A strange world

Chapter 524 Chapter 181. This is just a dream

It's a new day. Annan came to the newspaper office early in the morning, because tomorrow is a new week.

The second issue of "Voice of Freedom" has begun printing. Annan passed by the busy hall where female workers were recruited and came to the office upstairs.

Evelin was destroying the apple pie that Aunt Susan had sent this morning. When she saw Annan picking it up, she raised her head and vaguely pointed at the magic newspaper folded in front of her: "Would it be too explicit to write like this?"

Annan picked up the magic newspaper. This was in the "daily news" section of the third page. The content read: The first succubus tavern in Middle-earth is open in Liberty City, and sexy succubi are at service at any time. Let me play with you.

"We want to attract mercenaries and professionals... Do you expect their pumpkin-like heads to understand profound things?"

"makes sense."

Annan opened the magic newspaper.

The first page of [World News] is about major events on the continent of Allen. Such as the defeat of the expeditionary force, the combination of demon tide and rat tide raging in the north, and the Blood Tribe Council declaring war on the Stun rat people——

Annan watched carefully, because he didn't know the news.

The second page is [Middle-earth News]. The news of the end of the war between Annan and the Mad Dog Archduke was placed on the front page of the second page, and Evelyn also satirized the ridiculous prophecy of the Keating Principality envoy at the end...

The first, second and third editions are all interspersed with advertisements. Currently, the only sponsors are Gem Star Jewelry and Syltovis, not counting the self-promoting "Fast Pants".

Skipping Old Zoron's "Lame Weather Report" section, Annan turned to the final racial joke:

During the Elven War, on the ancient battlefield of Wilhelm, the elves fought against the dwarves and orcs at the same time. The elf arcanist came, and the dwarves and orcs hid; the dwarf mage came, and the elves hid; the orc wizard came, Everyone is hiding.

This joke is sponsored by Elf Mentors.

Throwing the magic newspaper back on the table, Annan was about to go out when Evelin called out to him: "The envoys from Syltovis should arrive this morning. Are you going to pick them up?"

"Let Olmedo handle it, just in time to put her in contact with Syltoves."

"Are you sure you're not too lazy to go?"

Annan defended loudly: "New World Pictures has just been established, and I want to go over and help with the "Dream Princess" project!"

"Okay, okay..."

Annan slipped out of the newspaper office amidst Evelin's disdain and perfunctory remarks and walked aimlessly out of the city.

He wants to visit the north, but Itilia probably won't let him. He wanted to visit the south, but Itilia and Olmedo probably wouldn't let him. But if Annan said he wanted to see hell, they should allow him to go to the north or south.

Musketeers training outside the city.

The war was over, but Annan still maintained 3,000 musketeers and 2,000 reservists.

Ingrid counted the number of people who followed Girardi back to the principality two days later, and it was close to 30,000 people.

By then the Free City would have fewer than 40,000 residents left, with soldiers accounting for one-ninth of the population—a proportion that would unnerve its neighbors.

But they are different from soldiers from other countries and territories. Being a soldier out there is a profession: like a knight, a woodcutter, a farmer, you basically have to work until the day you die.

Annan and Olmedo developed a service system for Liberty City: all soldiers can be discharged after serving for one year and can continue to serve. But starting from the second year, soldiers who have been serving for more than one year need to take an assessment to ensure that they are still qualified to stay.

The advantage of this is that soldiers will not become weak and lazy with age and time - Olmedo spent more energy dealing with the veterans in Breeze City whose average age was 35 years old than fighting with her father.

And even if they retire, they will not lose their skills - they can be drafted into the reserves at any time, and they can fight for Liberty City again as long as they are briefly proficient in magic muskets.

This is the advantage of the magic gun, and Annan has no reason not to carry it forward.

In addition, maintaining a large number of soldiers has another advantage: without the competition of one-ninth of the people, no one in Liberty City is idle except Annan.

They alleviate the illusion that Liberty City doesn't have many jobs to offer. As Olmedo said, "Our flaws are obvious and our strengths are obvious."

"We have very few professionals, and instead we don't have so many children, old people and women who can't work. But we have to keep them employed so as not to cause unrest in the city."

Olmedo was looking at Annan as he said these words.

The reason why other towns don't face the "oversupply" phenomenon they face is because the slums are zones where everyone in power acquiesces.

Cities and towns are changing all the time: the poor become rich and the rich return to poverty. The slums are places where all poor people are accommodated. People who are not qualified to live fend for themselves in them and become nutrients, thus keeping the city healthy.

Olmedo knew that Annan didn’t want this, and Annan knew that Olmedo didn’t want this.

So Olmedo emerged from her storm shelter anyway.

After looking at the Great Wall in the north for a while, Annan returned to the city lord's palace. Play with Lily, feed the little spider, and fall asleep after meditating.

…

Puff puff puff puff puff——

The liquid that fell on his cheeks gave off a fishy smell that was heavier than dirt.

No longer the devil's eye this time? Annan, who was huddled in the thatch, woke up leisurely.

A pig passed by with its tail wagging and "humming humming". Annan lowered his head when he realized something, and saw that his loose blue pajamas were stained, and the mud spots were stuck on his graying black hair.

The sky outside the thatched hut was gloomy, and drizzle fell in drizzle, dripping from the holes in the roof of the hut.

Annan suddenly turned over and opened up the haystack under him. Three dirty copper coins lay there quietly. He came to the street in confusion, and the passers-by spoke a language he couldn't understand...

Breeze City, Xingyue Bay, Middle-earth...

Ilimoyas, Olmedo, Itilia...

Half-tauren, ratmen, elves...

Everything is just a wonderful dream that Annan had on a cold rainy night...

Annan took a deep breath and suddenly rushed out in the drizzle. He found the convoy about to leave on the north side of the town. He took off his coat and threw it to his boss, pointing north.

Dozens of minutes later, Annan, who had changed into a linen coat, set off with the convoy. I don’t know how much time passed, but the magnificent Breeze City appeared at the foot of the snow-capped mountains.

After entering the city, Annan went to the Olmedo family's manor according to his memory. He squatted nearby and waited for Augusta to return. Then he rushed out and threw himself in front of the stunned Augusta, giving him a slap in the face. A punch.

…

Annan woke up in a refreshed mood.

But maybe he didn't hide his good mood. During breakfast, Olmedo looked at Annan strangely: "What's wrong with you?"

"No...nothing..."

Olmedo became more and more suspicious: "You have been circling me since I came in..."

"I just think you look particularly good today."