Chapitre 123: 1.0 Kingdom of the Evil God
Lot Zheng Quan sat in his seat, his sharp eyes fixed on Bai Yi. Unlike the hereditary family heads, he possessed a keen sense typical of founders in the Xia continent, where families often used their founder's name as their surname.
Behind him, Elsa couldn't hide her curiosity as she watched Bai Yi. Just thirty minutes earlier, she had felt a significant fluctuation in her fate, a sign that something important was unfolding within this parliament.
"Go ahead, young one," Lot Zheng Quan said calmly.
Bai Yi smiled and replied, "Thank you. I've called this meeting to propose a few matters that require parliamentary approval."
He absentmindedly touched the guardian ring on his index finger, a piece of jewelry he had almost forgotten. It would soon be given to Luo Ning, as his own combat power was nearing the gold level, making him increasingly confident in his abilities.
"Everyone has seen the progress in Dongwu City," Bai Yi continued. "However, I don't want the federal law enforcement team detaining my people without clear legal grounds."
"We in Dongwu City have our own law enforcement and laws," he stated. "We'll manage our affairs independently, seeking assistance from the capital only when necessary. What are your thoughts on that?"
Dili Heer, the only elven congressman present, interjected, "You're referring to the treasurer, aren't you? You must know that in this era, no one should be making deals with those who would destroy us."
Bai Yi smiled back. "But when my financial officer established relations with the Abyss, the law only prohibited holding Abyss sacrifices. Trading with the Abyss wasn't expressly forbidden. Furthermore, my officer successfully dealt with a mutation zone without issue. What crime has he committed?"
Dili paused, clearly displeased, and the other congressmen shared his sentiment. The forces of Evil God, Abyss, Ancient God, and Hell were all abominable, and any dealings with them were frowned upon. Yet, the Federation hadn't clearly defined these actions in law, mostly because no one expected someone to actually engage in business with the Abyss.
"The capital law enforcement team's duty is to uphold federal laws. Border cities are still part of the Dawn Federation, and there's no room for negotiation," the head of the Kaina family stated matter-of-factly.
Bai Yi's smile returned. "Mr. Congressman, perhaps I wasn't clear. I'm not advocating for deals with the Abyss; I simply dislike that my people are being detained without proper regulations. If they've broken the law, I should be the one to judge them. Doesn't a border city lord deserve that right?"
The congressmen exchanged glances, realizing that Bai Yi's request wasn't unreasonable. Their initial strong reactions stemmed from Sabo's unfortunate situation, which had been exacerbated by a photo leak no one could trace back to its source.
"Agreed," Heddinger said, smiling as he cast the first vote. The other councillors followed suit, and the proposal passed easily.
Bai Yi beamed. "Thank you for your support. Next, I'd like to discuss the wonders. They've been absent for nearly six months, but I've received news that they will return to Xia in two months, with numbers reaching into the millions."
As the congressmen's expressions shifted, Bai Yi continued, "This time, thirty cities will be designated as resurrection points. I trust you've studied the characteristics of these wonders, but I want to remind you: wonders are not inherently trustworthy. While they can be tasked for various purposes, their reliability lasts only during the task period."
"You could enlist the mayors of significant cities to engage the wonders in exploring dangerous areas or fighting in high-casualty wars. If they accept the mission, they can become formidable allies."
"A wonder is a double-edged sword. Used wisely, it can be invincible; used poorly, it can be detrimental. After this meeting, I'll compile a user manual for the wonders and distribute it among the city lords."
After finishing, Bai Yi surveyed the room, noting that the congressmen were already familiar with the wonders but lacked a complete strategy for utilizing them.
"Next, I need a life priest of at least lower gold rank to come to Dongwu City to establish the Life Church."
Lot interrupted, "According to federal law, senators' family members cannot reside in border cities. You like discussing laws, so what's your take on that?"
Dili Heer shot Bai Yi a look that conveyed his displeasure, as if to say, "You've just offended me. How dare you make this request?"
Bai Yi raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I simply seek a golden life priest. She only needs to leave her family. I've found a life priest who awakened her inherited memory at ninety and reached the bronze level. I believe she needs a mentor."
Dili Heer's eyes lit up, his earlier annoyance fading. "What's her potential assessment?"
"I don't know, but she's still a teenager and has already prepared to reach the silver level, so she shouldn't be too far behind," Bai Yi said with a smile.
Dili Heer's eyes flickered. Before the other councillors could weigh in, he made the final decision: "I agree to this matter. An elf will arrive in a few days. She will be from your Dongwu City, not from the Heer family."
The other congressmen exchanged glances, uncertain about the implications of exploiting loopholes in the law in front of them. But they all understood the unwritten rules: once they left their families, they could claim separation, even if only nominally. After all, it was impossible for the four border towns to be free of business ties to their families; they simply weren't on the surface.
