Ch.309Normalization (2)

“Damn it…”

The monarchs of neighboring countries clutched their heads as they examined the reports.

The reports they were looking at showed the production output of Karluk City, and the figures displayed a bizarre trend—a vertical drop followed by a vertical rise over the course of several months.

The vertical drop represented the period when Karluk was going through the process of becoming “healthy,” while the vertical rise showed the figures after Karluk had “normalized.”

Of course, this meant they had successfully overcome temporary chaos through industrial mechanization, automation, and higher education for their citizens, who were now finding better quality and higher-paying jobs. There was absolutely no reason for cursing, but the problem was the fundamental reason behind these figures.

“Does this mean human governance cannot compare to divine governance…?”

Yes. All of this was possible because of the Sun God’s arrangements. If the Sun God hadn’t properly controlled anger and hatred, Karluk would have become a hellscape by now, with its members engaged in fratricidal conflict until death, forming a perfect Ouroboros chain of hatred and rage.

However, because a god—a being beyond human comprehension—was guiding them, the nation wasn’t swayed by “mere” emotions like hatred and anger.

As a result, Karluk not only recovered its previous figures in just a few months but was now showing productivity thirteen times greater than before, despite still being in a period of adjustment to unfamiliar equipment and systems.

It was the natural course of human history that technological results replace the process of effort, which was acceptable. The problem, again, was the process.

The resistance from existing social classes that inevitably appears during industrialization and mechanization… For example, when land reform is proposed, it’s a given that the landlord class will rise up in opposition.

But when a transcendent being like a god says “do it,” who could possibly resist?

When monarchs barked “Do as I say!” they were met with “Who are you to tell me?” and honestly, they had no response.

While founding monarchs might have ascended to the throne through great achievements, their descendants typically had no such accomplishments.

Of course, there were some monarchs with natural ability who produced above-average results in whatever they did, but if every ruler in the world were wise and virtuous, the Four Great Gods would probably be unnecessary.

Mediocre rulers and tyrants wracked their brains trying to maintain their power in the face of the overwhelming difference in ability between gods and humans.

Of course, there were no clever solutions, and that was appropriate.

If a few mortals putting their heads together could replace a god, they wouldn’t be called gods in the first place.

“Aaaagh! Fuck! I can’t lose my throne! I can’t lose my power!!! I just want the sun, moon, and the Four Great Gods to pay taxes to me!! Not lord over me!!!”

One monarch’s cry perfectly summarized the current situation, requiring no further explanation.

*

“Spring is here now.”

“Oh, I’m exhausted. Don’t you think we’ve been too busy lately, brother?”

“Don’t complain too much, Hawk. We’re earning good money thanks to all this.”

“Hehehe… That’s true.”

The dwarf brothers chuckled as they stopped by a tavern near their worksite.

They began to forget the day’s fatigue with rare delicacies and cool drinks, purchased with the generous bonus they’d received from their boss. Nearby workers were also drowning their exhaustion from hard labor with large mugs of beer.

“Ahh~… By the way, how much is left?”

“The exterior is almost finished, so just the interior remains. I never dreamed I’d be building a battleship weighing over a million tons with my own hands.”

“Me neither. And a flying battleship at that. This is what romance and dreams are made of.”

“Let’s drink to that.”

Clink!

With the sound of clinking glasses, their fatigue gradually faded away.

It was a June night, with the warmth of spring slowly driving away winter’s chill.

After five months of reconstruction and large-scale governance, Karluk’s population had grown to 100 million, drawing people from surrounding areas like a black hole. Throughout the city, redevelopment was underway to accommodate the 40 million new residents.

Though temporary, this provided years of work for migrants from across the Hargal Plains. Their children, whether brought along or born here, would receive proper public education and grow into the talented individuals of the future.

Elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools were being built, along with universities, graduate schools, research institutes, and academies.

Workers who once had to perform dangerous loading and unloading with their bare hands in narrow, hazardous ports were now using heavy machinery to move containers in spacious, cleaner harbors. The city had achieved aesthetic purification through extensive environmental beautification and substantial budget increases in related fields.

Simply by implementing proper governance, the city had accomplished what would have taken several generations of effort.

Of course, all these governance actions were supported by industrial companies authorized by the Sun God to produce orichalcon, along with the disciples and followers of the God of Wisdom whose job was to think. But as always, this too was the ability of a ruler.

There are plenty of people who get by on connections and bloodlines alone, but a monarch’s connections should at least be able to move mountains, shouldn’t they?

In fact, with those connections, they were building ships with enough firepower to erase mountains, which made the point somewhat ironically true.

“Tomorrow, the sun will rise again.”

“A toast to the day when the sun rises no more!”

Clink!

Once more, glasses clinked, and alcohol flowed.

The night was still young, and there was much fatigue to be relieved.

*

“Therefore, our city of Benedicta agrees to Karluk City’s proposal.”

“Thank you, Mayor. You will be blessed.”

“Ah… yes…”

While the dwarves were doing hard labor, what were the elves doing? They were serving as plenipotentiary ambassadors.

Simon, the most suitable for the ambassador role, had too many responsibilities in Karluk City, so the elf sisters, who had “relatively” less to do, were acting as ambassadors, traveling throughout the Hargal Plains.

They were establishing a unified political system that could bind the entire Hargal Plains together. Through their efforts, the Hargal Plains Council was established with the support of 1,140 cities located in the Hargal Plains, with Karluk City as the leading authority.

This achievement came after dozens of teleportation spells per day, and as time flowed into June, the first meeting was held in Karluk City’s council chamber with representatives from each city.

“That land should be part of our city territory, I tell you!”

“Nonsense! We’ve been farming there since our great-grandfather’s time!”

“Order! Order!”

Representatives of city-states across the Hargal Plains frequently clashed in the council chamber, but knowing that harming each other in Karluk, where a god resided, would result in punishment down to their very souls, they carefully avoided crossing the line.

Karluk’s representatives, displaying the disciples of the God of Wisdom and overwhelming financial power, dominated the entire meeting. The other city-states, all with unremarkable capabilities compared to Karluk, eventually set aside their animosity toward each other as they accepted the resources Karluk offered.

When reconciliation gestures during meetings bring in loans, it’s not difficult for a national representative to choose what’s best.

And of course, the creation of a political system encompassing the entire Hargal Plains was thanks to Sun God Victor’s arrangements.

In this immense Hargal Plains, the vast distances limited communication between regions despite magic and civilization, and overcoming this was extremely difficult.

When communication breaks down, misunderstandings arise, and misunderstandings lead to conflict. This forum was created to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, making the Hargal Plains Council a miniature version of the empire he intended to establish.

Finally, the Sky Warden was ready to fly again after completing all renovations, and 200,000 soldiers boarded after receiving sufficient training.

The long six-month national management simulation was now ready to be handed over to someone else. Victor bestowed his final blessing upon the entire Hargal Plains, appointed the most capable individuals to key positions, and boarded the Sky Warden.

It was time to leave this city.