Wei Qixuan never expected that his carefully crafted plan would be so easily exposed when they met. As he gazed up at these people—people he could never hope to fully understand—a faint fear crept into his heart, wrapping around his entire being.
“Hahahaha, look at how scared this kid is.” A researcher suddenly came over and patted Wei Qixuan on the head. The touch made him tense, yet the researcher’s tone remained lighthearted. “Don’t be nervous, it’s fine. Having a few tricks up your sleeve isn’t a bad thing.”
At that moment, Wei Qixuan raised his head and looked at Zhu Yan, who never easily showed a smile to anyone. The man was tall—despite being a researcher, he didn’t appear frail at all. Standing there, looking down at him from above, Zhu Yan made Wei Qixuan keenly feel the vast difference between them and the contempt in his gaze.
“Don’t scare the kid,” the researcher said, stepping slightly in front of Wei Qixuan to break the eerie atmosphere between them. “I think this kid is pretty interesting. With proper training, he might become a real talent.”
Usually, Wei Qixuan would be delighted to hear someone praise him like this. But this time was different. Under Zhu Yan’s scrutiny, he couldn’t muster even the slightest sense of joy.
A sudden thought struck him—if he couldn’t earn even a single word of approval from Zhu Yan, then he was nothing but a failure.
“Wei Qixuan.” Zhu Yan slightly turned to the side, his white coat shifting slightly with the movement. “Come here.”
“What’s going on?” The researcher from before asked, curious.
Zhu Yan’s expression remained as cold and indifferent as ever. He looked calmly at the researcher and said, “The City Lord wants to see him.”
The City Lord… wants to see him?
Wei Qixuan wondered if he had misheard. Shock flashed through his eyes, quickly followed by excitement as he stared directly at Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan glanced at him from the corner of his eye, his gaze devoid of much emotion, carrying a distant, unapproachable aura. But even so, Wei Qixuan didn’t care—because he had just heard something that filled him with immense joy. He was going to meet the City Lord!
The City Lord had appeared in Hope City once before, but unfortunately, Wei Qixuan hadn’t been able to get close. And now, this opportunity had come to him on its own!
Wei Qixuan’s fingers quietly tightened around the notebook in his hand. He had to take this chance to properly showcase his abilities and hard work to the City Lord.
As he followed Zhu Yan, curious and complex gazes came from all directions. Wei Qixuan unconsciously straightened his back. Being summoned by the City Lord was a tremendous honor, and of course, he felt immensely proud.
Looking at Zhu Yan’s back, Wei Qixuan realized that he had to take two steps to keep up with every one of Zhu Yan’s steps. Zhu Yan’s bearing and knowledge were things he could only look up to. It was said that once the two cities became connected, teachers from schools would come to Hope City to begin formal education, allowing everyone to learn. Would there come a day when he, too, could stand among these powerful individuals, possessing the same extraordinary presence?
“Get in,” Zhu Yan said as he opened the front passenger door. Wei Qixuan immediately clambered into the car, his small frame making his movements seem a bit clumsy. He was too short. To him, this car felt incredibly tall.
In every mobile city, there were many vehicles, primarily used for transporting supplies or for exploration teams. Due to the scarcity of resources, every single vehicle was incredibly valuable.
As the child of a lower-class worker in the city, Wei Qixuan had no right to ride in such a vehicle.
This particular vehicle was tall, had beautiful tires, and had a stunning paint job. Wei Qixuan had seen it many times before and always felt that the City Lord’s vehicles were far more elegant than those from the once-existing Hope City.
No—perhaps everything in the City Lord’s domain was far more perfect than what they had ever known. Even the stationed military forces, statisticians, and researchers here—he had yet to see a single one who looked average; every one of them stood out to an extreme degree.
The elders used to say that the land nurtures its people. Maybe it was precisely because of the City Lord’s territory that such naturally outstanding individuals were raised.
Zhu Yan reached out and helped Wei Qixuan fasten his seatbelt. However, Wei Qixuan was simply too small—strapped in, he looked like a toy confined by the belt.
Wei Qixuan felt a bit nervous. He wanted to go over his notes on how to behave in front of the City Lord. Opening his notebook, he was met with densely packed handwriting and sketches, carefully arranged to conserve as much paper as possible.
