Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1643 Exploitation
"Is it really reasonable to directly arrest people to exploit their emotions?"

[So I've already told you Rome is very decadent. Calling them vampires at this point is an understatement; they're more like Dementors. However, this kind of behavior is illegal in Rome.]

"Just because something is illegal doesn't mean it's not a common occurrence, right?"

Yes. But it doesn't matter anymore; all of these actions have ceased. Anyway, they won't need them after entering Cybertronia.

"you sure?"

【.】

"You're not sure, are you?"

I'm actually not sure. Do you want to get involved in this?

“I will order the Romans to deal with this matter, and I need to investigate it as well.”

Using people as blood bags is already outrageous, but kidnapping them to use as blood bags is even more outrageous. But what's even more outrageous than blood bags is eating people's souls and killing them on the spot—this is a scene straight out of the Water Margin.

"This is basically cannibalism!"

[Yes, that's true, but the severity of the situation actually depends on whether there are any victims.]

"Wait a minute. So there's illegal, violent exploitation of souls, but it's also possible that there are no victims? How is that possible?"

[Arena. Eat each other.]

Shangluo fell silent.

The Romans could easily think of something that transcended the boundaries of their thinking.

But the truth is indeed as Apollonia said—if the Romans were technologically advanced barbarians who came to tie them to chairs and whip them, then it was something only a demon could do.

But if it's an upcoming duel where the duelists absorb each other's power, that's somewhat...
This is also something a demon does, only a different kind of demon.

"So how did the duel take place?" Shang Luo couldn't imagine how a duel could take place in the spiritual realm.

[It's somewhat similar to arm wrestling. Two people agree to compete on a specific theme, then they challenge each other to see who has the higher purity of their technique—the loser's portion becomes the prize.]

"So, simply tying people up isn't enough, is that right?"

It's not that it's impossible, but the purity wouldn't be right in that situation. Like just now, if it weren't pure appetite but rather coercion, the reaction products would contain many strange and unusual substances. Only what's squeezed from the pure brains of the Romans has the authentic flavor.

"Ah," Shangluo understood. "So it wasn't that the Romans didn't want to persecute slaves, but that persecuting slaves no longer satisfied their desires, so they started persecuting each other, right?"

Yes, that's exactly it. And this persecution was very, very deep. I don't know how outsiders see it, but to the Romans it seemed like a transgression. Because the arena was a place for gladiators to fight, not for citizens to fight each other. For the arena to eventually become a citizens' assembly would be utterly degenerate.

"Turning a dueling arena into a citizens' assembly—is this Rome or the Comoros, the internet hub?"

[Comoros, what's that? The Comorian lizard? Let me look it up. Ah, it really does look like it. How did Rome become this strange thing without me even realizing it?]

"I only ask one question: Is it a large scale?"

[The scale isn't large—but it's not small either. Since gladiatorial combat was originally a Roman national custom, this kind of derivative dark arena has quite a few fans. And this consensual mutual harm is similar in nature to underground boxing, but not as simple and direct, and it's quite novel. So there are quite a few spectators.] "Hmm," Shang Luo pondered for a moment, "Well, I can manage this or not. But you have to promise not to expand further."

Unless it's a large-scale operation involving vampires or dark elves, Shangluo can pretend he didn't see it in the short term. But in the long run, this behavior must stop.

It's not because it's a moral choice, but because it's too powerful. If one can become stronger by exploiting a person's soul, then there are far too many people in this world who can be exploited. Once some kind of supernatural being starts secretly capturing people to "extract oil," it's easy for problems to arise in unseen places.

The reason he could keep it in the short term was because he was very interested in this alchemical potion.

"Wait a minute. Did something just float through my mind?"

Which one? I'll rewind it for you. You said you're interested in alchemical potions?

"No, move forward a little."

[Are you afraid of flying demons? Ah! You know what, it's actually possible!]

"Is that really possible?"

[You're absolutely right. This kind of crime is extremely secretive. They can easily set up shop in any ancient castle, then start capturing ordinary people from the surrounding area to refine their skills. It's just like alchemy—it's practically cult cultivation! They capture people, refine them into all sorts of medicines, and who knows, they might even be able to cultivate their abilities.]

"Yaksha. The original meaning of Yaksha is swift. It can devour humans and flies around, making it impossible to guard against. If there is such a flying Yaksha causing trouble in the dark, it is possible that it will commit some big crimes."

But where is it?

"Hmm," Shangluo thought for a moment.

He merely suspected the case was on the verge of unfolding; that didn't mean it had already happened. But according to Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong, given enough time, will go wrong. Just like how, given enough time, even a monkey could type out a novel like *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

Of course, the possibility of the Romans possessing flying demons is far greater than that of "monkeys and keyboard warriors." This is something we must be wary of.

This is not just about prevention, but about preventing problems before they occur, taking precautions before they happen, and nipping them in the bud.

I think you should talk to Victoria about this.

Han Xingzhi is playing PUBG.

"Are you full?" Shangluo asked.

"Ah, I'm full. I feel even more joyful than before. It feels like I've been reborn!"

[Because the white Hunger was extracted and replaced with the golden Hunger, which is of much higher purity than the original, he'll naturally be happy.]

"Big brother!" Han Xingzhi suddenly remembered, "Won't this have any side effects? After all, I felt really unwell after emptying myself just now, like something else in my heart was trying to fill the void."

Is there something wrong with what he's doing?

"Actually, yes," Apollonia replied. "It's fine for him to ingest small amounts. But ingesting large amounts of excess inspiration has a similar effect to having inspiration drained, only reversed—the excess inspiration will encroach on the space of other inspirations."

"Lawful use"

(End of this chapter)