Chapter 19 - April

I finished putting all the equipment inside a hospital building just as the first signs of the long awaited storm comes. The hospital is very big with enough space to accommodate all the 'liberated' equipment. 

Then a new round of recruitment for hospital staff members began. When the new medical staff saw how well equipped the place is, they felt at ease being part of the Toy city. There is even a hospital, several plots of land has been opened and covered in with large glass houses to grow food. 

Honestly this place feels and looks like the promised land after a terrible series of events. This made the people love the city lord even more. One particular talented earth ability user made a large statue baring overwhelming resemblance to Mikel and put it in front of the two public facilities. The orphanage and the hospital. 

The administration staff found a way to broadcast to the whole country about recruitment, the location of the base and the benefits of enlisting if you have supernatural abilities, experience in medical care, law enforcement, teaching or as a care giver in the orphanage.

I told them them to broadcast the use of antibiotics to stop the spreading of the infection and the use of crystals and mana core as a means to grow strong by absorbing the mana inside them. In the last life this information was hidden by the families and the military for at least three years.

I made effort to create a clear path from the main road leading to central city and with a little more effort I made a very tall electric fence shutting off access to the forest in all areas near Toy city to protect the humans from the animals and discourage large scale invasion from the animals in the forest. 

The wire is made of known materials enforced by high voltage electricity exclusively powered by my power and high level mana stones. This will allow the wires to retain their power for decades without problem. I didn't use the human labor to dig for the fence as I have hundreds of golems and they can work over night making the job take less days. 

While the central base is making a wall I and inserting the high voltage electric wire fence around an area 17 times their own with relative ease. Concrete road with two meter long wall on the sides and a dangerous fence behind said wall on both sides all the way to the main road.

The sight of the crackling wire several meters tall behind a carefully build wall and a clean road makes people have high expectation for the Toy city before even coming inside the city. 

There are several gates to use when going to hunt inside the forest guarded by my golems. They don't speak or make effort to communicate unnecessarily. To me they make the best guards which is why they hold the majority of the posts where humans would be uncomfortable guarding. 

people may thing these are my only golems but I have started making them mine the mana stone mine. 

I found several bat cave equipment which included the electronics. As long as I recognize what it does I can thus bring it to life. So I managed to end up with several monitoring equipment that can scan the entire base.

There is also barrier technology which I used around the mining sight to hide mana residue and sound so the mining process can go on without alerting others. The system came with a gentle voice AI.

I use it to scan if someone is infected, when used for this reason, the line outside the gate is dealt with quicker than when blood is drawn.

It is not just this monitoring and scanning function but It was able to recall information on several departments servers. We scan people faces, read their information, and give out IDs. Each ID number is used as a serial number for transactions in the base.

The system helped us create a banking system of sort. What happens is that a person will bring their wealth to the building, or earn credits through work or transfer. 

And their wealth is recorded in the the data base under their unique serial number. They can present the serial number to spend their money while inside the bank.

A transaction is complete only after the person has been scanned to confirm identity since anyone can have another person's serial number.

The system will deny purchases done under heavy influence of alcohol and other drugs. The entire city is now using this system.

A single scan will show your entire health report including the types of supernatural abilities you have and your current power level.

This way we can know when a person committed a crime or is a criminal. The ones in the monitoring rooms are not humans, I can feel when there is a fluctuation in the connection and immediately connect to the AI to identify any anomality. I can not trust them with this. If there is something out of the ordinary I am alerted with a message on my phone.

Cellphones work in the base but only within the base at least for now. I am not particularly invested in things I don't understand but the bank system was suggested by the AI and I approve. Later when I have time maybe I will check the batmobile.

For now I am attempting to breakthrough to the second level. But first I need to open a high end mini market with the items from the space.

My cattle has multiplied several folds by now and I already have eggs, milk, vegetables and fruits from the field all harvested by my golems. I am so glad I don't have to do all the work myself.

There are clean and fresh products in these mini markets and because of the freshness people buy them even though they are expensive. This way I earn much of the base's wealth into my own account. I withdraw the crystals to store them in my space.

I fill the clothing shops, the bar and a dairy shop. The people are still coming in and many places are unoccupied so one of each store is enough for now.

I had decided to let medical staff members, top researchers, teachers and care givers in the orphanage to live in one of the eight buildings. When this news was announced more people applied for various positions. They have all heard about the luxurious eight buildings and it is everyone's hope to one day live there.

