Chapter 623 - 602: Era of Commerce
Chapter 623: Chapter 602: Era of Commerce
Spring, Year 15 of Truth.
As the thunderous cleansing operation conducted by Allen’s fleet in the latter half of the Gray Channel came to an end, the G-771 Plane ushered in an unprecedented period of stable development. The dark clouds shrouding the channel were forcefully dispelled. Wesren Heavy Industry’s merchant fleets now traveled unimpeded, bringing an endless stream of external resources and information to this newborn Divine Kingdom. Military security was the cornerstone for initiating the next stage of civilization’s progress.
Inside the Cybertron Giant Shipyard, the deafening roar of forged Demon Pan Steel echoed as the massive keel of the Monarch of the Clouds was being manufactured segment by segment. While two brand-new PX-5s and the Golem Legion’s production lines operated at full capacity, Allen shifted his gaze from the cold war machines back to the vibrant continent. It was time to inject true vitality into this massive social machine.
On this day, the personal terminals on the wrists of the 765 million citizens of the Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines vibrated faintly in unison. A supreme-authority decree, pushed uniformly by the Grand Governor system, was distributed to everyone.
[Effective March 1st, Year 15 of Truth, the following new policies shall be implemented:]
[1. The Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines officially opens private commercial activities. While retaining the Contribution Points system as a basic welfare guarantee, Magic Stones are officially introduced as the market currency. Citizens may use their identification codes to apply for business licenses and engage in private enterprise.]
[2. Establishment of the Divine Kingdom Magic Stone Bank. A two-way exchange service between Contribution Points and Low-Level Magic Stones is now open at an official exchange rate of 100 Contribution Points to 1 Low-Level Magic Stone. All commercial taxes and large transactions will be strictly supervised by the Grand Governor system. Tax evasion and malicious financial behaviors are strictly prohibited.]
[3. Implementation of the Three-tiered Citizenship System. Citizens will be classified into First-level, Second-level, and Third-level Citizens based on three evaluation dimensions: education level, professional skill level, and overall social contribution. Different levels enjoy different scopes of business operations, credit limits, and priority for children’s education. Levels will be re-evaluated annually and are subject to promotion or demotion.]
[4. The Extraordinary Learning Threshold is officially open. All age-eligible citizens (14 to 25 years old) may undergo the Wizard Qualification Test at designated locations. Those who pass the test can apply to study further at the soon-to-be-built Wizard Academies.]
[5. The Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines will launch the Phase II Civilization Construction Project, encompassing major projects such as Star Port expansion, Plane ecological transformation, and the development of specialized industries. All citizens are welcome to participate in construction, invest for shares, or start their own businesses. Specific details will be announced separately by each administrative region.]
Upon the release of this news, the entire continent instantly erupted into unprecedented clamor. The fifteen-year era of uniform resource distribution governed by Golems had come to an end.
"Oh my god! We can open our own shops?" Blacksmith Hans from Falling Leaves Town stared at his terminal, his face flushed with excitement. "The farming tools I forge are way better than the distributed ones! Now I can actually sell them for money!"
In Mage City, former Viscount Andrew had a complex look in his eyes. Relying on his outstanding management skills, he had long accumulated a vast amount of Contribution Points through his social service. Now, these numbers could be exchanged into genuine hard currency circulated within the Wizarding World. His long-dormant ambition began to stir once more.
The public network forums exploded as well, with countless streams of information refreshing frantically.
"Contribution Points can be exchanged for Magic Stones? I’ve saved up thirty thousand points. Doesn’t that mean I can get three hundred Magic Stones?!"
"What does the Three-tiered Citizenship System mean? Is this a new class hierarchy?"
"You idiot upstairs, didn’t you see the evaluation criteria? You can upgrade by studying, learning skills, and making contributions! This is a Celestial Ladder, not a class system!"
Confusion, excitement, greed, longing... Countless emotions intertwined in the hearts of over 700 million people, converging into a majestic vitality capable of changing the world.
"Look! The list of large-scale construction projects! The Star Gate Square expansion! Digging a new canal! I... I can invest in them?!"
"The most important part is the last one! The Extraordinary Learning Threshold is open! All eligible citizens can take the Wizard Qualification Test for free! Dear God! Do we... do we also have a chance to become Wizards?"
Individual desires suppressed for fifteen years were instantly ignited under this fair framework. In the past, people worked just to get a full meal or a larger quota of Contribution Points. But now, a clearly visible ladder leading to wealth, social status, and even Extraordinary Power had been personally paved before everyone by the God of Steel and Truth. The whole world seemed to shed its monotonous black and white, instantly transitioning into brilliant color.
...
Cybertron, Central Command Room.
Allen calmly watched the continuously scrolling social sentiment data on the light screen. The citizens’ ecstasy, greed, and ambition were all reflected in his eyes.
"Commander, according to the social model deduction, the Divine Kingdom’s GDP is projected to increase by three hundred percent within three years following the opening of commercial activities, but the Gini coefficient will experience fluctuations."
"Fluctuation is a manifestation of vitality. As long as the Grand Governor’s regulatory network is strict enough, any unusual capital movements attempting to subvert the rules will be smothered in their infancy by the algorithms," Allen said, as more detailed plans were subsequently generated.
