The words of the Black Dragon Emperor on the West Coast were quickly amplified and spread to the outside through the Propaganda Department, and the craftsmen in the shipyard were all gearing up, even if they could not get a huge reward of 10,000 gold, as long as they could give pioneering ideas and techniques, I believe that the Evil Dragon Monarch would not be stingy.

Trade city-state, city of the Inland Sea, Nice.

The city, once famous for its shipbuilding skills, is now increasingly dilapidated and unworthy of its name.

In the middle of the Third Age, the power of magic began to rise, and it was a wonderful time for ambitious careerists, but it was no less than a nightmare for those at the bottom of society who had no power and tried to live in peace.

Nice is one of the oldest trading city-states, a water capital on the coast, which is hit by storms every year, and has no main materials to support shipbuilding, timber and steel, all of which can only be imported from other cities.

In the beginning, the successive heads of state of the trading city-states were very supportive of the development of Nice, giving the city all kinds of convenience, but with the changes in the world in recent years, the maritime power of the city-state has reached a critical level, and after the rulers turned their main efforts to land construction, Nicedu was gradually neglected and slowly declined.

The increase in material prices has led to the continuous decline in shipyard profits, coupled with the economic downturn in the entire industrial environment and the lack of support from national policies, resulting in a continuous decline in business, and many shipyards have begun to actively transform in order to survive.

As a result, the number of unemployed people is increasing, and a large number of unemployed people who have been forced to lay off are hoarding, which has led to the deterioration of law and order in the whole city, and the reputation of the outside world has deteriorated.

The government is indifferent, and people are unable to get out of this predicament on their own, and the disheartened residents abandon themselves, intoxicated by alcohol, indifferent to their families and children, and the whole city is dead.

Many people who grew up here and loved the city were also pessimistic in the face of this situation, and believed that unless a war broke out at sea and the demand for the city-state rose sharply, the city would sooner or later become an isolated island submerged by the sea and die completely.

Many people who have the conditions are going out, trying their best to escape this city with no hope and no future.

Corvette walked into the dockyard workshop.

"Mr. Mentor." After seeing him, the scattered apprentices bowed their heads and saluted.

He waved his hand: "You go on." ”

The apprentices crouched down again, or sat on the ground, busy with their own work.

At the outskirts of the workshop is the showroom, where models of ships from all over Eladia are displayed, and the design of the room is also very clever, the cabinets spiral up the stairs, and the magic warship representing the highest technology of the era is placed on the top floor, like a bright pearl.

Light streams through the windows on either side of the wall and reflects on the stone floor, singing long patches of light across the room, light and darkness forming overlapping silhouettes, like the markings of a dragon.

Apprentices will study here for three to five years, until they have a good understanding of the theoretical knowledge of ship construction, working principles, base data, etc., and then have the opportunity to be selected by the instructor as a disciple to learn more advanced manufacturing techniques.

At its peak, there were more than 100 apprentices in the Corvit's workshop, but today only seven children are still studying in the dockyard workshop.

Corvette stepped on the light and dark spots and walked into the foundry room, the heart of the dockyard workshop.

Pushing open the door, the line of sight suddenly opens up, twelve large casts of steel act as load-bearing columns, supporting this extremely spacious room, the four stone walls have windows, the roof is covered by a well-designed ventilation system, the furnishings in the casting room are extremely simple, even a little chaotic, all kinds of castings, fasteners are randomly stacked in the corner, some have been covered with dust, and no one cares for a long time.

"Charlie, how did you talk to them?" He asked.

A young man who looked to be in his twenties walked over, shook his head, and said, "These damn businessmen are vampires who don't think we can afford to pay our debts and don't want to fund them. ”

After saying that, the young man paused for a moment, and then added: "Mentor, why don't you want to go to the Northland to have a look, we haven't found any support in this city since we asked for help, but if you go to the Northland, with your experience and skills, who can stop you from getting that bounty?" ”

"Judging from the publicity there, Northland attaches great importance to the seagoing boat industry, and your work there can be strong support to ensure that you can concentrate on the research of new seagoing vessels."

"I've heard enough of what you're saying."

Corvit glanced at the only disciple who was still willing to stay by his side, and said with some disapproval: "I don't know what the level of shipbuilding in the Northland you are talking about, what if we need to start from scratch?" And Charlie, you have to remember that we don't build ships for money, and if we build for money and status, we can't build good ships, because sooner or later you will make more shoddy products in order to make more money. ”

"A shipbuilder can do without money, but shipbuilding needs money, mentor."

The young man quickly retorted: "Before we talk about our dreams and feelings, we must first make sure that we can survive." ”

He took a sip of bitter coffee and continued, "This city can't be saved by your persistence alone, and even if your technology is at the top of Eladia, it won't be able to reverse the fact that Nice is declining. I've seen enough of the ugly faces of those in power, and without the support of borrowing, we may not be able to survive this month. Traveling to the Northland doesn't mean you give up on your dreams, it's just a change to an environment where you can better realize your ambitions. ”

After listening, Corvette didn't say anything, but looked at his proud disciple and asked softly: "Charlie, is this your idea?" ”

Under the watchful gaze of the mentor, the young man hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

"It's understandable that you have such thoughts, young people should go outward, you can go if you want, I support you."

Corvett smiled gently, "But I choose to stay here, Charlie." If everyone chooses to flee, then this city will truly become a dead city, this is my home, my acquaintances, friends, memories are here, how can you let me leave it? You should understand me. Don't worry, keep an old guy like me here, and as long as there's still someone around, there's still hope for Nice. ”

Corvit's words rang out, and the room became a little quiet for a moment.

After a long time, the young man sighed: "Since this is the case, I will think of a way." "He was an orphan, and he regarded Corvet as a teacher and a father, how could he leave this old man in his sixties alone.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he heard a commotion outside.

"What are you doing!"

The apprentice's frightened and angry voice came in, accompanied by the muffled sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.

Both of them were startled, and Corvette stepped forward quickly, opened the door, and checked the situation in the showroom.

The flickering sword reflected the sunlight, stabbing him so hard that he couldn't open his eyes, and a group of guards in full armor rushed in, pushing the apprentice to the ground in a brutal manner.

"Stop, soldier! What are you doing here? ”

Corvette shouted at him, as a well-known shipbuilder, he had traveled far and wide in his youth, and had seen many great people, and these soldiers could not frighten him.

"Mr. Corwitt."

The leader of the tin can paused, only two eyes were visible in his helmet, glanced at him expressionlessly, and said in a stiff tone: "In view of the city planning, your dockyard has been requisitioned. ”

"Requisition?"

Corvet laughed angrily, looked directly at the soldier without fear, and angrily rebuked: "This land, the dockyard, which I bought and built twenty years ago, is the private property protected by the laws of the city-state, and you have no right to expropriate it, not anyone!" ”

"I know."

The soldier's eyes were smiling, with a bit of sarcasm: "So Mr. Corvet, you can go to the town hall with your voucher for that year to receive a subsidy of twenty gold coins." ”

Twenty?

Are you kidding!

But no matter how much Corvett resisted, in the blink of an eye, he was being carried out of his dock by strong soldiers, and until his ass came into close contact with the cold ground, he still did not believe the brutal treatment he had suffered, and his eyes were full of disbelief.

The city is really hopeless.