For the Radio!

After several days, the long, drawn-out horn sounded once again from the Distant Harbor.

The loudspeakers at street corners, alleyways, and squares, as well as the portable radios in pubs, shops, and restaurants, all blared the same message: "Testing the sound, testing the sound. This is Mayor Hong San of Distant Harbor, addressing all citizens. Please put aside any unimportant work you are doing and listen carefully."

The city planning of Distant Harbor is far from reaching the stage of building power plants and laying power grids, and the electrification process has not yet begun, but Kang De has already started the Big Brother project ahead of time.

Portable battery-powered radios were given away for free to the owners of casinos, taverns, and shops, with strict confidentiality and safekeeping agreements signed with them. After all, the corpses of the powerful and wealthy hanging in various parts of the Distant Harbor were not yet cold, and Kang De's influence was so profound that he would not tolerate these small business owners uttering a word of dissent.

The loudspeakers and screens throughout the area are powered by automated diesel generator sets.

The broadcast tower project is also in the planning stages.

Through these loudspeakers that reached Distant Harbor, Kang De was able to project his voice and will directly to every individual citizen, allowing these confused and bewildered people to hear a better message.

The various radio programs currently in the preliminary planning stages also serve this purpose.

Subtle ideological indoctrination.

Plant a seed in their hearts, then water and fertilize it, waiting for the day it grows.

Now is the time to water and fertilize.

Upon hearing the mayor's voice, the people on the street were momentarily stunned, then began to systematically search for the nearest place to listen. Some ducked into quiet pubs, while more gathered in the square or under the loudspeakers on the street. Those with more money went to their usual restaurants with friends.

They've developed a habit of instinctively wanting to listen whenever they hear the radio.

When the grain was distributed a few days ago, Kang De used the radio to announce various things, including the public trial of nobles who hoarded grain and raised prices, the posting of job advertisements, and even the distribution of grain and money.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the despicable Dragon of Cathay had used the evil Pavlovian spell to create a terrifying conditioned reflex in the inhabitants of his land. Even when the loudspeaker was silent, people would often loiter around it, hoping to hear something.

Now that the broadcast had aired, everyone felt a strange sense of relief and joy.

"Finally, it's here," they thought.

At the Crocodile Tavern in the dock area, the tightly closed doors were violently pushed open, and a loud voice rang out. "Hey! Robbie! Get your..."

The scarred man who rushed in shut his mouth because the counter was surrounded by people, all turning to stare at him with unfriendly eyes, including the two burly, playful, high-nosed waitresses.

Normally, faced with a scene like this, Tex would grab the nearest person by the collar and break their nose; he's not someone to be trifled with.

But this time, under everyone's reproachful gazes, he shrank back sheepishly, his voice unusually low. "Jim, you saved a seat for me, right?"

The owner behind the bar poured him a glass of sweet wine and beckoned him over. "Close the door, come over here."

Tex closed the door, then jogged over. The surrounding patrons made way for him, crowding together and intently staring at the small, square box on the bar.

One side is black, the other side is white, and there is a handle. The upper right part is a piece of transparent glass with a pointer and a row of markings inside, and three rows of beautiful small characters written below.

The Listener.

Produced by West Goth Company.

A gift to Mr. Jim from the Crocodile Bar.

As usual, a knife was stuck next to the radio, and behind the knife stood the taciturn tavern owner, which led to the Crocodile Tavern's new rule: whoever touches this radio, I'll chop off their claws.

The once bustling and noisy Crocodile Tavern was now eerily quiet. Strong liquor was forbidden, and no one was allowed to get drunk, as that meant noise and conflict. If someone damaged a radio as a result, they would be permanently blacklisted from the Crocodile Tavern —after paying compensation.

Tex held his glass of sweet wine but didn't take a sip; he just stared at the radio.

The tavern was quiet, with only the soft breathing of the people inside.

A moment later, the mayor's voice came through the radio.

"In the name of His Highness Kang De, I hereby issue the following press release to all citizens of Distant Harbor and evacuees from the Broken Isles-- "

Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily straightened their backs.

People have already summarized certain rules based on the simple wisdom of the masses. For example, when a speech or notice is attributed to Kang De, there are usually only three situations.

His Highness Kang De is distributing money and food; His Highness Kang De is hiring day laborers; His Highness Kang De is going to kill someone.

They are respectively a good thing, a great good thing, and a great commotion.

But this time is different.

"... While our ships were evacuating our citizens from the Broken Isles, the ruthless Broken Isles Island Lords' Federation broke an ancient demonic seal, releasing countless evil creatures from the seabed."

