Chapter 35: Chapter 35, Henry ah Henry
Dennison Henry discovered that every time he visited the Governor’s camp, he would see something new and surprising.
This time, having completed a business deal and coming to meet the Governor again, he was accompanying Gu Hang, inspecting the newly established synthetic starch production line.
He saw workers mixing the decomposed corpses of exotic monsters, scrap wood materials discarded after construction, and leaves and branches collected from the nearby woods, and feeding them into a machine. The other end of the machine output rectangular blocks of starch after crushing, decomposing, and restructuring the materials.
Each block weighed a standard fifty grams, and a few pieces could keep an adult from starving to death.
Even though the raw materials used in production seemed somewhat… strange, Henry still realized the enormous value of this technology.
Toxic monster carcasses, wooden waste, weeds with very low nutritional value, old clothes, torn fabrics… these things of little worth could be transformed into precious food in the wasteland after processing by this machine.
So what if the ingredients were disgusting? When people were starving to death, who cared about that?
This was bona fide food, carbohydrates, high in calories.
Wasn’t this much better than foraging for wild vegetables, grass, bugs, and mixing them with a bit of grain to cook up a bowl of watery porridge?
Henry pinched his nose and personally tried eating a block.
The taste… it could be said was virtually tasteless, like eating plaster, at most with a hint of sweetness from partially saliva-digested starch, and a bit of saltiness.
But again, these issues were not problems in the wasteland.
Not to mention the life-threatening environment of the wasteland, even in the Imperial Star Realm Army and the Imperial Navy, when supplies were not so smooth, a significant proportion of food rations were met through ‘corpse starch’. So who was nobler than whom?
It was a terrifying technology.
Henry was so amazed that his eyes bulged as he said, “Incredible, I…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Gu Hang raised his hand to interrupt him, “No talking, I just brought you to have a look.”
“Uh…”
Henry’s face turned slightly red with embarrassment.
But he quickly understood that this part of the business, especially the production line and technology, was something he could not obtain from the Governor.
In a sense, this technology had the potential to change the whole world, and it was immensely significant.
He could only feel regret and even more determined to cling closely to the Governor’s coattails.
After visiting the newly established synthetic starch production line, Gu Hang took Henry to his office.
Henry, who had just completed a business deal, had quite a few things to report to Gu Hang.
Sitting in front of the Governor, Henry was somewhat reserved, “This time I’ve successfully accomplished my mission, and the alloy plastic steel has caused a sensation among the material merchants in Revival City. This material, which used to be available only in small quantities from Blackbird Heavy Industries and was tightly controlled by them, now has an additional channel, and those merchants are very happy, and our goods sold very well.”
“The items you wanted, I have mostly exchanged for you. The generators powered by thermoelectric stones should be enough for establishing a small-scale power plant. Moreover, I have mobilized connections in Rubbish Town to allocate a batch of thermoelectric stones. The looms are also adequate to open a production line. The gruel shops cum propaganda stations we set up recruited over two thousand vagrants…”
“However, Revival City has been somewhat turbulent lately, affecting our prices. The Alliance Council has gone mad with a city-wide hunt for Heretic Cultists. Many people got caught up in it, leaving everyone on edge. Rumor has it that a councilor responsible for food was discovered to be in collusion with the Cult. It’s said… it’s said that you, Governor, even lost your temper?”
Henry paused, stealing a glance at Gu Hang. Seeing no response to that question, he understood—the silence was as good as an affirmation, right? Maybe the person was even taken care of by the Governor himself.
He continued, “This matter has caused a great commotion, the whole Revival City is in chaos. And now that the councilor is finished, the food trade market he controlled has also become disordered, and the entire market is unstable. If not for this, we could have sold our alloy steel at an even higher price.”
“But still, things aren’t too bad now, are they? Revival City is the largest market nearby, not only capable of consuming various raw materials but, more importantly, it acts as a trade nexus connecting multiple forces and regions. I have also reached long-term agreements with many agents. They can take on a considerable production volume, so there is no worry about sales.”
“Additionally, those bulletproof vests we sold are an even bigger hit in Rubbish Town. They can even withstand a shot from Green Skin Orcs! Now our goods are completely popular in Rubbish Town! The activity of those Green Skin beasts has been expanding recently. Scavengers and adventurers are clashing with them more frequently, and arms and bulletproof equipment are now the hottest-selling items.”
“This is an opportunity, Governor. I don’t ask for exclusive rights to everything, but if you would grant me the exclusive sales rights for the armored vests, it would greatly help me secure the position of agent in Rubbish Town. Then, I could serve you even better!”
After reporting a multitude of information—mainly to take credit—Dennison Henry couldn’t help but bring up the matter of the exclusive rights he coveted.
In his eyes, Governor, you want me to prove my loyalty, but I’ve done enough this time, didn’t I?
The materials and equipment you wanted, I wracked my brains to get them for you; the population you wanted to attract, I paid from my own pocket to bring them over.
Isn’t that enough to prove my loyalty?
You’re not willing to give me exclusive rights to the entire alloy steel production line, so granting exclusive rights just for the bulletproof vests isn’t too much to ask, is it?
“Henry, oh Henry…” Gu Hang murmured his name, “Should I say you are smart, or foolish?”
“I…I don’t understand?”
“You are so clever; you show me that you have accomplished things, made contributions. You also express loyalty and say you will do more, do better in the future, hoping to obtain exclusive rights from me. You worry that if you create a market for materials and bulletproof armor, more merchants will come to me to do the same business, preventing you from making exclusive profits.”
Having said this and though it was meant to be a compliment, Dennison Henry just felt awkward.
What Gu Hang said was indeed exactly what he was thinking. It wasn’t hard to guess.
But…
Who just lays it out so directly? Where do you expect me to put my face?
He didn’t speak, while Gu Hang continued, “But you are so foolish, failing to see the essence of the matter. The production capacity of alloy steel isn’t abundant, and expanding scale also takes time. For now and the foreseeable future, you can absorb all the goods—what is there to worry about?”
“Are you worried that if you don’t work wholeheartedly for me later, I will find a better collaborator?”
“Are you worried that I will restrict your ability to manipulate the goods’ prices, limiting how much money you can make in the future?”
“Are you afraid that you won’t keep me reliant on you, the one behind the Governor in power?”
“Henry, oh Henry, tell me, are these your concerns?”