In the following days, the Sand Port Region returned to calm.

The Mechanical City Group skirted around the topic of the destroyed Chuneng City as if it never happened.

Although aerial cameras clearly showed, Chuneng City, after suffering a destructive strike, had turned into ruins. Two harbors had sunk, numerous factories and cooling towers were reduced to rubble, roads swallowed by sand, and not a single soul could be seen locally.

This overly peaceful outcome made Zhou Yi wonder if they simply chose a new location and rebuilt the city.

However, news from the outside world confirmed that Chuneng City was indeed gone.

Duke Destructive was the first to come forward.

It contacted Zhou Yi right away.

"Good job! I've been annoyed with Mechanical City for a long time, and finally, the never-falling castle has collapsed."

"How about the spoils? There should be a lot of valuable data in Mechanical City, and a large number of Light Seeds should have been stored. A medium-sized city like Chuneng City should have savings of no less than 20 million."

Duke Destructive was very concerned with the spoils of war.

Zhou Yi told it, "The Light Seeds were moved a long time ago, but we captured some data. About the parameters of the 'Security Joint Guard,' I'll let Red Kestrel share that with you…"

After receiving the intelligence, Duke Destructive remarked, "Death Light Weapons are indeed tricky. This core technology was independently developed by Mechanical City, and it's a highly classified secret. Even Heavenly Kingdom currently doesn't have weapons that match it."

It asked, "Based on this data, is replication of Death Light Weapons possible?"

"That's wishful thinking."

Zhou Yi elaborated, "Neither the [Mirror Force Field] nor the [Death Light Cannon] structures are simple. From basic materials to parts, every aspect has specialized technical standards and processes."

"Our data came from Chuneng City, which contains only combat-related parameters and partial information on maintenance and repairs..."

This was like announcing the basic principle of [Floating Heart], but so far, no one on the outside has been able to produce a heart that meets the standards.

Even the three major companies that have spent a fortune to participate in training and learning are still trying and erring.

Knowing and doing are two different things.

"I might have been a bit greedy."

Duke Destructive regretted, "The intelligence you provided is critical. The Light Seeds from the frontline cities have been transferred ahead of time, leaving only various hard-to-cash resources. The profit from sieging cities has greatly reduced; no wonder they are so defiant."

Suddenly, Zhou Yi sensed something amiss, "You're also thinking of attacking Mechanical City?"

"That's the plan."

Duke Destructive said, "However, I am the Governor of Heavenly Kingdom, and I belong to the camp of Heavenly Kingdom. This military action, Mechanical City didn't invade Heavenly Territory, nor did they breach my jurisdiction."

"Lord Dominator invited me to join the action; I'm still considering it."

Zhou Yi was surprised, "Lord Dominator intends to strike against Mechanical City?"

"Yes."

"It was originally engaged in warfare with a joint defense force, and since Mechanical City was also a priority target, it had requested my assistance for defense. But after hearing about your victory, it changed its strategy, planning to replicate your approach, switch from defense to offense, and strike directly at Mechanical City itself, cutting off the logistics and supplies."

Duke Destructive said, "That's why I am gathering as detailed intelligence as possible, to decide whether it's worth deploying troops this time."

Listening, Zhou Yi was full of questions, "Hold on. I've just finished here; how could you receive the information so quickly?"

"Informants are an essential force that every ruler must cultivate."

Duke Destructive chuckled lightly, "Even within Mechanical City, there are informants from all the sea lords."

"It's quite difficult for mechanical lifeforms to act as insiders; they can be easily detected by universal protocols. But in these cities, there are still some other residents doing things inconvenient for mechanical lifeforms… like program data errors that require manual external calculations to resolve, or simply those who have obtained resident status through various means and chose to settle."

"Among these people, many are informants."

Zhou Yi remembered.

When Chuneng City's walls were breached, a small number of Bone Men and Guangna Species fled from inside.

There were moles hidden among this group.

Duke Destructive stated, "The key is, you've provided an answer now. As long as an information blockade is achieved, Mechanical City itself will lose external support."

"After becoming an isolated island city, their cohesion and resistance wills are even weaker than those of Human Cities. The sea lords with a bit of strength will all eye this fatal flaw."

Zhou Yi agreed on this point.

Mechanical City highly depends on data for decision-making. Without data and information sources, without the support and command of other cities, their judgments would become extremely conservative. If the failure rate exceeds 50%, they would make the most cautious choice, and over 60% would cause them to abandon the action.

Data is their ultimate weapon, and also their only lifeline.

In short.

Mechanical City only fights battles where they have an advantage, and never when at a disadvantage.

"If that's the case, I'll enter the fray as well."

Duke Destructive said, "I'll let you know when I have news."

Two days later.

Zhou Yi saw two pieces of news on the Chunqiu Merchant Group's page.

"'Security Joint Guard' launches a new round of offensive against Mechanical City, a large number of slaves liberated and regaining freedom."

"'Security Joint Guard' breaks through 'Estria' region, local sea lord deposed and exiled."

According to information from Duke Destructive, they had already besieged and blockaded the nearby Mechanical City 'Turbo City'.

Yet such news was not reported at all.

Zhou Yi asked the merchant group manager Shang Fulin, "Why is there no report of our breakthrough at Chuneng City?"

"This…"

Shang Fulin carefully said, "Mechanical City, through the joint agreement, demanded that all machine stacks forbid third-party reporting on anything about the destruction of Chuneng City, as well as anything promoting Wasteland Development Company… including their own defeats and city damages."

"Because our merchant group has ties with Recursive City, to avoid unnecessary speculation and trouble, we dare not report on this matter."

Zhou Yi found it hard to contain himself.

It turns out to be the charming moment of news studies.

As long as I don't admit defeat, it means I haven't lost, right?

At least on the media we control, Mechanical City has always been in a winning state.

The reality, however, is another matter.

Feedback from United City states: "According to our satellites, nine sea lords have launched counterattacks and assaults on their own soil against Mechanical City."

"Turbo City and Gear Castle in Mechanical City have been cut off from external communication."

"There has been a large-scale explosion in Mechanical Bay, and the origin of the attack is still unknown. However, since this is an important large-scale manufacturing city, the Security Joint Guard is providing support from various locations."

Those rulers threatened by military action have long been dissatisfied, continually launching rapid attacks on the nearby Mechanical Cities.

The flames of war spread further.

For Zhou Yi, this was good news, effectively avoiding becoming the target of collective fire.

...

In the midst of this chaos and unclear situation,

one night, Red Kestrel said, "Zhou, Sigma from the Program Department of Recursive City is outside Jade City."

"Bring it up."

The go-kart made its way to the rooftop.

Sigma was covered in dust at this point, with numerous scrapes on its shell, evidently having encountered many difficulties on the way.

"In the current environment, you must have important business with me."

Zhou Yi asked, "Has Recursive City been attacked?"

"Thanks to you, Recursive City has not been attacked. Our city is very small, and it has always only provided technical services externally, not wishing to get involved in external disputes and wars."

Sigma's headlights glimmered slightly: "I come here on behalf of Recursive City, not using the mech stack to contact, to avoid complications."

"The situation is indeed tense. As you said, our city is also facing a strategic strike from a sea lord, and various pieces of intelligence have proven this; it's only a matter of time..."

"Even though we do not provide a military base, just serving as a data communication center, this has led to a reduction in our priority level in the general protocol. But Recursive City is still targeted, and the war has intensified, with more and more parties joining the conflict."

Zhou Yi listened patiently.

"So, you need my help?"

"Yes."

Zhou Yi frowned.

This situation was not easy to handle.

There is no clear position or sufficient reason to deal with it; counterattacks against invaders are expected, but stretching authority over 2000 kilometers to manage the wars of other parties goes against the company's usual conduct and principles.

Sigma said, "We hope to officially withdraw from the Mechanical and Electrical City Group and join the Development Alliance led by your company."

This statement bemused Zhou Yi.

"Recursive City has conducted extensive meticulous calculations and confirmed that this is the only way to avoid the ravages of war, allowing the city and its 1300 cybernetic inhabitants to survive safely."

Zhou Yi frowned: "But there's a general protocol, how do you plan to bypass its jurisdiction..."

Sigma fell silent.

Zhou Yi's eyes suddenly widened: "You've installed the [key]?"

"Yes."

This time, Sigma openly admitted.

"It's also a solution we found after simulation calculations."

The go-kart said, "If we maintain the current state of the city, even if the war ends immediately, the financial difficulties of Recursive City cannot be resolved."

"Lacking breakthrough technology and products, there's no room for growth; we'll only gradually be overwhelmed by larger cities with stronger resources and capital advantages in the competition over existing goods and services."

"We simulated 101 development paths, but they all tended towards one outcome. Within 20-100 years, Recursive City will lose its profitability, relying on external loans to cover deficits until completely bankrupt. Transmission City's yesterday is our future."

It paused: "So, we've made a difficult and breakthrough decision."

"We hope to join the Development Alliance, with your company taking shares in leading the city's redevelopment. Recursive City will also provide your company with continuous returns, akin to the relationship between Yin Shang Company and Transmission City."

"This is the only way our calculations show we can break the continuous downward cycle and effectively avoid the war."

Recursive City is as ever flexible in direction.

Zhou Yi hesitated.

But the cost of investing in a city itself is likely not low.

"How much are you asking?"

"We hope to sell 50% of the company's shares for 5 million Light Seeds, what do you think?"

Sigma said, "This share is already enough to have actual control over the city."

"Recursive City excels in technical services; we can build an independent mech stack service and an exclusive database for the company. We have a technical team of over 300 cybernetic programmers."

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

The infrastructure of Mechanical City itself is well-developed, and the value of the 1300 existing cybernetic professionals in the city is very high.

5 million Light Seeds for Recursive City is definitely buying low.

He answered decisively: "Deal! I'm in."

Sigma immediately brightened its headlights: "That's great! Recursive City is saved!"

"Thank you for your trust and recognition!!! Recursive City will definitely not disappoint you and the company!!!"

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