I am on the Ark, a succubus, pure and innocent.

Lin Yuxia tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention, and said calmly, "Please allow me to make a brief explanation."

Then she manipulated the device on the table and projected the Terra map she had prepared beforehand onto the screen. She said to the screen full of pale red, "This is the number of Sarkaz and infected people and their treatment and crime status that have been clearly announced in various countries and regions."

"This shows that their living conditions are dire and they have virtually no human rights protections."

"They struggled and resisted, but as things stand, only the Reunion Movement managed to capture Chernobog by sheer luck. However, the overall situation remains unchanged, and the harshness of this land does not affect either of them at all."

"As for the initiators of this event, everyone has seen the fate of the Reunion Movement. They gained nothing but death, failed to change anything, and instead exacerbated the conflicts."

“If this policy is implemented now, unrest is foreseeable, and I am pessimistic about whether it will be beneficial to the reconstruction work.”

Chen Huijie slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily, saying:

So you agree with what this char siu cat said?!

She walked excitedly to the front of the curtain, pointed to the large amount of data on Ursus, and said: "There have been more than fifty large-scale uprisings by infected people in Ursus over the past thousand years. The rights and wrongs are difficult to discuss."

"But historians have all noted that it was in this chaotic crucible that the rise and fall of countless cities was determined, one after another, which is why there has been the saying of containing infected people since ancient times."

"The former emperor of Ursus broke down this barrier, allowing even Sarkaz and the Infected to have the opportunity to step onto the imperial stage, which is why Ursus prospered in the last era."

"On the second day after the new emperor ascended the throne, the old nobles launched a fierce counterattack. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Ursus emperor announced the end of this policy."

"And you have seen the oppression and resistance that followed! At the end of 1906 in the Terra calendar, this long-accumulated anger engulfed the city of Chernobog."

"I don't understand why you're all discussing the dilemmas that will arise from accepting these two options, as if the moment this policy is introduced, we're doomed."

“A little over ten days ago, I set off from Lungmen, determined to end this disaster. In the end, with the help of many people, including the Sarkaz, the infected, and other philanthropists, the disaster was averted. Wherever we went, the citizens welcomed us wholeheartedly.”

"I don't understand. Just over ten days later, and only two days after Yue'er made her promise, are we really going to betray them?!"

"In any case, as long as we work together to rebuild Chernobog, I believe the advantage will always be with us!"

Lin Yuxia took a deep breath and shook her head, saying, "This is not betrayal. I'm just stating the facts. If this policy is delayed, let them contribute to the reconstruction of Chernobog first. Wouldn't it be more logical to accept them on that basis later?"

"Oh, I know that!"

Swire raised his hand and explained, “I’ve heard that some cities have laws like this, called special citizenship, which recognize infected people who have made special contributions. Many messengers of natural disasters have received this right.”

"Hmm, if that's the case, there shouldn't be any problem with accepting Sarkaz and Infected people who have contributed to the city to a limited extent. I don't think Commander Wei would have any objections."

Chen Huijie was furious: "So you mean to measure people's value by their interests? If Chernobog is really rebuilt and developed, will we then follow the same old path as Lungmen, drive all the infected people to the slums, and then wipe them out once and for all?"

She looked at Lin Yuxia, her eyes blazing with fury: "Lin Yuxia, you know that matter best, tell me!"

Lin Yuxia stared into her eyes and said calmly, "I have nothing to say, Chen. Sometimes people's senses can be deceiving. Are you sure what you're seeing is the truth?"

Vishdel and Frostnova sat quietly to one side, eating melon seeds.

They weren't worried at all about what the three women were discussing. Ultimately, Bai Yue was the one who made the final decision, and he had never let them down.

Dede—

There was a knock on the meeting room door.

Amiya quickly broke away from the group of three girls standing together, rushed to the door, opened it, and then, seeing who it was, asked with some confusion, "Hmm, Dr. Kal'tsit, what brings you here? Have you seen Dr. White?"

Bai Yue stepped out from behind Kal'tsit, waving with a smile: "I'm here. Kal'tsit came with me."

"Huh? Oh."

Amiya was a little confused; when did these two become so close?

Moreover, the emotion emanating from Kal'tsit... is sweet and warm... is it... love?

Amiya's eyes widened.

Good heavens, what on earth happened between these two?!

But there was no time to think about such gossip at this moment. She quickly grabbed Bai Yue and said anxiously, "Dr. Bai, you should go in and take charge of the event. Those people are about to start fighting."

