I had long heard the dragon hunters and the old members of the investigation team on the ship say: "Xingchen, the stronghold of the New World Investigation Group, is a different place. ”

When asked what was different between them, they would smile and say, "You'll know when you see it with your own eyes." ”

Mysteriously, if it weren't for the endorsement of the guild headquarters, Gordon would have suspected that they were some kind of fraud gang.

The doubts of the members of the newly formed Special Investigation Team continued until the dragon strike ship approached the shoreline and the star stronghold shrouded in hazy water vapor appeared before them.

This group of "newcomers" from the Old World finally understood what it meant to be "different".

It was a large stronghold built on a cliff by the sea and made up of many large ships stacked on top of each other.

In the depression of the cliff at a height of more than 100 meters, there was originally a bay with no land, only rocky reefs.

Several huge seagoing vessels are firmly stuck between the huge reefs on their own foundations, forming a solid platform.

This is the first level of the Star Stronghold.

On this basis, the members of the mission established a multi-storey residential area.

Some of these layered buildings are made of hard wood, while others are houseboats that are stacked directly on top of each other and fixed with brackets.

At the top of the living quarters, about 40 meters above the sea, a second platform was erected.

There are many buildings and facilities that are difficult to determine the purpose of the building, and the second floor alone looks like a thriving town.

Further up, there is the third floor, which is divided into two parts, the left and the right, a large place resembling an open-air platform, and on the right there should be a workshop, with black smoke emitting from the huge chimney.

The highest and fourth level is located at the top of a cliff.

It may not be called a "layer".

Because it was a giant sea ship with a length of more than 50 meters, I don't know what kind of force was sent to the top of the mountain cliff, thus forming the most iconic building of the Star Stronghold.

Each platform, between each facility, is connected by countless solid wooden frames, trestles, and stairs, connecting the entire star stronghold into a complete whole.

This is the only human stronghold in the New World, the stars.

"Amazing, right?"

Looking at the newcomers to the Special Investigation Team who had fallen into a stupor, the Dragonman Hunter smiled and said, "Actually, I'm a little surprised, I've only been away for more than half a year, and I feel that the stronghold has become a little more 'complicated'." ”

Gordon asked curiously, "Is this stronghold still being expanded?" ”

"Of course." The Dragonman Hunter smiled and said, "Actually, if you had been here ten years ago, you would have seen a completely different scene.

The fact that the Star Stronghold has become what it is today largely depends on the merits of the members of the Fourth Regiment.

The total number of the fourth group exceeded 270, which was more than the combined number of the previous three groups, and they became the backbone of the expansion of the star stronghold.

Before leaving, I listened to the discussion of the material squad leader and the craftsmen of the second phase of the group, and it seemed that they were planning to build a huge waterwheel and cable car to facilitate the communication between the platforms on each floor. ”

"Water wheels? Cable car?! ”

The Dragonman hunter lifted his chin, "Isn't there a waterfall flowing down the cliff?" Originally, we just used it as a water source, but the head of the second phase of the regiment thought that we could use the power of this current.

When the waterwheel is completed, it will not only be able to build a cable car that is convenient for the various platforms to connect with each other, but it will also be beneficial to the industrial side.

I can't say the specifics, but now that you're here, you're supposed to be involved in the construction of these new facilities, including the collection of building materials, etc. ”

Gordon laughed.

I thought that after they came, the main work content would be exploration and investigation, but I didn't expect that there would be a construction part.

However, this feeling of building a home with your own hands doesn't seem to be bad.

Under the careful control of the navigator and the helmsman, the dragon ship bypassed one reef after another jutting out of the sea, and came to the dock on the bottom floor of the star stronghold.

As far as Gordon and the others saw it, the wharf was a little rudimentary, with only one pier for ships to get on and off and unload.

But when I think about it, I seem to be able to understand it.

Trade between the Old World and the New World did exist, but it was not frequent, and there might not be a single ship coming for months, so what was the use of building such a large dock?

