Shi Canghai and Shi Sangtian began hurrying toward the conference room. High-level figures from various other cities who had rushed over were already gathered in a signal-blocked room inside the Library.
Not long ago, Hope City, which had always been silent yet feared by everyone, suddenly issued invitation letters to the entire region stretching from the northeast to the west, inviting the upper echelons of every mobile city within this whole stretch to enter Hope City for “friendly negotiations”. From the wording of the invitation, it was clear that these negotiations concerned the development of relations to come.
What kind of “development” that meant, everyone knew perfectly well in their hearts.
But the timeframe given was very generous, so all the mobile cities immediately began to gather together to try to figure out a countermeasure for this meeting. The place they chose for this conference was precisely the Library.
“These old foxes.” When Shi Canghai first received word about this meeting, it had already been decided to hold it in the Library. Although they were the city lords of the Library, they had no right to refuse.
The Library had always survived by relying on the control of surrounding mobile cities, since it possessed no combat power of its own. Now, with these mobile cities setting the meeting place here, the greatest likelihood was that they meant to make the Library the most dangerous place.
Back then, when Hope City so easily took control of all the locators and relayed messages, the mobile cities realized just how formidable Hope City’s abilities truly were. This time, the meeting could not take place anywhere with any sort of “signal”.
They chose the Library. First, in order to ensure that no one could steal any knowledge, there were plenty of sealed, undetectable small rooms inside. Second, they wanted Hope City to discover their “little scheme”. When it came time to make an example out of someone, the first to bear the brunt would surely be the Library.
Right now, no one wants the Library to belong to Hope City. This alone showed clearly that once the Library relied on Hope City for protection, they would no longer be something these ordinary mobile cities could easily manipulate at will.
Hope City’s sudden emergence was precisely so powerful that it made anyone dread it. No… perhaps for these people, it was more that the “rumors” were powerful, while they remained skeptical of the actual situation. That was exactly why this meeting was taking place.
The Library did not wish for a war to break out. They did not want to become the fuse for any conflict. For a non-military city, war was merely a means to consolidate one’s position, not a means of survival. In times of war, the ones who truly died were always the powerless poor who could not resist.
“Brother.” At this moment, Shi Sangtian’s fingers clenched tightly. “Was what he said true?”
Shi Canghai knew exactly who his sister meant by “he”. Back then, Hope City had once communicated with them, telling them to do nothing, or rather, that it was fine to simply follow along with what everyone else thought and did.
Hope City had accepted their plea for help, but would use its own method to bring the Library under Hope City’s wing.
“I don’t know. For now, all we can do is take it one step at a time.” Even now, Shi Canghai was beginning to doubt whether he had really asked for the help of a monster.
Would they truly gain Hope City’s protection, or had Hope City discovered their worth and invited a wolf into the house instead?
“Brother.” Shi Sangtian sounded worried. It was obvious that for everyone here, this meeting was anything but friendly.
“Just listen. That’s all we need to do.” Shi Canghai comforted his sister. In this so-called meeting, they had no right to speak anyway. The Library merely offered a convenient place for all the mobile cities.
When they stepped into the conference room, the small room felt extremely cramped with so many people packed inside. It seemed that this time, Hope City had sent out an unusually large number of invitations. It was practically as if…
As if Hope City intended to deal with all the mobile cities in one fell swoop, arrogant and disrespectful.
“No matter how strong Hope City is, in the end, it’s just a gathering of a few small figures. The only thing truly powerful about them is probably their mechs. Whether it’s Angel City, Hope City, or Arrival City, they’re all weaklings with not a shred of real combat power. We have so many people, and we control so much territory. Are we supposed to be afraid of just a handful of them?”
The arrival of Shi Canghai and Shi Sangtian did not change the atmosphere in the conference room at all, or rather, the meeting had already begun before they even arrived. They were not given any importance whatsoever.
“But it’s true that Hope City has very powerful mechs. So far, we’ve found out about three of them already, and that’s only what we’ve managed to uncover. No one knows how many more mechs they might have.”
“The apocalypse has lasted for hundreds of years now, and we’ve never once heard of any so-called ‘peaceful cities’ existing. ‘Mirage’ is just an illusionary term. Whether it truly exists or not, how could anyone possibly know for sure?”
“But the fact that Mirage has mechs is certain. Otherwise, how could a city with absolutely no combat power possibly manufacture mechs? No matter what, Ao City was a regional overlord, yet under Mirage’s mechs, they had no chance to fight back. The tragedy of hundreds of thousands is already a confirmed fact.”
“With our current capabilities, none of us can truly know Mirage’s real combat strength. If we rush into an attack, there will be massive unforeseen consequences.”
Shi Canghai sat quietly among them. He seemed to vaguely sense the city lord He Fang’s intention. As long as the waters were muddied enough, then exactly which fish he wanted to catch in the chaos, no one would be able to tell.
“But he had all that time before without launching any invasion. Why suddenly issue invitation letters to all of us now? Isn’t the timing strange?” someone raised a point of doubt.
