Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

Blanchi used to think that good movies, fun games, and tasty snacks would be things she'd always love and never tire of, but now they no longer attract her.

What movie or game could be more impactful than everything happening in reality? What she's currently witnessing makes her heart grow silent.

This is a city in the Shattered Stone Star Domain, with a population of about 5 million, yet it appears grim and gloomy.

The cracks on the road surface seem to be larger than her grandmother's age, with faint deposits of coal dust visible. Tall billboards stand at the roadside, while beneath them are outdated pushcart stalls, incongruous with their surroundings, where local workers sit eating noodles.

Most of them appear dusty and grimy, their expressions numb, while not far away, the billboards continue to display the glamorous side of the world.

There's not much to boast about in the Shattered Stone Star Domain; perhaps the only notable thing is the rare black flint found alongside local coal mines. This black flint can be used to create top-notch weapons, selling at a high price.

However, those expensive top-notch weapons are something local workers might never see in their lifetime. All they know is that every month, a high-security superluminal aircraft lands to take away a suitcase of refined black flint, which is the city's main source of income.

Waste coal and soil produced during mining is everywhere. These were good fuel and industrial materials in the past, but here they're worthless.

There isn't a lot of industry locally that needs coal; the cost of transporting these cheap minerals is several times the selling price, making it unviable to pursue.

"Mr. Moxun, did you bring me here just to show me these scenes?" Blanchi asked the young man with short silver-grey hair standing beside her, who looked a few years older than her.

"Yes, I admit my intentions aren't pure, but what I said is not a lie." He pushed his glasses up and came to Blanchi's side.

Before he spoke, the sound waves that were isolated by special methods had already diffused, and today's outing was sudden, even the plainclothes from the Court of Judgment couldn't arrange for such a remote area in advance, giving him and Blanchi a chance to speak alone.

"Time is limited; the personnel from the Court of Judgment could catch up at any time. I shall try to be brief."

"We need you, Lady Blanchi. Many people in the Northwestern Star Domain regard you as the hope for the future. You also need to see the real and harsh side of the Northwestern Region."

Because of Blanchi's previous proposal, the Federal Central Council, to pacify, did grant some benefits, bringing hope to many people in the Northwestern Star Domain, and Blanchi's reputation rapidly spread across these star domains.

"You are treading on extremely dangerous grounds." Blanchi was no longer the naïve girl who entered college three years ago. In the past three years with the Golden Flame Flower, even though she had been influenced by her surroundings, she had gradually grown a lot.

"I won't promise easily; I not only need to be responsible for my actions but also, as you said, carry the expectations of many people."

"Thank you for not outright rejecting." The young man wasn't a fool; he could see that despite Blanchi's anger, she hadn't closed the door definitively.

It seems your plan succeeded, Yade. This Songstress is indeed still somewhat naïve and kind, unlike those older Songstresses who are impervious.

"I will explain in detail to you why we are doing this and the sources of many tragedies." He bowed to Blanchi, but unfortunately, Blanchi turned away at that moment, leaving only her back to him.

...

About a month later, on the suggestion of Moxun, Blanchi continued to tour many cities in the Northwestern Star Domain, witnessing firsthand one declining place after another. These star domains were mostly poor, with many infrastructures still built hundreds of years ago. Local education and healthcare fell far short of the Federation's average, not to mention comparing with the Central Star Domain.

"I remember, in some large hospitals, they can already regenerate severed arms." Blanchi observed a man eating with one hand at a roadside stall.

"Yes, but as you should also know, such medical solutions are very expensive, not within their means. Perhaps the money they earn working with healthy bodies their entire lives wouldn't suffice to buy back that arm, so what if they know such medical solutions exist?"

"Where did the money go?" Blanchi looked up.

"The money was taken by the upper-level companies. Do you see the logo of 'Vels' Corporation on the building across the street?"

"The profits of products produced here are mostly taken away and not left to the local area."

"Normally, when a company makes money, employees receive good salaries, and then use this money for local consumption, or if the company continues to invest locally, it can slowly revitalize the local economy, but not here."

"Even the salaries of employees at the company's branch are very low, merely enough to maintain subsistence, incapable of expanding the market."

"Why do they do this?" Blanchi continued to ask.

"Because they can do this. Local manpower is worthless; such salaries are enough to recruit good people, so why spend more money."

"So?" Blanchi knew he must have more to say.

"As for why not continue investing in infrastructure, it's because these industries have low technical content. Once production expands, similar products increase, prices instead can't be raised, leading to increased costs and reduced income."