Pillar of Yita

Originally, Tianlan wanted to bring Hilveld aboard, turning the ’Three Giants’ into a more convincing ’Four Giants,’ but Lady Noble was clearly not interested in such affairs, so Tianlan had to give up.

The Rear Administrative Committee was primarily responsible for managing the logistics and supplies of the Seven Seas Travel Group, including financial matters. The financial situation was once quite abundant—ever since Fang Hong secured a large sum of ’windfall’ from Lavali’s old man.

Since then, there have been several occasional incomes.

However, this doesn’t mean that the Seven Seas Travel Group’s financial status is healthy; windfalls cannot be considered normal. In fact, since leaving Istania, the Seven Seas Travel Group’s account has faced consecutive months of substantial deficit, with severe imbalances in expenditure and income.

The current financial situation of the Seven Seas Travel Group is like water without a source. Despite having built the Seven Seas Traveler and made a series of updates to the Constructs, resulting in nearly half of the four to five million remaining, it seems to sustain operations for a while. But even at a daily expenditure rate of a thousand Lycel for the Seven Seas Traveler, these funds would last only about half a year.

Especially concerning the men onboard, led by a certain Lord Captain, spending lavishly as if money flowed effortlessly—although it indeed seems that way—without any pain, if it continues like this, the group may collapse.

Of course, cutting costs is only part of the solution; the greater challenge is increasing revenue. The Airship is a gold devourer but also a source of wealth. However, their Captain seemed indifferent to this, spending his days idling leisurely instead of considering how to utilize the Seven Seas Traveler to make profits, which is the ’real business.’

That’s the reason Tianlan and Atira, mostly Tianlan, entrusted Tang Xin to steer her cousin back from the wrong path. ”Brother Ade isn’t bad at heart,” Tianlan pointed at her little head, stating: ”Just a bit dumb.”

The implication being, there’s hope.

However, that’s just Tianlan’s wishful thinking.

In the astute eyes of Tang Xin, human stupidity is one of three symptoms beyond cure, the other two being ’laziness beyond cure’ and ’utter lack of self-awareness beyond cure.’ According to Tang Xin, her cousin was guilty of all three.

Fang Hong listened for a while until his head started to ache, feeling dizzy. Business dealings, investment matters—these seemed to him like mythological tales from another world, as if primitive men from the Neolithic age were hearing God explain the mathematical principles of natural philosophy.

To him, making money was about finding a hole, digging in, discovering treasure—and then striking it rich. That process was familiar and he’d done it personally.

He complained, feeling dizzy: ”You all can handle these matters, Tangtang, you know I’m not good at this.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Xin realized her lengthy exposition was wasted, though she had anticipated as much and wasn’t surprised. But for a moment, she almost felt the urge to give her brother a headbutt and knock him off the ship.

Fortunately, Tang Xin showed great restraint and tolerance for children with intellectual disabilities, otherwise the Tower Guard at the mast would witness their Lord Captain scream and fall from the ship.

Fang Hong likely understood his cousin’s personality a bit, meekly changed the subject: ”Hey, what’s that?”

Tang Xin sneered, gritting her silver teeth, clearly at the end of her tether.

But just then, a sharp whistle rang out from the mast, and Miss Poet’s loud shouting voice transmitted from the lookout: ”Ships, so many ships!”

Tang Xin then saw an awe-inspiring scene—

The sea conditions today were quite good, yet a towering cloud wall stood beyond the Iron Reef Bay, composed of endless Cloud Islands, gently drifting south with the push of the North Wind, transforming shape.

Some Cloud Sea creatures darted among them, living within these clouds, a flock of silver flounders, what the Colin People call ’Sea Flounders,’ spreading their long wings to soar in the wind. Though no more than a hand’s size, their numbers were vast, forming a shimmering wall in the sunlight.

They combined with other Sky Sea fish species, such as Sky Sea Zebrasoma, Cloud Sturgeon, etc., creating a breathtaking spectacle traversing the clouds. Although this spectacle is common near coastal areas with many airborne plankton brought by ascending air currents where warm and cold airflows meet.

What was uncommon was beyond the cloud wall, a crimson blade slowly parting the Cloud Islands from the fish swarm. It wasn’t even a red ship but crimson sails, like a forest, slowly emerging from behind the clouds.

A wall formed by over a hundred sails, a wall of crimson, fluttering and billowing above the clouds, in the north. When it catches the sunlight, presenting itself outside Iron Reef Bay, not just the Seven Seas Travel Group but everyone in the harbor, on the docks, was left staring in awe.

The young Tower Guard had his hand almost slip, ready to sound the port’s alarm. But fortunately, the Old Tower Keeper slapped him awake with a palm, supporting his face with a somewhat bewildered expression.