Chapter 526.3: Victory Celebration!

Even if his chips weren’t clean, he had clawed them from the depths of the wasteland. They had done nothing. What made them the same as him?

All he felt, looking at those detestable faces, was disgust deep in his soul.

If he didn’t need to squeeze a pound of fat from those pigs first, he would’ve snapped his black card in half and walked straight into the light right then and there.

"Long live the New Alliance!" he shouted suddenly, overwhelmed by emotion as thunderous applause rolled over the plaza.

Qian Shao and Qian Lai exchanged startled glances beside him, clapping along but clearly baffled by their boss’s sudden burst.

He had told them more than once, they were there to make money in the New Alliance. And they had taken his words to heart.

But somehow...

It felt like he had gotten swept up in the story?

Before the Administrator could even declare the celebration over, a tidal wave of applause exploded across the square.

Standing in the crowd, Elisa clapped furiously, eyes fixed on the man onstage. Then she glanced anxiously at her father. "... Daddy, I think he is right. We should unite the survivors around us, not make them our enemies."

"We have always been united."

"But what about the outer city residents?"

"It’s too late for them."

"Why?" Elisa’s eyes widened, her voice trembling as she spoke carefully. "You don’t have to give me my doll back. Even the hair clip that only cost a silver coin... I think it’s really cute.”

She liked the big sister who praised her looks. Back then, she forgot to say it, but she wanted to say that her smile was really nice too.

In Boulder Town, no one ever looked at her, let alone smiled.

Even in the inner city, in stores, on streets, in classrooms, people’s smiles always felt forced. It was just another formality.

Malvern stared down at the stage, his vulture-like eyes narrowing.

But when his precious daughter looked at him, he restrained his hostility, letting only a trace of it show in his tone as he patiently replied, "... You may not want your doll, but you can’t just throw away your friends’ dolls either. I understand how you feel. You’re a kind girl, but kindness alone isn’t enough to fix these problems."

Of course he knew. Every extra bite of cake eaten in the inner city meant ten fewer loaves of bread in the outer city. The leftover nutrient paste went to feed livestock. In time, inner city nobles would grow richer, and everyone would get better.

It wasn’t like no one had ever said the truth out loud. But those who turned that logic into action always ended up losing their black cards, replaced by the latest noble recruits.

Because that logic had been flawed from the start.

Why should inner city residents get more? And why should outer city residents be content with mere bread?

If the poor ever got a taste of sweetness, they would only want more, becoming lazy, entitled, even refusing to work. Those lessons had appeared again and again over two centuries of Boulder Town’s history, and always ended in bloodshed.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t read books. How could he not know such basic truths? But even if he knew...

So what?

Did the sun rise because people got out of bed?

Of course not!

Human nature was a far more exquisite thing than Slime Mold, and the laws of nature could never be bent by the will of men.

Truth be told, he hated the man standing on that stage. Every word he spoke, every idealistic promise, made him feel physically ill.

But he would never let that disdain show on his face. Work was work. Personal feelings were personal. He kept them sharply separate.

No nobles?

Heh.

Just wait and see.

Malvern gave a warm, false smile and played along with the roaring cheers around him, clapping enthusiastically alongside his naïve, well-meaning daughter.

And yet, his lips, dry and cracked like rotting wood drifting on a swamp, kept moving silently.

“... The only reason he’s still standing there, is because people haven’t yet awoken from their sweet dreams of repeated failure. His closest shelter citizens will be the first to come to their senses. When they realize their cake has been divided and shared with these wretched hyenas, it won’t take long before they learn how to wield their authority and take it back with even more aggression... How long can he really keep us in check? Heh.”

Ah.

How he longed to see that man’s face when it all came crashing down.

Malvern couldn’t help but feel a jealous twist in his chest. He was jealous of that man’s youth.

Even though he firmly believed that the New Alliance wasn’t unbreakable, he wouldn’t live long enough to see it fall with his own eyes.

That was the most frustrating thing about idealists.

Even if they eventually lost to reality, their flames would continue to burn in the ashes of their bones, scorching the eyes of anyone who had seen them.

If only he had never existed...

Every time that thought crossed Malvern’s mind, it was like ten thousand ants crawling through his heart.

...

The celebration officially began.

As Chu Guang left the stage, the crowds gathered in Victory Plaza began to slowly disperse into the bustling streets beyond.

Shops along the road had opened early, doing everything they could to draw in customers and make a little profit on the unusually busy day.

"Look, Eclipse! There are more and more people now..." Frost's eyes sparkled with excitement as it repeated the sentence, "This is your chance!"

It was currently dressed in a maid outfit, with a red armband bearing the white words, Festival Management Committee.

A few days ago, the Lifestyle Profession players of Dawn City had decided to elect a few volunteers to help maintain order during the celebration. After all, the New Alliance didn’t have a giant wall. There was always the risk of bad fellows sneaking in.

Those in the air could mark suspicious targets, and the Festival Management Committee was formed to assist the guards in keeping an eye on them, handling unexpected incidents, and helping with disputes when the short-handed security forces couldn’t keep up.

It was too interesting a job for the androids to miss, especially since they could collect valuable sociological experience, so Frost had dragged Eclipse along to sign up.

Although Eclipse wasn’t a player, and not even a citizen of the New Alliance, it had helped the players out so many times with its cold efficiency that no one had the heart to reject it.

Of course, the players never told it that only they could earn regional reputation rewards, Eclipse could only receive a small amount of silver coins as compensation.

Not that the money mattered much to it.

Eclipse stared blankly at its companion, visibly confused. "I don’t understand."

Frost clicked its tongue dramatically. "Didn’t you hear what the New Alliance’s administrator said? He said the New Alliance will not rely on anyone else’s standards."

"And?"

"So you’re not a person! You’re AI!" Frost said with its eyes shining. "That means as long as we prove ourselves capable, the New Alliance will definitely put us to use!"

Eclipse looked at him, still blank. But Frost didn’t seem to care. It turned his gaze toward the bustling streets, fully immersed in its own fantasy.

Ah...

Its intellectual module was on fire!

It so badly wanted to herd all these mechanical lifeforms together, pamper them with human kindness, and see them show expressions of indulgence under the devoted care of their synthetic companions.

Surely, then, the entire world would be filled with love and peace!

Still, the Highest Council was too conservative in that regard. Only recently had they passed the Health Luxury Corporate Group’s proposal allowing androids to participate in public affairs. Ironically, it was the New Alliance, the supposedly oppressive ‘little blue people’, who were more open-minded, often asking for their help in various tasks.

Life in the New Alliance was far less hollow than in Ideal City!

Just as Frost was lost in his own dream, a startled shriek came from nearby, a fruit stall not far from the trade station.

With its ears twitching, and the dreamy expression on its face disappearing. A sharp glint replaced it as Frost turned its head toward the commotion.

"Eclipse, looks like someone needs your help!"

Eclipse nodded without expression. "Mm, Little Seven also asked us to go over. It said to mediate as NPCs, but we shouldn’t go too far.”

"Then what are we waiting for?" Frost rolled up its sleeves with gusto, weaving through the crowd with eager steps. "Let’s go take a look!"