CHAPTER 1458: CHAPTER 6: THE RISE OF THE BLACK GRAIN SECT

In recent years, the economy of the Star Domain has been rapidly declining, with an unemployment rate climbing toward 70%. Families are falling apart, and those living happily are actually a minority.

A sorrowful song spread throughout the city. Initially, only parts of the city center followed along in chorus, but then, with the special ceremonial effect expanding, the chorus-like sound spread like wildfire across the city.

From south to north, from this metropolis of 30 million residents, to all watching from screens, they are all unknowingly infected by this emotion, as the sadness brought by the era is something everyone can feel and resonate with.

After this night ended, a marginal character within the Starfield Government suddenly announced online, that he fully supports new reforms, pledging to secure the lives of all impoverished residents, increase taxes on high-income groups, and so forth...

What he promised wasn’t detailed, roughly slogans, and previously this person hadn’t made any outstanding contributions; his appearance wasn’t likable, a bit crooked, being essentially a bottom presence among the parliament members.

Anyone with a slight understanding of politics can easily guess that he’s probably taking a gamble, anyway, he likely won’t be elected in the next election, so why not take the risk this time to see if he can seize an opportunity.

Soon, his remarks quickly spread online, and afterward, many other parliament members did the same, started saying similar things, attempting to draw votes, and pledging efforts to improve the living conditions of the lower and unemployed residents and so forth.

Faced with such a situation, many people echoed online, saying they would vote for these parliament members, and this triggered a storm of public opinion, sparking various group disputes.

Under such circumstances, the previously gathering and protesting groups finally had representatives issuing an announcement that they would not specifically support any member, but if they were sincere, please come to the Central Square in Shuilu City, and participate in the live mourning and prayer.

This announcement caused many members to halt their steps, as they wanted to draw votes through this but did not want to be truly bound to such groups, because it would leave them with no retreat in their future actions, making them extremely passive.

In the end, three parliament members took risks to come to the Central Square in Shuilu City, where the gathered 120,000 people had already been fasting for nearly three days, maintaining life only by drinking a small amount of sugar water.

The three on-site changed into black garments provided by the protesting group, recited eulogies in front of each deceased person, and this long process involved more than three thousand corpses. Finally, only one member persisted, he was thin and small in stature, with dark skin, resembling a countryside farmer, although there was no such profession now.

After it ended, he discussed and deliberated with the protest group leaders for a long time, eventually reaching a shared view.

Afterward, a new faction emerged in the Lusheng Star Domain, dedicated to fighting for the interests of all impoverished people, committed to overseeing society, eliminating various injustices and deceptions against grassroots residents, including unreasonable contract terms, high-interest illegal loans, fraudulently nested insurance policies, etc., suggesting adding food points across the Star Domain, allowing the hungry and homeless to freely access food.

Judging by the advocated projects alone, they don’t seem excessive, since there were members who brought them up before, but many subtly feel that the situation might be different this time.

Soon, amid the stormy public opinion with various disputes, the supporter count for this faction surged rapidly, as the protesters initially wore black robes, and their main agenda related to hunger relief, thus they were called the ’Black Grain Sect’.

In the following six months, this group rapidly spread within the Lusheng Star Domain, with their supporters growing more numerous, and then many began to imitate and learn, donning identical black robes.

Under such momentum, in the new elections, this faction defeated other factions with high scores, becoming the main governing faction of the Starfield Government, and their leader, upon taking office, began vigorously advancing previously promised projects.

Although such policies were endorsed by the bottom and top officials, as the middle tier for execution, entrenched forces were intertwined. Regardless of regional government allocations or specific executions, they don’t proceed effectively. Some even take advantage of this to embezzle and become wealthy, entirely ignoring the desires of numerous citizens.

Ordinary people in peaceful environments sometimes cannot imagine to what degree some groups can commit evil acts and to what extent they can act shamelessly.

In the past, such policies would have a duration of three days of enthusiasm, with every level of institution putting on appearances, handling things superficially, and after the enthusiasm passed, they would return to business as usual, like before.

However, this time was completely different; firstly disclosed were still officials in Shuilu City, who, during food procurement and relief supplies, falsified numbers and prices, and reduced setup of food points to complete tasks, such actions were directly exposed by the ’Black Grain Sect’.

That night, before suspension and judicial institution arrest, this official was dragged from home by an angry crowd and hung in Central Square, the process was furious.

Originally, even if caught, such officials would face lengthy judicial disputes, likely not facing the death penalty, and could live in conditions-acceptable prisons. Once the enthusiasm faded, they could come up with various excuses to emerge; this was also a tacit understanding among many officials, never too harsh.

But now, the judicial trial process was directly skipped, allowing this official and their family to perish in the square, with many niche media leaking video footage of the process.