Chapter 271 A Walk In The City.
Chapter 271 A Walk In The City.
"During a meeting with the ministers, we decided to change the rehabilitation of the inhabitants for the sole purpose of motivating them to become stronger. To this end, your kingdom is now composed of three major areas, without counting the royal residents. The third zone is the most populated place and the neighborhoods where newcomers reside, but also those who have not accomplished any feat. These neighborhoods are called the Plebeian district."
"Then, the second zone, the high neighborhoods where the intermediate divine mages reside and those who have carried out special missions that the government provides to show rank. Residents of the second zone are not nobles, but their status is superior to that of residents of the third zone. They also obtain more valuable benefits and resources than residents of the third zone."
"And finally, there are the neighborhoods of the nobles, who go from barons to Counts. This area currently has only three families, and it is the area where there are fewer people and which consists only of intermediate and high-level divine mages. Naturally, the resources and benefits they receive are far greater than those of others. Not to mention that to be a resident of the first zone, being an intermediate divine mage is not the only factor. Still, you must also prove your value and be endowed with a unique talent, such as rare affinities and many other factors. All the intermediate divine mages of the first zones are extraordinary geniuses who can also face divine mages of high levels on an equal foot!"
Assi explained this as she walked calmly next to a masked man dressed in a silky white coat with golden patterns, black leather pants made with the skin of a divine unicorn python, and black shoes that the nobles of the divine planets could only wear. The man in question was none other than Alvine, who wore his white mask with his silvery white hair tied in a running ponytail and a long black sword of divine rank on his waist.
While listening to Assi's explanations, he constantly looked around him and realized that his clothes did not attract attention, despite being in the third zone.
'At first, I was worried about drawing people's attention to me with such clothes, but now I realize that all these people are dressed in more luxurious clothes than mine. Apart from my mask, people don't pay attention to me. Sigh, such living conditions in the lowest neighborhood? I wonder what other residents get as benefits.' He said to himself, looking at a man with short blonde hair and eyes of the same color with a warm smile.
Seeing Alvine greet him, he gives him back his salutations with the same respect before continuing on his way.
'They don't look dissatisfied at all.' He says to himself by looking at the back of the man, who is strangely a low-ranking divine mage.
But seeing his silence, Assi seemed to misunderstand his thoughts.
"Of course, even if it's a little inappropriate to establish a hierarchy system, it's the most appropriate solution to help people give their all. Divine blacksmiths and alchemists will automatically be residents of the second zones. They will have miners and merchants at their disposal for exchanges to create weapons, artifacts, and elixirs that will sell to the market to turn the wheels of the economy. Not to mention that there are also plant farmers with great spiritual energy. So any resident in this area will be able to obtain a permit to the second zone." She added.
"Hm? Minefields? Now that you're talking about it, how do you support all these people with cultivation resources?"
"Yes, as I had just said, there are mines all over this planet. And all the minefields are managed by the Minister of Finance, who deals with the exchange with the merchants, blacksmiths, and alchemists who are the most important in this field. They take care of everything, including high-level mines that produce black gold, Odins stones, and white irons that are also called the scales of the dragons of the earth, without being limited to the beast hunters and spiritual plant collectors."
"So the Minister of Finance is more charged than the others?"
"Not quite; it also has many branches, such as the merchant guild, that help them in their tasks. Do you see this building in front of us? It is a branch of the guild of merchants who deal with barter and bargains of weapons, artifacts, elixirs, and miscellaneous objects in this neighborhood." She announced by pointing to a four-story white building crowded with people.
"I would like to take a look at their goods." Alvine made this request after seeing the crowd in front of the entrance doors.
"No problem, so please follow me."
Following this, Assi did not pay attention to the crowd, who looked at them with curiosity, seeing them heading directly to the two succubus guards who wore divine armor and a copper plate.
"Hey, Marian, look at this man wearing a mask. Do you think it's a nobleman who came down to our neighborhoods?" A human girl asked her friend, a female vampire with blood-red eyes and black hair.
"Hm? It is possible. Tsk, if you don't hurry to improve yourself, I would have no choice but to go and apply for my license to the second zone. You've been on this mission for more than a week now." Instead of only answering her friend's question, Marian also reminded her as if she was trying to put pressure on her.
'Hm? So some stay by choice to wait for their colleagues? It's interesting to see such a friendship between two different species. I was worried about nothing, at the end.' -Alvine’s thoughts.
"Ugh, you act like a traitress. Maybe I should report you to the authorities. Who knows, maybe I would finally have my license by swinging a traitress who abandons her friend!" She whispered these words to Marian's attention while ensuring no one heard her words.
But Alvine, who could hear them clearly, slightly smiled while continuing on his way. Similar discussions reasoned throughout the queues, but no one suspected his identity or that of Assi, who had not changed anything in her look.
*I'm surprised that no one could recognize you. Have you been hiding all this time?* Alvine couldn't help but ask her by seeing himself attract more attention than Assi.
