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Arcane: TTB: Ch. 19
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 00:34:32 +0000 UTCCipher knew the three-day deadline was impossible, even with their resources, the Chem-Barons couldn't possibly meet all his requirements that quickly. The factories needed retrofitting, workers needed training, and old supply chains had to be dismantled.
Real change would take months, maybe even a year.
But that wasn't the point.
What he wanted to see was their reaction to the deadline.
Who would try?
Who would make excuses?
Who would show genuine effort versus who would just try to buy their way out?
Those who showed genuine effort to comply, who demonstrated they were willing to work within the new system, they would get the extension they needed.
The deadline wasn't about completion, it was about commitment.
The ones who tried, who showed up with actual plans and progress reports, even if incomplete, they would be the foundation of the new Zaun.
The ones who didn't... well, they had made their choice.
---
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on Cipher's office door.
"Come in!"
He didn't even lift his head. Zaun's newly established regime had everything to rebuild from scratch.
He was busy drafting various bills, so overwhelmed that he didn't sleep. Even the mules in the production team had it easier than him.
A worker poked his head in. "The construction team needs your signature on these material requisitions."
"Leave them on the pile," Cipher muttered, not looking up from his current document.
"But they said it's urgent... The foundation work can't start without..."
"Everything's urgent." Cipher finally looked up, dark circles under his eyes. "What's urgent is finishing these regulations before we have a riot on our hands."
"The workers are already talking about walking off..."
"And they'll have nowhere to walk to once I approve the zoning laws." Cipher gestured at the stack. "Put it with the others. I'll get to it when I can."
The worker hesitated, then placed the papers on top of an already towering stack. "They won't like this."
"They don't have to like it. They just have to wait."
The worker hesitated, then placed the papers on top of an already towering stack. He stayed for a moment, shifting his weight from foot to foot, before finally accepting defeat and heading for the door.
Cipher reached for another document when footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"About the taxes..."
Silco plopped down in the seat across from Cipher. Before he could finish his sentence, Cipher handed him a policy document on the tax system.
"Everything is in here. Take a look and see if there's anything that needs to be added."
With that, he buried his head back in drafting another bill.
The general framework of the tax system was directly copied from his previous life, with only minor tweaks.
Silco carefully reviewed the document. After finishing it, he put it down and said, "It's a very complete system."
"But to implement it, the Tax Bureau will need a large number of tax officers, and right now we have a huge personnel gap."
Cipher finally finished drafting a bill and had a moment to breathe. The stack of completed documents had grown, but the pile of work to be done seemed no smaller.
"Zaun has plenty of people who know how to handle bookkeeping and audits. Tax officers are government employees with good benefits; recruiting shouldn't be difficult."
Silco nodded. "With the civil servant benefits you've set, recruiting won't be an issue. The problem is... we're out of money."
Cipher froze. "That fast?"
The Zaun municipal government hadn't even formally established a Finance Department yet, so its funds were temporarily managed by Silco.
Currently, the municipal government had three main sources of funding:
Silco's entire personal fortune.
Confiscated assets, thanks to the generosity of a few imaginative Chem-Barons.
Donations from enthusiastic citizens, though this was the smallest part since most citizens of Zaun were dirt poor.
Silco expressionlessly pulled out an account book and started listing major expenditures one by one for Cipher:
Preparing to open over a dozen large state-owned factories, planning to recruit thousands of workers.
Establishing Zaun University, hiring teachers at high salaries, and enrolling students.
A large investment made into Jayce Talis.
The Police Department plans to hire several hundred officers and nearly a thousand reserve officers as civil servants.
"The remaining funds on the books can only sustain us for a few months. After that, we'll go bankrupt. And I haven't even factored in the Tax Bureau or Customs Department yet."
"There must be something we can cut," Cipher said, scanning the numbers.
Silco's laugh was hollow. "Cut what? The factories that will give our people jobs? The Academy that will give them a future? Or maybe the police force maintaining order?"
He stopped and looked at Cipher with a resentful expression in his eyes. "Your grand plans are eating through my life savings like acid through metal. Do you think money grows in the toxic soil down here?"
"You quickly need to figure out how to raise money, a lot of money!"
His years of painstakingly accumulated wealth had been completely drained by Cipher in less than a month.
"Uh..."
Cipher was momentarily speechless. Spending money felt great, but raising it was a nightmare.
"Send the parameters for the wireless communication devices to Swain in Noxus and ask him for a loan. We can promise them priority supply; he won't refuse."
