The new harbour and military base needed to be placed in a way that would allow for future extensions. I had mulled over the idea for a few hours already and the more I thought about it the more obvious it became to place it outside the agricultural zone. If my city had any weakness, it would certainly be the agricultural zone which occupied two sectors of the outer ring of Avalon. Placing a massive lake outside the city connected with the moat, and establishing a harbour, would solve the problem of a weak point. I could even expand the farms and build a military complex with a proper control tower since the lake would work as an additional border for that part of Avalon. The idea began to crystallise into a proper plan. As I was about to start expanding the farms, I realised the folly of my idea. There was no need to expand since I could simply increase the food production in the Wild Beasts Dungeon. The current local food production was sufficient for Avalon's needs.

  With that in mind, I focused on the military complex. Considering the size of the Home Fleet and the First Fleet, the barracks alone would be the size of a small city. That however, would overcomplicate security measures and was unnecessary in the long run. Instead of building barracks to accommodate all the soldiers, I only built the barracks large enough to accommodate the soldiers in training. The rest of them would live in the city with their families anyway. The simplest solution was to add a metro station and connect the new harbour with the rest of Avalon's transportation network. Or, perhaps, build a dedicated line that would facilitate not only passengers but also the transport of goods. After all, the harbour would be divided for civilian and military use. Considering how mind-boggingly large many ports on Earth were, I wasn't going to build small now knowing that one day the goods transport would reach the same volume as it was back on Earth. Considering that I was eventually building even more of the largest class ships, I needed to plan for space for them. Not only dreadnoughts, but lighter battleships, battlecruisers, carriers, and transport ships would be a common sight, not to mention more frigates, destroyers, and corvettes.

  The military wharf alone would be larger than the greater Norfolk area back on Earth. It would stretch for nearly ten kilometres with dedicated piers for the largest ships. That meant the lake would need to be at least ten by ten kilometres for the military part alone. It would be a vast body of water to fully accommodate the traffic I expected. Fortunately, as a Dungeon Core, I could build it without any problems. However, that didn't mean I had to expand it blindly. There were a few main differences between the waterbound ships and the airships that I had to take into consideration, so I sent preliminary plans to Aoi and Janet a few days prior. In fact, Aoi was so excited about them that she popped in a few times a day to compare her ideas with what I had on my mind.

  Well... Speaking of the devil.

  "Theooonnnnn..." My Dragonkin wife chirped as she approached me with a long roll of paper. She looked around and since I was still enjoying being away from any office, she summoned a table and unrolled her project. "I made some adjustments after spending the last three hours in the archives, comparing my ideas with what you consider a harbour. I must say, I was absolutely shocked by the size of the harbours of your previous world."

  "Well... I warned you" I grinned as I sat on the grass and took a look at her project.

  "You did but I thought you were joking." She giggled, moved behind me, and leaned onto my back, her warm breath raising the hair on my neck. "But I looked through the data describing your ocean-faring vessels and no wonder the harbours needed to be so large. You know... I'm so happy to play with this project."

  "I'm glad to hear that." I tilted my head and she used the opportunity to kiss me.

  She crossed her arms on my chest and comfortably placed her head on my shoulder before she slightly pointed to the large sheet of paper full of various shapes of proposed harbours.

  "I was thinking about it and realised that we can space out the harbour and expand it deeper into the lake. We could build a few central piers from which the angled mooring piers could extend." Aoi pointed at one of the more detailed drawings she made.

  "Hmmm... I like the idea of arranging the warships like small yachts. It's quite amusing." I admitted with a chuckle as I tried to focus on the picture instead of the very persistent pressure on my back. "But I'm afraid that won't work. We need to take into account the runway needed for the airships to take off. Especially the space for the dreadnoughts and potentially ships like carriers. We must also consider the ease of operation and emergencies when multiple ships have to embark at once. I don't like the idea of squeezing our warships too much."

  "So maybe instead we should build something similar to Merfolk? But instead of a single line, we could build two lines of piers across from each other with a spacious canal between them?" She asked with a big, proud smile.

  "Merfolk?" I blinked in confusion.

  Aoi glanced at the notes on the side of her plans and reluctantly nodded. "I'm pretty sure it was called a Naval Station Merfolk. You know, the biggest naval harbour in your previous world?"

  "Norfolk, Aoi." I snorted in amusement. "It's Naval Station Norfolk, not Merfolk. I was beginning to wonder if we had the Mermaids in Arcadia I didn't know about."

  "Oh." She laughed. "My bad then. So Norfolk, and no, we don't have Mermaids unless Tommy found some."

  "Not the last time I checked." I laughed with carefree laughter. "So you want to build a similar pier to Norfolk's but, let's call it a double line, mirroring each other with a common channel in the middle?"

  "Yes. Because I don't want to have an open harbour." She kissed my cheek and sat beside me. A simple pencil appeared in her gentle hand and she pointed at her smaller drawings scattered around the edges. "I want the outer pier to be wide enough to build a defensive wall, preferably as sturdy as the one that is currently protecting the lower castle."

  "That's doable." I briefly nodded. "But in that case, we wouldn't need such a big lake."

