Impressions of Lungmen: Megacorporations / Technocracy
Investigation.
A fitting summary.
I need an Originium industrial system that is more suitable for high-altitude, cold regions, and I also need to see Rhodes Island's land-based ship construction firsthand.
Doctor. Oute's actions just now were perhaps just to distract me and try to get a better offer...
Enciodes Silverash gathered his thoughts and said to Oute, "I have brought the ore sample you requested."
"Wait a moment." Oute made some adjustments on the terminal.
"Okay, the Engineering Department team has gone over." He looked up. "Our preliminary analysis of the Kjerag ore will be completed soon."
Enciodes Silverash frowned. "We didn't seem to notify Rhodes Island beforehand about the location of the mineral docking site, did we?"
"However, before that, Mr. Silverash ..." Oute paused, then asked, "Would you like to see Miss Enya first, or would you like to take a stroll around Lungmen?"
The Snow Leopard narrowed its eyes.
He really was trying to use Enya to manipulate me.
"No, Doctor. Oute, I think Rhodes Island seems to have quite a bit of strength in Lungmen as well?" he inquired.
"It seems Mr. Silverash would like to 'tour' our properties in Lungmen first?" Oute was somewhat surprised. "I thought you preferred Miss Enya."
He kept calling me by my surname, but called out the girl's name...
"Now that we've arrived at Lungmen, we'll eventually have time to meet with Enya."
"Master..." The two guards beside the Snow Leopard couldn't help but remind him.
Using such an excuse to avoid seeing Enya might not be a good idea if she gets upset later.
With the eldest son of the Silverash family Enciodes Silverash, Enciodes Silverash, and his elder sister Enya having a falling out, neither of them wants to see their relationship with Enya also crack.
Enciodes Silverash glanced at them and then introduced them, "This is Matterhorn (Matterhorn), and this is Weiss (Courier). They are both my friends and employees of the Karlan Trade. They are accompanying me on this trip as my bodyguard and secretary."
Matterhorn and Weiss understood what was going on and greeted each other.
The nun bowed slightly and spoke first, "I am Laurentina, accompanying Doctor Oute personal bodyguard."
She pronounced the word "intimate" with extreme delicacy.
Oh no! That's terrible! To say such frivolous things in this kind of setting! It's damaging to Doc Otter's image!
The little rabbit got a little angry when it saw this.
While Specter remains lethargic, Laurentina's personality has been appearing more and more frequently these days. However, the two personalities seem to get along quite well, with neither intending to eliminate the other.
"Well then, without further ado, let's begin now." The scoundrel turned and left.
Laurentina quickly caught up with Oute's figure, then pressed herself tightly against his left side with a subtle rhythm.
Oute began his introduction directly. "This is Lungmen's Lower City, also known as the commoners' district."
"After a period of management, the security situation in the civilian areas is much better than before, but only a few weeks can achieve some superficial results."
Oute pointed to the street and said, "If Rhodes Island leaves the streets, it will only take two or three days for this place to become a scene of street graffiti, brawls, and gang fights again."
"However, no matter how much superficial effort is put on, the mortality and disability rates in the civilian areas have indeed decreased. If we can maintain this for three to five years, the hope of normalizing the Lower City is not zero."
"... Did you just mention something strange?" Enciodes Silverash incredulously. "Weren't we supposed to be touring Rhodes Island's properties in Lungmen?"
Amiya explained, "Maintaining order in Lungmen's Lower City is Rhodes Island's biggest business in Lungmen."
Oute added, "It's also the only industry that's losing money in terms of economic profits."
"Ah?"
The Snow Leopard opened its mouth.
Chapter 258 Impressions of Lungmen: Giant Enterprises
Since the emphasis is on economic losses, it's natural that they will be recouped in other areas. Enciodes Silverash, who is also quite successful in the business world and also undermines national interests, naturally understands this principle.
Not to mention, contracting out security services for an entire region... if Rhodes Island were to act even slightly unscrupulously, the gray or even black income they could extract would be extremely considerable.
But... would Rhodes Island do that?
After walking around the streets of the civilian district, Enciodes Silverash realized that what Oute had said was basically true.
But another fact was missing from Doctor. Oute's account:
The people in the civilian district love Rhodes Island. This love is an intimate love, but it's also a superficial love that can easily turn into hate.
But those children wandering the streets, those infected people who even dare to go out and bask in the sun, and those gangsters who, despite their fear, are willingly subdued...
They all acknowledge Rhodes Island's... rule.
As lord Enciodes Silverash, he was confident he couldn't be wrong, and he had no intention of glorifying Rhodes Island's success in the civilian district—in fact, such an assessment could easily backfire on him. However, had Lungmen been too lenient with a company like Rhodes Island?
"... It is expected that within six months, the shacks here..."
Enciodes Silverash shook his head and asked, "Rhodes Island has other businesses in Lungmen, right?"
Oute replied seriously, "Strictly speaking, we don't own it entirely; we are merely the largest shareholder with operational control."
"For example?"
