Chapter 190: The Greatness of Dawn City

Words : 1911 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

Dawn City had once again secured victory in war, and this news sent the entire city into a state of excitement. Public opinion was always the high ground that needed to be held. Thanks to Li De’s focused support, the Propaganda Department had become the voice of Dawn City, shaping public discourse for everyone. The commoners, who had never experienced the information explosion of modern times, were completely defenseless against such an organized campaign of modern propaganda. Although the department never released detailed descriptions of military operations, every deployment of troops was followed by a publicity campaign. They would inform the public who the enemy was, why the Saintlight Vampires were fighting, what would happen if they didn’t go to war, what the consequences would be if they lost, and what rewards victory would bring. So even though the residents of Dawn City didn’t directly participate in the battle, under the efforts of the Propaganda Department, every citizen felt as if they had taken part themselves. In the past, across most of Glory, commoners never felt much about the casualties of nobles or the military. From their perspective, nobles and armies had always been separate from them, those forces never fought for the people. But Dawn City was different. The Saintlight Vampires were fighting for them. They sacrificed for them. That’s why every resident felt sorrow for the fallen heroes and excitement for the victory. Because the protectors of Dawn City, the great Saintlight Vampires stood with them. Their interests were aligned. The benefits of this approach were clear. Dawn City’s unity was growing stronger, and the support for the Saintlight Vampires among the populace was rising steadily. As a true boss figure, Li De grasped both military and ideological control. He took hold of both fronts, and he held them firmly. This war, which had cost the lives of many vampires, had brought significant changes to Dawn City. Among them was the hero who could be said to have saved the vampires, Betty in return received a hero’s welcome in the city. Especially because this hero happened to be a tall, stunningly attractive woman. In the Propaganda Department’s narrative, Betty had already become something like a super-heroine, earning the respect and admiration of all. This wild-tempered Valkyrie quickly grew fond of the city governed by vampires, drawn in by the overwhelming enthusiasm of its citizens. She even began to feel reluctant to leave. In the bitter cold of the North, everyone struggled desperately for space and resources, and even someone of royal blood like Betty was no exception. She had to fight harder than most, since only through relentless battle could she awaken the royal bloodline in her body. For twenty years, from the moment she learned to wield a weapon, she had been fighting. In endless clashes and bloodshed, she had never known the warmth of home. But here, in this place, she felt a welcoming passion that soothed her soul. The charm of this city had deeply captivated her. The same was true for Isha. This girl with ruby-like eyes had never experienced discrimination in Dawn City. In Green City, though she had Li De and Spark as backers and no commoner dared to insult her directly, her talent allowed her to sense whether others felt goodwill or malice toward her. Even if no one said anything aloud, the commoners who saw her red eyes often harbored fear, panic, even loathing deep inside. Some of the mage apprentices at the Crimson Mage Tower were even afraid of her. So in Green City, Isha had never truly felt warmth from others. But in Dawn City, it was completely different. Most of the commoners treated her with kindness and friendliness. No one had ever shown her malice just because of her crimson eyes. The residents of Dawn City were used to vampires and Cyclops and all kinds of strange beings. They had developed strong hearts from living alongside such diversity. What were red eyes to them? They had seen vampire births firsthand. They even participated in the supposedly evil monthly blood donations. No one cared what color Isha’s eyes were. In fact, many of the older women adored the cute little girl. A city that is inclusive and open is undeniably the most appealing kind, for it is a place where discrimination simply doesn’t exist, something unimaginable in most of Glory. It was precisely this charm that had deeply attracted both Betty and Isha. When Li De returned to Dawn City, it was already May 17. Three days had passed since Viscount Berna attacked Green City and Witherbone was captured. Over those three days, Dawn City had been caught in a strange mix of sorrow and excitement. The sorrow came from the dozens of Saintlight Vampire coffins displayed in the plaza. These belonged to the heroes who had died fighting for Dawn City. Among them, one stood out the most, a Cyclops. His massive body had no suitable coffin, so a white cloth had been draped over his head instead. Since his whole body couldn’t be covered, the densely packed scars across his torso were exposed to the public. In the most direct and shocking way possible, those wounds showed what kind of battle this Cyclops had endured before falling for Dawn City. It was harrowing to witness. Many residents were deeply saddened, because they knew that Cyclops. These massive figures, roughly equivalent to human children aged thirteen or fourteen, had long been a source of joy for the people. But now, the big fellow who used to greet them every day, who they used to see every day, was gone forever. Grief, in such moments, was impossible to suppress. Yet there was also excitement. Because despite the heavy cost, this war ended in victory for Dawn City. "That was Lord Coli, wasn’t it? Sigh, he was just patrolling with me a few days ago..." A patrol squad member looked at the name on a coffin, his eyes dim with sorrow. “Goddess above... these are heroes who gave their lives for us,” an ordinary auntie murmured, her eyes red. "That big guy... he was eating bread at my bakery just last week. I never imagined I’d never see him again." A merchant with a large belly shook his head and sighed. "Uuu... Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a hero like Uncle Kebi... uuuu..." A seven or eight-year-old boy sobbed as he stared at a magically painted portrait on a vampire’s coffin. He recognized the vampire who used to give him snacks. Though the mortality rate in Glory was high, death still remained the hardest farewell to accept, especially in a place like Dawn City, which had always felt peaceful and safe. Only now did many residents truly understand that what City Hall had said was not an exaggeration: Dawn City was not safe on its own. It was only because the Saintlight Vampires stood in the way of threats that they were able to enjoy this peace. There had never truly been an era of peace and quiet, only people bearing the weight of it behind the scenes. Compared to the world outside, Dawn City was a paradise they had only dreamed of. And thanks to the coffins in the plaza, the number of believers in the Dawn Order surged dramatically over the past few days, exceeding six thousand members. Fewer than three thousand residents in all of Dawn City still believed in other deities. For a newly established order, this was an incredible achievement. Changing faith was one of the hardest things to do. The very first step required believers to abandon what they had believed for ten or even dozens of years. For many, their long-standing beliefs had already been embedded into their daily way of life. To suddenly upend a habit developed over decades was no easy feat. “Good day, Clan Leader.” In the City Hall office, Harrison respectfully saluted Li De, who had just returned. “Harrison, give me a report on our current operations.” Though the confrontation with the Dark Pact hadn’t lasted long, barely ten days from prelude to victory. Li De felt like he had spent immense time and energy on it. “Yes, Clan Leader.” “Currently, Dawn City’s operations are progressing smoothly. First, the livestock farm has been fully activated. Over two hundred workers have been recruited. Full-capacity breeding is expected to begin by August. The water system you designed has brought great convenience to the farm, improving overall efficiency by at least thirty percent.” “The expansion of the Whispering Bats is also underway. By September, we expect to reach a population of one thousand. Dylon has already intensified the breeding effort,” Harrison paused briefly. Li De nodded without comment. This time, more than two hundred Whispering Bats had died in battle, a massive loss, and a heavy blow to an already small and fragile population. And since Whispering Bats made up a key part of the labor force in Dawn City, their loss had slowed the progress of many projects. So restoring their numbers was a top priority. “Second, the construction of the Dawn Mage Tower has entered the final stage. Due to delays caused by the recent battle, completion is now projected for early June.” “Third, in agriculture, aside from the elderly and children, a total of 8,300 people have been allocated land. About 70 percent of the cultivated land has been used for planting wheat. The rest is planted with various fruits and vegetables. The soil on the Moonlight Plains is fertile, and Dawn City's climate is very suitable for crops. The wheat currently planted is growing well. We expect a harvest in July, with yields projected between 350 to 450 pounds per acre.” Hearing about agriculture immediately piqued Li De’s interest. At this stage, agriculture was undoubtedly Dawn City’s lifeline. “Can we guarantee 350 pounds per acre for the wheat?” Glory was not Earth. Earth’s seeds had been developed and refined over generations, with yields multiplied several times. Here, a harvest of 350 pounds per acre was already considered high yield. That level of productivity meant a single acre could feed two people. Given the current amount of cultivated land in Dawn City, a yield of 350 pounds per acre would mean the city could feed one hundred thousand people next year. That was undeniably worth celebrating. “Since this is the first planting season, even though the Agriculture Department arranged for experienced farmers to guide the process, we can’t guarantee anything yet,” Harrison replied cautiously. Li De nodded, realizing he was getting ahead of himself. But it couldn’t be helped. If blood was the lifeblood of vampires, then food was undoubtedly the lifeblood of humans. And now, thanks to the sustainable development plan, the vampires’ blood supply was firmly in his control. All that remained was food for the humans. If this year’s harvest met expectations, it would provide powerful support for the population’s expansion during the Months of Deep Winter. Then he could finally begin executing the next phase of his plans. Suddenly remembering something, Li De asked, “What about the school project? Has City Hall made any plans yet?” The two driving forces behind Dawn City’s future: schools and the Mage Tower. In Li De’s vision, these two institutions would be the most critical avenues for nurturing top-tier talent.

Chapter 190: The Greatness of Dawn City

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