Chapter 53: Rebuilding

The guards left, and as they did, a carriage with no apparent openings arrived at the sealed entrance to the Temple. The driverless carriage stopped as the top and sides unfolded, pooled together to form into another figure of Pneuma, and walked behind Jester and Cajan. Pneuma directed them to walk towards the entrance of the glowing pyramid. As they got within 15 yards of it, a doorway opened, and they walked through.

“Welcome, friends,”

“Pneuma brought us safely here and allowed us to see through the carriage,” Cajan sounded like the young, excited child he was. “There were so many people walking through the streets. And to see the pyramid glowing white as we approached was wonderful.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the sight. Did both of you get the new contracts?”

“Yes,” Jester confirmed. “We both did. We are already contracted, but Pneuma explained our provisions here at the Temple and the plans to have my own place to Spirit Smith. I will serve you well and teach Cajan all I know.”

“I’m sure you will do great. Pneuma, will you show them to an empty place to rest in the temple complex, maybe even one near where I was resting earlier today?

Trint had absolute god-like power over every aspect of the physical structure and makeup of the pyramid. It was as if the density of Spirit and the connection to the Temple and territory had made everything an extension of his body. He felt alive like never before, and he wasn’t tired, so he decided to plan with Pneuma for the future Joppa they would forge.

Pneuma was like a supercomputer, processing information and forming plans. Trint’s increased access and control over Spirit made him more mentally powerful than his stats reflect, and he could keep up and process along with Pneuma.

They devised a general plan to reshape Joppa and the people in the territory from individuals and competing factions to an empire made to work in harmony. With Trint’s system access and Sovereign power, they planned to reshape the entire Subsystem as long as nothing interfered.

First, they needed the people to be on board, which included everyone willing. Trint felt justified in that he was not just taking from the people. He alone was able to offer them freedom from the System, new bodies, access to professions and classes, and also access to the abundance of Spirit. With that access, every one of his people would be able to cultivate. Those with the time and power could already cultivate mana and begin to learn how to increase their magic power and reserves, but as far as Trint knew, none in the Subsystem could cultivate Spirit. This change would significantly impact the Subsystem, and Trint was hoping it would also help with his plans of having enough power to get to his family.

He honestly had doubts after his encounter with Baruch, but he was determined to find a way.

Trint and Pneuma’s plans and strategy meeting went through the night and into the morning.

“Send a message to Erica,” Trint directed Pneuma’s reclined form. They had both created a working office from the temple floor. It had chairs and a table they used to create a 3-D map of the city; they could manipulate it to change and were constantly flipping it from the current layout to overlay it with a mist for their plans. It was like having a computer program to manipulate the city layout.

“I already have; she is almost here,”

“Reading my mind or just thinking alike?” Trint asked

“We will become increasingly in sync the longer we spend time together and grow in power.”

Trint observed Erica’s arrival, and he and Pneuma finalized this stage of their plans and reverted the map to the current layout.

“Welcome back, City Lord,” Trint greeted as Pneuma sat up to better dip his head in acknowledgment of her arrival. Pneuma’s former recliner flowed up behind him into a nearly straight-backed chair.

“Good day, Sovereign,” Erica bowed.

“Pneuma and I want to discuss our plans for Joppa. Are you willing to help with our planning?”

“Of course, please tell me what you wish to do,” Erica humbly requested.

“That’s enough bowing; treat us respectfully while alone. I want Pneuma to show you our plans and tell us what you think. Pneuma, please go ahead.”

“I am Pneuma, and as Trint mentioned, I will be the main contact for developing the city and territory. If you look here, I have a map of the city. And watch as we overlay our plans.” Pneuma contrasted the view of the current city in black with the changes in a transparent white mist.

“That is incredible. Could you explain the lines beneath the ground and those three large structures?” Erica’s face was filled with wonder, and her smile showed excitement.

“Those would be the new sewer lines. Are you familiar with plumbing?”

“No, but I remember you showing me a water and waste management system option. Is that what this is?”

“Yes, they will deliver fresh, clean water to each building in the city and flush the dirty water and biological waste to a treatment facility. The System will then use resources to purify the dirty water to be used again. No more pulling water from well or waterways will decrease sickness and provide a level of hygiene your people have never had.”

“This is incredible!”

“Wait until you’ve had an hour-long hot shower!” Trint added.

“The three most extensive additions are for a Hospital, here and the Academy, and then this is for entertainment. Healing and education will no longer be for the wealthy and powerful. We will pay for the healers and those who wish to take those professions. The same goes for a city guard force. We now have the professions to give to those who pledge loyalty. They are various, but we wish to focus our efforts on a police force, an army, and healers. They will also need support like clothes, armor, and weapons that will help others with crafting professions. We can also give those to any interested. We will start by giving the first 75,000 to agree to the contracts the option of the profession. There are already many who have chosen to be healers, crafters, and fighters. Eventually, we will see where our greatest needs are and will need to provide incentives to perform. For now, we hope that leveling and gaining Exp from leveling will be incentive enough.

