We Have the Advantage-How Could We Lose?

A few hours later, Cam strode into the temporary command center, carrying a cloth bundle.

He tossed it onto the floor. Jack's head rolled out, his hair and beard stained with blood.

A soldier stepped forward and swept a portable DNA scanner over it. The light turned green.

"Identity confirmed: Jack Norton, leader of the Iron Hand Gang."

Yuri dragged over a metal briefcase, looking as miserable as if he were constipated.

He opened it. Neatly stacked Throne Coins filled the case, their crisp new bills reflecting the overhead lights.

He watched Cam pack the hundred thousand Throne Coins into his backpack, his cheek twitching.

"One head for a hundred thousand..." Yuri clicked his tongue. "Governor, that's more than you'd pay to assassinate a Planetary Governor."

"Next time you've got a job like this, give me a heads-up. I'll hire a professional killer, get you twenty percent off, and throw in after-sales service."

Fu Haoran ignored his sarcasm and pushed over a waterproof bundle.

"Inside are disguises, a new identity card, and a ticket to an Agri-World. Leave tonight. Don't hang around."

Cam took the briefcase in one hand and the bundle in the other. He didn't stop walking, only tossing out a cold remark:

"I'll keep my promise and stay quiet. You'd better keep yours, too."

With that, he stepped out of the command center without looking back, showing not the slightest reluctance.

Less than three minutes later, Wade strode in, wearing an unusually pleased expression.

"Sir, Ronan and the Penal Legion have cleared the control room. They've secured the factory's core, and they also found the Iron Hand Gang's treasury!"

Fu Haoran looked up.

"We've finished counting," Wade said, bringing up a list. "Four hundred and seventy thousand Throne Coins in cash, plus a pile of jewelry and precious metals, provisionally valued at over eight hundred thousand."

Yuri perked up beside him, his eyes lighting up.

"As for weapons, six heavy Boltguns, one Master-crafted Plasma Pistol, three complete sets of Stormtrooper Carapace Armor in good condition, and one set of Force Feedback Power Armor."

Wade paused, then handed over a black data crystal.

"Most importantly, we found this in Jack's private safe."

Fu Haoran took the crystal and inserted it into the terminal.

A holographic image unfolded: a complex three-dimensional network of pipes, with countless lines crisscrossing one another and nodes marked with High Gothic codes.

[Complete Lower Hive Promethium Pipeline Network and Control Nodes]

Fu Haoran studied the map and smiled.

"With this, we have the whole Lower Hive by the throat."

[System Notification: Hostile faction, the Iron Hand Gang, has been dismantled.]

[Reward: Universal Points +5000, full control of the Promethium Factory (activated)]

[Unlocked: Automated Defense Turrets x8]

[Note: Congratulations! You've gone from being a penniless debtor to a mine owner saddled with massive debt. The road ahead is long and arduous~]

After finishing his report, Wade didn't leave. Instead, he voiced his concern:

"Sir, there's something I don't understand."

"Cam was the Iron Hand Gang's third-in-command. He knows a lot about our plans. You're just letting him go? What if he leaks information?"

Fu Haoran chuckled and tapped his fingertips against the table.

"He won't." Fu Haoran wasn't particularly worried. "Jack is dead, and the Iron Hand Gang has fallen apart. The rest will either surrender or run. That saves us ammunition and manpower we'd have spent wiping them out. It's a good deal."

"As for leaking information? Cam has money and a ticket. He'll make a desperate run for an Agri-World. He's afraid of dying with every second he stays here. Why would he go looking for trouble?"

"Oh, and one more thing," Fu Haoran added. "Get a few former Iron Hand Gang members to escort him all the way to the ship. Make sure people see them."

Yuri's eyes lit up at once. He stroked his chin, suddenly understanding, and muttered under his breath:

"Brilliant... absolutely brilliant. Most people are afraid of too many tongues wagging, but you're worried no one will see. You even picked his former comrades to escort him. You've put on the whole show!"

"I bet once he reaches the port, that kid will find someone to spread the story."

"Trading one Cam for the trust of every gang is ten times more effective than spending hundreds of thousands of coins recruiting troops... You're ruthless."

"Once word gets around, which gang in the Lower Hive will still want to fight to the death?"

Fu Haoran had noticed every shift in Yuri's expression.

He gave Yuri a look.

Yuri immediately pursed his lips, then turned away in resignation to count the spoils. He said no more.

"Working with smart people really is easy."

Fu Haoran brought up the factory control interface.

As the last few points of resistance went dark, the status lights for the key workshops changed from red to green.

[Promethium Refinery: Online]

[Fuel Synthesis Line: Operational]

[Central Power Network: Connected]

But Fu Haoran had no time to celebrate.

He switched to the Auspex's live feed.

A huge section of the screen was stained red.

Dense red dots, like festering wounds, covered the entire area thirty kilometers from the outskirts of the Hive City.

