Professionals compete for rank, equipment, items, and quotas.
Major cities compete for rankings, resources, and talent.
Although Lincheng and Wancheng are neighbors, one is incorporated into the Northern Territory, while the other belongs to Dongzhou. Separated by the wilderness, the two cities have rarely experienced conflict of interest.
However, this time was different.
The Bone Burial Dungeon, one of the most difficult of the First-Level Abysses, lies conveniently near Wancheng, earning it the nickname "the abyss at the doorstep of Wancheng residents."
However, due to its extreme difficulty, many Wancheng professionals failed to reach it, sometimes perishing within it.
Over time, the vast majority of Wancheng professionals subconsciously avoided it, leading to a significant loss of professionals.
This loss of professionals, coupled with a severe shortage of talent, has led to a continuous decline in Wancheng's ranking within Dongzhou and a consequent loss of significant resources.
This year marks Liang Yi's third year as Lord of Wancheng, and as in previous years, no promising talent has emerged.
This presents a significant headache for him.
He had a premonition that if Wancheng continued like this, not only would the city be doomed, but his career would be ruined as well.
This frustration deepened when he heard news of an SSS-rated job transfer student appearing in neighboring Lincheng.
Why was Wancheng always eluding such promising talent?
However, he soon discovered that things were not as dire as he had imagined.
Who could have imagined that Lincheng not only ignored this SSS-rated job transfer student, but actually joined forces with the Li family to suppress him?
A farming son whose parents had died young was being oppressed by the city lord and the aristocratic families. What could he do?
He had no choice but to give in.
After understanding the situation, Liang Yi saw this as an opportunity.
After all, it was an SSS-rated job transfer student. If Lincheng didn't want him, then Wancheng would.
However, Gu Qingfeng then appeared in Lincheng and revealed Gu Chen's background, which made Liang Yi sigh inwardly.
Gu Qingfeng's son, even if not from Lincheng, was from Gubei City. How could he not have a chance?
He was about to give up, but when he learned that Gu Chen had been forced into the wilderness by the Li family, a glimmer of hope rose in his heart.
Gu Qingfeng's son would be forced into the wilderness by a mere Li family?
Impossible.
The only explanation was that Gu Chen didn't recognize the Gu family's status, and therefore had never mentioned Gu Qingfeng's name.
This made things much easier.
Since Gu Chen was being suppressed in Lincheng and didn't recognize the Gu family's status, then the people of Wancheng welcomed him.
Then, news of Gu Chen's clearance of the Nightmare-level Bone Dungeon was announced.
This made Liang Yi, still struggling with his dilemma, adamant.
He had to snatch him away.
After all, Gu Chen was a job-transfer student with an SSS rating, and had broken the record for clearing a first-level Abyssal Bone Dungeon. Such a talent might not appear once in decades.
To leave him in exile in the wilderness was a shame.
Gu Chen's demonstrated talent and combat prowess alone warranted respectful treatment from the city lord.
"City Lord, three rewards are ready."
Secretary Li Feng's voice and the sound of knocking on the door reached Liang Yi's ears.
"Also, I found out that Gu Chen has just reached level 16. Usually at level 15, a summoner can add a new summoning slot. He just came out of the abyss and should not have time to contract a new summoned beast."
"So, I applied for a level 15 summoning skill book in the Wancheng treasury. This is also one of the only few rare summoning books in Wancheng."
"Only rare?"
"There is no way. There are no summoners in a small place like our Wancheng. If you want an epic summoning book, you can only buy it from some central cities. Not only is the price high, but there is also no time."
Liang Yi stood up from his seat and nodded. "Well, that's it for now. At worst, I can compensate him later."
Li Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead. "City Lord, what if Gu Chen doesn't want to come to Wancheng?"
Liang Yi glanced at him. "We are going to rob people! Rob people! Do you understand? If he doesn't want to, that's his business, it's none of my business!"
"Besides, since Gu Chen was able to kill Li Renjie, it means he is not the type to swallow his anger. Will such a person continue to stay in Lincheng?"
"What if Xu Lai apologized and offered more resources as compensation?"
"That's a possibility. If Xu Lai offered enough, perhaps Gu Chen could have endured it. But now that Wancheng has intervened, Gu Chen will definitely not choose to reconcile with Lincheng."
"Because, no matter how much Xu Lai offers, he certainly won't give as much as I do."
Liang Yi rose from his desk and strode towards the teleportation hall.
Li Feng, clutching two treasure chests and two gift boxes, immediately followed.
The treasure chests and gift boxes could easily fit into his personal space, but he didn't. The more
gifts, the less blame.
At this moment, the Abyss Square was packed with people.
The record for the Nightmare-level Abyss had been broken, a rare sight, and the professionals who had witnessed it firsthand were honored.
As the dizziness wore off, Gu Chen and the others were teleported to the Abyss Square.
The crowd around them erupted in excitement.
"Look, Gu Chen is out!"
"That's Gu Chen? I heard he's a job transfer student. I wonder if he has a girlfriend?"
"Don't bother thinking about it. Even if he doesn't, it's not your turn. Are they attracted by your age or your low level?"
"He's so young, yet he's already broken the record for Nightmare-level Abyss. I'm so envious, I'm so jealous!"
"Gu Chen is from Lincheng. He broke the record, and no one from Lincheng City Hall came?"
"What for? Gu Chen's admission quota hasn't come yet, and the people from Lincheng City Hall still have the nerve to come?"
"Look, aren't those people from City Hall? I didn't expect them to be here so soon!"
"After all, he's a genius who's refreshed the Nightmare-level Abyss. It seems Lincheng City Hall is worried too."
The teleportation array in Abyss Square lit up with a dazzling light, and several men in suits and ties emerged.
The leader, wearing a dark gray jacket, stood tall and straight. Beneath thick brows were a pair of sharp eyes that scanned the surroundings.
"Fuck, isn't that Liang Yi? The Lord of Wancheng!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Gu Chen is from Lincheng, how could Liang Yi be--Fuck! It's really Liang Yi!"
"Liang Yi is now level 50, the highest-level professional in Wancheng, what is he doing here?"
"What else can he do? Look at those followers behind him, with treasure chests and gift boxes, of course he's here to snatch someone away!"
"Kidnap people? Gu Chen is the son of the Northern War King. In Gubei City, he is the prince. How could he go to Wancheng?"
"You don't know this. Now it's spread outside. Gu Chen has long severed his relationship with the Northern War King."
"I thought so. He was hunted by the Li family for so long. He would rather escape into the wilderness and enter the abyss than reveal the name of the Northern War King. It turns out there is something big going on here!"
"Just wait and see. I guess Gu Chen will soon become a citizen of our Wancheng. By then, all the professionals in Wancheng will benefit from it."
"Huh? There is such a thing? Gu Chen joining Wancheng is his business. What does it have to do with us?"