Seized by the System

The following morning, Fang Ning awoke to the System’s exuberant hollering.

“Great news, great news!”

“Geez, can’t you be a little more stolid? You’re an old-timer with fifty years of experience, for God’s sake. Quit being so full of beans all the time. If you’re not careful, you might end up giving me a heart attack one of these days,” Fang Ning said, shoving his head back under the covers. He had no plans to come out anytime soon.

After merging his soul with both the Divine and Earthly monuments, only the essence of his humanity remained. In other words, he was more or less human, just that he was no longer shackled by basic human needs such as breathing and food.

Such exemptions were highly advantageous, especially for sleepyheads and slugabeds… Since ‘holding it in’ would no longer be an issue.

“As of today, we are civil servants. Zheng Dao just got word that the Truth Department will be giving out monetary bonuses for all Special Talents that are Inland-Sea Level. The only stipulation is that we meet all their baseline requirements. Plus, if we can join the Offensive Guard Alliance we’ll then have additional subsidies from them, which makes it all the more lucrative… Heck, forget the subsidies. Just the bonus itself is plenty. I can’t believe Ren Ruofeng and his bunch of people are capable of such generosity,” said the System, its enthusiasm still on full-blast.

“Okay. Just how big of a bonus is it that it surprised even you, a penny-pinching system?” asked Fang Ning in a tone of disbelief.

“Ten tons of various vitality materials per year. The right to use up to a thousand square kilometers of wastelands within Chinese borders. Both security and other basic facilities will be fully handled by the Chinese government. We’ll also be given higher priority for certain procedures such as selecting disciples and hiring of labor within the border. And that’s just the Special Talents bonus, mind you. The subsidies from the alliance will constitute the exact same things, only ten times the amount,” the System said in a tone that bespoke nothing but utter satisfaction.

“They seem willing to pour their resources into this, that’s for sure. But there aren’t many Inland-Sea Level experts around, so it’ll still be affordable,” Fang Ning stood up. “but what’s this Offensive Guard Alliance you mentioned?”

“Ah, that. I’ve already looked it up. It’s an alliance formed against the major evil alliances.. Think of it as some kind of deterrence; the goal is to prevent them from running wild and also to put an end to all their carnage. Seems like the killing of the Black Jade People had given the Indian Trinity quite a scare. They should’ve known that not all Inland-Sea Level experts are as agreeable as I am. They should’ve started paying me ages ago.” the System said in a haughty air.

“If you choose to be modest, what’s going to happen to that heroic stance you’ve been playing at? The way I see it, you’re acting like a complete brute,” Fang Ning said earnestly, sitting back down on the bed. “You have to remember that times like these give us all the more reason for us to be the champions of our cause. We need to be true vanguards of love and justice, holding its banner up high, never letting go. The last thing we want is to end up being hand in glove with other powerhouses and their schemes to exploit the people. Which is why…”

With a hint of suspicion, the System asked, “Why… What?”

“Which is why you shouldn’t accept the bonus.” Fang Ning delivered the blow, his tone carrying the weight and intensity of his words.

“What!”

If the System had been a material being standing in front of Fang Ning, he was pretty sure it would be three feet in the air by now.

“You’re asking me to turn away free money? Are you out of your mind? All that sleeping must’ve made you sick in the head!” the System huffed angrily.

“Look at you. This is exactly the difference between you and I.” Fang Ning said with an air of moral superiority, “All you see is that measly bit of cash dangled in front of you while I’m seeing the bigger picture.”

“Bigger picture?” said the System, exuding its own brand of moral righteousness, “What bigger picture? Money is the bigger picture. With money comes power, and with power comes security. In this business, security is everything.”

“Look. Just think about it for a second, alright? Suppose you forgo these little fringe benefits that have been offered. What do you think will happen? Well, what inevitably happens is that you ‘ll be different from the rest of the pack.. So next time, if there’s an even bigger bonus, the government will only think of us, not the others. And if you see things from the government’s standpoint, these bonuses and conditions are really just concessions given to the experts. The government needs to go through with this, even if it means shedding blood and tears because they’ve got no other choice. As for the experts, they’ll fulfill a measly quota and just sit around doing nothing, waiting for their rewards. This is essentially a political marriage! Here, money is used instead! The moment we turn down the offer, we’ll be putting our righteous virtues and honor on full display,” Fang Ning placated patiently.

