Zhou Yi was somewhat puzzled.

Even Recursion City, an old territory, experienced population outflow and eventually liquidated and left the scene. Can the Lord of Fanyun really be a good mayor of a large Mechanical City?

He summoned the Red Kestrel to inquire.

"Zhou, from the information I have gathered, its tenure as mayor has been remarkably effective," the Red Kestrel said.

"The Lord of Fanyun transferred 69 detained mechanical thugs and city criminals to Mechanical City, saving 6,900 Light Seeds annually. By outsourcing labor, it not only saved ongoing detention costs and reduced manpower for guarding but also gained additional income on the other side. In and out, it's quite considerable."

"It has announced that all criminals will be dealt with under this model during its tenure as mayor."

"Apart from law and order adjustments, another major policy of the Lord of Fanyun is the outsourcing of unemployed labor. It has conducted a census of the unemployed residents of Mechanical Bay and classified them, sending them to multiple Guangna Cities on the Western Continent via external city cooperation."

"Guangna Cities, mainly composed of Guangna Species, have many high-intensity labor jobs. Among the Guangna Species, except for Mountain Dogs, Bone Men, and Water Octopuses, most despise productive labor."

"This time, the Lord of Fanyun outsourced labor at a low price. According to news from Huayi April Club Tabo, some of the mechanical laborers have an annual salary of only 3 Light Seeds. The minimum annual salary standard for external mechanical labor in Mechanical Cities is 10 Light Seeds, which has broken the existing rules."

"But this radical approach allowed the unemployed to find employment."

"It significantly lowered the value of external mechanical labor. But for the entire Mechanical Bay, this is beneficial."

Zhou Yi gradually understood.

The past management methods of Mechanical City always revolved around proceduralism and standardization.

Proceduralism didn't need explanation; to do something, one had to go through several procedures, with long, inefficient processes.

Standardization meant acting according to strict standards, established across various industries. Under such constraints, the maneuverability of each city itself became increasingly limited.

Due to these two chains, although Mechanical City had the most efficient tools, it was difficult to fully utilize them.

When the Lord of Fanyun took office, it wasn't a mechanical lifeform and didn't care about so much. It just acted according to its past experience.

Cut expenses, increase revenue, make money!

Mechanical City had a well-developed infrastructure and the inherent strength and professionalism of mechanical lifeforms. It started with a perfect hand, operating very smoothly.

Lin Chi continued: "Mr. Zhou, external mayors are responsible for the city's development. There are relevant requirements, and if not met, their salaries cannot be fully delivered."

"But for a city like Mechanical Bay, if certain goals are exceeded, there will be additional profit sharing."

"Although the external mayor responsibility system has been initiated for a short time, seven Mechanical Cities are already emulating it. It has proven very effective, showing immediate results in a short time."

"Currently, the political system of Mechanical Cities is divided into three types."

"Namely, Legal Front, Knight Administration, and External Mayor."

"The latter two originated from changes brought by the Mechanical Knights. Because [Key] broke existing rule constraints, allowing the knights to try new methods."

"Tracing back further, it can actually be traced to the Taishan Knights who led the establishment of Mechanical Cities."

The drone stated: "In the future, Mechanical Cities will have more city management models. Therefore, Plastic Island believes that the future will continue to change, and joint venture factories are more advantageous than self-operated ones in this environment."

Zhou Yi asked with great interest: "How do mechanical residents see the Mechanical Knights?"

"They are already accustomed to them," Lin Chi's electronic eyes flashed twice. "Mechanical Knights are not just an occupation, but more like a resume, a thought, and a culture."

"Although the Legal Front still restricts Mechanical Knights, preventing the use of [Key] in those cities, they no longer enforce mandatory arrests, only restrictions. Because the number of this group has grown too large to eliminate through arrests and detentions."

Lin Chi said: "At least for small and medium-sized cities, the practicalism of Mechanical Knights in many fields has become a powerful support for the cities."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, Lao Yuan, you and Lin Chi will prepare for the plastic factory."

"Yes."

After these two left.

Zhou Yi made his way to the Program Department.

Not having visited for some time, the Program Department office now had many new devices. The walls and ceiling were equipped with soundproof foam boards, and the floor was covered with rubber mats.

Shelves against the wall held many plastic model figures, including Jade Soup, Flame Cup, Mushroom House, refrigeration box, glider, airship, Floating Heart, electric cat, and more.

Seeing these models, scenes from the past few years flashed through Zhou Yi's mind.

703 was inspecting a device.

Xiao Xiang was using a six-axis robotic arm on a work table to create a cylindrical device.

Another Mechanical bull was present, fitted with two agile mechanical claws, welding a metal steering wheel.

703 reacted first: "Chairman, you're here!"

Zhou Yi nodded: "I have a question for you, come out."

He walked to the outdoor terrace: "Have Mechanical Knights already broken through the Legal Front's sanctions?"

