Chapter 29, What's Wrong with the Puppet?

Gu Hang said he was considering using those abscessed creatures as a food source, and he wasn't just talking nonsense to disgust people.

He truly thought that way.

If there were a choice, of course, normal food would be better than anythingelse. But in this wasteland, with production conditions like this, the number of people that could be sustained was limited, so wasn't one obligated to find every possible solution?

Being well-fed was more important than eating well.

This technology, of course, could potentially be drawn from the "Technology" panel. But the mechanism that, once a technology was highlighted, significantly dropped the probability of that technology being produced next made each technology quota precious. If there was a choice, Gu Hang would prefer not to acquire this technology from the "Technology" panel. He'd rather achieve his goal by normal means.

His gaze turned to the sky.

A certain power on Rage Owl Star might possess similar technology. However, first, Gu Hang hadn't seen it around Revival City, implying that if this technology did exist, it was far away and difficult to obtain. Second, the synthetic starch technology was probably very valuable on a wasteland planet, and those powers wouldn't just hand it over.

It was less effort to fleece the "Quintet" than to go through the trouble of securing such technology.

On a massive starship like the "Quintet," which housed a population of a hundred thousand and didn't always have the opportunity to land for supplies, especially during missions, they certainly had the technology to recycle almost any usable organic matter.

Thinking this, he coughed lightly twice, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I just asked her for two hundred sets of equipment and four armored vehicles last time, and today I'm going right back to ask for new technology? Doesn't feel quite right."

"I won't ask today, I'll go ask her tomorrow."

With this thought in mind, Gu Hang felt much more at ease.

Gu Hang, in high spirits, hummed a tune and waited for Dennison Henry, the trader from Rubbish Town.

...

Dennison Henry finally met Governor Gu Hang.

After an exhaustive body search, he was led to the entrance of the governor's house.

It was just a large board house, and on the surface, it didn't differ fundamentally from the board houses inhabited by the servants nearby. It was neither specially decorated nor made from any particularly precious materials.

The guard pushed open the door, and Henry walked in to find everything inside plain and unadorned.

The room had no special decorations, just an ordinary long table. A man who appeared quite young sat at the far end of the table.

That must be Governor Gu Hang.

The governor himself seemed out of place in his surroundings. His clothing was exquisite despite the simplicity around him, yet this contrast became almost negligible due to the governor's indifferent attitude to his humble environment.

Henry dared not observe further.

He lowered his head, came to this side of the long table, and without daring to sit down, he placed one hand on his chest and then bowed deeply.

Maintaining the bow, he said humbly, "My name is Dennison Henry, from Rubbish Town. I am here to offer my sincerest greetings to your Excellency the Governor. Your speech upon landing on this planet was thunderous, making me profoundly understand that you came to this dying world with grand ambitions and compassionate sentiments, to save us, your subjects. As a resident of Rage Owl Star, I hold your nobility in the highest esteem."

A rainbow fart, firmly delivered.

As he spoke, Henry also took out an exquisitely packaged box.

"Upon learning that I had the honor of meeting your Excellency, I was overjoyed and resolved to prepare a gift for you, to express my deep admiration. Sadly, due to the haste, I only have this modest offer. I hope your Excellency the Governor will not take offense."

He continued to maintain the bow, holding the gift box above his head with both hands.

The guard beside stepped up, took the gift from his hands, and then brought it before Gu Hang.

Gu Hang didn't even glance at the gift box, his gaze remained fixed on Dennison Henry, with an interested smile playing on his lips.

"Rise, or you might just break your waist if you keep this up."

Henry straightened up as instructed.

"Sit down, let's have a good talk."

Only then did Henry dare to sit down.

Tapping the table with his hand, Gu Hang said, "Dennison Henry, I am aware of your purpose in coming."

Henry cautiously replied, "I hope Your Excellency the Governor would grant me the opportunity to serve you."

Gu Hang chuckled and said, "You have a way with words, and I am satisfied with your attitude. I know that what you say may not necessarily reflect your true intentions, but I don't mind that. I can entrust the business to you, but I have two conditions. First, I will supply you with goods, and you will also bring me what I need, in full quality and quantity, without any shortfall."

The first part of Gu Hang's statement, the implied 'may not necessarily be sincere,' made Henry somewhat nervous. However, the latter part immediately made his heart blossom with joy.

Securing the agency rights was his primary objective in meeting the Governor.

As for the other condition, Henry saw it as no different than being given a freebie. It couldn't really be considered a demand, more like another generous gift from the Governor. He would of course pay for the goods, and that payment, as it seemed now, he could recoup by helping the Governor acquire the things the Governor needed.

How could that possibly be a bad thing?

Without hesitation, he nodded, "No problem! I am willing to serve Your Excellency!"

Gu Hang waved his hand and added, "I have a second condition. You need to expand your influence in Rubbish Town as much as possible, to become an agent, even a major one."

Hearing this second condition, Henry calmed down a bit.

Striving to become one of the agents of Rubbish Town was his aim. Logically speaking, since the Governor had offered this as a condition, it shouldn't conflict with his goals, and he ought to be pleased.

However, he didn't consider himself a fool and could read between the lines of the underlying implications of the request.

Supported by the Governor, he would become an important agent in Rubbish Town, but then what? Who would have the final say, himself, or the Governor as his behind-the-scenes boss?

But he quickly cast aside these hesitations and conflicts.

Wondering about such things was absurd.

When a big opportunity is presented, shouldn't he seize it?

So what if he became a puppet? Countless people yearn for such a position and can't attain it.

And it might not even be a puppet situation. Seriously serving the Governor could bring its own powers, couldn't it? With the Governor managing myriad affairs daily, wouldn't he have final say over the small matters of Rubbish Town when presiding over it? He would just need to achieve the Governor's goals and follow his steps, which is as it should be!

Moreover... putting it a bit more rudely, who knows if the Governor will still be the Governor in two years.

With that thought, he caught the quasi-smiling expression on Gu Hang's face and dared not continue the line of thinking.

He felt as if his thoughts were being read.