"The most profitable company is still Taikoo White Sugar. Therefore, we will keep this company as unchanged as possible to maintain cash flow."
"What about the other companies?"
"A salt company, several metal processing enterprises of different types, and... Originium refinery."
"Wait, I remember your company's main business is... pharmaceuticals?"
While the security contractors were already outrageous, there was at least one "field operations department" that set a precedent. However, these companies don't really have much to do with pharmaceuticals!
Oute said without mincing words, "If providing 'security services' to civilian areas is Rhodes Island's most loss-making industry in Lungmen, then pharmaceuticals are Rhodes Island's most loss-making industry across the entire Terra."
He added, "If it weren't for wealthy individuals like you sponsoring sick relatives, Rhodes Island's Medical Department would have gone bankrupt long ago."
"Hahaha..."
Because the Doctor in this timeline is too "outspoken," it not only makes the little rabbit firmly believe that "Doc Otter can't live without me," but also turns her good daughter Amiya into a firefighter, and even gives her a unique entrance sound effect.
"Doc Otter is expressing his gratitude to Mr. Silverash and other conscientious members of the upper class for their support of Rhodes Island..."
No wonder Amiya became increasingly insecure; what she said was indeed quite outrageous.
Enciodes Silverash then asked casually, "Then why does Rhodes Island still need medical services?"
Oute waved to the approaching traffic in the distance—the vehicles he had dispatched while giving directions to the Engineering Department had also arrived.
He replied, "Because that's why Rhodes Island was founded."
"All other profit-making projects exist to supply this goal."
The Snow Leopard's tail, which had been swaying slightly, paused for a moment.
Is he serious?
While Enciodes Silverash was still hesitating, two trucks transporting raw materials to the Originium Refinery pulled over to the side of the road.
"Mr. Silverash, I guess you must be very interested in the factory we operate."
"... I remember that it's a dangerous act that non-staff members are prohibited from riding in such trucks into the factory, according to the regulations?" Snow Leopard did not directly deny it.
Although the workers of Kjerag are mostly at a basic level of knowledge, and skilled, daring workers who have even made a fatal mistake often have their own dangerous methods, it's quite something that this Doctor would actively display this side in a "diplomatic" setting...
Although he and Gnosis share some similarities in temperament and can be incredibly infuriating when they want to, they are ultimately very different.
He... was too absorbed in his own world.
Snow Leopard shook his head inwardly. After witnessing Oute firsthand, he realized that Gnosis was actually quite easy to get along with.
But why would Rhodes Island send him to the meeting? Such a reclusive researcher would be better suited to be a chief technology officer, just like our Gnosis!
Enciodes Silverash was also glad he had made the decision.
"Yes, it poses a significant safety hazard if unauthorized personnel ride in work vehicles into the factory." With that, Oute asked the infected truck driver to get out of the vehicle, then got in himself, saying without batting an eye, "That's why I forbid them from doing so."
He sets boundaries for others while doing whatever he wants himself... This scoundrel has an utter arrogance when it comes to things he can control.
Laurentina smiled and picked up the little bunny, tossing her onto Oute in the passenger seat, while she took the steering wheel herself.
"Mr. Silverash, if you and your friend can't drive the truck, you can wait a little while. There are a few other trucks nearby." Oute glanced at the truck while checking on the progress of the Engineering Department's work.
"No need, the Matterhorn can drive it. Weiss and I can just squeeze in."
This truck only has two proper seats in the cab. Although there is some space to rest in the back half of the cab, it is not very presentable.
Demeanor is probably one of the things Silverash's least concerned about today.
The truck, fully loaded with Originium crystal shells, traveled through the roads of the civilian district to a remote factory. As part of the Originium Industry, this factory was naturally not located in the upper city.
Along the way, Enciodes Silverash was admiring the Mobile City of Lungmen.
They've actually managed to cram an entire river into this Mobile City... and it even has a complete inland waterway transportation system!
Kjerag really needs to keep up with the times!
As the truck drove into the industrial park, Enciodes Silverash noticed the Originium crystals on the workers.
After getting out of the car, he was about to ask a question when he noticed two infected individuals rushing up to take over the truck he and Oute were riding in. He finally realized that everything was going on in a way that was... eerily smooth.
But the issue of the infected workers is more important.
"Doctor. Oute, the number of infected people in this factory seems rather high?"
Oute nodded and said, "All its employees, including management, are infected."
"After taking over the company in Lungmen, we reorganized the personnel, and concentrated the vast majority of infected workers in this factory while ensuring that the previous and current job types were consistent or that the jobs were easy to learn."
Chapter 259 Technocrats
"Obtaining a cure for Originium Infection, or discovering an effective way to suppress it, is a long process."
While explaining, Oute casually pulled out his terminal and monitored the Engineering Department's analysis of the Kjerag minerals in real time.
He then pointed to the truckloads of Originium shells and said to Enciodes Silverash, "Even without me, if this research could overcome all the visible and invisible obstacles and proceed smoothly, then this 'long process' itself would be the succession of countless generations."
"Rhodes Island has to consider how infected people should live until more effective and cheaper drugs become available."