Resurrection Empire

When Ren Zhong returned to Starfire Town by car, it was already six thirty in the evening.

Since the airship was the mayoral vehicle of Ma Dafu, Ren Zhong didn't want to make it seem too privileged, so he first had the car stop at the town hall before walking to the new Starfire Resources by himself.

At this time, the blue sun was slanting west, the small moon was rising, and the large moon was restless below the horizon.

In the White Wall District, there were few pedestrians and hardly anyone was moving.

Since Yang Bingzhong's arrest, the atmosphere in Starfire Town had become polarized.

The outlanders were celebrating universally, while the atmosphere among the citizens had dramatically declined.

Starting from yesterday, the hundreds of citizens in the town became reluctant to go out, and today they basically stayed in their villas all day.

These citizens usually had some work around the town, but the intensity wasn't high, making it optional to attend.

Now, not going out meant they had already made a decision.

Even though Yang Bingzhong was dead, they intended to comply with the demands of the Mengdu Group and Purple Crystal Mining and planned to use their votes as knives to kill all the outlanders during the voting phase after the Pu Cha.

Ren Zhong was unsure whether the citizens' reluctance to go out stemmed from a guilty conscience, feeling ashamed to face the outlanders who supported them, or if they thought these people were as good as dead and decided not to deal with them to maintain peace of mind.

Alternatively, the citizens might have been afraid that some well-informed outlanders harbored resentment towards them and might retaliate in a one-for-one exchange.

Ren Zhong sincerely hoped their motivation was the first type, which would make them barely human.

But Ren Zhong also knew the likelihood was very small; it was just his wishful thinking.

As he passed by the gate of White Wall, Ren Zhong noticed the guards had doubled compared to usual.

Above the White Wall, there were many flashy automated installations, lacking a systematic approach but overbearing in volume.

Undoubtedly, these were the security facilities paid for by the citizens themselves, reminiscent of how a better world behind the White Wall could be achieved if everyone contributed.

Ren Zhong thought, if it weren't for the restrictions on low-level citizens due to the residency and job distribution policies, who were required to stay for the Pu Cha and voting, they would probably wish to fly away as far as they could.

Exiting the White Wall and entering the slums, the ambiance changed abruptly.

Many outlanders were actively present in the streets, with some selling various second-hand goods and others bartering.

The outlanders' expressions no longer bore the previous numbness, with a flicker of spirit in their eyes.

Even the tone of the women working the streets to attract patrons had risen.

There were also groups of three or five gathered at street corners, some with guns, some with bullets, and others laying knives on the ground.

These formerly idle and low-level outlanders were discussing forming a brand-new semi-professional Scavenger Team.

They might not be able to leave the town too far or venture into dangerous places.

Even dealing with a First Level Ruined Beast would require them to risk their lives.

Some of them might die outside, but certainly, some of them could return alive.

Yet they began to have courage and determination to try.

It was clearly just a change of bosses, and Ren Zhong hadn't even had time to announce the new policy. Liao Yuan County's Resource Company hadn't yet enabled procurement permissions in the system, but the outlanders' enthusiasm seemed to be quietly rekindled.

A few sparks emerged from the dark ashes.

In fact, the simple wish for a better life has always been hidden deep within everyone's heart, only sometimes rendered powerless, leading to living numb like a walking corpse.

Although the people in this town had long been living under the shadow of Yang Bingzhong, almost suffocated, even about to forget what a better life should be like.

Yet the human instinct for pursuit has never been extinguished.

The moment the pillow is slightly lifted, human instinct pushes them to take deep breaths, trying to intake more fresh air.

Ren Zhong felt comforted by this, yet also somewhat helpless.

He turned around and quickly walked back inside the White Wall.

...

At six fifty in the evening, the plaza at new Starfire Resources was already packed with people.

The queues in front of the two resource recycling platforms had wound around the plaza nearly twice.

No one was maintaining order, yet the scene was neat and orderly.

Everyone was eagerly looking forward, silent as the grave.

They were so eager for the Resource Company to return that, in unison, they stood like a disciplined army to leave a good impression on the new boss.

There were still ten minutes until the Liao Yuan Resources permissions would be enabled.

In ten minutes, new Starfire Resources would reboot the Ruined Beast procurement.