Monopolizing

Some individuals were so eager to make a lasting impression among the many influential figures that they willingly gave away their resources to Howard.

It eventually turned into a collective tribute competition, where everyone did their utmost to hand over keys to their supply warehouses, addresses, and factory blueprints, all of which were given to Howard.

These tycoons, shrewder than monkeys, knew very well that these keys and addresses would have to be surrendered upon reaching the safe zone.

After surrendering them, they would become ordinary people with no value to exploit.

Rather than having their possessions forcibly taken, they preferred to proactively give them to Howard as a favor!

They wanted these soon-to-be no longer theirs possessions to have the greatest impact possible!

Soon, almost all the resources of these tycoons were concentrated in Howard's hands.

The keys and addresses he held were like treasure maps.