Chapter 167: Drinking from the Source

Apollo Punishment Fleet Estimated Arrival Time: 48 days later.

Oasis City was completely pacified, and social order was fully restored. Lu Yuan appointed Cheng Yun as the Mayor, and at the same time instructed his butler to take on a portion of the city's management.

He didn't want to personally manage 70,000 people; managing one Cangyuan was already exhausting enough.

After confirming that the city no longer required his daily oversight, Lu Yuan began a new mission, preparing to log in and explore the newly discovered jungle planet.

Developing aerospace industry was very important, but scientific research, in some respects, was even more crucial.

If something extraordinary were to be unearthed, it would be a technological leap forward, yielding greater benefits than simply toiling away.

The armed transport plane needed for the mission was in position, and all personnel had been briefed face-to-face. Chang Kong served as the pilot, Jubian and Nan Guo de Xue as scientific officers, and Black Smoke as the onboard Engineer, to prevent anything from breaking down midway.

The remaining ground exploration force was an elite player team consisting of Caoyuan, Ye Xing, Ma Lou, Guo Li Cheng, and Lu Yuan himself.

It was truly a gathering of talents.

The secret of the second wormhole would temporarily be confined to these eight individuals.

Before leaving, Lu Yuan had Cheng Yun take him on another tour of the city to inspect the latest construction progress.

"We've re-planned the workers' hours. Although it's still a three-shift system, as per your request, each shift works no more than 10 hours, and they are guaranteed at least a 10-minute break every hour," Cheng Yun said to Lu Yuan, who was in the passenger seat, as he drove.

"Additionally, I plan to distribute the Oasis Coins left by the City Lord to the citizens on a per capita basis."

Lu Yuan understood that giving money to everyone wouldn't solve any real problems; it would only make everyone happy in the short term and boost his prestige.

Because the city's production capacity hadn't changed, the same amount of goods were still being produced daily.

In such a situation, giving money to everyone was equivalent to giving money to no one, and prices would skyrocket.

Furthermore, after severing ties with the Raiders, the speed of wealth accumulation would slow down.

Of course, once citizens had cash in hand, the volume of transactions between them would definitely increase, but the result of these transactions would likely be the emergence of a few "super-rich."

Money tends to gather in the hands of those who are not short of it. Those astute merchants who had smelled the war coming and had stocked up on goods early would be the ultimate beneficiaries of this city-wide money giveaway.

Lu Yuan thought for a moment, hesitated, and then decided against having Cheng Yun control prices or crack down on speculation.

These actions would treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

It was imperative to quickly improve Oasis City's production efficiency, continuously upgrade technology, expand existing factories, build new factories, and simultaneously increase residents' disposable income and the variety of goods on the market.

He wanted humanoid robots to replace the more mechanical and repetitive jobs on the production lines. Afterwards, while continuing to pay the idle workers, he would urge them to attend vocational schools, learn new skills, and provide additional bonuses to those with excellent academic performance.

After completing their studies, the workers would immediately be sent to work in the small factories contracted by players, making them the first people in the city to become rich, wearing beautiful new clothes, using stylish Cangyuan home appliances, and actively promoting Cangyuan's policies. He wanted those who didn't work for Cangyuan to be envious, the more envious the better.

He also wanted the 70,000 people of Oasis City to fully unleash their wisdom and potential and actively undertake Cangyuan's basic industries.

Later, when Oasis City, like Red Iron Town, culturally fully accepted Cangyuan and its economic assets were highly integrated with Cangyuan, making them indistinguishable, they could consider forming Cangyuan's joint venture subsidiaries with Oasis City and Red Iron Town as the main entities.

This would both strengthen friendly cooperative relations with the indigenous people and reduce the difficulty of managing a massive interstellar enterprise.

This was Lu Yuan's ultimate goal.

"Is there a shortage of food in the city now?"

"There's no shortage of food," Cheng Yun replied. "You can rest assured about that. I've already sent people to set up a restricted area around the city's granary. Anyone who dares to step inside will be shot on sight!"

Hmm, not bad. Cheng Yun indeed had some insight.

Granaries must be strictly guarded, otherwise, a bad element throwing a Molotov cocktail from 20 meters away would be enough to trigger a city-wide crisis.

As long as safety, food, and water were not an issue, then construction could proceed boldly.

"Long-range, high-power weapons like rocket launchers should be collected from the populace as soon as possible. A deadline can be set to offer bonuses to those who voluntarily turn them in."

Lu Yuan reminded him.

"Also, don't distribute all of the City Lord's Oasis Coins at once. I'll have my butler give you a timetable, and you can distribute them according to that."

"Yes, Executive Officer!"

Lu Yuan sent his recent ideas to his butler, tasking it with figuring out how to convert them into concrete policies. Before he knew it, the car had arrived at the palace's front plaza.

"That area has already begun to be converted into a civic center, as per your instructions," Cheng Yun said, pointing to the city hall.

"As for the City Lord's Palace, how do you think it should be handled? It's too luxurious inside. If we were to work or live there, it might not be quite appropriate and could easily stir up emotions among the citizens."

"Indeed, it's not quite appropriate," Lu Yuan nodded.

"So, tear it all down? After all, the citizens don't have a good impression of the palace either. This building carries too many painful memories."

Lu Yuan gazed up at the majestic building before him and pondered for a moment.

"What you're saying is a bit biased. The building itself is innocent, and it embodies the wisdom and sweat of the laborers."

"Then you mean—"

"Convert it into a museum. Let the citizens visit and cool off there for free anytime. The former servants can be trained as staff, and the city hall will pay their wages. I assume you know what a museum is, right?"

Cheng Yun nodded: "I've read about it in books! That's a great idea, why didn't I think of it!"

