Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1012 - 700: Chaos

According to the established plan, Kiro Lan entrusted the routine affairs of the New Jing City center to a few reliable veteran executives for the time being and then embarked on her journey to the industrial town of Anvil City, located to the southwest.

This was the first step in her strategy to "win over the centrists and divide potential enemies."

The City Lord of Anvil City is the descendant of old warlords, with a tough and conservative style, and has a clear tendency to turn away from Blackwater City, but has not openly turned against it like some cities.

If she could gain his support, or at least stabilize him, it would be crucial to curb the Federation's trend of division.

With only a convoy, Kiro Lan traversed the wilderness.

The wilderness nowadays is far less dangerous than before. Even without a military escort, ordinary people have a good chance of traveling safely between cities.

Just before arriving, the drivers in the convoy hesitantly reported, "Miss Kiro Lan, we received air traffic control information from Anvil City. They... only approve us to disembark outside the city and demand that our escort team's weapons be stored, with their people 'accompanying' us into the city."

The escort captain's face changed: "Make us disembark outside the city?! This is clearly neglect and precaution! Weapon storage is impossible! Who knows what they're planning?"

Kiro Lan sat by the porthole, looking at the cold and solid city dominated by dark gray metal buildings and dotted with chimneys in the distance.

She could understand the other party's vigilance. In such sensitive times, a visit from the Central Federation's nominal highest leader would be akin to a weasel wishing chickens a happy New Year to a local real-power faction with ulterior motives.

"Do as they ask." Kiro Lan's voice was calm. "Weapons can be temporarily stored, kept by them. We are not here to demonstrate; we are here to communicate. Show sincerity."

"But your safety..." the escort captain said anxiously.

"If Anvil City's City Lord truly intends to harm me, whether we have weapons makes little difference." Kiro Lan shook her head. "The fact that he is still willing to let us into the city at least shows that the dialogue window isn't completely closed. Let's go."

The convoy parked in a designated area outside the city.

Indeed, a team of fully armed soldiers wearing Anvil City's distinctive dark red bordered uniforms had already been waiting. The middle-aged officer leading them sternly saluted before requesting the escort team to hand over all weapons and inviting Kiro Lan to board the armored vehicle with sealed windows they had prepared.

The atmosphere was tense and heavy, and all the accompanying personnel in the convoy were like facing a great enemy.

Only Kiro Lan looked as usual and was the first to board the vehicle.

She needed to see the current state of this city with her own eyes and feel its atmosphere.

The convoy entered Anvil City.

The streets were broad but sparsely populated, with people hurrying about, their faces showing a mix of apathy and vigilance.

The continuous roar of factories was heard, and the air was filled with the smell of metal and fuel.

Defense works were visible everywhere, reinforced significantly compared to Kiro Lan's last visit, according to her memory.

The entire city resembled a massive, tension-filled war fortress, full of distrust towards the outside world.

In the City Lord Mansion meeting room, shaped like a steel fortress in the center of the city, Kiro Lan finally met the City Lord of Anvil City—Otto Anvil. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

A burly middle-aged man with thick beard and sharp eyes like an eagle.

He sat in the main seat, behind him stood several fierce-looking military officers and advisers, with only one seat reserved for Kiro Lan on the opposite side of the conference table.

"Great Commander Kiro Lan," Otto's voice was loud, carrying unapologetic distance and scrutiny.

"What wind blows you from the comfort of Blackwater City to our 'frontier town'? Things are not peaceful outside now; there are worms underground, and those beastmen are causing trouble everywhere. Such a distinguished person like you should stay in the safe center."

Kiro Lan ignored the sarcasm in his words and went straight to the point, "City Lord Otto, precisely because it's not peaceful, I must come. The underground threat is comprehensive, high-dimensional erosion is pervasive, and beastmen are creating chaos everywhere. Division and suspicion will only make us all die faster. Bai E established the Federation initially to concentrate power to face threats that no single city can fight alone. We need unity and, more importantly, trust."

"Trust?" Otto sneered, "Of course we trust Bai E! He is a true hero and leader. But..."

Turning his speech, he stared intensely at Kiro Lan, "The lord has been gone for a long time, without a trace. And the life and death of hundreds of thousands of people in Anvil City cannot be entrusted to someone who may never return. Or... to two successors who, although exceptionally talented, are too young."

He leaned forward with an overwhelming presence, "Miss Kiro Lan, I'm not underestimating you. But running a city, a Federation, relies not only on Spiritual Talent and the shadow of a former leader. It's about food, ammunition, sturdy walls, and loyal troops! These we have in Anvil City! We improved city defenses according to the technical blueprints left by Bai E, increased production, and trained soldiers. We can fully protect ourselves! Why should we entrust our fate to directives from faraway Blackwater City, whose understanding of our specific situation is limited? And why send our hard-produced supplies and precious Spiritual Ability Users to support those 'brother cities' that perhaps haven't even managed themselves properly?"