"what?"

Bai Yue was startled, and then heard the commotion coming from inside. She quickly said goodbye to Kal'tsit and went straight into the conference room: "Stop, stop, stop arguing. Can someone tell me what's going on?"

The scene fell silent.

Chen Huijie, her face already flushed, choked back tears, feeling an urge to cry. But looking at the women present, all of whom had close ties to Bai Yue, she swallowed her grievances.

"Ask them yourself!"

Lin Yuxia sighed and recounted the whole story without embellishing anything.

As Bai Yue listened, she sat down in the seat of honor that Amiya had offered her. After listening to the whole thing, she nodded knowingly and said, "Oh, I see."

"What's your opinion?"

Chen Huijie asked sullenly. She was a little scared, afraid of not getting the answer she wanted. What would she do if her little devil agreed to her proposal...?

All the women turned their gazes to him... oh, they never looked away, well, they just kept looking at him, waiting for his answer.

Bai Yue nodded first: "Beatles and Sister Yuxia are right."

Upon hearing this, Shi Huaiya, Lin Yuxia, and Chen Huijie all felt deflated.

The first two knew there was a "but" at the end, but Chen Huijie, blinded by her emotions, had no time to consider the meaning behind the words.

Vishdel frowned slightly, but still chose to trust his little one. Frostnova wasn't flustered at all; having followed him closely for so many days, she roughly understood his habits.

What he says at the beginning is not important; what matters is what he concludes at the end.

Bai Yue glanced back at the map still on the screen, quickly scanned the data, and then, combining it with what he knew from the past, mentally organized his thoughts before saying:

"Indeed, the situation of the Sarkaz and the infected is not optimistic. Although they are treated unfairly, even harshly, it is also a fact that they have a high probability of committing extreme crimes."

“We are not children anymore. We have no obligation to take them into our homes just because we pity them. If people like them are placed in a relatively stable environment, they may transfer the harm they suffered in the past onto the people around them.”

"If we accept them in large numbers, the city's security will inevitably plummet, and unnecessary risks will increase exponentially."

"Chen Chen, are you right?" Bai Yue asked her calmly.

Chen Huijie clenched her fists, wanting to argue and give these poor people a glimmer of hope, but past experience and her strong sense of reason told her...

"Yes, there is indeed such a risk."

She first agreed, then patted her chest and said:

“But extremists are always a minority. As long as relevant checks are done and isolation is carried out at fixed times and locations, these things can be prevented. As long as the relevant framework is established at the beginning of the city’s development, it is not a difficult thing.”

Swire scoffed and spread his hands, saying, "What about the costs and subsequent investments? You have to understand that the vast majority of people in these two groups have neither education nor technical skills."

"If we really accept them as you say, what will happen to their livelihood in the city?"

"Of course, we can set up literacy classes and skills classes to teach them, but what about the time frame? How do we calculate the cost of training them for at least two or three years? During this period, we also need to take care of their food, clothing, and accommodation. Where will that money come from?"

"Do you intend to use taxpayers' money to do this kind of thing?"

"Not only that."

Lin Yuxia continued, "These are all minor issues. Perhaps what you're saying can be done at the beginning of urban reconstruction, but five or ten years later, will the citizens living in the city who are settled still be willing to accept these unstable groups?"

"No, it can't be, it's impossible, because that's human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. Chen, you should understand this principle."

"I understand, of course I understand!"

Chen Huijie gritted her teeth and said, "Does it have to be so cold-blooded? I just don't believe that those who receive help first won't lend a helping hand to those who come later?"

"Even with such initial attempts, as long as the relevant detailed rules are formulated and the law is used to regulate it, this matter can still be carried out!"

"Can't we all be a little more optimistic?!"

The sound fell silent.

Bai Yue sat in the main seat and could easily see the expressions on everyone's faces.

Swire's face held a slightly arrogant expression that said, "Here comes the consequence of your careless talk. Let's see how you get out of this," mixed with a hint of longing for someone she hadn't seen for several days.

Lin Yuxia's expression remained calm, though she would occasionally glance at Chen Huijie, a hint of barely perceptible envy in her eyes.

Who wouldn't want to be a hero who dares to speak out? But someone always has to bear the shadows beneath the light.

Chen Huijie's expression was firm, but there was still a hint of grievance in her eyes as she looked at Bai Yue. How could you change your mind so easily?

Vishdel's eyes were blank; he couldn't understand a word they were saying! But, hehe, the little guy is so cute.

