Chapter 35: Henry, Oh Henry
Denison Henry discovered that every time he visited the Governor’s camp, he would see a new surprise.
This time, having completed a business deal and coming to see the Governor again, he was accompanying Gu Hang in inspecting the newly established synthetic starch production line.
He watched as the workers mixed the dissected corpses of mutant monsters, scrap wood materials left over from construction, and things like leaves and branches collected from nearby woods, and fed them into a machine.
After being crushed, decomposed, and restructured, the other end of the machine output rectangular blocks of starch.
Each block weighed a standard fifty grams, and just a few blocks were enough to keep an adult from starving.
Although the raw materials used for its production seemed a bit… strange, Henry still realized the immense value of this technology.
Toxic mutant monster corpses, wooden waste, weeds with very low nutritional value, old clothes, and ragged fabrics…
These things, which were originally of very low value, could be transformed into precious food on the wasteland through this machine.
So what if the ingredients were disgusting? When people are starving, do they really care that much?
This was legitimate food, carbohydrates, with high-calorie content.
Wasn’t this much better than finding some wild vegetables, weeds, bugs, mixing them with a bit of grain, and cooking a watery porridge?
Henry pinched his nose and personally tried eating a block.
The taste… It could be said to be flavorless, like eating plaster, with just a hint of sweetness from the simple decomposition of starch by saliva and a bit of saltiness.
But again, these issues were not problems on the wasteland.
Not to mention the environment on the wasteland where people were starving, even the Imperial Star Realm Army and the Imperial Navy, when supplies were not so smooth, still had a significant portion of their food ration realized through ‘corpse starch’.
Who was nobler than whom?
This was a terrifying technology.
Henry’s eyes widened as he saw it, and he said, “Incredible, I…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Gu Hang raising his hand: “Don’t talk, I just brought you here to have a look.”
“Uh…”
Henry’s face turned a bit red as he was choked off.
But soon after, he also quickly understood that part of the business, especially the production line and technology, was something he could not get from the Governor.
In a sense, this technology had the potential to change the entire world and was of great significance.
He could only feel regret about this, in addition to strengthening his resolve to cling tightly to the Governor’s coattails.
After the visit to the newly established synthetic starch production line, Gu Hang then took Henry to his office.
After just completing a business deal, Henry had many things to report to Gu Hang.
Sitting in front of the Governor, Henry was somewhat apprehensive. “This time, I did not fail in my mission. Alloy and Plastic Steel caused a sensation among material merchants in Revival City. This material was previously available only in small quantities from Blackbird Heavy Industries, which controlled it very strictly. Now that there is another source, those merchants are very happy, and our goods sell very well.”
“I have also basically brought back everything you asked for. The generators using Hot Ash Stone should be enough to build a small power plant. I also leveraged my connections in Garbage Town to procure a batch of Hot Ash Stone. The textile machines are sufficient to set up a production line. We recruited more than two thousand refugees in one go through the porridge shop publicity station we set up…”
“However, Revival City has been a bit turbulent recently, affecting our prices. The Alliance Council has been conducting a city-wide purge of heretical cults like madmen, implicating many people and causing widespread panic. I heard that a council member responsible for food was found to be colluding with a cult. It’s said that… you were furious about it, Governor?”
Henry paused and glanced at Gu Hang.
Seeing no response to the question, he understood—it was tacit approval, wasn’t it? Maybe it was even the Governor who dealt with the person.
He continued, “This incident has caused a huge stir, throwing the entire Revival City into chaos. The council member in question is finished, and the food trade he controlled has become chaotic, affecting the entire market. If it weren’t for this, we could have sold our Alloy and Plastic Steel at an even better price.”
“However, it’s not too bad now. Revival City is the largest market nearby, not only with a strong consumption capacity for various raw materials but also importantly serving as a core trade hub connecting multiple forces and regions. I have also reached long-term agreements with many agents who can take in large quantities, ensuring there’s no worry about sales.”
“Additionally, our bulletproof vests have become even more popular in Garbage Town. Those things can actually withstand a bullet from a Greenskin Beast! Now our products are a hit in Garbage Town! Recently, the activity range of those Greenskin Beasts has been increasing, and scavengers and adventurers are clashing with them more frequently. Military equipment and bulletproof gear are now the best-selling items.”
“This is an opportunity, Governor. I don’t dare to ask for all exclusive rights, but if you would grant me exclusive sales rights for the armored vests, it would greatly help me secure the qualification as an agent in Garbage Town! Then, I can serve you even better!”
After reporting a bunch of situations—mainly to take credit—Denison Henry couldn’t help but mention the exclusive authorization he had been longing for.
In his view, Governor, you asked me to prove my loyalty, and I think I’ve done well this time, haven’t I?
I obtained the materials and equipment you wanted by any means necessary; I recruited the population you needed at my own expense and brought them to you.
Isn’t that enough to prove my loyalty?
You’re unwilling to grant me full authorization for the Alloy and Plastic Steel production line, but giving me exclusive rights for the bulletproof vests isn’t too much to ask, is it?
“Henry, oh Henry…” Gu Hang muttered his name, “Should I call you clever or foolish?”
“I… I don’t understand?”
“You are so clever. You are showing me that you have made contributions and are expressing your loyalty. You are saying that you will do more and better in the future, hoping to obtain exclusive authorization from me. You are worried that by opening up the market for materials and bulletproof armor, more merchants will come to me, also wanting to do this business, making it impossible for you to earn this exclusive income anymore.”
Hearing this, although it seemed like praise, Denison Henry only felt embarrassed.
What Gu Hang said was indeed what he had in mind, and it wasn’t that difficult to guess.
But…
Who directly says it out loud like this? Where does this leave my dignity?
He didn’t speak, and Gu Hang continued, “But you are also so foolish, unable to see the essence of things. The production capacity for Alloy and Plastic Steel is not much. Expanding the scale takes time. Now and in the near future, you can consume all the goods. So, what are you worried about?”
“Are you worried that if you are unwilling to work wholeheartedly for me in the future, I will find a better collaborator?”
“Are you worried that you won’t be able to manipulate the prices of the goods at will, and your future earnings will be restricted by me?”
“Are you worried that you won’t be able to make me rely on you constantly, and that you won’t be able to become the master behind the Governor in the future?”
“Henry, oh Henry, tell me, are these your concerns?”