“Your body is weak. Reading in a moving vehicle can easily make you dizzy. Do you really want to face the City Lord with a foggy head?” Zhu Yan spoke, breaking the silence that had lasted since they had walked to the vehicle together.
Wei Qixuan was startled, and the words “motion sickness” flashed through his mind. He immediately shut his notebook. “No, I don’t.”
The two of them continued moving forward. Wei Qixuan was nervous. He glanced at the scenery outside, a little worried that if they kept going like this, they might reach the city’s defensive perimeter and enter the more dangerous zones beyond.
“You’re not usually this quiet. What’s wrong? Have you decided not to play your little tricks in front of me?” Zhu Yan said with a half-smile, though his gaze remained fixed straight ahead.
Wei Qixuan’s body tensed. His fingers tightened around the edge of his notebook, gripping it nervously. “Wait… does everyone know what I’m thinking?”
Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Yes.”
Even though Wei Qixuan had already suspected as much, hearing it confirmed still made his face flush with embarrassment. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the feeling—just like how he could easily see through his younger siblings when they tried to be sneaky, it made sense that these experienced adults could see right through him as well.
“Then… will everyone still be willing to tell me things?” Wei Qixuan murmured, his face still red, suddenly aware that he might have received a bit of goodwill.
“As long as it’s a chance to praise the City Lord, none of us would ever hold back.”
Zhu Yan’s words stunned Wei Qixuan. He looked up at the man, who was completely different from the straightforward, hearty soldiers he had seen before. The man before him carried a cold and distant aura—he hardly seemed like the type to gush about anyone. Hesitantly, Wei Qixuan asked, “You too?”
Zhu Yan’s eyes flickered with a thought, and a faint smile curled on his lips. “Yes.”
The answer was expected, yet it still left Wei Qixuan feeling slightly uneasy. A competent city lord would naturally earn the admiration of his people, and the most talented individuals would always surround him. Then what about himself, someone without any particular advantage—how could he stand out before the city lord?
But just as this thought formed, something suddenly came to Wei Qixuan’s mind. He lifted his gaze, looking at the side of Zhu Yan’s face. Since he had already been exposed and since everyone seemed willing to provide him with various pieces of information, then perhaps if he asked a few more questions now, he might receive answers.
“May I ask why the city lord sought me out?” Not only did he need to ask, but he also had to phrase it in a way that would prompt a response. “Was it because our brief interaction left an impression on the city lord? Could you tell me why? I want to do my best to assist him, to make full use of whatever qualities he sees in me.”
A smile played on Zhu Yan’s lips, yet even with that expression, his demeanor remained cold. His icy voice sent a shiver through Wei Qixuan’s body.
“A person who knows how to learn, think, and make use of circumstances will never be disliked.” Zhu Yan’s smile slowly faded. “You may use your little cleverness on anyone—but it would be best if I never see you using it against our city lord.”
“I wouldn’t!” Wei Qixuan immediately refuted, afraid that even a slight delay in his response would be seen as insincerity. “I would never do that to Big Brother… No, the city lord. The city lord, he is… he is…”
“A hero.”
To Wei Qixuan, that was what he was.
When everything had fallen into despair, the city lord’s voice was the first sound of salvation. What happened afterward—perhaps others were unaware, but Wei Qixuan had been watching the city lord closely the entire time. His gaze was gentle and calm, as if he was absolutely certain he could resolve everything. It was under that reassuring presence that Wei Qixuan’s heart gradually steadied, giving him the unwavering courage to focus on his prayers.
Zhu Yan tilted his gaze slightly, taking in every expression on Wei Qixuan’s face before looking back at the vast grassy path ahead. “The city lord needs someone from Hope City—someone who can be shaped, someone loyal to him.”
Wei Qixuan’s eyes widened slowly. He understood—this was a direct hint.
Zhu Yan’s voice was low and tempting. “You only need to hold onto two things. First, that you are a person of Hope City. Second, that you are a person of Hope City who is loyal to the city lord.”
—
When He Fang saw Wei Qixuan again, he almost didn’t recognize him.
Was this really Wei Qixuan?
In his memory, Wei Qixuan had been a scrawny child—malnourished, underdeveloped, his limbs so thin he looked almost ghostly. But the boy in front of him now had grown rounder, even a little taller, and for the first time, he showed hints of an adorable appearance.
