138: Chapter 138 Extra Rewards

Then, the City Lord shifted his gaze, scanning everyone before speaking.

"Today, we gather here not to celebrate."

His voice was not loud, but every word reached everyone's ears clearly.

"It is to remember. It is to thank. It is to let those who shed blood and sweat for this city know that their sacrifices have not been forgotten."

His gaze swept across the crowd again. "When the beast tide struck, we lost much. Walls, homes, loved ones, comrades. But we also held... we held this city, we held its people, and we held our future."

"This was not achieved by one person alone. It was every person standing on the walls, every person fighting in the street battles, every person transporting supplies in the rear—it was all of you, together, who did it."

He paused, his voice becoming more solemn. "Therefore, I announce that everyone who participated in the city's defense will receive additional compensation from the Federal Government. For those who fell, their families will receive lifelong pensions. For the disabled, lifelong medical care. All Beast Tamers who suffered the loss of their Pet Beasts in the war will receive equivalent compensation from the government."

In the square, a wave of suppressed cheering broke out.

Jiang Tianzong raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"Next is the commendation ceremony."

He read out the names one by one. There were officers, soldiers, civilian Beast Tamers, and militiamen.

They went up to the stage in turn, receiving medals and certificates from the City Lord.

Each time a name was called, applause rang out across the square.

Then, Jiang Tianzong read out the final name.

"Qin Ce."

At that moment, his voice seemed to carry a special weight.

"Student of Fengling City's First Battle Academy, a native of Yuntai Town."

The entire square fell silent.

"During the beast tide, Comrade Qin Ce started from Yuntai Town and pursued the Raven Flock all the way to the main city. He successively saved six orange crystal core towers, three red crystal core towers, and one gold-level crystal core tower. At the most critical moment of the Inner City defense line, he controlled a gold-level crystal core tower to attack the Beast King, the Lava Bear, securing a crucial opportunity for this City Lord!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping toward where Second Elder Wang Chong, the head of the Wang Family, was sitting, and his voice deepened slightly:

"After Wang Zhuo's failure, he went up alone against the tide and killed the Raven King."

"After Wang Zhuo's failure"—he spoke those words with exceptional clarity.

Below the stage, Second Elder Wang Chong's expression remained unchanged, sitting as steady as a mountain.

But his hands on his knees slowly clenched, veins bulging.

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to suppress Wang Zhuo's reputation and target their Wang Family!

However...

His gaze swept over Qin Ce on the stage without a trace.

That look was faint and brief.

But Qin Ce, influenced by Tianlu's intuition of fortune and calamity, felt it.

In that gaze, there was coldness, killing intent, and a suppressed fury.

Qin Ce's expression didn't change, but his heart tightened slightly; this Wang Family held a grudge even more than he had imagined.

However, at this moment, the people below the stage did not notice the change in Second Elder Wang Chong's expression.

They were all stunned by Jiang Tianzong's words.

"Everyone knows Qin Ce killed the Raven King. But that ice-type attack from the gold-level crystal core tower that hit the Lava Bear—was that him too?"

"If the Lava Bear hadn't bumped into the City Lord's Jade-Horned Flying Tiger at the last moment, would the Raven King have been killed right then?"

"This... this isn't just luck! This is real skill!"

"Controlling a gold-level crystal core tower? He's only Bronze Rank! How did he do it?"

The discussions grew louder, and the looks directed at Qin Ce shifted from wonder to shock.

Jiang Tianzong raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"Therefore," his voice was solemn and majestic, "let us applaud our hero."

The applause was like thunder.

The applause lasted for a long time, so long that Qin Ce felt a bit awkward standing on the stage.

He saw many people in the crowd giving him thumbs up.

He saw the respect in the eyes of the soldiers in the military formations.

He saw a few students in First Battle Academy uniforms at the edge of the crowd, clapping frantically. They were his classmates.

The applause finally died down.

Jiang Tianzong's expression became even more solemn.

"Next, I will announce the rewards for Comrade Qin Ce."

"In view of Comrade Qin Ce's achievements and military merit ranking, as audited by the Military Department and approved by the City Lord's Office, it is hereby decided..."

He paused, his voice rising:

"First, Comrade Qin Ce is awarded Villa No. 36 of the Heaven Grade in the Inner City. This villa is located in the core area of the Inner City, enjoys security directly under the City Lord's Office, and is equipped with an independent energy supply system. It carries the same treatment as the highest-ranking officials of Fengling City."

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Heaven-grade Villa.

Those were the top-tier residences in Fengling City, with only thirty-six in total. Each was located at the very core of the Inner City, surrounded by security directly under the City Lord's Office, with independent energy supply systems and even small-scale defensive arrays.

Those who lived there before were either confidants of the City Lord's Office or core figures of the five major powers.

And now, an eighteen-year-old youth was moving in.

"Second, Comrade Qin Ce is awarded a Third-class Peerage of Fengling City, hereditary in perpetuity. He is granted ten top-tier social security benefit slots, covering all fields such as medical care, elderly care, education, and security. These slots are transferable and inheritable."

This time, even some of the officials on the stage could no longer sit still.

A Third-class Peerage, hereditary in perpetuity.

This meant that Qin Ce's descendants would automatically inherit this title.

As long as Fengling City existed, this family would always stand above the commoners.

Ten top-tier social security slots could ensure ten families would never have to worry about food or clothing again.

"Third, Comrade Qin Ce is permitted to form a team of twelve retainers. This team enjoys private armament rights and can be equipped with Pet Beasts and gear not exceeding Qin Ce's own. The team possesses an independent financial system and is not subject to direct inspection by the federal tax department."

The crowd below completely exploded.

"Twelve retainers!"

"Private armaments!"

"Independent financial system!"

"This... isn't this creating a noble?!"

"He already is. A Third-class Peerage, hereditary in perpetuity—if that's not a noble, what is?"

"An eighteen-year-old noble..."

The discussions surged like a tide.

But Jiang Tianzong was not finished.

He raised his hand, and the square fell silent once more.

"Fourth—"

His voice, at this moment, took on a peculiar rhythm.

"Comrade Qin Ce is awarded five franchised operating rights."

Dead silence filled the square.

"These include: one basic resource extraction right, one resource refining factory operating right, one equipment manufacturing factory operating right, one resource trading firm license, and one entry-exit checkpoint management right."

Five items.

Five franchises.

From raw materials to refining, production, trading, and trade routes—this was a complete industrial chain.

Below the stage, the heads of the mid-sized families had eyes red with envy.

These were things they might not be able to gather in a lifetime of struggle.

The heads of the Zhou Family, Lin Family, and Zhao Family all sat up straight at the same time, their eyes fixed intently on Qin Ce on the stage.

Even Second Elder Wang Chong had a flicker of something unusual in his eyes.