“It might be that powerful weapons also require a powerful price. The war between Mirage and Ao City likely exhausted a lot of their mechs. Maybe this period was for recuperation and rebuilding strength. Now, perhaps, the two remaining mechs have reached their optimal state, so Mirage decided to carry out its next invasion.”
“That is indeed possible,” one person said, frowning. “Mirage possesses unmatched technology, and to this day, we haven’t managed to slip even a single spy into their city. Spies who were discovered weren’t even killed. They were directly released. That’s probably a show of force against us.”
“So this invitation might be a breakthrough point. Mirage’s city lord wants to make a show of force first. He intends to use our differences of opinion to split us into opposing camps, so his plan can unfold more smoothly.”
“Then, if they’re still using schemes instead of launching a direct attack, doesn’t that prove that Mirage isn’t as powerful as we imagine? And that this so-called show-of-force invitation is just empty bluffing?”
“Very likely. When dealing with an unknown enemy, it’s always safer to overestimate them than to underestimate them. Now that we have a legitimate chance to probe Mirage for information, why not give it a try?”
Under the table, Shi Sangtian quietly gripped her brother’s hand. Everyone’s fear of Mirage ran deeper than they had realized. This situation was to their advantage.
“So we still have to accept the invitation, no matter what?” someone asked.
“Yes. And even if we wanted to test what happens if we don’t go, surely no city would be willing to be the first target, right? After all, Mirage is the one that made even Ao City dare not show a shred of resistance. The new emperor who just came to power is already clearly Mirage’s puppet, isn’t he?”
In the face of overwhelming power, any strategy felt meaningless. Everyone here knew that all too well.
At this moment, Shi Canghai slowly spoke: “Then what if… we go in, and can’t get out again?”
The entire room fell a bit silent. After a moment, someone spoke, considering carefully, “Mirage has always called itself a peaceful city. If they were to detain people, as the only anomaly in this apocalypse, they would definitely be attacked by everyone. Even Mirage probably doesn’t want to see that outcome.”
“Sigh… In the end, they’re still a powerful city. Surely they have all sorts of ideas. What’s even more terrifying is that they can resist Nightmare Beast Seeds…”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire conference room fell silent in an instant.
Nightmare Beast Seeds. That terrifying seed of death that no one in the apocalypse could escape from. Yet somehow, a strange city managed to keep it under control.
Once, they too had tried many times to approach Mirage, but Mirage never had any intention of monopolizing the resistance to Nightmare Beast seeds. This was the most troublesome part. It wasn’t about providing a way to fight against the Nightmare Beast seeds, but about providing land under its protection. Once they accepted Mirage’s proposal, their city would no longer have complete dominance. Everything in the future would be completely subject to Mirage’s control.
The most hateful part was, this was a choice they could make. They could even choose not to rely on Mirage. And if they didn’t rely on it, they still had enough space to survive in places where there were no traces of Nightmare Beast seed activities. This was simply mocking them.
Although they couldn’t enter Mirage’s alliance cities, the two cities that had already successfully gained Mirage’s protection—Gaia City and Pangu City—could still get information. Looking at it now, although everything seemed fine, no one knew what the future would hold.
“We can’t go against Mirage for now, at least not right now.” Finally, someone broke the silence. “Maybe we really can go meet Mirage’s City Lord. It’s said that Mirage’s City Lord is still a child. Young children always have many unrealistic ideas. For us, isn’t that someone easier to control?”
“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll never be defeated in a hundred battles. We have to first know Mirage’s attitude before we can make a decision.”
Shi Canghai and Shi Sangtian had no say at all in the meeting room. When everyone finished the meeting and dispersed right after, the siblings also stood up and left the meeting room.
“These old foxes are definitely plotting something in their minds. Now we’ll just see if this scheme can be pulled off easily.” Shi Canghai said.
However, Shi Sangtian frowned. “But didn’t they talk for so long just to decide this? Faced with Hope City’s invitation, who would dare not go?”
“This meeting wasn’t about discussing any plan at all. It was just to have a look and see if anyone would voice an opposing opinion. They wanted a target, but unfortunately, after all this time, not a single reckless fool showed up.” Shi Canghai returned to his room, sat down on the sofa, and rubbed his temples with a headache.
Shi Sangtian lowered his gaze, thick and dense eyelashes hiding the irritation and disgust in those eyes. “Obviously, there’s danger everywhere, yet there are only fools who know how to play with power. That’s why it’s so disgusting.”
But Shi Canghai furrowed his brows. “We can’t be certain what Mirage truly is either. It’s just that, by comparison, Mirage is our best choice for now, that’s all. After all… how would we know if Mirage hadn’t already planned this long ago, and is only using us now?”
Shi Sangtian’s expression turned cold. He lowered his eyes, his heart full of helplessness. With the status of the Library, they were completely powerless, only left to be toyed with at the hands of these people in power.
In Shi Sangtian’s mind, he recalled that pure, young City Lord. In his eyes, there was no scheming, yet he wasn’t foolish either. Though he didn’t appear to have the slightest ambition, the things he did were the opposite of what he showed on the surface.
