Chapter 146: Chapter 146: System's Undercurrents

Atop the city walls, a level 3 soldier approached the turret, his steps purposeful and confident.

With a fluid motion born of habit, he placed his hand on the transfer panel, accustomed to the familiar sensation of mana being drawn from his body. He deposited 10 mana points, a contribution that once would have left him struggling but now felt almost inconsequential.

A smile played across his lips as he reflected on the change; what once would have been double his 5 remaining mana points after covering his basic needs, was now less than his 15.

"Ten points," he murmured to himself, a note of wonder in his voice. "It used to feel so much worse..."

As he stepped away from the turret, his mind wandered to the transformations that had swept through the city in recent months.

The surge in female recruits had swelled the army's ranks to over 150,000 strong, a number that would have been unthinkable just a year ago when they feared dropping from 130,000 to 120,000.

The city pulsed with renewed energy, the very air thick with possibility and hope.

♢♢♢♢

The mana that fueled the city's operations no longer relied solely on the surplus from soldiers.

Now, every citizen of level 2 or higher contributed one mana point daily for each level they had attained.

Though 2 or 3 points per person might seem a small individual contribution, when multiplied by hundreds of thousands, it became a torrent of power that transformed the city's capabilities.

But the daily contribution from citizens that Ren managed was a separate network, distinct from the older one...

Inside the turret, the deposited mana flowed like an invisible river, pulsing with potential.

In the rear of the turret, hidden from the eyes of passersby, a corridor of indestructible white rock encircled the tower's crystalline core. Here, the overseers of surplus mana collection worked in silence, their movements efficient and discreet.

Garen remained silent, aware that any comment could trigger a longer tirade. Once the transfer was complete, he handed Saren the detailed balance sheet.

Just as Saren was about to dismiss him, the door burst open. Cassandra, with her elegant bearing and penetrating gaze, entered the room as if she owned it.

"Grandpa," she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I need another 100,000 mana points."

Saren raised an eyebrow, his irritation momentarily forgotten. "Again? Cassandra, do you realize these funds are not inexhaustible? The founder emptied the vaults before he died; I was barely able to safeguard a fraction of the savings..."

Cassandra approached the desk, her voice dropping to a whisper. "They're necessary, grandpa. For our... special projects."

Garen, sensing the tension in the air, began to back towards the door. But before he could escape, Cassandra turned to him.

"You," she said, her voice sharp as ice. "You haven't seen or heard anything, understood?"

Garen nodded quickly, his heart pounding. "Of course, my lady. I just deliver the mana, nothing more."

Cassandra studied him for a moment before making a dismissive gesture. Garen didn't need to be told twice; he left the room as quickly as he could without appearing to flee.

Once outside, Garen leaned against the wall, breathing deeply. What he had just witnessed... he knew it was some plan against the new regime, but he couldn't do anything until he paid off his debt and recovered his daughter.

The old families still held power, and that power was immense wealth.

As he walked back to his post, Garen couldn't help but think about the changes occurring in the city. The new regime had brought hope and prosperity, but also uncertainty...

The old power structures were crumbling, but they wouldn't do so without resistance.

"The mana flows," Garen thought, his mind heavy with the weight of his knowledge, "but where to? And at what cost?"

With these questions swirling in his mind, Garen returned to his work.