As Fu Haoran and Yuri were checking the payment for the canned goods, the office door was suddenly flung open and slammed into the wall with a deafening bang.
Countess Martha Haig walked in. Her deep purple gown only made her expression look even colder and more haughty as its train dragged across the floor.
Two guards in black suits followed her, standing ramrod straight. The outlines of the Lasguns bulging at their waists were unmistakable, and they exuded an aura that warned everyone to keep their distance.
Without waiting for an invitation, she walked straight over and sat in the chair opposite Fu Haoran. She held a cigar between her fingertips and flicked it casually, letting the ash fall onto the polished tabletop.
"Governor Fu, you seem to be in high spirits." Martha exhaled a cloud of smoke and glanced over the accounts on the table.
"I hear your canned goods are selling like crazy on the black market. Even that crook Reck is scrambling to get his hands on them. I have to say, you've impressed me."
Fu Haoran kept smiling as his gaze roamed over her without restraint. She'd come right to him, so why not take a look?
"Lady Martha, you didn't come all this way just to praise me, did you? Why not get straight to the point?"
Martha exhaled, veiling her face in smoke but doing nothing to hide the greed in her voice. "I want all your canned goods."
"What price are you offering?" Fu Haoran didn't refuse outright. He wanted to hear her offer.
But her very first demand made him regret his naivety.
"First, I'll buy every can at cost."
"Don't try to bring up the black-market markup. As far as I'm concerned, that's all they're worth."
"Second, I get all the distribution rights. You're not allowed to sell to any other black-market traders or nobles from other Hive Cities, including whoever placed those so-called orders you have."
Yuri couldn't help frowning.
Buying at cost and forbidding him from selling independently—this wasn't a partnership. It was outright robbery!
Fu Haoran's answer was blunt. "Get out."
Now it was Martha's turn to wonder if she'd heard him right.
She'd expected Fu Haoran to fly into a rage, try to dodge her demands, or cozy up to her... Anything but tell her to get out.
"Governor, it seems you still don't understand your position."
She stood and looked down at him. "Seventy percent of the Hive City's synthetic food production lines and ninety percent of its Promethium refineries are under my control."
"Every key to every Promethium warehouse in the Mid-Hive is in my hands."
"Even the Promethium Factory occupied by the Iron Hand Gang in the Lower Hive can only keep running with my help."
Martha didn't say it outright, but the Iron Hand Gang were just a pack of dogs she'd raised.
They weren't very obedient these days, but if she made up her mind, how hard could it be to replace them with a more obedient pack?
"Without Promethium, your canning production line won't run for even a day. No matter how many orders you get from nobles in other Hive Cities, you won't have any goods to deliver."
"Also, I should warn you: without a quota of Corpse Starch, those starving refugees in the Lower Hive will tear your Governor's Office apart, then happily send you to the gallows."
Yuri stood to one side. His gloating expression stiffened.
He knew better than anyone that Martha was telling the truth. Promethium was the lifeblood of the Hive City. Whoever controlled it had the power to call the shots.
If that kid really falls out with Martha, does that mean my money's going down the drain too?
Yuri muttered to himself but didn't dare speak up. He only looked at Fu Haoran with a hint of schadenfreude.
The kid's finally taken a fall. Let's see how he gets out of this one.
"Oh, one more thing," Martha added. "Even if you agree, I'm raising the price of Promethium by thirty percent. Supplying you is risky, after all."
"Are you planning to take advantage of my predicament?" Fu Haoran asked in an even tone, without a trace of anger.
"So what if I am?" Martha straightened up, looking down at him. "Governor, you're an outsider. You have to follow the rules here."
"I'll give you one day to think it over." Martha stubbed her cigar out on Fu Haoran's desk, leaving a black scorch mark.
"By this time tomorrow, you either sign the contract or I cut off all your Promethium supplies."
"Tell me, when that happens, will you be the first to bow your head, or will your soldiers turn on you first?"
After she finished speaking, Martha turned to leave.
"Lady Martha, wait a moment," Fu Haoran called after her.
"Oh? Giving in already?" Martha turned back with a sneer. The next second, her expression changed completely.
Biu! Biu!
Two Laspistol shots rang out, and both guards were hit.
They stared in disbelief at their bullet wounds. Fortunately, they were wearing high-grade armor, which saved their lives.
