Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 411: Chapter 28: The Brand-New High Tower

Seven days later, reconstruction work began on the bottom three floors of the High Tower.

A true, major reconstruction.

Originally, at the "cake-sharing meeting," including the Xie Family, the earliest idea was to focus on reconstructing the third floor and to maintain the existing "civilization" sequence.

That is, the bottom floor belonged to a wilderness civilization, the second floor roughly to a tribal civilization, and the third floor to a modern city civilization.

But due to Bai Wu’s intervention, the reconstruction of the lower three floors underwent a few changes.

The High Tower was in need of many materials, and much was left to be restored. It was extremely difficult to acquire these materials and required long explorations.

So the question arose, how should the living people of the bottom three floors be arranged?

The next day, the Zhong Family arranged for people to inquire.

The Zhong Family without Zhong Xu was now a fat sheep.

The fat sheep was very anxious, for not long ago, a struggle within the family occurred, and in the midst of bloodshed, a new leader emerged, the current leader of the Zhong Family, named Zhong Jun.

Actually, the Zhong Family didn’t have any true descendants of Zhong Xu, Zhong Xu’s son became his steward, and his daughter became a Guardian.

There were also descendants later, but in the eyes of Zhong Xu, who was an "absolute freeman," there were no taboos in the world, all women could be enjoyed, "what I sire must belong to me."

However, in order to manage the Zhong Family, he had recruited a group of people from the lower three floors, and Zhong Jun was one of them.

Originally named Chen Jun, but since he entered the Zhong Family, he was called Zhong Jun.

When Bai Wu saw this person, the notes in his eyes mentioned:

[He didn’t actually want to change his name, but in order to feed his family, he ultimately changed it to Zhong Jun. He’s quite a capable person. Although he’s seen the wicked deeds of the Zhong Family, in such an environment, you wouldn’t expect anyone to stand up for justice, would you?]

Zhong Jun came to find Bai Wu because he wanted to know if the Zhong Family could do something for the High Tower.

Once Bai Wu understood his intentions, he found this person very clever:

"What was your name before?"

"Sir... How do you know I had another name?"

"Just answer me, I’m quite familiar with the Zhong Family."

"Chen Jun."

"From now on, you’ll go by your former name, Chen Jun, and the Zhong Family will be renamed the Chen Family."

Chen Jun stood rooted to the spot, suddenly forgetting what he had come for.

"As for the Chen Family, I will assign it to the Xie Family; you’ll be considered as working for old Xie. Just help me with one thing, and that’ll be enough."

"Just say the word, I would not decline even if it means death."

Neither violence nor profit had ever made Chen Jun say these words of undying loyalty to Zhong Xu. As Chen Jun spoke, he found it strange too.

Although it was just a phrase to show loyalty, he always felt that Bai Wu gave him something he never had while with the Zhong Family.

To the Zhong Family... in the eyes of Zhong Xue, everyone was just a prop for her father’s entertainment.

Bai Wu, oblivious to the flurry of thoughts in Chen Jun’s head, simply stated:

"Currently, the people of the lower three floors have no place to live. The bottom, second, and third floors are all in ruins, a complete wreck. More than half of these people are dead or wounded, and dealing with the bodies is also a hassle. Even if we transport them outside the tower, the residual marks left behind are hard to clean. People need a clean place."

Chen Jun nodded, feeling it made sense:

"I understand, you want us to find a place outside the tower?"

"No," Bai Wu laughed:

"I need you to allocate the surviving people of the bottom three floors to the fourth floor in a reasonable manner."

Chen Jun was shocked:

"How could they possibly go to..."

Bai Wu furrowed his brow, and Chen Jun immediately panicked:

"This... there’s no precedent. The fourth level is basically the core industries of each administrator. How could people live there?"

It’s not that Chen Jun really had the concept of servants, or rather, deep down, he hoped that humanity would not be divided into three classes of upper, middle, and lower.

But this was High Tower, and the people living here had clearly defined strata. The poor, commoners, sub-nobles, nobles, administrators.

When the lower three levels lacked living quarters, his first thought was not to make room in the upper two levels, but to have the people from the lower three levels solve their housing problems outside the tower.

Bai Wu did not blame him:

"Both the fifth and fourth levels, whether it’s energy or food storage, far exceed the lower levels. There is a very interesting phenomenon in human civilization.

Once class hierarchy forms, it is inevitable that the lower classes have the most numbers and greatest needs, yet they receive the least resources, while the upper classes, clearly needing the least, are allocated the most resources."

Some people lament as the wealthiest, in a Versailles-like tone, that what they hate most in life is money.

But what they "hate" is precisely what most people do not have.

