Chapter 842 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 842: The Arrival of the Family On the western coast of the Zhongzhou Continent, far from the barren deserts, lies a prosperous settlement called "Avant." This settlement is home to over a million free people, and when accounting for non-free citizens, the population reaches approximately two to three million. Although a million may not seem much in the priational province of the Thousand Tribes and Gods, it's quite remarkable in other areas of the wasteland, even in relatively stable military homeland regions. As the "capital" or the "garrison district headquarters" of the Southern Legion, it is the most densely populated settlement of the Legion's homeland and serves as the logistics hub and strategic command center for various combat units. Legend has it that this settlement was named after a brave Velant centurion. Over a century ago, during a time when the Legion faced existential threats, it was Centurion Avant and his loyal and courageous troops who, armed with rudimentary weapons, destroyed nearly a hundred autonomous defense robots in a valiant battle, seizing this land from the hands of the "Remnants of the Unnamed Union." Because of this, the word Avant became synonymous with "advancing southward," representing courage and glory within the Legion. As for the original name of the settlement, no one remembers it, but it probably wasn't as catchy as Stone City. The people who lived here seemingly disappeared over time, as if they had never existed in this world. However, Avant, who accomplished great feats for the Legion, apparently did not fight all the battles for his descents. Those who endure hardship continue to endure, those who are skilled in battle continue to fight, just as those who enjoy prosperity will continue to do so. "Path dependency" doesn't only exist in the priational province; it's a primal trait shared by nearly all animals, not limited to primates. It's like seagulls lingering at the docks after tasting fries or whales scraping barnacles off the ship's hull. The greatness of civilization lies in its ability to nurture humanity, to tame parts of our "animal nature," and to mitigate the negative impacts of path dependency to a certain degree, thus enabling us to exit the primordial jungle successfully. However, the Velant and the survivors of the priational province evidently haven't completely left that forest behind. Once again, the Velant face existential threats, as do the priational province survivors who find themselves in their sights. At the military base of Avant, the Southern Legion's garrison district headquarters' highest command room, a closed-door meeting on total war and full mobilization was underway. At the long conference table, the officers sat in solemn anticipation. Officers present at this meeting had to bear at least three stars on their epaulettes as a minimum threshold for participation. Most were four-star and five-star commanders, while at the head of the table sat the Southern Legion's sole six-star marshal, the Legion Commander Tyr. All eyes were focused on Tyr, waiting for the stern-faced boss to speak. Yet, Tyr remained silent, instead glancing at the chief of staff beside him. Understanding the cue, the chief of staff nodded, tapped his finger on the table, breaking the silence. "Our friends in Triumph City gave us a slap in the face. Just when we were preparing to clean up their mess for their stupidity and avenge our fallen comrades at Westfan Port, they took the initiative, from their stance in Triumph City, to acknowledge the legitimate status of the Balaur nation and the Balaur authorities' handling of the Heavenly King army." His finger landed on a copy of the "Survivors' Daily" Galen Port edition. The newspaper's cover featured a photograph of two men shaking hands; on the left was Balaur's leader, Abusek, and on the right, a lackey of Triumph City's civil clique. A murmur spread across the conference table. The officers exchanged angry glances, their eyes filled with outrage and disbelief. Those civil officials had once again undermined them! And just as their "dog-eat-pig" plan was about to succeed! "Quiet!" The chief of staff knocked the table forcefully, restoring silence to the room before continuing: "Our covert lines in the priational province have been cut. Annexing the priational province through gradual encroachment seems impossible. However, declaring war openly risks corporate intervention." "What we need now is to achieve the greatest results at the least cost. I'd like to hear any good ideas from you." Following his words, another round of whispers ensued until a three-star commander named Goulian stood up. Goulian, just over thirty, exuded the aura of the legendary Eastern Legion commander Griffin, with his upright posture, high-bridged nose, and a cunning intelligence that was barely noticeable beneath his steely gaze. "I have an idea." The chief of staff