Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 806: Preparation of integration 585
"Of course, we're all human allies, and there's no need to escalate conflicts just to assess each other's strength. After discussions in the Imperial Capital, they decided to use a small-scale competition format to determine which city in each region qualifies for a dominant position."
"The competition consists of five individual matches and one team match. Each participant can only compete once, meaning that each city must send a team of at least ten elite warriors to participate. A missing participant in any slot will be considered forfeiture."
"The winners will gain partial resource allocation rights from all alliance-participating cities in their region, as well as significant decision-making power over regional development strategies."
"The specific resource proportions and strategic decisions will be negotiated uniformly after the representative teams of each city arrive."
"Even the Imperial Capital itself will take part in this competition. Naturally, the competition venue will be held near the Imperial Capital."
In the council hall of Blackwater City, the diplomat giving the briefing ended with a slight nod to everyone. "This is the information conveyed by the envoy from the Imperial Capital. Now, he needs a response from Blackwater City. If we agree, we must send out our team immediately and depart with him."
As soon as these words dropped, the hall erupted into an uproar. "How absurd is this? How can such a major issue be decided through a showdown between a few individual warriors?"
"Isn't this just targeting Blackwater City?"
"Exactly! Doesn't everyone know we only have one Mr. Bai?"
The rule that one person can only compete once is clearly targeting their Blackwater City, isn't it?
After witnessing Mr. Bai's combat prowess, the people in the city had long since lost hope in anyone else's fighting ability.
Without Mr. Bai stepping into the battlefield, the outcome was nothing short of an uncertainty.
"Why don't we just not participate at all? Without that so-called damn alliance, our Blackwater City can still thrive!"
The external threats they once feared? Gone.
The city's logistical and material shortages? Resolved.
The incredible abilities Mr. Bai had recently shown made them realize that Blackwater City's longstanding predicaments might truly be coming to an end.
With Mr. Bai around, what trouble could possibly hinder Blackwater City's rise?
Even without an alliance, Blackwater City was bound to make its mark on this world!
Why take such a huge risk, gambling their resources for someone else's benefit?
Previously, the Elder Council's inclination towards forming an alliance had not been disclosed to everyone in the city, leaving many citizens with not even the slightest thought of an alliance in their subconscious.
Of course, even those who were informed in advance were now murmuring doubts to themselves.
'We've already demonstrated our ability to single-handedly clear out a swarm nest. Why don't they just hand us regional dominance outright? Why go through all this drama?'
'This whole competition nonsense—doesn't it just put us on equal footing with others to compete?'
Only those who firmly believed in the alliance from the start maintained their stance. "What are you all afraid of?! Are we so cripplingly reliant on Mr. Bai that we can't handle this tournament on our own? The city is so large—surely we can't expect Mr. Bai to personally intervene in everything in the future!"
"Besides, didn't the Imperial Capital, which is orchestrating all this, also declare that they would personally compete? If their fighters lose, they will hand over dominance as promised. If even the Imperial Capital dares to take this gamble, why can't we? Honestly, some of you have just been enjoying your cozy lives for far too long!"
Seeing the topic spiraling towards meaningless arguments, the diplomat hurriedly added, "In fact, the Imperial Capital also had similar concerns about this issue. Some cities believed that the Imperial Capital had figures like the 'War God.' If such individuals were allowed to repeatedly participate in matches, it would render the competition meaningless. If one hopes to govern an extensive region and sustain humanity's stability over the long term, relying on those rare individuals who appear sporadically over the ages will not suffice. The true foundation of a city lies in warriors whose abilities are backed by repeatable and verifiable experience."
"So, warriors are the true foundation? Does ruling a region depend entirely on muscles? Where does politics fit in? Or technology? Deciding everything through warrior competitions seems far too one-dimensional to me."
The diplomat looked seriously at the one who raised this point and replied, "Every armed warrior represents the technological and industrial foundation of an entire city behind them. In fact, the upcoming competition in the Imperial Capital will not restrict the use of weapons or equipment. If they wish, the warriors can even drive tanks into the arena."
"..."
The one who raised the question was left speechless.
"Then, as usual, let's put it to a vote. Whether or not to join the alliance will be decided by ballot."
"Vote for what?!" someone exclaimed with fervor, staring up at the highest platform. "I only support Mr. Bai's decision! Whatever others say is pure nonsense."
Since Bai E's inauguration as City Lord, many realized that Blackwater City was no longer the same as it used to be.
When one person's strength could suppress an entire city, and that person also possessed substantial material resources along with a loyal army, the opinions of everyone else had become virtually irrelevant.
If not for the possibility that Mr. Bai still needed these people's expertise to stabilize the city, the so-called nobles sitting in this hall would have long been swept aside without a trace.
The only reason they were still talking at all was the hope of voicing their opinions. After all, perhaps there were matters even Mr. Bai himself wasn't entirely certain about."
