However, as factory output increased, shortages of basic supplies began to emerge.
Huron's Civilian Factories were all being used to produce high-value goods such as Vitamin Pills and Gene-seed. They could do nothing to help with bulk basic materials like steel, plastic, Duracrete, and chemicals.
In the projected Hive City reconstruction project, hundreds of millions of tons of steel of every kind could be consumed in a single day, and that did not even include the various other basic supplies.
The Civilian Factories produced only two million tons of starch per day, while their steel production capacity was even lower. Even if every Civilian Factory were thrown into the effort, it would still be a drop in the bucket.
That was why Odinson had insisted that restoring the Hive City's functions be the primary task. At present, the Hive City's imports depended entirely on the nobles' pitiful volume of trade. Most supplies came from recycling waste, which was simply absurd.
Fortunately, the Hive City's ruins contained quite a few materials, and many sealed-off, isolated sections of the Hive City also held substantial stockpiles. Otherwise, Odinson's first priority would have been building up the outskirts and hauling supplies in from outside.
Still, while repairing the Hive City was the main focus, construction in its outskirts had not been neglected.
Highways, Water Pipes, Power Lines, mines, Smelters, and more were all in the planning stages. They aimed to get them built and operational as soon as possible to ease the Hive City's resource strain.
That was also why Armenius had taken the initiative to propose using more engineering machinery. Otherwise, relying on manpower alone, even tossing five billion people into a project of this scale would not make a splash.
Odinson suggested, "Beyond that, we should select one level in the Underhive and prioritize the construction of several Standardized Residential Areas. On one hand, we can verify the technical issues and gain experience. On the other, we can produce results early and raise the workers' morale."
Old John's eyes lit up. "That really is a good approach. When we further refine the workers' organizational structure later, we can group workers from the same areas together and have them handle infrastructure work in their former neighborhoods or nearby. That way, they can see how their work improves their families' lives, which will make them more motivated."
The Underhive construction project was a long-term goal. Many things Huron had taken for granted in his previous life did not exist here: Water Supply and Drainage, Highway Networks, Rain and Sewage Diversion, the Unified Power Grid, Garbage Disposal, public lighting, public transportation, Network Facilities, Community Service... Well, none of the above existed.
The first phased goal of Underhive construction was to build trunk infrastructure covering most areas, including roads, water supply, sewage, electricity, communications, and surveillance, while simultaneously establishing Power Plants and an Air Purification and Circulation System to ensure the Underhive's basic living environment stopped deteriorating.
As for further improvements, those would have to wait until later.
Huron could not help nodding slightly as he watched everyone in the Conference Room working together.
The system's functions really were powerful. It could make everyone pull in the same direction.
In most Chapters, ordinary humans were not even qualified to sit at the table, much less discuss construction plans alongside Astartes.
Take Old John's earlier doubts about Armenius's proposal. In most Chapters, he would have been immediately branded "weak" or something similar, then either stripped of power or killed.
How could it be like this, where Astartes not only explained the reasonableness of their plans to ordinary humans, but also explained the specific solutions?
Once the broad details had been finalized, everyone began getting busy. The Unified Government had only just been established, and everything needed rebuilding.
Besides construction, public security, livelihoods, production, the military, and countless other matters all demanded attention. It made the Astartes wish they could split themselves in two.
Yet under these circumstances, Old John did not follow Odinson to study after the meeting. Instead, he awkwardly sought out Huron.
Yes, awkwardly.
Huron felt as though he had seen a ghost. He had actually sensed that sort of awkwardness from a grown man.
He nearly could not hold it together, so he struck first. "Old John, what do you need from me?"
Old John's tone was hesitant. "Uh, Chapter Master, well, that... after the Ecclesiarchy bishop was imprisoned, um..."
After stammering for a while, Old John simply gave up. "He said he had important intelligence to discuss with me, but he tried to bribe me with assets he had hidden away."
Huron said, "That's it?"
Old John said, "Huh?"
Though Old John looked terrified, Huron truly considered this a minor matter.
Sooner or later, such bribery would be used against government officials. Huron had never expected everyone to follow the rules perfectly without taking any crooked paths. Otherwise, he would not have specifically established the Audit Office and the Supervisory Commission.
So he only asked a few simple questions. "Was the go-between a government official or an Ecclesiarchy remnant? Did he say where the assets were hidden?"
Old John answered honestly, "An Ecclesiarchy remnant. I've already arrested him. He said the assets were stored in the neighboring Culln Sector, and that he would give them to me after he got out."
"Well, look at that. He's trying to swindle someone empty-handed." Huron was speechless. "Perfect. Write a report on this and submit it to the Public Security Bureau. Bribing government officials, concealing assets to resist confiscation, knowingly breaking the law... that adds another charge. He stuck his own head out, so it would be rude not to chop it off."
Huron had already intended to find an opportunity to kill that bishop. Now the man had conveniently handed him a perfectly legitimate reason. It was utterly ridiculous. Not killing him would be an insult to the bishop's cleverness.
"Yes, Chapter Master." Old John left the office, greatly relieved and lighthearted.
Huron then drafted an authorization granting investigative authority to the Supervisory Commission, ordering it to thoroughly investigate who had acted as the intermediary through Old John's connection.
He did not believe the Ecclesiarchy remnants could have contacted the bishop without help, much less specifically reached the highest-ranking non-Astartes official.
The Supervisory Commission's primary investigators happened to be Astartes squads. He wanted to see how those people would react when faced with the God-Emperor's angels.
After drafting the authorization and sending it to the Supervisory Commission, Huron briefly fell into a daze.
The Unified Government had only just been established, yet something like this had already happened. It left him somewhat discouraged.
He asked himself whether he had not treated everyone well, doing everything he could to ensure they all received tangible benefits. Why were some people still so restless?
They had even committed the crime right under his nose, deliberately targeting the Ecclesiarchy bishop he had ordered closely monitored.
The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish, huh? Then don't blame me for being ruthless.
The government's internal problems had no effect on ordinary people. After the new construction plan was issued, Liam, deputy manager of the Carter District Engineering Team, traveled with the Engineering Team under Armed Police protection, visiting various places and gathering information.
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