Chapter Sixty-One: A Discussion on Development

"Zhang Lingyun, what preparations should we make if we want to burn down the Black Forest?"

"What else is there to do? Just set it on fire!"

Zhang Lingyun blurted out.

For the plan to burn the Black Forest, Mo Fangyuan figured it would be best to discuss it with the upper echelons of the kingdom. Not for any other reason—he simply felt his plan had some holes, but he couldn’t pinpoint where, so perhaps the opinions of others could help him find the flaws.

At first, as Mo Fangyuan expected, not many supported the idea. But after careful thought, everyone realized it was actually feasible. If successful, the benefits would be immeasurable.

So, driven by self-interest, the crowd racked their brains to strategize. Collective wisdom always surpasses individual thought. Through their discussions, many details Mo Fangyuan had overlooked were clarified, and several loopholes were patched.

For instance, what should be done if a sudden snowfall occurs; whether it was better to start fires in multiple locations or create a single great blaze; how to deal with an early outbreak of monster hordes…

Thanks to the group’s help, many details were filled in.

Seeing his leadership team begin to play their intended role, Mo Fangyuan felt gratified. And as the executor of the plan, Zhang Lingyun became the focus of intense attention.

“I say, isn’t she a bit too dull? If we let her carry out the plan, won’t there be problems?” Lin Ye had always liked Zhang Lingyun, especially after she transformed into a magical girl, seeing her as both sister and comrade. But after discovering that her own path to strength was utterly different from Zhang Lingyun’s, their relationship soured.

Why did she need to serve men to grow stronger, while Zhang Lingyun could simply level up by defeating monsters? It wasn’t fair!

With such thoughts, Lin Ye mocked the pure and natural Zhang Lingyun without hesitation.

“The key point is, right now Zhang Lingyun is the most suitable. Is there any other block person who can spit fire?” Yali insisted that choosing Zhang Lingyun would minimize surprises.

“But this is a matter of great importance, affecting the kingdom’s future destiny. We must minimize any accidents…” Old Fu said, aiming to reduce risks as much as possible.

“What are they trying to do?”

“Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here?”

Amidst the debates, Zhang Lingyun hid in the corner, hugging her knees and trembling.

“All right, we still have nearly two years to arrange this plan. Even if it doesn’t work now, we can train…” The final decision rested with Mo Fangyuan, and he stuck to his idea: no replacement, Zhang Lingyun would stay.

Zhang Lingyun could only watch as her freedom was stripped away by these despicable people.

“This is too much for me!”

“All right, let’s conclude the discussion on the burning plan for the Black Forest.”

“Old Duan, you turn the Black Forest plan into a document for storage.”

“The burning plan for the Black Forest will be called ‘Operation Break Lock’…”

Recalling how important events in movies from his previous life were always given names—like ‘Operation Thunder’, ‘Red Sea Initiative’, ‘Operation Barbarossa’, and so on—Mo Fangyuan decided to come up with a name himself. He didn’t know the significance of naming it, but he did it anyway.

“So, the discussion for ‘Operation Break Lock’ ends here. Next, we’ll set the development trajectory for the Block Kingdom’s future years.”

When Mo Fangyuan said this, everyone in the meeting room suddenly became solemn.

“All of you here are the pillars of the Block Kingdom. Its future is not just my responsibility, but yours too!” Mo Fangyuan crossed his hands beneath his chin, like a mastermind behind the scenes.

“Some already know our kingdom’s plight, but others don’t, so I’ll explain it in detail…”

Of the six people present, only Mo Fangyuan and Lin Ye fully understood the kingdom’s situation, while the others only had a vague notion or were completely unaware.

“Comrades, our people in the Block Kingdom are suffering! We’re utterly behind the times!”

Thinking of the Pigman Empire in the ‘Steam Age’ and the Skeleton Forces in the ‘Medieval Period’, Mo Fangyuan sighed.

“With our current strength, we simply cannot compete with other monster factions!”

“In the northern mountains, the aggressive Skeleton Forces are not content with Qingshan; they’ve begun expanding southward, toward us. Many compatriots have died at their hands; to the east, there’s the Zombie King’s faction. Right now, they’re dormant, but what about the future? If they extend their reach toward us, how will we respond?”

Mo Fangyuan spoke earnestly, as if addressing a group who had all shirked their duties.

“And then there’s the even more dangerous Hell Forces!”

“You should know about Hell!”

Among the block people, the book ‘Journey Through Portals’ described Hell in detail.

“The earth stained blood-red, rivers and seas of molten lava, a single misstep and you lose everything… It’s a forbidden land for life, any creature attempting entry will perish…”

It sounded exaggerated and incredible, but this was the only material block scholars had on Hell, so over time even the smartest scholars began to believe it.

At this, everyone was deeply shocked.

Hell—a world from mythology! The very embodiment of terror!

“Don’t deny it, they really are monsters from Hell, but don’t think otherwise; they’re monsters, they have health bars, and they’re not much stronger than zombies or skeletons!”

“All those beasts can be killed!”

Knowing that block people had long feared Hell, Mo Fangyuan explained its emergence in advance.

“It’s just very hot, with flowing lava on the surface, but otherwise it’s not much different from our world—there are even mushrooms!”

“Long, thick mushrooms you can eat!”

“And heaps and heaps of gold.”

“Yes, not much difference. In a way, it’s actually suitable for block people to live in…”

Returning to the earlier topic, Mo Fangyuan began explaining the Pigman Empire.

“That monster faction from Hell is powerful, far beyond what we can handle!”

“They are strong, have technology, and ambition.”

“But they’re arrogant, and in the future, they’ll definitely be destroyed by block people!”

Not wanting to undermine morale, Mo Fangyuan gave everyone a spoiler.

“What we need to do is resist their first wave of invasion, then, after they’re ‘killed by the plot’, seize their legacy!”

“……”

Though he wasn’t sure whether the Pigman Empire would be ‘killed by the plot’ in this world, Mo Fangyuan claimed they were nothing to worry about.

But everyone else knew the Pigman Empire was a terrifying monster faction.

“All right, now you should all understand the kingdom’s current situation! We’re still too weak, unable to oppose the monster factions!”

“But during the Winter Years, most monsters hibernate. This is our chance! If we seize it, we’ll be able to grow stronger!”

“Now we still have three Winter Years to develop freely. If you have any suggestions, speak up!”

Pointing at the kingdom map, Mo Fangyuan looked at the group.

The Block Kingdom’s map had been developed and expanded over many years, and its scope was vast.

North to the mountains, west to the plains, east across the long river, south facing the Black Forest.

It depicted resources and terrain in detail.

This map was both a military map and a resource distribution chart.