The Hive Community and the Nobles' Fury

Fu Haoran stared at the Mid-Hive renovation blueprints for three seconds, then rejected them outright.

"This renovation is way too slow."

Yuri rolled his eyes. "You're still complaining about this? You think it's like stacking blocks?"

"If they have to wait ten years just to get a roof over their heads, why the hell would the Under-hivers fight for me?" Fu Haoran tapped the blueprints. "The core of the second phase is to let them see hope right now."

The plan the Machine Cult had presented—the entire overhaul and renovation project—would take ten years!

Ten years. By then, the yellow flower dishes would be cold!

Fu Haoran was a man who hated trouble, and even more, he hated waiting.

"Leave it to me. Tell the Machine Cult to knock down all the non-load-bearing walls. I'll handle the rest."

Fu Haoran naturally didn't mention that he was going back to the 2K World to find a solution.

"Fine, fine, you're the governor, you call the shots."

"Ah, how much kickback am I going to miss out on?" Yuri muttered under his breath, seemingly unconcerned whether Fu Haoran heard him.

A flash of white light.

Back in the 2K World, Fu Haoran contacted a domestic manufacturer of mobile space capsule houses.

The phone rang for a long time before someone picked up: "Hello, who is this?"

The voice on the other end was listless, lacking any hint of customer service enthusiasm.

Before Fu Haoran could speak, the customer service added: "If you're here to collect a debt, call my boss's personal number. If you're waiting for final payment, get in line. Even a court summons won't do you any good right now."

Fu Haoran: ...

Clearly, this once-large domestic manufacturer of mobile space capsules was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Fu Haoran, hating the hassle, decided to test the waters: "How much stock do you have on hand? I don't have time to wait."

"As much as you want. You have to pay half the deposit first. Shipping is extra. Take it or leave it."

The customer service's attitude was still terrible, but Fu Haoran decided to check the goods anyway: "Fine. I'll send someone to inspect the merchandise. If it's up to standard, I need at least two thousand sets of mobile space capsules."

Huang Xiu, the owner and customer service, found Fu Haoran's request absurd after hearing it:

"Two thousand sets? Are you crazy? Even a scenic spot running a B&B would only need twenty!"

"Get lost, scammer. Don't think you can fool me!"

Huang Xiu hung up the phone directly.

"Who was that?" her husband asked from the side.

"Nobody. Just a scammer."

Huang Xiu didn't think anything of it.

An hour later, a Toyota Alphard business van drove in.

Huang Xiu said nervously, "Honey, could it be debt collectors? Hide quickly."

Her husband glanced at the car and said dismissively, "What do you know? That's a Toyota Alphard, worth over a million. Do you think our creditors could afford a car like that?"

"True. Come on, let's go see."

Huang Xiu and her husband went out to greet them, only to find a group of people all dressed in suits. Behind them, another car pulled up, and a team got out, immediately starting to set up various equipment.

"Hello, everyone. Who are you..."

The lead suit-wearing man pulled out a business card and introduced himself: "I'm Li Yao from International XXX. I've been commissioned by an overseas employer to conduct a survey."

"A survey?" Huang Xiu had never heard of such a term in the capital circle and found it a bit baffling.

Li Yao didn't explain. After confirming the live stream signal was set up, he said to Huang Xiu and her husband:

"Alright, you two. Please take us to see your showroom. My boss is in Amerikan and will be online shortly. His time is valuable, so please don't delay."

Hearing that the buyer was from Eagle Nation, Huang Xiu and her husband's eyes lit up.

"Okay, okay. Follow me."

Huang Xiu led the group to a warehouse behind the factory, where dozens of mobile space capsules were stored.

A few years back, RVs were all the rage at scenic spots.

Then people realized that instead of RVs, mobile space capsules were a better option.

They saved a lot of money and offered more space. Not only did they have a large window, but also bunk beds, a sofa, a TV, a fridge, an open kitchen, and a bathroom—everything you could need.

Heating and water supply were all included. Small as a sparrow, but with all its organs.

But this trend came and went quickly.

Starting last year, the market became saturated, and the inventory at Huang Xiu's factory just wouldn't sell.

"Alright, everyone, this is the basic situation. Our interiors and materials are the best in the country, and our cost-performance ratio is the highest."

"Fifty thousand a set might be a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. The floor-to-ceiling windows are bulletproof, the door is anti-theft, and the wall soundproofing is excellent..."

Huang Xiu introduced the place at length, but Li Yao didn't nod until his team finished their measurements. Only then did he speak into his phone's camera:

"Mr. Chen, all indicators meet the standard. It reaches ISO 9000 certification."

A voice Huang Xiu found somewhat familiar came through the phone: "Good, I'll take all of them. Also, I need a custom batch of special mobile rooms—for shops and functional spaces. Have them build according to the requirements I'll send."

"You're in charge of the specifics."

"Delivery needs to be fast."

The call ended. Li Yao said matter-of-factly, "Here are the contract and requirements. Can you deliver 2,000 mobile rooms within two months?"

When she heard "2,000 units," Huang Xiu's hand trembled.

"Wait... that call earlier... was that your boss?!"

Her voice changed: "I thought... I thought it was a scammer... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, big boss! I failed to recognize your greatness—please don't take it to heart!"

