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A smile played across his lips as he reflected on the change; what once would have been double his 5 remaining mana points after covering his basic needs, was now less than his 15.

"Ten points," he murmured to himself, a note of wonder in his voice. "It used to feel so much worse..."

As he stepped away from the turret, his mind wandered to the transformations that had swept through the city in recent months.

The surge in female recruits had swelled the army's ranks to over 150,000 strong, a number that would have been unthinkable just a year ago when they feared dropping from 130,000 to 120,000.

The city pulsed with renewed energy, the very air thick with possibility and hope.

♢♢♢♢

The mana that fueled the city's operations no longer relied solely on the surplus from soldiers.

Now, every citizen of level 2 or higher contributed one mana point daily for each level they had attained.

Though 2 or 3 points per person might seem a small individual contribution, when multiplied by hundreds of thousands, it became a torrent of power that transformed the city's capabilities.

But the daily contribution from citizens that Ren managed was a separate network, distinct from the older one...

Inside the turret, the deposited mana flowed like an invisible river, pulsing with potential.

In the rear of the turret, hidden from the eyes of passersby, a corridor of indestructible white rock encircled the tower's crystalline core. Here, the overseers of surplus mana collection worked in silence, their movements efficient and discreet.

One of these overseers, a middle-aged man named Garen, watched with fascination as the excess mana beyond the 1000 points needed to maintain the barrier crystallized automatically. Tiny crystals of pure mana fell like silent drops, accumulating in containers.

"More than 500,000 extra points daily under the new regime in just a few weeks," Garen murmured, awe evident in his voice. "And to think that before this, we were struggling to maintain 300,000."

With practiced care, Garen began transferring the crystals to his book. Exactly 100 points, the standard amount for each trip. It was a security measure, designed to prevent temptation and accidents in a world where mana meant power and life itself.

Once the transfer was complete, Garen closed his book with a soft thud and prepared for the journey to the central building.

As he walked through the city streets, he couldn't help but notice the changes that surrounded him. People walked with their heads held high, their faces no longer marked by hunger, suffocation, and desperation. Even the air seemed cleaner, easier to breathe.

"The new regime has brought prosperity," Garen thought, his feelings mixed. "But it's also brought new challenges for trapped people like me..."

Upon reaching the central building, Garen automatically headed towards the central chambers, his usual destination for years. However, he stopped abruptly, remembering the new protocol. Those rooms, once the heart of the families' power, were now occupied by new residents.

With a sigh that spoke volumes about the changing times, he redirected his steps towards the building's inner areas. The hallways grew more opulent as he progressed, a reminder of the wealth and power still concentrated in these deep corners of the edifice.

Garen felt a small flicker of hope; perhaps these places too would soon change.

Finally, he arrived at an ornate door.

Fortunately, it was early, and the long delivery line had not yet formed. He knocked softly and, after hearing a grunt of assent, entered.

Saren, the old mana administrator, sat behind a massive desk, surrounded by books and scrolls. His face, deeply lined with age and bitterness, contorted into a grimace of disgust at the sight of Garen.

"Ah, the first delivery of the day," Saren muttered, his voice dripping with resentment. "I suppose I should be grateful they still allow me to handle this."

Garen, accustomed to the old man's mood swings, simply nodded and began the transfer process. As he handed the mana crystal to Saren, the old man scribbled furiously on a parchment.

"That Ivan," Saren complained under his breath, his pen scratching angrily across the paper. "Always breathing down my nape, as if I were a child in need of supervision. Haven't I managed this city's mana for decades?"

Garen remained silent, aware that any comment could trigger a longer tirade. Once the transfer was complete, he handed Saren the detailed balance sheet.

Just as Saren was about to dismiss him, the door burst open. Cassandra, with her elegant bearing and penetrating gaze, entered the room as if she owned it.

"Grandpa," she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I need another 100,000 mana points."

Saren raised an eyebrow, his irritation momentarily forgotten. "Again? Cassandra, do you realize these funds are not inexhaustible? The founder emptied the vaults before he died; I was barely able to safeguard a fraction of the savings..."

Cassandra approached the desk, her voice dropping to a whisper. "They're necessary, grandpa. For our... special projects."

Garen, sensing the tension in the air, began to back towards the door. But before he could escape, Cassandra turned to him.

"You," she said, her voice sharp as ice. "You haven't seen or heard anything, understood?"

Garen nodded quickly, his heart pounding. "Of course, my lady. I just deliver the mana, nothing more."

Cassandra studied him for a moment before making a dismissive gesture. Garen didn't need to be told twice; he left the room as quickly as he could without appearing to flee.

Once outside, Garen leaned against the wall, breathing deeply. What he had just witnessed... he knew it was some plan against the new regime, but he couldn't do anything until he paid off his debt and recovered his daughter.

The old families still held power, and that power was immense wealth.

As he walked back to his post, Garen couldn't help but think about the changes occurring in the city. The new regime had brought hope and prosperity, but also uncertainty...

The old power structures were crumbling, but they wouldn't do so without resistance.

"The mana flows," Garen thought, his mind heavy with the weight of his knowledge, "but where to? And at what cost?"

With these questions swirling in his mind, Garen returned to his work.