Mystery: Good Witch

Chapter 940 Archon

Looking up at the huge black stone pillar that was three stories high and so huge that two people could not hold it together, Angel felt the weight of history coming towards him.

There was no doubt that this building had existed for more than 1500 years. Although many ruins from the Tudor period had been excavated around Backlund, and Angel had even entered one, compared to those ruins, this building that had been used and remained intact was still amazing.

Unfortunately, it also followed the architectural style that was spread from the Solomon Empire to the countries of the northern continent at that time. The eight stone pillars on the front were clearly an even number, but there were five on one side and three on the other. The door of the city hall was opened to the left, which made her feel quite uncomfortable.

Angel looked down from the open black iron doors to the lobby on the first floor and discovered that even though it was nearly lunchtime, there were still many people coming in and out of the city hall. Like the pedestrians on the street, they were dressed mainly in black, but their styles were different. What concerned her was that the crowd was generally older, and there were hardly any young people.

Could it be the aging population... She muttered to herself, followed Cliff who led the way through the hall, and came to the second floor. As she walked slowly along a long corridor, she finally couldn't help but ask:
"What is the total population of this city?"

This question was obviously meaningful. Even Nast, who was following behind the two of them, looked over curiously. However, Cliff answered calmly:

"The last time we counted the population was five months ago, and it totaled about 103,000 people. This slightly exceeds the planned population, but it's not a big problem... Our city's maximum carrying capacity is about 120,000 people, so there's still room, and there's no need to deliberately reduce it."

The carrying capacity... This might be related to the supply of food, industrial products, etc. for the entire city, and it must have utilized extraordinary powers, such as the characteristics of a "biologist" like Frank Lee... Well, he is probably a Sequence 5 "Druid" now... One thought after another rolled through Angel's mind, and suddenly stopped on a word in Cliff's words.

"Reduce the population? What will you do if the population exceeds the carrying capacity?"

At this moment, she thought about abandoning some of the elderly, about making the law more stringent, and about executing some minor offenders...

"Of course, we need to plan the number of newborns. Currently, each couple has an average of 2.4 children. Excluding those who die prematurely due to illness, accidents, or those who do not want to get married, this is just enough to meet the needs of generational replacement. If the population is too large, the city hall will issue new regulations to find ways to reduce this number, such as advocating late marriage and late childbirth to increase the generation gap."

It's such a scientific method. Hearing about a nearly modern family planning method in a city that has been isolated from the world for more than a thousand years makes me feel deeply sad for those countries outside that are planning to start a world war as soon as they use steam engines... Angel opened his mouth slightly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"What about outsiders? If they become 'residents' and integrate into this city, are they allowed to leave offspring?"

Nast, who was following behind him, suddenly asked.

Why did he ask such a question? Could it be that he was tired of life outside and planned to retire here... I remember that the law prohibits Beyonders from leaving offspring, and it should not only be a regulation for local residents... Angel muttered and looked at Cliff, who really shook his head and replied:
"If ordinary people come here at the right age to get married, they can leave their own offspring, but you can't."

"Is it because inheriting Beyonder traits will cause the offspring to also become born Beyonders? I think you may not know that high-sequence Beyonders can decide for themselves whether to pass on their traits to the next generation... Such outsiders will not be allowed to leave offspring?"

Nast asked immediately, his tone even a little anxious, making Angel secretly look at him.

"I'm sorry, I'm not very clear about these things. What is forbidden in the law is not allowed, and what is not forbidden is allowed."

Cliff shook his head again and replied.

At this moment, Angel saw the undisguised disappointment in Nast's black eyes, and suddenly understood something.

He was not preparing a way out for himself, but looking for the descendants of someone who had already entered this city of hope.

He was confirming whether his father, Savini Solomon, had any descendants in this city!

This guess shocked Angel a little, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was very likely.

Otherwise, there would be no need for Nestor to risk fighting a "Balancer" and force his way onto the train to the "Ghost Empire". Even if he really coveted the "Lawyer" path feature of Sequence 2, he could have exchanged interests afterwards.

He wouldn't be like Bernadette, spending his entire life searching for the whereabouts of his father... Angel felt a little emotional as he watched Nestor shut his mouth and stop asking questions in disappointment.

At this moment, Cliff pointed to a double door with a black wood base and brass edges and said:
“We are here, this is the office of His Excellency the Archon.

"He just received one of your companions this morning, and will receive several more in the afternoon. If you have any other questions, you can ask him."

As he spoke, Cliff pushed open the door and gestured for someone to come in.

Anne wouldn't be the one to be received in the morning, right? Then it would be Klein's turn in the afternoon... The order of arrangement was in line with the strict and somewhat old-fashioned attitude of this city... Angel thought about it, glanced at Nast, and found that he was also looking at him, so he took a deep breath and walked in.

The room was more simple than she expected. There was a huge desk and an armchair next to the French window at the back, and a few smaller chairs on the other side. There were bookshelves on both sides. On the last wall near the door hung an oil painting depicting the sea and reefs. Apart from that, there were no extra decorations. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a fat body. He was about 40 years old, with short brass-colored hair and pale gold eyes. His facial features were a little deformed by the excess fat on his face. There were two tufts of mustaches between his nose and lips, which made him look a little funny and not serious.

The corners of the eyes, the auricles and other features are somewhat similar to the statues enshrined in the memorial hall... Could this be a descendant of the Trunsoest royal family, or at least a blood relationship? Does this have anything to do with him becoming the archon... Angel quickly scanned the other person's appearance and figure, and then imitated Cliff's address to him and said:

"Good afternoon, Your Excellency the Archon."

"Good afternoon, two guests, welcome to the 'City of Dreams'," the Archon stood up from his chair, walked around the desk, and came in front of Angel and Nast, which made his bulging belly fall directly into the eyes of the two people. "Cliff, please wait outside the door for a while, I want to talk to them alone."

Cliff, who was named by him, seemed to have known the process for a long time. He nodded and left the office, closing the half of the wooden door.

There was a click, and the sound of the lock tongue hitting the door frame was heard. Only two Sequence 3 Outsiders and the “Consul” who seemed to have no extraordinary powers were left in the office.

"Please take a seat, both of you. Although I am nominally the governor of this city, I am actually no more detached than ordinary people... I believe you can also see that I am just an ordinary person, and I don't carry any weapons or... magical items."

The fat Archon said, opening his arms as if to show the two men that he was no threat.

No, actually I can’t see it. Only a demigod of the “Arbitrator” can do it. What’s more, I’m worried that you are an ordinary person, which means that you will exercise power through the “Hand of Order” feature instead of through your own strength… Angel muttered to himself, but still found a single chair to sit down. Nast did the same, but still stared at each other with some vigilance.

"Very good. In this city, abiding by the law and following the Archon's advice are the basis for a good life." The Archon nodded and sat back at his desk. "Let me introduce myself. You can call me Geldruf, or like most people, call me Your Excellency the Archon."

"Angelica Sage."

Angel gave his pseudonym without hesitation, and the "King of the Five Seas" sitting next to him also said in a low voice:

"Nast."

"Ms. Angelica, Mr. Nast, good afternoon. Welcome to this city again," Gerdruf said, and then flipped open a document on the desk. "You will go to the office next door to fill out some forms later. They are mainly some basic information so that the city hall can include it in the archives. In addition, each of you will be assigned a house of your own. You will be allowed to choose the location or the size of the house to a certain extent, but the total value will be limited to a reasonable range."

"Does this mean we have truly become 'residents'?"

Angel asked.

"That's right. With a file, a house, and an identity, you are a resident here... Of course, you also have a 'quota' that will ensure that you won't starve to death even if you don't work. But if you want to live a good life, you must obey the task assignments of the City Hall, which will take into account how to use your original extraordinary abilities without breaking the law... Hehe, even now, there are still a small number of extraordinary people in this city. If you are interested, you can talk to them and learn from them to adapt to life here."

"Other Beyonders? Have you all registered?"

Nast, who was sitting nearby, asked with a serious expression.

"Everyone's files are in the archives office near the city hall. As long as there is a reasonable reason, you can go there to check."

Geldruf replied, glanced at the "King of the Five Seas", then laughed, leaned back in his chair, and continued leisurely:

"I think before coming here, you should have read the city laws in the hotel according to Cliff's instructions, and know what you can and cannot do. This may be a little difficult for Extraordinary People, but I hope you can abide by all the laws and don't try to find loopholes in them. Although the law will not retroactively repair loopholes, as a consul, I have the power to impose corresponding penalties.

"Of course, I expect you to study the legal provisions carefully and find loopholes that can be exploited. This will help our city improve its laws and fix any deficiencies. For me, it can also bring a little fun to the boring work."

"pleasure?"

Angel asked back, curious about how such words could come out of the mouth of this governor who spoke only about laws and kept silent about clauses, as if he was the embodiment of the city's laws.

"Yes, after all, life always needs some excitement, fun and anticipation."

Gerdruf replied with a smile, raising his right hand naturally, but lowering it before raising it high, as if he had just twitched.

(End of this chapter)