Chapter 122: Heaven Is Watching

A year has passed in the fantasy dungeon—a year in a single day. Having been gone for only one day, nothing major had occurred in Tingfeng City, and the various recruitment drives were still in full swing.

These recruitments were not unpaid. Players who joined the City Defense Force would receive bonuses to their attack, defense, and even experience points. While the bonuses were modest, they added up over time, and the steady salary meant that even without leaving the city or taking on quests, one could easily support oneself.

Even while standing guard, one would periodically gain experience. It wasn’t much, but it was hardly worse than standard grinding. The only downside was the loss of opportunities to loot various items from monsters.

Some enjoyed this stable life, reminiscent of the days before the Great Catastrophe—clocking in, clocking out, and sharing a few drinks with friends afterward. Life was gradually becoming comfortable.

Others, however, disliked it, constantly bustling in and out of the city gates from dawn till dusk, seemingly unable to sit still.

The benefits for members of the City Patrol were similar, which was why both roles had plenty of applicants. The only area lacking sufficient recruits was the regular dungeon raid team.

Once a regular dungeon was cleared, the maps for levels above 20 would open. No one wanted to face an even greater number of high-level monsters during the next siege. Although Zhao Nan was the City Lord, he lacked the authority to force players to clear dungeons. The only thing he could do was ensure they understood that, given the current state of Tingfeng City, they would be unable to withstand the next siege even if they refused to unlock new maps.

***

Coming to Tingfeng City was an accident. Zhao Nan was unfamiliar with the place, and looking at this vast map, he felt at a loss for where to begin. He could not spend every day running around the city, helping grandmothers or searching for missing cats for neighborly aunts who might secretly be hermits. That was why he had used his authority as City Lord to recruit exploration teams.

Exploration teams received no stat bonuses and no guaranteed experience. However, Zhao Nan offered private incentives: extra monetary rewards and high-quality equipment. If team members discovered any valuable quests, they could trade that information for these rewards.

Of course, if one discovered something, they did not have to reveal it; they could complete it themselves. Zhao Nan could not possibly interrogate every member of every exploration team every day. He could only cast his net wide and see what he caught.

Naturally, whether he would pay for the information depended on its value. The players weighed whether to provide the intel, and he weighed whether the intel was worth purchasing.

It was a fair deal, based entirely on voluntary participation.

The initial results were not particularly good, but over time, they began to encounter some worthwhile quests, saving him a great deal of time.

Tingfeng City had been operating this way for over half a month. The days of the city's fall now felt like a distant memory, and the remaining players had begun to grow accustomed to life under a City Lord.

A designated PK zone had been established within the city—if anyone had a grievance, they could settle it there. If someone resorted to violence within the safe zone, the city’s automated monitoring system would immediately apprehend the parties involved and toss them into the city jail. Once inside, they wouldn't be coming out for eight or ten days.

But for Tingfeng City to truly thrive, it needed more than just these measures.

***

"Cities can actually be upgraded. An upgraded city gains various defensive capabilities. For instance, now that Tingfeng City has a City Lord, it has automatically become a Level 1 City. We can recruit indigenous people into the army, the city walls have gained a twenty-percent defense boost, and arrow towers have appeared."

Zhao Nan spoke in a low, steady voice.

They were in the conference hall inside the City Lord’s Castle. The massive circular table was almost full, with others sitting quietly along the walls. These were the leaders of the various guilds in Tingfeng City.

After the city was restored, the Guild Hall reopened. The ten original safe zones had long since dissolved. Those who belonged to guilds returned to them, while others drifted apart. Though they remained in contact, the close-knit relationships of the past were gone.

Not many people remained—just over ten thousand. Excluding those under the City Lord’s direct jurisdiction in the Defense Force and Patrol, the guild leaders present represented the vast majority of the remaining population.

***

Lin Yu was among them.

In this development meeting presided over by Zhao Nan, he frowned and asked, "Zhao Nan, you started by talking about city levels—what exactly are you trying to say?"

Zhao Nan sat up straight and replied, "I mean that if the city wants to continue leveling up, the players cannot continue to suppress their own levels."

Fu Yun frowned. "Isn't that just to ensure that during the next monster siege, we don't encounter overly powerful monsters?"

Zhao Nan said coldly, "Do you think that if we can't defend against the next siege, we can just hide everyone, let the city fall, and then take it back again?"

