The afternoon sunlight spilled over the fields outside Beacon Fire Town.

Tender green Gray Potato sprouts and Black Rye sprouts swayed gently in the breeze, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Lin Feng's group returned along the familiar path; from a distance, they saw many busy figures on the newly reclaimed land.

"Hmm?" Zhao Hu narrowed his eyes. "Why are there so many people in the fields?"

Lin Feng looked thoughtful, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "That group must have arrived."

"Which group?" Tie Dun scratched his head.

"The two thousand laborer Awakened sent by the state as support," Lin Feng said calmly. (PS: Internal Affairs Officers can grant the title of temporary ordinary resident.)

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Two thousand people! That was two thousand laborers!

The group quickened their pace and soon arrived outside the North Gate.

The city gate was wide open, and Zhang Ping was already leading a group to meet them. Standing beside him was a woman in her thirties.

She wore a sharp, deep blue martial outfit, her hair tied neatly in a ponytail. Her face was delicate, and there was a sense of shrewdness in her eyes.

"Lord! You're finally back!" Zhang Ping stepped forward quickly, his face full of smiles.

Lin Feng nodded, his gaze falling on the woman.

Zhang Ping hurriedly introduced her, "Lord, this is Director Liu Zhaowan, sent from Zhenyue City.

She's the one coordinating and managing the two thousand new residents."

Liu Zhaowan took a step forward, extended her right hand, and smiled gracefully. "Lord Lin, I've heard much about you.

Liu Zhaowan from the Rongcheng Affairs Bureau. Please look after me in the future."

Lin Feng shook her hand, letting go politely ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) after a brief touch. "Director Liu is too kind. Two thousand people is no small number; thank you for your hard work."

Liu Zhaowan waved her hand. "It's all in a day's work. As for you, Lord Lin, I've long heard Director Chen mention that our Rongcheng has produced an extraordinary young lord.

Seeing you today, you're even younger than I imagined, and..." Her eyes swept over Lin Feng's face as she smiled, "and more handsome."

Lin Feng chuckled. "Director Liu overpraises me."

"Just telling the truth," Liu Zhaowan said candidly with a smile. "Beacon Fire Town's rapid development is largely thanks to you, Lord Lin.

From now on, we laborers will be counting on you for our livelihoods."

"We'll work together," Lin Feng said. "I've always kept the Affairs Bureau's support in mind."

After a few pleasantries, Liu Zhaowan took her leave to get back to work; with two thousand people just settled in, there was indeed a mountain of things to handle.

Lin Feng watched her leave before turning to lead the group into the city.

Passing through the city gate, the scene inside the town brightened everyone's eyes.

The streets were bustling with people coming and going. Many unfamiliar faces moved about—some carrying supplies, some repairing houses, and some gathered by the roadside chatting.

Others crouched in corners, holding dry rations, eating while observing their surroundings.

"These are the two thousand people?" Tie Dun's eyes widened. "So many!"

Zhao Hu nodded. "Two thousand people—you don't notice it when they're spread out, but you only realize how many there are when they gather together."

The group walked along the main street toward the Council Hall. As they passed a well, they happened to hear a few young people gathered together boasting.

A young man with a buzz cut leaned against the well's edge, gesturing with his hands. "You guys have no idea. When I first signed up, they said I was going to work in a town built on ruins. I thought, how dilapidated could it be?

But as soon as I got here—wow! These walls, these streets, these houses—what's the difference between this and a county seat?"

A tall, thin guy nearby chimed in, "Exactly! I took a walk around last night, and man, there's a blacksmith shop, a tailor shop, an infirmary—everything.

The walls are twenty meters high, and nothing is missing! Is this something a newly established town should have?"

"They're the world's number one town now!" another young man with glasses corrected.

"The world's number one town! I heard the lord is only eighteen? Is he even human?"

After his exclamation, the buzz-cut youth started counting on his fingers. "Then again, working in the Nightmare World is a real bargain.

Back on Blue Star, we work eight hours a day for a few thousand a month.

Working here, the wages are already high, but the key is the three-fold time flow!

If we work for a month, only ten days pass on Blue Star. Doesn't that equal triple the salary?"

The tall, thin guy was stunned and scratched his head. "You... you calculate wages like that?"

"What? Is it wrong?"

"With the three-fold time flow, if you work a full month, indeed only ten days pass on Blue Star.

But your salary is calculated based on Nightmare World time, it's not like they're paying you triple based on Blue Star time..."

The tall, thin guy looked helpless. "With the way you calculate, the boss would jump up and give you a round of applause if he heard it."

The young man with glasses pushed up his spectacles and said solemnly, "Strictly speaking, your actual hourly wage hasn't increased. Although your total salary is indeed higher than working on Blue Star, it has nothing to do with it being triple."

The buzz-cut youth was left dazed by the explanation and finally waved his hand. "Anyway, it's more money than on Blue Star, who cares how it's calculated!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lin Feng's group passed by. The young men glanced at them but didn't care, continuing their conversation.

Tie Dun couldn't help but mutter softly, "Lord, these people... as expected of laborer Awakened from Blue Star. They're just like I used to be, not giving a damn about the Lord. Unlike the natives of our territory, who act like mice seeing a cat when they see you."

Lin Feng smiled but didn't respond.

When the natives saw the Lord and the core members, they would bow respectfully, some even appearing quite fearful.

But these laborer Awakened only had curiosity and scrutiny in their eyes, lacking that heartfelt awe.

These were two completely different identities: the natives were residents of the territory, people who depended on it for survival;

whereas these laborer Awakened were here for work and could leave at any time.

"Lord," Zhao Hu suddenly leaned in and whispered with a grin, "you're now the boss of two thousand people.

Back on Blue Star, this would be a conglomerate, wouldn't it?"

Lin Feng chuckled. "A conglomerate? You're overthinking it."

Tie Dun scratched his head. "Two thousand people—how much salary has to be paid out in a month?"

Wang Wu said leisurely from the side, "You'd have to ask Director Liu. Anyway, we don't need to worry about it; the state is paying."

Everyone laughed again.

While they were talking, the group arrived at the Council Hall.

After taking their seats, Lin Feng's gaze swept over everyone.

Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Wang Wu, Arrow Eye, Su Yurou, Shadow Snake, A Wang, and Scarface Liu—eight people. After several nights of slaughter, exhaustion was written on every face, yet their eyes shone with satisfaction.

"Starting from Black Wind Camp, we've come all this way."

Lin Feng spoke slowly, "Attacking the Black Wolf Den, withstanding the Nightmare Tide, building Beacon Fire Town, and clearing the Crying Rift Valley. Every one of you has put in immense effort."

Everyone listened quietly.