to grow.
In the sunless underground world, they had to develop magical substitutes to meet photosynthesis needs.
While magical lighting wasn't uncommon in the Netheril Empire,
pioneering such a project was a symbolic and meaningful task for the Bay Territory's spellcaster researchers.
The spellcasters embraced this challenge enthusiastically.
They wouldn't admit their main motivation was the lucrative 1-million-gold prize.
Instead, they cited a more respectable reason:
"We can't let the Druids hog all the glory."
The Druids scoffed at their reasoning.
Neither group conceded to the other.
Under the guidance of their senior researchers, these young Druids and spellcasters eagerly immersed themselves in their studies.
Everyone performed brilliantly and with exceptional dedication.
Matthew was very pleased with the results.
Competition bred vitality.
The Bay Territory had no room for complacency, so neither did anyone else.
After another ten days.
With the help of Druids and spellcasters, many food production challenges at the fortresses were resolved.
Along with accumulating valuable experience, they achieved numerous outstanding research breakthroughs.
Of course, what pleased Matthew most was that the first batch of 100,000 mu of farmland had already entered the planting phase.
Moving forward, experienced immigrants would gradually take over agricultural development and production.
It was clear that as the population grew and technological research deepened,
the Bay Territory's underground world production plans would flourish
Agricultural production has entered a steady phase.
The next issue to address in the underground fortresses was the establishment of various production factories.
These factories were supplied by independent elemental energy pools, with far less energy consumption compared to the surface.
Considering the concealment and special roles of the underground fortresses,
Matthew decided to transform each fortress into a backup base with integrated production capabilities.
One production line after another was moved into the fortresses.
Additionally, contingency plans were made for potential energy supply interruptions.
Every production line was equipped with a manual backup system.
These production lines included, but were not limited to, weapons, armor, potions, combat supplies, and other lines related to both daily life and warfare.
Normally, these backup capabilities would remain dormant.
But for someone like Matthew, who liked to prepare for the unexpected, this approach not only provided peace of mind but could also yield unforeseen advantages.
In just 20 days.
The underground fortresses began full-scale operations.
The materials and equipment produced significantly boosted the Bay Territory's strategic reserves.
After all, the various combat supplies produced by the Bay Territory now had a wide range of recipients.
Monthly provisions were needed for the 200,000 refugees being received.
Weapons, equipment, and training materials were required for the Third and Eighth Corps under reconstruction.
The Dwarven Kingdom demanded supplies worth tens of millions of gold coins each month.
And then there were the ever-growing needs of the Elves of Ail...
However, the hidden operations of the underground fortresses were well-concealed by the Bay Territory.
All adventurers were preoccupied with new combat missions.
They were busy carrying out tasks assigned by the Bay Territory across over ten fortresses on the Black Land's outer perimeter.
Among these, the most notable was, of course, the Alice Adventurer Team, now at the height of its fame.
The Alice Adventurer Team had gained widespread renown.
They now required every new member to have a Professional level of at least 7 and substantial adventuring experience.
The reason they could afford to be so "selective"
was because the tasks taken on by the Alice Adventurer Team
were missions unattainable for other teams.
These tasks had one critical requirement:
The adventurer team's total contribution value had to exceed 100,000.
Currently, the second-ranked team had barely reached 60,000, lagging far behind.
Naturally, this sparked envy among other adventurer teams.
Many teams looked up to them as role models and worked harder to complete tasks.
Thus, the members of the adventurer teams also had to "work even harder."
The Alice Adventurer Team's latest mission
was to observe and gather intelligence on the battlefield between the Drow Elves and Gnolls.
Their primary focus of observation
was, of course, the Drow Elves.
Their combat strategies, troop types, and the variety of slave warriors they deployed
were the targets of their mission.
This task was not an easy one.
It required the Alice Adventurer Team to have the capability to contend with the Drow Elves' scouting battalions.
At a minimum, that meant being able to handle 50 Drow Elves and an additional 1,000 Gnoll slaves in combat!
In the past, even with improved skills and equipment, the Alice team wouldn't have dared to accept such a mission.
But now, everything was different.
The team's overall strength had grown significantly, and they had also integrated the Gray Bear unit of Gray Dwarves and an Ogre unit led by Morak.
Recently, they had even added a new Troll unit to their ranks.
Interestingly, this Troll unit was quite "unique."
They never caused trouble and were remarkably obedient.
Their demands were simple: provide enough food, proper weapons and equipment, along with their own share of loot and merits.
Initially,
the other members of the Alice team were cautious and distrustful of these Trolls.
Everyone remained vigilant and on guard against potential issues.
But it didn't take long for the elite adventurers of the Alice team to notice.
