The Reincarnation of Fusion Punk - Chapter 251



Only Noblemtl

#253. Freya >

#Episode 253.

— What? How much for a bottle of water?

— 40 credits.

— Crazy. What kind of jar are you using to sell raw water······.

— It’s true. A bottle of water costs 40 credits. Yesterday it was 35 credits.

Shortage of drinking water.

It has become a common sight on the outskirts of Ragnarok City.

[ Drinkable water for sale — 5 credits per sip! ]

Even the bucket water vendors that existed in the very, very distant past have appeared. Why, they exist. They bring unidentified water in two buckets and say, “Buy water!”

Surprisingly, such water vendors frequently appeared in the outskirts.

At first, residents thought this situation was a temporary phenomenon, but they began to notice that the city’s drinking water situation was becoming more serious. Residents also felt it firsthand.

A while ago, a water hoarding began. Someone went around the downtown area and bought drinking water from the supermarkets, and the hoarding spread out of control. It was really quick for the bottled water and soft drinks on the market to run out.

Distributors raised the prices of bottled water and beverages like crazy. More than three times. They sold well despite the skyrocketing prices. When even the warehouses of marts and small discount stores that stored drinking water were robbed, even the heavy-duty companies began to feel the seriousness and take action. Not only the Ragnarok state government, but also the anti-company companies that were watching the situation were the same.

I contacted the head of the merchant fleet, Karls.

We mobilized the cargo carriers of merchant ships to airlift as much drinking water as possible from Baldur City. We unloaded the contracted cargo and loaded the drinking water in its place. It was enough to sustain the entire Ragnarok for two days. Now, the drinking water was more expensive than the carrier fuel.

However, the situation in Baldur, which had suffered great damage from the sandstorm, was not good. They tried sending him to another city, but the situation there was also tight.

First, the imported drinking water was released to the city at a low price. For a moment, the hoarding and robbery quieted down, and there was a faint sound of praise for the anti-company, but, ironically, that was as far as it went.

[ Anything more than this would cost too many credits and would be inefficient. I think buying from other cities would only last a week, when the last carriers arrive at the station. ]

There is a limit to what you can bring in by adding a little extra money. It is not a volunteer group that works without pay, and it is not possible to continue to supply water at a low price by using money taken out by the company. The embarrassing situation continued, and water vendors who sell water did not disappear.

The Ragnarok state government has even put into operation an emergency water purification facility for use in times of emergency. However, the facility can only supply drinking water to 10,000 people a day at maximum. It is not enough to supply all the residents of Ragnarok City, whose permanent population has now exceeded 7 million.

However, it is impossible to build a large-scale desalination plant like Freya. In the first place, there is no cooling water or fuel to operate such a water purification facility.

That is to say.

It’s past the point where it can be resolved by luck unless the cause is addressed.

This is a failure of the determination to build a great city. It may be the first large city to perish due to lack of drinking water. Having experienced the apocalyptic world, I know well what a lack of drinking water is like.

For now, we can somehow survive with the stockpiled supplies. However, the moment we pass an invisible critical point, the city will quickly go through the process of destruction. The most important element for human survival is drinking water.

Why else would I, a level 10 player, still drink cola regularly?

“The ancestors who founded Ragnarok chose the wrong land.”

In fact, this is the fault of the humans who built the city in this area.

Is there an abundance of clear groundwater and flowing rivers like Surtr?

Does it rain a lot at the base of a city at such a high altitude like Valhalla?

Like Odin, do they have government and military headquarters and get water first?

Is the city in dire straits after being properly invaded like Baldur?

Is it possible to say, “No water? Then we won’t give you oil either” like Al Heimdall?

no.

If anything, does it have any special advantages over those five megacities?

Not yet. There are no cases of companies acting up.

It is difficult to run the city on electricity supplied from the nuclear power plant area in the northern part of the city. It is a city that is just beginning to walk.

Why did this happen in such a situation? The tragedy of a city with a short history.

It’s fortunate that it’s winter and I sweat less.

Well, that’s pretty much what’s been going on for the past few weeks.