  "We should build such a lake nonetheless." She furrowed her brows. "It will serve us well as another layer of defence, plus, it will help manage civilian traffic. I would like to establish a no-fly zone for all civilian traffic over Avalon."

  "That's actually an excellent idea, Honey." I quickly nodded in agreement. It was crucial for various safety reasons and I was glad that she suggested it. I eventually would have noted it once my brain connected the dots, but some laws are easier to be established as customs early on. "We could also add water gates for our ships to use the outer lake as a training ground."

  "I thought about it and it certainly won't be a bad idea." Aoi nodded with a smile.

  "That only leaves us with a garrison, control tower, and the infrastructure needed for smooth operation." I scratched the side of my head.

  "That leaves us with the Air Force elements..." She cringed.

  "Since the Air Force is basically a part of the Navy, I don't think we exactly need to differentiate between them. They certainly don't need a separate command. I know that you wanted to make them a separate branch, but do we really need to do that?" I asked and summoned a holographic summary of the formations and units considered the Air Force so far.

  "It was a valid idea back then but from the perspective of time, I could see the folly of that organisational structure." Aoi sighed. "Gunships need ships to operate and recharge unless we want to keep them close to the Dungeon Cities only. The Dragon Riders are fine but they don't justify the Air Force as a separate branch."

  "Perfect." I nodded with approval. "Then we are going to integrate the Air Force and Navy. That will simplify the logistics and infrastructure."

  "Great!" Aoi summoned a notebook and opened it with a cute smile. "I have some ideas I would like to discuss."

  ???

  Tommy sat on a large rock while massive waves smashed against the shore. Behind him, wearing an ocean blue bathrobe and slippers, stood Tuul'kara. He was sipping his steaming coffee from a large mug and both of them observed the storm rolling over the ocean. Initially, Fiona and Diana wanted to accompany him but, upon seeing the wrath of the ocean, they kept their distance. However, they weren't upset since Kaal'nai was chatting with them as the three of them sat in their private patch of war sand and enjoyed the sun. The Goddess of the Ocean had taken a liking to the girls who, themselves, appreciated the beauty of her ocean and all the living beings in it that were blessed by her. Thomas Avalon drew in a deep breath and smiled.

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  "What bliss." He smiled as the droplets of the salt water sprayed his face.

  "Totally." Tuul'kara took another long sip from his large cup with its incredibly decorative, hand-made, 'Best Boyfriend Ever' on it. "Shame that Arletta couldn't join us today..."

  "I mean..." The Imperial Prince carefully but amusedly glanced at the mighty God of the Ocean and snorted. "She doesn't exactly like storms. I know that she adores you but she hates it when salt water ruins her hair."

  "Maybe a little bit." Tuul'kara laughed. "But she's cute when she tries to pretend everything is fine. Besides, my boy! Since when are you so observant?"

  "Well..." He blushed slightly. "Dad says I should play more with kids my age, but it's not that easy. Most kids our age are learning at school, not at the University. We are just... Privileged?"

  "Ha good one!" Tuul'kara snorted. "No, kiddo. You are among the prodigies of Arcadia. While yes, of course, you are privileged and only a total idiot would think otherwise, but that's nothing bad."

  "I beg to differ. There are many laws in Arcadia prohibiting it! That's nepotism."

  "It would be if you were a useless and talentless bum whose whole existence depended on the influence of your family." The God of the Northern Ocean pointed out as he took a larger swallow from his cup. Since Thomas had no good counterargument, Tuul'kara continued. "You are extremely talented. You soak up knowledge like a sponge. The only area where you lack is in direct combat but it is not like you can do anything about it. Without a combat class, there is no way of getting powerful skills. But, the rest? You are nearly always the best or second. That's not nepotism when you carry your success on your own shoulders. Besides... This is an Empire. Your dad isn't going to ask anyone who isn't your mom about their opinion, and even if, that option would be duly noted and ignored."

  Thomas cringed. "I guess..."

  "You must understand that you are going to become a King one day, Tommy. You will rule the Northern Province from your Abyss Dungeon." Tuul'kara finished his coffee and raised his cup above his head for a furious wave to wash it suspiciously clean. He inspected it and stored it with a grin.

  "I know, Tuul..." Tommy sighed and lazily tossed a rock into a huge wave speeding straight at him. It was split in half and hit the shore on the sides of Tommy's stone. Then he smiled at the God of the Northern Ocean cheerfully. "But you still want to move, right?"

  "Well duh." Tuul'kara laughed and rested his fists on his hips. He looked silly in his bathrobe but Thomas didn't mind. Tuul'kara and Kaal'nai were the youngest of the Gods of Arcadia and still liked to play silly jokes which Tommy loved. "It would be awkward for Arletta to move to Western Everlight. So you are doing me a huge favour, my little Bro!"

  "I think it would be kind of neat to have a God around. It's so cool when I can say that the God of the Northern Ocean is protecting my land." Tommy said with a wide grin as they finally saw what they were waiting for.

  HMS Dauntless was cutting through the furious waves. It bobbed on the waves but not as violently as Tommy expected.

