[Mission Complete: Air Support] [Rating: S (Cheap Violent Aesthetics)] [Reward: Universal Points +666, Free Attribute Point +1, Sky-Claw Valkyrie Gunship x3 (Precision Manufacturing Edition)]
Fu Haoran stared at the three gunships that had appeared out of thin air before him, his eyes lighting up.
Although they were equipped for the mortal army, they could occasionally be used by Space Marines, too.
"At last, we've got a decent air force."
The three gunships were painted gray-blue and were a little larger than the standard model. Heavy Bolters were mounted under their fuselages, while Hellstrike Missiles hung beneath their wings.
The most noticeable feature was the magnetic hook system under the fuselage, which could directly carry light vehicles.
"Vertical takeoff and landing, tough as nails, capable of both fighting and hauling..."
Fu Haoran walked around the gunships, patting their thick armor, thoroughly satisfied.
"This is a Warhammer-style mashup of a Hind and an A-10 Attack Aircraft. It's one of the few vehicles in the entire Empire that wouldn't look out of place in other science-fiction settings."
Fu Haoran was already thinking about how to use them.
"With these, elite squads and light equipment can be rapidly deployed to key locations."
"Three isn't many, but if we use them sparingly, they'll still be enough for most situations."
Just as Fu Haoran finished allocating his attribute points, the system popped up with another message.
[Congratulations, Host, on capturing the Promethium Factory]
[Reward: Universal Points +6666, Free Attribute Points +6, Military Ammunition Power Battery Technology (No STC)]
Fu Haoran's mouth twitched. "You give me the technology but not the STC... System, can you be any stingier?"
[Ding! Main Mission Triggered: Noble Counterattack] [Description: Led by Silverthorn House, seven vassal noble houses have joined forces and gathered 50,000 private soldiers, along with members of various gangs. They are expected to reach the designated area in 72 hours.] [There are still over a hundred thousand violent rioters left to clear, and another huge wave of enemies is on the way. The player is advised to pack up and run for it, and save some Universal Points~]
Just then, Wade's call came through.
"My lord, the Iron Hand Gang remnants are all hiding inside the factory buildings. We didn't dare pursue them in there. The space inside is enormous, and a direct assault would cause heavy casualties."
"What should we do next?"
Wade was anxiously waiting for an answer when Fu Haoran casually replied, "We're done fighting."
What?
There was a two-second silence on the other end.
"My lord, there are at least seventy or eighty thousand rebels still inside. Leaving them alone will definitely become a huge problem."
"I know." Fu Haoran's attitude didn't change in the slightest.
Fu Haoran wanted to say that the system had already marked the mission complete. There was no extra reward for going after those "drowning dogs," so why go to all that trouble?
But he would never dare say that in front of his subordinates. Instead, he offered a different explanation:
"Do as I say from here on."
"I'll send over a batch of Chimera Armored Transports and Leman Russ Tanks. Deploy them at every entrance and exit, and station a Heavy Bolter at each one."
Fu Haoran paused.
"Then broadcast the following announcements on a loop."
Wade began taking notes.
"First, anyone who comes out and surrenders will be pardoned, but they'll have to join the Punisher Reserve Squad and earn redemption through service."
"Second, bring out the head of a core gang member and you'll be exempt from service, with three days' worth of rations and one bottle of cheap liquor as a bonus."
"Third, if five or more people surrender together, the leader will be made a corporal, enrolled in the Planetary Defense Force, and put in charge of clearing out the factory."
"Fourth, if a hundred or more people surrender together, the leader will be made a sergeant and put in command of a newly formed squad. They'll receive standard military equipment and supplies, and they'll also be responsible for clearing out the factory."
After hearing it all, Wade was stunned for a while. Then his eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "My lord, that's ruthless!"
"There are only ten or twenty thousand core gang members. The rest are all fence-sitters. With no food or water, and the reward tempting them, they're bound to turn on one another. We won't have to risk a single soldier!"
"But... what if they decide to fight to the death and charge out?" Wade asked, a little worried.
