Utopian System

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: System's Opportunist

"Creator, why do you always speak of the need for sacrifices?"

????

Cassandra sat in her private study, the air heavy with the scent of ancient parchments. Her frog perched silently on her shoulder, its bulbous eyes fixed on the book in her hands.

She held the Creator's Diary, pausing to reflect on the question. Then she continued reading the Creator's response, her eyes tracing the chaotic scrawl that filled the page with both reverence and frustration.

The Creator's answer sprawled erratically across the page:

"Sacrifices? Oh, that. You see, it's... Sacrifice is the cornerstone of all true progress. In the system you have, which isn't utopian yet, but where comfort and safety are guaranteed, stagnation is the real enemy.

Sacrifices aren't just necessary, they're essential for growth and evolution.

Imagine a tree that's never pruned. Have you ever seen a tree? No, of course not, how foolish of me..."

After a long explanation about what trees are, of which there were a few in the central building's garden, and which Cassandra wasn't sure the explanation correctly described, the Creator continued his response...

"Well, imagine a tree. If you let it grow without pruning, it becomes a mess. It'll grow wild, wasting energy on branches that bear no fruit. But with careful cuts, we direct its growth, ensuring each branch is strong and productive. So it is with human society.

The sacrifices I ask for aren't cruel whims. They're precise calculations, designed to propel humanity forward.

But don't misunderstand me, it's not that I enjoy seeing people suffer. It's just that... how do I explain this? It's like cooking. Sometimes you have to break some eggs, you know? Although I suppose you don't know what eggs are either.

Bad analogy...

Each life given, each comfort relinquished, is an investment in a brighter future.

Without sacrifice, complacency takes root.

The point is, without sacrifices, people become soft. Like... like melted cheese. Another bad analogy. Forget that...

People become weak, dependent, unable to face the challenges that will inevitably come. But through sacrifice, we forge a stronger humanity, more resilient, more worthy of the system I've prepared for you.

Anyway, sacrifices. Necessary. Important. Don't be stingy with them. And remember, when everything seems dark, when people complain, just think:

'We're making diamonds!' Because that's what sacrifices are. Pressure that creates something beautiful. Although sometimes that pressure crushes some in the process. Oops, don't write that last part down.

Remember, sacrifice is not the end, it's the means. It is the fire that purifies, the pressure that creates diamonds. It's painful, yes, but necessary. And in the end, when you look back and see how far you've come, you'll understand that every sacrifice was worth it."

????

Cassandra's frog croaked softly, as if in agreement with the Creator's words.

She closed the book, her mind whirling with the Creator's chaotic words. They resonated in her mind, reinforcing her conviction that Elio's path, though it could be well-intentioned, was dangerously naive.

Her reflections were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," she ordered, her voice firm and authoritative.

A man entered, his posture denoting a mixture of defiance and nervousness. A rabbit familiar fidgeted on his shoulder.

Cassandra recognized him immediately: a level 3 summoner, indebted to the families.

"Ah, Arturo," Cassandra said, her voice cold as steel. "You've come to settle your debt, I presume."

Arturo straightened, his jaw clenched. "No, Lady Cassandra. I've come to inform you that I won't be paying anymore."

Cassandra arched an eyebrow, her expression a mask of calm. "Oh? And what has led you to this... stupid decision?"

"I've been paying interest for years," Arturo spat, his frustration evident. "And yet, my debt has increased. 20,000 mana points... It's ridiculous. I won't pay another point."

Cassandra felt anger rising within her, but maintained her composure. Her frog's eyes narrowed, mirroring her displeasure. "I understand your frustration, Arturo. But an agreement is an agreement. Debts must be paid."

Arturo let out a bitter laugh. "An agreement? It was you taking advantage of my need, and you know it. But no more. Thanks to Von Elio, you no longer have the power you once did. The people are strong now and..."

Cassandra rose slowly, her voice dangerously soft. "Careful, Arturo. You're playing a dangerous game."

But Arturo, emboldened by his new strength, didn't back down.

Instead, he raised a hand, an ice ball forming in his palm. His rabbit familiar stood at attention, ready to attack. "No, Lady Cassandra. It's you who are playing a dangerous game. Times have changed."

Cassandra looked at the ice ball with disdain. "You think your little trick scares me? Oh, Arturo. How naive you are."

With a fluid motion, Cassandra summoned her own rabbit. It appeared in a flash of light, its eyes gleaming with menace.

Arturo's eyes widened, surprise replacing his previous arrogance.

"But Von Elio didn't… How...?" he began, but was interrupted by the sound of the door bursting open.

Four guards entered, their own rabbits at their side. Arturo paled, realizing too late the mistake he had made.

"You see, Arturo," Cassandra said, her voice laden with deadly calm, "power isn't just about having a summon. It's about knowing how and when to use it."

What followed was quick and brutal.

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The five attacked in unison, their combined attacks easily consuming Arturo's resistance. The man barely had time to scream before falling, his lifeless body on the study floor.

Cassandra approached the fallen body, her expression impassive. With her book, she absorbed Arturo's remaining cores and mana. "11,100 cores," she murmured.

"Well, your debt is paid, Arturo."

She turned to the guards, who remained silent, awaiting orders. "Dispose of the body through the hole. And make sure debtors like him receive the same treatment... Debts are paid, one way or another."

The guards nodded and carried Arturo's body away.

Cassandra returned to her desk, her mind already working on the next steps of her plan. She unsummoned her rabbit to look weaker… Her frog settled back on her shoulder, seemingly satisfied with the outcome.

"These fools," she muttered to herself, "think they're invincible just because they have a summon. They don't understand that true power comes from knowledge, from preparation."

She looked at the Creator's Diary, his words about sacrifice echoing in her mind. "Elio has given them a false sense of security," she reflected. "He's made them believe they can have it all without any cost. But the Creator knew the truth. Progress requires sacrifice."

Cassandra sat down, her determination renewed. The incident with Arturo had only reinforced her conviction that Elio's path would lead the city to ruin.

People needed order, discipline, not the false promises of an idealistic leader.

"Soon," she promised herself, "the city will see the truth. And when they do, we'll be ready to take control once again. For the good of all."

????

After the incident with Arturo, Cassandra urgently summoned Saren and Angela. The three met in a secret chamber, away from indiscreet ears.

"We have crucial news," Cassandra began, her voice laden with anticipation. "My seductresses have informed me that Elio plans to cross to the other side of the wall tomorrow."