Chapter 263: Imperial Conscription
August 25th.
Bay Territory, clear skies.
The sky was cloudless and bright blue.
A silver-white dragon streaked across the sky, greeted by enthusiastic cheers from below.
Seeing this scene, Matthew suddenly imagined Yaya sitting on a throne, ascending as a ruler.
The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile as he silently observed the scene below, revealing Bay Town's new panorama.
Rows of wooden houses were about to be demolished.
They would be replaced by neatly arranged three-story houses.
These were not made from the old wooden materials but from long-awaited blue bricks and red tiles.
A small amount of refined lime cement had started being used for further development and construction in Bay Town.
As long as I don't mass-produce and sell it, everything within the territory is under my control!
Besides changes in the residential areas, a large area next door was under construction, gradually shaping into a professional training academy.
The foundation occupied one-fourth of the designated policy area, covered with wide and sturdy cement roads.
The central part of the building was already completed.
Every child in the territory was here, engaged in intense and fulfilling learning.
Occasionally, professionals also came to the academy for further training and enhancement.
They usually shared a prominent characteristic—contribution points were significantly high, at least over 500 points.
Nearly half of the old street buildings were also being dismantled and rebuilt, transforming into Bay Territory-style general stores.
With just a small portion of their wages, anyone in Bay Territory could buy beautiful clothes, plenty of food, or other daily necessities here.
The stores offered a wide variety of goods, some even beyond everyone's imagination, things they had never seen before!
Outside Bay Town, large-scale construction was also underway.
Four 10-meter-high stone-cement mixed walls were being built rapidly and intensively.
The existing walls were further heightened and reinforced.
The middle area was filled with rapidly established residential zones.
An increasing population quickly filled the desolate spaces and areas of Bay Territory.
Most were transported to the internal processing center of Bay Town via large teleportation arrays.
They underwent about seven days of ideological and capability transformation.
The vast majority of able-bodied vagrants would receive temporary residency status and be swiftly assigned jobs.
Then, most would become apprentices to someone, while a small portion would become students.
Matthew calmly watched the changes before him, witnessing Bay Territory's progress and betterment each day.
What pleased Matthew the most was.
When agriculture was recognized as one of the top three critical tasks in Bay Territory.
Under the allure of land ownership and decent wages.
Most vagrants with more skills and techniques chose to join the land reclamation team.
There was no helping it—the lure of land was just too great.
Yaya descended gracefully onto the top of the City Lord's Mansion.
The renovated and expanded mansion would soon provide Yaya with a beautiful and cozy dragon nest.
Butler Ralph, who had been waiting, hurried forward, speaking excitedly and respectfully:
"Honorable Lord, everyone has been waiting for a long time."
Matthew nodded calmly, took the ever-unchanging Yaya, and skillfully placed her on his shoulder, striding towards the conference room.
Earlier, he had just taken Yaya out for a stroll to see the changes in the territory over the past month.
Matthew was satisfied with the transformation, even though he hadn't directly intervened in the detailed development planning.
Butler Ralph, leading the main officials, had delivered a satisfying performance.
However, he didn't show it, just smiled and nodded to everyone in the conference room, signaling Butler Ralph to start.
Dressed neatly and simply, Butler Ralph, with an authoritative and confident gaze, looked at everyone and calmly announced:
"The discussion meeting for responding to the territory's first Imperial Conscription officially begins!"
Imperial Conscription!
A mandatory conscription task, not a favorable event for ordinary civilians and commoners.
Initially created to maximize the concentration of military forces from all regions to address various crises within and outside the Empire.
During critical times when the Empire faced life-and-death challenges, Imperial Conscription played a significant role!
Almost all male nobles and commoners within the Empire couldn't avoid participating in at least one Imperial Conscription.
Everyone in the conference room was well-versed in Imperial Conscription, as most had experienced it firsthand.
Seemingly anticipating this situation, Butler Ralph continued to speak to everyone:
"Let me share some good news: thanks to our rapidly growing population."
"Also, by helping the nobles around Bloodmoon City resolve the 'vagrant' issue, our application for city status has been approved."
"Yes, once reviewed by the Savendon Council, Lord Matthew will become an honorable Imperial Baron!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present became excited, gazing at the smiling Lord with admiration, each feeling their unique joy.
Matthew felt slightly helpless under their gaze, wondering why they were so excited when they had all seen each other frequently over the past month.
Although he thought that, the smile on Matthew's lips spread slightly.
Once everyone calmed down, Butler Ralph continued:
"Of course, since we've been approved, we must now shoulder the responsibilities and duties of being part of the Empire."
"We will form a military force exclusively for the Lord to participate in the Imperial Conscription six days from now."
"Considering that we are a newly established city, our task isn't heavy."
"We only need to lead a thousand soldiers to gather at Bloodmoon City."
"Considering the Lord's importance, we're holding this meeting."
"We need to select some accompanying personnel to protect the Lord and complete this conscription."
Upon hearing this, Beelzebub, Angela, Elio, and others in the conference room excitedly exclaimed:
"I'm willing to follow the Lord into battle!"
"Lord, choose me! I can fight, and I'm tough…"
"I can help the Lord command battles!"
"I can protect the Lord closely."
"I won't let any enemies go…"
"…"
Anticipating this reaction, Butler Ralph raised his hands to quiet them and continued once the room settled:
"Don't worry, everyone except me has a great chance to accompany the Lord."
"But before that, you must complete the Lord's assigned tasks and select your best subordinates!"
Climbing the 13th floor… no solution.