Chapter 202-2: Game Beta Test? Players? (Part 2)

Words : 1259 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Harrison didn’t report specific numbers, but instead gave a clear, intuitive response. Li De nodded in satisfaction. At present, Dawn City’s food policy was administered directly by City Hall. No private trading was allowed on the market, and all grain harvested by farmers had to be sold to the city government. No matter the era or the background, food was a matter of life and death. With City Hall controlling it directly, the stability of the food supply could be guaranteed. Everything else could afford to be unstable, but not matters of livelihood. Li De had issued strict orders that City Hall must control all essential materials directly, such as iron ore, food, cotton, and textiles. Only goods that didn’t affect basic living could be left to market regulation. In fact, even on modern-day Earth, most industries critical to public welfare were state-controlled, so his decision was far from unreasonable. “Good. You will personally oversee this matter. Every step, harvesting, drying, and storage must be handled with utmost care.” Harrison, knowing how seriously Li De regarded food security, nodded solemnly. “Yes, Patriarch.” After Harrison left, Li De, unable to contain his excitement, walked straight out of City Hall and headed toward the outskirts. He was going to see the farmlands with his own eyes. The fact that food could now be produced owed largely to Li De himself. Without his policies, these civilians likely wouldn’t have even touched a piece of land. As he stepped out of City Hall, the wide-open view lifted his spirits immediately. Thanks to large-scale construction, Dawn City had undergone tremendous changes compared to before. Whether streets or buildings, most areas had been completely renovated. The streets, paved with bluestone, were lined with neatly trimmed purple and red plants about half a person tall, forming a lush, pleasant view. The surrounding houses were two or three stories tall, with white rounded archways on the ground floor and semi-circular windows with translucent glass on the second. Shops along the main road stood open, selling all sorts of goods, fruit vendors, flower shops, bakeries, tailor shops, general stores, and more. At the corner of the main crossroads stood a white marble statue clad in armor. Upon closer inspection, one would see it was a likeness of Li De himself. Colorful murals adorned the blank walls on either side of the streets, depicting stories of how the Dawn Order led the people toward the light, religious scenes full of hope and reverence. It was bustling and vibrant. Most striking was how clean the city streets were. No litter, no waste from people or animals anywhere in sight. This was all due to Li De’s obsession with a clean city. He had a deep aversion to Green City, which always reeked of filth. So he had issued a strict mandate for City Hall to resolve the city’s sanitation issues. Dawn City absolutely could not turn into another Green City. As a result, part of the Logistics Team had become full-time sanitation managers. If anyone failed to dispose of trash properly, red-armbanded staff would immediately mete out punishment. And the penalties were harsh. Anyone caught littering was sentenced to a month of unpaid mining duty. With such strict enforcement, forget public urination, even spitting on the ground was unthinkable. The stench that filled every corner of Green City simply didn’t exist in Dawn City. Clean, orderly, and pristine, it was no exaggeration to say it was cleaner than cities on Earth. And under City Hall’s strict requirements, the residents gradually formed habits. Now, anyone who littered would immediately be looked down upon, or even reported, by the people around them. You could say that under this high-pressure system, even these bottom-class refugees had developed excellent living habits. At first, the residents of Dawn City hadn’t taken it seriously, but after being punished, they quickly corrected themselves. What’s more, they could tangibly feel that life was better under these rules. Eventually, they came to treasure their improved environment and maintained it with care. As Li De walked through the lively, bustling city, a powerful sense of accomplishment rose in his heart. He had built all of this with his own hands. Without him, Dawn City wouldn’t even exist. The feeling was indescribably satisfying. People bustled about, and every resident he passed wore a joyful smile and eyes full of hope. Everyone on the streets wore clean, tidy clothing, not a patch in sight, not even old clothes. In just over half a year, these former refugees had been transformed down to their very bones. And the one who gave them all of this was naturally the master of this city, the great Lord Kachar. “Good day, Your Majesty Kachar.” “Good day, honored Lord Kachar.” “Our great Lord Kachar!” As Li De strolled down the street, residents immediately recognized him. Few dared approach him, but as he passed, everyone placed a hand over their chest and bowed respectfully, faces filled with reverence and awe. Everyone he passed would stop and bow, only straightening up once he was well past. This was true respect. In this city, his prestige already rivaled that of the gods. Wherever Li De went, the scene was nothing short of grand. Every person on the street stopped and bowed when they saw him, it was as if humble subjects were worshipping their king. Loyal believers reverently saluting their one and only faith, their great deity. Like touching shygrass, everyone instinctively bowed. No one dared to meet Li De’s eyes. Even the patrolling members of the Security Squad would bow with hands over their hearts, paying the highest respects to their lord and sworn master. At first, Li De had been quite pleased with such scenes. But as every single person did it, the novelty faded. It was lonely at the top. Walking around town like a normal person was no longer possible. He didn’t linger long and continued on down the wide avenue, heading toward the city outskirts. Everyone he passed along the way wore expressions of reverence and awe. This was what it meant to be the ruler of a city, the king of all. Through his actions, Li De had won the hearts of everyone in Dawn City. This was the first time he had wandered the city in broad daylight, alone, with people everywhere. Looking at everything around him, a strong sense of fulfillment surged in his heart. This was his city. Everything in it belonged to him. Here, he could decide the fate of any individual, even whether they lived or died. He was the sole sovereign of this city. If he wished, he could implement any decree he desired. Fairness, justice, kindness, evil, all were for him alone to judge. No one could defy his orders. No one had the right to reject his will. The feeling of holding absolute power was truly unforgettable. Wearing his black mage robes, radiating nobility, Li De walked out of the city under the watchful gazes of the crowd, unshakable, dignified. He exited through the Southern District, walking along the wide avenue toward the farming region. The Southern District’s scope had expanded by nearly a third. With the efforts of the Construction Department, the ruins left by the battle with Emi had long since been rebuilt. The newly constructed houses stood in neat rows, making the already large Southern District feel even more spacious. It was all in preparation for the upcoming population raids during the Months of Deep Winter.

Chapter 202-2: Game Beta Test? Players? (Part 2)

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