Bai Yi turned to Lotte with a smile. "Finally, it's the Lotte family. Ms. Aisha will also need to belong to Dongwu City."
Lotte Zheng Quan sensed trouble. If it weren't for Aisha's insistence, he wouldn't have come to this parliament at all. He stiffened, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Reason?" he asked.
"An SSS-level divination genius, a bronze-level who can see things related to the divine, such as the Night Rose," Bai Yi stated casually. "She needs a mentor. At just thirteen, it's unsuitable for her to leave Dongwu City."
Bang!
Heidinger, about to sip his tea, dropped his cup, realizing Bai Yi had set a trap. No wonder he had asked so many questions earlier. A headache formed; while it was a pleasure to have such talent, none wanted to go to the capital. How could he persuade his fellow elders?
Eric silently gazed at the sky, pondering how they could have overlooked such talents.
The congressmen were in a stir, and Elsa's eyes widened. Could the fluctuations of her fate stem from this?
"No, we have to bring them to the capital."
"One White Plague in a border city is bad enough; another? Absolutely not."
"It's better to bring him back as well. He's learning from Eric."
"If we have two more, won't we need a legend to supervise? Why not just move the capital?"
"With so many talents, what's the harm in relocating?"
"Why don't we just tie them up and bring them back?"
The discussion turned into a chaotic uproar, resembling a vegetable market.
Bai Yi watched Heidinger, his eyes silently asking: What did you say half an hour ago?
Heidinger felt a bead of sweat form. He glanced at the increasingly outrageous suggestions and struggled to find a way to interrupt. These old men were so eager to recruit talent they wanted each to bring in a super genius. They were flocking to the border; what could he say? He turned to Eric, feeling he had left Bai Yi in a difficult position.
Eric, sensing the pressure, leaned closer to Bai Yi. "Anything else you want to add?"
"That's all. I intentionally saved it for last," Bai Yi replied, exasperated.
Eric nodded, then slammed his hand down, shattering the stone table before him. The noise silenced the room.
"Stop arguing! If they don't want to go, they don't have to. What's the point of forcing them to the capital? Old man Heidinger and I can protect them. If help doesn't arrive before we're gone, it's just as dangerous for them in the capital."
Eric's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the chaos around him. He turned to Lotte. "Now I ask, old man Lotte, will you let Aisha go?"
Lotte Zheng Quan looked at his old friend, realizing the futility of resisting. "Can I say no?"
Eric pressed, "Don't want to? That's fine; we'll find another."
"Wait! Why are you so irritable, old man? Just give her to me!" Lotte sensed Elsa's urgency and quickly backtracked. He knew if he denied her, she might abandon the Lotte family for Tobu City before the meeting ended.
For these remarkable individuals, finding a successor was paramount, and Aisha fit the bill perfectly.
"Fine. Send her over as soon as possible. Take a cue from the Difeng family: if they want a genius, they should produce one themselves. Giving common folk opportunities is better than fighting over them," Eric declared, waving his hand. The powerful magic he wielded abruptly cut the discussion short.
Heidinger sighed, "It's you again, old fool." He turned to Bai Yi. "What's going on? How could you hide such news from us?"
Bai Yi shrugged. "I just found out not long ago."
Eric smiled. "It's fine. As long as she's safe, you can stay here for now. I plan to live at the school and keep an eye out for another hidden gem. The Feng Shui of Dongwu City seems better than I thought."
Bai Yi mused, "You can stay as long as you like. My place is great for treating the townsfolk and offering fortunes. They both need some training."
"That's up to you. I'll stay at my school. Your place is empty, but you're welcome anytime. If you choose not to come, someone will look after it." Eric pulled Heidinger aside, adding with a hint of nostalgia, "We're getting old. It's time to let the younger generation take the lead. Don't you agree, old Heidinger?"
"Why are you calling me old again? How long have you been quiet? I've told you countless times I'm not old!" Heidinger retorted irritably.
"I know, I know," Eric replied, exasperated. "But you still haven't given the little girl a gift. Come on, I'll buy you some materials to make her some scrolls."
"You think you're a scroll? And stop calling me old. Just call me by my name or 'Old Buddy,' you old fool!"
"I understand, Old Black. Let's not waste time."
Bai Yi watched as the two old men left the City Lord's Mansion, feeling a mix of emotions. As they had discussed, if utilized properly, these players would be unstoppable. They could significantly reduce soldier casualties, and he had no qualms about sharing this knowledge. With the help of AI, he quickly compiled a detailed Wonder User Manual and sent it directly to Heidinger.
