How Am I Still Alive?-Chapter 1337 - 1323: Quagmire

Lu Ping’an and Wang Xier’s interactions also spanned almost a year.

When they first met, he thought she was a delicate princess, a high-status vase just for show; now looking back, it was she who supported the development zone for this past year and a half.

As the Executive Deputy Director of the Development Zone Committee, she was effectively the top leader, with the entire development zone being the crystallization of her efforts.

Investment attraction, public security, taxation, refugee resettlement, welfare... a whole series of tasks, if she wasn’t leading them, she was at least taking responsibility.

In fact, Lu Ping’an had seen her capabilities on the Green Planet... you couldn’t say they were very strong, but at least they were above the passing line.

"Wang Xier excels at doing as much as her resources allow, using all the connections, money, and even favors at her disposal to achieve her goals,"

She was someone adept at utilizing others, just as Wang Xier herself had said. Although Lu Ping’an didn’t like such "scheming girls," as a partner in a mutually beneficial alliance, before any collapse occurred, she was far better than the incompetent.

Her ability to rise in the development zone, to become an administrative backbone on the Green Planet, and to hold on through the ’airship to water motorcycle’ project hinged on her truly special identity.

She was of the Royal Family, a noble of her own kin, yet she longed to accomplish something, to break free from the shackles of her destiny... To not rely on either side yet benefit from both, although quite greedy and prone to failure, she had managed quite well.

"...But in these times of escalating conflict, if you still want to play both sides, it amounts to offending both. You will quickly find yourself on a pyre, and at that point, neither side will hesitate to use you as a sacrificial offering,"

What Lu Ping’an was talking about was reality.

Her blood and status allowed her to borrow the power of the royal clans, and her political office gave her access to the resources and institutional advantages of the ancient city; but, after all, this was possible previously when both sides were at a honeymoon phase with shallow conflicts – a little friction in need of mediators like her.

But, from here on out, the two sides were sure to struggle in various situations.

The ancient city aimed to divide and assimilate her, transforming her into an economic engine, a potential military resource, and a talent market for quality labor, while the Saphire Clan... had to be considered separately, as the common Saphire people and the high-level Saphire pursued fundamentally different things, with their own infinite internal conflicts of interest.

The Saphire people who survived the Doomsday on the Ark were already the elite of their tribe, among them many musicians, artists, quality craftsmen, and so on from the middle class, not to mention various literary figures, outstanding businessmen, and legal scholars, etc.

But here, their "craft" was clearly at odds with the local soil and water.

With only a few industries profitable yet fiercely competitive, they might adapt to the new demands of the era through technological innovation, but it would take more time to integrate.

And these "craftsmen," in this world for less than two years, needed time for reflection and refinement, but they might not have that time or resources.

"I heard your Royal Family plans to collect a one-in-ten tax?"

When it comes to being improper, the Royal Family and the nobility are experts.

"Where did you hear that rumor, what one-in-ten tax... It’s a one-in-three tax!"

This stunned Lu Ping’an.

He had already estimated as high as he could these people’s degree of impropriety, but never imagined they could go this far.

"One-in-three tax? Earning six hundred and paying two hundred, how can one live like that?"

"If they don’t do this, how can those princes and nobles maintain their extravagant lifestyles, how can they manage enterprises and earn money from projects?"

In Wang Xier’s eyes, there was a hint of disdain and anger, but more than that, a deep sense of helplessness.

The one-in-three tax didn’t directly take one-third, but after deducting social security, basic living expenses, and local taxes, an additional "head tax" was imposed for the nobility, leaving only about two-thirds remaining.

Why dare to collect it? The answer was quite simple; the previous Saphire Kingdom was not a system of equality for everyone... To put it in a broader context, the Kingdom of that era was a superpower, and considering the size of the Silent Mountain Range World, the total population might have been several hundred million.

So, with hundreds of millions of people supporting thousands of princes and nobles, it was perhaps hundreds of thousands supporting one superior. Compared to the current situation, where tens of thousands support hundreds, who then support one, the exploitation was not at the same level.