I held back tears and proposed special measures.

“Let’s forcibly collect all the drinking water on the market and distribute it. I’ll tell the Ragnarok military commander. From now on, we’ll also take all the water that other companies bring in through the back door. From now on, we’ll ban the privatization of water by groups other than the Federation and the anti-company. Everyone will be equal. How about this?”

“Kiya~ That’s a crazy idea, hyung? If you’re going to do it, why don’t you control the media as well?”

“······.”

As Rudolph continued to talk nonsense, Lena looked as if she was dumbfounded.

“We advertised in the press that our Ragnarok is a city of freedom. If we touch that part too much, the situation will become twice as serious. Our company is not a federal or state government······.”

Although it is the representative megacorp of the city, it is unreasonable to control and distribute the city’s drinking water at will. Rather, it will only cause confusion and worsen the opposition of the residents.

It may be possible to do it by force, but it’s better than not doing it at all.

In other cities, it doesn’t matter whether or not you curse the anti-company company, but public opinion within Ragnarok is quite important. This is something that Baekri Noebu Jong-hu-pyo, who comes from the central political world, particularly emphasized.

[Both the martial arts world and the magic world are uncomfortable with the anti-company. What does that mean? It means that we have to receive maximum support within Ragnarok. Even if we get a lot of hate elsewhere, in this city, we have to get to the point where we get unconditional applause just by carrying the company flag. Just close our eyes and laugh and let our minor mistakes pass! We always have to appease the opposition first and keep our family together, so that when we have a big fight with another family, we have a strong back. Do you understand?]

The pivot city for our future expansion. The events of the anti-company must always be positive. In order to avoid following the path of Rocky City, the land of warlords that the Federation abandoned – and eventually disappeared – appropriate good deeds and corporate image management are absolutely necessary.

At that moment, Rudolph, who had been listening, tilted his head.

“I honestly think it’s a good plan.”

“okay?”

“The world is tough for everyone, so residents should also tolerate some inconvenience and make some concessions. Why don’t you just gather the residents in front of the city hall and go and cry about dying? It’s not like we drank a lot of water. This is a time when voluntary sacrifices from residents are needed. What about a campaign to drink less water?”

“Haha! Dolph is always the same, which is nice. How refreshing.”

“I’ll take care of this. I’m on your side. Then, should we go and call that guy Jong-hoo Pyo?”

“What is that guy Jong-Hoo-Pyo doing these days that I can’t see him?”

“Your body is aching. You said you wanted to try politics again?”

“how?”

“I went to Mr. Un and complained to him, asking if he could put me in a human body instead of a parrot. There was a huge uproar. I said I was going to go into the Ragnarok City council and create my own political party.”

“You’re trying to live a fun life with just your tongue. But the evil deeds from your past life are too great. Just keep giving me medicine while pretending not to. There might be information that hasn’t been revealed yet.”

“Yes, brother.”

“······.”

As the conversation continued, Lena looked at me and Rudolph alternately with a look of bewilderment. Lena soon opened her mouth cautiously.

“···Revan, what was it you said you would find out last time?”

I wiped my smile away and answered right away.

“I think I’ll have to go to Freya City myself.”

Lena asked in surprise. Her black eyes took on a look of deep concern. This was unprecedented.

“Revan himself? Is it more serious than I thought?”

“I guess I’ll have to go to find out.”

yesterday.

Contact was made with Freya’s net runner, Johanna.

At first, I thought Johanna or someone else was causing trouble there. But contrary to my expectations, she seemed quite happy to hear from me. She said that it would be good to come to Freya and check the situation.

“Revan, are you going to go there alone?”

“no.”

I decided on the number of people who would leave together.

Co-CEO Dylan guards the Ragnarok anti-company. Since his battle with the Incomprehensible in Loki, Vietang has not revealed his true identity. Ron Cassandra left for Valhalla to find the Sage’s relic. Rubenka, unable to contain her anger, went to burn down her fiancé’s house.

So, we started excluding people one by one from the headquarters.

Ahimsa, Rudolph.

“It’s you guys.”

