Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 771 - 563 Empire unification?_2

Especially as Bai E's influence in Blackwater City grew stronger, the bond between the two cities deepened.

However, upon hearing the doctor's question, Bai E's face froze in surprise, not expecting to hear this unfamiliar term, "A messenger from the capital?"

There was no need for Bai E to hide anything regarding this matter. Seeing Bai E's expression, the doctor felt somewhat disappointed, "It seems you don't know... or could it be that the messenger just happened to depart around the same time you did?"

After all, the timing of Bai E leading people to the Intelligent Mechanism Base and the arrival of the messenger from the capital to Grey Iron City seemed to be closely spaced.

Bai E furrowed his brows slightly and took the initiative to ask, "The messenger from the capital, what news did he bring?"

The doctor didn't beat around the bush, but sighed softly with a serious look, "Unification."

Although today all the cities still claim the identity of the "Empire" on the surface, the entity that was the Empire had long existed in name only, with cities governing themselves separately, each clearing the snow from their own thresholds.

Cities with nearby insect nests, Beastman Plantations, or large Intelligent Mechanism Bases, these kinds of natural disaster-like entities, naturally had more difficult lives. They could either go extinct and relocate or, like early Blackwater City, endure hardships while hoping for a counterattack.

Cities without such natural disasters nearby naturally experienced a more peaceful life, but in these times, peace wasn't within easy reach.

Without sufficient external pressure, unity within was hard to achieve.

Not to mention that the distance from the three major disasters was only relative.

The wilderness was never safe, so cities further away couldn't necessarily rest easy either.

Each city's development varied, among them... The "capital," inheriting the most gifts from the Golden Age, was naturally the strongest among the struggling cities of this chaotic world.

And now... this strongest city intended to once again unify humanity, to forge yet another super empire.

"Is it feasible?" Bai E frowned.

The Empire was scattered due to internal strife and external threats, not natural division.

It was because the wilderness was too dangerous that the flights and the wilderness railways were gradually abandoned due to their high loss rates.

Additionally, with the sealing of network technology, the cities couldn't exchange information timely and gradually became isolated.

Under various reasons, the Empire that once was eventually became a mere formality.

No one spoke of "division."

But the communication between each city was indeed shallow, everyone minding their own business.

Now, the capital aimed to restore the grandeur of a great unified era. The first challenge it faced were these inherent difficulties that had invisibly split and dissolved the former empire.

"Nobody knows, but they want to try," the doctor said gravely, "The news of you guys taking down the Electronic Demon is known by most cities now. The reboot of network technology is underway, and I believe the fruits of this labor will soon be seen. With that, communication won't be a big issue. The only challenge left will be the disasters in the wild."

"As for those disasters... the capital's intention is to call upon neighboring cities to cooperate sincerely in the name of the Empire, to consolidate all exploitable forces, and remove every troublesome element that hinders our development! Especially for those cities far from the sources of disasters, without external enemies, these cities' strength is being exhausted in constant infighting. It would be better to direct their energy against external foes.

As for the cities that have been surviving on the edges of the disaster source until now, they are actually not much weaker than the sources of disaster. If they had the help of allies with equivalent power, even at a great cost, they should be able to remove those dangerous sources."

When necessary, the Imperial Capital would even send out powerful warriors or armies to help, striving to sweep out a vast expanse of territory where humanity could live safely and securely.

The most important thing was that the social structure of cities governing themselves independently had been explored to its limits. The greatness of one or two cities could ultimately not change the fate of all humanity. The Imperial Capital had reached the end of its urban form, and at such a critical juncture, not advancing meant retreating! If humanity did not unite, it would slowly perish over time."

This was the message from the messenger, and it was said to be the intent of that great personage in the Imperial Capital.

The moment to change the fate of humanity had arrived!

"So, what are you worried about?" Bai E looked at the doctor.

It sounded like goodwill, that apart from requiring some complacent cities to send troops to aid their allies, it should be good news for most other cities.

But the doctor's hesitation surely came from his concerns.

The doctor sighed lightly, his gaze distant, "I lived through the time when the Empire had not yet completely fallen. I know all too well the ways those people operate. Where there is help, there is also abandonment. With humanity's current strength, it's very difficult to clear all sources of calamity from the map. At most, vast 'safe zones' could only be established in regions centered around the Imperial Capital or in some important mining areas. That way, it might just barely be possible to return to the Empire's former glory and also gather the power of all cities within the 'safe zones' to achieve another leap in developmental strength. free𝑤ebnovel.com

However... that's only for the cities within the 'safe zones.' As for those outside the 'safe zones,' they might have to give up their own cities, either to be exploited or to relocate because they fall under the jurisdiction of the 'new Empire.'

Whether it's exploitation or relocation, for so many people in a city, neither is a good outcome. The existing cities, no matter how dilapidated, can still provide for most people with some patching up. But with this plan's execution, who knows how many will die on the road to unification!"

And our Grey Iron City, including your Blackwater City, is not close to the Imperial Capital. The mines nearby... for the Empire, they are certainly not rich. Joining this plan could very likely mean being on the side that's exploited. There are uncertainties too, but... it's unclear."

"What uncertainties are you referring to?"

"You," the doctor steadfastly gazed at Bai E, "as the core remnants of the Root Server are currently in your hands, and the electronic demon died by your hand too. If there is any reason for the Empire to take serious notice of us, it can only be because of that Root Server. However, the Root Server differs from mines and such; it requires only the regular maintenance by its internal staff and the ability to protect that small area itself, not needing frequent material exchanges with the outside world. So, whether the reborn Empire will carve out a large 'safe zone' around this server base, which doesn't actually need much safe space, remains unknown."

Upon hearing this, Bai E fell into deep thought.

The doctor's considerations certainly had their rationale.

But the Imperial Capital's plan was also considered for the future of humanity.

Each city being independent is inevitably detrimental to humanity's future.

The size of the city limits human production capacity.

Throughout history, anything has been done more efficiently through division of labor.

If there is no communication between cities, each city must first satisfy the survival needs of its population before using any remaining resources to produce materials for external expansion.

But if cities could cooperate and communicate with each other, then those producing survival materials would focus on survival materials, those producing war materials would focus on war materials, miners would mine, and experts would refine their craft.

Only this way can the overall level of production be raised, achieving another great revival of human civilization.

Were Bai E in the Imperial Capital's position, he might also wish to implement this plan.

But for the many cities far from the core, such as Blackwater City including Grey Iron City, the plan's impact on the cities is likely too difficult to accept.