I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 859 - 859 858. Democracy

Chapter 859: 858. Democracy Chapter 859: 858. Democracy Du Danping.

Upon hearing this name, Lu Ban felt an inevitable sense of expectation.

He had heard from Shia that Du Danping had appeared in the Wasteland, and now, since his mission had been disturbed, the likelihood of encountering Du Danping had certainly increased.

Now, it could only be said that Lu Ban felt a kind of closure in his destiny.

Because he had witnessed Du Danping’s deeds during his mission, he started searching for the Melody Shards left by Du Danping, journeyed through numerous Foreign Domains, and now, he was finally about to meet Du Danping.

Lu Ban watched Shuangxin rise and walk toward the inner room, and he followed her.

The room had no door; passing by Shuangxin’s shoulder, Lu Ban saw a person sitting inside.

The man wore a fitted suit, his hair neatly groomed, and he was holding an ancient document, deeply engrossed in reading, until Shuangxin spoke up, causing him to lift his head and look over.

“Mr. Du, this is Mr. Lu Ban, the one who once led me into the Promised Land.”

Shuangxin spoke, stepping aside to let Lu Ban approach the entrance.

Lu Ban clearly saw the man’s face; he looked just like Du Danping from the photographs, handsome and dashing. His features appeared more dimensional and profound in person than in flat imagery.

If one added his remarkable musical talent and the mysterious aura inherent in a Chosen by Gods, it was difficult not to be captivated, no wonder Song Yunyan, a wealthy heiress, had been so enamored back then.

Seeing Du Danping, Lu Ban had many things to say, but he choked on his words.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, come have a seat.”

Du Danping patted the spot beside him.

Shuangxin left, Lu Ban and Feng Yu walked into the house, which was a reading room usually reserved for reputable scholars to study books alone.

The room was small but well-lit. A window had been opened, allowing sunlight to spill through and cast a hazy light on the book.

From their ages, Du Danping and Lu Ban seemed quite similar.

Yet, Lu Ban always felt this man was much older than himself.

“I have met many Chosen by Gods, you are indeed quite different.”

Du Danping looked at Lu Ban, as if he could see right through his human disguise, his real body already morphed into a pool of melting flesh.

It seemed incredible to him that, in such a state, his sanity should have already been in the negative, yet he still maintained coherent thoughts, which was truly remarkable.

Based on Du Danping’s experiences, those who lost their human form and turned into monsters were usually insanely beyond salvation, or they were no longer humans but Divine Beings or members of a Clan, much like the Ancient Overlords.

Thus, Du Danping’s gaze shifted to Feng Yu beside him.

This lady clearly was not a Chosen by Gods, and Du Danping immediately sensed that Feng Yu was not even human.

Could it be that this Chosen by Gods had already become a member of a Clan from a Foreign Domain?

Moreover, there was an even more unique aura about Lu Ban, reminding Du Danping of those beings seeking distortion and chaos in Foreign Domains.

If he did not know that a Chosen by Gods of his own kind was to come, perhaps Du Danping would have assumed Lu Ban to be an adversary.

“Who is this?”

Du Danping decided to proceed cautiously.

“This is Feng Yu. She could become my mother’s woman.”

Lu Ban introduced as if it were the most natural thing.

“Mother?”

Du Danping glanced at Lu Ban, then at Feng Yu, thinking they were playing quite a big game.

“Don’t mind me, I’m just a Traveler.”

Feng Yu gave Du Danping a smile that sent a subtle chill through him.

“I see… Well, my mission is to help the Academy become the victor of this election and simultaneously deal with any Heretical Cultists that may exist in Utopia.”

Du Danping stated succinctly.

“Help the Academy?”

Feng Yu raised her eyebrows; though she was unclear about the connection between Lu Ban and Du Danping, it seemed, given Du Danping’s choice to assist the Academy, that Lu Ban would likely join this faction too.

And the Academy was clearly the least likely to win.

“Yes, I’ve been here for three months, which should be just over a month in reality. Thankfully I made arrangements beforehand and told those around me I was retreating into the mountains for research, else Yunyan might have worried.”

Du Danping nodded, his expression softening significantly when he mentioned Song Yunyan.

Perhaps it was his love for his sweetheart back in his homeland that sustained his sanity while he traveled through these Foreign Domains.

“The Academy’s chance of winning is slim.”

Feng Yu stated.

“Indeed, over these three months, through dealing with the members of the Senate, I have roughly grasped the movements of various factions. Currently, the Wild Wolf Guard and the Yellow Sand Brotherhood have the highest support; next comes the Quicksand Council. The Academy’s support doesn’t even reach five percent, most of which are just its own members and their families.”

Du Danping explained briefly.

“But my mission is to help the Academy win.”

“Do you have a strategy?”

Lu Ban asked. He did not mention Song Yunyan’s situation; for Du Danping, the fate of death was still in the future and did not affect the present.

“Right now, the Academy has the best opportunity, which is to take advantage of the appearance of the Promised Land and acquire some precious resources from there. Using these resources to gain the support of the Senate is the only way we might win.”

Du Danping explained.

“The Senate controls a significant number of votes in the election, and they also have the power to decide the future direction of Utopia. As long as we can gain the support of the Senate, turning defeat into victory is possible.”

“It seems that this place isn’t entirely democratic after all.”

Lu Ban commented.

“True democracy, if it exists, wouldn’t be in the Wasteland. Here, each person is inherently different; some are powerful enough to survive among the desert and monsters, and others are as weak as Mortals. People are not born equal, and striving for democracy is just a distortion of Utopia.”

Du Danping explained.

In a regular world, democracy certainly has a foundation for existence, but in a place like the Foreign Domain, Wasteland, blindly chasing democracy is just stubbornness.

Here, everyone’s strength varied; some were strong, able to survive in the desert amongst monsters, others weak like Mortals. It was not feasible for ordinary people and Transcendents to have the same rights, the same number of votes.

And yet, the rules of Utopia explicitly required democratic voting. Thus, the Sacred ones from past generations interpreted these rules and extended the existence of the Senate. Without violating the rules, they achieved a centralized power above democracy.

“Taking this into account, even though the elections in Utopia must be fair, just, and open under its rules, there’s still a shortcut that can be taken?”

At that moment, Lu Ban had an idea.

“If that’s the case, I think I also have a way to help the Academy win.”