You hate money, so why not give it away? Why just talk and not act?

This seems impossible to achieve, as everyone is rather reasonable. Who wants to share their piece of the cake? Isn’t it better to let it rot, endure the stench with pinched nose, then watch the people down below salivate?

So Chen Jun was confused. Were there really people who wanted to share their cake?

This doubt was soon confirmed, and the astonishment in Chen Jun’s heart grew.

Bai Wu then began assigning various tasks to Chen Jun.

First was to compile a census of each class on the lower three levels, identifying who were nobles and who were not.

Next was to arrange uniforms and quarters uniformly, forcibly housing nobles and non-nobles together. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

After these policies were issued, Chen Jun said:

"Won’t this be... a bit problematic? These young masters and lords, I’m afraid they won’t tolerate living with the lower-class... Wouldn’t it be better to let the poor live with the poor and the rich with the rich?"

Bai Wu replied:

"Humans possess many virtues, the greatest of which lies in their ability to adapt and accept each other’s thoughts. Although there is no true understanding between people, in seven hundred years, the High Tower has never had such a moment, where everyone can truly empathize with one another."

"When the poor are together, maybe their contemptible idea of separating people by wealth does not change. When the rich are together, perhaps they’ll still consider how to enslave the poor from other regions."

"Of course, there may be conflicts between them, but this uprising has already vented out all the anger suppressed over the last seven hundred years. Further conflicts, if any, would be minor ones. Especially since, they need to survive."

"Time will smooth everything out. The poor will be grateful for their current conditions, while the rich will understand from the great disparity that... times have changed."

Chen Jun suddenly asked:

"Isn’t this unfair though? There are many rich whose wealth is earned legitimately. Why should they have to share resources with the lower class equally? I think your idea, sir... will offend many people. You become the boss, and then after a disaster, your workers are suddenly on equal footing with you... Can they accept this disparity?"

"Indeed, it’s unfair, but cutting out a tumor always involves removing healthy tissue as well. Have you thought about the current situation?" Bai Wu asked softly.

Chen Jun shook his head.

"Those from the lower three levels, whether poor or rich, are in a state of having nothing. In the eyes of the rich, the poor have lost their shabby tents, while they themselves have lost magnificent palaces. When it comes to compensation from those above, shouldn’t I receive more?"

"Right... shouldn’t you?"

"But the current situation is like everyone being stranded on a deserted island. Some have lost their families, some haven’t lost anything, and some have lost a business empire. Then do you think, because you’ve lost more, you should be given more resources? Because you’re a boss, should you be held in higher esteem?"

"It seems... that wouldn’t happen?"

"Exactly, so under the existing regime, with the reconstruction of the lower three levels, we can only make choices. Those who contribute the most to the reconstruction will receive the greatest rewards. Those who provide the best reconstruction plan, whose skills prove useful in this reconstruction, will receive more rewards."

"So in the end... there will still be poor and rich..."

"Yes, maybe in the distant future, those who stand out during the reconstruction of the lower three levels will transform from Dragon Slayers to dragons themselves.

But society is an intractable impasse. What humanity can do is to continually perish in stagnant waters and simultaneously bloom new flowers."

Chen Jun paid his respects but also felt a sense of helplessness.

It seemed as if this person had changed everything, yet because of human nature, they didn’t have high hopes for the future decades or centuries later...

But for now, this was indeed the best solution, a method that eliminated the contradictions of all social strata.

"I understand, Sir, I’m very grateful for your words... I always feel like your ideas don’t come from this world."

"Chen Jun, is it? Work well with Xie, you have great potential."

Who doesn’t like being flattered? Bai Wu enjoyed it too.

...

...

The reconstruction work on the lower three floors was in full swing, and indeed, there were many problems.

Those living on the fourth floor, there were poor people who looked at the rich with a mocking eye; the envious of the rich were happy, thinking of how the rich used to have so much money, but now they had to live with a poor wretch like them.

But soon, the poor realized that if they did not work hard, they might still be poor.

Naturally, there were also rich people angrily denouncing the unfairness of the higher-ups, having worked hard for so long, only to end up in a place worse than their starting point, struggling to accept this reality.

There were not a few of such cases, but human nature also had its good side.

Many rich people, in this process, gradually experienced some of the hardships of life. They had their enlightenment; the sorrows and joys of people, in this environment that had not appeared in seven hundred years, seemed to become somewhat connected.

Many poor people also discovered that some wealthy masters... were actually quite easy to get along with. They didn’t despise the poor as much as they had thought.

People’s thoughts influenced each other.

There were those who cursed and complained about the system. And there were those who calmly faced the injustice of Destiny.

Whichever type of person, the High Tower had come to its most... peaceful era.

