Itō Hidetaka's Countermeasure

"Lost control?"

Itō Hidetaka gritted his teeth, feeling somewhat dazed.

He took a box of cigars from his pocket, clipped one open with trembling hands, and puffed hard on it.

This dungeon's "Mission Two: Economic Overtaking" depended on the challengers controlling the NPCs on Eastern Ocean Island.

Given Eastern Ocean Island's own economic situation, it could never surpass Eagle Sauce Country through natural development alone.

Moreover, the mission description for Mission Two was to manipulate Eastern Ocean Island into overtaking Eagle Sauce Country economically. If they no longer had control, how could they continue?

Wouldn't that mean the mission was over...

"No! We absolutely cannot lose control of Eastern Ocean Island!"

"No matter what, we have to keep this mission going."

Even as he said that, Itō Hidetaka knew he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

If they continued as before, the chances of overtaking Eagle Sauce Country economically again were already very slim, given all the sanctions Eagle Sauce had imposed.

Moreover, it could cause the people to rebel, costing them control of Eastern Ocean Island.

But if they backed down now, completing the mission would be even more impossible.

"Lin Ye! Lin Ye!!"

Itō Hidetaka cursed Lin Ye a thousand, ten thousand times in his heart.

He had already been cautious enough, yet he had still fallen for Lin Ye's scheme.

"Mr. Itō, please give us your instructions. What should we do next?" Shancheng Kojirō asked anxiously. "The mission time has been drastically shortened. We don't have much time left."

Itō Hidetaka let out a long breath and rested a hand on his chin, pondering for a moment before saying coldly:

"If these unruly people are causing trouble, we can only suppress them by force."

"Shancheng, take our warships straight to the nearest port on Eastern Ocean Island and arrest every domestic media outlet spreading negative news!"

"As for the people causing trouble, send troops to suppress them."

"The whole of Eastern Ocean Island must be placed on full alert!"

Hearing Itō Hidetaka's arrangements, Shancheng Kojirō could only shake his head helplessly.

He thought that Mr. Itō must have been so angry he had lost his senses. Where were there any warships in the dungeon now?

All weapons had long since been completely blocked.

"Uh... Mr. Itō, the dungeon we're in now is a non-combat dungeon. There aren't any warships we can deploy."

Itō Hidetaka rapped his own head hard twice before realizing that he had no military weapons to use at all.

At first, he had been glad that weapons were blocked in the dungeon, but now he missed his warships terribly.

Because apart from suppressing them by force, there really was no better way.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Lin Ye calculated all of this from the very beginning. The reason it's in Non-Combat Mode is to prevent us from intervening by force."

He pressed hard on his temples, his mind racing.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration appeared in his mind.

Although they, the outside challengers, had no military weapons, the NPCs on Eastern Ocean Island did have institutions such as the police, courts, and Public Security Corps.

While they still had control of Eastern Ocean Island, they could order its police to suppress them!

"Shancheng, immediately order Eastern Ocean Island's police, courts, and other public security institutions to go into the streets and arrest people!"

"Arrest everyone spreading negative news or slacking off at work!"

"Also, send those police officers to supervise work at all the major factories. If they find anyone not working hard, arrest them on the spot! Then have the courts convict them and deduct their money to fill the treasury!!"

Hearing how forceful Itō Hidetaka's measures were, Shancheng Kojirō couldn't help sucking in a breath of cold air.

"Well... Mr. Itō, your plan should make sense, but... but those public security institutions on Eastern Ocean Island might not cooperate with us."

"There's a lot of resentment toward our rule on Eastern Ocean Island right now, and not just among the people. The official institutions feel the same way."

Itō Hidetaka waved a hand, his gaze exceptionally cold, and said bluntly:

"If they won't carry out the orders, just bribe them!"

"We control all the funds on Eastern Ocean Island anyway. It's nothing more than moving money from one bowl to another."

"Men die for wealth, just as birds die for food! As long as we give them enough money, they'll certainly work for us."

"This..." Shancheng Kojirō was still hesitant.

Itō Hidetaka's way of handling things was simply too ruthless.

It even gave an impression of cold-blooded cruelty.

It was difficult to connect the enraged man before him with the renowned dungeon design genius of the Great He Clan.

The remarks he had just heard had even left Shancheng Kojirō trembling.

"Hmm? Do you still have concerns, Shancheng?" Itō Hidetaka had noticed Shancheng Kojirō's hesitation.

Shancheng Kojirō hesitated for a moment before finally speaking haltingly.

"Mr. Itō, our extreme actions have already brought all kinds of sanctions from Eagle Sauce Country..."

"If we continue like this, internationally, we're very likely to face even harsher penalties, and domestically, it could also trigger riots."

Hearing that, Itō Hidetaka shook his head helplessly.

In the end, a young man like a university professor, who had always lived in swaddling clothes, was still too kind.

"Shancheng! You're too weak!"

"We're in a dungeon. Failing this mission now will cost us 500 points. From the moment the mission changed, it became a battle for life and death for most challengers!"

"Not only do we have to continue, we have to go even further, because either Lin Ye dies or we do."

"I... want... Lin... Ye..."

"Dead!"

By this point, Itō Hidetaka's formerly somewhat gentle tone had become almost a roar.

He had truly had enough of this endless torment.

Lin Ye and his dungeon had now become a tribulation in Itō Hidetaka's heart.

As long as he could complete the mission and conquer the dungeon, there was nothing he wouldn't do!

"Keep squeezing those people on Eastern Ocean Island. From now on, make them work 24 hours a day, and make sure they maintain their efficiency! Anyone who tries any tricks will be severely punished without exception!"

"Hmph, there's an old saying in the Soaring Dragon Settlement: a wise man recognizes the times. That's true in reality, and it's just as true in a dungeon."

Itō Hidetaka stood up and patted Shancheng Kojirō's shoulder, quietly pressing down with his fingers.

"Shancheng, a dungeon is no place for you to be kind. We have only one goal: complete the dungeon mission and obtain the technology in Raging Waves."

"As long as we can overtake them economically, so what if the entire population riots the next second, or Eastern Ocean Island is ruined outright?!"

"This is only a dungeon. Once the mission is complete, we can leave safely!"

Shancheng Kojirō didn't dare contradict Itō Hidetaka again. He bowed respectfully to him.

"I understand!"

"Mr. Itō, I'll do everything in my power to carry out your arrangements."