A Core Ship From The Start
/ A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 996
Chapter 996: Chapter 688 Seal Chapter 996: Chapter 688 Seal With the Lost Ground reopening, Arkham City immediately became the focal point of not only Sword Bay but also the entire Northern Land. On one hand, the city was indeed magnificent and majestic, even surpassing the capital of the Faelun World Kingdom. On the other hand… many churches had started to build their temples and establish their presence within Arkham City.
Of course, it wasn't strange for such things to occur generally, but the issue was that the number of temples within Arkham City was quite large. It could be said that nearly all churches of Benevolent and Neutral Alignment Deities built their temples there. There were even rumors that in the dark corners beneath the city, temples to Evil Deities like Shawl and Lovita existed as well.
This was very unusual for a newly established territory because, in general, it was rare to see a congregation of numerous Deity Churches. Naturally, this also aroused suspicion and attention from many forces.
Duanmu Huai certainly knew that these churches, in essence, served as embassies in Arkham. Thus, he allocated land to them according to their applications, in the same manner as embassies. Naturally, the construction of the buildings was left to the followers of each deity.
This naturally led to many business guilds making a fortune, although, generally, the scale of the church and temple wasn't a matter of particular concern to most.
But… it was completely different in Arkham, alright!
The sanctity and majesty brought by the colossal Gothic-style city was heart-trembling just to behold. In light of this, if your church or temple turned out to be less impressive, wouldn't that be a shame for your own Deity?
Not to mention, in this city where the churches of various Deities were concentrated, most of them belonging to Benevolent or Neutral Alignments, who would want to be outdone by others?
Consequently, the churches started spending money like water. Especially wealthy churches like Rosanda and Wokin directly threw Gold Coins around as if they were free, hiring the best construction teams and buying the best building materials, with a steadfast demand to construct the most magnificent and noble buildings.
If one were to use a civilization analogy, Arkham City was currently the epitome of a religious victory model.
Moreover, Arkham City's unique living model also made many of the poor quite envious. Generally, finding a job to support a family in other cities was challenging, let alone buying a house. However, Arkham City's policies were completely different. In Arkham's city center, any poor person who found a job and signed a contract was automatically allocated a room, similar to public rental housing. Rent would then be automatically deducted from their wages. For instance, if a poor person found a job sweeping the streets in Arkham, they could obtain a public rental room, then simply by working hard and saving money, they could live a decent life.
The city's security was also quite good. Although not quite to the level of streets where no one would pick up lost property or houses where no one locked doors at night, it was rare to see any security incidents–this was normal, after all. With Angels flying in the sky, common thieves wouldn't dare commit crimes before them.
Even if they were not afraid of Angels, the merciless Iron Fist of the Night Guard was not something just anyone could withstand.
As such, Arkham City immediately attracted the attention of many wealthy businessmen and Noblemen. Many merchants were considering residing here–after all, compared to the chaos and danger of other cities, a place like Arkham City with good public order and a host of Deity Churches watching over it was undoubtedly secure.
“Currently, numerous business guilds have submitted applications through diplomatic channels, hoping to purchase land in Arkham City to build manors…”
“And their purpose? We are not exactly a vacation destination.”
“Mainly for their descendants and families to reside.”
“Oh, that's passable, treating Arkham City like a vault,”
Duanmu Huai snorted coldly. Naturally, the great noblemen and merchants would have no need for such measures, for they were the local dragons on their own turf, calling the winds and summoning the rains, never having to worry about these issues. But it wasn't the same for the second-class, especially here in the Northern Land where the situation was complex. Many feared for their family's safety, and if they could settle down in Arkham City, nothing else aside, at least their safety was guaranteed.
“Business as usual, tell them that the land of Arkham belongs to the Tribunal and is for lease only, not sale. They can lease long-term, but construction blueprints must go through approval before any building is allowed,”
“Yes.”
Mistelina nodded and simultaneously fluttered her fluffy ears atop her head. This Forest Princess's smooth golden hair and ears were indeed lovely, and Duanmu Huai couldn't help but want to pinch them.
“Then there is the report from Bambi, the Church of Shawl has been completed at Underground District Number Thirteen and is already in use… Is that really okay? Isn't Shawl an evil deity?”
“Fighting an Evil God isn't as simple as a battle between good and evil. Although Shawl is classed among the evil deities… her desire not to see this world destroyed is the same. After all, if the world were to perish, she'd either have to flee or become a slave to the Chaos Evil God, and I don't think Shawl has any intention of doing that.”
In reality, it is the evil deities that hate the invasion of the Chaos Evil God the most. They're like the local mafia, after all. If an outside gang wants to take over the local one, did they even ask us?