How long had it been, and he had already grown this much? Was it just a little bit of nourishment that caused him to shoot up so quickly? Had Hope City never once let these people eat their fill before?
He Fang was waiting for Wei Qixuan at the entrance of the “Land of Hope”. He would be the one to bring him inside, observe any changes in his attributes, and assess his mental state through a series of questions.
He Fang had no intention of hiding this place from the residents of Hope City. In fact, he deliberately wanted everyone to know that they possessed a treasure. He needed these low-grade NPCs to become more ambitious—only with ambition could there be progress. And only with progress could he determine if any among them were undesirable elements that needed to be weeded out. Initially, he had taken in all the remaining residents of Hope City without exception, but now, it was time to see if any unstable factors needed to be removed.
“How have you been lately?” He Fang took the initiative to ask.
“We’ve been doing great! It’s like stepping into paradise—this is a life we never even dared to dream of before!” Wei Qixuan answered enthusiastically, lifting his head with bright, shining eyes full of admiration. “City Lord, can I still call you Big Brother?”
“Why do you want to call me Big Brother?” He Fang asked.
“Because… because the one who saved me was Big Brother. If I call you that, it makes me feel closer to you!” There was a bit of childlike innocence and mischief in his tone as he expressed his longing.
But He Fang shook his head. “You should call me City Lord.”
Because of the discrepancy between real-world time and in-game time, there was a good chance that in a while, Wei Qixuan’s age might surpass He Fang’s. Under such circumstances, calling him “Big Brother” would feel rather strange.
Wei Qixuan’s expression went blank briefly upon hearing this, but then he nodded.
However, He Fang noticed something different about him. Just moments ago, he had been brimming with energy, but now he seemed much more well-behaved. Was it just his imagination?
“City Lord, is there something I can do for you?” Wei Qixuan asked eagerly. “Oh, right! I’ve already worked a lot on the new designs for Hope City that you mentioned before. They’re not fully formed yet, but you can take a look first!” He practically couldn’t wait to show He Fang the notebook in his hands.
For a child, Wei Qixuan didn’t seem much different from an adult. His gaze wasn’t naive or wandering, but it also lacked the excessive maturity of an adult. It was just the right balance—not pure innocence, but also not the unruliness of a troublesome child.
“No rush. Set those aside for now. Where are your younger siblings?” He Fang asked.
“They should be taking their afternoon nap right now. Auntie is watching over them, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Sensing that He Fang’s focus wasn’t on the blueprints this time, Wei Qixuan astutely chose not to bring them up again.
“Is that so?” He Fang found Wei Qixuan rather bold. “Do you remember how you insisted that I take you with me back then? What about now? Do you still want to leave with me?”
He Fang stopped speaking after asking his question, clearly waiting for the answer he wanted to hear from Wei Qixuan. However, Wei Qixuan shook his head. “No, I don’t want to be taken away anymore.”
He Fang raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“You and your god have given us a pure land where we can live peacefully. I wanted to leave with you before because I wanted to survive. But now, I can survive here.” Wei Qixuan showed no intention of lying. His gaze was steady as he looked straight at He Fang, expressing his true thoughts.
“What if I could take you to an even better place, where you could have an even better life?” He Fang continued to probe.
Wei Qixuan blinked. “You mean your city?”
“Yes.” He Fang gestured toward Zhu Yan, who stood nearby. “A city where people like him live. Don’t you want to go?”
This time, Wei Qixuan didn’t answer as quickly as before. He fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “It would be a lie to say I don’t want to. But I also know that what I have now is already something I once dreamed of. A person shouldn’t be too greedy. I don’t have the strength to enter your city yet, so I shouldn’t long for something I can’t achieve.”
He Fang blinked, as if dissatisfied with this answer. “So you’re just giving up?”
But Wei Qixuan shook his head. “Maybe I can’t do it now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t in the future. If, one day, I reach the same level as the residents of your city, then wouldn’t I be able to become one of them?”
“You will never reach their level.” He Fang wasn’t trying to discourage Wei Qixuan—it was simply the truth. Their innate conditions made them fundamentally different.
However, Wei Qixuan shook his head. “In many ways, I can’t compare to your city’s residents, but there is one thing where I absolutely have an advantage over them.”
