Jiang Chuan delegated a series of tasks. He put Edmund in charge of the children's affairs, and assigned Laurie to handle the island's defenses and repairs. He also wanted to bring Old Jack over. It would be hard to survive on such a large island without a doctor.
Jiang Chuan called Kelly over. Seeing the boy's frail figure, he felt a pang in his heart. Kelly should have been at an age of carefree innocence, yet the Bloodfang Gang had trained him to be a killing machine.
Jiang Chuan smiled at Kelly. "Come with me somewhere today. I want to test your abilities and talents."
Kelly had no complaints about Jiang Chuan's arrangements. In his heart, the President was the savior who had rescued him and his younger sister. He didn't care if he died, but if anything happened to his sister, Kelly would never forgive himself. The President had promised to keep her safe, so she would be safe on Bloodfang Island.
Kelly said, "President, before the Bloodfang Gang was wiped out, they trained us in all kinds of killing techniques and methods of infiltration."
Looking at the boy before him, Jiang Chuan asked, "Did they ever let you handle firearms or Hextech weapons?"
Kelly searched his memories and replied, "They trained us with firearms before, President, but they canceled that course after Logan shot and killed an instructor during training."
Jiang Chuan smiled. "I want to put together a six-person team. They'll need excellent agility and mental fortitude, and they'll also need to be able to read and write. Are you willing to join?"
Kelly looked at Jiang Chuan with a resolute gaze. "President, is this team dangerous?"
Jiang Chuan had no intention of lying to Kelly. He looked at him and said, "This team will undergo the most intense training, and you could die during it. The missions you'll carry out will all be extremely dangerous. Take a few days to think it over before giving me your answer. If you agree, you'll recruit the other five members yourself."
Kelly lowered his head and thought for a while. "President, if I die, what will happen to my sister?"
Jiang Chuan smiled. "If you really die, I'll take good care of your sister. She'll never have to face danger for the rest of her life."
Kelly smiled. "President, I'm willing to join the team!"
Jiang Chuan said sternly, "I meant every word. Think it through carefully. Don't take this lightly!"
Kelly met Jiang Chuan's eyes and answered firmly, "President, the only thing that kept me going all that time in the Bloodfang Gang was my sister. I'm willing to fight for the good life she deserves."
Jiang Chuan looked at Kelly and said calmly, "I won't let you die. Your team will go about its daily business like everyone else. But when a mission comes, you'll disguise yourselves as merchants, nobles, even beggars. Once you've gathered intelligence on the enemy, we'll strike them hard. That's your mission. And even if you're surrounded by the enemy, I'll have a way to get you out."
Kelly replied with determination, "Understood, President. I'll recruit the best team for you!"
Jiang Chuan planned to form a secret team from among these children. They would be experts in assassination, firearms, and academics—a special forces unit capable of handling anything. He couldn't do everything himself, and once these children had grown, they would become invaluable assistants.
Jiang Chuan smiled. "Oh, and from now on, the team will be called Heaven's Punishment. Go take care of things."
The team had to remain limited to six members. Jiang Chuan needed highly sophisticated weapons, whether modern rifles or Valoran's Hextech. It seemed he would have to recruit an alchemist.
Firearms in this world are still underdeveloped. There are no detailed blueprints for automatic rifles or sniper rifles. Hextech exists, but it's not only expensive—it's practically impossible to buy. Unlike modern automatic rifles, which are reliable and cheaper to produce than Hextech weapons, and can be manufactured nonstop with just one factory. Bloodfang Island will be the foundation of my future plans, so I'll need to manage it carefully.
Jiang Chuan spread a sheet of parchment across the table, picked up a quill, and began sketching plans for Bloodfang Island's walls.
This island has one great advantage: the cliffs to the east. Below them are tightly packed stone pillars, making it a good spot for a base. There's a small hill in front, too. One heavy machine gun could seal off every approach. Then I could build a wall around it and mount cannons on top. It'd be as secure as a barrel!
Jiang Chuan called Laurie over and asked, "Do you know anyone in Bilgewater who can build walls, or a crew that can do it?"
Laurie thought it over before replying, "President, nobody in Bilgewater knows how to build walls. It takes too much time and effort, so there aren't any builders or crews here who can do it."
Jiang Chuan frowned. "No one? That's a problem."
Jiang Chuan thought of the alluring Proprietress...
Night fell, and Jiang Chuan went to The Tavern. As usual, the Proprietress stood behind the counter, watching the debauched patrons.
Sitting on a high stool at the bar, Jiang Chuan asked, "Are there any wall builders or crews in Bilgewater?"
The Proprietress furrowed her pretty brows. "Build walls? What do you need them for?"
Jiang Chuan took a sip of beer. "I've taken Bloodfang Island. I need a city, not just an island."
The Proprietress exclaimed in surprise, "You're the envoy who stood on Titan's shoulder?"
Jiang Chuan didn't deny it. "That was me."
The Proprietress had been surprised by Jiang Chuan time and again: Pyke's harpoon, the conquest of Bloodfang Island, and the man who had stood on Titan's shoulder.
The Proprietress couldn't find the words to describe the man before her. Perhaps "monster" suited him better.
The Proprietress composed herself and said, "Nobody in Bilgewater knows how to build walls, but I can bring someone over from Demacia for you. No other nation on this continent is better at building walls than Demacia."
Jiang Chuan considered this. "Demacia? Could you bring me an alchemist from Piltover or Zaun as well? I'm willing to pay."
"Two thousand gold coins," the Proprietress said, "or a secret I don't know."
Jiang Chuan nodded. "All right, two thousand gold coins. How long will the round trip take?"
The Proprietress held up three slender fingers. "Three months."
Jiang Chuan nearly spat out his beer. "Three months! Why will it take so long?"
The Proprietress's eyelid twitched. "Everyone in Bilgewater knows that the journey to faraway Demacia takes three months, even when the seas are calm. If you run into trouble along the way, it could take around four. You didn't know that?"
Jiang Chuan frowned. "I just can't wait that long. More than three months is too much."
The Proprietress gave him a sultry look. "So, do you still want the alchemist and the engineer?"
Jiang Chuan replied calmly, "Of course I do. If I can't find an engineer, surely I can find a blacksmith in Bilgewater."
"A blacksmith? There's one, but you might not be able to hire him."
Her words piqued Jiang Chuan's interest. "Can't hire him? Is this blacksmith famous?"
The Proprietress smiled. "He made Gangplank's cannons. What do you think?"
Jiang Chuan took a sip of his drink. "Give me his address. But I still want you to bring me an alchemist and an engineer. Have someone go to Bloodfang Island to collect the money later."
The Proprietress narrowed her eyes at Jiang Chuan. "I'd like to see if you can get that stubborn old man to budge."
Jiang Chuan left the tavern, wondering how to turn his island into a sturdy little fortress. Judging by its size, it could easily become a large stronghold. But Jiang Chuan remembered that Soul Night began at sea. The island's defenses had to be fully built if they were to withstand Soul Night...
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