After the fence is up and barrier is in place, I decided to do something I have been putting off for a while now. 

I decided to breakthrough. The feeling is like a rushing tide constantly slamming against a barrier in my mana palace. I had condensed a wind type tenth essence drop a while ago, as a result I have the 10 essence drops required to advance to the next level. 

Finally the barrier gave way and the essence drops mixed and became a dam of mana essence all the elements together making for a powerful tide before loosing all color as the color moved towards enhancing my heart which will allow me to cast spells of these elements with ease.

The now colorless dam began forming crystal clear mana essence drops each as big at two thumbs. I can feel their power growing with each moment of drawing mana inside. This is my foundation. 

The ten drops visibly became brighter than before their power getting purer. Then the second floor started forming a set of mana essence as well only one at first, followed by another. This went on until I had made six more drops of mana essence.

The pure attribute less mana essence drops represent the real appearance of my power. It is without a primary element but it can also adopt to all the known elements allowing me free reign when spell casting. 

I stood up feeling my body purring with power. It's as if a gentle wave of warmth enveloped me. This is amazing.

I have decided to open the books and trinkets from the box I found buried under a stack of mana grass.

Counting the books, there are 9 books and two journals. Then a list of the items in the box. First to catch my eyes is a pair of magical earrings.

I quickly looked at each book finding one more than intriguing. It is a book on spells, magic circles and hand seals.

It turned out a spell can be imbued into an object if it is carved in a form of mana circles. These are possible to carve with anything as long as they are activated by mental power and then mana infused into them. But they will not last unless they are carved with a specific ink. 

Having level two I have unlocked my mental power. I can now send my mental power outside my body, wrap it on and object and then crystallize said object without touching it with my hand.

The thing about magic circles is that if you carve them wrong, you may bring a danger to said object. But I have a good Idea. I will practice them until I am adapt at using these spells.

Then there are magic spells. Casting magic with an incantation is easier if you have a powerful mental power. In fact it is possible to cast it wordlessly but again, the words must be precise and accurate in the mind.

Personally I prefer hand seals. These will be executed as soon as the last hand gesture is performed. They are wordless and one can just rely on muscle memories to become an expert. Of course it becomes a problem when the hands are crippled or lost.

When I came out of the mine I find out an entire week had silently passed. The weather is still gloomy but there is no sign of rain.

The city is calm under the silent running of the AI. "Anything interesting happened while I was out?" I asked. It's floating robotic head appeared in the screen.

"The one named Lu Pei came. He brought three more acquaintances with him. They are planning to have you share your 'technology' to build a base in a short time.

The screen on the wall showed the four people talking while drinking and smoking cigarettes in one of my exclusive nightclubs.

"Don't you want a name?" I asked but it head seems to move on the screen from corner to corner as if ignoring me.

"I will just call you April." This will be my friend in this life

"If it pleases you." A said. I think there is mockery in the tone. But I am not sure.

 

 

They are let into an office space I use to occasionally meet with my staff members to discuss work. There is a desk with a file cabinet on the side, I have a comfortable floor carpet and a small table and three chairs for eating a small distance from the main desk.

 I also have a reading space with a wall side book shelve currently full of books taken from the city's several book shops. I had cleaned up any and all book shops in the city because when the storm comes, all these books will be lost.

 

Seeing them enter here one by one I welcome them but I didn't move from my position. The secretary led them inside and quickly left.

 

"I am Lieutenant Feng of the national security." A man said looking upright and proper. But I knew him and all his future dealings with slave traders just for some vampire blood.

This man is the reason I and many others were kidnapped and soldas slaves beyond the barrier. He will become a junkie who will do anything for some vampire blood.

Vampire blood is like a very addictive drug for humans. It makes them stronger why slowly corroding their minds and lowering their inhibitions. He doesn't seem to be a junkie yet.

 

"I am Wei Han of the Wei family." Yes, the incredibly handsome and vigorous older brother of Wei Lin. I wonder what will happen now that I poisoned his younger brother to fuck his destined. Is it goint to be a dog blooded family dramma?

 

"Bai Ping from the Bai family." Big brother to the first minor villainess. I nod and turn to Lu Pei.

 

"..."