Fu Haoran glanced at the three newly acquired Valkyries and sneered.
"So what if they charge out? We're a proper army. Are we supposed to be afraid of a bunch of thugs?"
"If they dare come out, the three Valkyries will teach them to remember to grow a brain in their next life."
At the same time, inside the factory buildings.
Jack Norton, leader of the Iron Hand Gang, slammed his fist onto the control console.
"Damn it, what did the nobles say?"
His deputy nervously handed him a communicator. "Lord Victor of Silverthorn House... said they're giving us one last chance."
Jack snatched the communicator.
Victor's icy voice came from the other end. "Jack, in no more than four days, our nobles' private armies will join forces with the other gangs and reach the outskirts of the factory."
"When the time comes, wait for my signal. You'll lead the people inside the factory in a coordinated attack from within and without, and break through the governor's defenses."
"Once it's done, you'll get the Promethium Factory back, along with fifty Heavy Bolters."
Victor paused, his voice turning colder.
"If you fail, you and your Iron Hand Gang will become expendable."
The call ended.
Jack's expression looked painfully constipated.
His deputy asked in a low voice, "Boss, can we really hold out until then?"
"Even if we can't, we have to!" Jack barked, then lowered his voice. "Have the core members gather up the food and water. Focus on taking it from the outer members."
"Boss, there are so many outer members. If we don't leave them anything, they might..."
"Cut the crap! Those cannon fodder on the outside can tough it out as long as they don't starve to death. If they do, who cares? People like them are a dime a dozen. As long as we make it through this, there'll be no shortage of recruits!"
Jack turned around and roared at the dozens of core members in the control room.
"Listen up! The noble reinforcements will be here in three days!"
Jack deliberately gave them a shorter deadline to boost morale.
"As long as we hold out, the factory will still be ours, and we'll get new equipment! Anyone who dares to undermine morale..."
He drew his Bolt Pistol.
"This is what happens."
Time passed painfully slowly inside the factory buildings.
The first day passed, and hunger had already begun to take hold.
The battle the night before last had left everyone exhausted and drained them of their strength.
They had fled in such a hurry that they hadn't brought any food, let alone water.
After just one day, their morale had completely crumbled.
There had never been any loyalty in the gang. Its members were held together by threats and rewards. When their stomachs started growling, no one was willing to listen to Jack anymore.
They gathered in small groups, cursing and grumbling, their eyes filled with despair and resentment.
After barely making it through the day, they not only failed to get any food, but were instead told to hand over every last scrap of supplies they had!
"If we give you our stuff, what are we supposed to do?" someone complained. The next second, he was beaten up.
"Bah! If you don't like it, go outside right now and see if that governor shoots you!" a minor gang leader snarled.
Seeing the hostile looks from the other outer members, the minor gang leader belatedly realized what was going on. He stiffened his neck and cursed:
"What are you looking at? Once the reinforcements arrive, there'll be plenty to eat!"
The complainer clutched his stomach and shrank back into a corner.
On the second day, things changed.
The sound of machinery suddenly came from a ventilation shaft on the east side of the factory.
Several outer members gathered around to look and saw a Servitor pushing a cart toward them.
The loudspeaker on the Servitor's head repeated:
"Surrender and you'll be pardoned. Bring in a head and get rations. Surrender in an organized group and receive a rank and equipment."
The cart was piled with all kinds of tempting food: sausages, fried chicken cutlets, chicken tenders... Each item looked delicious enough to make their mouths water.
Wade had flat-out refused to let the food be sent in when he first saw it.
Fu Haoran had to talk him around before he finally agreed.
After all, these were carcinogenic foods from the 2K World. They were certainly cheap, but they were also packed with artificial additives—their flavors came from heaps of flavoring.
And yet, while no one in the 2K World dared eat them, they were the most cost-effective tool Fu Haoran had for turning the gang members against one another.
An outer member in ragged work clothes swallowed as he stared at the food on the cart.
At that moment, the Servitor's announcement became the last straw for him.
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