Not a false peace from brutal rule.

It was more like people had returned to seven hundred years ago, to that High Tower with nothing but a pile of materials, and then everyone started to build with effort.

Maybe seven hundred years later, humanity would once again see a hierarchy of superiors and inferiors, maybe the class distinctions would be even more exaggerated.

But at least, at this moment, the flower in the stagnant water was blooming.

...

...

The fifth floor of the High Tower. Yan Family Manor.

Xie Xingzhi, Bai Wu, Liu Chengzi, and Ruan Qingyun were all here.

"Big brother, everyone is working hard, living on the fourth floor; I’ve been assigned to the fifth floor by you, won’t they be unhappy?"

"Actually, I don’t mind where I live, I’m just worried about you, big brother. What if people talk behind your back?"

Liu Chengzi said coquettishly.

Bai Wu mocked:

"Fine, go live on the fourth floor, then."

"Ah, no, no, I was just kidding."

"Don’t play these coy games with me; your teas can be less intense, not so strong."

"Hmph, no fun! How could Jiu like a straight man like you?" Liu Chengzi found that none of her tactics worked on Bai Wu.

Ruan Qingyun smiled and shook her head; Liu Chengzi was interesting, Bai Wu was interesting, and watching Bai Wu counter Liu Chengzi was even more interesting.

Bai Wu didn’t care about others’ criticism; he had treated his friends differently, and the people below would either accept it or endure it.

However, the thought of Bai Wu leaving the tower made Ruan Qingyun suddenly think of something bad...

"It’s been three months now... has he...?"

"Madam boss, don’t talk nonsense," Bai Wu interrupted Ruan Qingyun with a smile.

"The Captain is the best in the world; nothing will happen to him."

Bai Wu was actually worried himself.

But worrying was useless; anyway, he would not admit that the Captain would die outside the tower. Even if the whole world thought Wu Jiu had died outside the tower, as long as Bai Wu hadn’t seen Wu Jiu’s body, he believed he must be alive.

This worry, as well as his almost irrational belief, did not conflict.

"You guys will stay here for the time being. I need to leave the tower next, to look for a place."

"What place?"

"A cruise ship. I don’t know if I’ll come across it, but I will frequently leave the tower until I find it."

Waiting for Tang Jing to initiate God Descent seemed too passive to Bai Wu.

The farm owner and Jing Liu might have already had their arrangements in the area beyond the Mist. Bai Wu wanted a method to reach the outside of the Mist that was within his control too.

"Alright... I don’t know what you’re talking about, but be careful," Ruan Qingyun said.

Bai Wu nodded:

"Madam boss, don’t be afraid. The Captain will definitely come back. He’s different from me; he has a root in his heart."

Liu Chengzi said:

"Big brother, don’t forget about my matter too..."

"I won’t forget. The situation outside the tower is very unique right now. With the disappearance of the regional restrictions, many changes will occur. I will also arrange for Lizhi to head to Baichuan City as quickly as possible. Maybe you will see Lizhi soon."

"Really? What about Little Moon?" Liu Chengzi asked, her fists clenched in excitement.

Bai Wu shook his head, not hiding anything:

"She’s more complicated, but I promise you, I will bring her back to you."

"Great! I believe you! I believe you!"

Bai Wu prepared to leave, to venture outside the tower again. If he was lucky, he might find that cruise ship. If not, he would just repeat the process several times.

Everything within the High Tower had been arranged properly; this moment was about parting with old friends.

As for Lin Wurou and Yin Shuang, as high-level combatants, they were involved in the reconstruction of the lower three floors.

"By the way, what about you? Why did you come to find me?" Bai Wu turned to Xie Xingzhi.

Xie Xingzhi also froze.

Right, why did I come to Bai Wu again?

As soon as he heard that Bai Wu was leaving, Xie Xingzhi felt that he should help Bai Wu accomplish something, something Bai Wu had been looking forward to for a long time.

He vaguely remembered, over a month ago, in a moment of crisis, he had made a flag.

Oh no... What was it? Why can’t I remember?

Never mind, no use thinking about it.

"Nothing much, I just came to see you... um, have a safe journey."

"OK, even Yan Zizai didn’t come to say goodbye, but you did. It seems I underestimated our friendship," Bai Wu said, jokingly.

Xie Xingzhi swore he had meant to do something, but he couldn’t remember what it was when it mattered.

In the end, he could only watch Bai Wu leave, heading for the Lower East Square. Although he couldn’t remember what he wanted to do, Xie Xingzhi was very much looking forward to Bai Wu’s exploration results.

The next time he saw Bai Wu... there might again be interesting things happening.

(Cough cough, there’s only one Chapter today)