*Fufu~, I don't need a magical artifact to deceive these people. As your senses are sharper, you are not affected by my magic of illusion.* While saying these words, she reinforced her magic illusions to deceive Alvine too.
At the same time, her appearance suddenly changed under the eyes of Alvine, who now saw Assiaphir as a blonde vampire woman wearing divine armor and a rapier on her waist.
"... Interesting." He whispered this word with a thin smile, seeing Asssi's new appearance.
"Excuse me, do you have a "pass"? "
Once in front of the entrance doors of the building, one of the two succubuses guards advanced toward them while asking this question.
At the same time, Assi handed a golden badge with Alvine's head on it to the succubus guard.
Seeing Assi’s badge, the succubus took out a monocle and inspected Asssi's badge for a while.
"Please." She then said, giving back Assi's badge and opening the door in front of both.
"Fufu~, you're curious, aren't you? That is one of the advantages of residents of the upper neighborhoods." Assiaphir commented as she entered the building, where another guard escorted them to the receptionist.
"Isn't it going to create tensions?" Alvine asked, looking at the people always queuing behind the door.
But he immediately sighed in relief when he saw their eyes shine with envy.
"Don't worry about this detail; as you may have noticed, it will only give them more motivation to increase their status. Who doesn't want to become strong and recognized? And as the nobility and these advantages can be acquired by anyone, everyone will only do their best to become strong and be in the courts of the great." Assi giggled while explaining.
"... You're not wrong, indeed." He could only retreat after hearing his assistant's explanations and seeing the enviable eyes of others.
"This masked man, his steps, his eyes, and hair color, not to mention the strange presence that emanates from him; I am pretty sure I saw him before coming to this planet," Marian whispered these words to her friend in the queue with her frowning.
"Hm? Hehe, you are so obsessed with our king that you don't stop making a fixation on him when you see any other mysterious white-haired man. I agree that this person is different from us; maybe he is even a resident of the palace, but from there, to say that he is our sovereign, don't you exaggerate a little too much, little Marian? The mask this person wears prevents us from seeing his face as if he has a black mist that prevents anyone from correctly seeing his facial features and cultivation. And besides, why would the king come to the lowest neighborhoods?"
"Ugh, you're right. Even if our neighborhood is more good-looking and our living conditions are better than the highest nobles of other planets, I am still eager to go to the following neighborhoods. I am sure our lives and resources will be better than the kings of our ancient planets! So hurry to become strong, for God's sake!" Marian retorted these words with sparkling eyes.
"Ugh, I'm doing my best! So stop putting so much pressure on me."
---
*Hm? These cultivation resources are best suited for the divine mages of the lower ranks and the emperor mages. But why don't I see something more interesting? * On the third floor, Alvine, who had inspected the goods until now while buying a few so as not to waste the time of the guide who followed them, made this remark telepathically.
*Um, in reality, the delimitation of zones is not only intended to grant cultivation resources or status. The goal we aim to do is to assist in best the mage emperors and divines mage of the lower ranks with the best resources for their ranks. An intermediate or below emperor magus does not have the right to buy divine spiritual stones or to have resources that a high-level emperor mage must-have for its ascent to divine rank. It is to help them serenely cultivate while having a stable base before facing tribulations. And whenever an emperor mage is about to trigger tribulations, some agents check their cultivation before their breakthrough. This strategy aims to minimize the risk of death during tribulations drastically.* She explained while watching Alvine take an artificial blood vial with him.
*This vial contains artificial blood that vampires regularly buy as a stock in the event of an emergency losing a large amount of blood during their hunting trips. The guards you noticed instead in front of the door are part of the mercenary guild. Apart from them, there is also an adventurers guild that hunts and explores unexplored areas. But unlike them, mercenaries usually take care of escort missions in mines, plant collections, or being hired as personal guards or by merchant guilds. Even if there is no real need to worry about the safety of citizens or theft, the government is offering additional commissions for those who hire mercenaries. It is to stimulate employment and effectively reduce unemployment.*
*Like what? No one will need to steal from his neighbor until he is poor, huh? You are more cultivated than I expected.*
*Fufu~, unfortunately, you congratulated the wrong person. I'm not the one who had this idea, but Yasmine. As for establishing the hierarchy, this revolutionary idea came from old Vandel. In a sense, without the help of my colleagues, we would not have been able to progress so much. It would help if you met them before you leave.*
Hearing these words from her, Alvine sighed with relief. *At one point, I thought you were a supercomputer. I couldn't understand how you could learn more about these things when you were a prisoner on this planet. But here I am, reassured now. Speaking of grandpa, and this succubus, Yasmine, you don't have to worry about it; I intend to meet them and appear as a king before I leave. But maybe it won't be necessary since these two have followed us from the beginning.* He said with a mocking smile.
"They will be delighted, your majesty!!"
"!!" Everyone in the shop turned their heads towards Alvine after hearing Assiaphir say these words aloud.
"Hoho~, even if you are used to serving his majesty, it does not give you the right to call anyone with this title."