What's wrong with puppets?

Gu Hang saying he wanted to use those Abscess Monsters as a food source really wasn't just him talking nonsense to gross people out.

He truly meant it.

If there were a choice, of course, normal food would be better than anything else. But on this wasteland, production conditions were as they were, and the number of people who could be fed was limited; didn't he have to find every possible way?

Being full was always more important than eating well.

This technology could, of course, be drawn from the [Technology] panel. But the mechanism where the probability of getting items plummeted after lighting up a technology once made every slot for a technology precious. If he had a choice, Gu Hang didn't want to obtain this technology from the [Technology] panel. He preferred to achieve his goal through normal means.

His gaze turned toward the sky.

Some faction on Nuxiao Planet might possess similar technology. However, firstly, Gu Hang hadn't seen it near Revival City, meaning that even if the technology existed, it was far away and difficult to obtain. Secondly, synthetic starch technology was likely very precious on a wasteland planet, and those factions wouldn't hand it over easily.

Rather than putting in the effort to get it that way, it would be better to "fleece" the Quintet.

On a massive starship like the Quintet, which housed a population of one hundred thousand, they didn't always have the opportunity to land for supplies, especially during missions. They certainly had the technology to recycle almost any usable organic matter.

Thinking of this, he coughed twice, feeling a bit embarrassed as he thought: I just got two hundred sets of equipment and four armored vehicles from her last time; it feels a bit off to go and ask for new technology again today, doesn't it?

Then I won't ask today; I'll go ask her tomorrow.

Thinking this, Gu Hang felt much more at ease.

Feeling cheerful, Gu Hang hummed a little tune while waiting for the merchant from Trash Town, Dennison Henry.

Dennison Henry finally met Governor Gu Hang.

After a thorough search, he was brought to the door of the governor's dwelling.

This was just a prefab house; other than being slightly larger, it looked no different in essence from the prefab houses built nearby for the servants. It had no special decorations, nor did it use any precious materials.

The guards pushed the door open, and Henry walked inside, where everything he saw was equally plain and unadorned.

There were no special decorations in the room, just an ordinary long table. A man who looked quite young sat at the other end of the table.

That must be Governor Gu Hang.

This Excellency the Governor was quite out of place with his surroundings. While the surroundings were so simple, the clothing on his body was so exquisite. Yet, this difference became negligible due to the governor's calm attitude toward this crude environment.

Henry dared not observe any further.

He lowered his head and walked to this side of the long table. Not daring to sit, he placed one hand over his chest and bowed deeply.

Maintaining the bowing posture, he said humbly: "My name is Dennison Henry, from Trash Town. I am here to extend my most sincere greetings to Your Excellency the Governor. Your speech upon landing on this planet was thunderous, making me deeply understand that you have come to this dying planet with grand ambitions and compassionate feelings to save us, your subjects. As a resident of Nuxiao Planet, I revere your nobility beyond measure."

A mouthful of flattery was laid on thick.

While speaking, Henry also took out a beautifully packaged box.

"Upon learning that I would have the honor of meeting Your Excellency the Governor, I was overwhelmed with excitement and determined to prepare a gift for you to express my reverence. It is only a pity that time was too short, and I have only this humble gift; I hope Your Excellency will not mind."

He continued to maintain his bowing posture, holding the gift box with both hands above his head.

The guard nearby stepped up, took the gift from his hands, and brought it before Gu Hang.

Gu Hang didn't even glance at the gift box, his gaze remaining fixed on Dennison Henry, a look of interest playing on his lips.

"Get up, or your back will break if you keep that up."

Henry straightened his back as told.

"Sit down, let's have a good talk."

Only then did Henry dare to sit.

Gu Hang tapped the table and said: "Dennison Henry, I already know the purpose of your visit."

Henry said cautiously: "I hope Your Excellency the Governor can give me this opportunity to serve you."

Gu Hang chuckled lightly: "You are very eloquent, and I am quite satisfied with your attitude. I know that what you say may not be what you truly think, but I don't care. Giving this business to you is fine, but I have two conditions. First, I will give you goods, and I will also give you the things I need; you must bring them to me with guaranteed quality and quantity, without any discount."

The first half of Gu Hang's sentence, the part about it "not necessarily being sincere," made him feel a bit uneasy. But the latter part instantly made him overjoyed.

Obtaining the agency rights was his primary goal for coming to meet the governor this time.

As for the latter requirement, it seemed no different from a handout to Henry. It couldn't even be considered a requirement, but rather another great gift given by the governor. He had to pay for the goods he took anyway, and now it seemed he could earn that money back by helping the governor acquire the things he needed.

Could this possibly be a bad thing?

He didn't hesitate and nodded directly: "No problem! I am willing to serve you, Governor!"

Gu Hang waved his hand and said: "I have a second requirement. You need to expand your influence in Trash Town as much as possible and become an agent, or even a major agent."

Hearing this second requirement, Henry calmed down a bit.

Seeking to become one of the agents in Trash Town was his goal to begin with. Logically speaking, the governor giving this condition didn't conflict with him, and he should be happy.

However, he didn't consider himself a fool; he understood the subtext hidden behind the requirement.

With the governor's support, he would become an important agent in Trash Town, but then what? Who would be the one calling the shots—himself, or the governor who was his boss behind the scenes?

But he quickly cast this hesitation and entanglement to the back of his mind.

Thinking about these things was just absurd.

With a golden thigh stretched out right in front of him, why wouldn't he hug it?

So what if I become a puppet? There are plenty of people who would kill for the chance but can't even get it.

Besides, it's not necessarily just being a puppet; if I work diligently for the Governor, surely I'll have some power of my own? The Governor is busy with a thousand tasks every day, so when it comes to the trivial matters of Trash Town, won't I be the one calling the shots while I'm in charge? At most, I'll just have to fulfill the Governor's objectives and follow his lead, which is only natural!

What's more... to put it bluntly, it's not even certain whether the Governor will still be the Governor in two years' time.

Thinking of this, he caught the faint, inscrutable smile on Gu Hang's face and immediately didn't dare to let his thoughts wander any further.

He had a sinking feeling that he was being seen right through.