Chapter 219: The Sky Archipelago's Rebirth!
In the many days that followed, Simon woke up every day with a mixture of fear and bewilderment.
He would habitually push open the window and see the wondrous sight of being surrounded by a sea of clouds.
Home was still there.
But the island had flown.
This utterly absurd reality had gone from causing initial panic to something they were now slowly getting used to!
Humans' ability to adapt far exceeded their imagination!
At first, all the terrified, impoverished residents of Purple Bamboo Island were exactly like Simon. They had securely locked themselves in their fragile, drafty wooden homes, barricading their doors with whatever broken furniture they had, and shivered uncontrollably in the dark, suffocating corners of their rooms.
They waited in agonizing silence for the inevitable judgment of doomsday. They waited for that terrifying group of 'pirates' with god-like, island-moving power to finally reveal their true, hideous fangs and slaughter them all.
In their deeply ingrained, tragic understanding of the world, no matter which pirate flag flew above the sails, what they did to the weak was always exactly the same.
The brutal 'Flame Lion' and the bloodthirsty 'Fangs' they had tragically experienced just days before were merciless pirates. And even earlier, those towering, monstrous enforcers from the terrifying Beasts Pirates who violently required everyone to bleed themselves dry to pay tribute together were also pirates.
The arrival of pirates on their shores always meant only three inevitable things... senseless plunder, agonizing exploitation, and lifelong, inescapable enslavement.
The Suzaku Pirates... in the terrified minds of the islanders, might be even more excessive, far more cruel, and unimaginably brutal simply because they were undeniably more powerful than anything this world had ever seen.
However, one agonizingly slow day passed in complete silence.
Then, a second day passed without a single scream echoing through the village.
The expected brutal breaking down of doors, the roaring flames of burning houses, and the sounds of weeping simply did not happen.
Instead, heavy, organized footsteps began to echo through the dusty dirt paths of the village. Squads of incredibly tall, heavily muscled, furry 'monsters' arrived in the daylight.
Only much later did the trembling islanders learn that these imposing, beast-like warriors were called the Mink Tribe.
They began patrolling the perimeter of the island and the main streets to strictly maintain order.
Their attitude was completely contradictory to their terrifying, predatory appearances. They were incredibly polite, even excessively so.
Simon, peering nervously through a tiny crack in his locked window, witnessed a scene that completely shattered his lifelong preconceptions. A young, barefoot child had accidentally stumbled and fallen hard onto the cobblestone path, crying out in fright as the shadow of a massive canine Mink loomed over him. Simon had held his breath, fully expecting the towering beast to casually crush the boy.
Instead, the heavily armed Mink warrior immediately stopped his patrol route. He crouched down with surprising, fluid grace, his massive frame shrinking as much as possible. Using his incredibly large, heavily furred paws, the beast carefully, almost reverently, helped the crying child up from the dirt, softly dusting off the boy's worn clothes before offering a warm, toothy smile that carried no malice whatsoever.
Then, the true shock came. That incredibly powerful adult named Rem, the petite, beautiful blue-haired woman they had personally seen possessing world-destroying, apocalyptic power, descended upon the central town square once again.
She didn't arrive with a terrifying crash or a booming voice demanding absolute submission. She simply floated down gracefully, her pristine black-and-white maid uniform completely spotless. She stood at the center of the square, her posture perfect, and calmly took out a thick, meticulously organized stack of parchment lists.
With her cool, exceptionally pleasant voice that somehow easily carried to the ears of every single person hiding behind their walls, she announced an order that made everyone unable to believe their own ears.
"By the strict order of Lord Suzaku," Rem's voice rang out, clear as a silver bell yet carrying an undeniable, heavy authority. "A generous portion of the immense spoils obtained from the total suppression of the Fire Lion Pirates and the Azure Wolf Pirate Crew..."
She paused, her piercing blue eyes sweeping calmly over the silent, dilapidated houses.
"...will be used in full to directly compensate the innocent residents of Purple Bamboo Island for the tragic losses suffered during this recent, unlawful raid."
The words hung heavily in the crisp, high-altitude air.
"Those with structurally damaged houses will immediately receive double the necessary repair materials. Those whose personal property or life savings were violently robbed can confidently report it to our officials based on memory, and after a brief verification, will receive double the compensation in Berries."
Her voice softened slightly, carrying a trace of genuine solemnity. "Families of the unfortunate victims who lost their lives will receive extremely generous, lifelong pensions."
She rolled up the parchment with a crisp snap. "Now, begin registration."
The entire square was deathly silent.
