Capítulo 122: Sabo goes to Jail
"Oh, my dear friend! You're finally back; I need your help!" Sabo's voice rang out, slightly shrill but underlined by a palpable irritability.
Bai Yi sighed, feeling a headache coming on. He glanced around and realized that Sabo had been busy in other major cities, securing support from the border towns. While there were no major issues with his actions, establishing diplomatic relations with the Lord of the Abyss was a serious taboo for the Federation.
"You know the situation, my friend. I'm currently in jail. Please come and rescue me," Sabo pleaded helplessly. "I've followed the law! They never specified that we couldn't do business with the Abyss Lords."
Bai Yi raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that there were no laws; it was simply unheard of for anyone to conduct business with those from the Abyss, a realm populated by ruthless beings.
"I understand. I'll handle this," Bai Yi replied after a moment's thought. "You'll receive 10% of the resources you earn in the future."
"My friend, you are truly the most generous leader!" Sabo exclaimed, his tone brightening with excitement as his annoyance faded away.
"Enjoy your rare time in jail; you might not get another chance like it," Bai Yi said, cutting off the communication. He stood up, glanced at the God's Showcase, and walked out. It was time to help Sabo clean up his mess—after all, Sabo had a knack for trouble that exceeded even his own.
As he arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, Bai Yi noted that Eric had not yet returned. In just a month, the inner city had transformed significantly. The city lord was likely still marveling at the prosperity that Dongwu City had achieved.
"Mr. White Plague," called out two members of the Apocalypse guarding the entrance.
Bai Yi approached them. "Is the law enforcement officer from the capital inside?"
"No, Lady Oganna went to the treasurer's residence to question him. However, she mentioned that you should inform her when you return. Should we notify her?" one of the elven soldiers asked cautiously.
Oganna was not only an elf but also a high-ranking golden official. She maintained strong ties with the five other elven senators and was a force to be reckoned with in the Federation. It was she who had left the message in Evil Thoughts.
"Go ahead; I'll wait for her in the City Lord's Mansion." Bai Yi nodded as he stepped into the mansion.
He made his way to the backyard and settled down in a pavilion, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. The abyss was a realm rife with chaos and violence, where everything in a lord's territory was regarded as their property—followers included, as seen with the ancient gods. While some ancient gods, like the Dark Lord, offered their followers a measure of respect, such cases were rare.
Bai Yi considered Sabo's personality. He didn't worry about betrayal unless his life was threatened. This understanding had come from their many collaborations. The parliament, however, viewed any dealings with the evil planes of the Abyss as heresy. If the border city weren't so unique, they might have already imprisoned Sabo instead of simply waiting for the return of White Plague and Eric.
Heddinger's presence in the city provided some security; although he didn't manage affairs directly, things would remain stable until Bai Yi and Eric returned.
Lost in thought, Bai Yi suddenly felt a sharp presence. He turned to see a silver-haired elf entering the City Lord's Mansion, striding purposefully toward him. Her piercing eyes marked her as a member of the Moonlight Tribe, yet her demeanor was strikingly different from Irene's.
"Bai Yi, I'm Oganna, captain of the Law Enforcement Hall. We need to discuss Sabo's situation," she said, her voice steady.
"Discuss? Has he broken any laws?" Bai Yi replied, intrigued.
"You understand the implications of establishing diplomatic relations with the Abyss. While he hasn't caused any actual harm, he'll need to be imprisoned for fifteen years. He'll only be released if no issues arise after that period," Oganna stated coldly.
"With all due respect, that seems unreasonable. There's no legal basis for a trial, especially for actions that predate the new legislation," Bai Yi countered with a calm smile.
Oganna studied him, her sharp aura flickering. "What if I insist on taking him away?"
Bai Yi's expression hardened. "You need evidence to act. This is Dongwu City, not the capital. I have the final say here."
After a tense silence, Oganna's aura dissipated. "I'll relay your position to the parliament. Let's see how tough you remain in the court of justice."
Bai Yi watched her leave, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Send a message to the Law Enforcement Hall, instructing them to release Sabo."
Zero: [Message sent.]
He gazed at the crescent moon overhead, waiting patiently.
About ten minutes later, Sabo appeared, his familiar figure striding into view. "My friend! Your efficiency is impressive as always. Care to hear about my accomplishments over the past six months?"
Bai Yi smiled. "Of course."
"Ten billion in liquid assets, twenty rare minerals, and my treasure house is bursting with resources. I'm even constructing a new one. If you convert everything into gold coins, Dongwu City's assets have reached twenty billion!" Sabo beamed, gesturing grandly. "Look outside! This is the commercial city I envisioned. I've even established several medical clinics for civilians. No more will diseases claim our talent pool."
He continued with a hint of nostalgia, "Remember that little girl with foresight in your store? She died from a cold because there were no doctors in the outer city."
"My friend, we need reform. It's pointless to keep oppressing civilians. We should overhaul those outdated laws and create our own system. Together, we can make Tobu City a new benchmark!"
Bai Yi sighed, "While the population of Dongwu City has indeed reached saturation, your approach isn't practical. Laziness breeds regression. I'll consider your proposals, but not this one."
