A World Worth Protecting

Wang Baole’s enthusiasm towards his new office as the mayor of the new city zone diminished after he left the Governor’s office. His head started throbbing when he thought about the three conditions the Governor had set.

<em>She’s forcing me to prostitute myself!</em> Wang Baole simmered with resentment. He returned to the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. He sighed. He knew he didn’t have much time left. He was leaving in three days’ time, which meant he only had three days to find a solution to his problems.

<em>That’s alright. Why should I give myself so much stress? Even if I can’t solve everything within these three days, I can still try to come up with something during the construction of the new city zone.</em> Wang Baole released a sigh of relief. He brainstormed furiously for solutions. He felt that his current situation was no different from his situation prior to the trial, as he had had no resources then either. He only had his blueprints for his Eternal Fortress and his construction puppets.

His current situation was similar. He was still impoverished in terms of resources. Only, instead of blueprints and puppets, now he had potential vice mayorships as his only bargaining chips.

<em>To think that I, Wang Baole, a man of honor and principles, and extremely good looks, who never stooped to underhanded means, am now forced and coerced by the Martian Colony Governor to do whatever it takes to achieve one’s goals. Fine, I’ll go against my principles just this once.</em> Wang Baole sighed. He got his mind to settle down as he thought about how best to use his bargaining chips and get the best deal out of them.

He knew very clearly in his heart that every political force would eye the vice mayorships greedily. They might not be able to get one of their own to become the mayor, but a vice mayorship would guarantee that they didn’t lose out in the long run.

<em>It’d be great if I could host an auction for them.</em> Wang Baole thought with great regret. He only considered the idea briefly. If he really did that, he believed he would be arrested and taken away by the relevant authorities the next day…

Wang Baole thought about the best way to make use of the vice mayorships he had. Then, that night, whilst he was meditating, he received a voice transmission from a stranger.

The caller was an old man. His aged voice immediately revealed who he was as soon as Wang Baole picked up the call.

“Wang Baole, I’m the Sect Lord of the White Deer Dao College… according to the agreement amongst the four Dao Colleges, Li Yi will become your vice mayor and support your work in the New Mars Region…” The Sect Lord had mixed feelings while he spoke. He tried to control his agitation and anger. His tone seemed authoritative and commanding, but this was already the best he could do.

Before he could finish speaking though, Wang Baole hung up on him without saying a single word!

The Sect Lord of the White Deer Dao College froze. He could no longer control his rage and exploded in anger.

<em>That rascal, he actually dared to hang up on me!</em> The Sect Lord slammed his desk. A loud thud rang out inside the White Deer Dao College.

He had a bad impression of Wang Baole all along. Wang Baole had disobeyed the Dao Colleges and went ahead to join the trial. He had gone against the Dao Colleges, which was akin to treason. The four Dao Colleges had agreed to support Li Yi. Who could have thought that Wang Baole would suddenly throw a spanner in the works and rise to become a candidate?

It would have been alright if he had stopped there. But no, he had actually gone ahead and succeeded. The Sect Lord would have had a different view towards the matter if Wang Baole had hailed from the White Deer Dao College, but Wang Baole wasn’t one of his own, and he had disobeyed him. The Sect Lord felt nothing but annoyance and irritation for him.

After Wang Baole had dared to hang up on his voice transmission, his anger grew. He snorted in disdain.

<em>To be so arrogant at such a young age. I’m going to make you understand that Li Yi will become your vice mayor even without your agreement. No matter how much you resent it, you will have to swallow your resentment!</em> At that thought, the Sect Lord immediately contacted the Deputy Governor of the Martian Colony.

They spoke for a while. The Sect Lord was stunned when the giant tree told him that he didn’t have the authority to interfere either. After enquiring in more detail, he became more incredulous. He heard the giant tree sigh as he told the Sect Lord that he had inquired about the vice mayor openings for the new city zone as well. The Governor had said firmly that no one was to interfere with the selection.

The giant tree was clearly dissatisfied with the entire matter. He said, with resignation, that everything still boiled down to Wang Baole and his recommendations.

The Sect Lord’s head immediately started throbbing. He was of half a mind to send another voice transmission to Wang Baole, but he really didn’t know what to say…

Wang Baole, who had just hung up on the Sect Lord, was overcome with excitement. His eyes burned. He had intentionally hung up because the other’s tone of voice displeased him greatly, but Wang Baole had also done so to test the other.

