How Am I Still Alive?-Chapter 1330 - 1316: The Enclosure

Who doesn’t want a safe and stable city? However, in most cases, it’s something this world cannot achieve.

After all, in the Eastern Country, the collective strength of those chaotic forces certainly surpasses the official authority... The titles held by the churches of the Proper Gods are both a "proof of strength" and "permit for privileges" granted by officials, as well as the price paid to ensure stability.

"Since it’s the Church of the Proper Gods, then having some ’free lands’ is also quite normal; taming some of the Exotic Races or employing some local labor is taken for granted, and even if someone dies in their own ’Territory’, it’s normal for the officials to have no say..."

Some things are lost through continual concessions, and at a certain point, they become irretrievable.

Publicly, such things are absolutely unacceptable to the officials of Eastern Country, but in the few months since Lu Ping’an arrived in this world, he had heard many similar legends and stories, most of which were true.

Even within the jurisdiction of the officials, companies and organizations affiliated with these major churches often infiltrate... The sports gym where Lu Ping’an became a Runner was built by the God of Runners, and the hospital where he was treated back then was an investment project of an organization under Lin Nu’s Church.

Public facilities, welfare facilities, even private daily necessities—these major powers have a hand in everything... Their existence might have some positive significance, but when their actions are unbound and driven solely by profit, they naturally bring about endless disasters.

Most directly, it’s widely known that steam factories have slaves and organ trading is a well-known secret, but why can’t they be eradicated? Could these crimes not be severe enough for the Special Service Team to mobilize in full? In the end, it’s because there is demand... Some even say, "If you don’t let them trade with money, they will resort to plundering and theft."

Wasn’t it a church behind the "Golden Apple" back then? The Life system, which has an endless demand for materials and test subjects, naturally extended their hands towards their own kind.

Money, power, strength—all these up-and-coming forces have them, and in their eyes, their true enemies may well have been each other... How many of those Territory managers have been eroded and controlled by them, or are even one of their own?

The more remote the region and the smaller the city, the worse this situation gets. That the Ancient City has held out until today is a blessing from the ancestors’ previous wealth.

"The Gods, as representatives of extraordinary power, are the source of turmoil... But without them, the Evil Gods and monsters from the Exotic Realm would become the new sources of conflict. Officially granting the title of Proper God, similar to ’the Seven Warlords of the Sea’, is, after all, a last resort—a choice between two evils."

In essence, they have quietly occupied the "Civilian" sector and internally divided territories... As if under such circumstances, it’s only a matter of time until they devour the country.

In fact, they have always been "plundering" the most precious things of the Eastern Country... They robbed it of "talent," taking away those rapidly progressing new-era leaders, continuously altering the balance of combat power at the High level.

They have gradually formed a "monopoly," seizing essential resources such as knowledge and weapons, forcing geniuses to seek employment under them in order to grow, or at the very least, bow their heads.

If one day all the top Big Shots become members of the Church... At that time, the Eastern Country would naturally lose its premium rights and become a true puppet.

But the Nirvana Plan changed all that, forcing them to direct their boundless energy, ambition, and appetite towards the vast expanse of space rather than the increasingly narrow earth beneath their feet.

At the same time, more and more newcomers and geniuses also had another choice besides "joining a major force like the Church."

Indeed, since the implementation of the Nirvana Plan, security in the various regions had noticeably improved... But some people cannot give up their old ways, and grasping the "meat" at hand might be easier than chasing an infinite future.

"We play by the rules... Since these churches and companies are competing for territory in private, then we can also join in."

Lu Ping’an leaked the news that Lin Nu’s Church-affiliated Rebirth Commerce plans to use the Ancient City as a base for significant development.

This kind of "exclusionary" action was clearly overstepping boundaries, and of course, it sparked disputes and internal strife...

"...All this for a third-tier city with a million residents? Is it worth it?"

"Triangle Sickle" Su Xia couldn’t quite believe it. He had just arrived at the outskirts of the city and was stopped.

"...Rule-level infighting, all for this trifling matter?"

As an old-school Rule-level, Su Xia found it difficult to believe.

He was called in by the Ancient City branch on short notice because not only were various gray forces cleaned out, but even the local Proper God Church received a notice to "strictly abide by the law and strive to be good new citizens"... This was a blatant slap in the face.

For the sake of the benefits of the Ancient City, the veteran Rule-level truly didn’t care, but if they just lost Ancient City and other cities followed suit, how could the Proper God Churches that lost their "offerings" operate as usual?

In the eyes of the real veteran Strongman, this was just another new official or Strongman going mad, thinking they could change the world with their own power.

"The child doesn’t know any better, a beating will suffice."

So, they sent out a trump card, a Strongman who should have been able to crush everything, a...

"....How could there be three Rule-level powerhouses blocking the retreat of an old man who’s retired from the frontline?"

Su Xia’s face was full of shock; he had just arrived at the Ancient city and hadn’t done anything yet, but he was already blocked by three Rule-level powerhouses.

The opponents were very young, perhaps he could have had a chance in a one-on-one contest... but there were three of them here. Hunting an eighth-tier was enough, why trouble an old salaryman like himself.

"We are Ancient city people."

"I know, but why would you occupy such a city? You’re so young, you should have a bigger stage..."

"What I mean is, we are natives born in the Ancient city."

Now, it was the turn of the seasoned Strongman to fall silent.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"All of you are?"

"Our hometown is here; we went to university in this city, joined its societies, and were nurtured here. This is our territory, by natural right."

"That may not be the case..."

Su Xia still wanted to argue, until a woman in uniform appeared before him.

She silently emerged in the middle of the road, instinctively gripping the Short Blade at her waist.

With just one glance, she drew away all of Su Xia’s attention.

"One strike, and I’ll die?"

His Spiritual intuition was warning him that he could be finished at any moment.

Meanwhile, the Rule-level Big Bear and the two iron ladies had already vaguely surrounded him.

The encirclement was slow, very slow... but Su Xia knew it was a warning from them, suggesting if he still lingered by the time they closed in, things would get serious.

"Uh. It seems I’ve gone to the wrong city; I should’ve gone to Changping..."

Having said that, the old fellow turned and left without any hesitation.

As a dignified Rule-level Strongman, wouldn’t he be treated with the utmost respect everywhere he went? Why seek death over such a trivial matter.

Even more so, the savvy old guard didn’t want to fight one-on-one, let alone clash with this newly formed Rule-level strong team.

"Let’s go, next one..."

This same scenario repeated itself throughout the night.

A total of three Rule-level powerhouses and over one hundred and thirty Decrees were "kindly" persuaded to leave.

Of course, there were some who did not take advice... Well, the suburbs are not far from the cemetery; it wouldn’t take much time to send them there.

Only after clearing away the "reinforcements" would the gray and black forces of the Ancient city truly calm down and could they possibly be expelled from the city.

And this also meant that the city might indeed achieve long-term peace and order.

But the plan that Lu Ping’an was about to implement next faced opposition from the top to the bottom of the Bureau of Anomaly Management and the Special Service Team.

"Install cameras in every street and alley of this city? Absolutely not."