The so-called "Independent City" had originally been a country. But when the District began to evolve, that country was destroyed. Most of its surviving people eventually gathered in this city. The government of the country that had destroyed it was also replaced, and the newly established District Government, hoping to appease the few people left from the conquered nation, simply assigned Cat Eye City to them and allowed them to govern themselves. The city could even establish its own player enforcement teams, free from the jurisdiction of higher authorities.
Of course, as time passed, the city became much like most others in the District, apart from handling its own administration. It still carried on the culture of its former nation, but the District was enormous, with countless races, each with its own culture and language. That was hardly unusual. Besides, over the years, everyday festivals and even dietary habits had been assimilated, and the idea of a "nation" had faded. The younger people who grew up here didn't even know what their elders had been through.
There were no demands for greater autonomy, demonstrations, or other activities that might seem detrimental to the city's stability, either—or so the news reports claimed. The library records mentioned a few internal clashes among the city's leaders, but only in passing, since they weren't worth describing in detail. Before and after Cat Eye City was established, some people might have had other ideas, but everyone had been weak back then, and with powerful players around, they couldn't make any waves. As for now, life was good. Not many people were foolish enough to cause trouble.
All in all, Cat Eye City was a peaceful place. The District Government had provided considerable support during its development, and the city had prospered, advancing in both material