There are two people left who have been together since Junktown.

Ahimsa can be drafted as long as it is not a control mission for the selectors, and Rudolph is good for passing off annoying tasks.

“Freya City? The seasons there are opposite to here, right? Wow… I’ve always wanted to go there during the summer, so I’m already looking forward to it.”

When Freya’s trip was decided, Rudolph stuffed something into his large backpack. He saw a pair of green briefs. He kept humming something good.

“Kihihi.”

“Dolph looks excited. It’s been a while since you’ve seen him having fun.”

“Can I swim in the sea there?”

“It will be sucked into the plant drainage pipes and become part of the fresh water.”

“······I’ve already packed my swimsuit. Why are you suddenly scaring me?”

“We ended up going on our first summer vacation to the beach by ourselves.”

“Yes, are you happy that I’m going with you?”

I was so sad that I just closed my eyes.

So I finished preparing to leave for Freya.

The morning we decided to leave.

While the blade of the light was sharpening, news of Maeng Yu-baek leaving for Surt City with Cheongpung was heard through Wang Cho-sam.

— Another great genius appeared in the Volcano Group. He was the son of a famous Tang family in Nanjing, and he fought Tang Jie and won in fifty rounds.

—The youngest of the Hwasan Blue Pear family. Cheongyu.

It is the pseudonym of Maeng Yu-baek.

He told him not to boast that he was the disciple of the twelve demons.

Also, the Maeng clan is a very prominent surname in the martial arts world. It seems that Hwasan provided him with status. Hwasan would die if Cheongpung said that, so it wouldn’t have been difficult.

There are already rumors going around in the martial arts world. What is he doing with that bastard Cheongpung······.

Anyway, I asked Wang Chosam to continue to report information as soon as he heard the name Cheongyu in the martial arts world.

So, on the way to Ragnarok Station.

I suddenly asked Rudolph.

“But among the sons of the Dang family, was there a man named Dangjeol?”

“I don’t know because there are so many sons in this family. Maybe it’s the son who was born recently?”

“I see. It looks like you two are happily married.”

* * *

Choaaaaaaah—

Quite large waves crash against the shore.

I looked down from the carrier flying overhead.

City of the Sea. Freya.

The area is about twice that of the smallest city, Baldur.

There is a large beach to the south of the city, and the terrain gradually rises to the west and east, forming cliffs.

The city wall is low on the southern beach. There are several islands that can be reached by boat in the southern sea, and there are many private luxury villas. If you go a little further to the beach, there is a place that used to be a port but is currently in the process of being closed.

The southeastern coast is home to a cluster of recognizable corporations, while buried beneath the sea are massive ocean data centers the size of Freya City.

Freya’s citynet environment is so unique, and that’s why netrunners and hackers run wild.

The southern beach is relatively free to enter despite the barrier, as it is rare for corpses to end up in the sea. So if you still have a romantic notion of the ‘sea’ in this world, Freya City could be a pretty good choice.

The city walls to the north are surprisingly high.

It is so high that the sky looks like a barrier. It is a land blessed with sea and cliffs on three sides, but it is not an island, and is connected to the vast land of the continent to the north. Therefore, the military is concentrated in the north, and the defense is more strict than anywhere else.

Freya looked down from high above.

“Brother, the atmosphere in the North and the South is completely different.”

“If we just block that, most of the problems will be solved.”

Kurururururung—

Freya Station was south of the city center. After a long flight, the carrier finally landed. The sky was dark there and there.

however.

“Follow me quietly.”

Before we could even get a proper look at Freya’s view, a humanoid with Johanna’s voice appeared before us.

Wherever I followed the humanoid, there was a familiar face.

Gulp—

A man with a hole in his stomach and bleeding.

A master of the spear technique who appeared at the Twelve Emperors’ Meeting covered in blood after being defeated by Baldur Seven Seat Encarta in the past. He is from the Shandong Musician family in the martial arts world.

Twelve levels of level 10, evil dance.

“Hey, you guys are here too?”

He greeted us warmly as he was trying to stop the fountain of blood that was gushing out.

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