  "Well..." Tuul'kara rubbed the back of his head with an amused smile. "But I'm not even half as cool as your dad."

  "But he is my dad. You are my big Bro, Tuul!" Tommy giggled and Tuul'kara laughed and rubbed the young Dungeon's Core's hair.

  "Sure I am!"

  The massive warship was mercilessly thrown up and down by the wrath of the ocean.

  "I wonder how long they were going to endure that..." Tommy mused, suddenly serious.

  "Dunno..." Tuul'kara shrugged. "But Lady Janet asked for a true fury of the ocean and I must say they are still afloat so thumbs up. Arcadia knows damn well how to build impressive boats."

  "Damn right! I love our warships..." Tommy smiled.

  "Language, Tommy!" Tuul'kara clicked with his tongue but kept his smile. "Your mom is going to kill me if she learns you started to use such words."

  "Which one?" Tommy grinned mischievously.

  "Does it really matter? All of them are scary when angry." Tuul'kara answered with a suddenly serious expression.

  Tommy's smile turned into a cringe. "Yeah..."

  They observed the dreadnought in silence as it tried to ride out the storm.

  ???

  "I want to die, Ma'am..." The sensor officer groaned from her console.

  "Request denied!" Janet answered, but even she had started feeling sick when Dauntless was pitched down by a massive wave, approximately ten times the size of the capital ship. "How long till we reach the edge of the storm?"

  "I have no idea, Ma'am... The observers can't spot where it ends and the radar shows that the storm is everywhere." The sensor officer reported before she vomited into a bucket she had prepared. "We are done... I see the light..."

  "You still don't have permission to die, Lieutenant Corra," Janet smirked and felt how her own stomach protested when another wave pushed the ship high.

  "Ma'am..." The tactical officer raised his shaking hand. "I think we got this wrong. When you asked God Tuul'kara for a storm, you told him to give you the worst, right?"

  "Yes..."

  "Do you remember what he told you in return?"

  Janet flatly stared at the officer who put his head back into a bucket and loudly vomited.

  "If I recall correctly, he wished us good luck," Janet admitted.

  "No, Ma'am." The officer said from his bucket. "He said: just survive, good luck."

  Janet's vision blurred as the full implications slowly settled in. Foamy water hit the glass of the dreadnought's bridge when another wave smashed across the deck. The fury of the ocean was frightening but the Arcadian flagship braved the waves and stayed afloat when wooden ships would be broken like twigs. Janet took a deep breath and looked at the helm. The two officers worked together and kept the course despite the wind and violent currents.

  "This storm has no end." She finally voiced what some of the people suspected.

  "No, Ma'am..." The first officer agreed from behind her station. No one was able to stand and only the seatbelts kept them from rattling across the bridge like dice in a cup.

  "Fuck it." Janet raised both hands in an angry surrender. "Helm! Take us out of here! All control is yours!"

  "Aye, aye, Ma'am! Taking us out of here, all control is mine! " The old officer smirked as he repeated the order. Probably he was the only one on the entire ship who was having fun. "Reactors at fifty percent!"

  "Aye! Fifty percent, Sir!"

  The ship started descending into a deep valley between two massive waves. The sailors looked at the towering wall of ocean water that would certainly cover Dauntless. The second helm officer started to panic and almost turned the ship but the old man patted her shoulder and kept the course.

  "Steady, girl!" The old man calmed down the young woman sitting beside him. "Dauntless won't be crushed beneath this wave. He is a fine ship, so trust him, Lieutenant."

  "Aye, Captain..." Her voice trembled but she closed her grip on the steering wheel and took a deeper breath.

  The wave hit the ship and, for a moment, they were under water. The seals held as they emerged on the other side of the wave and were immediately lifted by another huge wave.

  "Ascending speed on my mark, the flight field is forming!" The experienced helmsman ordered.

  "Aye, Sir!" The woman confirmed and placed her slightly trembling hand on the throttle lever.

  Dauntless was rising at a steep angle but the first helmsman was calm as he operated his console with one hand and kept the other hand on his steering wheel. They had almost reached the top of the wave when the Lieutenant nervously looked at the older Captain sitting beside her. However, the man just smiled as he hummed some cheerful melody. Everyone on the bridge looked at him in a breathless silence.

  "Sir..."

  "Not yet." He said firmly as he observed the readings on his console. However, he was very focused only to suddenly bark the order she anticipated. "Mark!"

  She pushed the lever forward and the monstrous engines of the dreadnought accelerated them. The Captain pulled his steering wheel yoke and the flagship lifted above the deadly fury of the ocean. The violent winds smashed the hull and rain rattled over the deck and windows. Below them, the massive waves angrily clashed and hit one another.

  "Ship in the air, Ma'am!" The Captain reported in his amused tone. "The ship is yours, Admiral!"

  "Excellent work, Captain, Lieutenant." The Admiral nodded and sighed. "Let's return to the Abyss Dungeon and I'll exchange a few words with Tuul'kara about what exercises should look like..."

  I wish you all a great day and as always I wait for your comments.

  A big thanks to who edited the chapter!

  The map of Aderon is on my Discord :)

  https://discord.gg/G6SVrBeDdG