Siren

Jiang Chuan had spent over a month wandering around Bilgewater City, seeing many things he normally wouldn't. The children in the Slums lived hard lives, often going hungry. If riots broke out, fewer than one in ten of them would survive. These children were a vital part of Bilgewater's future, and it would be a terrible waste if rioters killed them. Jiang Chuan was confident he could lead the Dark Sea Throne to wipe out the Slums' gangs in a single day. The Dark Sea Throne's equipment was probably nearly ready, too. Next, he would take over the Slums and make them the Dark Sea Throne's base. History had proven that if you fought under the banner of the people, you probably wouldn't lose too badly.

The Slums and Rat Town were separated by only one street. Rat Town was Bilgewater's most populous and diverse district, so taking it would be difficult. The Dark Sea Throne had only a hundred men; trying to seize Rat Town with that force would be pure fantasy. That was where the people in the Slums could prove useful...

Jiang Chuan planned to return to Bloodfang Island and organize the information he'd gathered during his travels. The net had already been woven, but he still needed to think carefully about where and how to cast it.

Back on Bloodfang Island, Jiang Chuan went to his office and summoned Laurie. "Give me a report on the island's affairs."

Laurie took out a notebook. "President, over the past month, all the island's projects have proceeded according to the plans you left behind. Miss Sarah's Siren has also been fitted with a Steam Engine. In addition, Master Noah has manufactured Machine Guns and hand grenades. He even set up an Explosives factory to produce bullets and explosives. Construction on the Residential Housing is nearly complete. There are currently three six-story Residential Areas and six five-story ones on the island, all built with the reinforced concrete structure you described. The castle and walls aren't coming along as well. Cutting and stacking the fiery sunstone has taken a lot of effort from the workers. One-third of the wall's total length is finished, and the castle is a quarter complete. There are three thousand people on the island now, including nine hundred patrol guards and fifteen hundred craftsmen."

Jiang Chuan nodded. "Good. Our main focus should still be on factories and military strength. The buildings can continue at their current pace."

"Yes, President."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I'm going for a walk to see if those fellows are slacking off."

Jiang Chuan arrived at the Steel Mill, where Noah was directing the workers as they poured molten metal into molds. Jiang Chuan patted Noah's shoulder and grinned. "Master Noah, how powerful are those Machine Guns and hand grenades?"

Noah smiled. "The Machine Guns are far more powerful than any firearms currently available. Hand grenades are portable weapons with tremendous power, suitable for street fights and urban combat. They're a new kind of weapon, and once we're equipped with them, we'll be a formidable force."

Jiang Chuan said, "Exactly. The First Army's equipment has reached a whole new level, but our standard weapons still aren't very good. The Mauser Gun is good, but it has plenty of shortcomings. I want to turn it into a repeating rifle. What do you think?"

Noah shook his head. "Even the gangs in Bilgewater wouldn't be extravagant enough to give every man a Mauser Gun. Our current firepower is more than enough. We're a little lacking at close range, but that's nothing to worry about. We just need to make a few modifications to the muskets in the warehouse."

Jiang Chuan nodded. "That makes sense. I have a new project for you."

Noah shot Jiang Chuan a look. "I knew you had an ulterior motive. You never come see me without a reason. So, what do you want me to build this time?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "This time, it's a mortar. It's a quick-firing cannon that's easy to carry. One person can carry it around on his back."

Noah was extremely interested in the cannon Jiang Chuan had described. He was a renowned cannon-making master in Bilgewater, and he had completed a pair of Fortress Cannons for Jiang Chuan. Though the hand grenades and Machine Guns had both proven highly effective, Noah still wanted to make cannons.

Noah rubbed his hands together. "Where are the blueprints? Let me see them first."

Jiang Chuan pulled the blueprints from his coat and smiled. "This cannon is different from the ones you've made before. Both the cannonballs and the barrel are different. Especially the shells: they aren't just big iron balls like before. These explode after being fired and have a much wider blast radius!"

Noah frowned as he looked at the blueprints. "Making the barrel and tube won't be difficult, but I've never seen a shell like this before. I'll need some time."

Jiang Chuan gazed at the glowing steel furnace. "Bilgewater is about to face a storm. We need more powerful weapons to arm ourselves."

Noah's eyes gleamed with excitement as he smiled. "Give me a month. This shell's technology isn't impossible to develop."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I'll have Laurie give you all the help you need."

Noah waved him off without a word and began studying how to make the mortar.

Jiang Chuan didn't disturb Noah. It was impolite to interrupt someone while he was thinking, especially when he was thinking about something for your sake.

Jiang Chuan went to the small pier on the island. The workers were busy refitting the Siren, while Sarah lay on the beach in a swimsuit that set hearts racing, sunbathing beside a plate of sliced fruit. Jiang Chuan smiled. "So, you came here to vacation?"

Sarah smiled seductively. "Your island is so comfortable. I had nothing else to do, so I'm just sunbathing."

Jiang Chuan looked at the Siren, which had been altered beyond recognition. "Doesn't it hurt to see your ship like this?"

Sarah smiled. "I should be asking if you're worried about your steel. Have you ever seen anyone build a ship out of steel? And judging by its color, it's not low-quality stuff, either. I can't figure out where you got all this steel."

Jiang Chuan asked, puzzled, "Is steel really that rare in Bilgewater?"

Sarah looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Obviously. Steel costs several times more than iron in Bilgewater! Iron might be cheap, but steel is different. One steel sword can break several iron swords. And you're asking if steel is scarce in Bilgewater?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Then I can make a fortune. All this steel was smelted on the island. It's no different from the steel made by hand, and my output is several times theirs!"

Sarah took a bite of fruit and smiled. "If that's true, then the entire Bilgewater metal market will be yours to command."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "There's no rush. Let's finish refitting your ship first. Your ship won't need sails anymore. Its power source has been replaced with another, far more efficient and convenient form of energy."

Sarah sprang up from the deck chair. "What? You took down my sails!"

Jiang Chuan said calmly, "Of course. Why keep something useless?"

Sarah nearly flew into a rage. "Then how am I supposed to sail the ship from now on? Row it by hand?!"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "You can think of it as me installing a Hextech Engine for you."

Sarah immediately flopped back into the chair. "Will it cost me anything?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "No, but I'll need a share of the rights to use the ship from now on."

Sarah lay in the chair, unconcerned. "Do whatever you want. I won't need to use my ship that much anyway."

Jiang Chuan looked at the Siren as it was being refitted. "The Siren's name will ring even louder than the song of the sirens!"