The Ogres, Trolls, and Gray Dwarves were all extremely "disciplined."
No matter what tasks they were assigned, they completed them diligently and with great proficiency.
Their strong discipline and obedience, combined with their formidable combat capabilities, earned everyone's trust and delight.
Many suspected that their transformation was closely tied to the Bay Territory.
But the Alice team didn't care anymore.
The Bay Territory had plenty of peculiarities anyway.
It was their provided combat support that gave the Alice team the confidence to venture deep into this area.
Naturally, their actions drew retaliatory responses from the Drow Elf patrols.
The Drow Elves drove large numbers of Gnoll slaves in an overwhelming assault against the Alice Adventurer Team.
This time, Alice didn't assign the Ogres to ambush but had them form the front line, supported by Gray Dwarves in defense, while others engaged in ranged attacks.
The Troll unit, with their unparalleled resilience, was kept as a reserve force.
Interestingly, the Drow Elves seemed to recognize the Alice team's strength and refrained from direct confrontation.
Instead, they continuously drove the Gnolls to encircle and exhaust the team.
However, the Alice team wasn't going to fall for such basic tactics.
At Alice's command, Morak led the ferocious Ogres in a devastating charge, cutting through the Gnolls like a hot knife through butter.
Before the Gnoll slaves could react, the waiting Trolls emerged and crushed the disoriented forces completely.
The rest of the team surged forward, inflicting massive casualties and breaking free of the encirclement.
Afterward, they would relocate to a new area and resume their observation efforts.
The Alice team typically stayed in one spot for about two days before the Drow patrols conducted a thorough search and found them again.
This would lead to another intense but relatively low-stakes skirmish.
Some Drow commanders attempted to gather larger forces to crush the Alice team.
But these efforts always ended in vain.
This was because, aside from the Alice team, the Bay Territory had also dispatched an inspection unit led by Elio and Sera.
The two units worked in tandem, monitoring the region and gathering intelligence.
The Alice team served as the visible bait, drawing the Drow Elves' attention.
The Alice team was well aware of their role in the mission.
They never overreached and happily eliminated the Gnoll slaves sent their way.
Killing these Gnolls wasn't especially lucrative.
But their sheer numbers made it worthwhile.
Given their dual-purpose mission, the team was content to play it safe.
Compared to the "joyful" Alice team, the inspection unit led by Elio had a far more critical task.
They were tasked not only with assessing the Drow Elves' combat strength and capabilities
but also with studying their battle tactics and methods.
If possible, they were also to gather detailed information on the weapons and equipment used by the Drow troops.
This emphasis on intelligence gathering had become ingrained in the Bay Territory's culture.
Intriguingly,
the Drow Elves seemed aware of the Bay Territory's presence yet acted "naturally."
It was almost as if they were intentionally showcasing their strength, unafraid of being observed.
However, Sera sensed something was amiss.
After all, the Drow Elves weren't known for being this restrained or subtle.
Especially since the Drow commander, Leah, who Sera knew, seemed entirely different from her past self.
Still, Elio stopped Sera from venturing alone to investigate.
Her reasoning was simple: as long as they could continue gathering intelligence, there was no need for unnecessary risks.
Whatever secrets the Drow Elves were hiding, the steadily strengthening Bay Territory would be ready.
The more time passed, the greater the advantage for the Bay Territory.
With its rapid development, the Bay Territory had no fear of competition.
The Bay Territory's most outstanding trait was cutting out middlemen.
Shared progress directly fueled the territory's growth.
Although the Bay Territory wasn't seeking conflict with the Drow Elves now, it didn't rule out future clashes.
Five days later.
The inspection unit and the Alice team left the battlefield.
The Drow Elves claimed another victory, having conquered the majority of the Gnoll Kingdom.
However, the Bay Territory discovered an intriguing detail.
The Drow Elves showed little interest in territory; their main focus was the captured Gnoll slaves.
Many adventurers in the Bay Territory speculated.
If the Bay Territory and the Drow Elves could cooperate,
one could seize territory while the other acquired slaves, leading to mutual growth.
Their combined domains might far surpass their current sizes.
Of course, this was just idle chatter over meals.
For now, everyone's primary goal was to explore the Bay Territory's claimed areas and surrounding regions.
Whether it was mineral veins promising overnight riches or rare, magical flora and fauna, these kept adventurers motivated and energized.
The Bay Territory had perfected the art of guiding adventurers.
On one hand, they paid adventurers to pave the way.
On the other, they earned money from adventurers.
Ultimately, the adventurers profited, grew stronger, and progressed.
Meanwhile, the Bay Territory gained land, intelligence, and resources.
Everyone had a bright future ahead!