Free Web NovelChapter 473: Chapter 315: Gold Age (Part 2)
It’s said that the economic base determines the superstructure.
In fact, this phrase can also be reversed—the superstructure determines the economic base.
A place full of violence, chaos, and frequent crimes can never develop a prosperous economy.
However, when all violent groups are under control and the environment of the Border District becomes stable, the germination of economic revival becomes inevitable.
Due to the fact that the Border District itself had an extremely large amount of cheap labor and a stable environment, Inner City business elites sniffed out business opportunities and began to attempt investments outside the city.
During those ten years, the basic infrastructure of the Border District flourished, various factories sprang up like mushrooms after the rain, and the idle thugs on the street who only knew how to fight became fewer, as they were all busy working to earn money.
After all, everyone who got involved in shady deals did so to make a living, and as long as they could earn a wallet full, who would willingly live a life licking blood off a knife’s edge, except for a few madmen with not much intelligence?
With the rapid economic development, the conflict between the Inner City and the Border District fundamentally eased, and not only did the crime rate in the Inner City plummet during that time, but there was also even a "reverse immigration wave."
Many Inner City people felt that the Border District was a place with everything to be accomplished; they bought land and houses early while it wasn’t fully developed and real estate prices hadn’t yet risen, just waiting for future appreciation, arriving at financial freedom sooner rather than later.
Inner City people no longer referred to Border District people as those wearing dog tags, but gathered together to discuss new business opportunities, calling each other brothers.
Sheriffs encountering people from the Border District no longer drew their swords at once or performed a set of New Moon Iaido by default; instead, they exchanged cigarettes and chatted about interesting things that happened recently.
With flourishing infrastructure development, sizzling investment flows, and the exchange of talents, and harmonious public security... it was a dreamlike era.
People from the Border District broke free from the mire, and even Inner City people greeted their former fellow citizens with smiles, the towering rusty walls became mere symbolic, and once dismembered New Moon City reunited again as one piece.
This is the memory of the "Golden Age" for the older generation of the Border District.
But in the Dawn 141st Year, everything fell apart.
That year, a violent group called Raven Nest emerged in the Border District.
No one knew where Raven Nest originated from; all they knew was they possessed heavy firepower and high-tech weaponry rivaling regular armies, and their elite Extraordinary Beings were even sufficient to suppress the Anti-Violence Fourth Section.
Raven Nest, under the slogan "Border District people ruling the Border District," absorbed extremists everywhere, sabotaged newly-built factories, massacred Inner City people in the Border District extensively, and insanely incited hatred.
As for Alan, perhaps no one could have foreseen his fate.
Just the day after he vowed at a press conference to eliminate Raven Nest and safeguard the shared interests of the Inner City and the Border District, he was suddenly accused by a previously unknown young woman of having sexually assaulted her.
That very day, Alan was swiftly arrested and formally charged by the Municipal Guard Team.
A month later, he was found dead in the Municipal Center District’s prison.
According to the scene investigation feedback, Alan died of asphyxiation by swallowing the prison-specific fingerbrush toothbrush, blocking his airway. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Coincidentally, the surveillance was broken that day.
Coincidentally, all inmates in nearby cells were out for a walk.
Coincidentally, two guards responsible for watch duty made a handover error and both left for lunch.
Coincidentally, the lawyer in charge of independently investigating the case had a car accident and couldn’t be saved in the hospital.
The final result released to the public—suspect Alan committed suicide out of guilt.
After Alan’s death, Beiyuan Jun became the new Director of the Public Security Bureau, not only completely abolishing a series of policies from Alan’s time but also vigorously promoting the Border District threat theory.
Under the subtle influence of media propaganda, Alan’s personal image transformed from a hero who created the Golden Age to a villain selling out the Inner City to appease the Border District, to a sexual predator with a predilection for underage girls, eventually becoming a despicable scoundrel whose death was deemed unworthy of regret.
And it was from then on, the Golden Age ended, and the conflict between the Inner City and the Border District became sharp and irreconcilable again, amidst all kinds of bloody confrontations, they turned against and loathed each other.
