Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 380: Chapter 379 The Existing Social Order Is About to Collapse

”So, the Protection Act has passed?”

Clutching his phone, Fang Zheng revealed a sly smile.

”Yes, Mr. Fang Zheng, Parliament has already passed the ’Cursed Child Protection Act’... But is it really useful?”

The Holy Son spoke with a hint of anxiety and unease in her voice. She knew why Parliament was willing to pass the act. On one hand, the threat of the Zodiac Belt was imminent, and on the other hand, they were overconfident, believing that even if the act passed, it would be useless. After all, in the current environment, Cursed Children were subject to discrimination—when laws do not hold the majority accountable, could you really arrest everyone?

These parliamentarians probably already had plans in place—if the public were to vehemently resist, they would promptly revoke the act, and then use this as an excuse to strip power from the Holy Son—wasn’t that a good thing? Because of this, they did not put up much resistance and ultimately chose to pass the act. But to the Holy Son, this was no victory.

”Then, has my request also been approved?”

”Yes, but... Mr. Fang Zheng, what does that mean, exactly?”

What Fang Zheng had requested was a special clause within the Cursed Child Protection Act, specifically demanding that the Heavenly Dao Palace have authority to assist with the management of the act. This clause seemed a bit odd, but since the act clearly stated that the Heavenly Dao Palace did not possess enforcement powers, with law enforcement rights still held by the Tokyo Region police, the parliamentarians, although somewhat dubious about this ”special management assistance,” still approved it.

After all, Fang Zheng also stipulated in the clause that those who break the law need to be detained and imprisoned, and this part was naturally the responsibility of the Heavenly Dao Palace.

But, will people actually arrest these lawbreakers? Likely, even the police would turn a blind eye. In such a case, without the authority to arrest criminals, could the Heavenly Dao Palace really expect them to turn themselves in? What a joke!

”You’ll find out soon enough.”

After saying this, Fang Zheng closed his phone and turned his gaze back to the television. On the screen, commentators were angrily discussing the matter with fervent expressions.

”What the Holy Son has done is outrageous! She forcefully got the ’Cursed Child Protection Act’ passed in Parliament, but what good will it do? Does she not know the consequences of going against the public? According to media surveys, the Holy Son’s approval rating has already dropped by five percentage points—isn’t that telling enough?”

”Those ’Cursed Children’ shouldn’t be protected at all! The Holy Son is also from the ’Age of Plunder,’ so why is she introducing such provisions? Does she plan to give those ’Cursed Children’ the right to vote?”

”Ladies and gentlemen, please look, at the moment on Central Avenue, thousands of citizens have gathered to protest the ’Cursed Child Protection Act’ passed by the Holy Son and Parliament. The mood among the crowd is very agitated...”

As the host spoke, the screen switched to show thousands of citizens carrying banners, marching down Central Avenue and chanting slogans.

”Intestinal Creatures are unforgivable! Drive out the Cursed Children!”

In front of these indignant citizens, the host continued to report with a serious expression.

”As it appears now, the ’Cursed Child Protection Act’ has not been accepted by the general public...”

As Fang Zheng had anticipated, public opinion and social circumstances did not support the Cursed Child Protection Act, but he didn’t care because... he already had a countermeasure.

”Five, four, three, two, one...”

Watching the countdown on the television screen, Fang Zheng murmured softly.

”We interrupt with breaking news.”

Then, the screen switched again, and the host appeared, her expression complex, but she continued resolutely.

”The Heavenly Dao Palace has just announced an official notice in support of the Holy Son’s ’Cursed Child Protection Act.’ Under the special provision of the Act, the Heavenly Dao Palace will offer a reward for assistance. Anyone who possesses evidence of discrimination, verbal abuse, or assault against Cursed Children in violation of the Protection Act, can submit videos or recordings as evidence to the police station’s ’Cursed Child’ case counters. Once the Heavenly Dao Palace verifies the authenticity of the evidence, the informer can receive a reward ranging from 10,000 to 50,000, and for each criminal violation of the ’Cursed Child’ Act that a police officer arrests, they can receive a reward of 100,000 per person... Furthermore, the Heavenly Dao Palace announces the establishment of a city dedicated to sheltering Cursed Children. Cursed Children and their families can go to the designated locations in the outer districts to seek asylum. The address is...”

”How could this be...”

Watching the news on the screen, the Holy Son and other parliamentarians were speechless. They had all considered what methods the Heavenly Dao Palace might employ to resolve this problem. After all, even if the act was passed, no one would enforce it.