“Oh?” He Fang tilted his head. “What is it?”
Wei Qixuan’s bright eyes sparkled. “Because I am a resident of Hope City!”
He Fang was momentarily stunned. He blinked and then, somewhat surprised, glanced toward Zhu Yan, who had been standing quietly on the side.
Zhu Yan, as always, responded with a faint smile—one filled with warmth, yet showing no particular attachment to the boy beside him.
He Fang hadn’t expected this young boy to have such a clear understanding of himself. Looking at it this way, there must have been a reason why Chong Ying had recommended him.
“Hope City is my city, too,” He Fang murmured, looking down slightly. “I am the City Lord of Hope City. Don’t separate the two in your mind.”
“Understood, City Lord,” Wei Qixuan replied with a bright smile—one so joyful that He Fang vaguely wondered if the boy had sensed his approval, which was why he looked so genuinely happy.
This child…
Was he really that perceptive?
“Follow me inside,” He Fang said, taking the initiative to enter “Land of Hope”.
Ever since Zhu Yan arrived, he had opened all the passageways leading to the outside world to make traveling through “Land of Hope” easier. He had also converted the chaotic tunnels that Guo Miaofeng had randomly dug into proper walkable paths.
Even so, He Fang still felt that the boy was struggling to keep up.
Though he had gained some weight, his body hadn’t developed too drastically in such a short time. His steps were noticeably shorter, and he descended the stairs much slower than an adult. However, despite the long journey, the surprising thing was that the boy didn’t seem tired at all.
“Tired?” He Fang asked.
“No.” Wei Qixuan shook his head.
He Fang found the lack of hesitation unexpected. “I think this is a pretty long walk, yet you’re not tired at all?”
Wei Qixuan struck a playful pose, pretending to show off his strength. “I’ve been working in Hope City since I was very little. There was always an endless amount of work waiting for me every day. After Hope City fell, I had to dig up grass roots to find food, walking long distances daily while carrying my younger siblings. Compared to that, this is nothing.”
He Fang reopened Wei Qixuan’s attribute panel, confirming that none of the boy’s stats were particularly outstanding—except for his endurance, which was notably high. In other words, was it possible that he was actually exhausted but simply good at enduring it?
“Are you tired?” He Fang asked again.
Wei Qixuan froze momentarily, then looked at He Fang with a dazed expression before finally admitting, “Yes.”
As expected, he was tired—he had just been enduring it. So if He Fang simply asked again, the boy wouldn’t brush it off anymore?
“Then I’ll carry you—” Just as He Fang was about to scoop him up, thinking that carrying him would be faster since his pace was too slow and the journey ahead was still long, something unexpected happened.
Before he could act, Zhu Yan had already lifted the boy and tucked him under his arm, carrying him at his waist like a sack of rice.
Wei Qixuan’s limbs dangled toward the ground. His lifted head showed a shift in emotions—from initial joy and anticipation to pure bewilderment.
“… Isn’t that position uncomfortable?” He Fang couldn’t help but comment. This wasn’t carrying someone—it looked outright uncomfortable. Just watching it made He Fang feel uneasy.
“No,” Zhu Yan replied, lowering his gaze and adjusting his hold slightly. “I have extensive knowledge of the human body. I know exactly how to carry someone so they won’t feel discomfort.”
He Fang’s expression turned a little complicated. Why did he feel like Zhu Yan was just talking complete nonsense with a perfectly straight face?
Wei Qixuan simply lowered his head and stopped struggling. It seemed that this position wasn’t actually making him uncomfortable. He Fang’s expression was rather complicated.
This kid was really good at reading the situation.
The first time He Fang encountered Wei Qixuan, he had only asked the child to lead the way. But now, it seemed that the boy fit his requirements quite well. Maybe raising him from a young age was actually a viable approach—just like how a family business would train its heirs from childhood.
But he’s so young…
Would it really work?
When the three of them descended again into the vast “Land of Hope”, the strong scent of vegetables suddenly filled Wei Qixuan’s nose. He lifted his head blankly, sniffing the air with his small nose. His expression turned somewhat unpleasant. “This is… the smell of rotting vegetables.”
“You recognize it?” He Fang was a bit surprised, looking at the boy, who had just been set down by Zhu Yan.