nodded. "Please speak." Goulian wasted no time. "The Western Empire hasn't been entirely defeated. Even if Triumph City privately signs a peace agreement with Balaur, we can still advance on Balaur in the name of allies of the Western Empire." As his words echoed, several officers began whispering again, and soon another stood up. "That's a good idea, but the problem is, the current emperor of Xi Lian, Wu Tuo, is in Galen Port. That's within the alliance's sphere of influence. If the alliance demands we withdraw in his name, how would you respond?" Though the alliance hasn't done so yet, one can't rule out future possibilities. Honestly, it's not that the Legion fears the alliance or even corporate intervention; the concern is that they could make too many enemies early in the war. Mobilization needs to proceed in phases and steps. The later the adversary gets involved, the later they start mobilizing, which benefits them. This situation illustrates the importance of "legitimacy in war." The more justified the war, the more efficient their mobilization and the greater impact on the opposing side's mobilization and internal peace resistance. Once the Legion fully controls the priational province and quashes all opposition, corporate condemnation would be toothless, mere lip service. Goulian, anticipating this line of questioning, confidently replied: "That's easily solved. Didn't they leave a crown prince in the northern three states? We can enthrone the prince as the new emperor and find a way to eliminate Wu Tuo. Even if it comes to that, there would be two 'Xi Lians' in the priational province." "That's a great plan!" A look of approval adorned the chief of staff's face. Even Tyr, who had been silent throughout, glanced twice at Goulian. The officer who initially objected pondered for a bit longer but eventually sat back down, unable to propose a better alternative. Seeing no further objections, the chief of staff turned to Tyr, who nodded, then looked back at Goulian. "With no objections from the others, we'll entrust this task to you." After a pause, he straightened his expression facing the long meeting table, and solemnly declared: "Effective immediately, this office appoints Commander Goulian as the overall commander in the priational province operation zone! You'll oversee thirty ten-thousand-member units, responsible for devising all strategic actions in this operational area!" Receiving his orders, Goulian turned toward the Legion Commander and chief of staff, saluting crisply and accepting with a booming voice. "Commander Goulian accepts the orders! We shall return victorious in triumph!" Watching the bright-faced, high-spirited general, Tyr nodded approvingly from his seat, standing slowly and returning a firm and steady salute. He then spoke the first and only words since the meeting began. "So that the descendants of Velant can live on sunlit lands." "May victory be yours, General Goulian." ... On the streets of Galen Port, newsboys exclaimed and peddled. "Extra! Extra! Triumph City's envoy arrives in the Heavenly Capital!" "The successful conclusion of the meeting between Triumph City's envoy and Abusek!" "The Legion and Balaur Nation have reached an agreement, recognizing the legitimacy of Balaur's government!" At the sound of their cries, passersby halted. Especially in a small noodle shop tucked in a corner of the port district, the curious patrons erupted into startled chatter. "The Legion's envoy has arrived in the Heavenly Capital?" "They're considering negotiations?!" "Incredible!" With tensions at such a boiling point, the guns are practically at each other's throats. The envoy from Triumph City unexpectedly arrived and recognized the legitimacy of the Balaur Nation, leaving the diners in a state of bewilderment, loudly expressing their confusion. This outcome was somewhat inevitable. The headlines in the newspapers only present the surface-level power play, but the underlying negotiations remain unseen. Nonetheless, for Galen Port, where tensions were escalating, this piece of good news was like a welcome rain after a drought, bringing a touch of coolness to the stifling atmosphere. Perhaps... Perhaps this war might not happen after all? Many couldn't help but entertain this thought. However, a few remained clear-headed. "...I fear the Southern Legion is gearing up for action," Ashin said, slightly frowning at the latest edition he had just picked up. Next to him, Kunal hesitated slightly, confused. "But I don't get it, boss. Aren't they going to negotiate?" Ashin shook the newspaper slightly and replied in a measured tone. "Triumph City, or more precisely, the civil officials within the Legion want to negotiate, but the Southern Legion is its own entity... I've told you before, when dealing with a group, don't just focus on one person and imagine them as everyone." This perspective often leads to misjudgments, such as oversimplifying issues as "the Alliance will definitely do