Chapter 136: Chapter 127: Ideals and Unforgiveness_2
However, senior officialdom and lucrative salaries were not the reason for his excitement now.
For him personally, were these things worth exchanging for the lives of his entire family?
If given the choice, he would not choose this path a hundred times over.
But his grandfather had chosen it, and it was only when disaster struck that he realized it.
When he had just decided to come to Governor’s Camp to help the governor, he knew his decision represented the Hodgson Family’s stance being laid bare. But at that time, the worst outcome he could imagine was that his grandfather would face tremendous pressure in Revival City, and the family would be suppressed.
But all that could be recovered, all would be taken back after the governor’s success.
He never thought that the Speaker of the Alliance Council would die in the capital of the Alliance.
But Hodgson had probably foreseen this; he just hadn’t told him.
Was it for him?
Was it for the Hodgson family?
Lambert didn’t think so.
If it was for these reasons, they wouldn’t have needed to go this far. What Hodgson Family is there to speak of now? Everyone’s dead except for him.
So what was it all for?
He remembered the conversation with his grandfather just before he left Revival City to join the governor.
“The whole planet is longing for revival, the sooner the better. I’m willing to make the first contribution, rather than wait in silence. Being a promoter of the era is far more meaningful than waiting anxiously to board the train when the era changes.”
This statement doomed a political family of Revival City, but it also became the catalyst that allowed the governor to become the owner of Revival City much earlier.
Regardless of how many twists and turns there were in the process, it had now become a fact.
Why say that only the governor can save the world?
This question is better transformed into what exactly did the empire bring to Rage Owl Star?
History is a witness.
Imperial taxation was indeed a heavy oppression, but in the hundred years after the war and before returning to the empire, was the situation on Rage Owl Star any better?
It was terrible, even worse than during the second governor’s era.
When the first governor established the Alliance, the total population on Rage Owl Star was probably just over twenty million; after his seventeen-year rule, this number rose to nearly fifty million, doubling. The birth rate increased significantly, the death rate dropped dramatically, and a large number of hidden populations re-emerged due to social development.
Only in the last twelve years, it has fallen to less than forty million again.
Returning to the empire indeed brought heavy taxation. But apart from that, it wasn’t without benefits.
In rebuilding the world, the empire would allocate financial subsidies, distributed by the Star Sector Government.
This aid, in the hands of the first governor, led to seventeen years of substantial development on Rage Owl Star, tantamount to being the engine of the planet’s revival.
Without these, could the first governor have formed the Alliance, integrating the various forces by risking his neck?
Besides the reconstruction aid, another significant benefit of returning to the empire was interstellar trade.
Upon returning to the empire, after having their governor, the Imperial Merchant Fleet would make Rage Owl Star a trading stop. Many things that could not be produced locally on Rage Owl Star would become available through interstellar trade.
These two aspects were the greatest benefits after rejoining the empire.
Was Rage Owl Star really unable to develop?
Not at all.
Though difficult, with imperial aid and joining the interstellar trade routes, Rage Owl Star should have been thriving.
What they needed was a reliable governor.
He could not be as incompetent as the first three governors, controlled as soon as they stepped into office, their decrees never leaving the office; nor could he be like the second governor, who ruled the world with violence and fear, completely disregarding development, draining the pond to catch the fish, which would inevitably lead to collapse; even the first governor, capable though he may have been, was too kind and lacked the authority of a ruler.
The loose structure of the Alliance allowed the various forces to have a considerable degree of independence, making it impossible to gather the planet’s strength for focused development and to handle the imperial taxation rationally. This was the scourge left by the first governor.
These were the conclusions Lambert had reached by himself.
He was betting on whether Gu Hang was a governor who met these requirements.
At least so far, he felt he had bet correctly.
Given the circumstances, saving the entire world seemed to be no longer an empty notion.
And this is precisely why he and Hodgson were willing to give their all.
…
After leaving the meeting room, Lambert didn’t immediately attend to the legislative work assigned by the governor; instead, he went to the Alliance Prison to see a person.
A former Alliance Councilman, Bradford.
This individual had not appeared on the previous execution list.
Normally, he would have been condemned to death. The number of crimes he was involved in far exceeded that of many who had been sentenced to death and executed.
But he had not been killed.
It is said that this was because he had made significant contributions to justice.
Primarily, Bradford had accused many people of crimes and had provided evidence of those crimes.
Of course…
“You know,” Lambert said to Bradford inside the cell, “when being so-called ‘stain witness’ cannot redeem your crimes, we really don’t need the accusations you’ve made, that evidence.”
Bradford’s mental state seemed to be quite good as he nodded: “I understand.”
“Now, the real opportunity to make a contribution has arrived,” Lambert continued, “Minister Oseina has a task for you.”
“It’s about the food issue, isn’t it.”
“Yes, you are smart,” Lambert said, “Now, Lady Ossina is the only appointed minister, in charge of finance, civil affairs, production, and commerce. These responsibilities will definitely be divided in the future, and you must surely be interested in the position of Minister of Commerce. However, this position is highly competitive, and you are at an inherent disadvantage.”
Bradford listened carefully.
And he was somewhat surprised by Lambert’s attitude.
Lambert, however, ignored this and just continued: “If you truly want to make your way into the new government, you need to make a strong first impression and prove your value. Tackling the food issue is an excellent starting point.”
“I understand, thank you.”
Lambert held up his hand, stopping the thanks: “Someone will let you out in a moment and take you to see Minister Oseina, do your job well.”
With that, he turned to leave.
“Wait.” Bradford called out to him.
Lambert stopped but did not turn around.
“I’m very sorry, truly sorry.”
Lambert knew that Bradford’s apology was directed at the Hodgson Family. He waved his hand, his back still to Bradford, and said: “Don’t be under any illusions, I’ve heard your apology, but I will never forgive you. The sole reason you are still alive is that you are still useful to the governor. You’d better ensure that reason remains valid, otherwise, no matter where you flee, I will make you pay the price you owe.”
…
The newly free Bradford felt quite good.
Even though Lambert had verbally threatened him just before his release, he did not take it to heart.
Or rather, Lambert’s attitude was entirely to be expected.
Even if he wasn’t the mastermind, he was still a key accomplice in the downfall of the Hodgson Family; the two had irreconcilable differences.
Asking himself honestly, if he had been in the same position, he might have risked the governor’s punishment just to kill an enemy.
In fact, by delivering Bradford into Lambert’s hands, the governor probably intended to leave the decision up to Lambert himself. If Lambert had truly wanted his life, the governor might not have said a word of reprimand.
No matter why Lambert chose not to act, at least Bradford was still alive.
Moreover, he now had the opportunity to climb even higher.
Minister of Commerce… If he secured that position, his status might not be any less than before.
Feeling motivated, after meeting Ossina, he truly gave it his all.
————
4k dual integration.