The Shannan Kingdom's Attitude!

This was not merely a matter of improving resource allocation or other such considerations.

According to what Yipulaximoladinyi had privately told Wang Dong,

the Kindling Human Civilization Alliance possessed a certain technology

that allowed them to repeatedly mine intact titanium crystal deposits once they reached a certain size.

He didn't know the specifics.

But there was one thing he did know.

Although this cyclical mining operation was costly,

it could make a titanium crystal deposit yield far more than its original reserves!

At this ceremony,

the guests included Chen Fuzhong, captain of the border patrol Star Destroyer Tiger Den Eagle Pool, as well as diplomats from several nearby nations, such as the Purple Thorn Kingdom, the Oda Shogunate, and the Shannan Kingdom.

The ceremony ended smoothly—with the Tiger Den Eagle Pool standing guard, nobody dared cause trouble.

The Black Stone Duchy was filled with jubilation from top to bottom.

That was only natural.

The Black Stone Duchy had been classified as a medium-sized duchy!

That placed it two tiers above the Purple Thorn Kingdom and one tier above the Oda Shogunate.

It was now on the same tier as the Shannan Kingdom!

A comparison of the nations' overall strength made it clear to anyone

that the Black Stone Duchy had received preferential treatment!

This wasn't just a flattering title.

It affected the share of trade quotas the Black Stone Duchy received each year for resources such as titanium crystals and shipborne kindling!

These were tangible benefits!

How could a nation improve its overall strength?

Resources so closely tied to Kindling Warships were the most direct means of driving that growth!

It was easy to imagine

that as time went on,

so long as the Black Stone Duchy developed normally,

its overall strength would soon leave the Purple Thorn Kingdom behind