The people who were listening intently to the broadcast were all taken aback.

Tex muttered, "An evil creature?"

He once again drew the attention of all the drinkers as Jim placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.

Tex shrank back. "My fault..."

"... These cruel monsters attacked our fleet, and indiscriminately assaulted the innocent inhabitants, travelers, crew members, and merchants of the Broken Isles. To date, many islands are on the verge of falling, and tens of thousands have perished. The monsters emerging from the deep sea are endless; they rush onto ships, climb onto beaches, tear at fresh flesh, and devour those who flee..."

Radio, as a form of media, is declining year by year on Earth, but it's incredibly novel in this other world. Even though it's just a verbal description without any visuals, people listen intently and use their imaginations to try and figure out what that terrifying scene is all about.

"... During this period, the Broken Isles' main island defense system launched an attack on our fleet, initiating a war without warning and revealing the island lords' connection with evil creatures."

Immediately, after a brief moment of astonishment, a torrent of curses erupted. Not only at the Crocodile Tavern, but throughout the entire Distant Harbor, everyone who heard the broadcast began to hurl insults in unison.

"I knew it! Those damned pigs were up to no good!"

Tex slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Prince Kang De should use Forbidden Spell to wipe them off the sea!"

"So far, the Broken Isles have suffered heavy casualties. Countless innocent civilians have been torn apart and devoured by monsters, beautiful islands have been conquered by monsters, and the Broken Isles' island defense fleet has been almost completely wiped out. The evil island lords' insidious schemes have backfired..."

The insults turned into a cathartic outburst. "They deserved it! They deserved it!"

Manager Jim frowned. "And our fleet..."

Tex waved his hand. "Come on, Jim, that wasn't our fleet. It was elves, the Council, and the Imperials. The fleet from Distant Harbor returned the day before yesterday..."

The mayor's voice came through the radio. "However, in this critical moment, the Combined Fleet responsible for evacuating our citizens from the Broken Isles, including the naval warriors of the Snowy Peak, Song of Evergreen, Gliding Light and Flying Shadow, and Azure Fury, with their tenacious fighting spirit and outstanding combat skills, stood firm against the sea monsters' frenzied attack, ultimately holding out until the Knight Astolfo arrived..."

"Our A Fu, with its fierce artillery fire and invincible power, cleaved through the vast waves and tore apart countless sea monsters, rescuing all the crew members of four warships in the perilous Broken Sea. Not only that, but it also destroyed the Broken Isles' proud island defense system with its powerful firepower and stormed into the central island!"

"I salute the brave soldiers of the Combined Fleet and the mighty Astolfo! And I thank His Highness Kang De for all his efforts in saving our fine lads!"

Cheers and whistles erupted. The mayor's words easily stirred the emotions of the audience. They imagined the perilous sea, the indomitable people fighting on, and the Knight Astolfo sounding its siren and cutting through the waves like a Valkyrie... This thrilling scene excited them as well, and they wished they could be there in person.

"Did you hear that, Jim! We should be here too..."

Before Tex could finish speaking, he was glared at by the boss, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

"Under the cover of the Astolfo, valiant naval soldiers stormed the central island, routed the island's defenses, and, under His Highness Kang De's command, captured the enemy's lair and the Sea-Subduing Fortress. The brave soldiers captured alive the culprit who summoned the sea demons..."

"But..."

The mayor's voice grew heavy. "But the demon's summoning ritual is nearly complete, the seas have become extremely dangerous, and our brave soldiers are trapped on the central island of the Broken Isles..."

At this moment, through the wondrous medium of broadcasting, all the listeners felt as if they were in a theater, their emotions stirred by the actors' performances. Every word and action brought them joy and worry. It was like the story of a bard, where the warrior, having completed his final mission and defeated evil, was trapped in the enemy's lair. Gazing at the enemies swarming across the mountains, he smiled and raised his sword...

"We must rescue them!"

Someone shouted, and immediately everyone echoed, the same voice resounding throughout the city. The impatient ones began urging them on. Tex jumped up and yelled, "Does anyone know the captain? We want to buy his ship! Count me in!"

Then his loud shouting subsided instantly as the mayor continued speaking.

"Based on calculations, the possibility of a sea rescue is extremely slim. The Broken Sea is teeming with monsters, and even the most powerful warships cannot easily approach it. Moreover, the demons of the deep sea could break free at any moment, and the entire Broken Isles might be destroyed by those evil creatures..."