"First, establish the Ten Thousand Machines Magic Stone Bank. The headquarters will be located in Mage City, with branches set up in all cities Level 2 and above. Allocate one billion Low-Level Magic Stones as initial reserve and operating capital.
"The bank will provide deposit, loan, and exchange services for Contribution Points and Magic Stones. All citizens’ asset data will be uniformly encrypted and managed by the Grand Governor system. Any large loan application exceeding one hundred thousand Magic Stones must undergo algorithmic approval to evaluate the project’s feasibility and risk level.
"Second, the G-771 Plane will officially connect to the Panorama Mall cross-plane trading platform, inputting Wesren Heavy Industry’s product catalog and the cargo lists of partnered external merchant fleets. Our ports and the First Administrative Region will be open to foreign merchant fleets, and we will extract three percent of every transaction amount as a service fee." The scythe of finance had to be firmly held in his own hands.
Immediately after, the perspective of the sand table abruptly zoomed out, focusing on the Star Gate Square in the suburbs of Mage City.
"The throughput of the current Intermediate Star Gate is nearing saturation. It cannot sustain the massive logistical pressure that will follow the dawn of the commercial era.
"Therefore, the third point is the expansion of the Star Gate Square. On the periphery of the square, build four new small auxiliary Star Gates exclusively for personnel and minor cargo transit, forming a ’one main, four auxiliary’ Star Gate matrix. At the same time, with these five Star Gates as the core, expand the entire square into a large-scale transit Star Port."
Jarvis instantly projected a rendering of the completed project: a giant Star Port covering over twenty-five square kilometers situated on the surface. Hundreds of berths capable of docking million-ton Floating Ships were densely mapped out within the Star Port. Nearby, five mountain-like giant cargo warehouses and twelve automated loading and unloading tracks spanning the entire area were also planned out.
"Deploy two permanent Golem Legions near the Star Port," Allen added as he inspected the magnificent blueprint. "All incoming vessels must undergo Celestial Net System scanning in designated channels. Those who intrude without permission will be shot down immediately." Prosperity needed to be defended with artillery fire.
Finally, Allen’s gaze turned to the vast yellow areas on the continent’s map. Those were the three massive deserts in the central and southern regions, along with the saline-alkali mudflats along the eastern coast.
"Fourth, the Plane ecological transformation and Wizard specialized industry plans will be launched simultaneously.
"Once the Monarch of the Clouds is delivered, its first mission will be to serve as a Weather Regulator, bringing precipitation to these areas to transform their climate. Prior to that, make initial investments to build Magic Potion planting experimental zones along the edges of the deserts."
He allocated budget after budget, and two brand-new industrial chain plans were officially approved.
"’Magic Potion Full Industrial Chain’: Introduce high-value Magic Potion seeds from the outside, establish cultivation centers, conduct large-scale planting on the transformed land, and build supporting Alchemy Workshops to form a complete chain from planting to finished Magic Potions.
"’Mass-Produced Rune Equipment Full Industrial Chain’: Utilize our massive population that has received basic education to open vocational and technical colleges, training Rune assembly line workers in batches. We will use industrialized methods to produce standardized Rune Weapons and protective gear targeted at the low-to-mid-end markets of the Gray Channel."
While those traditional Wizards were still charging hourly fees to carve a single Rune, his factories would house thousands of Casting Tool Persons turning Magic into standardized industrial products on a piece-rate basis.
After all commands were issued, Jarvis began the final summarization.
[Phase II Civilization Construction Project, total budget plan is as follows:]
[1. Construction of the Ten Thousand Machines Magic Stone Bank and financial system: One billion Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[2. Construction of a large-scale transit Star Port: 1.2 billion Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[3. Initial investment for Plane ecological transformation: 500 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[4. Start-up capital for the Magic Potion Full Industrial Chain: 400 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[5. Start-up capital for the Rune Equipment Full Industrial Chain: 640 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[6. Planning of three comprehensive Wizard Academies and supporting facilities: 1.5 billion Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[7. Phase II upgrade of the civilian communication network and expansion of the Celestial Net System: 200 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[...Total expenditure: 5.44 billion Low-Level Magic Stones.]
[Upon command confirmation, your account’s available liquid funds will drop to: 206 million Low-Level Magic Stones.]
On the light screen, that string of nearly depleted numbers seemed to narrate the sheer madness of this investment. Allen looked at the virtually emptied account, his deep blue eyes holding only the tranquility of a profound ocean.
"Approved," he uttered softly. "Approve all projects. Starting today, commence construction in phases."
In an instant, his terminal account balance plummeted like an avalanche. From over ten billion to 4.5 billion, and now down to 200 million. Money fluctuated, never lingering long in his hands before being unhesitatingly converted into stronger cornerstones and a grander future.
Allen leaned back in his Commander’s chair, his fingers interlaced and resting on his abdomen. He gazed at the newly illuminated specks of light on the sand table, each representing a new project. Like stars, they outlined the future silhouette of the Divine Kingdom of Ten Thousand Machines.
In two months, the Monarch of the Clouds would officially roll out of the factory. By then, the kilometer-long Giant Dragon he personally designed would entwine in the highest heavens of this Plane, utilizing the Storm Law to regulate the rain, and wielding the Gravity Law to deter any invading enemies. It was both the guardian deity of this Plane and the most magnificent extension of his will.
A brand-new era had already raised its curtains.