Massive expansion!

Port Nyanzaru bustled with activity.

Although the Time of Troubles had begun, and demons frequently appeared throughout the Material Plane to attack other races, Port Nyanzaru had not slowed its expansion in the slightest. Before large-scale war broke out, Soren hurried to launch the city's third major expansion project. This expansion would encompass the entire island. He had originally estimated that it would have to wait another six months, but the batch of golems he had acquired had strengthened his workforce, so he simply began ahead of schedule.

"One, two, three! Pull hard! ..."

"One, two, three! Pull hard! ..."

"Put your backs into it! ..."

"Finish the work here, and I'll treat you all to a good drink! ..."

Old Jack paced back and forth, calling out the rhythm. Bare-chested men worked around him, all of them his sailors. Port Nyanzaru's expansion project was enormous this time. With the existing workforce simultaneously preparing for spring sowing, developing towns, and handling other tasks, labor was in somewhat short supply. City Hall had therefore adopted an outsourcing system, assigning jobs to other groups for set payments.

Maritime trade was not going well this year.

Signs of ocean behemoth activity were becoming increasingly apparent. Wars across the lands had disrupted prices and normal trade, and a merchant caravan had already been robbed by fellow criminals early in the year. Many people were therefore debating whether to wait until things settled down before making a move. This left Port Nyanzaru with a considerable amount of idle labor. Led by caravan leaders or captains, these people took on jobs from City Hall. They had nothing else to do anyway, so earning a little spending money through work was hardly a bad thing. In wartime, simply being able to earn a living with their own