"Wise words, Captain!" the people around him said in unison.
Captain Viking nodded slightly. "Now we need to consider sharing more of our research data with Dragon Base."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We’ll go and organize the data right away!"
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, a refitted supply ship set out north from Dragon Base, heading straight for the Iron Wing Fleet.
Another fleet sailed west, tasked with securing the other damaged aircraft carriers from the Sea Eagle Country.
Meanwhile, Xin Yu and his wife, accompanied by Xin Wan, returned to Dragon Base.
Between Ren Yuanyang’s instructions and Xin Wan’s presence, Captain Ji naturally paid close attention to Xin Yu’s research project.
Captain Ji granted all of Xin Yu’s requests, even allowing him to set up his laboratory directly on the Duckweed Continent.
When Xin Yu heard he could establish a lab on the Duckweed Continent, his excitement flared up again. "Is it the same kind of Duckweed as the one at Peach Blossom Base?"
Captain Ji nodded slightly. "That’s right. The Duckweed for our base was also supplied by Peach Blossom Base."
"That’s wonderful!" Xin Yu replied happily, then glanced around in confusion. "But it doesn’t look like there’s a Banyan Forest near Dragon Base."
Captain Ji smiled faintly. "That’s because Dragon Base’s Duckweed Continent is still under construction. It isn’t large enough yet, so only a few personnel are involved in building it. Most people don’t even know about it yet. You’ll be one of the first scientists to establish a laboratory on the Duckweed Continent!"
Xin Yu nodded. "I really have to thank you for this, Captain Ji!"
"No need to be so formal, Engineer Xin," Captain Ji replied. "Master already stressed to me how important your research is. It cannot be delayed in the slightest."
"Don’t worry," Xin Yu promised. "I won’t fail to live up to his expectations!"
Captain Ji led Xin Yu to the Duckweed Continent, which was currently under construction.
Staring at the seven sections of Banyan Forest, each larger than the one at Peach Blossom Base, Xin Yu was stunned. "Is Dragon Base really trying to build an entire continent?"
"You could say that," Captain Ji replied. "Developing a society on ships has its limitations."
Xin Yu nodded in profound agreement.
"Come on. We’re setting up your lab on the central landmass." Captain Ji steered them toward the continent in the middle.
At that moment, fleets from all over Blue Star were rushing toward Dragon Base’s position, including the Iron Wing Fleet.
They were originally about six hundred kilometers from Dragon Base, but this time they planned to approach directly and stop sixty kilometers away.
None of the fleets were worried about whether Dragon Base would attack them. The question was utterly meaningless.
If Dragon Base truly wanted to attack, there was no escape.
So they might as well show up at their doorstep, pay their respects, and acknowledge them as the new top dog.
And so it was, a pilgrimage of a thousand ships.
The supply ship on its delivery run soon rendezvoused with the Iron Wing Fleet.
Its captain contacted Captain Viking, saying apologetically, "Our captain was occupied today and couldn’t come himself. I’ll be handling the transaction with you."
"That’s no problem," Captain Viking replied with a smile. "I know Captain Ji is very busy. No need to trouble him with a small matter like a trade."
"Very well. We’ve brought a total of one hundred and twenty tons of grain. One hundred tons are for our agreed-upon trade. The other twenty tons are a token of our gratitude for your trust in Dragon Base. I hope you won’t refuse it, Captain Viking," the captain explained.
Hearing this, Captain Viking was stunned for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Excellent. To be honest, we’re extremely short on food. I’ll gladly accept it all. Please thank Captain Ji, and thank you, Dragon Base!"
"Don’t mention it. Just arrange for a ship to come over and receive the grain," the captain continued.
"Right, we’re on our way!"
The transaction was completed smoothly, and the supply ship immediately turned back.
Watching the supply ship’s speed, Captain Viking’s eyes filled with envy. "I wonder if Dragon Base sells these high-performance vessels."
"Once we’re closer to Dragon Base, we can feel them out on the subject," an aide suggested.
Captain Viking nodded slightly. "Then let’s proceed at full speed. Since the food has arrived, let’s make a good meal for everyone!"
"Yes, sir!"
At noon, the Iron Wing Fleet made heaps of flatbread and bread. Every member of the fleet ate like they were starving, devouring one piece after another.
