Golden Giant, You've Been Away From Your People Too Long

He asked Aska, "Aren't there settlements over there?"

"I've already asked."

Aska gave a bitter smile, "The towns won't take us in."

"There are too many of us, and we might be carrying contamination from the industrial zone; they're afraid we aren't clean."

"What about other gathering spots?"

"The scavenger camps nearby all reject us."

"They say the workers of the Alru Group are cursed, and whoever takes us in will face retaliation from the Group."

"We don't dare go to the big cities; going there is just walking into a trap. We'd be captured again and sent to other mines or factories."

"We don't want to... be slaves... again..."

Aska's voice grew lower and lower, "We tried trading things for food... but when we escaped, we only brought a few personal items, and they were all traded away within a few days."

Wang Zhong was silent.

He looked toward the depths of the mine.

The workers had built crude shacks out of waste ore and tattered canvas, barely enough to shield them from the wind.

But it was currently the dry season on Aurelian IV; temperatures could reach forty degrees during the day and drop below zero at night.

In this environment, without medicine or sufficient food, people were dying like weeds.

"What do you plan to do next?"

Holy Blood walked over and asked.

He had already used medical kits to perform basic treatment on a dozen severely wounded people, his hands still stained with blood.

"I don't know."

Aska shook his head, "We'll just live one day at a time... at least this place is far from the industrial zone; those devils shouldn't come here."

As he said this, his eyes involuntarily glanced toward the direction of the industrial zone.

The sky there was still shrouded by the Chaos Barrier, with lightning occasionally tearing through the clouds.

Wang Zhong suddenly spoke: "Do you know about the fall of District 7?"

Aska's body trembled.

"...I know."

He was silent for a long time before saying, "That was eighty years ago."

"My grandfather's generation saw it with their own eyes—the steel giants descending from the sky, burning Dawn City into glass within seven days."

"The people of the Black Royal Family were hung on the wreckage for all to see, and the psionicists of the Arar Family were taken away by the Black Ship... millions died in the orbital bombardment."

"Billions died in the chaos, and our family went from living a decent life back then to what we are today."

"My grandfather said that chaos bred everywhere back then, with all sorts of monsters and demons playing their games, until the current four major powers finally snatched away everything the royal family left behind: land, wealth, and the people."

"And then it became what it is now..."

Aska gave a bitter smile, "People like us have just changed masters, going from working for the royal family to digging mines and selling our labor to the merchant guilds."

Have You Been Loyal Today, listening from the side, couldn't help but interject: "Then have you never thought about... resisting?"

He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth; it was too flippant.

But Aska wasn't angry.

He just looked at Have You Been Loyal Today and said softly, "Young man, you might not understand... in the hive city, just staying alive takes everything we have."

"Resist? What do we have to resist with?"

"People who haven't even touched a laser rifle, going up against groups that have tanks and mechs?"

He paused and added, "Besides... the Empire does not allow it."

"The Black Royal Family resisted eighty years ago, and what was the result?"

"The entire administrative district of Dawn City was wiped off the map."

"All subordinate forces belonging to the Black Royal Family and their allies, the Arar Family, suffered devastating blows, and back then, District 7 was at the pinnacle of what is now Arlu City."

"It was the family seat of the Arar Family—that was a mysterious family possessing powerful and bizarre abilities!"

"Yet in the end, District 7 was still struck down and crashed into the Crimson Wasteland."

"These are things passed down through our family generation after generation, and it is precisely because I know these things that I feel even more desperate."

"The Empire will not tolerate any disobedience, especially from mortals like us."

The atmosphere turned heavy.

Just then, I Am Not The Regent I Am Just A Passing Guilliman returned from scouting the perimeter of the mine, his expression grim:

"Commander, I found tire tracks two kilometers to the east. They're very fresh."

"Judging by the tread pattern... it's a reconnaissance-type vehicle."

"Someone has been here?" Wang Zhong frowned.

"Could it be those major factions?"

"Likely."

"But they didn't enter the mine; they just observed from a distance for a while before leaving."

[I Am Not the Regent I Am Just Passing By Guilliman] lowered his voice, "I suspect... these factions might know the location of these workers. Perhaps they didn't have the time to deal with them, or they simply didn't care on purpose."

[Second Emperor of Holy Blood] said coldly, "Letting the workers fend for themselves in the wasteland."

"If they die, it saves trouble. If they happen to survive and manifest as psykers or mutants, they can just be captured and used as experimental subjects."

