Lin Lan rarely rides a creaky carriage within his territory anymore.
He prefers riding that gentle mare to observe firsthand the changes happening in the town.
The originally muddy and narrow paths have long become wide and smooth. Due to the newly built brick kiln factory by the riverside, those simple houses made of rotten wood on both sides of the road have disappeared.
The earliest group of townsfolk participating in building their homeland have already moved into model-like brick houses, and people’s clothing visibly becomes warmer and sturdier.
Basic warmth and food are just fundamental survival needs; people always aspire to a better life.
The starting place of the Apocalypse Ark has already taken shape.
Most importantly, a unique ’special currency’ exclusive to the Ark has officially circulated within the town!
The finely textured light golden round coin emits a faint glow from Lin Lan’s pocket.
He instinctively took out the new coin and examined it closely in front of him.
Its diameter is fixed at three centimeters, with a circle of wheat-wrapped crossed swords and hammers on the front, and the simplified silhouette of the grand city deep within the Divine Kingdom on the back.
Even in the cold winter, this coin still exudes a heartwarming warmth.
That unique radiance and temperature stem from the Sun Ash Soil of the Divine Kingdom.
Lin Lan’s decision to mint and use the Ark’s new currency at the early stage of its development was made after careful consideration.
As for the value of the Ark coin, within Lin Lan’s territory, one Ark new coin is equivalent to the ’former’ value of one Lion Heart Silver Coin, or two hundred Lion Heart Copper Coins.
Don’t be fooled into thinking there’s no change in the purchasing power of the currency, as the significance behind using Ark’s new coin is actually crucial.
Because the currency system of the Lion Heart Kingdom is, in essence, a pile of stinking dog shit!
The only ones willing to burrow into that mess are the maggot-like Lion Heart nobility.
With the Abyss Celestial Calamity approaching, the Alliance merchants harvesting resources, and the collective downfall of the Lion Heart nobility, the value of the Lion Heart Silver Coin itself has undoubtedly plummeted.
After all, Lion Heart Silver Coins are essentially just painted copper pieces, and the Lion Heart Copper Coins in the hands of commoners are just rusty, broken iron pieces, so even greedy Alliance merchants are unwilling to handle such crude and inferior currency.
But the Ark’s new coin is different.
Firstly, the Apocalypse Ark has already established a cooperative relationship with the affluent Alliance elder, and naturally, the Alliance will not accept such rubbish currency like the Lion Heart Silver Coins.
At the same time, the Ark will not be completely dependent on the Alliance’s Bright Gold Coins, because the waters here are too deep, too deep indeed.
In front of those calculating Demon politicians of the Alliance, merely relying on the Alliance currency would only result in being completely exploited.
Partner? Delicious!
Secondly, the advantage of the Ark coin lies in its unique specialization, a currency that outsiders cannot replicate at all.
Under the influence of the ’Promise of the Eternal Fierce Sun,’ only miners recognized by Lin Lan can excavate the shallow Divine Kingdom of the sun and can cast stable and controllable Sun Ash Soil into metal within the territory.
The foundation of the Ark coin originates from the realm of the gods, unshakeable in this world.
It is worth mentioning that after the Ark abolished Lion Heart currency, this decision had virtually no impact on the Lion Heart commoners.
After all, the nobility had long ceased to be humane, under extremely harsh taxes and oppression, the Kingdom’s wealth remained circulating between the Royal Court and the nobility, while commoners usually could only barter, living difficult and tragic lives.
Lin Lan had the Civilian Corps raid the homes of Lords in the Southern Territory and those minor nobles, then simply melted that scrap currency with Ash Soil and reinvested these new coins into the hands of commoners through workshop orders and labor rewards.
Pure charity is meaningless, and piling money up in warehouses is even more foolish.
Only by establishing a positive economic cycle, allowing the labor achievements created by people to grow larger and larger, does the Ark have the opportunity to mature...
Lin Lan flicked the Ark coin, and the light golden coin spun lightly, its pretty brilliance leaving a trail in midair.
Shining brightly.
However, within the territory, the current reserves of the Ark coin are not considered abundant, and various workshops still circulate some of the Alliance’s Bright Gold Coins.
In the last two days, Charles has been busy with the exchange rate issues between the Ark coin and Bright Gold Coins, constantly debating with other Alliance merchants, giving no ground.
Charles has considerable experience in this area and assured Lin Lan that he would never allow those greedy fellows to exploit any loopholes.
Finally, the exchange rate was temporarily set at one to twenty, which means one Bright Gold Coin is equivalent to twenty Ark coins.
Lin Lan is reasonably satisfied with this result.
While pondering, he had already returned to the area surrounding the estate.
The handsome young man in light-colored fur garments, with deep eyes, is followed closely by the Golden Armored Warrior holding a Golden Spear behind the Lord; this scene undoubtedly attracts everyone’s gaze.
"My God... Look..."
"Could that be the Lord’s chosen Knight?"
’I have never seen armor like that...’
"Amazing! Father, I want to be the Lord’s knight when I grow up..."
Along the way, the townsfolk’s discussions and the children’s exclamations are almost incessant.
Jay’s steps become notably lighter; he had long discreetly lifted his faceplate to let people see clearly who the owner of this armor is.
He is impatient to announce to his colleagues that he is already the Legion Commander of the Sun Legion!
This Centurion is actually just a twenty-year-old young man.
But at this moment, a cold, deep voice suddenly slipped into Jay’s ear.
—"Are you feeling proud, Jay?"
Jay instinctively straightened, this was when he noticed the grim man in front of him, and the ’Sun Legion Commander’s’ forehead instantly broke out in cold sweat.
"I... I was wrong... Sir..."
At this moment, the young man’s words became incoherent.
"Oh? With such precious equipment on, you don’t seem like someone who made a mistake..."
Ed rubbed his chin, the icy gaze biting into Jay like an iron hook: "What do you think you did wrong?"
He shouted loudly: "Answer me!!"
"I became too arrogant and lost all vigilance!"
Jay shivered, his gaze suddenly became extremely clear, and he shouted: "As a Centurion, this is the most inexcusable mistake! I am willing to be punished! Commander!"
"In the next thirty days, double your daily training load."
Ed calmly replied: "Any objections?"
"No, Sir!" The young man closed his faceplate, straightened up thoroughly.
Lin Lan merely stood quietly in place, not intervening in Ed’s reprimand of the young man, his gaze subsequently fell on Ed’s lower limbs.
The man’s heavy and coarse wooden prosthetics were now replaced with more lightweight and sturdy composite light metal.
"Are you accustomed to the new prosthetics, Ed?"
After the reprimand concluded, Lin Lan smiled and proactively inquired.
"Thanks to your care, they are much better than before."
Ed’s tone softened, only when facing the Lord did his expression not seem so grim.
He went straight to the point, starting his report: "Sir, soldiers stationed at the southern border brought you the latest news."
"What news?"
"Firstly, the Lion Heart Royal Court has allied with the Eastern Border nobles, defining your actions as treason, commanding you to immediately surrender all assets in Seagull Town, and execute those sinners afflicted by the Scarlet Plague."
Ed’s voice was flat as he continued: "The Royal Court has already arranged for a new noble to replace your title, attempting to redirect the Southern Territory onto the correct path."