Chapter27: Granite

In the early morning, as the sun rose and the sky cleared, Lei Jiu stood by the sea, observing his busy men. Today, they would execute the exploration plan devised two days prior. Due to potential dangers on the outer islands, in addition to a few highly trained soldiers from Huanghuang Island, all 16 militiamen would accompany them this time. Gongju Han, still inexperienced, remained on the island to train.

Among the protected individuals were Lei Jiu himself, the top priority, and two prospectors tasked with locating high-quality stone and important minerals. Although Lei Jiu could undertake the exploration alone, efficiency would suffer, hence the need for additional support.

Luo Zheng led the militia team, while Nicotine closely guarded Lei Jiu. Nangong Ding remained on the island to oversee affairs. As the island's population grew, Nangong Di became increasingly occupied and less easily mobilized. Though he never complained, Lei Jiu could sense Nangong Ding's desire to venture out more frequently. However, no one else on Huanghuang Island could handle administrative duties at present.

Lei Jiu was unwilling to confine himself to an office, so he hoped the system would quickly produce a high-level political talent for the island. Of the six islands closest to Huanghuang Island, one had already been merged, leaving five as the day's exploration targets.

"Lord Island Master, everything is prepared!"

Lei Jiu nodded at Luo Zheng. "Then let's board the ship and set off!" This time, they would use a newly built small paddle boat instead of a fishing boat, capable of carrying over 30 people.

At present, the carpenter workshop had a dedicated team responsible for shipbuilding. Lei Jiu planned to utilize these craftsmen to construct a dock once the system refreshed talents with higher shipbuilding skills. In a world with numerous islands, falling behind in shipbuilding technology would be a severe disadvantage.

For the shipbuilding industry, with its long production cycles, the accumulation of craftsmen and skilled workers required early planning.

As the boat set sail, Lei Jiu pointed to a hill-shaped island and instructed, "Head to that island first!" Their primary objective was high-quality stone for system construction, followed by other minerals.

Island 1 was their first destination, a hill-covered island approximately 3 square kilometers in size. Despite its appearance from a distance, it was similar in size to the original Huanghuang Island. Lei Jiu had sent scouts to investigate and discovered undercurrents surrounding the island chain, making it difficult for ships to penetrate.

Lei Jiu suspected the system had imposed this blockade, either as a test or a protective measure. The dangers beyond the islands were evident from previous system announcements regarding island mergers. However, these dangers wouldn't arise without the actions of island owner players.

Lei Jiu preferred a cautious approach, unwilling to take unnecessary risks without sufficient information. He believed adventures without intelligence support amounted to gambling, an approach he disapproved of.

If supported by information, he might consider taking risks based on potential benefits. Island 1 lacked sandy beaches or flat land, and its shores were rocky. Lei Jiu's party secured the boat and began climbing the slope, finding the island teeming with wildlife.

They encountered squirrels, rabbits, monkeys, foxes, goats, deer, koalas, snakes, and even a weasel. The dense vegetation covered most of the mountain, revealing granite rocks on the slopes.

Upon reaching the summit, Lei Jiu observed the absence of vegetation, indicating the mountain's strength. His calm demeanor impressed his subordinates, who began to view him in a more elevated light.