Applying Pressure

Dennison Henry was initially very, very pleasantly surprised by his meeting with the Governor.

He had obtained exactly what he wanted with almost no concessions.

Of course, it wasn't that there were truly no costs involved.

After taking the goods, he had to pay for them using Alliance currency; the Governor provided a list of items he needed to purchase, and upon reviewing it, Dennison found some of them difficult to procure. For instance, the Governor wanted the best textile machines and sewing machines from Revival City, imported textile raw materials, Thermal Ash Stone generator sets, the Thermal Ash Stone itself, and even plans to build cement and brick factories...

Furthermore, the Governor seemed to have a keen understanding of the market, as the value of the goods he was approved to take back was nearly equal to the cost of the items he was tasked to buy. By his own estimation, the profit margins were squeezed extremely thin. If he wanted to make more money, he would have to find every possible way to sell the Alloy Plasteel and armored vests at a higher price, while simultaneously finding the cheapest and most reliable sources for the items the Governor requested.

Yet, despite the difficulty, Henry was filled with motivation.

Wasn't this the perfect time to demonstrate his capabilities?

If everything were easy, the Governor could have just found anyone to do the job—what need would there be for him?

However, as the conversation shifted to the latter half, he gradually became less cheerful.

It was mainly because a critical point had been raised.

Dennison Henry wanted exclusive distribution rights for the Alloy Plasteel industry.

This was a safeguard for his own interests; he needed this to ensure that the market path he had blazed wouldn't be snatched away by latecomers.

Eliminating competitors and running a monopoly would, of course, be far more profitable.

But Gu Hang would not allow it.

He argued his case, using lines like "this is the only way to better serve the Governor" and "this will help me expand my influence in Trash Town, allowing me to do more for you in the future."

However, none of these words were able to sway Gu Hang.

Gu Hang shut him down with just two sentences:

"I can give you the power you want, but I won't give it to you for nothing. You haven't done anything yet, so on what grounds should you ask me for so much?"

"Use your actions to prove your loyalty."

With the matter put this way, what else could Henry say?

He nodded heavily: "I will prove it to you, Governor."

"Also, do one more thing for me."

"Please, give your orders."

"My camp needs more manpower. There are so many drifters in Revival City who rely on the city to survive; bring them here."

"No problem. I will certainly bring you healthy and reliable drifters, and the price will be absolutely cheap."

Gu Hang shook his head, looking very dissatisfied: "Why talk about money? Those drifters are not recognized as official residents by Revival City, but I recognize them. Every human on Nuxiao Planet is a subject of the Empire, and they are my subjects. I want you to promote my benevolence, my policies, and my manifesto to them, and have them migrate here. If they face difficulties, you must provide them with necessary assistance. If necessary, I will even help them directly. Do you understand what I mean?"

Henry was stunned for a moment.

How could he not understand?

He understood perfectly.

He wanted a free ride, didn't he?

Isn't it just that you don't want to spend money but still want to get people here?

Henry put on a look of great shame: "Yes, you are right. My thinking was shallow..."

However, according to the Governor's words, it didn't seem like there was absolutely no way to make it work.

Although Revival City was large, the number of jobs it could provide and the number of people it could support were limited. Outside the city, there were plenty of drifters who couldn't survive. It wasn't impossible to get these people to voluntarily migrate through propaganda.

"But... Governor, please forgive me. If we do it this way, I cannot guarantee the quantity or quality of the migrating drifters. Most of the drifters who can't survive are the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled; those who are strong and in their prime can usually still find work to support themselves."

Gu Hang waved his hand and said: "This is your job. Spreading my will to the people is also a manifestation of your loyalty. Do not let me down."

Damn it, he really wants a free ride!

Dennison Henry could only helplessly say: "Yes, I understand what I must do."

After sending away the ambitious merchant—who was ready to go all out while simultaneously having to satisfy his reasonable and unreasonable demands—Gu Hang immediately busied himself with another matter.

He had his attendant, Zhang Chao, send another communication to Revival City.

Gu Hang needed Revival City to give him an explanation regarding the fact that Vaughan, an Alliance councilor, was a cultist.

Of course, the explanation itself was not important.

What Gu Hang needed was an excuse to make a move.

He would have had to work hard to find such an opportunity, but now, one was ready-made.

A cultist councilor had emerged from the Alliance Council, the nominal governing body of the Alliance.

When Vaughan had used Storm Sorcery while resisting, and Gu Hang had identified that it was definitely not his own psionic power but rather something with a specific source, he had been absolutely delighted.

After capturing Vaughan alive, he had already obtained most of the necessary interrogations and intelligence.

This guy was indeed a believer in a cult, no doubt about it.

Although he was not a devout follower, he did believe in the teachings of the Primal Owlbear Cult and was willing to use his status as a councilor to provide operational convenience to those cultists, as well as supply them with money and resources.

He was not a core member, merely a believer, albeit one with more money than the rest.

He had also gained some things, such as receiving a "divine blessing" and mastering Storm Sorcery; he could have the cultists help him perform secret tasks that he found inconvenient to handle himself.

In fact, he had wanted the Primal Angry Owl Sect to take action in this attempt to cause trouble for the governor, but they had refused, claiming their manpower was temporarily tied up with other matters.

With these confessions, and the fact that Vaughan himself was still alive, Gu Hang now possessed the greatest leverage to launch an attack.

After the communication with Revival City was established, the person speaking with Gu Hang was still the chairman of The Alliance, Mirian Hodgson.

"Greetings, Governor." Hodgson spoke first to offer his regards.

Gu Hang did not give him any face, his tone stern: "Mr. Hodgson, I am extremely disappointed in your work."

Upon hearing these words from the governor, old Hodgson already felt a nerve in his head beginning to throb.

The governor was going to start making trouble again!

You wanted a large amount of supplies, and we gave them to you; you wanted me to betray people, and I sold them out; what more do you want now?

Hodgson replied listlessly: "Please instruct me, Governor."

"An Alliance councilor has actually been corrupted into a heretical cultist? How are you doing your job as chairman? Is The Alliance council still loyal to The Empire? Has Revival City become the nest of the Primal Owlbear Cult by now?"

Gu Hang's barrage of accusations came down on him like a heavy downpour.

Hodgson had never expected Gu Hang to reveal such news, and having such a massive pot of blame dumped on his head left him completely stunned.

Before this, he had no idea that Vaughan was a cultist.

Everyone, please feel free to get enthusiastic with your investments!~