A Warning

Dennison Henry fell to his knees with a thud in front of Gu Hang.

Cold sweat seeped out across his forehead.

The Governor's three questions had peeled away his psychological defenses layer by layer, as if flaying him alive.

He hadn't thought that way.

At least, he hadn't dared to think it openly.

But asking himself honestly, even with the instincts of a merchant, how could he say he hadn't subconsciously moved in that direction?

He was a merchant who needed to make money, yet the Governor was no merchant; he was always demanding this or that, attaching numerous conditions to their business dealings that naturally hindered his profits.

He truly didn't want other merchants competing for this business, even for the times when he couldn't handle the full production capacity himself.

As for anything deeper, he hadn't truly thought about it, but...

If he were the sole exclusive distributor and managed to secure the status of Agent for Trash Town in the future, with power and influence in his hands, and then continued to grow and strengthen through his exclusive rights, the Governor would become increasingly dependent on him for expanding trade routes and continued development. He would become the Governor's right-hand man, his every word and action would have a massive impact on the Governor's strategy, and his influence would become immense...

These thoughts, which he dared not entertain but had inevitably considered, were smashed to pieces in this moment by the Governor's interrogation!

He knocked his head heavily against the floor: "Governor! I would never dare!"

Maintaining his prostrate position, he couldn't see Gu Hang's expression, only hearing the Governor's cold tone a moment later:

"Is that so? You are so clever, capable of thinking about such deep matters, yet you couldn't foresee even this?"

"I didn't dare to think it." Henry no longer dared to play any tricks; today, he had truly been beaten into clarity. "You are right, Governor. I am a foolish man who failed to see the essence of the matter. I should have realized that as long as I work diligently for you, I have no need to worry about such ethereal things. After your guidance, I understand completely. Please, give me another chance."

Having said this, he looked up, gazed sincerely at the Governor, and then knocked his head heavily against the floor once more.

Watching Dennison Henry's submissive posture, Gu Hang finally revealed a faint smile and softened his tone: "Since you are capable of being smarter and thinking more deeply, that is good. Get up, don't stay on your knees. I will take you to see another batch of goods. Didn't you say that weapons and equipment are the best commodities in Trash Town? I believe the standard-issue weapons widely equipped by the Imperial Astra Militarum will certainly hold great appeal for those adventurers."

Dennison Henry looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

He had just been slapped, but the treat stuffed into his mouth was far too sweet!

Standard-issue equipment of the Imperial Astra Militarum!

If he could get a batch of those to Trash Town, wouldn't they sell like crazy?

Gu Hang hadn't initially intended to discipline Dennison Henry.

Objectively speaking, the man's work this time hadn't been bad. Everything Gu Hang wanted was there, and the several thousand laborers provided a massive boost to the manpower he needed to expand production capacity.

But the way the man kept pestering him for exclusive rights had annoyed the Governor.

So, Gu Hang hadn't been polite.

At the same time, he had further clarified one thing: what exactly was Dennison Henry's position?

That man perhaps identified himself as a partner. He was a merchant, and it was only natural for a partner to want to make money and pursue his own interests.

But Gu Hang's attitude was certainly not that.

What he actually wanted to convey was:

"I am not cheating you or bluffing you; I am giving you a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step. Do you want to remain a mere merchant, or become my subordinate, a high-ranking official in the future planetary government?"

A common merchant, even one who made some money relying on the Governor, how could his status and position compare to that of a true high-ranking official?

Of course, this was a high-risk endeavor. Whether the Governor could truly seize power in the future and whether he could actually develop the territory were things that required Henry to make a firm decision, and even invest his own capital.

But Gu Hang was full of confidence in himself, and he had benevolently granted Henry the opportunity.

At least for now, Henry seemed willing to seize it.

That was good.

What was said in words was not yet important. After this display, Gu Hang would carefully observe how Henry performed in the future.

As for handing over the Imperial Astra Militarum standard equipment to Dennison Henry for sale, that was something Gu Hang had planned to do anyway; giving it to him as a treat was just a matter of convenience.

There was no production line for the G9 Gun Family yet, but there would be soon. In fact, small-scale production was already underway using the Black Box Manufacturing Machine.

Later, by using the master machine to output a complete production line, the Waste Mine Society's heavy industry sector would gain a new capacity for arms production.

With sufficient raw materials like Alloy Plasteel, the production capacity of the G9 Gun Family would ramp up quickly, and before long, it would be enough to fully re-equip the two infantry battalions currently under Gu Hang's command.

The gradually phased-out G7 Gun Family would need a destination.

Selling them to Trash Town was a great idea; Gu Hang's territory was developing rapidly, and the demand for raw materials was high.

Of course, he didn't intend to sell them all.

By taking a small portion and bundling them with the miscellaneous local weapons seized from mercenaries during the battle at Mantan Valley Manor, he should be able to sell them at a fairly ideal price.

As for the rest, Gu Hang planned to use them temporarily when expanding his army.

He still had to expand his army.

Currently, after simple registration and reorganization, a portion of the newly recruited refugees would be arranged to go to the Waste Mine Society. Some would be added to the Alloy Plasteel production lines, and others would enter the construction of the Thermal Ash Stone power plant.

Although Gu Hang had enough energy crystals on hand for now, it was too extravagant to use such precious high-energy batteries for industrial production. Since he had the capacity to build cheap power plants, it was better to save the energy crystals.

And aside from the population sent to the Waste Mine Society to fill the gaps in heavy industry, the rest would be used to set up the textile factory at the Governor's Camp.

Human resources were still in short supply, yet under these circumstances, Gu Hang still insisted on expanding his military.

In a wasteland world like this, he lacked a sense of security.

To put it bluntly, everything he was doing right now was still like dancing on a tightrope.

The Quintet in the sky was undeniably powerful, but it did not belong to him.

He was the governor, a ruler, but his direct, loyal forces were still too weak.

If a major power nearby, like Trash Town or Revival City, were pushed to the brink one day and launched an all-out strike regardless of the cost, Gu Hang would have no choice but to wait for death, aside from having the Quintet avenge him by wiping a certain faction off the surface.

And setting aside these low-probability events that had no immediate signs, there was something happening right now that triggered his lack of security.

The threat of the Mutant Xenomorph.