Chapter 394: The Dignity of the Strong

"Vice President, since Yongan City can accommodate two hundred thousand people, why is it only half full now?" Lu Yu pressed.

"This..." Hai Qiong hesitated, a look of difficulty appearing on his face, and he said slowly:

"President, this is an order from the City Lord's Mansion. On one hand, with fewer people living in the city, management is relatively easier, and the city's residents live more comfortably. On the other hand, it is also to raise the threshold for entry. Like the people in those two Zhais outside the city, to be honest, they don't really have much value."

"No value?" Lu Yu's expression was calm, but his gaze looked straight at Hai Qiong.

"Yes, President." Hai Qiong nodded and continued: "Those people are basically ordinary commoners; only a very small number are Martial Artists, and the vast majority of them are only at the Body Tempering or Flesh Refining Realm. Whether they are here or not makes little difference to Yongan City.

Therefore, Yongan City will not easily let them settle in the city. Of course, we occasionally give them some benefits so that they can contribute some value to Yongan City.

Only if someone can reach the Force Entering Realm are they considered qualified to settle in Yongan City. This is the reason why Yongan City can accommodate two hundred thousand people, yet it is only half full now.

Of course, if it were an Awakened, that would be a different matter.

President, you might not know, but if two Awakened combine, their offspring have a very high probability of also being Awakened. Because of this, the value of ordinary people is even lower in the eyes of some."

As Hai Qiong spoke, the smile gradually froze on his face.

Because he keenly sensed that the look the President before him was giving him had become significantly colder.

"P-President, did I, say something wrong?" Hai Qiong felt a bit panicked and asked stammeringly, feeling quite aggrieved in his heart; after all, what he said was the common view of almost all Awakened.

Lu Yu withdrew his gaze, looked elsewhere, and said coldly: "Let it pass this time, but don't let it happen again. I don't want to hear similar words from your mouth again."

"Yes, yes." Hai Qiong was so scared he nodded repeatedly and hurriedly changed the subject, saying: "President, you mentioned earlier, what is the matter you wanted me to do?"

"Take a census of the vacant land in the city, and then migrate all the people from outside the city in." Lu Yu's tone was firm and allowed no questioning.

"What?" Hearing this, Hai Qiong was stunned, doubting if he had heard correctly.

"What, can't you understand what I said?" Lu Yu glanced at him coldly.

"S-subordinate understands, but, but..." Hai Qiong couldn't help but ask: "Why do this?" In his view, this was completely unnecessary; those were just a group of the most ordinary people possible.

"There is no why, just do as I say." Lu Yu's tone grew colder, brooking no argument.

In fact, Lu Yu knew clearly that a Beast Tide would soon surge in, and even the sturdy Yongan City would face a huge risk of destruction, let alone the two encampments outside the city and the surrounding Zhais.

Therefore, he had to take precautions in advance and migrate everyone outside the city into the city.

The reason for doing this was simple; as the ancients said: when poor, attend to one's own virtue; when prosperous, benefit the world.

Now that he had the ability and knew in advance that this unprecedented Beast Tide was about to explode, if he did nothing, how would he be any different from a beast?

As for why he didn't explain it to Hai Qiong, the reason was also clear.

For one, Hai Qiong's thinking was already deeply rooted, and no matter how much he explained, it would be hard to change his mind; for another, as a powerhouse, he should display the dignity that a powerhouse ought to have in such matters.

"Yes, yes." Sure enough, after listening, Hai Qiong nodded repeatedly. But soon, his lips moved, looking as if he had more to say.

"What, are there difficulties?" Lu Yu frowned slightly, looking at Hai Qiong with a sharp gaze.

"Yes, there are some difficulties." Hai Qiong said with a bitter smile: "First, the vast majority of the land is in the hands of the City Lord's Mansion and the Awakened. The land within our Association is fine, but the City Lord's Mansion side..." He looked helpless, with an embarrassed expression.

Back when Yan Luo was in power, the City Lord's Mansion and the Association had a close relationship, like one family, and people on both sides were very familiar with each other.

Now, going to ask them for land, not to mention whether it could be successfully reclaimed, just meeting them would be awkward enough.

"What do they need so much land for?" Lu Yu's gaze was like a torch, staring at Hai Qiong, and he said: "Buy it from them at the normal price, and put the cost on my account. If,"

He paused, a chill flashing in his eyes, "if they don't know what's good for them, open their mouths like a lion, or are simply unwilling to sell, then drive them out of the city."

"Also, if any residents in the city are dissatisfied with this and gather to cause trouble, give a warning the first time, and expel them directly the second time. If anyone is found to be the mastermind inciting trouble, kill them without mercy."

"Yes!" Hai Qiong couldn't help but swallow hard.

The President before him really considered things thoroughly; he had even thought of the situation where someone might incite trouble.

Most of the people living in the city were ordinary, so he wouldn't have any psychological burden about taking action against them.

But the City Lord's Mansion side... sigh, he sighed secretly in his heart.

As the saying goes, each emperor has his own court; Yan Luo and the others were dead, and in the current Yongan City, naturally, whoever had the strength had the final say.

Although this President was only the President of the Association, the City Lord's Mansion should also change its people.

Moreover, what the President said just now was indeed reasonable; those people in the City Lord's Mansion totaled no more than one hundred, yet they occupied more than half of Yongan City's land, and they couldn't finish living in it, leaving it wasted in vain.

The President's willingness to spend money to reclaim the land from them was already considered very reasonable.

He hoped this matter would go smoothly, although he really didn't understand what the point was of arranging for those ordinary people from outside the city to move in.

"I hope this matter is completed as soon as possible, understand?" Lu Yu's eyes were firm, emphasizing again.

"Yes, President, your subordinate will go arrange it later." Hai Qiong responded hurriedly.

"Mm." Lu Yu pondered for a moment, then continued: "Then let's leave it at that. If you encounter any trouble you cannot solve during the execution, you can notify me at any time."

"Understood." Hai Qiong bowed and retreated. The moment he gently closed the door, he let out a long sigh of relief.

It had to be said that the aura emanating from this President was truly too powerful; compared to the previous president, and even the City Lord Yan Luo, he was beyond reach!

In front of him, he didn't even dare to speak loudly.

But thinking from another angle, this also precisely proved the President's strength.

With him presiding over Yongan City, even if the Beast Tide struck, perhaps there was a great chance of being able to hold it.

It was just... Hai Qiong scratched his head; the two things the President had arranged both felt inexplicable.