The somber tone seemed to foreshadow the difficulty of the rescue and the fate of the heroes. People's expressions darkened, and the sentimental waitress began to wipe away tears.

"--but!"

A passionate roar erupted once more, like waves crashing against a raging storm, a testament to unyielding courage and relentless striving. The mayor declared with fervor, "But His Highness Kang De will not abandon a single soldier, nor will Distant Harbor abandon a single comrade. The Dragon of Cathay has ordered the Distant Harbor City Hall to establish Emergency Rescue Committee, sparing no effort to bring our fine lads back!"

Before the audience could fully process this information, Hong San continued, "Sea evacuation is impossible, therefore, His Highness Kang De has devised the largest air evacuation operation in history!"

"Three hours from now, a massive magical flying machine carrying a thousand people will depart from the Broken Isles and arrive at Distant Harbor at the latest one hour and twenty minutes later! His Highness Kang De's unparalleled and unmatched alchemical skills will build an aerial bridge, rescuing innocent lives from danger and death!"

Whistles and cheers filled the air, creating a joyful atmosphere and a sense of praise and support for His Highness Kang De. No one in Distant Harbor doubted the abilities of this Dragon of Cathay, for the successive victories over the past month had stamped a seal of trust on the souls of the people of Distant Harbor.

"--But all of this also requires your help!"

The cheers subsided, and people reminded each other to keep quiet, listening and waiting without a second thought.

"We need to treat the wounded, so please have any pharmacists, doctors, and healing priests with first aid skills report this to the Distant Harbor authorities! We also need to build an airport outside Distant Harbor large enough to accommodate large magical flying vehicles, so please have any earth-based spellcasters in the community report this to us!"

"In addition, we need enough workers and volunteers to quickly deploy tents, campfires, kitchens, and first aid stations at the temporary settlement! Because we not only need to rescue our soldiers, but also all the innocent civilians struggling in the jaws of beasts on the Broken Isles!"

From excitement to astonishment.

Whispers filled the tavern. Tex frowned and said, "What's the point of rescuing those people from the Broken Isles? They didn't come back with the fleet; they're still there. They must be the island lords' lackeys. Let them die there! What a waste of precious manpower and resources..."

"--You may question why we should rescue people who have nothing to do with us, you may not understand why we should bother with these 'enemies,' but I ask you, why did His Highness Kang De interfere in the war between the elves and Goth? Why did His Highness Kang De distribute grain to Distant Harbor for free?"

"The Goth People pride themselves on morality, discipline, and chivalry. Our forefathers helped and supported the weak, thus establishing Goth on what was then a wild west coast. This nation was founded on upholding justice and protecting the good, so now we must rediscover the spirit of our ancestors! Saving innocent lives has never required a reason. If a reason is truly needed, it is this: we can do it!"

"We can do it, so let's go and save them! This is not just His Highness Kang De's decision, but should be the decision of all Distant Harbor! Protecting the weak, fighting against the powerful, upholding justice, and pursuing our beliefs—this should be the spirit of Distant Harbor, the creed of every Distant Harbor willing to follow His Highness Kang De!"

"So don't ask what benefit this will bring us. The greatest reward is the satisfaction of protecting the weak and saving the innocent. This is not an order but a suggestion. I hope that all those who are capable will step forward and work together to accomplish the most benevolent and greatest feat in centuries— the Great Evacuation of the Broken Isles!"

Hong San's resolute voice echoed in the sky above Distant Harbor.

"Therefore, I urge anyone with the ability, expertise, and strength to sign up, participate in this rescue operation, and play their part!"

"We offer our utmost respect to the volunteers who stepped forward, along with a paltry sum of money—two silver coins a day, free food, and the fact that your selfless acts will be recorded in your civic files, benefiting you throughout your lives!"

"And, during this operation, His Kang De will officially launch a special currency issued by him. With this currency, you can buy all sorts of goods that Kang De Highness Kant has specially provided, which are not available in the market—the instant noodles, Biscuit, and sausages you've been longing for, more delicious food, and..."

"Portable radio!"

More and better products will be launched later!

"Good citizens of Distant Harbor, let us act! For the ancient chivalry of Goth, for the beauty, selflessness, and dedication in humanity, for our beliefs and ideals—let us act!"

The Crocodile Tavern was completely silent.

In an instant, the crowd stirred, and Tex charged out the door like a bull. The patrons, realizing what was happening, erupted in a commotion and rushed out in a frenzy!

--For the sake of the radio!

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Update! Sigh, why bet on time? Let's bet on word count instead! So, anyone want to continue betting today? (Looking into the distance)