Chapter 667: 380, must maintain respect for Gu Hang_2
This is one of the nine planets in the Tianma Star Sector, and it shares a star system with Korolya III.
In terms of volume and area, it is the largest in the Tianma Star Sector; in terms of population, it is the smallest.
This is a mineral planet with a population of about ten million, almost all of whom are miners, along with industries servicing mineral extraction; the planet’s orbit features a cargo starport.
Although its development coefficient is only 1, it still bears a resource tax, with a fixed amount of one hundred million. In fact, the planet’s annual output is around three hundred million, nearly all from mining, with one hundred million paid in taxes, costs of one hundred fifty million, and the remaining fifty million can roughly be considered profit.
This planet, with its small population and singular output, and being in the same star system as a large planet like Korolya III, traditionally has its Planetary Governor concurrently held by the Governor of Korolya, and that extra fifty million in revenue is essentially a subsidy for Korolya.
When he took over as the Korolya Governor, the ownership of Korolya I wasn’t explicitly stated; it is now under the interim management of the Star Sector Government.
…
Gu Hang had long wanted to take it back. He was quite eager for this place.
As the Alliance’s large-scale industrial production grew more and more fierce, especially after Korolya’s industrial capacity caught up, the consumption of raw materials would increase to a particularly terrifying level.
For a mining planet like Korolya I, to those previous worthless Governors, indeed there was only fifty million in profit, but in the hands of Gu Hang, it would be different. He couldn’t understand how such a large mining planet could yield so little profit in a year?
Even if it had been mined for many years and the output had decreased, it still shouldn’t be this low.
However, before this, Gu Hang felt that this matter was not particularly easy to handle; those people wouldn’t easily hand over Korolya I to him. There might be some complications involved, and further struggles might be necessary to take it into his hands.
Unexpectedly, the parliamentary faction of the Star Sector Government just gave it to him just like that.
Although they didn’t trouble him with the tax assessment and handed over Korolya I to him, these were things that should naturally belong to Gu Hang. But given the nature of those from the Parliamentary Faction, it obviously wouldn’t be that simple.
In the world, nothing is ever ‘rightfully’ yours; the generosity of those people made Gu Hang deeply ponder.
He hardly expended any effort and guessed a reason:
It was nothing but the Fatches.
To be honest, Gu Hang had little respect for the intentions of the Parliamentary Faction.
Initially, they preferred to let Korolya’s situation deteriorate rather than working together and undermining the Fatches, which Gu Hang found quite contemptible.
Back then, Gu Hang truly couldn’t be bothered to get involved with them, helping neither side.
But now the situation had changed, and it was time to shift his thinking and consider the problem from the perspective of a pure profit-seeking animal.
The Fatches… now that was a juicy piece of meat.
Korolya was their major victory over these years, as they finally extended their influence beyond their three planets;
But it was also their most painful defeat: not only was their reaching claw chopped off, but they also lost their greatest asset, the Dragonhawk 3rd Corps.
They are now, arguably, at their weakest.
Such a piece of meat, who wouldn’t want to take a bite?
However, what Gu Hang wanted was not just to suppress them on a small scale, nor even to target the Fatches Family.
He wanted those three planets.
The Fatchess Tri-Star, located in the same star system, was the cradle of the Fatches Family, with a total population of ten billion evenly distributed across the three planets. The development grade of these three planets is 2.
Even Gu Hang thought his appetite might be a bit too big.
And this could not be made public.
Who would let him have them?
However, after making careful calculations, he found it was not impossible; it all depended on how to operate it.
Gu Hang gathered some people for a secret meeting and discussed many specific measures and methods in detail.
The attendees included officers from the Alliance Foreign Affairs Department as well as candidates from the Demon Hunter Organization under the jurisdiction of the legal system.
Besides internal anti-corruption efforts, the Demon Hunters also deal extensively with foreign intelligence.
Now, the ‘Demon Hunter’ organization was not solely comprised of individuals trained by Gu Hang through military badges. It had evolved into an important espionage and intelligence agency for the Alliance.
To act against the Fatches, the work of the diplomatic corps and the special service organs was indispensable.
Gu Hang hoped to know whether these two departments of the Alliance were prepared for such an undertaking.
And the response he received left him quite satisfied.
…
Flying Wing Star, Governor’s Residence.
After ending the call with Gu Hang, Ivan Martinelli felt utterly exhausted.
He hesitated, but still could not resist asking the young Pei Desi beside him, “Did you feel that Gu Hang was deliberately provoking you just now?”
Pei Desi was still somewhat indignant, “Of course! He said I was nowhere near as good as my brother! Weren’t those words just meant to trouble me on purpose?!”
“And have you thought about why he would deliberately provoke you?”
“What other purpose could there be?” Pei Desi gritted his teeth, “He has no intention of cooperating! You shouldn’t have been so polite to him, even somewhat obsequious! In my opinion, he’s even worse than the Fatches!”
Martin Nelli sighed deeply.
He now felt that the words Gu Hang had spoken earlier were not meant to provoke anyone, but perhaps the truth had been inadvertently spoken.
But he could only hold it in and be careful not to be careless.
Meanwhile, Pei Desi grew even more presumptuous, “Let’s deal with this Gu Hang first!”
Martin Nelli, inwardly frustrated, grew stern, “Deal with Gu Hang? With what do you propose to deal with him?”
Without waiting for Pei Desi to speak, the Star Sector leader continued:
“His victory in the war has earned him immense fame throughout the entire star sector; the Gu Clan along with the neutral faction led by Fufana, combining naval power and the influence of the Empire Commerce Guild in the sector, have the final say once you leave the planetary surface;”
“He is now the favored protege of General Lois, and the Star Domain Military Affairs Department has even seen the potential of his Rage Bear Legion. There are plans to expand the Rage Bear Legion by twenty times, a scheme that includes countless budgets and interests!”
“The former War Apostle who has been looking favorably upon him is now the deputy director of the Central Military Department of the Empire, having secured him the rank of imperial major general and the Glorious Medal. In the whole star sector, only old Fufana has ever received such a grade of accolade!”
“On the political level, from the star sector to the star domain and up to the Central Government of the Empire, his connections span everywhere. With such a background, what do we have to topple him with?”
Pei Desi was still not convinced, “He’s just a greenhorn…”
“What? Someone dares to call him a greenhorn even now? I don’t care what you truly think, but remember, Pei Desi, you must show him respect in every setting.”
“He is the lawful master of three—now four—worlds, his allegiance is triply recognized from the star domain to the Cosmos Domain to the Central Empire; he rules over more than forty billion people, Heijian Star has food production; industrial output on Rage Owl Star is skyrocketing; Korolya possesses an endless population…”
“Behind him must be the support of the Sect of Mechanics, numerous mysterious technologies of unknown origin, helping him rapidly develop his worlds. His army is the most combat-ready and numerous in the star sector; innumerable mid- and high-level navy officers, captains of the Tianma Fleet, are proteges and officials from the family of his fiancée.”
“He has become a person not to be offended in the Tianma Star Sector, as well as our sole choice for an ally now.”
Pei Desi’s face turned ashen, and he remained silent.
And Martinelli, having said so much in one breath, felt as though a stone weighed heavily upon his chest, stifling him.
The two men looked at each other in silence.
Eventually, he let out a long sigh, “Don’t be in a hurry, Pei Desi, don’t be in a hurry… Once we get our hands on the Fatchess Tri-Star, then we’ll have the capital to fight Gu Hang again…”