Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

Since Hintelia calls Roy her master, it goes without saying what she is.

Seeing that Margaret had returned to normal, Hinterlea didn't react much and answered Roy's question:

"Overall, everything is normal. There are just some minor issues with plot zero."

Roy's eyes narrowed instantly. He had promised Blood Knight Decaeopolis that he would help look after Plot Zero after winning the championship. Although the agreement was based on the premise that Blood Knight believed he would be abandoned or even purged by capital if he lost, Roy had not denied the validity of the agreement.

Before she left Kazimierz, she also asked Monique, who is now presumably an executive at Originium Cloud, and Hinterlea, who is still in the reorganized Undead Alliance, to keep an eye on Plot Zero.

With both overt and covert forces watching over it, how could there be any problems with Plot Zero?

"What happened? I just saw a Blood Knight fan holding up a sign on the street that read, 'Protect the rights of Infected Knights to participate in the competition.' Is someone trying to break their promise to me?"

The right of the Kazimierz infected knights to participate in the competition was secured by Roy through one of the three conditions agreed upon with the Business Federation. Although those three conditions were obtained in a rather unconventional way, as Roy's status, position, and power rose, the value of the promise naturally increased significantly.

If anyone tries to break the rules, Roy really wouldn't mind talking to them personally and teaching them to be a law-abiding and trustworthy citizen.

But Hintraya gave Roy a meaningful look and replied:

"No. Not really. To be precise, the issue of the Infected Knights' right to participate isn't that big. Although there have been oppositions, it's generally been progressing steadily. The problem lies with Plot Zero."

"According to information Monique received from the Business Federation, Plot Zero is to be demolished."

............

Business Federation, a meeting scene.

The spokesperson launched into a long and eloquent speech.

"As the economic core of Kazimierz and the capital of knightly competitions, the development of the great Kavaleriaki should indeed symbolize the future of the entire Kazimierz. However, Plot Zero, as a slum, waste dump, and gathering place for criminals left over from the city's early days, has already fulfilled its historical mission. According to the on-site investigation conducted by the Commercial Federation in conjunction with the Supervisory Council, large-scale cleanup and reconstruction would be prohibitively costly. Therefore, the Commercial Federation plans to dismantle Plot Zero within six months, separating it from Kavaleriaki and then destroying it by explosives. This plan is simple, economical, and practical, and is submitted to the National Assembly for review."

Before the representative could finish speaking, a thick, bronze arm was raised.

Blood Knight Dikeopolis's face was solemn and angry: "I object. There are still many residents on Block Zero. How can we arbitrarily demolish it before we have resettled them?"

"Residents?" The representative's expression darkened as his speech was interrupted. "What do you mean? During our on-site investigation in Block Zero, we found no legally registered, compliant citizens of Kazimir. If you say there are, then please have them come out with their identification; the Business Federation will cover their relocation compensation. Or do you believe that the criminals, spies, and undocumented immigrants gathered there can be considered members of the Grand Knights?"

"But, the infected..."

"Boom boom boom!"

Blood Knight was about to stand up and confront the spokesperson when he was interrupted by three bangs of the gavel from the Chief Justice of the National Assembly, who was seated at the head of the table.

The middle-aged judge glanced at the Blood Knight, then recited the warning verbatim:

"Audience members in the gallery are not allowed to interrupt. One warning will be issued."

After saying that, he sneered and muttered a disdainful, low voice to himself:

"Besides, who asked you?"

Book 1: Chapter 240 Help Me, Chief Dorothy

Roy underestimated the limits of the Business Federation's capabilities.

They were indeed intimidated by Roy's strength and dared not openly break their promises. However, without breaking their promises, they had a million ways to make them meaningless.

Roy knew that anyone with a modicum of knowledge in Kazimierz knew that, apart from a small number of outlaws, criminal gangs, or spies, the vast majority of the inhabitants of Plot Zero in the Great Knight Territory of Kavaleria were actually infected.

Driven to desperation, with no one to take them in, and unable to find work or afford housing in the incredibly expensive environment of the Great Knight Territory, the infected flocked to Block Zero from all directions. Some couldn't bear the discrimination and exploitation from ordinary people, others didn't want to hurt those they cared about, and still others had simply given up on themselves. There, they formed one infected society after another, building one infected settlement after another. In the nearly one hundred years since the Great Knight Territory became a mobile city, this had become a fact known to everyone, yet unspoken.

What were Roy and the Blood Knight DiCeopolis's motives in implementing the Infected Knight policy? Simply put, it was to provide a possible way for the Infected to survive and thrive within the current social system of Kazimierz. Infected knights were subjected to numerous restrictions, participating in far more difficult and dangerous knightly competitions, and enduring the contempt of other knights. But regardless, it was still a way to survive. A way to showcase the positive aspects of the Infected to the general public.

Its ultimate goal is to cultivate more infected knights like the Blood Knight, who can be accepted and worshipped by people, and then, through the influence of these infected knights, to radiate throughout the infected community and achieve the final reconciliation between the infected and ordinary people.

However, the business federation plans to demolish Plot Zero.

This is a radical solution!