Peace became a decade-long dream.
...
Fenrir looked out the window, the faint glow of a cigar reflected in her pupils, as if specks of stars were burning: "The year he died, I had just reached adulthood." freēwēbnovel.com
"You might not believe it when I say this, but I grew up listening to his stories, and my initial ambition was to join the Public Security Bureau like him, becoming a glorious sheriff, contributing to the peace of New Moon City."
"But after learning of his death, I realized he was actually a fool, and I, idolizing him, was also a fool. We actually believed that human hearts could change everything."
"Human hearts, they sound wonderful, but in fact, they are the most useless things in the world, for they can be easily swayed. People applaud you today and discard you like a worn-out shoe tomorrow, all depending on how those in power manipulate things."
"So, don’t talk to me about unity, I don’t believe it. I only believe in my own strength."
Su Mo couldn’t help but sigh after hearing this: "Everyone has their own experiences, I won’t criticize others’ views. But don’t you think, saying things like this might leave your trusting companions disheartened?"
"Take Hibell for example, who has followed you since the establishment of Wolf Assault, has fought alongside you from a little child to this big, always by your side, and even because of excessive use of Blood Code has contracted the ’Blood Code Dissociation Syndrome’, don’t you feel anything about that?"
Upon hearing this, Troy’s eyes dimmed slightly, looking complexly at his own younger sister.
Hibell did not expect the topic to turn to her, and stood there stunned for a moment before chiding: "Don’t sow discord here! It’s my own business if I’m ill, it has nothing to do with the big sister!"
Su Mo asked back: "Hibell, what’s your reason for following the big sister headlong?"
"I think, isn’t it because you share common goals and ideals, willing to strive together for them?"
Hibell said nothing, simply looking at Fenrir with a gaze full of longing, her silence her answer.
Su Mo then looked at Fenrir and continued: "The same goes for others, those Wolf Assault members who’ve you perhaps only met a few times, maybe can’t even recall their names, they’ve gathered around you because they align with your vision."
Fenrir gave a short laugh: "Director Su, you’re quite good at brainwashing people. Let me tell you, most Wolf Assault members follow me not because of any shared vision, but because there’s food with me. If there comes a day when there’s no food, they’ll leave without looking back just the same."
Su Mo: "Such people do exist and not in small numbers, I’ve encountered them too. But it’s precisely because of their presence that makes those who stay no matter what more valuable, isn’t it?"
Fenrir: "Even if you’re right, still in this world, only strength matters most. Without strength, you’re just at the mercy of others."
Su Mo: "Strength is very important, indeed, but the strength we’re discussing here isn’t limited to one’s narrow personal power. It also includes the strength of companions."
"Humans are not gods; an individual’s strength is ultimately limited. Only by gathering more and more people around you willing to unite and trust in you can miracles be created."
Fenrir: "Have you ever seen a miracle?"
Su Mo smiled slightly, his gaze becoming profound: "A question for you: given the current strength of the Edge Mercenaries, if they were to engage in a head-on confrontation, how would they compare to Wolf Assault?"
Fenrir: "Far inferior."
Su Mo: "Then do you believe that even this much weaker force, upon learning their director was captured, would, despite knowing they couldn’t possibly defeat you, still come here without hesitation?"
No sooner had Su Mo finished speaking than a member of Wolf Assault rushed in from outside, their expression grave as they reported to Fenrir: "An armed force has parachuted into our territory, all those people have the red umbrella emblem on their clothes, confirmed as Edge Mercenaries."
Hibell quickly ran out to check.
She saw dozens of transport airships suspended in the night sky, their flaming red umbrella emblems gleaming on the fuselages, with many Edge Mercenaries descending from the sky along ropes, landing around the Wolf Assault’s base camp.
At this moment, Fenrir was also quietly watching this scene, her dark purple eyes hiding an unusual glint.
Su Mo walked to Fenrir’s side, watching alongside her those companions rushing to rescue her without hesitation, and said deeply: "In fact, many times, if a person fails, it doesn’t mean the path they take is wrong."
"It just needs successors to walk down that path over and over again."
