Chapter 345.1: Mayor of Dawn City

"Hello, Mr. Dulong, esteemed head of Boulder Town’s City Hall, I am the Mayor of Dawn City, Luca."

In level B4 of Shelter 404, Luca sat on the sofa of the library while dressed in formal attire.

On the coffee table in front of him, there was a holographic computer pen, and it was sending out faint blue beams above the table, forming a three-dimensional cone-shaped image.

Through the pale blue conical image, he could see the bay window of the Head of the City Hall's office, along with the head himself sitting behind the desk.

"The Mayor of Dawn City..." Dulong slightly furrowed his brows, "Where is your administrator?"

If he recalled correctly, the highest authority figure in the Alliance should be the administrator.

Why was he having the conversation with the Mayor of Dawn City?

As for this person he was talking to... From that weathered face, rather than a Mayor, he looked more like a farmer.

What was the New Alliance's administrator doing?

He couldn't quite understand.

Not paying much attention to Dulong's change in attitude, Luca continued speaking in a mild tone, following the instructions of the administrator.

"Our administrator is inspecting Daybreak City and may not return to Clearspring City for a short time. In view of the less-than-satisfactory communication there, as a gesture of respect and importance attributed to you, he entrusted me to conduct this conversation with you."

"When the administrator briefed me on this, he specifically instructed that Boulder Town is an ally and a friend of the Alliance, urging me to demonstrate our friendliness in this conversation."

Regarding this grandiloquent wording, there was a subtle trace of skepticism on Dulong's face that wasn't easily perceptible.

Friend? Did Boulder Town need something like that?

He initially wanted to say something about talking when their administrator returned, but considering it might take a long time, he quickly swallowed his words.

He didn't mind waiting, but the tasks assigned by the Mayor of Boulder Town couldn't wait that long.

Dulong was certain that if the New Alliance aircraft appeared in Boulder Town's airspace again, the anti-aircraft guns would surely open fire.

If the friction escalated into a war, he was sure the northern suburbs would turn into a scorched land. The swarming militia would seal those blue groundhogs forever in their shell with steel and concrete, but Boulder Town's outer city would undoubtedly suffer immense losses.

Perhaps Mayor Fang Ming didn't care how it would become there, just like how the inner city never cared about how the residents of the outer city lived.

However, Dulong couldn't afford to not care.

It wasn’t because he was kind-hearted.

But because he knew very well that the nobles of the inner city were his masters, but the factory owners and merchants associations leaders of the outer city were his foundation.

"Since you consider us friends, I hope your aircraft won't appear in a friend's airspace in the future. Your aircraft appeared on our radar, and this time our soldiers showed restraint, but it might not happen next time."

Luca looked at him and nodded. "This is a reasonable demand. I'd like to know your airspace boundaries?"

Dulong stated straightforwardly, "The area within the fifth ring of Clearspring City is our airspace, delineated by the rings."

"That's not possible," Luca shook his head. "Dawn City is also built within the fifth ring of Clearspring City. We respect your security needs, but it must not compromise our own."

Dulong raised his voice. "Mr. Luca, I'll be straightforward. This is a demand from our Mayor. Do you understand the meaning of his order?"

Luca replied calmly, "Of course, I understand. But our administrator mentioned that if we make concessions on airspace today, tomorrow it'll be about territory. We can guarantee that our aircraft won't enter the western area of Clearspring City within the ring again, and that's the limit."

Dulong raised his brows slightly.

As if he heard something ridiculous, he chuckled and said, "Territory? What use do we have for your rundown place?"

For a couple of square kilometres of land? For a few dilapidated houses? Who do they think we are?

Luca responded with an indifferent tone, "Although our place is a bit rundown, we are satisfied with our home."

There was a hint of mockery in Dulong's tone as he spoke again. "Do you think that by simply defeating a few primitive people with torches, you have the qualifications to negotiate terms with us?"

Surprisingly to Dulong, the old man in front of him nodded.

It made him even doubt whether he was hallucinating.

"Of course, I have no doubt that we have that qualification." Looking directly at Dulong, Luca continued as if it were a matter of course, "In fact, I am negotiating terms with you right now, aren't I?"

While saying this, he emphasized on the fact that he was negotiating with Dulong.

"What do you mean?" Dulong narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly feeling a bit uncertain.

