Here's the rewritten version with magic/fantasy terminology replaced by *Avatar: The Last Airbender* terminology, while keeping the core story intact:
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The day after Lao's coronation, news arrived from the border territories. The Fire Nation's spies were not idle. As we suspected, their troops had attempted to push further, thinking the chaos in the capital would weaken the Earth Kingdom's army. After several attacks, they realized the army's combat readiness hadn't diminished, and they couldn't make a sudden advance into the country.
In the end, I couldn't escape the endless bureaucracy. Lao knew me too well to let me slip away. Within a week, the Earthbending masters had rebuilt the Earth King's Palace, almost identical to its previous version. This was possible because the blueprints and plans for the old structure were already available, and to save time, they decided to recreate it exactly.
During the construction, the government moved to one of the residences in the Upper Ring. For a while, I had to work as a living lie detector, identifying among the high-ranking officers and aristocrats those who supported Long Feng's policies.
- "My family has been a pillar of the Earth Kingdom for centuries! I'm outraged by what that scoundrel did behind our backs!" declared another obvious "patriot" of his country. One thing you couldn't take away from the local aristocrats was their oratorical and acting skills—they'd be better off performing in theaters…
Catching Lao's questioning glance, I quietly shook my head. Our loudmouth was immediately taken away by Lao's trusted men.
- "This is outrageous! You have no right to do this!" he protested. "Hey, don't get my clothes dirty with your filthy hands!" he added, finding other reasons to complain.
- "We didn't even get to ask him any questions. Are you sure about him?" Lao asked when we finally had a moment to spare.
- "Evidence was already found in his house proving his complicity with the leader of the Dai Li. Plus, he controlled a third of all shadow businesses—the dirtiest part of it," I added, my face darkening slightly. Sometimes, it was hard to fathom how someone could be so cruel to their own people…
While I helped Lao with the city's elite during the day, I spent my nights untangling the relationships of local gangs. They were the primary sources of information.
- "Any movements toward the former King?" The question wasn't trivial. Many wealthy individuals didn't want the upcoming changes, so they were ready to become "fighters for justice," claiming Lao Beifong had seized power by force, leaving the true King Kuei behind.
- "There's no avoiding it," Lao said helplessly. "But recently, I deliberately leaked official documents signed by Kuei," he added, narrowing his eyes cunningly.
I think the number of fighters should decrease now. After all, King Kuei, his distant relatives, and his future children and grandchildren are barred from any political activity, meaning they'll have no influence. But don't think we've taken everything and left him with nothing. For the merits of his ancestors, the past Kings, he'll receive a substantial sum, enough to support a sizable town.
But should we expect any financial literacy from him? Lao and I also wondered about this, so we decided to ask him directly.
- "I don't even know… Whatever I wanted, the servants or Long Feng always provided it," he admitted, looking embarrassed.
Lao assigned one of his advisors to help Kuei manage his money properly. After all, it could be invested profitably to generate passive income in the future.
The first thing Kuei did was invest his money in a zoo. It's worth noting that he had never left the Upper and Middle Rings before. The Lower Ring was, in his view, a haven for bad people—at least, that's what Long Feng had told him.
So, for the first time among ordinary people, he once again became disillusioned with his former chief advisor. That's where he stumbled upon a once-popular zoo. But what greeted him was a depressing sight: tiny cages, cramped enclosures, and bored animals.
Perhaps genes do play a role in our lives, because even the advisor Lao assigned was shocked by Kuei's actions. He quickly befriended the zoo's caretaker, Kenji. That same day, the zoo's land was sold. The proceeds were used to buy land in the agricultural zone, several dozen times larger than the previous area. It's worth mentioning that the cheapest land is in the agricultural zone, followed by the Lower Ring, Middle Ring, and Upper Ring.
Whether it's true or not, I don't know. I heard it all from the advisor's own account. Before moving the animals, Kuei… talked to each of them. Yes, just talked. It seems he asked them to behave well because they'd soon have a much better home. Absurdly, they calmly walked through the Lower Ring streets, not even trying to escape. In the Avatar series, Aang had to catch them all…
His second grand idea was to create conditions where the visitors, not the animals, would be restricted in space. According to his plan, fenced pathways were created for people to walk along, observing the animals. Something like an aquarium, where the fish have complete freedom.
Is it worth saying the idea turned out to be a success? Especially since some of these animals can no longer be found in the wild. I was curious to see them myself. Maybe I'd never see them again. Besides, I'm a fan of the local fauna—my passion for it started with the first encyclopedia I read at the North Pole.
The first creature I encountered was an elephant-mandrill. A large four-legged animal, its size comparable to an Earth elephant, but otherwise resembling a mandrill monkey. It had the same "colorful" face, brown fur, and unusual elephant-like feet with a sole and three toes.
There were many rabbit-kangaroos here. These animals had the face and long, flexible ears of a rabbit, but the body of a kangaroo, including a pouch on their belly. Rabbit-kangaroos were as tall as an adult human and could carry several offspring in their pouch.
These creatures primarily inhabit the plains of the Earth Kingdom and feel uncomfortable in enclosed spaces.
