"That will significantly impact the existing system."
Bai Yi set the book aside and looked up. "Many extraordinary individuals will likely feel unsettled by this change."
"My friend, it's not a major concern," Sabo replied, his eyes glinting with enthusiasm. "The emergence of arcane arts was bound to disrupt the original order."
He shrugged. "As for the emotions of others..."
Sabo waved his hands dismissively. "You are the lord of the city, not their caretaker. If there's a rebellion, suppress it. If they wish to leave, let them go. Once the extraordinary system in Dongwu City is established, you will attract more talent."
"That's a fair point," Bai Yi conceded. "We must keep the inner city appealing to them."
Sabo's eyes lit up as an idea struck him. "What if we create something unique to the inner city, something that can't be replicated in the outer city? We could establish a hierarchy—where the outer city only receives what the inner city discards. Would that alleviate your concerns?"
Bai Yi considered Sabo's proposal seriously. The idea of everyone thriving like dragons had its merits; in fact, those who had been overlooked might finally soar.
However, having everyone act like dragons would disrupt many established systems, not just locally but across the federation. The consequences could force widespread reform, as other cities would feel the pressure to adapt.
With the rise of the internet, if civilians in other cities witnessed the prosperous lives of those in Dongwu City, many would undoubtedly want to relocate.
But could Dongwu City accommodate a sudden influx of new residents? Population is the foundation of any city.
Even if Sabo develops Tobu City, he would likely need to recruit high-quality civilians from other areas first before pursuing further growth.
The thought of civilian migration following the reforms in Dongwu City was daunting. It would inevitably lead to expansion, but too much growth could strain resources and require a larger military presence.
Moreover, with an increase in practitioners came the need for extraordinary resources, which would necessitate trade with other cities to support Dongwu City's ambitions.
Bai Yi hesitated. This series of reactions revolved around funding, and that was a significant concern.
Yet Sabo was correct: if everyone in Tobu City became extraordinary, the city's potential would skyrocket, significantly boosting the talent pool and fostering various developments. Even a simple population of six million could wield tremendous power.
He looked at Sabo and asked, "Have you considered the implications for the Federation?"
Sabo's expression faltered, and he became slightly defensive. "My friend, why worry about others? We should focus on our own development."
"But have you thought about the upcoming war and the need for expansion?" Bai Yi countered, somewhat exasperated. It seemed Sabo was acting impulsively without considering the broader consequences.
"Right now, ten percent of Tobu City's income may not be enough to cover the costs of your initiatives. Other cities are wary of Sabo's reputation, making it harder to achieve anything further."
"In addition, the Kingdom of the Ancient Gods has clearly united; acquiring quality resources from outside will be challenging."
Sabo stumbled over his words. "But we have... why should we fear war?" He knew the stakes but felt frustrated at the prospect of losing financial opportunities.
Bai Yi pressed on. "What about the desire for everyone to learn arcane arts? Don't you want the four professions of swordsman, assassin, mage, and alchemist? What about the hidden professions like fortune teller and summoner?"
Sabo's mind raced. "Well, um..."
Bai Yi smiled. "I support your ideas, but we need to be strategic."
Sabo wiped his brow, pretending to be calm. Just as he was about to suggest revisiting the discussion, he paused. "Wait! My friend, you really are a wise city lord."
"Let's initiate a household registration system for Dongwu City," Bai Yi proposed. "Civilians wishing to move here must apply. We need to ensure law enforcement grows alongside the city to maintain order."
"We can also consider reforms during the war. Dongwu City's resources should be sufficient to support a campaign, but we must manage our expenditure wisely."
"And finally, let the scholars take the lead. They already possess some arcane capabilities. We can open an arcane academy, but we shouldn't compel everyone to learn it."
Bai Yi continued, "We must consider every angle. As long as Dongwu City remains stable, external pressures won't overwhelm us."
Sabo's eyes brightened. "My friend, you're truly a genius. I'll get to work right away. Honestly, you're brilliant!"
As Sabo left, he muttered under his breath, "Just a bit stingy. If you don't invest in the city, do you expect others to just let you have it?"
Bai Yi watched Sabo's retreating figure, a mix of admiration and concern in his gaze.
The tides of change had begun, and it was time for reform.
Top geniuses were emerging, with SSS-level talents capable of leading an era—there were now nine in the Federation. Whether more would arise remained uncertain, but as Sabo said, the pressure on civilians had shifted, no longer as stifling as before.
This could indeed unlock the potential within the populace, as desire is a powerful motivator.
However, we were in an era of magical revival. Gods might return in a century—or even sooner.
Rather than waiting for another top talent to emerge, it was better to elevate commoners to the extraordinary, creating greater value and supporting the highest-level geniuses.
This way, the civilians would feel a sense of belonging to the Federation, their lives would improve, and the elite would benefit as well, increasing the ranks of soldiers for future conflicts.
Despite the negative repercussions, these reasons were compelling enough for Bai Yi to initiate reform.
A premonition stirred in his heart.
The third crisis was approaching.
Bai Yi gazed out over the city, sensing that this war would be the most challenging yet.
Rising to his feet, he recalled the specialty he had chosen after slaying the legend.
[Blood Cocoon]Effect: Condense negative effects into a shell and shed them completely.Cooldown: 10 seconds.
This specialty offered a means of detoxification, but it came with side effects, such as the dark side's poison or curses, and could be suppressed by certain forces.
This ability allowed him to encase the affected areas of his body, enabling him to separate from negativity directly.
It seemed particularly suited to his extreme evil body. For instance, if Bai Yi's brain were poisoned, this specialty would form a cocoon around it, freeing him from toxicity.
However, it would be fatal to abandon the brain if no evil body was present.
