"Two years ago, I came to Lycaeus. The brothers and sisters of this camp took me in. When the boss led me to wipe out the criminals who had attacked our camp, he gave me a task.
He told me to visit the various camps across Lycaeus, then answer his question: what were the lives of the miners in the other camps on this planet like? That was also why I was able to meet all of you. Over these two years, I personally visited not only the miners' camps, but also the Tower and even Kiavahr.
During those two years of travel, I gradually found my answer. Not long ago, I gave the boss my official reply.
I wanted to lead the miners of Lycaeus in an uprising, overthrow the Tower's rule completely, and let the miner brothers and sisters of Lycaeus become their own masters! That was why I had gathered everyone here." Korax stepped beneath the spotlight and laid out the events and his decision before all the assembled camp leaders.
"An uprising? But the conditions in every camp are terrible right now. We have no way to withstand the weapons in the overseers' hands," Giovanni said.
Though he was furious at the increasingly outrageous exchange rates at the supply stations, directly clashing with the Tower now would undoubtedly be courting death.
"Yeah, isn't Korax moving a little too fast?" the leaders of the various camps urged.
"Everyone, I know what you are worried about. This goal will not change, but I am not asking everyone to attack the Tower right now. That would be no different from throwing our lives away. Everything must proceed step by step.
"The purpose of gathering everyone this time is to mobilize together and organize a large-scale strike, demanding that the Tower increase its supply provisions. It will not need to last long. Two days will be enough. In no more than two days, the Forge Factories on Kiavahr will grind to a halt due to a lack of ore from Lycaeus.
"For a world like Kiavahr, which places production capacity above all else, that would be an unforgivable major failure. The Lord of the High Tower will not be able to withstand the pressure from all of Kiavahr. There is nowhere else in the surrounding star system that can provide them with raw materials. As long as we hold out for those two days, victory will be ours." Korax revealed his plan to the camp leaders.
Seeing that the camp leaders still had reservations, Korax settled for the next best thing. Organizing a strike first was something they could accept. Under the current circumstances, an uprising truly was impossible. A bunch of starving miners who were little more than skin and bones—what were they supposed to use to storm the Tower?
"Once the supply provisions improve, each camp can draw manpower like Saviors Camp and form its own full-time forces. You can even send people to me for special training. I plan to launch the uprising within a year at most." Korax gave them a clear timetable.
"Damn it, I'm in!"
"To hell with it, I've wanted to kill those bastards for a long time!"
"This really could work. The chances of success are much higher."
After a brief silence, the leaders of the various camps all voiced their support. Many of them had once been elites on Kiavahr and knew the place extremely well. Just as Korax had said, the Tower absolutely could not bear the pressure of two days.
Once many factories shut down, they would not simply be out of operation for two days. It was like glass factories in the 2K era: during glass production, furnaces had to remain above 1,500°C at all times to melt the raw materials.
If the machines stopped and the furnace temperature dropped, the molten glass inside would solidify. Raising the temperature again would not only consume enormous amounts of time—several days at least—and energy, but could also damage the furnace structure and affect the stability of subsequent production.
In the end, all those losses would be charged to the Tower.
Of course, there was also the possibility that the Tower would send troops to suppress them. The odds of people dying were still very high.
But the miners of Lycaeus were not afraid of sacrifice. Such sacrifice was better than watching their loved ones starve to death.
"Good. Since that is settled, sorry for the trouble, everyone. We will begin this strike three days from now, after the morning shift change!" Korax set the time with them all.
"Korax, there is still one hidden danger we need to deal with," Giovanni said.
"You mean those vultures in the west? Don't worry about them. We'll send people to keep an eye on them. If they cooperate, all well and good. If they don't, then they can't blame me for settling the score completely afterward." Korax looked toward the criminals' territory and revealed a cruel smile.
Over the past two years, Korax had not neglected that area. When the members of the most vicious gangs had their necks twisted and were hung from the stone pillar at the center of the western district, the criminals' arrogance diminished considerably.
As for those criminals who refused to learn their lesson and dreamed of replacing those people, every one of them suffered the most terrifying reprisals.
The first group had merely had their necks broken and been hung from the stone pillar. Those who came later suffered inhuman torment before they died.
Their blood was used to write seven murderous characters upon the stone pillar: "Loot again, and there will be no mercy!"
After those two warnings, the west quieted down for a while. At the very least, they no longer dared to murder people openly.
Some criminals whose consciences had not entirely rotted away even chose to trade with other camps.
Of course, Korax had not lowered his guard merely because they had quieted down. Several Shadow Kill squads had been secretly monitoring those criminals the entire time.
Rather than place his hopes on the scum among scum reforming themselves, he would rather trust the "truth" in his own hands. Fortunately, Korax believed the blades in Shadow Kill's hands were enough to make them think twice.
As the leaders of the other camps reached a unanimous agreement, this unprecedented gathering on Lycaeus came to a hurried close.
The leaders of the various camps returned to their own territories to prepare in advance for the coming strike.
"If there's anything you need the camp to cooperate with over the next few days, just say the word." After everyone dispersed, Sandman came to Korax's side and offered him his greatest support.
"Boss, do you really trust them that much?" Korax asked doubtfully.
"Korax, after finally seeing hope, would you give up that hard-won ray of sunlight shining through the cracks?
Besides, rather than saying I trust them, it would be more accurate to say that I trust you." Sandman watched the leaders of the other camps leave one after another.
Reading people was truly not his strong suit. Nor did he believe he possessed the kind of charisma a Primarch had, the ability to make others submit so easily.
After all, Korax had a good father—and cheats, too.
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