Global Evolution: I Became A Zombie!-Chapter 217 - 213: Not Worth The Time

Unlike the now united Deca, the entire Pagona continent was a singular nation. Values such as monarchy and autocracy had already been replaced by an amiable version of democracy.

Instead of elections, the country ran on merit factions. Each civilian after turning of age had to join one of the six callings or guilds where they’d stay until the retirement age of 125 earth years. Namely, they were the Agrarians, Artisans, Merchants, Wardens, Scholars, and Navigators.

Each calling had its own way of internal ruling, but every decade, they would select several individuals to form a united government to govern Pagona.

There were processes by which the selection would occur, like the candidates must have at least five years of public service records where they worked under their calling to help the common folks.

Each representative would have to pass several exams, and only after producing satisfactory results would they become ’Stewards’ and form the central government called the Concord.

In this way, every Pagonan had the chance to join the government, making the trials ’fair’ and democratic in a way.

Long tenures in the Concord are not allowed, and the stewards are changed constantly, returning to ordinary life without any powers. This ensured the young talent kept the nation strong and flowing.

Under certain circumstances, the retired stewards would be given some official advisory posts without much power to help guide any inexperienced stewards.

This system had kept Pagona alive without losing its way over the centuries. On the surface, the system was perfect.

However, much like any other country or planet, the Concord merely represented the face of governance. Everyone thought the Concord had brought them prosperity when in reality, they had merely followed the Collective’s instructions.

A man in pristine white robes walked the streets of Concordia, the capital of Pagona. Whenever people saw him walking, they bowed their heads in reverence and pride, even children were no exception.

This was the treatment a steward of the country received. The man occasionally smiled and waved his hands, especially greeting the young ones. After all, someday they would be in his shoes and understand the worth of youth.

If only they could see the dark clouds hanging above.

Hindd thought, shaking his head.

"Steward Hindd!" A soldier from the Warden’s calling saluted Hindd.

"You don’t need to do this every time you see me, young soldier," Hindd smiled, a few thin lines appeared at the corner of his mouth as he did. "Conserve your strength to carry Pagona in the future."

"You think too highly of me, sir," the soldier replied, clearly flustered by Hindd’s words.

Hindd took one look at the young man, envying the young soldier’s strength and sense of duty. If he could, he wanted to return to his youth, when he was an actual steward, not one only in name.

Hindd’s actual identity was that of an advisor. However, since Timo had gone missing, as his mentor, he had to take the mantle of a steward once again.

Six years had passed without a word from the team sent to investigate the Deca and assassinate their leader, the fake god. Unfortunately, no news came from Timo’s team, nor did they return.

Regretably, they had to acknowledge the group’s death or worse... their defection.

"The other stewards are waiting for you, sir," the soldier’s words snapped Hindd out of his thoughts.

"I see," Hindd mumbled and walked inside.

Soon, he found himself in a room with bare essentials. A round table and twelve seats made of Avarite, the hardest stone on Sadarla.

The choice of furniture signified their devotion to giving up on mortal pleasures, while also their strength and willpower that had carved even the toughest material into their desired shapes.

All seats apart from Hindd’s were already occupied, yet when he walked in, everyone else got up to show him respect. Unlike the rest of them, it was Hindd’s second time in the Concord, a feat never seen before. Naturally, others saw it as a sign of his competence.

What followed were discussions surrounding the events on Deca. Everyone said what was on their minds, and naturally, they were eager to listen to what Hindd had to say.

However, his downcast expression already told them things weren’t as simple as the rest of the Concord might think.

"We should prepare for a war," Hindd said as silence shrouded the chambers. "Whether or not Timo and others are alive no longer matters. The higher beings had already warned us about the entity’s strange abilities."

"We already took precautions," a representative from the scholar’s guild chimed in. "As soon as they are captured, their mind would be wiped clean—"

"Do you think that can stop someone who can assemble dismembered corpses into living creatures?" the representative of the wardens replied. "If he can control others with mere words, there’s a possibility the erasure charm didn’t trigger."

Hindd nodded along. It was the case he had feared the most, but it was also the most realistic outcome of their little covert operation. It was safe to say that the team they sent to Deca had defected.

As such, one could assume that Blaze was aware of their existence now. However, that’s also where the troubles began.

From what they had learned about Blaze from the Collective’s logs, he wasn’t someone who’d leave them be. Still, it had been six years without any retaliation from his side.

The silence had made them uncomfortable. But it wasn’t like they didn’t have other things to worry about.

"Maybe a direct war isn’t feasible for him," one of the wardens spoke.

"What do you mean?" Hindd asked, intrigued by the warden’s strange insight into the matter.

"Crossing a massive ocean without proper vessels is impossible," the warden continued. "Even we could only send twelve warriors from our side to the other continent. It could be that Blaze doesn’t have the means to find us?"

While the theory was plausible, the rest didn’t agree with him. With the knowledge Blaze supposedly had, figuring out a way to cross the ocean was only a matter of a year for him, at most, considering he had Timo’s knowledge to guide him. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Maybe he simply doesn’t recognize us as a threat..."

Just as they were about to continue the discussion, someone rushed into the chambers. It was the same guard Hindd had briefly talked with outside.

Looking breathless, he handed the letter over to Hindd, whose expression turned sour with each word he read.

"What’s wrong, senior?"

"...civil war."

Hindd didn’t elaborate further and sank into his seat upon realizing why Blaze was silent.

He was using their own trick against them. He truly didn’t think they were worth his time.