“What about the access to Spirit?” Erica voiced her curiosity. “Will you help the people understand what that means?”

“Yes, all those who became human will be granted the ability to harness and channel the Spirit that is so plentiful in the Subsystem,” Pneuma explained. “There is a lot to do, but individual growth and strength are important for the good of all in the Subsystem. When access to the System is re-established, everyone will have a greater chance to come back victorious and harvest much more Exp and rewards. To do that, our people need to learn to cultivate and gain skills that utilize Spirit. I will send them a system message explaining the steps to begin meditating and forming the Spiritual foundation.”

“As City Lord, we want you to help organize the construction. We will need to have people vacate the areas required for the System to build all these structures. When the people are evacuated, you let Pneuma know, and he will request the System enact the changes. We also need you to suggest other changes and housing. We expect many to flock to this city, and additional lodging and some temporary housing for travelers will help.

Trint jumped in, “We have other plans, some of which involve traveling to Atlas and other capitals to seize control there too. We want to provide more opportunities for all in the Subsystem and end the War Lords’ tyranny and slavery practices. There is a good chance for unity and for everyone to benefit from my rule.”

“But what about Joppa? If you head to Atlas, that will take you years to get there,” Erica argued.

“That is another benefit of being a Sovereign. I believe we can travel there and back in less than a day.”

“That can’t be possible….” Erica was lost for a moment in wonder. “If that is true, where else can you travel?”

“Anywhere, there is a Sovereign Temple, I believe,” Trint confirmed. “I want to give all the people of the Subsystem the advantages and options I offer. I won’t force them to follow me, but choosing against it won’t excuse any from attacking our people.

“Thus the need for a military and police force,” Pneuma interjected. “On another topic, what do you know about agriculture and harvestable resources?”

Pneuma, Trint, and Erica spent the next several hours discussing plans, resources, and implementation. None of them were willing to sit around and plan for long. An hour after the meeting, Erica had a contingent of 2000 guards that Pneuma directed to start temporarily evacuating the city population for the city restructuring. By the evening, when the 24-hour countdown to join them had ended, nearly everyone had chosen to side with Trint. Some definitely out of fear but all received system messages and options for professions. Promises of housing and yet-to-be-discovered plumbing. The Spirit in the Subsystem was like a universal resource to Trint and Pneuma, and they would use it to build Joppa into an oasis in this chaotic world.

With most of the city evacuated, people crowded the surrounding lands and the waterways. All eyes were on the city as Pneuma initiated the changes. As the command was given, the pyramid lit up like a lightbulb and shined brighter than the setting sun in the dusk. Spirit washed over the city and onto the recently converted humans, and they all felt refreshed and invigorated in the waves.

They also stared in wonder as the ground trembled and structures raised before their eyes. Whole areas were restructured, and new housing in the multileveled apartments was created to handle the displaced and future residents. The initial plans had only been to add the new structures, but after the meeting with Erica, they had chosen to wipe the city clean and start it over.

Everyone was being displaced, but with nearly unlimited Spirit resources, Trint and Pneuma built a brand new city. The city went from looking like a barely medieval ancient city with a few pyramids in the sky to a more modern city. Plumbing was everywhere, and heating and cooling were added. Pneuma handled the incredibly detailed plans till they were the equivalent of a modern city.

There were areas set aside for developing plants; even further out from where the people watched, the land was designated for harvesting crops, and the roads formed into the distance. Some streets were constructed underneath their feet. Joppa was the first of hopefully many recreated cities in the Subsystem.

The plan was to provide for the people and encourage them to pursue the development of resources and gain levels as fast as possible. It might be possible to make everything automated, but Trint didn’t want people dependent on him and wanted to empower them to help themselves.

The pyramids were the only unchanged structures, at least on the outside. The Temple was not restructured, but the connected tunnels and buildings were changed to fit Trint’s plans. Trint and his small contingent of guards had remained in the pyramid during the construction, but they could view the changes and the gathered people outside of the city through the 3D planning map. The city was now large enough to allow the population to more than double and be self-sufficient in providing for that many people.

“You think they will accept you as the new ruler?” Pneuma asked.

“It’s hard to say, but I think the benefits will outweigh the consequences of challenging me.”

“That assumes they understand what challenging you would mean,” Pneuma said, “What about that army rushing towards our new city? You think they only come to surrender?”