No…
In Shi Sangtian’s mind, another pair of clear, cold eyes rose. Those eyes that seemed able to see through all things had long since taken everything about them in. That gaze was icy, arrogant, and indifferent. It felt as if he didn’t see them as the same kind at all, but as something meaningless, like looking at a dead thing without value.
“Sangtian.” Shi Canghai frowned and said, “This time, since Hope City has sent an invitation, I’ve decided to go in person.”
Shi Sangtian was stunned and immediately said, “But, Brother, the other cities would never let their City Lord go. Wouldn’t it be too out of place if we did this?”
“We also have to let Mirage see our sincerity. Besides, there are many things that still need to be negotiated. Even if a City Lord doesn’t go, it would definitely be someone at the very top with real authority. There are two City Lords in the Library. For me to go is perfectly reasonable.” Shi Canghai said.
Shi Sangtian remembered that seemingly pure young man who had appeared in the video. If someone like that was leading Mirage, then perhaps that so-called pacifism was real.
But what if that was just a puppet?
“Sangtian, I will go see with my own eyes whether Mirage is truly the best fit for us. If it isn’t, then I will do everything I can to ruin the relationship between the other cities and Mirage.” Shi Canghai’s expression was much gloomier than usual.
But Shi Sangtian also understood. They had made it perfectly clear that they did not wish to become the fuse for a war, yet the other side still did this anyway. With the other side acting so willfully, no one could be certain that Mirage wouldn’t use this as an excuse to forcibly take control over them. By then… would it be like falling into a wolf’s den once again?
Shi Sangtian gripped his brother’s hand. “Be careful in everything, Brother. Please let me personally pick out the guards you will take with you.”
“Mm.” Shi Canghai looked at his sister, his expression slightly gentler, yet it still hid the uncontrollable madness that came from being suppressed for so many years.
——
Everyone in Hope City and Angel City received a piece of news: representatives from other cities would be coming into the city for a visit. This time, it would affect Hope City’s position within the entire region. Everyone was required to get ready, to behave politely, to speak with civility, and to set a benchmark for a new era’s civilized city in the apocalypse.
This was something the City Lord himself had specially ordered to be publicized. Ever since Hope City was built, this would be the first time for friendly exchanges with other cities. It could very well affect the establishment of friendly ties with other cities in the future, so it would need the combined effort of countless people to give the other cities a good impression.
Once all the foreign envoys arrived successfully, Hope City would begin its first military parade in history, to show the grandeur of a big city to the other cities and lay the foundation for Hope City’s position as the leader.
When this string of official documents came down, everyone was dumbfounded.
The documents clearly stated: every citizen represents the face of the city. Everyone must show the foreign envoys the most perfect side of themselves.
The people of Hope City and Angel City basically went insane.
Ever since the cities were built, the living conditions of the people had steadily risen, and after the reconstruction, the cities had taken shape. There were plenty of farmlands, and all around, there were still many temporary structures. The low, small houses surrounding the city were also gradually being renovated.
All of this proved that everyone in the entire city was thriving, and that every person was living a life where they had money in hand, houses under construction, and were full of hope for the future. It had only been one or two years since they had escaped the desperate days of the apocalypse, so their mindsets were still completely immersed in the tremendous shock brought by their current happy lives.
Those who had once been at the very bottom of society now all carried the trait of “representing the city’s image”. Because of this, everyone threw themselves into it with all their strength. They had to set an example of happiness for their pitiful compatriots who were still struggling at the edge of life and death.
Those who had once had nothing now were all holding back their excitement, wanting to show off their perfect lives, and had started spending money like crazy as a whole.
In an instant, the city’s clothing shops and barbershops were flooded. People frantically bought beautiful clothes to decorate themselves, and the barbershops had lines from morning to night. The whole family came to get their hair done.
Yet these shops did not raise their prices because of this. For the sake of the City Lord’s reputation, they even lowered their prices, practically selling at cost, and launched all kinds of promotions to stimulate purchases and improvements, determined to greatly improve the overall look of the city in these few short days. Because many people didn’t understand fashion and such, professional designers were specially invited from the main city. Every shop had an image designer stationed inside, which stirred up everyone’s desire to dress up even more.
People who hadn’t tidied themselves up in years suddenly made themselves look clean and bright. When they looked at themselves in the mirror, they felt dazed too. Gone was the old look of sallow skin and thin bodies working day and night. One by one, they all felt that once they dressed up, they too looked like heavenly fairies descending to earth. Compared to their old selves, it was a complete transformation. Walking on the street, they held their heads high and straightened their backs, trying hard to imitate the people from the main city to raise their own bearing.
Because this time was counted as bringing honor to the city, many old farmers and such also felt a sense of mission. Even though working the fields would dirty their clothes, they still wore nice clothes when they went down to the fields. Some people, seeing their aged skin, even spent money to buy cosmetics they would never have bought before, wanting to fix themselves up a bit in a short time. Wherever there was fashion, they would gather there. One by one, it was rare for them not to hoard money in their hands.
