Old Butch felt conflicted.
He was old and had endured many hardships. He had also carried the safety of the entire Waste Mine Society on his shoulders for so long that he couldn't help overthinking everything and being suspicious.
In his view, the several hundred people of the Waste Mine Society huddled together for warmth on this dangerous wasteland simply wanted to survive. Whatever happened, it was better to think things through and proceed cautiously. Even if that meant missing many opportunities, it was still better than taking one wrong step and ending up doomed beyond redemption.
Of course he was immensely relieved that the Governor had brought troops to save them. Without outside help, they would all have died.
But to be honest, what he'd hoped for most was that the Governor would bring troops, wipe out the bandits, and then leave. That would have been the end of it. They could even have paid a higher price for that. He'd considered the worst-case scenario: paying double taxes two years from now. That might have starved half the Waste Mine Society to death, but it was still better than everyone dying.
But now, the Governor wasn't just asking nothing of them—he was willing to give them even more. That only made Old Butch deeply uneasy.
If they had to pay no price at all, that might mean the price was going to be the greatest of all.
After hearing Gu Hang's speech, even he had felt his heart stir. He had joined the crowd in cheering and celebrating, putting on a show like everyone else.
What the Governor had said was, of course, exactly what he hoped for. It was what he dreamed of.
But...
Was it really possible?
The people of the Waste Mine Society had nothing but their strength. They had no technical skills, no equipment, and even their mines were abandoned prewar shafts with limited deposits that were difficult to extract. If there had been any rich, high-quality veins, how could they possibly have ended up in their hands?
How could people like them pursue a better life?
Old Butch couldn't even imagine it.
He didn't want to think that way, but he couldn't stop himself from imagining the worst. He suspected Gu Hang was just saying all this to trick them, and that sooner or later he might bundle them up and sell them as slaves or something.
But he was no longer the leader of the Waste Mine Society.
Their current leader, Patel, seemed brainwashed, placing fanatical trust in the Governor's words. After the speech, the young man had been so excited he could barely contain himself. The Governor had only to beckon, and Patel had eagerly trotted over, saying they were going to discuss plans for the Waste Mine Society's future development.
"Someone could sell him off, and he'd help them count the money!"
Old Butch could only return to his cramped little room, which still smelled of mold, and stew in silence.
He hadn't been brooding for long when someone knocked on his door.
He opened it, and Patel came in.
The room was pitch-black. Patel asked, "Why haven't you turned on the light?"
"Trying to save a little."
"Like the Governor said, you can't save your way to a happy life."
"Heh. These days, all you ever talk about is the Governor."
"He saved us."
"I never denied that."
"He's going to give us a bright future, too."
"Mm-hmm." Old Butch was a little perfunctory. He'd already given up trying to persuade Patel.
What else could they do now?
To be honest, the Waste Mine Society had no strength at all. Even if Patel listened to him, what difference would it make? Could they really resist the Governor?
The thought left him even more dispirited. Listlessly, he asked, "Why aren't you helping the Governor plan for the future? What do you want with an old man like me?"
"We've already finished discussing things. I came to ask you for help."
"That was quick."
"The Governor values efficiency."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Lead our people to the surface and establish a settlement. We can't go on living in the mines indefinitely. These terrible living conditions will make us sick."
"But..."
Old Butch hesitated.
Living on the surface would certainly be nice. If they had a choice, who would want to live in a mine? In fact, the Waste Mine Society had previously planned to expand to the surface, and they had a camp there.
Then the Prisoner-Dead beat them up. The dozens of people who'd been captured had also been taken from the surface camp.
The surface was too dangerous. The Waste Mine Society didn't have the strength to defend it.
"I know what you're worried about," Patel said. "But now we have the means to protect ourselves. The Governor will leave behind a hundred Servitor soldiers to guard the area. He'll also send us a hundred sets of soldier equipment. We'll select people from the Waste Mine Society and arm them into a company!"
Now it was Old Butch's turn to be surprised.
He'd thought the Governor was just stringing them along, but he hadn't expected the man to follow through on a promise so quickly.
No, there were two promises.
Arming the Waste Mine Society's own soldiers so they could protect themselves was one. Building homes on the surface to improve their living conditions was another.
The changes would be immediate.
Old Butch couldn't refuse to help with this.
But one thing still made him curious. "You want me to help build the surface settlement, so what are you going to do?"
Surely it wouldn't be training the troops. The Governor's people would certainly send someone to handle that. Never mind who would control the military; even if the Waste Mine Society were allowed to handle it, none of them had the ability.
"Me..." Patel smiled mysteriously, then stopped teasing him. "I'm going to build a production line of our own. New mining machines will be delivered, along with an alloy smelting furnace. The Governor isn't just going to help us improve our mining efficiency—he's going to set up a production line for Alloy Plasteel, too!"
At that, Old Butch was truly so surprised that he couldn't speak.
Building an army and returning to the surface to live were both wonderful things, but in the end, they were just castles in the air. How could the Waste Mine Society support a decent army on its own? Wouldn't it still have to rely on the Governor to keep supplying them?
That was the heart of Old Butch's pessimism. For the Waste Mine Society to live a better life, it had to have enough value of its own. He had never expected anyone to supply them indefinitely and for free. That was impossible.
Even if this was just a temporary attempt to win them over, it would be for some greater benefit. Whether it was to build a reputation or to pursue some darker plan, it couldn't be anything good.
But now he knew he'd been wrong—terribly wrong.
It was true that Gu Hang wouldn't supply the Waste Mine Society indefinitely and for free. He did want something from them. It was just that what he needed was far beyond what the Waste Mine Society could provide right now.
But that didn't matter. Gu Hang could help them grow. Once their productivity increased and their own value rose, they would be able to afford the price Gu Hang wanted.
Of course, by then, the debt the Waste Mine Society owed Gu Hang might amount to far more than a single debt of gratitude for saving their lives.
But Old Butch was more than happy to pay it.
This was the opportunity he had dreamed of.
He'd completely perked up. His earlier worries had long since been flung out of his mind. "When do we get started?"
Patel teased him. "Weren't you saying this was more trouble than it was worth? And that we'd lose our freedom?"
Old Butch flushed red, but stubbornly insisted, "You brat, what do you know? Is our freedom worth more than the equipment the Governor's bringing in?"
"Hahahaha!" Seeing the old man's attitude turn around completely, Patel burst out laughing.
He wasn't laughing at Old Butch. He was rejoicing over the future that awaited them all.
Before you continue