Sabo's enthusiasm faltered, and he looked momentarily speechless. "You're so dull sometimes."
"You've done well, Sabo. Though our federal laws aren't perfect, they're the best we have. I understand your concerns; you'll get the answers you seek soon." Bai Yi glanced at the sky. "For now, go rest."
"Alright, but exploiting civilians is futile, especially those confirmed to lack talent. They should be integrated into the production line instead," Sabo muttered as he left, his demeanor relaxed.
Bai Yi shook his head. Did this count as the bad luck Luo Ning had predicted? It hardly seemed like a conflict at all.
Just then, a scarlet flash crossed the sky, quickly fading into a ripple of order.
At that moment, a notification lit up on his panel.
[Due to your actions, the projection of the Embrace of Pain has entered the Abyss. As a result, you've been marked by the Abyss, and its favorability towards you has decreased by -10. Violating the Abyss Contract will lead to harsher penalties, and Abyss creatures will instinctively despise you upon sight.]
Bai Yi sighed. "Well, now I really have bad luck. Can I be blamed for this?"
The Abyss had invited disaster upon itself, yet he was the one facing the consequences.
"How long have you been waiting?" Eric's voice broke through his thoughts as he approached with Heddinger.
"My Lord Mayor, Mr. Congressman," Bai Yi greeted them respectfully.
Heddinger studied Bai Yi closely, then remarked, "The feng shui of Dongwu City must be remarkable to have produced two talents like you."
"I can't deny Bai Yi's skills, but the other one could turn my territory into an isolated city," Eric replied, exasperated.
Heddinger chuckled. "That's a talent! With him around, the lifeless Federation has found its vibrancy. It's been too peaceful for too long; some city lords have forgotten their roots among the common folk. A little strife can be beneficial."
Eric didn't disagree. He turned to Bai Yi with a teasing smile. "Can't wait to hear what you have to say?"
Bai Yi shook his head. "I came to meet the captain of the law enforcement team. That matter has been resolved."
"Good to know," Eric said, then leaned in with curiosity. "But I have a question for Lord Heddinger."
"Go ahead," Heddinger replied, settling into the pavilion.
"If more geniuses emerge from Dongwu City, will it create controversy?" Bai Yi asked cautiously.
"Absolutely not," Heddinger responded firmly. "Why do you ask? The Federation welcomes it."
"Really?" Bai Yi questioned, eyebrows raised. "The capital won't push to keep geniuses in their cradle?"
"Certainly not. Look at you; you're living proof." Heddinger chuckled. "We're not as conservative as you might think."
"That's a relief," Bai Yi said with a smile. "My Lords, may I convene a parliament? I have something important to discuss."
Heddinger and Eric exchanged surprised glances but nodded. The handover of the border city lord needed to be reported to parliament, making this a timely opportunity.
Heddinger's powerful magic surged, forming a projection of an empty conference hall before them. He retrieved an old communicator and activated it.
The center position of the hall flickered, representing Heddinger's place, still held despite his absence.
"We've called the meeting. Those who can attend will, and those who can't will be notified later. Do you have anything in particular you want to address?" Heddinger inquired, his curiosity evident.
Bai Yi considered for a moment. "There's a mid-level gold fortune teller from the Lotter family. I want her to come to Dongwu City to develop her skills."
"That's a challenge," Heddinger replied, shaking his head. "Elsa has strong ties to the Lotter family; she may not be swayed by mere incentives."
Bai Yi smiled knowingly. "Let's keep it under wraps for now. If her divination skills are as strong as I believe, she'll attend the council."
Heddinger raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Very well, I'll wait and see."
As time passed, about thirty minutes later, fifteen members arrived. The parliamentarians had busy schedules, making their prompt attendance impressive. As long as a majority was present, they could proceed with the meeting, as proposals from congressmen required only a simple majority to pass.
Many looked curiously at Bai Yi. With five SSS-level talents in the capital, he garnered significant interest as a rising star outside their ranks. However, a few members regarded him with skepticism, particularly those whose families had been impacted by Sabo's dealings. The head of the Kaina family, in particular, was still reeling from a mithril mine loss worth 1.5 billion.
Heddinger, unfazed by the scrutiny, glanced at Bai Yi as if to say: You miscalculated; the Lot family didn't attend after all.
He turned to the screen, smiling. "I called this meeting to discuss the Dongwu City situation. As you may have guessed, Bai Yi has officially broken through to gold level while Eric has stepped down. Bai Yi will now serve as the mayor of Dongwu City. Let's hear a few words from our new mayor."
All eyes turned to Bai Yi, filled with interest, complexity, and indifference. No one objected to his new position; Heddinger's presence alone signaled support.
Bai Yi met their gazes, particularly that of a green-haired male elf watching him intently.
Just as he prepared to speak, the door swung open, and an elderly man and woman entered, interrupting. "Wait, why the rush? There are fewer attendees than expected."
Heddinger and Eric exchanged astonished looks. The Lot family had arrived, bringing the fortune teller Aisha with them!
Bai Yi's smile widened genuinely. It seemed fortune tellers were indeed sensitive to the fluctuations of fate.
This fortune teller hailed from Tobu City!
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