The King's Hand / Government in Exile

Doctor. Oute, it was a pleasure chatting with you.

Especially when we were all cursing Victoria together... but unfortunately, I had to come with the same condition.

Enciodes Silverash exclaimed cheerfully, "Haha, so it's Incandescent Alloy!"

... Um?

High added value, small size, and closely related to Originium Electronics Technology.

A flash of inspiration struck the Snow Leopard.

Furthermore, Rhodes Island is also skilled in crystal shell technology!

If we acquire the technology transfer for Incandescent Alloy, even with the limited transport capacity of the Kjerag train freight system, we may still gain a comparative advantage in the field of Originium Electronics Technology!

Oh no... I want the ship too, I want a custom-built Incandescent Alloy production line, and I want to establish a closer cooperative relationship with Rhodes Island, and ride the coattails of Originium Electronics technology...

Therefore, Karlan Trade would require...

"SilverAsh?" Dr. Oute Doctor, somewhat surprised, "What are you spacing out for?"

"I'm thinking about some technical details."

"What details?"

Enciodes Silverash smiled wryly, "To be honest, all the details."

"Ha!" Doctor. Oute suppressed a laugh and said, "To be honest, there are many details I don't understand either."

"Modern Originium technology has developed into a vast system," Doctor. Oute began, "The era when a single genius craftsman could master and complete all the most cutting-edge technologies is gone forever."

"Even I am only capable of making connections within the field of Originium. My understanding of mechanics and biology is relatively limited."

"Yes, I was wondering when my technical officer would arrive," Enciodes Silverash explained. "I was in Victoria when I received the call. And your engineers don't need a particularly large variety of minerals, which the branch office happens to have."

"Your technical officer came from Kjerag?"

"That's exactly right."

Although Doctor. Oute is somewhat... overly focused on his professional field, he is indeed a good person you can confide in.

But is Rhodes Island truly a force that can be trusted and relied upon?

Given the weakness of Karlan Trade, will it seize the opportunity to lure me, a decision-maker "completely ignorant" of technology, into signing a malicious contract?

The strong have the luxury of not testing people's hearts; they have enough resources to not gamble, let alone risk their lives on the whim of someone... But the weak cannot.

The weak must gamble, small nations must gamble.

Since we're going to gamble, we have to clarify one point: Is Rhodes Island a reliable ally, or a dubious one?

Karan... our Kjerag... can we...?

Enciodes Silverash closed his eyes and, for the first time in many years, silently prayed in his heart. His prayer was so stiff, so reluctant, yet so devout.

Kjeragandr! Bless us! Bless the Karlan Trade! Bless... Kjerag!

This is the best opportunity I've seen in years!

Please... bless Rhodes Island, bless them to be upright and strong.

Upon hearing Noesis's message, Doctor. Oute's expressed concern was exactly what Enciodes Silverash had imagined. "Since the Chief Technology Officer of Karlan Trade hasn't arrived yet, there's no need to sign the contract for the time being."

"Sometimes the Engineering Department only thinks about whether it's technically feasible! If there isn't a technician familiar with the local environment of Kjerag to correct them, they'll make a mess of things!"

This is still a technical perspective... So, at Rhodes Island, who exactly does the dirty work? Who's in charge of overseeing the overall situation?

"It just so happens that Enya and you have been separated for quite some time, and Lungmen is a nice place to visit..." Doctor. Oute then added with some annoyance, "Well, due to the aftermath of the Catastrophe, Lungmen isn't really suitable for tourism right now."

I really hope that such a good person will be rewarded!

The Snow Leopard expressed its heartfelt admiration.

Chapter 263 The King's Hand

Testing and probing is actually a very dangerous behavior.

There are many people who believe they can uphold their principles when faced with real challenges. But conversely, as long as these people don't encounter "real challenges," they may indeed be able to uphold their principles.

However, this kind of probing will forcibly drag those who might uphold their principles to the forefront of a test, a "substantive test" they might never otherwise encounter in their lives.

It's like holding a piece of raw, bloody meat in your hands and standing in front of a wild beast, "testing" the tamer's skills.

With this self-awareness, on the second day, Enciodes Silverash finally found a realist among idealists, the person at Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals responsible for making profit-driven decisions...

It wasn't too unexpected: it was Kal'tsit.

Hey... who was the one you were trying to get information out of on the deck?

January 17, 1097, 9:25:45, Number Fourteen Facility.

Looking at the orderly workers, Enciodes Silverash couldn't help but ask, "Is this how Rhodes Island provides disaster relief?"

In the center of Number Fourteen Facility, there is a huge construction site. At the center of the scaffolding is a large hole leading directly to the underlying structure of the site. Elevators constantly lift structural fragments up, which are then transported by trucks to the recycling and sorting center. If you look down from the swaying stairs, you can vaguely see long metal structures reflecting the lights at the dark bottom.

"In certain circumstances, we do do that," Kal'tsit replied, "But that doesn't mean it's a consistent, fixed procedure or a preferred option."

"Chernobog had a population of nearly one million before the disaster. After a series of Catastrophe, approximately 30,000 refugees sought refuge in Lungmen, and about 50,000 in Number Fourteen Facility."

She listed a series of figures and then said, "Although Rhodes Island is very good at handling natural and man- Catastrophe and has reached a cooperation agreement with the Yan government, the nearly 90,000 refugees are still putting us under immense pressure."