Fu Yun stroked his beard. "If the maps aren't unlocked, the monsters' levels won't increase. We managed to reclaim it once, so why not a second time? We have a successful precedent."

Zhao Nan scoffed. "That would only lead to our own destruction."

"Why?" Lin Yu asked, confused.

Zhao Nan sighed. "The first time the city fell, the mutated boss monster that appeared was the strongest in the entire map. Let me put it this way: the strength of a mutated boss is calculated based on the strongest boss of the highest-level regular dungeon currently available, then increased by three to five times. We were lucky that Tingfeng City hadn't unlocked any 20-level dungeons before it fell, which is why we were able to kill the Mutated Soul-Devouring Python King. But now, the 20-level regular dungeon is open. It’s sitting there, whether you choose to raid it or not..."

Lin Yu’s face went pale. "Are you saying that if the city falls again, the mutated boss that appears will be at least three times stronger than the boss of a 20-level regular dungeon?"

"Or perhaps the mutated elite monsters guarding it will also see a massive increase in both strength and numbers," Zhao Nan said calmly.

"How is that possible!"

A wave of shocked murmurs rippled through the room. However, a few people remained deathly silent.

These were the ones like Huang Kun, who had been implanted with the so-called "Heart-Eating Worms." That lie was still in effect.

At this moment, Zhao Nan slammed his hand onto the wooden conference table with a thunderous bang, startling everyone. He sneered, "Why is it impossible? As the City Lord, I know more than any of you! Do you really think I’m so bored that I would choose to walk a dangerous path when an easy one exists?"

"Don't be angry..." Lin Yu sighed. "Everyone just needs a moment to process this."

Zhao Nan shook his head. "Once Tingfeng City reaches Level 2, our defensive capabilities will increase, and we can expand the recruitment for the City Defense Force. Let me tell you, the Defense Force can participate in the monster siege. Furthermore, upgrading the city level will unlock more defensive weaponry. We don't have many players left; the best way to hold the city is to keep upgrading it and recruit more indigenous personnel..."

He looked at the group, his expression grave. "I was only lucky to kill the Mutated Soul-Devouring Python King this time. But if the next siege brings an even stronger boss because of your cowardice, don't expect me to stand by you. I have the ability to survive on my own, but I will not help you again."

With that, he swept out of the room, leaving the massive conference hall in a heavy, stunned silence.

***

"Angry?"

Zhao Nan turned left out of the door, where Finina was waiting. Seeing his expression, she asked softly.

"Just pretending."

"The way you pretended, you scared them half to death." Finina couldn't help but laugh.

Zhao Nan smiled. "It's good to be scared. Only when they're scared will they start thinking about tomorrow."

Finina remarked, "Aren't you afraid they might turn to malice out of desperation?"

Zhao Nan glanced sideways. "If they truly turn malicious, that would be even better."

Finina was puzzled. "Why?"

Zhao Nan shrugged. "There is a saying: 'Murder and arson lead to golden belts.'"

Finina laughed. "What kind of warped logic is that!"

Zhao Nan shook his head with a smile, squeezed Finina’s hand, and the two walked quietly toward the garden of the City Lord’s Castle. With the maps locked, he couldn't go anywhere to grind for levels. Fortunately, as City Lord, he received a daily experience subsidy.

As for the position of Vice City Lord, the experience subsidy for that role was also quite substantial.

Of course, the current Vice City Lord was currently walking through the garden, holding his hand.

As they passed through the colorful courtyard and walked along the quiet, secluded corridor, the butler, Blade Edge, approached quickly from the other end.

"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Lady Vice City Lord." Blade Edge placed his hand over his heart and bowed slightly.

Zhao Nan asked calmly, "Is something the matter?"

Blade Edge stood tall and replied, "Master, someone from an exploration team has requested an audience with you."

Zhao Nan mused, "What level of quest is it?"

Blade Edge replied respectfully, "They said they would only speak of it once they see you in person."

Zhao Nan found this odd. "Arrange a meeting in the side parlor."

Blade Edge obeyed, walking away with measured, precise steps.

Shortly after, Zhao Nan and Finina received the visitors.

It was not one person, but two. To be precise, a couple, and people Zhao Nan recognized.

They were the one-armed enchanter and his wife, whom Zhao Nan had first met in the kindergarten safe zone.