Even Captain Viking ate his fill for the first time in a long while.
"I hope we can eat our fill every day from now on," Captain Viking said with a sigh.
At 7:00 PM, the Iron Wing Fleet arrived approximately sixty kilometers north of Dragon Base.
Captain Viking had already informed Captain Ji of their approach, so their fleet was able to enter the sixty-kilometer perimeter around Dragon Base without issue.
The members of the Iron Wing Fleet noticed that the closer they got to Dragon Base, the more patrol boats there were, and they couldn’t help but start discussing it amongst themselves.
"Dragon Base’s patrol boats are so much faster than ours!"
"With so many boats on patrol, no fleet could ever hope to approach undetected."
"Do they really have that much fuel? The amount they must burn through each day with all these boats has to be astronomical!"
"I’d love to visit their base and see just how they’re producing fuel."
"That must be top secret. Even if we went, we wouldn’t get to see it."
While they were busy chattering, Captain Viking had already taken action, submitting a formal request to Captain Ji to visit Dragon Base.
"Captain Viking has requested permission to visit Dragon Base. What does everyone think?" Captain Ji asked the others in their group chat.
"Let him come. It’s not like he can figure anything out anyway," Long Zhan said dismissively.
Wang Jun thought for a moment before speaking. "I suggest we wait. Let’s hold off until the Duckweed Continent has taken its final form, and then receive his visit there. We’ll show him the true power of Dragon Base!"
"Hm, that’s a good point. It’ll save him from having to make a second trip later," Captain Ji agreed with a slight nod.
If Captain Viking visited now, he would only be able to tour the ships. Once the Duckweed Continent was revealed, he would surely want to visit again. It was better to combine the two and save everyone the trouble.
"Master, what are your thoughts?" Wang Jun asked, turning to Ren Yuanyang for guidance.
"I don’t get involved in the management or diplomacy of Dragon Base. You can decide for yourselves," Ren Yuanyang reiterated his stance.
"Understood!" Wang Jun replied. "Then we’ll postpone it. Make him wait a few days."
Captain Ji acknowledged and immediately sent a message to Captain Viking.
"Captain Viking, my apologies, but it is currently inconvenient for us to receive visitors. As a token of our apology, we would like to formally invite you to visit and inspect our base in four days’ time."
Seeing the message, Captain Viking was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Dragon Base to refuse his visit.
But he recovered quickly. "That’s no problem. I will wait four days and visit your esteemed base then!"
"Trust me, the four-day wait will be well worth it," Captain Ji replied with a smile.
"’Well worth it?’" Captain Viking was taken aback again. "What do you mean by that?"
"It means that four days from now, Dragon Base might just give you a huge surprise," Captain Ji explained.
"Is that so?" Captain Viking was surprised. "Well, now I’m really looking forward to it."
In his mind, he already knew about the Purification Potions, the high-performance ships, and the evolved crops. He’d been astonished by all of them already. For Captain Ji to say that Dragon Base would still manage to surprise him in four days meant it had to be something else entirely.
’What could it possibly be?’
Captain Viking’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
But he didn’t dare send a team to spy on Dragon Base, so he could only wait patiently.
The four days passed quickly. The seven sections of Dragon Base’s Duckweed Continent were finally joined together.
Ren Yuanyang came early in the morning to set the Duckweed in place within the Banyan Forest. Looking at the now-connected expanse, he remarked with some emotion, "This Banyan Forest is much more stable than the one at Peach Blossom Base."
"Since it’s so stable here, you should move here, Master!" Wang Jun immediately chimed in.
Ren Yuanyang was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "There are too many people here. I prefer the quiet. Still, you can prepare a room for me. I can come and stay for a day or two occasionally."
Wang Jun immediately replied, "We’ve already prepared one for you!"
Ren Yuanyang paused, stunned, then smiled and nodded. "Well done. Take me to see it."
"This way, Master." Wang Jun led him deeper into the Banyan Forest.
Soon, they arrived in front of a small, five-story building.
The small building was constructed entirely of wood.
"Master, welcome home."
Like a proud butler, Wang Jun pushed open the door and led Ren Yuanyang inside.

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