After sending the message, Bai Yi exhaled and strolled towards the treasury of the City Lord's Mansion. He had never visited it before.
Upon reaching the council hall, he used a key to open the steel door, revealing a passage leading underground. Multiple layers of magical protections sealed off the area as the door opened.
Descending into the treasury, Bai Yi was awestruck by the treasures within. Countless resources of varying levels lay before him: high-end gold essence, mithril, soul crystals, and soul crystal cores.
He quickly gathered what he deemed essential, leaving the rest securely in the treasury. The items were better housed underground, protected by formations, rather than risk falling into enemy hands if something went awry.
After all, the presence of enemies meant the city lord was in grave danger. If valuable resources could be taken by capital support, it would indicate a dire threat to the Federation.
Thus, the treasuries of both the Ministry of Finance and the City Lord's Mansion were built underground and fortified with spells. The alarms were plentiful, and while few defensive formations existed, several gold-level ones were at the core.
[You have acquired: 5 tons of Mithril, 2 tons of Gold Essence, 3,615 Large Soul Crystals, 13 Small Soul Crystal Cores, 2 Medium Soul Crystal Cores, 1 Large Soul Crystal Core, and special metals.]
A series of notifications lit up, and Bai Yi emerged from the treasury with an expressionless face, his hand instinctively reaching for his ring. This haul had made him quite wealthy, and he knew he had to remain vigilant.
After contemplating his next move, he walked out of the City Lord's Mansion and headed to the Hall of Knowledge, purchasing the formula for a soul potion that used soul crystal cores as materials.
Returning to his shop, Bai Yi prepared to wait for the transformation of the evil thoughts and check for updates in the player forums, particularly the pilot film, which promised to be invaluable.
According to the official style of Dawn Rises, the story would begin with the boss, directly leading the audience to the central conflict. If possible, Bai Yi didn't mind taking out the boss before the players even arrived.
The forum looked familiar, filled with users urging officials to hasten their updates and discuss the plot incessantly. Bai Yi clicked on the trailer for the Dawn Server, and suddenly, dark purple filled the screen.
"Haha. Drink."
A faint whisper echoed, and a gap slowly formed in the dark, revealing a first-person perspective. As the gap widened, a white roof came into view. The owner of the vision seemed disoriented, glancing around as robed figures appeared before him.
The perspective shifted to scarlet hues.
Boom! Crash!
Amidst the chaos, the figure struggled, the sound of chains rattling echoed. Glancing down, they noticed furry hands bound by iron chains.
"Awesome."
A low growl resonated as the visuals grew increasingly scarlet.
Under the indifferent gazes of these researchers, the unknown creature thrashed in desperation.
"The flesh and blood of the Abyss Lord isn't sufficient, but we didn't acquire the Scarlet Lord's essence."
"I'm not sure. Perhaps the blood and energy from the battlefield isn't enough. The war above hasn't met our requirements. Missile warfare isn't the solution."
"The evil gods can indeed be created. Their potential aligns with our expectations. Let's destroy them first."
"Indeed, the Abyss is a plane god, but it's impossible without the power of ancient gods. Experiment 01 can be eliminated."
"Agreed."
The cold discussions of the mages intensified the creature's frantic struggles, the clinking of chains amplifying the tension.
Boom!
Suddenly, the entire laboratory trembled. A missile exploded above, shaking the facility.
Yet the mages remained unfazed, continuing their incantations as violent surges of magic rippled around them. They were intent on obliterating this so-called Experiment 01.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The gunfire grew increasingly deafening, punctuated by distant screams.
As the wizards hastened their spellcasting, a tide of magic began to coalesce.
But at that moment, tiny channels flickered across the subject's body, and an otherworldly power surged into it.
Click!
The sound of chains snapping resonated.
The creature stood, shackled yet defiant.
"The power of the Abyss?"
"What's happening?"
Panic rippled through the mages as the magical tide surged violently in their hands.
"Meow~ Roar~"
Accompanied by a chilling cry and the sound of dragging chains, blood began to spill.
The perspective shifted to a third-person view, revealing a large hooded cat, its form bizarre and over two meters long, with dark purple vertical pupils.
Boom!
The underground lab seemed defenseless against the missiles, erupting in flames and chaos.
A powerful gust swept through the devastation, igniting an invitation to the night, which floated in the air before gradually turning to ash.
The view pulled back to reveal a battlefield filled with the sounds of artillery fire and the cries of combatants. Alchemical technology, mage spells, and the roars of berserkers clashed across the expansive war zone.
The chaos spread beyond this location, engulfing the four border cities. Behind blurry figures loomed towering beings, with a deep crack faintly visible behind them.
Finally, a line of text appeared: [1.0 Kingdom of the Evil God.]
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone