After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World-Chapter 1886: Trouble at the Gates

And the technology the town was currently using was fascinating to say the least. Cardinal and the others got tested, and they couldn’t help but curiously observe all the processes.

It was a lot like those litmus test-like techniques that their village also had, but bigger and seemingly reusable with less overall costs.

First, they would walk through a dry tub with marble-like flooring that changed colours accordingly. If they were ’positive’ of the disease, then it would change to reddish pink, and there would be no reactions.

The intensity of the virus could also be seen by how many of the surrounding marbles would change, as if visualizing the area of effect of the virus. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

According to the guards who were supervising, this had a hundred percent accuracy rate so far.

This was an easy, non-intrusive test except that they had to step on the tiles with bare feet. Although there was a hose at the side that would clean the tiles every so often, not everyone was quite as cooperative.

Ahead of them was a rich-looking aborigine. He was in a beast cart before, but he and his driver had to get tested for the fire plague.

They were not expecting such treatment from a new town. "Why do we have to go through that when so many refugees passed through it? It’s disgusting!"

These were nobles from Towns, so their arrogance wasn’t too outlandish. Most people coming in were not refugees and were decently dressed, but there were some who looked filthy, regardless of whether or not they were refugees or citizens, because they stayed outside for an extended period of time or had been battling monsters.

To snobbish nobles, they all glanced the same.

This noble was Ispol, a member of one of the top families in Ferrol. For generations, his family controlled big portions of the market there. Other than the Lord himself, they had the most money!

Before, they had a stark difference with the next richest person, but with the increased injection of Alterran products, some of their lesser rivals had managed to grab the opportunity and had long since lessened the wealth gap. If the trend went on, they might lose their top spot!

Sly bastards.

He had completely forgotten that in his arrogance, he had ignored the goods coming from a little Village back then, opting to focus on exporting from Cities.

At the time, he definitely had the chance to join the wave. However, he simply dismissed it, even silently mocking the others who had abased themselves to partner with the then-little village.

His house that had only used the highest quality products from cities, refused to even adapt to the poor village things! He even fired servants who praised the place’s products! It felt like they were dirtying his doorsteps!

Ispol was the type to be extremely stubborn. The type who wouldn’t change his mind even if you slap him to death!

He believed that the path he took was the right one! After all, if he changed decisions at this juncture, he was admitting his mistake and admitting he was already being left behind!

When the village became a town, he still remained steadfast! The damned servants who smuggled Alterran products were even punished!

It was when he saw his rivals seeming to catch up to his wealth, leasing more land and hiring more and more caravans, that he finally saw the threat.

Then, the fire plague came, and he had to spend massive amounts of money to get the potions that his stubborn lenses finally shattered!

To see this place, he went himself!

The guards looked at him lazily, guiding him to the side so the people behind him could take the test.

At first, he thought that he was taken aside to get through another entrance. Unexpectedly, the guards simply took him out of the way for others!

Before he could make another scene, a guard lifted his head and stared at him. "You can choose not to enter Alterra, guest," he said. "We will not risk our population for you."

His eyes twitched when he saw the people in line behind him! They were extremely filthy with all types of soil and grime on them! He was afraid he’d have to go after that, so he stepped in the way.

In the end, the man had to grit his teeth and—despite the rolling feeling of disgust in his stomach—went through!

After the ’trial’, he felt his knees weaken, and he almost fell down, gasping, as if he had just gone through the worst torture.

The guards watched this and rolled their eyes.

Ispol did not feel the mocking stares around him. He looked around, expecting he’d get the assistance of his servants, who had already gone through right after him, but they weren’t even paying attention to him!

These useless bastards were staring out in a daze!

...and are they chewing something!?

He gritted his teeth and pushed himself up, prepared to get these useless bastards an earful. "YOU—"

However, as he stepped out, he was greeted by a young lad with a bright smile, holding up a board filled with snacks. Then another one came out with little cups, showing free drinks as well!

"Good day, handsome sir! Please have a taste!"

"Check out our new flavors!"

"..."

When the aroma hit his nose, he felt his anger deflate a bit. It was just a little piece of food that had reddish goo on top of it. The drink, on the other hand, was yellowish, like pee.

His servants grabbed a bit of each again and moaned like they just ate their own tongues!

Ispol pondered. The assistants he placed next to him naturally had their own standards, so he counted this as a poison test.

Ispol narrowed his eyes and looked at the food. He wasn’t sure what they were, but since they were free...

He reluctantly took the ’samples’ to check them out, looking like he was being a martyr about to eat/drink something deadly.

—that day, this stubborn old mule would learn to be a little more flexible.