Wang Zhong recalled the experiments he had seen in the underground containment facility in Arlu City.

Psionic Inhibitor Type-7, genetic testing labs, organ dissections...

He suddenly stood up and walked over to the workers who were still queuing for food.

"Everyone, listen up."

His voice was not loud, but it was clear enough, "We are the Crimson Dawn Chapter."

"Our base is deep within the Crimson Bright Wasteland, about one hundred and ten kilometers from here."

The workers looked up, staring at him blankly.

"If you are willing, you can come with us to our base."

Wang Zhong said, "There, we have water purification systems, cultivated planting zones, defensive walls, and weapons."

"I won't say it's perfect, but at least... your children won't starve to death in the mud."

Dead silence.

Then, an explosion of noise.

"Is... is it true?"

"There are so many of us, can you afford to feed us?"

"Won't we be a burden to you..."

"I'm willing to go! I'm willing!"

Aska grabbed Wang Zhong's hand; those hands were so thin they were nothing but bone, yet the grip was incredibly tight:

"Why? We are just a bunch of useless workers; we can't help you with anything..."

Wang Zhong looked into his eyes.

At this moment, he remembered that previous phrase: "To bring a shock to this world, millions of people who genuinely support the Empire."

"It is a true wall of bronze and iron, one that no power can break, absolutely unbreakable."

"Golden Giant, you have been separated from your people for too long."

(ps: Warhammer alternate world!! Please do not associate with reality!)

But what he said instead was a different sentence.

"Because you are also human."

Wang Zhong said, "And in this world, those willing to treat ordinary people as human beings... are very few... but as it happens, that does not include me. I am willing to grant you equal treatment... No one should be abandoned."

"The Emperor and the Empire abandoned you to become slaves to the slave owners in the factories, and I am willing to give you a new life."

Aska and the group of young people behind him felt a tremendous shock in their hearts upon hearing these words...

Wang Zhong turned around and issued orders to the players:

"Crimson Fist, take charge of organizing the workers into formations. The elderly, weak, women, and children will ride in the vehicles, while the able-bodied will walk."

"Crimson Wind, move out to scout and clear any threats along the route."

"Crimson Spirit, continue medical support, focusing on the severely wounded."

"Crimson Machine, check the status of all vehicles to ensure they can make it to the base."

He looked at the system interface, seeing that he still had a fair amount of Imperial Coin left after his recent exchanges.

Gritting his teeth, he exchanged for another three hundred nutrient bars and five large barrels of water.

"Move out."

Wang Zhong said, "We must return to the base by noon tomorrow."

As the sun set, a column of nearly two thousand five hundred people moved slowly across the wasteland.

The four transport vehicles were packed with children, the elderly, and the wounded, with people sitting even on the roofs of every vehicle.

More workers followed on foot behind the vehicles, supporting one another, their steps weary yet determined.

Wang Zhong walked at the very front of the procession.

He glanced back toward the industrial zone, where the chaotic barrier shimmered with an eerie purple light under the setting sun.

Further away, the joint forces of the four major factions were likely still locked in bitter combat, while the direction of Red Rainbow Town remained silent.

"Commander."

Have You Been Loyal Today walked to his side and handed over half a tube of nutrient paste. "You haven't eaten all day either."

Wang Zhong took it and bit down.

The taste of synthetic protein and grains dissolved in his mouth; it wasn't exactly delicious, but it filled the stomach.

"Do you think I did the right thing?"

He asked suddenly.

Have You Been Loyal Today grinned. "How would I know? But I think... it's still better than those assholes who watch people starve to death while spouting nonsense about the glory of the Empire."

Second Emperor of Holy Blood also caught up from behind, his psionic perception remaining active to keep watch on the surroundings. "Actually, from the perspective of interests, taking in these workers isn't a loss."

"They are familiar with mining, smelting, and mechanical operations... as long as they are given enough nutrition and tools, they can become a very good labor force."

"Besides."

He paused. "They are familiar with the local situation on Aurelian IV, know the operational models of the Four Great Groups, and might even know some secrets of District 7... all of this is intelligence."

Wang Zhong smiled. "Your rationality is on par with Xue Brother. Is everyone like this after you psionicists awaken?"

"Is rationality not a good thing?"

Second Emperor of Holy Blood replied, "This is a world built in imitation of the Warhammer universe; you won't last long relying solely on hot-blooded passion."