This big shot would likely have money. Even if he didn't, he could apply for funds from Noxus. Swain clearly understood the value of wireless communication devices.
"That's not a short-term solution. Noxus is too far away. Even if he agrees to the loan, we'll be bankrupt before the money arrives."
Silco shook his head. Swain wasn't a viable option.
"Although the situation is promising, you've taken too big a step forward. Now it's hard to backtrack. If we go bankrupt, no one will listen to us anymore."
Cipher rubbed his chin, thinking for a while about how to raise money. Suddenly, he laughed.
How could he forget about the big investors right next door?
Piltover was full of wealthy people.
Jayce's future wife, Mel Medarda from the Medarda family, was Piltover's richest individual.
His sponsor, Councillor Kiramman, was also quite wealthy.
These two Piltover councillors were still relatively decent people, so they could be approached.
With Jayce's help to introduce them, combined with the immense potential of wireless communication devices, securing a massive investment shouldn't be difficult.
With all this figured out, he confidently said, "Relax, I'll get the money."
Silco solemnly reminded him, "You've never let me down before, but I still have to warn you, we can't afford to fail. The municipal government must not go bankrupt!"
Cipher responded with a playful "OK" gesture.
Silco left with a troubled expression, covering his forehead in worry.
He decided to smuggle out the remaining stock of Shimmer 1.0 devices. Not only would this provide experimental data, but it would also bring in some quick cash.
Money, money, money, without it, even heroes faltered.
How had he never realized before how crucial money was?
Knock, knock, knock!
Not long after Silco left, there was another knock on Cipher's office door. The sound was more forceful this time, demanding attention.
"Come in!"
This time, it was the cold and tough female Rambo, Sevika.
"The Police Bureau is supposed to maintain order throughout Zaun, but I've only got a little over a hundred officers. We don't have enough people. I need more!"
As soon as she sat down, she bluntly stretched out her hand, demanding manpower from Cipher.
"I've already approved a few hundred positions for law enforcement officers. Just recruit them."
Cipher looked at Sevika, puzzled. He had granted her significant authority, even allowing her to handle the recruitment herself.
"Your requirements for law enforcement officers are too high. I've taken in so many of the Chem-Barons' former subordinates, but only a few meet the criteria."
"Where am I supposed to find officers who can fight and take a beating? You've got to solve this!"
Sevika blew out two thick rings of smoke from her nose.
"Then recruit reserves?"
Cipher felt a headache coming on. If Sevika couldn't recruit them, where was he supposed to find the people?
The Reserve Officer program was designed as a stopgap for the shortage of full-time law enforcement officers.
"That won't work. With five Chem-Barons dead in the Undercity, things are too chaotic right now. Reserves can barely maintain order in the Black Lanes. If they go beyond it, they're likely to get killed."
Sevika rejected the idea outright.
"Just recruit them for now. I've already designed specialized weapons for the officers, and as soon as the steel shipment from Noxus arrives, we'll start production immediately."
"The manpower shortage will have to be tolerated for now. Once the weapons are ready, even reserves will be able to take on missions."
Cipher poured two glasses of liquor and clinked glasses with Sevika. She was clearly exhausted, with bloodshot eyes to show for it.
With five Chem-Barons killed in one fell swoop, the Undercity had descended into chaos.
She had been leading her people in suppressing riots and maintaining order all night, and her frustration was understandable. The dark circles under her eyes matched the bruises on her knuckles.
"Just weapons won't be enough. You also need to design rapid-response equipment for the Police Bureau."
"The Undercity is too vast and its terrain too complex. If we rely only on our legs, the bodies will be cold before support arrives."
Sevika took a sip of her drink to ease her fatigue. Reflecting on the practical challenges she'd faced while maintaining order, she made her demands.
"No problem."
Cipher readily agreed. He had already considered this and had the equipment designs ready.
"Good, then I've got nothing else."
Sevika downed her drink in one gulp, then turned and left Cipher's office.
After seeing Sevika out, Cipher rubbed his temples to ease his headache. Money for weapons, money for police, money for everything...
He had only enjoyed a few minutes of peace when he noticed several suspicious figures loitering near his half-open office door.
The sound of poorly suppressed giggles gave them away.
Among them, a pink pompadour haircut was especially eye-catching. It bobbed up and down as its owner tried to peer through the gap without being seen.
"Vi, what are you and the others doing at the door?"
Cipher's headache worsened.
