Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1194 - 1187: System Approved

Chapter 1194: Chapter 1187: System Approved

However, his opponent was evidently not a pushover either. The economic official, sitting in his chair with one leg crossed over the other, uttered with a smirk, "Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what this quota system reminds me of? The Asian Subdivision Act. Currently, the beacon of civilization across the ocean is in complete disarray over racial issues. And why? Because they like to manipulate racial conflicts, eventually bringing disaster upon themselves. We must not follow in their footsteps and create something like an Otherworld Racial Subdivision Act, which could easily stir up racial tensions by certain individuals with ulterior motives."

"I disagree with your view," the immigration official said spreading his hands, "Each issue should be analyzed on its own merits. Citing the example of the United States is neither objective nor realistic. It’s purely baseless. The fundamentals of the two countries are different, culture is different, language is different. Yes, their chaos can offer us some lessons, but we can’t infer that we will plunge into chaos just because they have, as there is no factual basis for that."

"Furthermore," the immigration official coughed and pressed on with the attack, "the quota system is only for immigrants joining Lipei, and we should provide these immigrants with some basic fairness, rather than let those with power and influence monopolize all the spots. You haven’t yet answered the question I just raised. While the influx of capital is undeniably faultless, for our first city in Otherworld, excessive capitalization might be inappropriate, remember our social system."

"Well said about the capital being faultless, it indeed is. Lipei is in dire need of development, in desperate need of massive capital inflows. Industry is capital-intensive, without substantial capital investments, how are we to develop Lipei? Moreover, you seem to be overly idealistic, overlooking human nature. Considering the wealth and cunning of the Blaiqi people, do you think they would willingly accept the quota system? They would go to great lengths to find loopholes in the policy, the more you block, the more it leaks..." the economic official explained.

"What do you mean ’the more you block, the more it leaks’? So, you mean to say just don’t block at all," the immigration official mocked coldly, "like when someone catches a cold, why go to a hospital? After all, everyone is going to die, so we might as well not treat it at all, is that what you mean?"

"Please don’t use such a trivial analogy to speculate about what I’m trying to convey," said the economic official, somewhat angrily.

"You are deliberately equivocating, seemingly arguing but actually sophistically. Since you’ve brought up industry, I ask you, industry is not only capital-intensive but also labor-intensive. Why didn’t you mention that?"

Faced with the interrogation of the immigration official, the economic official fell silent.

"So, in fact, you never intended to develop industry; you simply want to turn Lipei into a financial city between Otherworld and Earth, otherwise why are you so eager to have capitalists flood into Lipei? Their joining Lipei can indeed bring in huge investments, but once factories are built, who will work there, let the capitalists themselves do it? Let Earth’s labor workers toil? You must be joking. In the end, you’ll still have to continue bringing in worker immigrants to fill the labor gap in the factories."

"Therefore, from the beginning, you had no intention of building factories because there would be no workers to build them. Without workers, how would those capitalists invest in factories? So, where would their enormous wealth go? Of course, to the financial markets. That is what you’ve always wanted to see, isn’t it?" In the conference room, the immigration official went all-in, laying bare the economic officials’ fig leaf.

The complexion of the economic official turned ugly once again. Watching the atmosphere in the meeting room grow increasingly tense, Lin Wei, as a mediator, took the initiative to defuse the situation, "Let’s discuss this matter more in the future, shall we? With more discussions, everything can be talked through. It’s fine if there’s no result this time; we can talk again next time."

"If this matter drags on, international opinion might seize it to make a fuss, accusing us of racial discrimination..." Suddenly, the economic official spoke again, attempting to defend himself.

Little did he know, his words not only failed to capture the attention of his adversaries but also sparked intense dissatisfaction from a power player. Just as he was expressing his thoughts, Lin Wei felt his scalp tingle, knowing that the influential figure beside him was about to erupt.

Bang!

Suddenly, the sound of slamming on the table erupted in the meeting room. General Zhang stood up furiously and pointed at the economic official, saying, "International opinion again, accusations and criticisms. Is international opinion your father, that you have to listen to them so obediently?"

General Zhang had always been extremely dissatisfied with this tune of embracing international opinion. As soon as anyone brought it up, he was sure to stand up and curse.

"Get your facts straight, will you?" General Zhang pounded the table forcefully, scolding with a look of exasperation, "Lipei is not the Lipei of international opinion, not the Lipei of foreigners, but our Lipei. Why should we listen to international opinion when we do things on our own turf? They criticize us, and we should realize we’re wrong, is that some kind of joke?"

"You people, you people, always with international opinion at the opening of your mouth, and international opinion at the closing. What, on our own turf, we have to follow international opinion? What if international opinion told us to give up Lipei, would you also implement that? Have some brains, will you? It’s the mid-21st century, and you’re still fawning over foreigners?"

"International opinion, how many divisions does international opinion have? Let it come and contend with us. If it’s capable, we’ll give up Lipei. What in the world are you thinking? When the feudal nobility of Otherworld amassed over two thousand people to attack Lipei, we easily repelled them. We are completely capable and have the attitude to do our own thing, free from others’ constraints. Why must you always consider so-called international opinion? Ah, I really don’t understand!"

"All these years we’ve come through, all the achievements we’ve made, how many were acquired through the guidance of international opinion? Why do you listen so much to international opinion, why are you so willing to treat international opinion as guiding suggestions? We finally gained some say, to express our own voice for our actions. Yet some of our officials still believe in international opinion, treating our own voice as if it were nothing, utterly ridiculous!"

General Zhang became more agitated as he spoke, lambasting the person who’d made the comments until they were soaked in metaphorical dog’s blood. The meeting room fell silent, with everyone bowing their heads, quietly listening to General Zhang’s scolding.

Just as he was about to continue his tirade, Lin Wei finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He stood up to stop him, then comforted everyone, "Alright, alright, Elder Zhang, please calm down. This matter will surely be resolved, but definitely according to our own method, not some international opinion. How about this, we discuss it a few more times to reach a relatively satisfying conclusion for everyone, what do you think?"

Hearing his words, General Zhang looked at him, then looked at the others, and finally calmed down, snorting coldly as he sat back down in his chair.

However, the economic and immigration officials who were currently at the center of the debate had gone completely silent, clearly intimidated by General Zhang’s commanding presence. They didn’t dare to speak again, fearing that it might provoke another round of his tirades.

After all, Lipei belonged to the headquarters, and although the regional government nominally had direct jurisdiction over Lipei, many issues were definitely unavoidable from the headquarters’ involvement. In other words, as long as the headquarters did not give approval, even if the regional government unanimously agreed, it would be of no use.

While the headquarters nominally only oversaw the military affairs of Lipei, since this place was ultimately established by the headquarters and the regional government had just been formed, including the governor, many appeared to have little influence and were unable to make direct decisions about Lipei.

Two more sessions of the meeting were held later, but the debates were no longer as intense as the first one. Because General Zhang’s angry statements had made clear the position of the headquarters, which was in support of the immigration official’s quota system.