But they had not anticipated that the opponent would adopt such a tactic!

A monetary offensive!!

In this era, most people couldn’t earn much money. Perhaps in times of peace, 50,000 might be considered a small profit, but in these apocalyptic times, when a bag of bean sprouts costs 6, an amount of 10,000 to 50,000 is absolutely considered a fortune! Its value is almost equivalent to 100,000 to 500,000 during peacetime!

Not to mention, each police officer who arrests a suspect could receive a reward of 100,000!!

This is simply throwing money around!!

Where did the Heavenly Dao Palace get so much money?

Of course, Fang Zheng didn’t have that much money, but for him, making money was not a problem. With Nymph around, hacking into the banking system to transfer funds was a piece of cake. And the money he was spending now all came from the black accounts of those big shots and guilds; with Nymph’s skills, even if they searched high and low, they wouldn’t find a single clue.

However, now, for those members of parliament, what they worried about was not the money that had already disappeared from their shady accounts, but —— the heavens had changed!!

In this era, the lives of the lower-class populace were very difficult, filled with pressure and danger. This was also why those high-ranking figures tacitly allowed the oppression of the Cursed Children. On one hand, they indeed despised the Cursed Children, and on the other, it was a diversion to shift the focus of the commoners’ attention onto the Cursed Children, allowing these lofty figures to breathe more easily.

But now, the move by the Heavenly Dao Palace was disrupting their plans!

Indeed, those people loathed the ”Cursed Children,” but no one hated money! As long as you provided information, you could earn money. For the police, arresting a criminal meant earning a bonus equivalent to a year’s salary! More importantly, all of this was legal income!

It was their own congress that had stamped approval on the legislation!

Before, these members of parliament were puzzled about what the so-called ”special support” from the Heavenly Dao Palace actually meant. Now they finally understood that this was the opponents’ strategy!!

And with this development, anyone could guess what would happen next.

Even if the common people openly scorned it, there would certainly be those in poverty who would seek evidence in private and sell it to the Heavenly Dao Palace. The police could justifiably arrest suspects under the guise of ”acting according to the law.” Those who used to freely mistreat the ”Cursed Children” now had to restrain their behavior. Otherwise, every person around them could potentially be a spy who might report them!!

”This is destruction of the social order!!”

A member of parliament slammed the table and stood up, his face ashen.

”We must put a stop to this behavior!!”

”But this is a bill unanimously passed by the congress.”

The Holy Son also appeared concerned, but even so, she shook her head.

”The actions of the Heavenly Dao Palace have not violated our agreement.”

”But... That’s right!”

At this, the member of parliament seemed to have a sudden epiphany, slapping the table fiercely.

”The legislation only allows the Heavenly Dao Palace to assist us and establish an office. It did not mention building a city!”

”Exactly, they’re trying to establish a state within a state in the Tokyo Region! That’s impossible! We must immediately negotiate with the Heavenly Dao Palace!”

”Yes, exactly!!”

Looking at the fervent crowd, the Holy Son frowned slightly, but she also harbored doubts internally because Mr. Fang Zheng had never mentioned to her anything about constructing a city before. Now that he suddenly proposed it, it naturally made the young lady wonder.

”I’ll contact Mr. Fang Zheng right away, please wait a moment,” she said, as the Holy Son opened the communication link and promptly connected to Fang Zheng’s phone. Fang Zheng’s voice soon emerged from the receiver.

”Ah, Miss Holy Son, hello. Since you’re calling me, does it mean you have seen the Heavenly Dao Palace’s notice? May I know your concerns?”

”I personally don’t have any concerns, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

While speaking, the Holy Son glanced at the members of parliament around her.

”But I wish to ask, regarding the matter of constructing a city to shelter the ’Cursed Children’... Why didn’t you negotiate with us in advance?”

”Hmm?”

Facing the Holy Son’s inquiry, Fang Zheng responded with a question mark.

”Why should I have discussed this with you?”

”Aren’t you planning to build a settlement for the ’Cursed Children’ in the outer district?”

Now, the Holy Son and the members of parliament came to a realization. Could it be that...

”I indeed said I was going to construct a city for the Cursed Children, but...”

At this point, a hint of a sly smile tinged Fang Zheng’s tone.

”I never said I was going to build it inside the Tokyo Region. So... there’s no need for Miss Holy Son and the members of parliament to trouble yourselves over this.”