It's better to use resources elsewhere.

As humanity's only stronghold in the New World, the stars have no room for waste.

Just like those houseboats.

A closer look reveals that the timber of the houseboats is not old, which means that they are not necessarily abandoned ships, but are likely the same boats that the Fourth Mission took when they arrived in the stars.

Maintaining large vessels requires not only ports and docks, but also the cost of routine maintenance.

This was a meaningless expense for the Star Stronghold, so the fourth group simply used some of the ships as materials to build a living quarter.

As the dragon striking ship slowly leaned onto the pier trestle, anchored, and stopped.

The members of the Special Investigation Team on deck also returned to their cabins, packing their bags.

The hatch opens.

Compared to the darkness of the cabin, the sun in the New World outside the door was dazzlingly bright.

Looking at the door, everyone had anticipation, excitement, and a little apprehension.

Gordon smiled at his companions behind him, tightened the straps of his weapons, and was the first to step out of the hatch.

"Let's go, the New World has arrived!"

On the dock, a large group of people, such as the commander-in-chief, the grand master, the leader of the research squad, the head of the material squad, and so on, have been waiting for a long time.

The Dragonman hunter stepped up and shook the commander's hand.

The commander-in-chief sighed, "Finally back, old friend, this trip is really hard for you." ”

Behind the dragon hunters, Gordon, who had just stepped out of the cabin, quietly looked at the backbone of these New World Ancient Dragon Survey Teams.

According to the information he had heard from his master and from the old members of the investigation team.

The old man with a short haircut and a neat and dark-skinned hair should be the leader of the investigation team, the commander-in-chief.

And the majestic old man with long hair and thorns on his head, who felt like a golden lion, was probably the leader of the first phase of the regiment, the legendary hunter respected by everyone in the investigation team, the Grand Master.

While Gordon was observing the Grand Master, the Grand Master was also observing him.

After meeting his gaze, Gordon bowed a little as a sign of respect, but his gaze did not look away.

This "confrontation" lasted for a few seconds, and the Grand Master suddenly grinned and walked up.

Beside him, the commander-in-chief, who had spoken to the dragon hunter for a few words, noticed the Grand Master's movements, and just shouted "Hey! The Grand Master had come to Gordon.

He bared his teeth and grinned, "Oh - you're in good shape, boy." ”

Just as Gordon was about to say thank you or something back, the Grand Master suddenly stretched out his hand and waved it at Gordon's arm.

Patting shoulders, arms, and chests are very common among hunters with heroic personalities.

But it's not common to be able to make a wind-breaking sound

Gordon immediately realized that if he didn't show something, he wouldn't be able to make a fool of himself and fall or something, but with his size, he was afraid that he would have to be photographed and staggered two steps.

Using the skills of Diantie Mountain and precise defense, the body didn't seem to move much, but in fact, it took the initiative to collide with the shoulders at the moment when the other party came up.

"Bang ——!"

A palm larger than a plate slammed into Gordon's armor with a muffled sound.

"Stinky boy!" The Grand Master shook his hand, and not only was there no dissatisfaction in his tone, but there was some. Excited?

He took the initiative to extend a big hand to Gordon, "The reaction and skill are good, let's try the strength again!" ”

Ps.

Regarding the cable car, it doesn't seem to be mentioned in the game, and the setting book mentions that it was built by members of the second phase of the group, because the cable car doesn't seem like a priority no matter how you look at it, and my understanding is that the head of the second phase of the group designed and built it, not during the second phase of the group.

During the second phase of the regiment, there were a total of thirty or fifty people, and the scale of the stronghold was not even one-fifth of what it is now

Also, there was not a complete lack of contact between the New World and the Old World, there were a small number of merchant ships, and the Molten Mountain Dragon Ancient Dragon Cross was interrupted during that time, and later resumed and strengthened trade.

(End of chapter)