Lu Pei didn't introduce himself but calmly took a seat looking very annoyed. He had probably been trying to get hold of me and couldn't find me in the old apartment.

The door opened and a food cart is pushed in by two maids who then left it and went away. 

"I am Mikel Mo of the Toy city. What may I do for you gentlemen?" I ask taking a cup filling it with milk tea. Seeing my casual attitude, the others also started drinking tea. I should remember to plant tea in my space later. 

"We have all come here seeing as how quickly you were able to build a small city." The lieutenant Feng said. Internally he is grumbling about that ridiculous fence surrounding and enter forest. What a waste of resources.

"We would like you to borrow your technology to the government and help to construct a city wall as soon as possible." Wei Han continued.

This man has a chiselled jaw, a perfect straight nose and a sexy Adam's apple that made his voice deep with a bit of rumble. 'Daddy' 

The military man has an older appearance but it is obvious he is in very good shape. Then there is Bai Ping. He is very handsome with short fiery red hair and deep blue phoenix eyes making him look like an exotic red tiger.

Those set of eyes make people feel like a predator has locked on them. 

I work hard trying not to react to all these people in my home. Although I am feasting on their individual attractive features, their request sounds stupid to me.

"The technology is my own awakened skill, I can make toys into real objects. I am still recovering from making this small city and the fence." I explained taking a sip of my hot milk tea. 

"Can you demonstrate?" The military man seemed intrigued. The others seem very curious as well. 

I took a regular toy sword and turned it into a real sword with a steel blade that has a very sharp edge. I gave it to the Lieutenant Feng. "You can leave it before you go." The man took the sword and checked it carefully. 

"Incredible, are there any requirements for this to be possible?" I looked at him and smiled but I didn't answer his question. What a joke, you want me to tell you my weakness? 

He saw that I am not answering him and didn't push hard. He gave the sword back to me reluctantly. What follows are questions like :

'All those buildings were previously toys?' 

'How do you ensure sturdiness?' 

'How long did it take you to finish everything?'

Just as they look at me for answers the rain decided to pour at this very moment. Inwardly I am rejoicing my concrete road is all dry and the water drainage is fully operational. It's as if the storm had been waiting for me to be completely ready for it. 

By now all the families and those with a need to find shelter have all moved from downtown and found a job within Toy city. This is not to say there are no people remaining within downtown. There are thousands still living within that dark city because they have their own system to survive this new world. 

Many who came over to the empty buildings brought their things because the distance is not that far away. The rent for my apartments are fair considering they just have to bring clothes and food. They are fully furnished so I am not worried at all about my people. 

"We would like to recruit you for a mission. As someone with a base I will assume you care about the wellbeing of humans. There is a facility housing a group of excellent scientists whom we want to bring back." Lieutenant Feng said with a serious tone.

"What do I get from bothering with this?" I ask with clear disinterest.

"If the scientists make a breakthrough we will share the results with you for free. At that time the cure will be highly valuable." Bai Ping said.

"There is a storm coming, are you thinking of going out there in such a weather?" I ask.

"Yes. If we delay, the lab may be bridged by enemies or water and the frail scientists may not survive." Huh.. I remember in the story the scientist who finally cracked the formula is from Kim college. A fresh graduate who had only been doing first year of chemistry phd or something.

"Where are you fetching these scientists from?" I ask feeling curious.

"From Jiang university. A man named Song and his team have been in the school laboratory since the start of the breakout." Lu Pei answered.

The interest in my heart flared. That man, he is the evil scientist who was bold enough to kidnap Lu Aang to experiment on him as a newly awakened vampire who can walk in the sun.

A man who sees nothing but his work in the world. No authority, no wealth, no familial affection, just cold hard facts found at the bottom of his experimental tubes.

That man will not focus on finding the cure when he arrives. All he focused on was ways to understand the mana and its power. As a man of science he believed mana to be a high form of energy that is only accessible to those whose bodies have reached a step in evolution.

"I will not be part of your exhibition party. There is something that needs my attention for a while." I say uninterested.

"Then can you donate some of those armored vehicles to us?" Wei Han asked shamelessly.

"No can't do. I charge good money for them. Blood crystals, mana cores or mana stones." I say leisurely.

"Fine. How much?" Bai Ping asked.

"Depends on what you want. I have them in a car shop downstairs. Candlelight street, shop number 3" I informed. I am not going to be their tour guide.

.....