Fortunately, his consciousness did not dwell within that type of brain; his thoughts arose from the soul.
Nevertheless, this specialty could reduce various attributes or blood volume.
Bai Yi could choose to reduce blood tissue if he had ample blood. If his blood volume was low, he could still eliminate negative forces within his body.
This specialty was advantageous, significantly enhancing his dark side combat system.
He had tested it before; for example, if the extreme poison affected his heart, the shed would result in a 10% blood volume loss or a reduction of 2 points in each attribute—an acceptable trade-off.
During his two months of study, Bai Yi had ventured into a nightmare world.
He consumed a C-class dangerous scepter, and the resulting notification had astonished him:
[You have devoured the Scepter of Desire, a dangerous artifact.]
[Your dark side has been enhanced: Strength +15, Agility +20, Endurance +18, Intelligence +10.]
[The origin of the Scepter of Desire will no longer manifest in future reincarnations.]
These notifications revealed that dangerous entities composed of negative emotions would not regenerate once consumed.
It was akin to consuming a fragment of the nightmare realm, depleting the original source.
However, he also possessed a copy of the Divine Sin of Thesis, which must be used alongside the finger bones of the Goddess of Life and the evil heart of a god.
The growth of the dark side was challenging when relying on the dangers of the Black Death and pathogen realms.
His goal in consuming dangerous entities was to analyze the resulting data.
If the dark side were to spiral out of control and entirely consume the nightmare world, the potential for growth was unfathomable.
With the introduction of this new specialty, a fresh combat system began to take shape in Bai Yi's mind.
For instance, when battling a devil, he had not fully utilized his skills.
Malicious Deception could create a flawless shadow, and combining this specialty with Blood Cocoon and Space Penetration would enable a perfect assassination.
An unprepared enemy would surely become a casualty of this lethal combination.
As he reached the top of the city lord's hall, Bai Yi surveyed the bustling city below.
The main hall stood tall and magnificent, nearly thirty meters high—equivalent to ten stories. This structure served as the venue for foreign delegations and city council meetings.
While it was a single floor, its height was a testament to its significance. Surrounding buildings adhered to a hidden rule, prohibiting construction that exceeded the height of the city lord's hall.
Bai Yi, however, was unconcerned; when the need arose for taller structures, he would employ magic or alchemical technology to conceal the hall from prying eyes.
Settling into his vantage point, he observed the city's flourishing landscape, waiting patiently.
Not long after, an aged figure approached.
It was Eric. The sharpness that once defined him had softened, and he appeared gentler.
"Sabo just summoned the officials," Eric said, taking a seat beside Bai Yi. His gaze drifted over the familiar mansion, nostalgia evident in his eyes.
After all, he had tended to the plants and trees here for over 300 years. Despite his earlier intentions to leave, seeing the changes invoked a bittersweet feeling.
"Sir, do you find this unsettling?" Bai Yi inquired, expecting Eric's usual bluntness.
To his surprise, Eric seemed contemplative. "It's not bad, but it strays from the original intention of the Federation."
He gazed at the vibrant life in Tobu City. "When I was young, a talented individual made a similar decision."
"He led his city's civilians to independence from the Federation, vowing to create a society devoid of hierarchy and capital, where no one held privileges. Ordinary people revered the extraordinary, and the extraordinary aided the ordinary—a paradise of peace and stability."
"Do you know how it ended?" Eric's voice carried a hint of reminiscence, a smile gracing his lips.
"He failed," Bai Yi replied confidently, recalling the timeline. At that time, only one top potential existed—now known as the fifth-level legend, the madman Roman.
Magic was still in its infancy then, rendering such dreams mere fantasies.
"Not entirely right," Eric responded, a tinge of emotion in his voice. "He did fail, but he also succeeded."
"He created a paradise-like nation," he continued, raising three fingers, "but it lasted only three years."
Bai Yi fell silent, sensing the underlying reasons.
"After three years, he perished, and the cause was simple. He couldn't comprehend why he should bear the burden of equality while others enjoyed the same privileges without cost."
"Ha! This reflects the mindset of many extraordinary beings at that time. Such a mentality only breeds resentment."
"And crucially, the families of congress members, the ordinary extraordinary families, and even the common extraordinary folk viewed ordinary civilians as cheap labor. These two factors alone were enough to topple a city."
"With millions of mortals and only a handful of extraordinary individuals, the country he established could not withstand the tides of change, ultimately succumbing to them."
Eric sighed, a note of regret in his tone. "In this era, the sentiments of ordinary people pale in comparison to those of the extraordinary."
"Moreover, with over 570 cities within the Federation, the lords, civilians, extraordinary beings, and even the inhabitants of these cities could become your opposition. Have you truly considered this?"
Bai Yi paused for a moment, pondering.
He smiled and asked, "What do you think of the treatment across different levels in Dongwu City?"
Eric nodded. "It's among the best in the Federation."
Bai Yi spread his arms. "So, do I lack soldiers? Do I need officials? If some choose to leave due to imbalances, so be it."
"Steam technology, arcane arts, intercontinental missiles, and even the network that may one day be used against me—all are provided by me. With Lonin, Irene, and Sabo at my side, I doubt the Federation will hold a grudge over this."
"It's merely a matter of interests. The rise of the people will impact capital significantly, but my goal is solely to develop Tobu City. I cannot control what happens beyond its borders."
"However, within Tobu City, my word is law."
Eric was taken aback, then smiled resignedly. "Do as you wish. I hope everything unfolds favorably."
"Everything will be fine. Just watch," Bai Yi grinned. "Perhaps other cities will follow in Tobu City's footsteps."
"After all, Dongwu City has always led the way in the Federation."
"If needed, Tobu City could evolve into a vast empire."
(End of this chapter)