It was a profound, suffocating silence where even the sound of the wind seemed to stop. Everyone seemed to have been hit by a powerful, freezing spell. From behind cracked doors and open windows, hundreds of pairs of eyes stared blankly, completely paralyzed, at that petite figure floating gently in mid-air.
Com... compensation?
Double compensation?!
Simon, who had cautiously stepped out onto his porch, pinched his thigh with such brutal force that his nails nearly broke the skin. The sharp, agonizing pain instantly shot up his leg, definitively telling him that this wasn't some twisted, cruel dream!
Are... are these people really pirates?
Violently stealing other evil people's stolen money, and instead of greedily stuffing it into their own overflowing treasure chests, they actually turn around and willingly distribute it to the helpless victims?
Over the next few unbelievable days, the entire expanse of Purple Bamboo Island was completely immersed in a deep, dreamlike sense of unreality.
Heavy, reinforced wooden chests overflowing with glittering, newly minted Berries were continuously hauled into the town square. Massive, sturdy carts piled high with brand-new, incredibly expensive Iron Birch timber and perfectly cut stone blocks were rolled through the streets. Thick, bulging canvas bags stuffed to the brim with heavy, high-quality grain... all of these priceless resources were meticulously delivered directly into the trembling, calloused hands of every single resident like flowing water.
Miss Rem personally stood at the center of the distribution area, strictly supervising the entire monumental process. Her administration was incredibly efficient, absolutely fair, and allowed for absolutely zero foul play, greed, or corruption from anyone.
Simon himself had nervously approached the registration desk, half-expecting to be turned away or beaten. Instead, he walked away completely stunned, having also received a shockingly large sum of money.
He held a heavy leather pouch that jingled with the unmistakable, intoxicating sound of pure Berries. It was a massive fortune to him, more than enough for him to finally tear down that perpetually drafty, rotting wooden roof at home and completely replace it with the sturdiest, most expensive timber available!
As he stood in the middle of the dirt road, his rough fingers tightly gripping that incredibly heavy, bursting money bag, he slowly lifted his head. He looked past the floating white clouds, his gaze fixing upon the massive, terrifyingly beautiful steel giant ship anchored securely in the distant sky, resembling a magnificent dwelling explicitly built for divine gods.
The deeply ingrained, suffocating fear in his fragile heart began to violently waver for the very first time. The terror that had haunted him for decades was rapidly being replaced by an unspeakable, overwhelming sense of profound awe and deep, unshakeable reverence.
And remarkably, this unbelievable miracle of wealth and salvation was only the very beginning of their new lives.
As the chaotic situation gradually stabilized and their completely uprooted island had firmly settled into its new, stationary position high above the sea, the environment began to shift. The residents began to cautiously, timidly step out of the safety of their homes to explore the edges of their land.
And then, they collectively discovered the breathtaking, miraculous wonders of this 'new home' created by the system's absolute power.
'Stalagmite Island,' a neighboring landmass which used to be situated far across the dangerous, unpredictable sea and previously required a grueling, hazardous whole day's boat trip just to reach its rocky shores... was now inexplicably floating right next to them.
It was positioned squarely in the sky, not far from the very edge of Purple Bamboo Island. The distance was so unbelievably, impossibly close that the jagged rock formations, the dense vegetation, and even the tiny figures of the people standing on the opposite shore were perfectly visible to the naked eye!
And looking slightly further away across the sea of clouds, 'Black Iron Island,' an arid, tough landmass famous for being rich in heavy iron ore and skilled blacksmiths, was also miraculously close at hand!
The vast, dangerous physical distance between these previously isolated, struggling islands had been forcibly, magically shortened to a completely incredible degree by Suzaku's incomprehensible power!
Slowly, testing the waters of this entirely new reality, some brave, desperate fishermen began to try rowing their small, hastily built wooden boats across the short expanses of calm, floating water trapped between the massive floating landmasses.
They intended to visit their newly relocated 'neighbors'.
Upon happily discovering that the heavily armed Mink Tribe members responsible for strict security did not even attempt to stop them, and instead just watched them with mild amusement, their courage swelled immensely! They became even bolder!
"Hey! Brothers from Stalagmite Island over there!" a boisterous fisherman yelled, waving his muscular arms frantically from the bow of his tiny skiff, his voice echoing loudly across the short gap between the islands.
"How much are your fresh, crunchy 'stalagmites' selling for these days? I have some freshly woven, high-quality bamboo baskets right here! Do you want to trade?"
The response came echoing back almost immediately, filled with equal parts shock and overwhelming excitement.