“Ugh… I keep having this feeling that you’re trying to persuade me. but I just can’t figure out what you stand to gain from this.” the System said in a puzzled tone.

“Yes, you’re right. I was persuading you, but only because I have the public’s best interest at heart. Plus, what do I even have to gain by talking you out of taking the bonus? Ren Ruofeng doesn’t even know that I exist. So it’s not like he’d be offering me money anytime soon.” Fang Ning said patiently.

“No. He knows that you exist. After all, aren’t you the Venerable White Dragon? Though it’s not that he won’t give you money but he can’t, since they would’ve went through me first, and I’d have kept them.” the System said complacently.

“D*mn it. I knew I’d been doing quite a lot of work, and yet I’ve never received a single paycheck. I’d been too lazy to even bother looking for it back then, I can’t believe it was you who’d been taking them all.” Fang Ning lamented.

The System laughed heartily. “You found out way too late, by the way. You still remember that tournament? The one that involves spiritually-controlled mechs? Yeah. Anderson still participates in those regularly The pay isn’t much, but bit by bit, a little becomes a lot. I’ve been stashing the pay every month.” the System said proudly.

“F*ck. Can’t believe I’d been so lazy that I’d completely neglected my own finances…” Fang Ning said, feeling as if someone had kicked him in the teeth.

“Whatever. I’ll listen to you again this time. But if I join the Offensive Guard Alliance, I’m getting the subsidy. Period.” the System said in acquiescence.

“Of course. Members of the Offensive Guard Alliance are putting their lives on the line for the job. Any reward given to them will be well-deserved. Besides, asking people to make unconditional sacrifices will just undermine our culture.” Fang Ning said.

…

The following day, Truth Department Headquarters.

“Advisor Ren, Vice-captain Hong,””Here’s the latest update. We’ve sent out fifteen copies of our manifesto to all the Inland-Sea Level experts that we have on record. So far, eleven have accepted our offer and are willing to comply with the baseline requirements we’ve set in exchange for the bonus, although they want these bonuses to be known as ‘offerings’ to the outside world. There is one who has agreed to meet the baseline, but has refused to accept the bonus. He said that meeting the baseline is a natural obligation, so no additional rewards are necessary. According to him, it’s the same thing with the basic precept that humans should not commit murder. It is an innate nature that does not require a reward to sustain.” reported Administrative Secretary Liu. As he finished, he handed Ren Ruofeng and Hong Yunjiao each of the report to.

Ren Ruofeng sighed. “It’s the Venerable One, isn’t it?”

“A wise guess, Advisor. It is the Venerable One indeed.” Administrative Secretary Liu answered hurriedly.

“Only in the face of their own gain do people show their true colors. People often think of the Venerable One as some kind of avaricious money grubber. But the truth is that, yes, he enjoys reaping rewards, but only those that he deserves. The Venerable One is a man of honor, and a man of honor only takes what he feels he’s entitled to. That’s the striking difference between him and those who only use their strength and power as a means of oppression. Truly, I am amazed. Not even Bodhisattva Spirit King could resist a carrot this big. And yet the Venerable One stayed true to his values. Such a rare quality. I was right about him all along.” Ren Ruofeng expressed with deep emotion.

“Hm, you were right, dear. You truly are a good judge of character. However, it’s not really that surprising, to be honest. After all, The Venerable One is a bastion of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. He would never take things he hasn’t rightfully earned,” said Hong Yunjiao.

Ten tons of vitality materials and other privileges. All of which he could obtain, just like that, so long as a few baseline requirements were met. For those who have descended not too long ago, taking these bonuses was akin to hoarding the benefactions that humanity had offered and yet doing nothing in return.

During times of prosperity, such bonuses would no doubt be regarded as commonplace occurrences.

However, now that things had turned dire and their power and influence were nonexistent, they ended up regarding these things in an entirely different light. Raw materials were desperately needed to reestablish the foundations of their power to get back in the world, and to ultimately regain power. What they had regarded as nonentities had all of a sudden turned into precious treasures. After all, even an emperor would find cornbread more palatable than cordon bleu cuisines during times of desperation.

Of course, huge expenses like this would not be covered by China alone. Other nations were under obligations to pitch in, be it monetarily or through the provision of other resources. In the past, shying away from such obligations was child’s play. However, in the Era of Vitality, everyone knew the sheer force behind the Heavenly Oath. Debts were owed only to the weak, and never to the powerful.