Free Town.
Inside the majestic yet modern office building, Kailin, dressed in athletic wear, her delicate long hair covered in water droplets, collapsed onto the floor as if drained, gasping for breath.
"Sister Ba, I really can't do any more."
Leaning against the fitness equipment, Kailin felt as though she could fall asleep at any moment. The only reason she was still conscious was sheer willpower.
"I'd say your foundation is just too weak."
The little demon, also in athletic wear, had her eyes and brows filled with a smile.
She stood on the treadmill, walking at a leisurely pace, not a bead of sweat visible on her body. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
"What great equipment."
"If given the chance, I really want to see Chen Yu's world. What kind of interesting world could it be? Look at this thing that keeps rolling, what's it called..."
The little demon gestured towards the equipment beneath her feet. Kailin, slumped on the floor, whispered.
"Treadmill."
"Right, right, treadmill," the little demon said with a grin. "In the past, if you wanted to go for a run, you'd have to go outside. Now, you can do it right here in the office building, and it consumes very little energy. One crystal essence can keep this little machine running for a month. For someone like you who sits in the office day and night, taking a walk or a run whenever you have time would be great for your health."
"I actually do that."
Kailin mumbled pitifully, "It's just that my usual amount of exercise is small. I'm fine with walking for ten minutes occasionally. But you're asking me to run for an hour? How can I possibly endure that?"
"I'm thinking of you."
Suddenly, the little demon on the treadmill's expression turned serious.
The smile on her face vanished.
She didn't stop moving her feet on the treadmill, her hands gripping the handlebars. Her eyes, however, were fixed on Kailin, who was slumped on the floor, with a profound gaze.
"Your realm is not high."
"Your position as City Lord relies on your intelligence."
"But have you ever thought about what would happen if Free Town were to truly encounter a disaster, a fatal blow that the current Free Town could not withstand? What would you do then?"
"If that time comes, with your physical fitness, could you even escape?"
Kailin, who was sitting on the ground, pursed her lips. After a long silence, she slowly spoke.
"Sister Ba, are you saying... our Free Town will..."
"That's not what I meant," the little demon said, frowning and clearing her throat. "I'm just presenting a possibility. Free Town has been too peaceful for too long. Chen Yu, with his personal ability, has provided you with a warm haven to survive. But you should also know what kind of world this truly is. Frequent warfare is the main melody here, and hunger is the most accurate depiction. Don't you think Free Town seems too fantastical in such a broad environment?"
Kailin, with her lips pursed, remained silent for a long time.
She couldn't deny this.
Looking at the overall environment of the entire cave, everything was indeed as the little demon had said. Life in Free Town was so fantastical it felt almost unreal.
Compared to other city-states, Free Town...
Was like a paradise that only existed in fairy tales.
"Even if it's unreal, it truly exists before all of us. This city was built as a paradise by Lord Chen Yu and all of us," Kailin murmured. "Isn't this scene exactly what Lord Chen Yu wanted to see, and what he has been pursuing?"
"The problem is, it's too special."
The little demon frowned deeply and whispered.
"Kailin, you've been City Lord for a year now. Let me ask you this: If you were the monarch of a kingdom, and a city within your territory suddenly surpassed your royal city, how would you feel? What if this city was not under your control? As the City Lord of another city, if the city next to you develops by leaps and bounds, and the people in your city are migrating to that city, what would you think then, and what would you do?"
With the conversation reaching this point, if Kailin still couldn't understand the little demon's deep meaning, then she would have been a City Lord in vain.
"Are you suggesting that the existence of our Free Town will be envied by others, leading them to harbor ill intentions and declare war on our city?" Kailin whispered, frowning, then quickly added, "We can be assured of this matter. I had this consideration before, so when developing, I would bring the surrounding city-states along. Now, several towns around Free Town, including those further out, are centered around our Free Town."
"What about the Tatu Kingdom then?!"
Instantly, Kailin's expression froze.
"Kailin, your idea of having surrounding cities develop together is indeed not a problem. However, in the eyes of the Tatu Kingdom's royalty, isn't your behavior enough to make you a thorn in their side?"
The little demon stared intently into Kailin's eyes.
"Honestly, if I were royalty, I would not tolerate your behavior. I would definitely send troops to suppress your city."
"Kailin, perhaps Chen Yu's existence has shown you a broader world."
"His existence has also reduced your reliance on the Tatu Kingdom in your hearts. However, don't forget, no matter how bad the Tatu Kingdom is, it is still a kingdom. No matter how capable Chen Yu is, he is just a City Lord. He cannot go against the Tatu Kingdom!"
Listening to the little demon's analysis, Kailin felt it was indeed true.
"Then what should I do now?"
"I think it's necessary to contact the military commanders stationed in the four directions," the little demon narrowed her eyes. "Since I returned to this city, I've felt that there's something strange about it, but I still don't know where the strangeness originates from. What I just said is only my speculation. I estimate that the Tatu royal family will inevitably make a move against Free Town. Of course, I don't know the specific strength. Before that, I need to meet with a few military commanders and arrange the relevant matters."
"No problem, I'll contact them now."
Just as Kailin was about to get up, her wristband suddenly chimed.
"Lord Chen Yu's invitation." Kailin's eyes were filled with joyous surprise. In contrast, the little demon's brow furrowed slightly. "Don't tell him about the situation in the city."
"Huh?!"
"He's currently fighting the demon race in Fengqi City, and our Free Town is relatively stable. Although with me guarding it, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with the strangeness, so don't let him worry anymore."
"Understood."
Kailin nodded in understanding, and then, with the little demon's permission, accepted Chen Yu's video invitation.
"Good afternoon, Lord Chen Yu."