Moreover, many of the Saphire people were already vassals to certain nobles, and the heavy taxation had never ceased. Perhaps in the eyes of some, allowing you to live and have food to eat was already the greatest act of mercy.

"Have these people gone mad? The Kingdom of the past had stable social structures and customs, but now..."

"Some are truly useless, while others are even more dangerous than the truly useless... They are desperate. They see the spark and want to create some sort of industry before it ignites, to exert even crazier levels of exploitation."

"... Make a decision sooner rather than later, Wang Xier. I feel you are doomed."

Wang Xier opened her mouth but ultimately couldn’t deny this "reality."

When the sailing is smooth, everyone prospers together, and all conflicts can be suppressed. But when times get tough, we turn into beasts tearing and feasting on each other’s flesh.

During the Kingdom era, the noble’s exploitation of commoners and craftsmen was considered natural and justified by their laws. But now, these commoners have been immersed in the local culture and customs, how could they accept a class of "Masters" always lingering above their heads?

There must already be many Saphire people who have left the Development Zone, left this system, and are making a living elsewhere... In some ways, they are similar to the new capitalist nobles on Earth, naturally the mortal enemies of the old feudal nobles.

And the feudal Masters here are beyond saving. It’s not that they lack talent, but rather the inertia of "luxurious living" and "massive investment to seize industries" is something these greedy people cannot simply stop... If you stopped, you’d just wait for someone else to devour everything you own. No amount of industry would be enough for their share.

"The exploited lower class is bound to rebel. The upper class must maintain their rule and interests, and will suppress them, while the government of the ancient city outside hopes to break this place up and ultimately devour and assimilate it... Wang Xier, this isn’t just hard mode; you’re basically in impossible mode, with absolutely no hope."

She knew she was nearing a dead end and was gradually being dragged into the abyss.

The Development Zone she controlled was the head of a "local government" in name only. Her own kin wanted to control her, the commoners below wanted a better life and would oppose her, and even the nominal superior ancient city government wanted to swallow her up.

Caught in the entanglement of the three forces, no matter how skilled Wang Xier was at balancing the water, she would ultimately be pulled into the vortex, and being torn apart by the "Giant Beast" was just a matter of time... Even if she was willing to be a puppet, there were others more suitable and trustworthy. Her past stance of neutrality and autonomy actually limited her "upper bound."

But is there really no hope at all?

"... Originally, there was none, but now there is. Yet, I refuse."

The Princess’s feelings towards the "Knight" before her became more and more subtle. Perhaps he did qualify as a white knight, but certainly not hers.

An awkward puppet in status? The unlucky scapegoat who’s destined to be blamed when standing in the spotlight? If one possessed power at the Rule-level... eighth-tier, then one could break through the intricate with sheer force, and instead become the target of contention among the three parties.

But Lu Ping’an had no reason to help her... or more precisely, standing on the side of humanity, he could not possibly help her.

His ecological niche vaguely formed a pair of checks and balances with Wang Sixiang. Neither of us moves unless the other does. If one leaves, so does the other... Without this balance, the ancient city wouldn’t dare to apply pressure.

Wang Xier felt hesitant and uneasy.

What could she offer? Herself? If she just became someone else’s vassal like that, she would merely be switching one Master for another.

Perhaps, she should be grateful to Lu Ping’an for providing her with an alternative, instead of being helplessly dragged down.

Seemingly, if not for Lu Ping’an’s intervention, her best outcome would have been to be made a scapegoat following "some mistake" and stepped down, only to become a chip in a political marriage.

Perhaps, her biggest mistake was "doing too well," turning this originally marginal project into a pearl contended over within the clan.

She sighed. She felt as if she had no choice, yet her current partner in front of her needed her.

If what Lu Ping’an said was true, maybe this really was an opportunity. Once there, with Lu as an ally, she could indeed establish an independent Saphire Clan.

"Let me think about it..."

"What’s there to think about? You’re in a quagmire. Better jump out sooner rather than later."

"... Let me think about it a bit more, please. At the very least, give me some time," said Wang Xier, tired and annoyed. Don’t I deserve some dignity?