Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi was somewhat puzzled.

Even Fanyun City, this old territory, was managed to the point of population outflow, eventually cashing out and leaving. Could Lord Fanyun really be a good mayor for a large electromechanical city?

He summoned Red Falcon to inquire.

"Zhou, from the information I've gathered, the effect after he became mayor is remarkable."

Red Falcon said, "Lord Fanyun transferred a total of 69 electromechanical thugs and city criminals who were imprisoned to Motorcycle City, which can reduce 6,900 light seeds in expenditure each year. Through the work-for-service model, it not only saves the continuous expenses of imprisonment and reduces manpower for guarding, but also obtains additional income from the other side. The difference between the two is quite considerable."

"He has already announced that during his tenure as mayor, criminals will be dealt with using this model as a reference."

"Besides the adjustments to public security, another major policy of Lord Fanyun is the labor export of the unemployed. He has compiled statistics and categorized the unemployed residents of Mechanical Bay, and exported them to several Photon-Accepting cities in the Western Continent through urban cooperation."

"Photon-Accepting cities are mainly populated by Photon-Accepting lifeforms, and many of them involve extremely high labor intensity. Among the Photon-Accepting species, most, except for Mountain Dogs, Bone Men, and Water Octopi, are averse to production labor."

"This time, Lord Fanyun is conducting labor export at a low price. According to Tabo of the Flower Town April Club, some electromechanical laborers have an annual salary of only 3 light seeds. The minimum annual salary standard for electromechanical cities to work abroad is 10 light seeds, which has already broken the existing rules."

"But this radical approach allows the unemployed to find employment."

"This greatly reduces the value of electromechanical lifeforms working abroad. But for the entire Mechanical Bay, it is beneficial."

Zhou Yi gradually understood.

The past management methods of electromechanical cities always revolved around proceduralism and standardization.

Proceduralism goes without saying, doing something must go through several procedures, making the process lengthy and inefficient.

Standardization refers to acting in accordance with strict standards. As the standards of various industries continue to be established, the space for the cities themselves to maneuver becomes smaller and smaller under the constraints of these rules.

Due to the constraints of these two chains, electromechanical cities clearly have the most efficient tools, but it is difficult to utilize them.

Lord Fanyun came to power, and he is not an electromechanical lifeform, so he doesn't care so much and just does things according to his past experience.

Reduce expenses, increase revenue, and make money!

Electromechanical cities have perfect infrastructure, as well as the innate strength and professionalism of electromechanical lifeforms. He has a winning hand from the start, and it is simply easy to operate.

Lin Chi continued, "Mr. Zhou, externally hired mayors are responsible for the development of the city and have relevant requirements. If they cannot be met, the salary cannot be fully cashed out."

"But cities like Mechanical Bay, if they can overachieve certain goals, will also have additional profit sharing."

"Although the externally hired mayor responsibility system has only been initiated for a short time, seven electromechanical cities are currently emulating it. This has proven to be very effective, with immediate changes in a short period of time."

"The current political system of electromechanical cities is actually divided into three types."

"Namely, the Legalist Faction, the Knight Administration, and the Externally Hired Mayor."

"The latter two, in their origins, are changes brought about by electromechanical knights. Because the [Key] breaks the existing rules and constraints, allowing the knights to try new methods."

"Tracing back further, it can actually go back to the earlier Mount Tai Knights, who led the establishment of electromechanical cities."

The drone said, "In the future, electromechanical cities will have more urban management models. Therefore, Plastic Island believes that the future will continue to change, and joint venture factories are more advantageous than self-operated ones in this environment."

Zhou Yi asked with interest, "What do electromechanical residents think of electromechanical knights?"

"They're used to it."

Lin Chi's electronic eyes flickered twice, "Electromechanical knights are not a profession, but more like a resume, a kind of thought and culture."

"Although the Legalist Faction still restricts electromechanical knights, preventing them from using the [Key] in those cities, they no longer carry out forced arrests, but only impose restrictions. Because there are now too many of this group, it is impossible to eliminate them through arrest and imprisonment."

It said, "At least for small and medium-sized cities, the pragmatism of electromechanical knights in many fields has become a strong support for the city."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Thank you for your hard work. Lao Yuan, you and Lin Chi, go prepare the plastic factory."

"Yes."

Seeing these models, Zhou Yi couldn't help but recall the scenes of the past few years.

703 was inspecting a certain piece of equipment.

Little Elephant was on the work table, using a six-axis robotic arm to manufacture a cylindrical device.

There was also an electromechanical ox here. It had two flexible mechanical claws installed on its body and was welding a metal steering wheel.

703 was the first to react, "Chairman, you're here!"

Zhou Yi nodded, "I want to ask you something, come out for a bit."

He walked to the outside terrace, "Have electromechanical knights broken through the Legalist Faction's sanctions?"

"Yes."

703's voice was full of joy, "More and more electromechanical lifeforms are choosing the programs provided by electromechanical knights."

