Jiang Cheng remembered that when he checked yesterday, it was clearly still 18.6 billion USD, but in just one day, it surged by 1 billion USD out of thin air. At this rate, he was almost tempted to sell this island and live a carefree life as a tycoon.
However, upon second thought, it's quite normal.
The age of great naval exploration on Blue Star is gradually coming to an end, and the competition among countries for islands is becoming increasingly fierce. Various new aircraft carriers, battleships, and submarines are being launched into deep-sea waters, heading towards undiscovered islands. A global island race is passionately unfolding.
In such a backdrop, the value of Jade Island is bound to rise steadily.
Moreover, in recent years, after Flame Country achieved economic prosperity and firmly sat in the seat of the world's second-largest economy, it belatedly shifted its focus from land to ocean, frequently sending fleets into the deep sea to scavenge the remaining islands and reefs. This makes He Country and the United States, the two Pacific Ocean overlords, feel like a bone stuck in their throats.
Hence, Jade Island, guarding the gateway of Flame Country, has become a crucial target for the two countries. By capturing Jade Island, they can cut off Flame Country's maritime routes, rendering it a caged beast!
From this, one can imagine how worried and restless Jiang Cheng, as the Island Master, must be.
This is not child's play; it's about the life and death survival of him and the Jiang Family!
...
"Island Tycoon" is a simulation game combining exploration, management, combat, and adventure that Jiang Cheng loved dearly while on Earth, and it followed him when he crossed over to Blue Star.
The game is highly distinctive, featuring independent branch systems like construction, talent, treasure hunting, combat, and nurturing, with a rich pool of 500 professions, such as adventurer, captain, merchant, pirate, etc. Players can enjoy varying life roles within the game.
You can navigate a battleship to conquer the seas and expand territories, experiencing thrilling naval battles, or lead fleets to explore uncharted waters, uncovering precious relics and treasures. You can also venture across the vast ocean to obtain endless wealth from around the world.
In essence, it's a passionate simulation game where players can build their own island empire!
Having such a golden finger, Jiang Cheng gained the courage to confront the world.
It can be said that with sufficient time and money, he could construct an invincible fleet roaming freely across the world.
However, time and money are what Jiang Cheng needs the most at present. Given the current situation, let alone creating an invincible fleet, even self-preservation is difficult.
He Country and the United States are watching him closely. If not for the undiscovered islands in the deep sea keeping them occupied, these two countries would've acted against him long ago, not allowing a weakling Island Master to enjoy leisure.
Jiang Cheng has no doubt that once those deep-sea islands are divided up, the two countries will definitely turn back and deal with him first!
The situation is forcing him!
Jiang Cheng can't afford to delay; he must leverage the Island Tycoon System to quickly strengthen himself, creating a powerful fleet to face the potential devastating blow soon.
Speaking of which, what calmed Jiang Cheng is that compared to the technologically advanced Earth, Blue Star's science tree seems to have been unintentionally skewed by some deity!
Here, although they have cutting-edge computer and internet technology, military technology hasn't advanced as rapidly as on Earth. There are no remote strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear warheads for devastating opponents across vast oceans, not even a single artificial satellite has been launched!
If this was the case, countries wouldn't have to send fleets painstakingly casting nets everywhere on the sea to search for islands and reefs.
According to Jiang Cheng's understanding, Blue Star's current technological development is roughly equivalent to Earth's early World War II level, mainly focusing on naval warfare weapons, such as battleships, which have long been phased out on Earth but still serve as main battle ships on Blue Star pursued by major countries.
This brings Jiang Cheng some peace of mind. Otherwise, no matter how well-fortified he builds his island, it couldn't withstand a nuclear warhead attack.
Although having a bug-like system like Island Tycoon, constructing islands or fleets requires massive funding that directly correlates with his real-world accounts.
In other words, Jiang Cheng must earn enough money in reality to utilize the system's abilities to build his island and fleet.
This is a bit of a headache for Jiang Cheng.
Though he has a wealthy grandfather, most of the Jiang Family's money is invested in industries, and in recent years, the Philippine government's persistent pressure makes Jiang Family's business increasingly difficult. Now, the amount of money available to Jiang Cheng is limited.
Furthermore, constructing islands and fleets is not something a wealthy family can support alone; a heavy battleship costs over 1 billion USD!
Even if Old Mr. Jiang used up all his resources, it's not enough for Jiang Cheng to build a fleet. In the end, these matters rely on Jiang Cheng himself.
However, when Jiang Cheng first arrived, the system gifted him 10 billion USD as startup capital in his account.
To guard his island, he needs an invincible fleet, naturally.
But Jiang Cheng knows that immediately using these funds to build a fleet is akin to killing the chicken to get the egg.
10 billion USD, while enough to construct a strong fleet, would barely withstand the super fleets of He Country and the United States—at most allowing him to just hang on a little longer.
At its root, Jiang Cheng must pursue sustainable development, seeking ways to continuously earn money. Only this way can he support building more battleships, fulfilling his dream of creating his own powerful fleet.
Fortunately, the strategic focus of the two major countries is still on the deep sea, granting Jiang Cheng a respite.
The money-making method Jiang Cheng can conceive is nothing but commercial trade.
The Jiang Family already started in business; Old Mr. Jiang painstakingly crafted the Jiang Group, a significant international enterprise in the Philippines. With such good genes, how could Jiang Cheng miss the opportunity!
The foundation of getting rich is, of course, this Jade Island in his hands.
However, currently, Jade Island remains an untouched virgin land with only the villa given by the system as the sole building.
Therefore, whether it's for attracting investment or expanding his business circle, he must have a presentable city.
Jade Island's area is large enough, almost twice the size of South Korea's Jeju Island and five times that of Singapore. Such a large island is entirely enough for him to create multiple international cities integrating entertainment, leisure, commerce, technology, and logistics.
These cities will be the core of Jiang Cheng's future commercial empire, consistently generating wealth for him.
Building such a batch of cities is impossible for any country without decades of effort. However, for Jiang Cheng, wielding the system, it's as easy as turning his hand.
Of course, the precondition is that he must have money!
The Island Tycoon app possesses a dedicated construction system—military factories, shipyards, airports, military bases, giant ports, cross-sea bridges, skyscrapers, subway networks, artificial satellites, space shuttles, universe space stations, moon bases...
From sky to earth, there's nothing it can't build!
Spending enough money is like performing magic, these mega projects can rise instantly from the ground, with no exceptions!
Building a modern city isn't easy since it requires a complete transportation and shipping system, and various essential infrastructures such as electricity, energy, communication, and medical care, along with daily facilities like living and entertainment which are indispensable.
Thus, the cost of building a city isn't less than constructing a super fleet.
Of course, city building should be a process of constant improvement, Jiang Cheng doesn't intend to accomplish it all at once.
His current idea is leveraging Jade Island's volcanic wonders and island scenery, first developing a resort area to boost tourism. Then, turn to industrial, commercial, and technological sectors, eventually crafting a comprehensive international metropolis.
To develop Jade Island's tourism, he must understand the island's conditions thoroughly, like its natural landscapes and topography, etc.
Luckily, the Island Tycoon app has autonomous planning capabilities. Based on the island's actual situation and the Island Master's special requirements, it can automatically generate a complete planning scheme, and Jiang Cheng only needs to make some suitable adjustments, then proceed systematically with construction.
Upon these thoughts, Jiang Cheng returned to his villa and began intense preparations...