“Of course I do. The smell of vegetables, the smell of rotting vegetables—I remember them all,” Wei Qixuan said, a trace of sadness flickering in his eyes. “They’ve all rotted… but those were precious vegetables.”
“Does it make you feel bad?” He Fang asked.
“Of course!” Finally, Wei Qixuan showed the anger and childish indignation a young boy should have. “When we can’t even get vegetables to eat, yet there are vegetables rotting away—isn’t that just a complete waste?!”
“Oh? You even know idioms.” He Fang blinked and chuckled. “Since you couldn’t even get vegetables to eat, how do you know that some ended up rotting?”
“Vegetables are usually in short supply, but sometimes, the ones meant for the upper levels aren’t fully consumed and are sent back. By then, they’ve already started rotting. But to us, that was a rare extra meal.” Wei Qixuan spoke slowly, as if recalling something. “Eating rotten vegetables can make you sick. Normally, they’d be sent straight to the processing facility to be turned into waste. But we would secretly pick some out and blanch them before eating.”
“Blanch them?” He Fang was momentarily stunned. “Wouldn’t stir-frying be better?”
“Pans are only available in the kitchens. All our food was distributed in fixed portions at set times. So, for the vegetables we secretly picked out, we would place them on certain machines that needed constant cooling due to high-intensity operation and roast them on top. Once they were cooked, we could eat them.” A hint of nostalgia flickered in Wei Qixuan’s eyes. “Every time, it was my dad who secretly brought them back. He worked at the processing facility. Whenever he managed to bring some home, we could have a little snack together. That time… was actually really happy.”
This time, He Fang didn’t respond. There was nothing he could say to that.
After a while, Wei Qixuan finally snapped out of his thoughts. He turned to He Fang and asked, “City Lord, what is this place? Why does it smell like rotten vegetables? Can I take all these rotten vegetables back with me?”
He Fang asked in confusion, “Haven’t I been giving you all enough food? Didn’t you even say you were eating too much?”
Wei Qixuan’s face stiffened. It was only then that he realized, “Ah… right, I remember now. I’m not starving anymore.”
Seeing him like this, He Fang unexpectedly felt a twinge of pity.
“Come in and take a look.” He Fang bent down, grabbed Wei Qixuan’s hand, and led him inside.
For Wei Qixuan, everything he had experienced today was beyond even his wildest dreams. In this vast underground space, food was everywhere—so much so that a significant portion had already rotted and decayed. Everything here was a direct challenge to his understanding of the world.
Countless vegetables, plump animals, and even the insects they used to secretly catch for extra nutrition—everything he had ever hoped for or desired was right here, in abundance.
Wei Qixuan was not foolish. He didn’t believe that the city lord could have built all this quickly since arriving. These supplies must have already existed!
“You’ve probably guessed it by now—this is why your former city lord led you all here, across such a great distance.” The city lord’s voice sounded beside Wei Qixuan’s ear as he personally explained, “This place was part of the preparation plans made by your ancestors before Hope City began its journey. Unfortunately, something went wrong in passing down the information, and they were never able to find this place.”
Only now did Wei Qixuan understand that their former city lord had placed all of their hopes on such an uncertain destination.
And yet, everything here was real.
Gazing at the breathtaking sight before him, Wei Qixuan finally murmured, “I don’t know what the city lord was thinking, but I once heard an adult say that Hope City was running out of resources and had no means of protecting itself. Even if they barely managed to keep the massive city moving, if they encountered a warlike city, we would be doomed. The former city lord didn’t dare take that risk, so he made the decision to move here.”
Wei Qixuan’s impression of the former city lord was vague—or rather, for people like him at the bottom, there was never a need to interact with the city lord. They did not understand why the former city lord had made such decisions.
“No matter what your former city lord intended to do, whether he was a good leader or a bad one, it no longer matters to you,” Zhu Yan, who had been silently following beside them, finally spoke. “Right now, there is only one city lord of Hope City—the one standing before you.”
“Of course.” Wei Qixuan didn’t hesitate to acknowledge reality. “The city lord has given us a new life, so we should devote ourselves to serving him.”
“Then, if I were to claim this ‘Land of Hope’ as my own, you wouldn’t have any objections?” He Fang suddenly asked.