Froststar had read some books, so she was thinking about it. She now felt that both sides had some merit. The Chernobog incident had already proven one thing: extremists are capable of doing extreme things.

Even if they had a pitiful past, their danger cannot be ignored, but it's also wrong to stand by and watch them die...

Amiya is currently extremely conflicted. She has been intensely engaging with Rhodes Island's internal forums for the past two days. Many operators have high expectations for the new policies in Chernobog, and some are even planning to leave the island and settle down there.

She wasn't worried about losing staff or anything like that.

Although it's a pity, she would still wish all operators well if they could live the lives they wanted, as all operators have the right to choose.

But what if this dream just falls through...?

How many operators must be crying their pillows dry at night?

Bai Yue looked around and then nodded: "Yes, you're all right, you all make sense. This city has so many problems now and in the future."

"But haven't you forgotten one thing?"

"What's the problem?" Swire asked, voicing everyone's question.

Bai Yue pointed to herself: "Who am I?"

Swire was somewhat puzzled: "Who else could you be? Aren't you Bai Yue?"

Lin Yuxia understood his meaning and explained to Swire, "Yes and no, Bai Yue is his name, but now he is also called Dmitry Ekaterinanovich Ulrich, as you know."

"Oh."

Swire tapped her head, as if she remembered, but then asked doubtfully, "But what does it have to do with this name?"

That's not the point!

Bai Yue waved his hand, patted his chest, and laughed, "Don't forget the title of Earl of Chernobog I received. Legally, everything in Chernobog belongs to me."

"Therefore, the future Chernobog and Lungmen, as modern cities, will be very different."

“I am the source of all power here, everything here belongs to me, and I decide how to distribute everything here. As long as I control the armed forces, no interest group can oppress me.”

“From this perspective, the Sarkaz and the Infected are my natural foundation for domination. They may have many flaws, but they are irreplaceable in one aspect.”

"That means they can only rely on me."

"As Sister Yuxia just said, in five or ten years, ordinary citizens will collectively reject unstable factors. But why is that? I think everyone knows the answer: it's the birth of interest groups."

"They are conservative, corrupt, and utterly unambitious; they are undoubtedly parasites in the city."

"Can I continue to rely on termites to govern the city?"

"Of course not. Therefore, proper self-cleaning is necessary, and Sarkaz and Infected are two very good ways to achieve this. Although the cost of cultivating them will be slightly higher, there is no doubt that as long as the initial cultivation is completed, they will provide value to me as long as they live in this city."

“I give them a place to belong, and they give me value in return. That makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?”

"Does it have to be so pragmatic?" Chen Huijie muttered.

Bai Yue tilted her head, puzzled, and asked, "Chen Chen, what did you say?"

"Huh?" Chen Huijie shuddered. "I say Your Highness is right."

Bai Yue rolled her eyes at her: "Don't call me Your Highness, it feels really uncomfortable to hear you say it."

Then he smiled at Swire and said, "Beatlex, your concerns are certainly valid, but given my noble status, a solid foundation for rule is far more important than money."

"So we shouldn't worry about the cost in this regard. Sooner or later, they will come in handy."

Swire snorted and pouted, "Alright, alright, I know. Honestly. Even Victoria doesn't have such an outrageous nobleman like you. At least there's a parliament to check and balance them."

Bai Yue smiled innocently and said, "I'm also under the Imperial Council."

"Don't talk about that!"

Swire said speechlessly, "Parliament is Parliament. Victoria's human rights bills from years ago have already limited the rights of the nobility. With the rise of new nobles, the old-established local fiefdom nobles in Victoria have long been out of favor."

"No one can control the local power like you do now. Even the eight dukes have a bunch of people waiting to be eaten under their command. They're not as comfortable as you are."

“Once Chernobog is truly rebuilt, I reckon even His Majesty at St. John's Castle won't have it as easy as you.”

"That's an exaggeration, that's an exaggeration." Bai Yue quickly waved her hand, then looked at the others: "Sister Yuxia, Vishdel, Frostnova, Amiya, do you have any questions?"

Amiya was the first to shake her head. She was only sitting there to witness the cooperation between the two parties, and there was no need for her to say anything.

Lin Yuxia smiled helplessly, her eyes filled with the feeling that 'the child has grown up,' and shook her head slightly: "The idea is very mature, I have nothing to say, let's see how it is implemented."

Vishdale smiled faintly: "I'll do whatever you say."