Luca said calmly, "Nothing, your army is strong, but so is ours. Perhaps Boulder Town can defeat us on the battlefield, but we can ensure that our opponents pay a heavy price."

"And that price will certainly be your head."

This statement deeply hurt Dulong.

The inner city's neglect of the outer city had been long standing, a fact known to everyone, and he was no exception. He had no doubt that in the event of a war, they would become cannon fodder, which was just like every Tide.

But so what?

Did this matter require a wastelander to remind him?

Dulong straightened up, laughing in anger, "Are you threatening me?"

The atmosphere at the negotiation table instantly dropped to freezing point.

Luca felt equally nervous inside. However, he didn't let his emotions show on his face.

Before the negotiations began, the administrator instructed him never to show fear or panic, always keeping a calm demeanor.

The opponent's strength was formidable, and from their perspective, coercion through force would be a convenient option because safety issues were a sore spot for the vast majority of survivor settlements.

Although Boulder Town idolized Ideal City, they were not affluent enough to the point that they didn’t have a food shortage problem; hence they didn’t possess what one might call a Moral Purity Obsession.

Constantly hopping around near the opponent's bottom line was dangerous, but showing too much weakness was equally fatal.

Seize upon the opponent's sore spot, stop before the opponent feels the pain, appropriately give up some demands, and find an acceptable range for both sides. That is the essence of negotiations.

Looking at Dulong, Luca spoke slowly. "Of course not. We sincerely hope for an amicable and peaceful coexistence. This world has seen enough tragedies like mutated monsters, fungi, mutant humans, and marauders... The flame of civilization barely flickers amidst the darkness of barbarity. Living in such times, we truly, truly wish not to reach that final step."

Pausing for a moment, Luca continued, "... But sometimes, even when extremely unwilling, we must make it known that we aren't easily intimidated. The land we cultivate isn't obtained through charity."

"Therefore, rather than a threat, I would prefer you to interpret my previous words as a response to the threat of war."

Dulong's eyes had narrowed to slits, fixed unwaveringly on the holographic image of Luca.

He was contemplating and weighing his options.

The negotiation fell into silence, but Luca patiently waited.

Surprisingly, Dulong suddenly said something that wasn’t related to the negotiations. "Is this what you really think? Or did your administrator tell you to say this?”

Luca replied without hesitation, "Does it make a difference? The administrator's will is both the New Alliance's will and my own."

Dulong didn't say anything, just stared at the old man, looking thoughtful for a while.

After about half a minute or so, he slowly spoke up. "I don't agree with your sophistry about the threat of war." Switching back to the topic, he continued, "But I do agree with your other statement that there are already enough tragedies in this world, and we don't need to add meaningless sorrow."

"For the sake of our future relationship, I believe we need to have an open and honest discussion."

Hearing this, Luca finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face. "I was thinking the same."

...

Although the other party's prideful attitude hadn't changed, their willingness to resolve issues through dialogue was at least a good start.

Next came the bargaining.

Dulong thought negotiations were his specialty, considering his previous role as a merchant before becoming the Head of Boulder Town’s City Hall.

However, to his surprise, the other side's vexatious negotiation ability was no less than his. At least it wasn't as easy to deceive as he had imagined.

"... The area from the southern third ring belongs to our airspace. We need to deal with the Tide. Moreover, our air force has relieved some pressure for you; it's beneficial to you too."

"Your air force? Ha, those paper airplanes? You might as well hire our planes; you've hired them before. I can give you a discount."

"Yes, what we have are just paper airplanes, so why worry that we pose a threat to your security? Is your mindset so narrow that it can't even accommodate some paper airplanes?"

"... From the south of the fourth ring to the fifth. This is our bottom line. At the same time, I need you to promise that the New Alliance's borders won't continue expanding to the south."

"We can stop expanding to the south, but in exchange, I require your promise to lift the ban on the sale of New Alliance goods. We haven't restricted the sale of your goods, have we?"

"That’s impossible. The ban on LD 47 is a requirement from the Boulder Town Arms Industry. I can only promise not to add import and export restrictions to the list given by them."

These conditions had reached the expectations of the negotiation, but Luca still pretended to nod his head reluctantly. "Fine, let's maintain the status quo."

Dulong breathed a sigh of relief, finally relaxing his tense expression into a smile. "I'm glad we've reached an agreement."