Chapter 521 – The Yearly Meeting Starts

Chapter 521 – The Yearly Meeting Starts

90 minutes later, Nick was done with strangling the life out of the last criminal.

He turned to the watching people for one last time.

"Aegis above everything else," Nick stated before walking away.

Silence.

"Aegis above everything else."

Nick glanced back at someone in the audience, who had just echoed his words.

As soon as Nick looked at him, the man became scared.

However, Nick just nodded and continued walking.

"Aegis above everything else," another person echoed.

"Yes, Aegis above everything else," a third person said.

One by one, more and more people shouted that.

After ten people had shouted it, everyone else joined in.

A very small number of the present people actually believed Nick.

However, they were probably only in the single digits.

The others only joined in out of fear.

They wanted to seem supportive of the government because they feared they would be next if they didn't echo the sentiment.

Nick had not planned for this to happen, but he also wasn't against it.

By the end, everyone had spoken that phrase at least once.

Nick just nodded with respect at the present people before leaving.

One of the guards stepped forward. "Everyone is allowed to leave!" he shouted.

Slowly, one by one, the people left.

It was done.

The upper layer had been completely broken down.

Even if Kugelblitz asked for support, the vast majority wouldn't even dare to talk to them.

Nick had thoroughly intimidated them.

These were not young and idealistic people with the aim of changing the world.

These were old and realistic people.

They would never risk their lives for an idealistic goal.

As long as they could keep living in the upper layer, they could deal with things.

It was not as good for them as in the past, but they hadn't truly lost anything too important, except for the few who had their spouses arrested or executed.

As long as they didn't go against the government, they could continue living in their little paradise while having a happy little family.

A couple of weeks passed.

Nick received a report that the Dreamer had killed the gate guardian.

The corpse was fed to one of the city's Specters.

This corpse would give a lot of Zephyx.

And then, it was time for the yearly meeting between the Manufacturers.

The meeting was held within the new city headquarters.

The meeting was no longer held in one of the Manufacturers' buildings.

Everyone gathered in the meeting room.

"Are you prepared?" Aria asked Nick inside his office.

"Yes," Nick said after he stood up.

"This won't be easy," she said. "With today's announcement, you will make Kugelblitz your enemy."

"I know," Nick said.

Aria watched as Nick walked by her.

'What Nick is doing should be my job!'

'I should be the one that's supposed to change Crimson City for the better!'

Deep inside, Aria felt inadequate.

She was so much more powerful than Nick, but she hadn't dared to risk her own life while he, an Initial Expert, did so.

'I will help him!' Aria thought. 'He has done so much for the city, but now, he's going against Kugelblitz!'

'Without my help, he will die, and the city will return to its old self!'

Aria looked at the open door with determination.

'It's time to put my life on the line as well!'

Then, Aria left the office.

She quickly caught up with Nick, and the two of them entered the big meeting room.

When Nick entered, he saw twelve people.

Six CEOs and six CZEs.

The representation from the weaker places was no longer here.

Their presence had been a farce anyway.

Everyone respectfully greeted Nick.

The people from the three new Manufacturers with Experts.

Hera and Ramona.

Mindy and Cindy Wunder.

Vanessa and Jornis from Kugelblitz.

Nick greeted them back and sat down at the head of the big table.

Aria sat down beside him.

Vanessa glanced at Aria with interest.

'She seems different,' she thought.

Vanessa wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

Nick looked around the table.

"The yearly meeting between Manufacturers is now in session," he said.

Everyone paid attention and listened to Nick.

"There will be one major change and a couple of very minor changes."

When the present people heard that, they became nervous.

By now, they had learned that Nick was not afraid of completely changing the way the city operated.

Just by changing the taxes, he had changed the way all Manufacturers operated drastically.

Even more, he had completely tamed the Specter cave that was the upper layer.

None of the Manufacturers believed that they had a chance against the government if even the entire upper layer had failed.

Except Kugelblitz, of course.

Everyone, except Kugelblitz, didn't even dare to think about resisting Nick.

"Since the major change will require the greatest amount of consideration, we will start with the minor changes first," Nick said.

Over the next 30 minutes, Nick talked about some minor matters.

A couple of small amendments to the taxes that only required minor adjustments.

Some small laws that protected the common people from the power of the Manufacturers.

"And now, for the big matter," Nick said.

Everyone listened to Nick.

"The blood tax will be eradicated and will be replaced by a different system," Nick said.

When Vanessa and Jornis heard that, their heart rates spiked with anxiety and anger.

This new system better increase their profits!

It wouldn't.

Instead, it would reduce their profits drastically.