Chapter 721 - 457: Logging

Chapter 721: Chapter 457: Logging

The recent cold snap and blizzard had a huge impact on the Moonlight Forest as well.

Just along the forest’s edge, one could see spruces and larches everywhere, snapped by the weight of the snow.

Thick trees lay toppled in the snow, scattered every which way.

Some trunks were broken in the middle, while others had been uprooted entirely, their roots exposed to the frigid air.

The surrounding snow was gouged with large pits, a testament to the blizzard’s fury.

Feng Shan had come this time precisely for these damaged trees.

According to his plan, these trunks could be used to build a school and offices. The leftover scraps wouldn’t be wasted either; they would serve as excellent firewood, ensuring nothing went to waste.

"Let’s get to work. First, we’ll gather the trees on the outskirts that were broken by the snow, then we’ll move deeper in."

As he spoke, Feng Shan hopped out of the vehicle.

He picked up an axe and walked straight toward a spruce tree nearly twenty meters tall that had been snapped in two.

Looking at the thick, broken tree before him, Feng Shan felt a pang of regret. It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt to see it.

After all, trees grew with extreme difficulty in the harsh environment of the Far North Tundra.

To grow this tall must have taken at least several decades.

But a single cold snap and blizzard had easily destroyed decades of effort in an instant. It was truly heartbreaking.

’Unfortunately, the Fire Seed’s current abilities are limited.’

’It can’t yet extend its protection to the Moonlight Forest area.’

However, Feng Shan already had a long-term plan in mind.

’Once I acquire the fishing boats from Russia and assemble a sizable ocean-faring fleet, I’ll have Alvin stationed permanently on board.’

’He’ll conduct fishing operations non-stop, 365 days a year.’

’That way, the Soul Power generated from the fishing operations will allow the Fire Seed’s coverage to expand further, until it envelops the entire Crown Territory.’

At that point, not only would he be able to defend against harsh weather and reduce the risk of natural disasters in the forest, but he might also be able to improve the land’s ecosystem.

This would lay an even more solid foundation for the future development of the Crown Territory.

....

「Miles away, on the tumultuous, churning waters of the Bering Sea」, the *River Beach* bobbed with the waves.

Alvin stood on the bridge, checking the *River Beach*’s data.

He suddenly let out a series of sneezes.

The First Mate standing beside him quickly grabbed a coat hanging on the wall and draped it over the captain’s shoulders.

Just a moment ago, the crew had hauled in a net of northern cod.

The moment the net broke the surface, it sent water splashing everywhere, and the unique briny smell of the sea washed over them.

But the crew went about their work listlessly. Exhaustion showed in their eyes, and looking at the baskets of wriggling northern cod, they couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.

Compared to catching snow crabs and Emperor Crabs, there was no excitement in fishing for northern cod.

When catching snow crabs and Emperor Crabs, all they had to do was drop crab pots into the sea and then pull them up.

Seeing the Franklins brandishing their large pincers and thrashing about, the joy and excitement of the catch was indescribable.

But now?

They were faced with basket after basket of fish destined to be processing material.

Even a full basket wasn’t worth the price of a few legs from a single Emperor Crab.

This made the crew feel their effort and reward were disproportionate, and the work became dull and tedious.

Moreover, the workload for catching northern cod was much more complex than crabbing.

Not only did they have to constantly monitor the nets, but they also had to sort and process the fish. The whole process was mentally and physically draining.

Thinking about all this, the crew’s motivation to work dwindled even further. It was as if all their strength had been sapped, leaving them to just mechanically repeat the motions.

THUD!

A dull thud shattered the gloomy atmosphere on deck.

A crewman who was stacking fish baskets suddenly slipped.

His body pitched forward.

As he fell, the crewman instinctively reached out to grab a stack of fish baskets beside him.

He never expected it to cause a chain reaction.

The three-tiered stack of baskets was pulled over, toppling completely.

The wriggling northern cod inside instantly scattered across the deck.

The cod flopped around everywhere, some even landing at the feet of other crewmen, seriously disrupting their work.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and scrambled to catch the darting fish.

Seeing the chaos on deck, Alvin and his First Mate hurried out of the pilothouse and onto the upper deck.

Leaning over the railing, he shouted down, "What’s going on?"

"Chief, a fish basket fell on Jerry’s foot!" the boatswain, who was checking the situation on deck, quickly looked up and yelled back.

"Get him to the infirmary, quickly!"

Alvin waved his hand dismissively. His brow furrowed deeply, and a hint of worry showed in his eyes.

This was already the third crew member they had lost to a work-related injury.

These consecutive accidents not only affected their fishing progress but also weighed even more heavily on the already demoralized crew.

The First Mate, his face full of worry, anxiously made a suggestion to the captain.

"Chief, the lads are exhausted. They haven’t had a break since we set sail. Even Iron Man couldn’t handle this kind of workload. Shouldn’t we dock and rest for a couple of days? No, even one day would be good."

After speaking, the First Mate paused, sighed helplessly, and continued, "And then there’s the second mate in charge of the sonar. He stares at the equipment all day long; his eyes are about to go crossed. When I spoke to him today, he didn’t even look straight at me. He’s in terrible shape."

How could Alvin not be aware of the situation the First Mate was describing?

He had seen the crew’s high-intensity work during this period with his own eyes, and it pained his heart.

Everyone had been working long, uninterrupted hours at sea every day. Exhaustion was written on every face.

But the crucial problem was the order his boss had given him: unless he received a notice to stop, he was to keep fishing.