Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1011 - 699: Tender Shoulders (2)

"Maybe he never intended to come back! The universe is so vast, resources so abundant, he left with the most elite forces, leaving us 'burdens' on this decaying planet to fend for ourselves!"

"What 'finding a fundamental solution'? It's just a pretty excuse to abandon us! He was long fed up with this planet full of bugs, demons, and beastmen!"

"Kiro Lan and Morphie? They're just a couple of kids still wet behind the ears! Sitting in high positions under Bai E's shadow, what right do they have to lead all of humanity? What ability do they have to deal with the monsters underground and the high-dimensional erosion? Following them, we're only on a path to death!"

These remarks, mixed with prevalent anxiety and pessimism, are highly inflammatory.

They precisely exploit people's fear of the future, apprehension after losing their leader, and the innate doubt about the capabilities of the young leaders Kiro Lan and Morphie.

Some who harbored dissent, or representatives of old forces whose interests were harmed during Bai E's integration of the federation, and the city's real power figures, have begun to stir up trouble, riding the tide.

In the northern industrial stronghold "Anvil City," far from the federation's core, its city lord—a descendant of an old warlord famous for iron-fist rule and conservativeness—almost publicly proclaimed at an internal meeting:

"Bai E? He might be a hero, but the age of heroes is over! Whether he's alive or dead, we don't know. Should we entrust the fate of the hundreds of thousands in 'Anvil City' to a green girl who rose to power through connections with the former leader and a brash young man who's only good at fighting?"

"Look at now! Those endless bugs are reappearing, Spiritual Ability Users are going mad at the drop of a hat, beastmen are causing trouble everywhere, what solutions do they have? Our 'Anvil City' has a complete industrial system and a strong city defense army. We can fully defend ourselves and even perhaps... become the leaders of a new era! I propose that 'Anvil City' suspend a portion of the key materials and tax submissions to the federal center immediately, with everything prioritizing local defense and reconstruction!"

This is almost a declaration of de facto independence.

In the eastern coastal trade hub "Ming Pearl Port," a group of emerging trade consortium leaders and former local council members proposed another plan.

"Bai E might return, but we can't put all our eggs in one basket. Miss Kiro Lan's governance... relies too heavily on Spiritual Ability Users and those 'direct line' from Blackwater City, neglecting the interests of us peripheral cities."

"The federation's system needs reform! We should reconvene the General Assembly of City Representatives and elect a new, more representative leadership core, instead of always letting the people from Blackwater City hold the highest power!"

Their goal is to promote "democratic elections," trying to weaken or even replace Kiro Lan's leadership through legal procedures.

And the goal of these people is undoubtedly the "Scientific Research Institute," which currently gathers the entire planet's scientific power representing the highest level of technology.

Although Helen and other core seniors firmly support Kiro Lan, among groups of top scientists and engineers who joined later from other cities, discordant voices gradually emerged.

Some secretly linked up, arguing that "cutting-edge technology shouldn't be monopolized by Blackwater City but 'shared' with all capable and contributive cities to collectively advance development."

Behind this is the covetousness of certain forces for the core legacies left by Bai E, such as "Starship Technology," "Storm Battle Armor Modification Technology," and "Advanced Spiritual Applications."

Moreover, a few ambitious individuals fantasize about acquiring these technologies to arm their forces, thereby achieving technological dominance to rule the globe, recreating Bai E's past glory.

These undercurrents gradually grew from private discussions and small-scale connections to public questioning, passive compliance with central orders, and even partial confrontations.

Kiro Lan received more than one report:

A certain city, under the pretext of "defending against underground threats," refused to dispatch the promised Spiritual Ability Users to support other regions more severely eroded by high dimensions.

A local city's border defense army deliberately "delayed" actions against beastman harassment, causing a neighboring city friendly to the center to suffer greater losses.

At the federal routine meetings, representatives from different cities began bickering over resource allocation, military command, and technology sharing, openly defying Kiro Lan's proposals for enhanced overall monitoring and integrative defense.

"What are they trying to do?!" Morphie angrily slammed the table during an internal meeting, "How long has it been since the leader left? The underground monsters haven't even emerged, and the high-dimensional demons are still whispering in our ears, yet they're already scrambling for power, each going their own way? Without the leader unifying global forces, can any of their cities face the Bug Race alone? Can they withstand high-dimensional erosion?"

Kiro Lan's complexion was paler than ever, not only due to the excessive consumption of spiritual energy but also because of this pressure from within, akin to betrayal.

She understood better than Morphie the complexity of politics and the fickleness of people's hearts.

Bai E was like blazing sunlight, dispelling all gloom, making villains afraid to show themselves.

But now, with the sun traveling afar, starlight, though bright, is insufficient to deter all the treacherous tricks lurking in the shadows.

"Because they are afraid, and... they have different thoughts now."

Kiro Lan's voice was somewhat weary but still maintained a cool analysis, "Afraid of losing the existing power and resources, afraid that under our leadership, instead of overcoming the crisis, they will perish. At the same time, they also see 'opportunity'—an opportunity to escape central control, or even replace it. The leader's extended absence gave them courage and an excuse."

She walked to the window, looking down at the city pieced together by Bai E, now surging with undertones.

"The professor and Helen over there can still stabilize the core scientific system, and there are many veterans loyal to the leader and the backbone of the Storm Battle Group in the army. But the local administration and some parts of the military... people's hearts have begun to scatter."

"So what do we do?" Morphie asked urgently, "Do we just watch them split the federation? It's something the leader painstakingly built!"

Kiro Lan turned around, a hint of resolve flashing in her eyes: "Of course not. But we can't, like the leader, simply rely on personal prestige and force to suppress everything. Doing so will only incite stronger backlash and even lead to internal collapse during times of crisis."

She recalled the political savvy Bai E once demonstrated when integrating various sides and some words said while teaching her.

"We need to take action, but it can't be simple suppression."

Kiro Lan began to devise strategies, "First, we must strengthen intelligence work, clarify who is simply wavering and self-preserving, and who are the true ambitious and separatists. For the former, we need to strengthen communication and reassurance, share some non-core monitoring data, letting them realize that the crisis is overarching, survival is impossible alone; simultaneously, we need to demonstrate that we still have the ability and determination to address the crisis, for instance... organizing a few directly-commanded, clean and decisive joint operations against beastman harassment."

"As for the latter..." Kiro Lan's eyes grew cold, "We need to gather evidence and conduct precise strikes or isolation before they cause substantial harm. We can leverage the forces of the Spiritual Power Managers Center and Arbitration Place, under pretenses such as 'investigating high-dimensional erosion' or 'cleaning up internal instabilities.' At the same time, we need to rally the centrists, especially those city leaders and military commanders who remain on the fence and have old sentiments for the leader. Perhaps... I need to personally visit some key regions."

"That's too dangerous!" Morphie immediately opposed, "It's so chaotic outside now, who knows what those people will do?"

"Some risks must be taken."

Kiro Lan shook her head, "We can't always stay in Blackwater City waiting. The leader entrusted this place to us, not just to guard the city but to uphold the ideal of 'human unity' he fought for. If the federation falls apart in our hands, when the leader returns... how could we face him?"

She looked at Morphie, her tone firm: "Morphie, you stay in the center, assist Helen and the professor in stabilizing the research and core military industry, while leading the rapid response team to maintain the ability to suppress emergent threats. Internal stability and diplomatic negotiations... that's on me."

After the leader left, Kiro Lan felt she should bear everything.

Only this way, when the leader returns, will he see a piece of clean and intact land...