The primary cause of death for the vast majority of people in Chernobog was Catastrophe. In the original timeline, Lungmen had approximately 50,000 Chernobog refugees. In this timeline, Rhodes Island successfully and quickly took in the vast majority of the survivors.

Furthermore, since Number Fourteen Facility remains stranded within Ursus territory, refugees who were originally wandering the wilderness are more inclined to head to Number Fourteen Facility rather than Lungmen.

Despite knowing Ursus's infected policy... at this moment, a sense of luck, fear of unfamiliar territory, and some of the tricks of Lungmen's "Black Raincoats" led them to make a decision that was not exactly wise— Lungmen's total population was about four million, but refugees almost all ate in the Lower City, and a large number of Ursus refugees would greatly change the population structure of the Lower City.

Kal'tsit rationally stated, "Despite the involvement of Sarkaz mercenaries and militia, the Sarkaz can only provide necessary violent repression at this point. The militia is slightly better, as they can offer refugees a vision of joining the militia forces."

"With management capacity operating at full capacity, the heavy workload these refugees are doing is less about giving them self-esteem or making up for funding gaps, and more about taking up their spare time and energy."

"... Rhodes Island has it tough too." Enciodes Silverash exclaimed in astonishment.

After all, Kjerag's population isn't that large (and there's a lack of statistical capabilities). Refugees are different from ordinary people living in normal circumstances; just imagining the extra effort required to manage the basic needs of 90,000 "extra" people is already a headache.

Not to mention the consumption of resources.

What Enciodes Silverash didn't know was that there was an even more significant problem: these refugees were actually mixed with a large number of Reunion Movement members.

"That statement is also slightly inaccurate," Doctor. Oute stated bluntly. "The moving modules of this relocated site are beyond repair. Dismantling the surface structure to obtain resources and utilizing waste heat from the power layer for heating is itself..."

Suddenly, someone collapsed.

Without a second thought, the Deepwinter Soldiers began to "maneuver" to create space based on the explosion of the infected.

Kal'tsit darted forward, perched on Mon3ter, and rushed over. After a quick check, she sent Mon3ter to Oute's side.

She nuzzled against Oute, gesturing for him to sit down.

With a thud, Oute landed on the ground.

"Acute Originium Infection," Kal'tsit said quickly and quietly. "He didn't take his medication on time."

Oute sighed.

The cat lowered her head, not daring to look at him, but the fact that she had Mon3ter bring Oute over already revealed her intentions.

Well, it does have some benefits in solidifying Enciodes Silverash's understanding of it.

The silver-haired Liberi knelt on one knee and solemnly placed his right hand on the patient's forehead. The patient's pain and convulsions vanished in an instant, and a peaceful smile appeared on his lips.

It is said that... the hands of the Gaul kings possessed the divine power to heal diseases.

Even a touch from their hands, even smallpox...

The legends and stories about Gaul in the library flooded his mind, Enciodes Silverash suddenly realized.

This all makes sense.

"Mon3ter, take him to clean the crystals—just a little," Oute ordered.

Simply suppressing activity does not reverse much of the problem by clearing Originium crystals.

Talulah does indeed have the value of multiple surgeries, but with the series of problems brought about by the nearly 90,000 infected people, the Medical Department, which had just relaxed for a short while, has started running around the clock again.

It's really not worth spending so much manpower and time to replace every single cell in the body of this ordinary infected person.

"Kal'tsit!" Oute stood up, watching Mon3ter's departing figure, and said to Kal'tsit, "I'll make the following arrangements, please record them carefully..."

After the dust settled, Enciodes Silverash saw the husband-and-wife shop owner from Rhodes Island again—yes, obviously.

"What just happened?" he asked.

"Our inhibitors are too cheap. He skipped many treatments and plans to sell the saved drugs on the black market." Doctor. Oute's expression was blank, but his frustration was obvious.

Enciodes Silverash understood:

Rhodes Island pays its infected workers for the drugs based on Rhodes Island own meager profit margin. Therefore, any infected person with a brain can quickly realize the high profits that can be made by reselling them.

However, after careful consideration, they often abandon such a hasty and foolish act: within Rhodes Island's own territory, small batches of inhibitors simply cannot fetch a good price. Only by going to cities where Rhodes Island has a lower market share can they earn the profits they initially envisioned.

That must have happened after they were no longer in refugee status...

He had intended to offer Doctor. Oute some words of comfort, but the Doctor rallied himself. "I've come up with a new idea—only after using it in person each day can one enter the site!"

Chapter 264 Government in Exile

Even the Ursus people wouldn't blindly accept all tyranny—especially since Rhodes Island was acting in their best interests.

That's even harder to accept!

How could you be so good to me!?

Although to outsiders, Oute's speech just now seemed very righteous and noble, his purpose was to make these Ursus people more familiar with one thing: being ruled by Rhodes Island and by Oute.

It remains to be seen what outcome Wei Yenwu will be able to reach with Ursus, but the probability of him directly handing over the entire remaining population of Chernobog to Rhodes Island is not zero, but it can only be said to be less than ten to the power of negative ten.

As a private company, Rhodes Island could naturally continue to "operate" in Chernobog after the negotiations between Ulva and Yan. However, Rhodes Island, no longer the supreme authority among the refugees, could not, as a private company, effectively rule over the remaining Chernobog residents...