this" or "the Legion will definitely do that." Not all survivor factions solve specific problems with abstract thinking, unlike the Western Empire. But one thing is clear: the civilian group and the Southern Legion are certainly at odds. The latter likely made some moves without consulting the former, resulting in a lack of mutual agreement this time. As for the Southern Legion's response, Ashin could only guess. What is certain, however, is that the wolves won't back down easily. To them, the priational province is nearly theirs; they won't loosen their jaws without consuming it or breaking a couple of teeth. Seeing Kunal still puzzled, Ashin didn't explain further, opting instead to address a different matter. "Kunal, how's the task I assigned you coming along?" Prompted by the question, Kunal shelved his unanswered queries and respectfully responded. "It's progressing! We've hit a good moment; Westfan Port is hiring a lot. The previous labor dispatch unit folded, so they're recruiting directly, both labor agencies and port contracting licenses are open now." "To be prudent, our guy got a Velant partner to hold the license. We've got ten or so docks in hand, with three thousand workers under us, and the followers we've developed number around two or three hundred." "Good." Ashin nodded approvingly. Doing business with the Legion doesn't yield much profit; those big-nosed folks are stingy with payments, often defaulting and settling with arms. But money is secondary; talent is the foundation of everything. Especially in chaotic times, the more people you have relying on you, the safer you are, and it makes any business venture more convenient. This insight stemmed from Ashin's own experiences, successful both in Galen Port and Jiaowan. Seeing the approval from his boss, Kunal offered a humble smile. But then, recalling something, he quickly spoke up. "By the way, boss, there's something else... I heard from the western guys about a gang called the Family Brotherhood recently entering Westfan Port." The Family Brotherhood? Ashin was momentarily taken aback, baffled by such an odd gang name. "...Is this Family Brotherhood also a gang from Galen Port?" Kunal shook his head. "No, but I hear they have significant backing, supposedly from Dawn City, and they've even secured investment from the Stone City Workers' Guild." Investment from the Workers' Guild? Is that for real?! Ashin's eyes widened in surprise. Seeing his boss rendered speechless with astonishment, Kunal lowered his voice and continued. "And their method of business expansion is quite interesting. They divide their members into six levels, with the lowest rank being White Family Members, followed by Green, Yellow, Blue, Purple, and the highest seems to be... Gold Family Members?" "We've got someone embedded in their ranks, apparently if you recruit ten people, you become a White Family Member. Develop more members or recruit members of members, reaching a specific number elevates you to Green..." Ashin had never heard of such a business model and looked at Kunal, puzzled, asking: "Does this color system serve any purpose?" Kunal muttered. "I'm not entirely sure. Our guy only made it to being a regular member. They claim not to charge a penny and even offer free classes to their members..." Although they claim not to charge, Kunal suspected a bit of wordplay. After the Westfan Port massacre, the "old intermediaries" were wiped out, raising labor wages at the docks. The base wage climbed from 1 dinar per hour to 2, possibly reaching 3 for overperformance. Whether it's 2 or 3, for merchants and port authority, it's minor. Increased port throughput means greater revenue. Big bosses prioritize efficiency and stability, with handling fees being a trivial matter. As for organized workers, they can earn more than unorganized ones. For instance, a base wage of 2 dinars might increase to 2.5 through gang involvement, with bonus pay raised from 1 to 1.5 for overperformance. Westfan Port's labor agencies primarily profit from this premium. For instance, a worker could only earn 2 dinars, but through the Asassin Gang, it could reach 2.5, with 10% dues leaving 2.25, and no fear of delayed payments. Smaller gangs, lacking the negotiation power of the Asassin Gang, usually maintain wages above 2 dinars, offering various perks, like compensation for injuries or increased bonus pay concessions. The Family Brotherhood, however, represents another scenario. Despite having a larger scale than the well-funded Asassin Gang, they seem to forfeit negotiation capability. Their "family" wages align with small gangs, offering the lowest tier - 2 dinar base wage and 1 dinar base bonus. Though they claim not to take a dime from family members, Kunal deduced they quietly pocketed 20% with their scale! Word was that the colored family members received special stipends, and their members revered the Brotherhood's "not taking a dime" virtue. Thus, the Brotherhood's rapid