<em>What’s next? Who will the old man seek help from? The giant tree? The Governor? Or maybe even the Ethereal Dao College’s Sect Lord?</em>

As Wang Baole enjoyed a moment’s self-satisfaction, his voice transmission ring started vibrating again. He lowered his head and saw that the transmission was from the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College. He wasn’t surprised. He immediately put the call through. After a short exchange with the Sect Lord, the Sect Lord sighed.

“Baole, the Sect Lord of the White Deer Dao College called me earlier… if you really find his proposal unacceptable, I will turn him down…” The Sect Lord was himself overwhelmed with emotions. He was proud of what Wang Baole had done, but he was also troubled by the difficult position he had been placed in. Regardless, he would always stand by Wang Baole.

Wang Baole would never refuse what his Sect Lord asked of him. He thought for a bit and decided to share with him the three requirements the Governor had set him openly.

“Sect Lord, I’m fine with having Li Yi, but she has to bring along resources as well. The White Deer Dao College has to be responsible for two-tenths of the resources required to set up the new city zone. If she can do that, she’ll be a vice mayor!” Wang Baole didn’t mince words when speaking to someone on his side. The Sect Lord heard what he said and laughed.

“The resources won’t only come from the White Deer Dao College. It will come from the four Dao Colleges. The Ethereal Dao College will do our best as well since the resources will be for your use. But you’re still too soft-hearted. How could you only ask for two-tenths? You should at least be asking for forty percent!”

Wang Baole’s eyes brightened instantly. The Sect Lord really treated him very well. His belief in the Sect Lord’s favor towards him grew. He chatted a while longer with the Sect Lord before ending the transmission. Within half an hour, the Sect Lord sent another voice transmission. He said only one thing.

“The four Dao Colleges will provide forty percent of the resources required by the New Mars Region!”

Wang Baole’s eyes brightened. He let loose a sigh of relief inwardly. For the sake of the resources, he decided to disregard the tensions between himself and Li Yi. He also knew that even if he disagreed with the choice, with the power the White Deer Dao College held, they would be able to persuade the Governor eventually and get Li Yi her vice mayor’s position.

Of course, they would have had to pay a greater price, but they wouldn’t be of much help to him.

<em>Next… we still have three more positions to fill.</em> Wang Baole’s eyes burned. He stared at his voice transmission ring. He had a feeling that he didn’t need to worry himself with coming up with solutions, as the fat sheep would line themselves up before him and await slaughter.

As he expected, he received voice transmissions from the Five Generation Sky Clan, the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect, and the Galactic Dusk Sect shortly thereafter. They seemed to have heard of what was going on. They started their transmission with how many resources they were willing to contribute. The Galactic Dusk Sect promised fifty percent right from the start!

Wang Baole was extremely tempted by their offer. Just as he was weighing the pros and cons of their offer, he received a voice transmission from General Zhou. Wang Baole had known the general since the battle at the Seventh Line of Defence. He didn’t mince his words and said honestly that both the military stationed on Mars and Earth wanted Kong Dao to become a vice mayor of the new city zone…

Wang Baole considered the matter. He knew that he had a close working relationship with the military, and it would be difficult to reject their offer. They had provided him aid during the selection process for the candidacy, after all.

Just as he was considering the matter, his voice transmission ring vibrated again. This time, it was a call from the headquarters of the Federation President, Duan Muque. The caller was not the president but one of his deputies. His tone was polite and respectful. He said that he was following the president’s orders when he congratulated Wang Baole on becoming the new city zone’s mayor and gave the latter some words of compliment and encouragement.

The two voice transmissions came one after the other. Even if Wang Baole was an idiot, he would still be able to realize what was going on. The Federation President, Duan Muque, was Kong Dao’s godfather. The meaning behind the voice transmission was very clear.

<em>I want a godfather too.</em> Wang Baole smacked his forehead. He sighed and informed General Zhou that he would be recommending Kong Dao as a vice mayor. However… Kong Dao would have to be responsible for forty percent of the resources required for the city’s construction. Li Yi was going to provide the same, after all.

Because of his relationship with the military, though, he was willing to accept twenty percent. General Zhou laughed out loud when he heard what Wang Baole said. He knew what was going on and enjoyed the young man’s honesty. He nodded and said that he would pass on the message and let the others know the favor Wang Baole was doing them.

After a day’s busy work, Wang Baole confirmed the names of two of his vice mayors. He had also guaranteed sixty percent of resources required for his new city zone!

Together with the resources the Federation and the Martian administration were giving him, he should have sufficient resources to tide him over. This lessened the burden on Wang Baole immensely. He remembered that he still had two openings and perked up at the thought. He might be able to amass more resources and build a greater city zone than he had initially planned!

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