Chapter 43: New rules of operation.

Dinner was not going as planned at the Shen manor. Operation trick Liwu into falling in love with Weijun was underway. Madam Xu and Yuening had prepared a very lovely but subtly romantic dinner for the couple. But the couple was missing.

Shen Weijun was still on the steps of city hall, with Chief Abby and a handful of other officers from the government. He was speaking to the press for the second time that day.

“In light of what happened during the day,” he cleared his throat. “and after extensive talks behind closed doors with the government and SOB, we have come to some agreements. I am here to share with you the new regulations to ensure the safety of our city and ourselves.”

Madam Xu grumbled. “The candles are melting, couldn’t this wait?”

Her husband, who was sitting quietly by her side and focused on the news was astounded. He wondered if his wife was simply ignorant or just plain foolish. Then again, she was not a system host so these new rules and regulations were unlikely to bother her.

But the rest of the city, especially in the unique population [system hosts], there was discomfort.

Weijun raised a hand to quell the murmuring of the reporters. “Rule one: All unregistered system hosts must register their systems with the Bureau. You can do it at the precinct here or online. No exceptions. It doesn’t matter if your system simply requires you jump ten times a day or summon chickens from another world. As long as it is a system, you need to register. The days of hiding are over.”

At city hall, reporters went crazy because this was once the idea that IH system hosts resisted the most.

Weijun took a deep breath. “Rule two: This one, I personally hate but it is inevitable. Random inspections of system hosts’ homes will be conducted. My own home is available for searching at any time. Of course, as I live with an officer of the Bureau who happens to be my wife, I suppose it is to be expected.”

Some people laughed.

“Why?” A reporter shouted.

Weijun winced. “To ensure the safety of the city we must make make sure that no one is hiding criminals, illegal cultivation manuals, unlicensed swords, monsters from other worlds and more.”

A reporter that happened to be a cultivation system host raised his sword dramatically, only to have security confiscate it and throw him out.

Weijun continued. “In the past three years, we have had more crimes committed with swords than other weapons. This is why swords have been singled out. Cultivators are not allowed to use their swords freely in public outside Cangtian city. They cannot duel in areas of work or residence. We have had too many casualties of duels and it is time to stop.”

Some people applauded.

Cross handed Weijun a fresh piece of paper. He squinted, narrowed his eyes and continued. “Rule four: I must make it clear that I detest this one. No launching of new technology without government approval. One city has always been known as the city of system innovation but unfortunately, some people are taking it too far. Five minutes ago, a man was arrested by the Bureau for selling a device that could apparently teleport anyone back in time.”

Reporters gasped.

Weijun nodded. “I am as astounded as the rest of you. If something like that falls in the wrong hands, world history will be re-written in the shape of anyone as they please. I support innovation, but it needs to be sensible, not careless.”

A reporter raised her hand. “Does the teleportation device work?”

“How much did it cost?” Another asked.

Weijun shook his head. “You will have to reach out to the SOB for details on this. Rule five: system hosts with ambiguous relationships must declare them. This is because these err….undefined relationships breed chaos. Fifty percent of them end in kidnappings or murder. So, if your partner is also a romantic partner, business partner or sworn enemy, we need clarity.”

“And how will you enforce rules related to this?” A reporter screamed.

Weijun looked at Chief Abby.

The Chief leaned into a microphone and said, “The Bureau has relationship declaration forms for such purposes. System hosts must check ’ally,’ ’enemy,’ ’romantic entanglement,’ or its complicated.’”

The reporters erupted in laughter. Weijun smiled through it all because this was the new reality they were living in. Complicated relationships in the special group of residents were many. “These rules are for the safety of all, residents and tourists alike. The kidnapping of Wang Mazi last month is a clear example of everything that can go wrong when these complicated relationships are not monitored. These rules don’t just protect system hosts, they protect ordinary humans too.”

Meanwhile, downtown, Liwu sat in a sleek unmarked patrol car with Linlin. The vehicle was parked under a blue streetlight, its dashboard glowing with high-tech displays. A holographic screen projected the press conference live, floating above the steering wheel.

Liwu sipped her coffee, smiling bemusedly. “Linlin, have you ever had to check the its complicated box on a relationship declaration form?”

Linlin adjusted the car’s surveillance drone controls. “My ex boyfriend is also a system host that owes me fifty thousand in rent. What do you think?”

Liwu chuckled. “Sounds like a yes to me.”

The holographic feed showed Weijun receiving another sheet from Cross. The cameras were so clear that they vividly showed small beads of sweat on his forehead.

“Look at your husband.” Linlin said, “He is burning every rule his brother Weijun once made when he needed the influence of the IH. Random searches, sword bans, tech innovation, relationship declaration. This city used to be free, now it is somewhere between a sitcom and Beijing. He knows that the no tech thing is going to kill half the startups in the city, right?”

Liwu shook her head. “Or they will move underground and continue operating secretly.”

There was a beeping sound from the dashboard and one of their surveillance targets was registered. Their car looked ordinary on the outside but it was a rolling surveillance hub on the inside. The seats had biometric scanners, the mirrors doubled as facial recognition display. Different compartments held hidden weapons and two drones that could be deployed to follow targets down alleys, scanning for suspicious activity.

“Did you fill in the relationship declaration form when you married him?” Linlin asked Liwu.

She nodded. “Of course.” And she would never forget the scowl on his face as he checked the ’married’ box. Now that she was a system host, they would have to fill in the forms again soon.

How would he handle knowing that she had a bad luck system?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep