Chapter 2098: Haikui Town
sea anemone collar
This is a piece of territory on the coast of the Baljik Kingdom.
It was originally a territory under the rule of Duke Pedro, though the term "rule" is used to describe it.
In fact, this land has no value whatsoever.
Aside from serving as a port, the coastline has no valuable crops that can be produced.
Speaking of ports, there are other ports to choose from along this coastline.
Therefore, it has even less value for development.
The only use it had before was because the scenery was beautiful for a few months each year.
The Pedro family built a farm here, which can be used for rest and vacation.
Now, that farm has long since disappeared.
Instead, rows of neat buildings have sprung up.
Clean streets.
If someone came here more than six months ago.
Absolutely unbelievable.
The place I saw more than half a year ago is the same place as the scene before me.
On the barren land, buildings seem to have sprung up out of nowhere.
There is also a port here, as well as some factories.
Busy people move through the streets.
This place feels like a small town isolated from the outside world.
Haikui Town.
The name was chosen directly from the territory.
The current permanent resident population has exceeded 10,000.
The vast majority of them were purchased slaves.
The rest were people from the Dragon Kingdom itself, as well as administrators sent from the islands surrounding the Dragon Continent.
Many people who were once slaves have also managed to escape their former status through hard work.
"I am no longer a slave!"
I am no longer a slave.
At the municipal office, a middle-aged man wept with joy, a piece of paper in front of him.
It says on it that he has been released from his slave status and is now an ordinary person.
The bracelet on his wrist, a symbol of slavery, was also removed.
"Sir, you are no longer a slave."
You are now a free person.
If you want to leave Anemone Town, you can leave at any time.
As a reward for your hard work in Haikui Town during this period, you can receive 300 yuan with this certificate.
"If you don't want to leave, you can continue your original job and keep living in Haikui Town with this 300 yuan," the staff member said with a smile.
"I'm not leaving! Even if you kill me, I won't leave."
"I want to stay here forever." The man shook his head repeatedly.
Even though they are no longer slaves, who would want to leave this place?
Living here truly makes them feel like they are still alive.
Moreover, those who were not slaves continued to work in Anemone Town and received much higher wages than the slaves.
Some people even used their own wages to move out of the employees' dormitory and rent a cheap apartment outside.
He even found a wife.
I'm currently calculating the prices of new houses in Haikui Town, preparing to buy a house, settle down here, and have children.
Seeing the good lives of those around them, they naturally didn't want to leave.
It's important to know that their salaries are related to their seniority.
Once you leave and then return, all your previous years of service will be reset to zero.
Therefore, among those freed from slavery in Anemone Town, perhaps one in a hundred will leave Anemone Town.
Most of those who left were actually looking for their relatives, and they all promised to return immediately once they found them.
Almost every so often, someone would come with their relatives and family members.
"If you choose to stay in Haikui Town, please go to window 301 to process your ID information."
After you've processed your new ID information, you'll need to go back to your workplace to update your identity information. The staff member pointed to another service window not far away.
"Okay, thank you." The man immediately took the documents in his hand and went to window 301.
The efficiency here is very fast, and there is a dedicated service window for each service item.
And you can also see the signs standing in some prominent locations.
We aim to reduce the need for people to make only one trip!
"I need to process my identity information," the man said nervously, swallowing hard.
After receiving all the documents and information, the staff here began processing the application.
"Your documents are complete. I'll process your ID card."
The first ID card is made for free, but if you need to reissue it later, it will cost 20 yuan.
And remember not to lend your ID card to others.
If any loss or harm is caused by lending your ID card, you will bear joint liability.
You can sign here now.
"If you can't sign, just leave your fingerprint." The staff member clearly explained each step and the points to note.
"Okay, okay."
Soon, an ID card wrapped in plastic was handed to the man.
It says so on it.
Citizens of Haikui Town.
When he saw those words, tears welled up in his eyes.
On the back of this ID card is an island pattern and a dragon design.
Upon seeing this pattern, the man felt a sense of anticipation.
That is the Kingdom of the Wraith Dragon, Dragon Island.
It is described as a paradise-like place.
The ruler behind their Anemone Town is the King of the Dragonfly Kingdom.
Rumor has it that if one could obtain citizenship of the Dragon Kingdom, the benefits in all aspects would be beyond imagination.
Therefore, many people in Anemone Town want to go to Dragon Island and embrace a better life.
In recent months, some people from Anemone Town have indeed been selected to go to Dragon Island.
Those people all possess certain technical skills and have an excellent work attitude.
Some of them went and then returned.
A JF-17 citizen can bring at least two family members, but the identities of the family members need to be verified.
This man brought his wife and children to Dragon Island in hopes of a better life.
He chose to be reassigned back to Haikui Town.
His salary is almost the highest in Anemone Town. Although he lives apart from his wife and children, he is very motivated.
Everyone who has met him can see that he is trying to create a better life for his wife and children.
Some people have asked him what Dragon Island looks like.
His answer was that if you think life in Anemone Town is already good enough, then life on Dragon Island is several times better than life in Anemone Town!
Such positive reviews alone have made even more people want to visit Dragon Island.
This makes the citizenship of the JF-17 even more important.
"Zorro, you've finally been freed from your slave status."
"You have to treat us to a meal!" The man, who had just stepped out of the office building, was put on the shoulder by his coworker.
Congratulations!
"I'll wait another two weeks, and I'll be able to get this ID card too."
