Episode 51 — Residents of the Old Server and Earth’s “Debugging” Records

The front door closed, and the sound of Gustav’s footsteps faded into the distance.

I sank deep into my Throne of Sloth and took a sip of my now half-flat cola.

"...Phew. Out of the frying pan, into another fire. No, I guess this is the natural consequence of 'leaving a bug unfixed.'"

I crawled out of my throne and headed for the study. The travel distance was a mere few meters, but for me, it was heavy labor equivalent to a hundred on-site inspections. I powered on the PC and watched the triple monitors flare to life with a pale blue light.

Now then, let’s organize the data. There are two types of "bugs" currently holed up in the Old Town.

First, Volg and his "Underworld Group."

The reason they’re rejecting the new city is obvious. It’s the "Transaction Management Plates (A/A' and B/B')" I introduced. That system turned into the "Ultimate Security Patch" for people like them.

(Taking shady margins and lining their pockets with secret ledgers... there’s no way they can do that in an environment where transaction logs are forcibly synced. If they carry a Management Plate, they’ll leave a trail instantly. That’s why they chose to flee to the Old Town—where discipline doesn't reach—and live off an "independent power source" like well water.)

It’s a classic breeding ground for unmanaged system processes.

And then there’s the other one. The descendants of the pioneers from three hundred years ago—the "Kardos Tribe."

This one is even more of a pain.

(That "Wedge of the Oath" monument... To them, that stone is the root that defines their very existence. No matter how convenient or comfortable the new city is, a mere spec comparison won't overwrite their core beliefs.)

I tapped away at the keyboard and accessed Earth's historical archives.

In times like this, having thousands of years of "records of failure and success" at my fingertips is almost too powerful.

(Alright, first, let’s look into 'How to Integrate a Lawless Zone.' ...Kowloon Walled City, Medellin in Colombia... and then, Geylang in Singapore...)

Massive amounts of data filled the monitors.

The Kowloon Walled City in old Hong Kong—a "City of Darkness" where no sovereignty reached. In the end, it was solved through the provision of alternative housing and, more importantly, a physical severance because the site was no longer maintainable.

However, a forced removal pays the worst price. My attention was drawn to the Geylang district in Singapore. There, the government officially recognized gray-area businesses only within a specific zone, but in exchange, placed them under absolute government regulation. Gather the filth in one place and run it through a filter... That’s it. For Volg and his crew, I just need to provide an "isolated execution environment"—a sandbox—within the new city.

I took a big gulp of cola and switched to the next tab.

—"Coexistence Issues between Ethnic Groups and Sacred Sites."

(As for the Kardos tribe... I can use the model of Ayers Rock in Australia. Or maybe learn from the failures of the Belfast Peace Lines.)

Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia. It was once a sacred site that tourists climbed without permission, but now it operates under a system where "the land is owned by the state, but management rights as a sacred site are permanently delegated to the indigenous Anangu people."

"This is it. Without moving the 'location pointer,' we define the surrounding area as a 'Historical Protection Zone.' Then, we officially appoint them as the 'Privileged Administrators' of that sector. ...If we give them a 'flag' called honor, they should be willing to accept coexistence as part of the larger system that is the new city."

My fingertips danced across the glowing keyboard.

Geopolitics, economics, and the logic of system administration.

"Heh, not bad. Give the black-market crowd a carrot called an 'Operating License,' and give the history-guardians a title called 'Sanctuary Administrator.' ...It’s way cheaper and smarter than both sides beating each other over the head with emotional arguments, right?"

"...Alright, the logic is solid. Next, I just need to write the instruction manual to deploy this patch on-site..."

As I started typing, a new thought suddenly occurred to me.

(...Wait. It’s a waste to just 'isolate' them. If I’m going to keep them around anyway, can’t I convert these guys into the city’s 'Killer Content'?)

I searched for Amsterdam in the Netherlands—the "Red Light District."

It was once a dreg-filled area with poor security, but by officially recognizing gray businesses in a specific zone and strictly managing them, the administration transformed it into one of the world's leading "tourist resources."

(This is it. Don’t hide it. Frame it, and turn it into a show. Plus, let’s bake in the logic of an airport 'Duty-Free Shop.')

I’ll provide the black market not as a mere illegal place, but as a "Tax-Free Zone for purchases intended for export." In exchange for not going through the Management Plates, we’ll make sure they drop plenty of foreign currency in Felsen before they leave the territory. We’ll issue temporary IDs at the Felsen border, and make it impossible to shop at the black market without them. If we set it up so they can handle export procedures right there at the black market, they’ll probably buy some souvenirs on their way out.

And as for the Kardos tribe...

We can turn their sanctuary into a "Living Museum." We’ll set up some other historical-looking exhibits around the monument. After the exhibits comes the main event: a premium viewing terrace where you can watch the Kardos tribe’s mysterious worship ceremonies in the plaza below.

"Heh. The black market becomes a 'Tax-Free Special Zone,' and the sanctuary becomes 'Historical and Cultural Heritage.' ...Instead of deleting the bugs, I’ll reboot them as 'Paid Additional Content.' This way, the Lord’s pockets get lined, and my sleep remains protected. Right, Tama?"

"Mrrp. (...You’ve got that evil look on your face again. You look like a corrupt producer.)"

Tama was flicking her tail back and forth at my feet.

I gazed at the "Felsen OS 1.2: Tourism and Integration Specifications" beginning to take shape on my monitor and cracked open a fresh cola.

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