"Yes." 703's voice was filled with happiness: "More and more mechanical lifeforms are choosing the Mechanical Knights' program."

"Our [Key] has over 200 million cumulative downloads, with over 550,000 mechanical lifeforms online holding the program simultaneously. According to last year's statistics on mechanical lifeforms, this number occupies 20% of the total city population. The actual number of holders will be even more."

"The download count of [Family] is 22 million, with more than 7,000 users online simultaneously."

"Even the highly challenging [Breathing] has 110,000 downloads, with over 500 users online simultaneously."

Zhou Yi felt a movement in his heart: "Do many mechanical lifeforms repeatedly download and delete it?"

"Yes, Chairman. To ensure safety within the city, they will delete the program and reinstall it outside the city. The [Key] has become an essential program for mechanical lifeforms going out."

The mechanical dog proudly said: "Since the program launch, we have continuously renovated and optimized according to everyone's needs. No matter how much the Legal Front targets us, we have never wavered on this point."

"So in the end, the more aggressively they tried to capture and sanction us, the more our users grew."

"Recently, the Legal Front has already removed the sanctions notice against Mechanical Knights. Although it has not officially announced a stop, it is already a clear signal. They must accept the fact that the residents have chosen us."

Zhou Yi felt a strange sense of contentment.

He had thought that the technological reforms initiated by the Mechanical Knights would result in a prolonged struggle between the old rulers and the Legal Front.

Unexpectedly, mechanical lifeforms also implemented reforms efficiently.

Over 20% of the urban population had already openly identified themselves as Mechanical Knights.

They were no longer seen as a dangerous criminal group but as an emerging force within the city.

This part of the residents started influencing the city from all aspects through the power of the Mechanical Knights' program, bringing changes and reforms similar to Plastic Island.

After the Knight Administration, they also tried the external mayor responsibility system.

Evidently, its thinking became more active.

Zhou Yi asked: "How is the repair project of the semi-civilized bodies progressing now?"

He valued this point highly.

He initially supported the Mechanical Knight Order because 703 and the others were dedicated to repairing this part of the group so that they could live like normal mechanical lifeforms.

"Reporting to the chairman, this project is still progressing steadily."

703 said: "As of last month, using the [Time Anchor] repair technology, with the collaboration of invited Time Meters, we have successfully repaired 132,000 semi-civilized bodies, transforming them into second-generation mechanical lifeforms."

Zhou Yi was puzzled: "With 13,000 people, why haven't any come to work at the company?"

"This..."

703 stammered: "Rumors of your destruction of Chuneng City and Spring City have spread among mechanical lifeforms, and all mechanical cities have listed you as an EX-class unpredictable danger..."

"You have the title of Mechanical Destroyer at the Legal Front, and coupled with the deeds of the Slaughter Duke, you are considered an elusive, insane ruler."

"So those newly born semi-civilized bodies are afraid of you after inquiring..."

Zhou Yi was furious: "This slander must be the Legal Front's propaganda attack! How abominable! They still plot against me behind the scenes! I think I didn't destroy enough!"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry."

The mechanical dog quietly said: "Mainly, mechanical lifeforms highly value data. At least until new standards are established, traditional mechanical lifeforms like me, and second-generation mechanical lifeforms repaired from semi-civilized bodies, still follow this."

"In the historical data available, you have destroyed the most mechanical lifeforms, a total of 23,119. The second place is Skywalker 'Slaughter Duke,' previously considered a mechanical executioner, who killed 1,044 mechanical lifeforms. Your count is way above the second place... your data in this field is far ahead."

"The data doesn't lie; the situation is as it is."

"They like the company's Floating Heart and electric cat very much and save money to buy the latest second-generation heart, but they are all terrified to come to apply for a job."

Zhou Yi was speechless: "..."

He was momentarily unable to refute.

"Recently, the situation has improved a lot!"

703 continued: "Due to the growing influence of 'Wasteland Information' from Recursive City, a vast amount of information and news about the company continuously flows outside."

"Our company's mission is development. We lacked a platform for publicity in the past. With the promotion of Recursive City, more and more people know that we are continuously improving people's livelihood, making it safer and more comfortable for all lifeforms to live."

"Twelve second-generation mechanical lifeforms are already working and living in Recursive City, and it should only increase in the future."

Zhou Yi felt slightly relieved.

Fortunately, the company had its propaganda outlet. Otherwise, it would truly be difficult to break through this field.

"Since you're asking, there's actually one more matter that's about ready to report to you."

The mechanical dog's electronic eye emitted a red glow as it assumed a formal sitting posture: "Chairman, one of Lao Zi's research projects is now complete and ready for internal testing."

"This technology is called [Cultivation], and it can transform an ordinary mechanical lifeform into a super mechanical lifeform in a short time, approaching the level of a Light Core Body!"

Ah, this.

Zhou Yi became highly spirited.

Mechanical lifeforms were about to cultivate to immortality?

Lao Zi had created mechanical superhumans?

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