But more shots followed at once.
Even if they could each take on ten men in a fight, they were no match for Wade and the others' overwhelming firepower. The two swaggering guards struggled for a moment before being riddled with bullets.
Wade and the other guards hadn't expected Fu Haoran to suddenly open fire, but when their Governor made his move, they didn't hesitate to finish the job.
As the guards fell, Fu Haoran swung his gun toward Martha. A faint smile still played on his lips.
"Lady Martha, care to bet whether I'd dare shoot you?"
Martha's mind went blank. Her reason told her Fu Haoran wouldn't dare. No one with any sense would.
But the two still-warm bodies beside her told a different story: the madman in front of her was capable of anything!
Damn it, why did I only bring two guards?!
Martha couldn't believe anyone would dare shoot at her.
"If you kill me, you'll be declaring war on every noble in the Hive City. They won't let you get away with it..."
"So what?" Fu Haoran sneered. "I've always thought this rebellion didn't go far enough. I don't mind letting this planet run red with blood, and I certainly don't mind dragging all of you to hell with me."
Martha was afraid. She saw no trace of amusement in Fu Haoran's eyes.
He... really would kill me?!
How could he dare?!
Martha collapsed to the floor. Staring at the bodies of her guards, she was so terrified she nearly wet herself.
But Fu Haoran explained that he had "poor aim," and seemed to have no intention of shooting her again. The faith in rules and deals that had been etched into her bones vanished without a trace.
"I... apologize for my recklessness. I'm willing to... pay compensation to show how sorry I am."
Then Martha added:
"I can compromise on the canned goods' distribution rights. I'll buy them at fifty percent above the black-market price. How does that sound?"
Fu Haoran: ...
He'd gained a deeper understanding of the nobles' greed.
Only after paying a hefty sum was Martha allowed to leave.
Fu Haoran lowered his gun and said to Wade, "Dispose of the bodies. Tell everyone that Lady Martha's guards tried to assassinate the Governor and were shot dead on the spot."
"Countess Martha voluntarily donated the money to prove her innocence."
After Wade left to carry out the order, Yuri asked nervously, "Kid, weren't you afraid you'd gone too far?"
"Huh? Gone too far how?" Fu Haoran asked, confused.
Putting on the smug air of an experienced old hand, Yuri said, "Come on, don't pretend. You just wanted to scare Martha. Whatever else she is, she's still a woman."
"Kill her two guards, terrify her, force her to back down, then take the chance to extort a fortune from her."
Yuri felt he'd seen through the whole thing.
But Fu Haoran shook his head. "No. I really wanted to kill her. I just have bad aim and missed."
Yuri: ...
Wade: ...
"Kid, did you even think about the consequences? Aren't you afraid the nobles will band together and kill you?"
Yuri was furious. He felt someone was insulting his intelligence—and that Fu Haoran's actions could ruin his entire plan. He might even end up dying alongside him!
"They're the ones you're worried about?" Fu Haoran said, looking at Yuri with disdain. "If they really dared to make a move, I'd think more highly of them."
"But that would be even better. Then I could launch The Scouring with every justification."
"This rotten world needs a great purge. Unless we clear out all these vermin, every effort will come to nothing."
Yuri was stunned. He couldn't understand why a young man barely in his twenties could be so determined to deal with this rotten pack of nobles without mercy.
The matter seemed to have come to an end, but Fu Haoran knew the trouble was only beginning.
"Wade, call all the officers in. We've got plenty to do."
"Once Martha gets back, she'll definitely team up with the others to cut off our Promethium. We need to be ready to strike first."
Hearing Fu Haoran, Yuri nearly fell to his knees. "You... you're not really planning to launch The Scouring, are you?"
Fu Haoran smiled. "Of course not. I'm not that kind of person."
Yuri breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Fu Haoran add, "I don't like fighting battles unless I'm sure I can win. But sooner or later, I'll clear out every last one of those vermin."
"I'll show these nobles what a Governor's wrath looks like. I'll make this world run red with blood!"
Yuri stared blankly at the murderous Fu Haoran, then looked at Wade and the others, who seemed entirely used to it.
He suddenly wondered if he'd joined a cult.
This wasn't a Governor. He was a fanatical follower of Khorne. They absolutely couldn't stay in this Hive City!
Before you continue