"Your salary is several times higher than ours now, so you'd better treat us to drinks and food!"
Among these people, some did not have bracelets on their wrists and were already citizens of Haikui Town, while others still had bracelets on their wrists.
But no one will discriminate against someone because they don't have a wristband.
However, those without bracelets represent that they have the status of citizens of Anemone Town, which is something that everyone aspires to.
"Alright, alright, let's all go to the Anemone Bar tonight."
"It's on me!" the man said generously.
He took his precious ID card back from his partner and put it in the inside chest pocket of his shirt.
He felt the ID card was burning hot, making his heart feel warm.
In addition to building Haikui Town, there are other jobs available in Haikui Town.
There is still some light industry.
It involves processing raw materials transported from the mainland into finished or semi-finished products.
Most of them are daily necessities.
It is said that these items will be transported to Dragon Island, or to Chicken Island outside.
As for whether there are other places, I don't know.
Because it has its own port, transportation is very convenient.
In addition to these light industrial factories, there are several other factories under construction.
It is said that some heavy industrial products, such as guns, weapons, cars, and airplanes, will be built there.
The development of Haikui Town has only just begun.
Haikui Town's geographical location is actually quite unique.
It is located by the sea, but it looks inland.
You'll find that it's actually an alluvial plain.
The inland area is surrounded by mountains, with only a few roads connecting it to the outside world.
Therefore, people who don't need to come to this location in Anemone Town will not come here.
Above a valley that connects to the outside world, several hidden sentry posts can be seen.
From here, you can clearly see the figures of people on the road below.
"It's not our team."
There were five people and one horse-drawn carriage.
There were two people in the car, and it looked like there were figures inside. It was about three months ago.
"Judging from their attire, they're probably refugees coming from our Haikui Town," a soldier reported, observing the street below through binoculars.
"Use the phone to notify Haikui Town that someone has arrived. Be sure to check and monitor them," the sentry captain instructed the communications soldier next to him.
The communications soldier carried a portable telephone on his back, with a power cord attached to the back.
The power line leads towards Haikui Town.
The communications soldier dialed the number, and there was a quick response from the other end.
The communications soldier reported the findings as instructed.
This kind of thing happens many times every day.
To prepare for potential threats, they need to make preparations here in advance.
Anyone entering the Sea Anemone Territory must have their identity verified, just in case.
As Haikui Town develops better and better, news from here will inevitably spread.
By then, nobody knows what will happen.
Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions before problems arise.
"The roads here are so smooth."
The woman in the carriage leaned out and looked at the neat and tidy road outside.
It was completely different from the bumpy dirt road before.
"Brother, is Haikui Town really as good as you say?"
"That's why you gave up our shop and went through all the trouble of relocating here." Another girl, not yet twenty, asked from inside the car.
"You'll only know how wonderful Haikui Town is once you experience it for yourself."
Before that, I thought that the construction of our capital city was already quite good.
However, after my last escort of Viscount Dacroix's goods, I arrived in Anemone Town and stayed there for a few days.
I was then convinced that the town of Haikui was far better than the capital.
And here, I see hope for the future.
Therefore, I did not hesitate to sell our family's businesses to bring you all here.
You have no idea, but the situation in our Western Continent is very tense right now.
Military conflicts between countries are escalating, and a continental war could break out at any time.
"By then, perhaps this will be the only place where my family can live in peace." The man looked at the small town by the sea in the distance, his heart filled with anticipation.
As the younger sister listened to her older brother's story, and looked at her sister-in-law and children, who were exhausted from their long journey, she felt a pang of longing for Haikui Town, a place that had captivated her usually steady older brother.
Full of curiosity.
Soon, they saw the town of Haikui in the distance.
Some distance from Haikui Town, you can see fences blocking the road and checkpoints standing there.
The girl timidly pulled her head back into the carriage.
She had no liking for the soldiers who were conducting the inspection.
Some wicked people would demand wealth, and if they saw a pretty woman, they would take advantage of her.
She had encountered this on her way here.
Fortunately, she was only touched a few times, and with her older brother's comfort, she could only swallow her anger and everything went relatively smoothly.
"Hello.
Ahead lies Haikui Town.
"Please show me your identification. Is this your first time visiting Haikui Town?" The soldier conducting the inspection stepped forward and saluted.
"This isn't my first time here. I've been here three times before with Viscount Dacroix's caravan, and I stayed in Anemone Town for at least half a month each time."
When I left last time, I inquired about the settlement laws in Haikui Town. It was found that approved individuals are allowed to settle in Haikui Town with their families.
This is the review document I received at the time, showing the completed information for residents of Haikui Town.
My wife, my sister, and my two children were in the car.
This is their first time here.
The man recounted these events in detail.
"Please get out of the vehicle; we need to inspect the interior."
If you have any valuables or fragile items, please take them out and hold them in your hands.
"We are not responsible for any damage caused during the inspection," the soldier said.
"Okay, okay."
The man immediately told his wife, children, and sister to get out of the carriage and stand beside it.
The soldiers inspected the vehicles and questioned the passengers.
During the process, different questions will be asked to each of them, some of which are similar.
For example, their names, where they come from, and their relationships with each other.
This is to ensure that the identities and relationships of these people are genuine.
The girl looked on with curiosity at the rigorous inspection.
She was surprised to find that her brother, who was usually so helpful, didn't try to bribe her this time, but instead obediently cooperated with the inspection.
He answered all questions honestly.