There were so many that the system automatically categorized them:

[Identification: Noble Private Army (Silverthorn House), approximately 8,000 units]

[Identification: Vassal Noble Private Army, approximately 15,000 units]

[Identification: Gang Militia (mixed), approximately 150,000 units]

Wade brought up the reconnaissance data, his voice taut:

"In addition, we've spotted twelve Leman Russ Battle Tanks, thirty Chimera Armored Transports, six Heavy Field Artillery guns, twelve Vehicle-mounted Anti-aircraft Guns, six Sentinel Walkers, and more vehicles than we can count."

Wade's voice grew heavier with every word.

This wasn't even a full-scale war yet. It was just a bit of "horseplay" among the nobility.

But on paper, the enemy had an overwhelming advantage.

"Our intelligence network also intercepted a report that their supply convoy is carrying enough Promethium and ammunition to sustain a month of high-intensity combat."

Fu Haoran zoomed in on the image.

The noble coalition's supply convoy stretched for several kilometers.

Truck after truck of Promethium, crate after crate of ammunition, sack after sack of rations—piled high as mountains.

Clearly, their supplies were enough to sustain a month of high-intensity combat.

At the same time, the surveillance feed showed the noble private armies in gleaming equipment, while the gang militias huddled in a disorganized mass around the perimeter, like beggars gathered around a bonfire.

"Have they stopped?" Fu Haoran asked.

"They haven't stopped. They're waiting." Wade brought up a recording of an intercepted communication.

Count Victor's voice came through the speakers, cold and openly contemptuous:

"...Let that rabble from the Lower Hive finish squabbling. What does Fu Haoran have? A factory he just captured and a bunch of bandits who surrendered."

"We have superior equipment, superior numbers, and plenty of supplies. What's the rush?"

"Let him live a couple more days. Let him see just how desperate he is."

The recording ended.

A dead silence fell over the command room.

"The staff ran some simulations," Wade said quietly. "At their current rate of advance... the first wave of attacks will begin in twenty-four hours at most."

As soon as he finished speaking, a communications soldier rushed into the command room. "Sir! The enemy vanguard has appeared outside the factory. They seem to be scouting our position."

Fu Haoran said nothing.

He stared at the red tide on the screen, his mind racing through the calculations.

They had nearly 180,000 troops. His own side had just over 10,000.

Going by the numbers alone, there was no point in fighting. They could just surrender.

"Sir," Wade said, lowering his voice further, "there's one more thing... Silverthorn House controls the ammunition supply lines and battery supply chain for the entire Hive City."

"They also control the anti-aircraft towers on the outskirts. Right now, we're... an island."

Fu Haoran looked up.

"You mean we have no reinforcements and no follow-up supplies?"

"Yes."

Fu Haoran leaned back in his chair and smiled.

"Wade, I'm leaving the factory's defenses and the troop reorganization to you. I need to be gone for a little while. If all goes well, I'll be back before the battle starts."

"If they like to huddle together in one big pile, I'll put on a fireworks show for them—one the whole Hive City can see."

Meanwhile, at the coalition's main camp.

Count Victor sat inside a command vehicle, polishing the Master-crafted Plasma Pistol in his hand.

Outside, the camp was in an uproar.

Gang thugs were beating one another bloody over who would lead the charge and who would get the spoils.

The private soldiers and the thugs eyed each other with hostility, and the ranks were a complete mess.

His adjutant asked cautiously, "Count, should we restore discipline? If this goes on..."

Victor looked up and gave him a cool glance.

"Restore discipline? Why?"

He set down his pistol. His tone was casual, but carried an unquestionable arrogance.

"It doesn't matter how many cannon fodder die."

"My eight thousand private soldiers are intact, and my twelve Leman Russ tanks are ready to go. That's enough."

"Cannon fodder is meant to be spent."

"But, Count, our rate of advance is far behind schedule."

"It's fine. Let our Governor suffer for a few more days. Let him lie awake every night, frightening himself."

"But if we keep dragging this out, the Iron Hand Gang will probably be gone."

Without even looking up, Victor said, "They're just Lower Hive scum. They were expendable from the start."

A deputy beside him bowed. "Count, we could simply roll over them. Why wait?"

Victor scoffed, his tone steeped in bone-deep arrogance:

"Do you know how the previous Governor died?"

"We cut off his ammunition, and his forces collapsed overnight."

"Fu Haoran only got this position because we gave him the nod."

"The rebels won back then because we gave them guns, artillery, and heavy weapons to keep them alive."

"Now I'm cutting off the ammunition lines, battery lines, and supply lines for the entire Hive City."

The adjutant fell silent.

Victor looked out at the dark mass of rabble, not the least bit concerned:

"How can a puppet governor win with a pile of junk equipment and a bunch of surrendered bandits?"

"Let the gangs attack first. They'll break his defenses and use up his ammunition."

"When he's run dry, I'll drive my Leman Russ tanks straight through and flatten the factory."

"I'll make him understand what happens when you betray the nobility."

Victor set down his pistol and leaned back in his chair, delivering the classic line:

"We have the advantage. How could he win?"