Chapter 327: Silent Meow
The territory of Ghost Reef had increased considerably at various points during the assimilation, but when it came to population, it had never experienced a period of such explosive growth. The previous influxes of refugees had seemed massive at the time, especially compared to the relative population of the island, but they hardly compared to the past month of change.
Ghost Reef was undergoing an unprecedented shift. New faces had become a fact of everyday life and new corners of the territory were constantly being claimed and developed, just waiting to be explored by those with enough curiosity.
Instead of a single burst of territorial expansion driven by an upgrade to the settlement, the current accruals were added piece by piece in an effort to keep up with the population increase. Mana pylons were daisy-chained one layer at a time in patterns that overlapped with the range of the civilization shard, and new people were already gathering all the way down the string of safety, assembling fresh bastions as they went, and they were often full of treats.
The venerated lighthouse cat, Jett Black, of course, was chief among those who kept track of every bit of progress. She thought it was about time more outlanders recognized the excellence of the carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized realm. As they built, she certified and approved, accepting their tributes and collating who would join her personal attendants.
There were countless meritorious individuals. She was supremely glad that word had eventually reached the ears of worthy countrymen. A grand reveal had been long overdue. Ghost Reef would claim its place as a laudable sanctum for the people of Earth; a place for all to rest their eyes, free from the incessant disturbance of life’s many nuisances.
The Underlayer Event had triggered a golden age, and Jett was hard at work making sure that everything progressed smoothly under her steadfast supervision. A kingdom was meant to have subjects, and a proper queen regnant should be responsible for her citizens. Ensuring that their lives were pleasing was her chief duty, just as it had been even before mana activated, she was awakened, and the assimilation began. That there were many more souls she was taking responsibility for was a matter of course. Anyone of her stature should be prepared for such grandiose obligations.
She had grown enough to reflect upon her past self, recognizing that even then, when she was a much simpler existence as she hunted pests and was pampered by her attendants, she had been properly fulfilling her duties. Not much had changed to her recollection. She was merely more effective and the intruders more insistent, but at the same time, there were more individuals willing to indulge her company and support her efforts.
The settlement had come a long way from the original trifecta of residents. None of Jones, Coop, or Jett could have imagined what the lonely island would become, but of the three, Jett may have been the most comfortable with the changes. She was completely satisfied with the evolution of her realm. Things were progressing splendidly.
Jett continued to carefully monitor her expansive territory, diligently patrolling hard to reach places on a routine that pleased her well-honed instincts. Gazing upon the wild frontiers and imagining how they would improve once her territory caught up had become something of a delightful hobby. It had been many nights since she concentrated merely on the lighthouse, but she had no regrets toward the changes.
She had been blessed with multitudes of new attendants, and they worked busily to make sure Ghost Reef was worthy of her presence while paving the way for future pilgrims. She couldn’t help but feel content. Her claws were sharpened, her fur was brushed, and her stomach was full. Life was good.