"Hmm--then that matter is settled. Is there anything else you need me to see?"

"Only 'that' remains."

The two drove across the bridge and arrived at the foot of the pyramid. Cheng Yun had stationed many guards there. Citizens were no longer allowed to ascend the island where the pyramid was located, especially the followers of the "Aetheric Divine Race."

"My suggestion is to close this place as soon as possible and completely free the city from the influence of the church," Cheng Yun said.

"The church certainly needs to close down, worship activities must stop, and the clergy need to be re-educated," Lu Yuan said, "but the pyramid can remain open, allowing former believers to come and sit. They still have feelings for this place."

"But sir, if we do that, the influence of religion will—"

Lu Yuan looked at Cheng Yun, his gaze calm.

"I personally believe that most believers put their faith in gods and buddhas because they live difficult lives, with desires, grievances, and unmet needs in their hearts."

"If we truly want to break free from the influence of religion, then we should make the citizens understand that their needs can be met through means other than praying to gods, such as civilized systems, sound laws, and advanced technology."

"We must have this kind of confidence. Otherwise, even if we level this place, the citizens will still build temples of superstition in their hearts; it will be useless."

"As for those who believe deeply, we need to show them the truth of this false religious scam. My Scholar is currently researching the machine that created the 'Reservoir Miracle' at the top of the pyramid. Send someone to find him, take some photos and videos, conduct an interview, and then create an image propaganda corridor on both sides of the bridge leading to the island, so that everyone who comes here can see it."

"I think, if there are kind believers who believed in the so-called 'Aetheric Divine Race' for some beautiful wish in their hearts, then after seeing the truth and calming their emotions, they will surely be able to transfer their passion to endeavors that truly benefit humanity."

"...Alright, I'll do it immediately!"

Cheng Yun was immensely relieved, and his respect for Lu Yuan in his heart directly soared from admiration to worship.

This was truly a perfect ruler. His thinking, his methods, his speaking ability, and his ability to solve practical problems all far exceeded the most optimistic previous estimates.

Oasis City had waited for three centuries and finally found its "chosen one."

He must not disappoint the Executive Officer; he must do a good job as Mayor!

"Alright, anything else?"

"Actually, there's also a personal request from my daughter," Cheng Yun said, a bit embarrassed. "She invited you to the top of the pyramid to enjoy the view. She's already waiting inside."

"Oh? Then let's go. I actually want to see it from a high place too."

It had been a long time since he had relaxed!

"Please follow me, Executive Officer!"

Cheng Lei, full of youthful vigor, climbed the stairs like an agile deer, leading the way, her slightly curly black hair bouncing as she moved.

Lu Yuan smiled and followed.

The two arrived at the observation deck at the top of the pyramid, more than 150 meters above the ground, allowing their view to extend beyond the city's low-lying terrain and out to the vast Desert.

"Your camp is over there!"

Cheng Lei stood in the sun and wind, pointing in the west-northwest direction.

"The road directly to the west leads to Red Iron Town. Look, the caravans are heading that way now; it's estimated that trade will resume very soon!"

Then, she pointed to the city below, her voice suddenly catching.

"Look, that's where my family used to live. The one with the playground is the school I attended. That building is where my father first worked; I would go find him after Fang Xue Hou Tian Tai Jian. And over there, across the reservoir, that's the city cemetery, where we buried my mother. This is our Desert, where we've lived for generations—a barren land, with scorching sun, where not a single drop of rain has fallen for 300 years. It's neither beautiful nor gentle; everyone has to exert their utmost just to survive, but it's my only home."

Cheng Lei turned around, tears filling her eyes.

"I've never loved my hometown as deeply as I do now, Executive Officer. Do you know why?"

Lu Yuan gently shook his head.

"Because today, I finally don't have to just comfort myself. I can finally confirm, from the bottom of my heart, that my hometown will get better and better in the future."

Cheng Lei placed a hand on her chest and bowed.

"Thank you, Executive Officer. Thank you for bringing peace, justice, and prosperity to this long-suffering land."

As Lu Yuan departed Li Star aboard the armed transport plane, construction work in the city fully commenced.

The citizens' new lives had begun.

Cheng Lei no longer had to pretend to be a frivolous young lady. She adopted a more capable short hairstyle, completely breaking from the past, and fully assisted her father in handling the city's affairs, big and small.

Barry took his younger sister and his recovered mother, and the whole family went for a walk by the reservoir after sunset, which was now fully open to citizens.

Philip mustered his courage, knocked on the door of his best friend's house from the past, and decided to confess and apologize to his parents.

Stone Bro packed his bags, started his all-terrain vehicle, and, filled with infinite longing for the future, crossed the Desert alone to the space base in Red Iron Town, determined to find a job and learn something there.

Some players were touring the city, buying various local snacks and souvenirs, while others had already ventured into the Eastern Desert, which they had never set foot in before.

In that "new map," new Raiders camps and underground dungeon clusters awaited them.

Fang Xue Hou Tian Tai Jian and Zhongxiaye, two game artists, received a special mission from the Executive Officer and were building a monument in front of the city museum.

The monument's main body was a tall statue, depicting the first Mayor of Oasis City. He stood in a spacesuit, head held high, gazing at the vast sky he never forgot, even in death.

"Here lies the 'Captain,' the founder of Oasis City, a UEG warrior from humanity's golden age."

"The apocalypse did not defeat him; he is the pride of the human race."

Below, on the monument's base, the entire contents of "The Captain's Diary" were intricately engraved.

As well as the epitaph written by the Executive Officer himself for the Captain.

"The water of Canglang always has its source."

"No matter how far we stray from home, we should never forget who we are and where we came from."