“No.” Wei Qixuan tightened his grip on He Fang’s hand. He liked the feeling of holding the city lord’s hand—like this, all his fears seemed to fade away. “Everything here rightfully belongs to you, my lord. No one should even think of coveting it!”
He saw a flicker of surprise cross the city lord’s face, followed by a thoughtful expression. Wei Qixuan’s heart started to pound with unease. He had no idea what the city lord was thinking. He immediately began reflecting on his own words—had he said something wrong? Had he displeased the city lord? He needed to figure it out and correct himself right away.
“If…” The city lord finally spoke. At that moment, Wei Qixuan felt his heart tighten so much that he could hardly think—his entire focus was on the city lord’s lips. “If I wanted you to temporarily take over as the administrator of the ‘Land of Hope’?”
Wei Qixuan’s eyes widened slowly. He couldn’t quite grasp the full meaning of those words.
“The ‘Land of Hope’ should rightfully belong to the residents of Hope City,” the city lord said. “That’s why I want you to develop it yourselves. I need Hope City to become a unique place.” He tilted his head slightly, as if in thought. “Let’s use an analogy. Do you know what building blocks are?”
“I do.” Even though he had never owned toys, he knew many things.
“I have a set of building blocks. I’m entrusting them to you for safekeeping. You and your playmates can stack them however you like. I’ll allow you to build whatever shapes you want—but the blocks will always belong to me. Do you understand?”
Wei Qixuan knew that the city lord used the simplest terms to convey his thoughts. He fully understood. “I can do it, City Lord! Please entrust me with this task!”
“Do you really understand?” He Fang seemed slightly hesitant.
“I do!” In this era, children learned to be sensible at an increasingly young age, and he was already ten years old.
The city lord was his hero, and he needed a hero. For this hero, he was willing to dedicate his meager abilities.
“Is that so?” He Fang gazed into Wei Qixuan’s bright, determined eyes, then glanced at the attribute panel hovering above the boy’s head. At the very least, the child’s loyalty was worth testing. Just during their conversation, it had slowly increased by several points. “Alright then. I’ll entrust you with this task and assign you a deputy. This person will guide and assist you in carrying out your responsibilities.”
“Thank you, City Lord!” Wei Qixuan suddenly dropped to his knees.
He Fang was startled. He really wasn’t used to this kind of kneeling ceremony. Reaching out, he grabbed the young man’s collar and looked down. “There’s nothing to thank me for. This is a task I assigned to you. And it may be very difficult. Your companions might reject and resent you for it.”
However, Wei Qixuan shook his head fiercely. “I don’t need their approval or acceptance. What I need is you, City Lord! I am extremely grateful for your recognition of me!”
He Fang rubbed his temples. Was this really a child? Or was it just that, in this game’s setting, children of this age were supposed to be like this?
But from the looks of it, Chong Ying wasn’t wrong. This child did have potential worth nurturing. As long as his city remained strong, as long as it could always bring this child great benefits, perhaps he could earn the child’s lifelong loyalty.
He Fang sighed. He needed to file a complaint with the official developers of “Ruins Without Restart”! This game was too open-ended, making infrastructure development difficult to manage. It was wasting his serious efforts and time on city-building! Bad review, bad review!
——
Wei Qixuan’s identity card successfully gained a new piece of information. After returning to Hope City, he told all the residents about “Land of Hope” in full detail.
The City Lord had instructed him not to hide it. It was best to inform everyone that Hope City now possessed a rich land.
Wei Qixuan was very short. In order to make sure everyone could hear him, he sat on the railing of Hope City. From this slightly elevated position, he could take in everyone’s expressions.
He saw many people crying tears of joy. Even now, when they already had a perfect life, they were unexpectedly granted abundant resources. Was this a dream?
Since this was a meeting for the residents of Hope City, only they were present. However, at this moment, a man finally asked, “Why were you made the administrator of ‘Land of Hope’? You’re just a child. What can you do?”
“Because I have greater potential for development and a stronger ability to learn.” Wei Qixuan was not at all intimidated by the man’s questioning. Since he had already received this authority from the city lord, he had to possess the ability to match it. “What I’m about to say may be unpleasant, but I am the only one who never gave up hope. I am also the only one who has truly come into contact with the city lord. None of us are qualified to be administrators in his eyes. Have you all forgotten why we were the ones left behind to die?”