If the benevolent deities are akin to the police station or special service agencies of the government, then the evil deities are essentially mafia gangs. The former operates with some considerations, but the latter, it's not bad if they don't double-cross you. And yet they expect me to bow down? Don't even think about it!
Especially a powerful evil deity like Shawl, who is more like the big brother of a gang–other minions might see which way the wind blows or betray, but a leader like Shawl doesn't have a choice, she must stay the course in darkness.
Therefore, Duanmu Huai tacitly allowed Shawl to build a church in his underground domain, as long as she didn't cause public trouble or confront the Tribunal, he wouldn't bother with her.
But if she dared to interfere with the Tribunal's affairs… heh, let's hope this Goddess of the Night isn't that foolish.
“There's also an application from the Heim Church…”
“Straight up reject it, no need for Heim,”
Duanmu Huai waved his hand dismissively. The Heim Church had applied several times already, but Duanmu Huai would never allow this group of good-for-nothing fools to come in. The Heim Church was beloved by the rulers of other cities because they could help maintain security; they were good dogs.
But Duanmu Huai had no need for these good dogs; weren't his own Night Guards stronger?
Tyler had even come to speak on their behalf, but Duanmu Huai truly detested Heim, likening them to an adhesive plaster: staunchly claiming a neutral law-abiding stance, yet all they did reeked of lawful evil. And they still had the audacity to act as if they were impeccably diligent, absolutely repulsive with their hypocritical righteousness, the worst kind of virtue-signaling.
As far as Duanmu Huai was concerned, Heim wasn't even as good as those evil deities. At least the latter had “I am evil” written all over their faces. If someone still got fooled by them, it was purely self-inflicted. Just like the victims of telephone fraud who, despite police warnings, insisted on wiring money–what can you do in such cases?
That will have to wait until she jumps on her own.
Heim is the kind that shouts about freedom and democracy on the surface while they have a bellyful of thieves and prostitutes working in secret.
Shameless.
“Also… there are applications from the Santalin Society and the Red Robe Mage Council of Ser.”
Mistelina turned another page.
“The Santalin Society requests to establish a base in Arkham City, and the Red Robe Mage Council hopes to build a trading post for the Red Robe Mages.”
“Hmph, they want to sneak in and smuggle, right? Denied.”
Duanmu Huai had no reason to get involved with the likes of the Santalin Society, which would do business with the Drow if the price was right, nor mingle with that group of Red Robe baldies.
Neither were up to any good.
“Another matter, the Red Robe Mage Association hopes to engage in a magic exchange with Arkham City…”
“Ann is planning something, huh.”
Seeing the troubled expression on Mistelina's face, Duanmu Huai immediately knew where the problem lay. Magic exchange events, especially between different worlds, were exactly Ann's thing; otherwise, Mistelina wouldn't have brought it up after he had already rejected it.
“Yes, Miss Ann is looking forward to it, believing that a magic exchange with the Red Robe Mage Association would be an interesting affair.”
“That's because she doesn't know how infamous those baldies are.”
Duanmu Huai snorted coldly; the reputation of Ser's Red Robe Mages was hardly better than the Devils in Hell, but… this could also be a good opportunity.
“Alright, I approve.”
Duanmu Huai thought for a moment and then nodded.
“I want to see what those Red Robe baldies will bring to sway us.”
“Next, there are some… um, not-so-good things.”
“Hmm?”
Observing Mistelina's hesitant demeanor, Duanmu Huai regarded her with curiosity.
“What's the matter that it's so hard to speak of?”
“No, ah, it's not that… it's just that recently there have been rumors from the outside world expressing discontent with Arkham City's policy against Alien entry…”
Lost Ground is the Tribunal's territory, and Arkham City is the Tribunal's city. As such, it naturally abides by the Tribunal's requirements, prohibiting Aliens, Heretics, and Demons from entering Arkham City. The last two could still be managed, but Aliens posed a bit of a problem, as on the Faelun Continent, there were quite a few races whose heads did not resemble humans, most of whom were turned away at the gates of Lost Ground.
No wonder these races were complaining.
“Let them drop dead.”
Duanmu Huai snorted coldly.
“It's the Tribunal's command. What they say outside is their business; it has nothing to do with us.”
“Yes, lastly… the current intelligence gathering is underway, and there's no sign of an invasion by the Chaos Evil God yet.”
“There's none now, but that doesn't mean there won't be in the future.”
Duanmu Huai sighed, and just then, the communicator beeped, and soon Aikute's voice emerged in Duanmu Huai's ear.
“Report, Uncle Judge, the Reconnaissance Fleet has locked onto the target!”
“Oh?”
At this, Duanmu Huai's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up.
“Excellent, I'm on my way now!”
Chapter end
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