Population was wealth, population was an army, population was faith, and population was the foundation.
Soren's influence had always been limited to the coastal regions. Even in the Wind Spear Hills, it extended only to the territory controlled by Adele-Isabella. But by opening a route through Tantras this time, Soren had effectively reached into the continent's interior. Many commoners who had suffered during the first wave and second wave of impact of the Time of Troubles—primarily humans—were drawn to Port Nyanzaru. Farmers, craftsmen, and merchants relocated there in large numbers. The division within Port Nyanzaru was already clear: half-elves dominated the population inside the city, while humans were rapidly filling the other areas. Half-elves could readily be trained into skilled craftsmen, while humans were the race most adept at farming. Soren's expansion plans gradually took shape as he absorbed large numbers of humans, whose farmers could quickly bring the land under cultivation.
Port Nyanzaru ushered in its third population expansion.
According to calculations by City Hall officials, once the entire migration process was complete, Port Nyanzaru's total population would reach around three hundred thousand.
At the Material Plane's current level of civilization, even the largest cities had populations of only a little over a hundred thousand. Port Nyanzaru could accommodate so many people only because of Soren's groundbreaking planning. Otherwise, overcrowding would have turned the entire city filthy, chaotic, and foul-smelling.
According to the witches' calculations, once the third phase of planning was complete, Port Nyanzaru would be able to accommodate a maximum population of around one million.
That was already equivalent to the entire population of a small duchy!
Signs of devils began appearing more and more frequently.
After a brief buildup, the third wave of impact of the Time of Troubles struck in earnest. At first, only