Dragon Ascending Town's Rapid Changes

On the evening of the fifth day, Xiao Yun stood before the second-floor window of the City Lord's Mansion, looking out at Dragon Ascending Town beneath the setting sun.

At the docks, hundreds of workers were putting in overtime, the ringing of hammers clanging nonstop while work chants rose and fell one after another.

On the Training Ground, the newly recruited City Guard were drilling, blades flashing as their battle cries shook the sky.

In the bay, five large ships were on trial runs, white sails dotting the water and flags streaming in the wind.

On the northern hillside in the distance, the foundation lines for the academy had already been marked out. Excavation would begin tomorrow.

Sheng Minglan walked in carrying a stack of account books, set them on the table, and wiped away her sweat. "Brother Xiao, these are today's accounts. The dock expansion cost one hundred and eighty Gold Soul Coins, the Artillery Batteries cost one hundred and fifty, and the academy hasn't started spending money yet. The City Guard's pay was three hundred coins, and the navy's pay was two hundred and seventy. Including equipment and pills, we've spent nearly five thousand Gold Soul Coins these past few days."

Xiao Yun nodded, not feeling the slightest pain over it.

Sheng Minglan continued, "We sold part of the captured pirate supplies and brought in two hundred coins. The merchant caravan hasn't started making money yet. It'll probably take another month or two. Just relying on the fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins seized from the Green Shark Pirate Group's lair won't last us long."

"No rush," Xiao Yun said. "I'll think of a way to deal with the money."

Sheng Minglan glanced at him, hesitated as if she wanted to speak, but in the end she merely nodded,