Afterward, Daniel and Aryan discussed the overall state of the city. Everything was running smoothly, as Aryan was adept at maintaining the status quo. The public services, like police, fire emergency, and waste disposal, were all functioning well.
The real problem lay with the refugees. It wasn't that Aryan had anything against them; their homes had been destroyed by the hell gate incident, a terrible misfortune. Aryan had done his best to provide them with food and shelter, but many of the refugees, brainwashed into believing their royalty was blameless and that Astral Tech was responsible for their plight, were causing trouble.
While Daniel was away, extremist refugees who saw the corporation as an enemy began acting out, breaking into shops and stores to rob and steal, then retreating to the refugee camps as if nothing had happened. The police hesitated to intervene, fearing humanitarian backlash from the UN, who were eyeing the corporation's technology like children eyeing candy.
This left Aryan in a bind. He couldn't push the refugees back to the Tessia Kingdom, which had become a failed state, due to fear of UN repercussions. He believed that in the long run, tolerating the refugees and maintaining a positive image would be more beneficial for the corporation.
Meanwhile, the Tessia Kingdom had descended into chaos. The ruling party was either dead or had fled to Europe with their liquidated assets and lucrative swiss bank account, leaving the country in a power vacuum. Various factions, from gangs to high-ranking officers, were vying for control, trying to carve out their own piece of the failed state.
Civil war, explosions, and gunfire echoed through the streets. Human trafficking ran rampant, with people being brazenly kidnapped from the streets every day. People starve to death and try to flee for their lives to Sector Alpha City causing a massive influx of refugees.
Back in Sector Alpha City, public security was deteriorating. Despite Aryan's efforts to maintain order, the refugees made the police's job difficult, and he didn't dare let them crack down on thieves and troublemakers within refugee ranks.
The reason? This corporate-owned state wasn't officially recognized by the UN as a country. Aryan didn't know if the law within their territory would be considered legitimate, so he didn't dare take any drastic action.
Hearing all of this, Daniel pondered a way out. He possessed enough technological advantage and military power to disregard the UN and could push these people back to their devastated homeland, given their deep love for their country and king.
However, he couldn't do that. Not out of mercy or compassion. He even held some resentment towards the people of Tessia, with their penchant for witch hunting those who didn't share their "proper" mindset of unwavering loyalty to the king. Talk about brainwashed idiots - these people were the embodiment of the term.
No, he couldn't act against the refugees because of the long-term consequences. Benefit, the universal motivator, dictated his actions. Treating the refugees inhumanely would be detrimental to his plans. He needed connections with other countries if he wanted to create a global mage organization that could replace the Hightower.
After Aryan left, Daniel knew what he needed to know. He sighed and pondered the situation, unable to find a good solution.
Card: Gua Jia - The Heaven's Envious Talent
Image: A young scholar in his early thirties, immersed in reading a bamboo scroll in a sunlit room with light streaming through the window onto his study desk.
Rarity: Legendary
Type: Unique - Human - Advisor
Mana Cost: 1 Light, 1 Water, 2 Non-Element
Description:
Creatures under your control get +2/+2.
Each time an opponent's creature enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Each time an opponent casts a noncreature, nonartifact spell, you may search your library for a noncreature, nonartifact spell card and add it to your hand.
Each time an opponent's creature attacks, put a strength counter on the target creature for each creature that the opponent sent to attack.
Power: 1
Toughness: 2
Flavor text: "Had Guo Jia lived, my defeat would not have been."