expansion saw them grow to three to four thousand in just two weeks, continuing to swell. Their ambitions extended beyond docks to steel and cement plants, but due to low margins, they lacked negotiating leverage even as a gang. Taking on unprofitable ventures puzzled Kunal, leaving him unable to discern their true intentions. "This group is odd... Something tells me they're not a typical gang, yet it doesn't seem like charity either. Frankly, I doubt they haven't profited, possibly even more than we legitimate gangs!" "Some gangs believe they're disrupting the market and want an alliance against them, even approaching us. Honestly, it's not their earnings that bother me, and dealing with them isn't hard. I'm just worried about offending any influential backers they might have." Unsure of a course of action, Ashin pondered silently, equally uncertain. He knew about the Worker’s Guild. Though a civil organization, it wielded considerable influence in the Alliance, balanced against the merchants' guild. Many industries relocated to Galen Port for lower production costs, followed by the Worker’s Guild members along their supply chains. According to the members themselves, helping Galen Port workers secure legal rights also safeguarded their own interests. After all, if Galen Port's labor becomes too cheap, causing the cotton entering the Alliance to be tainted with too much sweat and blood, it could drive down the price of labor, ultimately affecting their own interests. Even if clothes become cheaper, one still needs money to buy them; they can't just rely on unemployment benefits. However, due to many grassroots organizations in Galen Port, whether legal, illegal, or in the gray area, the Workers’ Guild as an external force found it challenging to expand its business as successfully as the domestically integrated "Survivor's Daily." Ashin didn't concern himself too much with these matters. In Galen Port, he was a legitimate businessman. His less reputable ventures were left to Tiger State and Leopard State, with no conflicts of interest with the Alliance's Workers’ Guild. However, the timing of the Family Brotherhood’s entry into Westfan Port was uncanny, especially with the support from the Alliance's civil organization, raising his concerns about possible covert backing from the Alliance. After pondering for a while, Ashin spoke gravely: "It's hard to say... If you don't know what they're up to, how could I? Let's observe for a while." He paused before continuing: "Regardless of whether they have Alliance backing, let's not provoke them for now... Someone will confront them eventually." Such a vast grassroots organization is sure to attract the Legion's attention sooner or later. He decided to wait and see how the Legion would handle it. If those guys were indeed affiliated with the Alliance, helping them might even earn a favor... With this plan in mind, Ashin gave some simple instructions. As he finished, another thought crossed his mind, prompting him to ask casually: "By the way, have you found out who's leading the Family Brotherhood?" Kunal promptly replied: "His name is supposedly Zaid, a serpent man of sorts, really a nobody. I've never heard of any notable accomplishments." Zaid? Ashin furrowed his brows slightly, this name sounding familiar yet he couldn't quite place it. At that moment, his gaze drifted to a noodle shop by the street, recalling a plain face from his memory. It was that guy! The one who worked lackadaisically and had the audacity to tell him he would go to Dawn City to find something. A peculiar grin curled at the corner of Ashin's mouth. He remembered that incident now. He'd been in a good mood that day, found the guy's story amusing and bold, so he casually gifted him a ship ticket. A ship ticket that cost him next to nothing, especially compared to his investments in Larsi, which were significant. Come to think of it, this world is indeed small; he'd almost forgotten the name but heard it again by chance. He wondered if that fellow ever found the "thing" he was looking for... ... While Ashin marveled at the small world, a large military transport plane was smoothly landing at the outskirts of Galen Port. Accompanied by a dozen bodyguards, the Alliance's Foreign Minister, Cheng Yan, descended the plane via the boarding car. Waiting alongside the airport runway was a welcoming committee. The party included the secretary-general of Galen Port's governor's office, Yodu, senior municipal officials, regional representative council members, and the militia group leader. Every figure of authority in Galen Port stood there, eagerly awaiting the Alliance's foreign minister as he disembarked from the plane. They knew very well who the true savior of the priational province was! "Welcome, Mr. Cheng!" Hastening his steps, Yodu warmly grasped Cheng Yan's hand, his face alight with excitement. "The survivors of Galen Port have been wishing upon stars for your arrival!" To Be Continued...