What will become of the infected who live on Plot Zero? If they recklessly flood into other areas of the Great Knight Territory, causing medical accidents and large-scale infections, how will people's perception of the infected deteriorate?

Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, would the infected living there just sit idly by and watch their last home be demolished and blown up, turning them into wanderers adrift in the wasteland, far from civilization, until Originium grows all over their bodies and then explodes, turning them into a pile of sand in the desert?

They will undoubtedly rebel, and this rebellion will inevitably escalate the conflict between the two sides. At that point, the hard-won Infected Knight system will be criticized, and may even be abolished. Once the door to communication is closed, the previous cycle of the upper class deceiving and indoctrinating, the lower class blindly following and oppressing, and the Infected being separated from their families and left destitute will repeat itself.

Frankly speaking, these are just the mildest possible outcomes.

Roy even felt that if the Business Federation were more disgusting, their demolition of Plot Zero could have been a form of "selection," dividing the original infected community and giving those who submitted to them a chance to "survive." After such a process of "taking them in as dogs," the remaining infected would have to thank the Business Federation for their mercy. And the Infected Knight Act?

The infected contestants have become like dogs; the existence of that thing is nothing more than to make it easier for them to manipulate one knight competition after another in the future.

"It's disgusting."

Hinterlea clicked her tongue.

"I sensed it as soon as I heard the news from Monique. Were those people from the Business Federation trying to sabotage you and the Blood Knight?"

"Have they really forgotten who saved this country from Ursus?"

Roy shook his head helplessly.

People are forgetful. Roy never expected those capitalists to be grateful to him. After the Haisi Crisis and the end of civilization, humanity was left with only one city. They had finally managed to stabilize internally, and the first thing they did was fight amongst themselves. It can only be said that the Terrans inherited nothing else from humanity, but they inherited the tradition of internal strife very well.

But despite his helplessness, Roy wouldn't stand idly by and watch this happen.

Demolishing Plot Zero? Sure, but Roy won't make it that easy for you. At the very least, the lives of so many people on Plot Zero won't be so easily forgotten with a simple "no such person found."

He took out his phone, opened his contacts, and dialed Marner's number first.

On the other end of the phone came Marna's tired voice, unwilling to say another word:

"Ok?"

“I’m back,” Roy said.

It's a short sentence, more like a declaration.

..........

Columbia, Rhine Lab, Originium Arts Applications Department, Chief Dorothy's Office.

Dorothy had just returned from the finance department when she noticed the Liberi girl standing at the door.

The girl had short brown hair, wore round-framed glasses on her nose, and still had the naivety of her student days on her face. She looked like she had just graduated. She stood alone in front of the Originium Arts Application Department, looking hesitant. Her hand, which was raised to knock, hesitated for a long time, and she even seemed to be clenching her fist and pulling it back.

Dorothy asked curiously:

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

"Ah!" The Liberi girl was clearly startled. She immediately lowered her head and apologized in a low voice, regardless of who had asked her the question. "I'm sorry, I have something I need to talk to Dorothy, the head of the Originium Arts Application Department! Oh, right, I'm a researcher from the Structural Department. My name is Olivia Himer."

Seeing Hamer's flustered state, Dorothy smiled, bent down, reached out and pulled Hamer into her arms, gently comforting her, "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, it's me."

"Eh... um... oh!"

Hamer, who had clearly never experienced Dorothy-style comfort before, was momentarily at a loss.

In her eyes, the various directors were either kind and gentle teachers like Palvis who sometimes showed a terrifying expression, or firm and restrained older sisters like Saria who always gave people a sense of security. There was never anyone like Dorothy who would hug her and comfort her like a mother without warning.

Although she smelled very nice.

"Um, Director Dorothy?"

After taking several deep breaths, Hemer managed to slow his rapidly beating heart down. He whispered,

"Can you let me go?"

"of course can."

Dorothy released her arms from Hamer's head, her expression still bearing that same smiling look.

"Is there something you need from me, Miss Hermer?"

She asked curiously. Was this the first researcher to approach her since she joined the company, someone wanting to apply for her assistant position?

Hamer's words refuted Dorothy's guess. She bit her lip, as if finally making up her mind, and said with difficulty:

"Director Dorothy, I have something to ask you."

"If your friend is being harmed, and the group harming her is doing it under the guise of doing what's best for her, and their leader is someone you can't refute academically, what would you do to help your friend?"

Dorothy paused, looked Himer up and down, remained silent for a moment, and then shook her head.

"I do not know."

"But if it were me, I would definitely be prepared to pay any price."

"Then... then could you please help me, Principal Dorothy?" Hamer asked pleadingly.

Dorothy, who has just joined Rhine Lab, is probably the only one who knows nothing about Ifrit and the Balrog Project.

Volume 1: Chapter 241 This shop is owned by my family!

"You are finally back."

Marna, who rushed to Roy's place, tossed the bag she was carrying to Roy, looking as if she had finally been freed.

Roy took the bag, and as he opened it, he asked:

"What's in here?"

"The income and expenditure ledgers of the foundation established with your prize money, the fundraising situation of the Knights' Athletic Association in Victoria, and various trademark registration and authorization documents."

Marna explained in detail.

Roy looked at Marna with some surprise: "You're really helping me run this business?"