"Trade! We will absolutely trade! Your island's purple bamboo ware used to be incredibly good stuff that only those corrupt noble lords could afford to use! Bring them over here!"
Further down the newly formed, aerial coastline, another booming voice cut through the crisp wind.
"Big brothers from Black Iron Island! We desperately want to forge a complete set of durable, heavy farm tools! My hoes have been broken for years! Can it be a little cheaper since we're basically next-door neighbors now?"
A burly, soot-covered blacksmith, standing right on the rocky edge of his own floating island, roared back with a hearty, booming laugh.
"Sure thing! No problem at all! As long as you bring over enough of that sturdy, flexible purple bamboo of yours, I'll personally give you a massive, unprecedented discount! We need the wood for the forge handles!"
A completely spontaneous, slightly primitive, yet incredibly vibrant and bustling trade network was quietly, rapidly born. It flourished beautifully and chaotically among this miraculous archipelago suspended completely in the endless sky.
Simon also joyfully welcomed an unprecedented, golden spring in his own life, all thanks to his excellent, generationally passed-down bamboo weaving skills. His hands worked day and night, turning out beautiful, sturdy baskets that were instantly bought up by eager neighbors.
Countless exotic local specialties, rare minerals, unique tools, and delicious foods that had never even been seen or heard of before began to rapidly appear in the increasingly crowded, noisy markets of Purple Bamboo Island.
The sound of haggling, laughter, and clinking Berries filled the air from dawn until dusk. Everyone's previously bleak, miserable lives were visibly, undeniably getting better with every single passing day.
This euphoric, bustling state of existence continued completely undisturbed until exactly half a month later.
A heavily armed Mink Tribe patrol loudly marched into the center of the expanded market square, causing the crowds to part respectfully. They brought the highly anticipated second official order from the Suzaku Pirates.
"By the direct, absolute order of Lord Suzaku!" the Mink captain shouted, his powerful voice easily cutting through the bustling noise of the market.
"To permanently connect the islands, ease the travel distance, and massively promote safe, continuous trade for everyone, a gigantic, heavily reinforced stone pier will be built right here on the edge of Purple Bamboo Island!"
The enormous crowd instantly quieted down, hanging onto every single word with bated breath.
"All able-bodied residents willingly participating in the heavy construction will be generously provided with three full, hot meals a day!"
The captain slammed the butt of his heavy spear against the ground for emphasis, the sound ringing out like a bell.
"Furthermore, as a daily wage, every single worker will receive one full sheng of high-quality grain and half a jin of fresh, premium meat to take home to their families!"
As soon as this unbelievable, world-shaking news firmly registered in their minds, the entire population of Purple Bamboo Island erupted in an absolute, deafening frenzy of cheers!
Just by going to do honest, physical work, they could easily eat their fill until their stomachs burst! And they could even have extra, highly valuable grain and rare, nutritious meat to take home!
For these previously wretched, poor people who had been desperately hungry for years, living constantly under the suffocating, dark shadow of paying heavy tribute to cruel overlords... this was no longer just the promise of a 'good life.'
To them, this was simply, undeniably heaven on earth!
...
A few days later, the massive pier construction site at the jagged edge of the island was in full, glorious swing.
"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!"
Thousands of energized islanders shouted loud, rhythmic chants as they transported incredibly huge, heavy stones and massive, stripped timber logs to the very edge of the island.
Sweat poured down their backs, and muscles burned with exhaustion, but there was absolutely no trace of the familiar, agonizing pain of forced enslavement on their faces. Instead, they were completely overflowing with bright, heartfelt smiles and a burning, undeniable longing for a beautiful future.
During the lunch break, incredibly fragrant, rich meat soup simmered violently in huge black iron pots, sending mouth-watering steam into the air. Everyone's large wooden bowl was piled impossibly high with fresh vegetables and massive chunks of tender meat.
Simon shoveled the scalding hot food into his mouth while listening to his fellow workers chat, a simple and honest smile on his face.
"Old Man Shuzo, eat slower, no one's competing with you, there's plenty more in the pot!" a young man teased.
The man called Old Man Shuzo, his mouth stuffed full, said indistinctly, "What do you know?
In all my life... I've never eaten such fragrant meat soup!
Thinking back to when we paid 'protection money' to those god-damned Beasts, even the mice would starve in our rice bins!
Now... now this is a life fit for the gods!"
"Isn't it!" another middle-aged man chimed in, a trace of lingering fear on his face.
"To be honest, that day when I saw Lady Rem bury those hundreds of pirates in one move, my soul almost flew out of fright. I thought we were finished too, but who would have thought... they were here to save us!"
[Akarin Note:
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