Li Yao's face was expressionless: "Are you signing the contract or not? My boss doesn't have time to wait."

Huang Xiu nodded frantically: "I'll sign! I'll sign! I'm signing right now!"

"This order of 2,000 units—it's like giving our factory a second life!"

"I'll call the workers back right away. Even if we have to work day and night, we'll deliver on time!"

Huang Xiu took the list, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

Everything they wanted was top-tier, no haggling, and the deposit was already in her account—this was a deal she wouldn't dare dream of.

"My factory gets less than a hundred orders a year. With this one order, I can bring every single worker back to the job."

That day, the factory started up again. Huang Xiu called everyone she could.

Her son, still in elementary school?

Took leave from school—come help tighten screws!

Her mother-in-law, visiting relatives back home?

Brought back overnight—she's in charge of cooking!

Old Li next door, unemployed for half a year?

Stop looking for jobs—just come to work!

The factory floor roared with machinery. Huang Xiu's husband shouted through a megaphone: "Everyone, stay sharp! Deliver this batch well, and this New Year's, we're giving double bonuses!"

Two months later, the first batch of Mobile Space Capsules was brought back to the Warhammer World by Fu Haoran.

When Ronan received the notice, he was holed up in a capsule room in the Lower Hive.

Eight square meters squeezed in four people, bunk beds packed to the brim, barely room to turn around—like the cage homes of Hong Kong Island in the 2K era, only more broken, dirtier, darker.

This was standard fare in the Lower Hive.

"Company Commander Ronan, you can move now."

Ronan was stunned for several seconds before he snapped out of it. He grabbed his wife and their two children, ages four and five, called his parents, and hurried out the door.

"Where are we going?" his wife asked, confused.

Ronan didn't look back, his voice choked: "To the Mid-Hive!"

He led his family of six to the hive tower, his steps unconsciously slowing.

Inside the blast-proof alloy doors was the building's security office.

"Ronan, your new place is on the 66th floor, Room 1910."

The elevator went up. His wife clutched his sleeve, the two children pressed against the elevator walls, too scared to speak, and the elderly couple was equally tense.

This was the Mid-Hive—a place they wouldn't even dare dream of coming.

And now they were being told they had a new home here?!

The elevator doors opened. Ronan pulled out his residence card and swiped it at the access control.

"Beep."

The door opened. Ronan couldn't believe his eyes.

A spacious room of 38 square meters, neatly arranged.

The ceiling height was beyond imagination—so much better than the pigeonhole they'd lived in down in the Lower Hive.

The master bedroom had a double bed, with a wardrobe and desk underneath!

The second bedroom was a Z-shaped children's room—though it was one room, the spaces were independent.

Finally, there was an elderly room, with a fold-down bed mounted on the wall.

Folded up during the day, it was living space; let down at night, spread out the bedding, and it was ready to sleep.

High up were storage cabinets everywhere, a foldable dining table tucked in the corner, and even a separate wet-dry bathroom.

His wife stood at the door, afraid to step inside.

The two children timidly touched the wall—smooth, nothing like the perpetually damp, moldy concrete of the Lower Hive.

"Son, is this really your new home?" Ronan's father asked in disbelief.

"Yes." His voice was hoarse. "We're never going back to the Lower Hive."

Hearing this, the two children couldn't hold back any longer. They rushed straight to the window and pressed their faces against the glass to look outside.

The window was only thirty-eight square meters, not large, but it showed the street outside, it showed the lights.

"Dad, there are lights out there!"

Ronan walked over, put his arm around his wife's shoulders, and looked out the window.

His wife leaned on his shoulder and whispered, "Honey, am I dreaming?"

Ronan shook his head.

If he could let his family live in a safe house in this lifetime, following the Governor was worth it.

At the same time, Fu Haoran received a notification from the system.

[Lord Series Quest Completed—Peace and Prosperity (Phase One)]

[Grant some Lower Hive residents superior living conditions, making them follow you without reservation]

[Reward: Universal Points +666, Free Attribute Points +1, Hive City Public Order +6, Soldier Loyalty +50]

[Hive Community Management Authority Unlocked—can view community occupancy data, dispatch defense posts, etc.]

[PS: Let the bottom-dwellers see hope, and they'll fight to the death for you. But don't celebrate too soon! When some see hope, others see a threat.]

[New Quest Triggered: The Old Order Strikes Back]

Meanwhile, the lights in the Upper Hive Noble Council burned all night without going out.

Someone struck first: "That traitor Victor! He sold our warehouse distribution maps and private army deployments to that grassroots Governor, then directed the Lower Hive rabble to loot us!"

"And now he's using Mid-Hive residence permits to buy people's loyalty!"

Another noble slammed the table: "What's more infuriating is that he set up a tax system to launder black money!"

A noble's face darkened, his fists clenched: "And Fu Haoran is using housing to win over the Lower Hive scum! At this rate, he'll have us roasting over the fire sooner or later!"

"What's the panic!" Finally, Valerius, Commodore of the Planetary Defense Force Navy, spoke up.

"Blow up his military factory, cut off his weapon supply. No guns, no cannons—what's he going to use to challenge us?"

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Right, a grassroots Governor dares to ride on our heads and throw his weight around. It's time we taught him a lesson."