“The cumulative downloads of our 【Key】 have exceeded 200 million, and the number of online MechLife program holders exceeds 550,000. According to last year's statistics on the number of MechLifes, this number already accounts for 20% of the city's total residents, and the actual number of holders is only more than this number.”

“The number of downloads for 【Family】 is 22 million, with the number of online users consistently above 7,000.”

“Even the highly challenging 【Breathing】 has 110,000 downloads, with over 500 online users.”

Zhou Yi's heart stirred: “Do many MechLifes repeatedly download and delete?”

“That's right, Chairman. For safety in the city, they delete this program and reinstall it after leaving the city. 【Key】 has become an essential program for MechLifes going out.”

The robotic dog said with some pride: “Since the launch of the program, we have been constantly improving and optimizing it based on everyone's needs. No matter how the Legalist Front targets us, we have never wavered on this point.”

“So in the end, the more fierce their arrest and sanctions against us, the more rapid our user growth.”

“Recently, the Legalist Front has removed the sanctions announcement against the Mech Knights. Although it hasn't been officially announced to be stopped, this is already a clear signal. They have had to accept the fact that the residents have chosen us.”

Zhou Yi felt a strange sensation in his heart.

He originally thought that the technological innovation initiated by the Mech Knights and the common agreement of the old rulers, the Legalist Front, would have a long-term confrontation between the old and the new.

He didn't expect that in the field of reform, MechLifes also implemented their usual efficiency.

More than 20% of the city's residents have already openly identified as Mech Knights.

They are no longer a dangerous criminal group, but a new force in the city that cannot be ignored.

This group of residents, through the program power of the Mech Knights, has begun to influence the city in all aspects, and has brought about changes and innovations like Plastic Island.

After the Knight Administration, they also tried an externally hired mayor responsibility system.

Obviously, their thinking has become more active.

Zhou Yi said: “What is the current situation with the semi-civilized body restoration project?”

He valued this point very much.

The earliest support for the Mech Knight Order was also because 703 and the others were committed to restoring this group, so that they could live like normal MechLifes.

“Report, Chairman, this project is still progressing steadily.”

703 said: “As of last month, we have used the 【Time Anchor】 restoration technology in conjunction with invited time measurers to successfully restore a cumulative total of 132,000 semi-civilized bodies, turning them into second-generation MechLifes.”

Zhou Yi was puzzled: “There are 130,000 people, why haven't any of them come to the company for employment?”

“This…”

703 stammered: “Among the external MechLifes, the story of your destruction of the Energy Storage City and Clockwork City is circulating, and each Mech City has listed you as an EX-level unpredictable danger…”

“You have the title of Mech Destroyer on the Legalist Front's side, coupled with the dragon-slaying deeds, and are considered an elusive and crazy ruler.”

“So those newly born semi-civilized bodies are very afraid of you after inquiring about it…”

Zhou Yi was furious upon hearing this: “This kind of slander must be a propaganda attack by the Legalist Front! Outrageous! They're still messing with me behind my back! I think I didn't blow up enough!”

“Don't be angry, don't be angry.”

The robotic dog said softly: “The main thing is that MechLifes value data very much. At least before there is a new standard, whether it is a traditional MechLife like me, or a second-generation MechLife after semi-civilized body restoration, it is still the same.”

“In the historical data that can be found, you have destroyed the most MechLifes, reaching 23,119. The second-ranked Skywalker 「Slaughtering Duke」 has always been considered a Mech executioner in the past, but the MechLifes he killed were only 1,044, less than a fraction of yours… Your data in this area is far ahead.”

“The data is verifiable, and the situation is like this.”

“They all like the company's Floating Heart and Electric Cat very much, and they are saving money to buy the latest second-generation heart, but when they are asked to come over for an interview, they are all very scared.”

Zhou Yi: “…”

He couldn't refute it for a moment.

“The situation has actually improved a lot recently!”

703 added: “Because the influence of 「Wasteland Information」 in Recursive City is also increasing day by day, a large amount of information and news about the company is continuously being output to the outside world.”

“Our company's purpose is development, and we lacked a publicity platform in the past. Under the promotion of Recursive City, more and more people know that we are continuously making great efforts to improve people's livelihoods, so that all kinds of life can live more safely and comfortably.”

“Twelve second-generation MechLifes have already made a living and found employment in Recursive City, and there should be more and more in the future.”

Zhou Yi felt a little relieved.

Fortunately, there is the company's own propaganda outlet, otherwise this field would really not be broken.

“Since you asked, there is actually one more thing that is almost mature enough to report to you now.”

The robotic dog's electronic eyes emitted red light as it sat upright: “Chairman, one of 「Lao Tzu」's research projects is currently nearing completion and is preparing to start internal testing.”

“This technology is called 【Cultivation】, and it can turn an ordinary MechLife into a super MechLife in a short period of time, even infinitely close to the level of a Light Core Body!”

Ah, this.

Zhou Yi was immediately energized.

Are MechLifes also going to cultivate and become immortals?

Did Lao Tzu create Mech Supermen?