In their zone, another local hybrid was frolicking—the armadillo-lion. A mix of a lion and an armadillo, with the segmented shell covering its entire back taken from the latter, and the head and legs from the former. Despite its considerable size, it's timid and, in danger, curls up into a ball.
I'd already encountered the other animals in the zoo. They included: antelope-bulls, platypus-bears, pig-monkeys, turtle-seals, and flying dragon chicks. I think it was worth spending time visiting this place. Although people found it unusual to see a happy former King collecting tickets at the entrance with a smile.
Another headache for us was the treasury. You'd expect a capital city to generate a corresponding level of income, but Ba Sing Se was producing revenue on par with a poor province. Lao had to transfer some of his business branches into state ownership. Money was slipping through our fingers like sand, there was no transparency in tax payments, and the city urgently needed new infrastructure.
Residences in the Upper Ring were being demolished to make way for structures that could house more people. Strictly speaking, sixty percent of the residents were crammed into the Lower Ring, while the Upper Ring housed only about five percent. The underground city began to be hastily reconstructed, adding new train routes—essentially, the first metro in this world was being built. Each station was planned to have markets, which would greatly free up space in the Lower Ring.
Lao and I adopted the techniques of the Spirit Healer for mental influence. We both understood we were playing with fire, but we also knew human nature well. So, very reluctantly, we decided to continue research in this area. The goal is to transform this method into a milder form. Plans include further processing of all officials and high-ranking officers with a loyalty-to-the-nation program.
There's still much to be done, but I was warmed by the thought that only the Fire Nation lay ahead.
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**Northern Water Tribe. Yuki.**
- "Number twenty and one hundred forty-six, enter the arena!" the judge shouted loudly.
Today, I decided to attend the ranked bending battles again, which have been held in the capital for two years now. There were many other matters to attend to, so I'd only been once, at the opening. It seems they've already become popular with the people, and many enjoy watching the display of elemental bending.
- "It's so strange sitting at the very top…" Of course, the best seat, perfectly showcasing status, was prepared for the Chief. Looking down, I saw Arnuk and Jun, with Kaya beside them.
- "It's time for us to have our wedding"—everyone already knew who warmed the young Chief's bed, but until our union was officially sealed, Kaya had no right to sit on the same level as me.
- "The people are progressing quickly," I thought, watching a girl and a boy fight. They demonstrated excellent knowledge of various techniques, despite being mere students. I wonder whose students they are? Noticing the masters' faces, I saw how proudly Hama looked at the arena. Beside her stood the calm Pakku, his eyes no less intently observing the action.
- "It seems Hama has completely thawed," I thought. She's even started taking on students. That's good—maybe poor Jong Jong will get a break.
In general, the bending rankings have become a major source of pride for parents. After all, the names of the top ten are always displayed in the city center for all to see. Motivation for training has increased—those in first place don't want to lose their fame, and newcomers are eager to "take a piece of the pie."
But there's less activity in the masters' rankings. Older people simply aren't interested in figuring out numbers. They already know who has more skill. It's unlikely this will last long… Katara and Yui are already storming the middle ranks and will soon reach the top ten, stirring things up.
I'm not stopping my own development either. I often visit the Healing Huts when there are unusual cases. As much as possible, I learn the use of cold weapons and various martial arts. And I never forget to develop my own element. Only recently, my chi firmly entered the initial stage of the highest level, making a small, seemingly insignificant leap.
Reality has once again shown me how slow my development would have been without my ability to absorb spirit particles. I'll purposefully advance the other elements by "eating" dark spirits after reaching the highest rank in airbending.
Yo already feels his chi "cracking." For a breakthrough, he just needs a small push. I think I'll ask Wan Shi Tong to introduce him to a higher or ancient air spirit.
As I wandered in my thoughts, I didn't notice that all the battles scheduled for today had already ended. They were expecting a short, inspiring speech from me.
- "I want to note that the average skill level has reached a qualitatively new level! Congratulations to the winners! And to the losers, don't hang your heads! Prepare, don't be lazy, and train hard! Because each of you is worthy of being first!"—all those motivational videos from my past life weren't for nothing…
In addition to simple honors, the top places can request personal lessons from other masters, where the master must give their all. Some preferences or gifts for the masters haven't been invented yet… They already have everything they need, but I think I'll offer a rejuvenation procedure—who doesn't want to get rid of old ailments?
Chi is revealing more and more of its secrets to me. I learned one of them very recently. Chi can't eternally "renew" the body! Yes, the flame of life can be fanned for many years, but not indefinitely—physiology comes into play. Cellular aging cannot be stopped. By infusing chi, I simply eliminate other factors that accelerate the "wear and tear" of the body, but I don't add immortality.
I've set a limit of one hundred and seventy years, with the possibility of adding or subtracting another twenty years, depending on the life a person has led and tracing at least five of their ancestors.
Not much, of course, but at least something. I initially hoped I'd found my "philosopher's stone."
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This version replaces magic/fantasy terms with *Avatar: The Last Airbender* terminology while preserving the original story and tone.