The moment he said this, everyone’s expressions darkened. Being abandoned to die, deemed worthless—these were wounds that still festered in their hearts.
“But the ‘Land of Hope’ was originally ours, so why should we have to receive it from him?” A discordant voice rose from the crowd, yet Wei Qixuan had clearly anticipated this reaction.
The city lord must have considered this issue, which was why he had granted him this authority. If the city lord had simply issued the order himself, there would undoubtedly be those who resisted. But Wei Qixuan, as a native of Hope City, was there to suppress these dissenting voices from within.
“Because the city lord has given us a second life!” Wei Qixuan shouted. His childish voice might have lacked authority, but his stance was firmer than ever.
“But that was granted by the Divine Lord. As long as we also believe in the Divine Lord and receive his protection, wouldn’t that put us on equal footing with the city lord?” someone murmured. He had only spoken impulsively, keeping his voice low, yet for some reason, everyone was staring at him—as if his words had been heard by all. He was instantly startled.
“Why would you think that?” Wei Qixuan’s expression turned slightly cold. Standing from a higher vantage point, he could now see things he hadn’t noticed before.
“Why shouldn’t I think that?” the man retorted, his neck stiff with defiance.
“The Divine Lord’s arrival only gave us a chance to survive, but the city lord’s assistance is what truly allowed us to live comfortably!” Wei Qixuan remained unwavering in his beliefs. “Without the city lord’s rescue, would we even be here, calmly discussing all this? Or do you intend to spit out the food you’ve eaten and scrape off all the flesh you’ve gained to return it to the city lord? If you can do that, then go ahead and do it now!”
“He helped of his own free will. Why shouldn’t we accept it?” someone else argued.
“The city lord extended his aid under the premise of saving residents. The identity cards in our hands prove that we voluntarily became residents and received his help. Or are you suggesting that you want to go back on your word and bite the hand that fed you?” They had once been descendants of a highly developed civilization, bound by morals and laws. Right and wrong were already crystal clear—no one wanted to bear the shame of such betrayal. But Wei Qixuan wasn’t done yet. He pressed on, his voice carrying a sharp edge. “You’re welcome to try, though I doubt any of us have what it takes to bear the consequences!”
After surveying the area, Wei Qixuan confirmed that no one dared to speak up at this moment. Only then did he continue, “This is an opportunity given to us by the City Lord, and I am fortunate to be chosen as the representative of this chance. The Lord hopes that we can make full use of our abilities and become the pillars of Hope City in the future. And we will surely live up to his expectations! We were excellent before, and we will be excellent in the future as well!”
Everyone was still confused, yet their hearts were stirred by his words.
The scene did not erupt in excitement or fall into silence.
Perhaps it would take a long time before the mud was washed away, revealing the hidden gold.
At this moment, in a place within Hope City where they could not be seen, several soldiers and researchers had been paying close attention to the situation.
“Impressive, impressive. To have such presence at such a young age—being a bit of a chuunibyou[mfn]refers to “eighth-grader syndrome”, a term used in Japanese culture to describe teenagers (or sometimes adults) who behave in an overly dramatic, delusional, or exaggeratedly self-important manner.[/mfn] can actually be quite interesting in some ways,” one of the soldiers couldn’t help but laugh.
“He’s an interesting kid to begin with. Clever children are always likable,” a researcher beside him agreed.
“Did you take note of everyone who spoke just now?” The soldier turned his gaze to the researcher.
“I did. I also noted a few whose expressions didn’t look quite right. When the time comes, I’ll compile a list of those who can ‘die naturally’,” a chilling expression surfaced on the researcher’s handsome face—something that had never been seen before. “After all, with so many people naturally dying, losing a few among ten thousand won’t raise any suspicion.”
“I’ll head to the Environmental Bureau later and ask them to design an eco-friendly cemetery. These corpses take up too much space—it’s annoying just looking at them,” the researcher said casually.
The soldier beside him let out a muffled laugh. “An evil researcher, huh? You really are heartless.”
“Thanks for the compliment. That’s what the Academy taught me,” the researcher shrugged with a grin.
![The Way of the Empress [Interstellar]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-04-at-8.01.00-PM.png "The Way of the Empress [Interstellar]")