Chapter 1470: Preparations at the Bone-Crushing Cannery

K-2, Bone-Crushing Cannery, main factory floor.

The production line is running; empty cans on the conveyor belt pass through cleaning, disinfection, filling, sealing, sterilization, and labeling in sequence, finally being neatly arranged in the finished product area.

Fengqi workers, wearing gray overalls, protective gloves, and masks, are busy at their respective stations.

Orc meat chunks are retrieved from the cold storage by robotic arms, then cut, minced, seasoned, filled, and pushed into a massive high-pressure sterilization chamber.

On the observation platform on the second floor of the factory, Engineer Miyier leans against the railing, his gaze fixed on the production line below.

His face shows some fatigue, but his spirits are good.

Standing beside him is a Sons of the People Space Marine, wearing red Power Armor, without a helmet, revealing a dark-yellow face with tattoos extending from his cheekbones to his earlobes.

His name is Ba'erhu, and he is the liaison officer stationed at the Bone Crushing Factory by the Sons of the People Chapter, responsible for coordinating the factory's security and liaison with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

"Engineer Miyier, how much can this line produce in a day?"

Miyier thinks for a few seconds before saying.

"At full capacity, about 120,000 cans a day. It's currently still in the debugging phase, stabilizing at around 80,000 cans. Once the workers are more skilled, it should reach the expected output."

Ba'erhu looks at the busy Fengqi workers below.

"These Fengqi, they're doing quite well."

Miyier says.

"They also know what the consequences are if they don't do a good job; the example of the Broken Bone Orcs is right there, and they don't want to become canned goods."

The corners of Ba'erhu's mouth twitch, counting as a smile.

"Indeed, knowing they are still useful makes them work harder."

The two remain silent for a moment; the production line below is still running, and the sound of the robotic arms' rhythmic movement echoes through the factory.

Miyier looks at the assembly line below and speaks.

"There is news from the Emperor."

Ba'erhu turns to him.

"Is the time confirmed?"

Miyier says.

"Arriving in eight days, the Emperor himself, plus five Young Primarchs, and a little girl. It should be Lady Yingxin, the Emperor's niece."

Ba'erhu's eyebrows arch.

"Lady Yingxin? The Emperor is bringing her here?"

Miyier turns around and says, "This is the Emperor's will. Alright, I need to go check the quality of the finished products. When the Emperor inspects, there cannot be any mistakes."

Ba'erhu nods.

"Do you need me to follow?"

Miyier says.

"No, just keep a close eye on the security side of things. After the Emperor arrives, the security pressure will be higher. Although this place is remote, it is the Emperor's personal visit after all, so there cannot be any slip-ups."

Ba'erhu says.

"Understood, I am already arranging the patrol routes. The Modian Iron Guard stationed here will patrol according to this route."

Miyier turns and walks toward the stairs.

"I'm going to the finished product area to take a look."

The finished product area is located on the east side of the factory, where rows of racks are neatly stacked with packaged cans.

The labels are printed with the emblem of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance and a line of text.

"Broken Bone Luncheon Meat".

Miyier walks to the shelf, picks up a can at random, and turns it over to examine it.

The seal is flat, the label is straight, and the weight meets the standard.

He picks up another can and repeats the same inspection steps.

No obvious problems are found.

He puts down the can and walks to the quality inspection room next door.

In the quality inspection room, a tester wearing white overalls is operating a testing instrument.

His name is Kemaike, and he is a food safety inspector sent by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, responsible for spot-checking every batch of cans on the production line to ensure the products meet food safety standards.

He is staring at the instrument screen, where several lines of data are jumping.

Seeing Miyier enter, he looks up and says.

"Engineer Miyier."

Miyier walks to his side.

"How is today's batch?"

Kemaike pulls up a data report.

"Twelve cans were randomly sampled, and the microbial indicators are all qualified. Heavy metal content is within the safe range. Nutritional content also meets the standards."

He turns the screen toward Miyier.

"This batch of meat was taken from the third batch of Orcs; as you said, we selected those healthy, prime individuals. The meat quality is indeed better than the first two batches, with moderate fat content and higher protein content."

Miyier looks at the data.

"How about the taste?"

Kemaike says.

"I haven't tasted it yet, why don't you try it?"

He turns around, picks up an opened can from the table behind him, and hands it over.

"Just opened, hasn't been touched yet."

Miyier took the can, picked up a disposable spoon from the side, scooped up a spoonful, and put it into his mouth.

He chewed a few times, swallowed, and then put down the spoon.

"It's alright, the seasoning is appropriate too; it doesn't overpower the taste of the meat itself."

Kemaike said.

"That's good. The production line is already stable. If the quality maintains this level, there shouldn't be any problems if the Emperor comes."

Miyier put down the can.

"Right, what are the arrangements for the meals on the Fengqi side?"

Kemaike said.

"According to your request, today's extra meal will include the new batch of cans. Let them have a taste, and while you're at it, see if there are any adverse reactions."

Miyier nodded.

"Have them observed for a period of time after eating. If there are no issues, this batch can be officially released from the warehouse."

"Mm, understood."

Fengqi worker cafeteria, lunch break.

Fengqi workers walked into the cafeteria one after another; one Fengqi worker carried a tray, walked to a long table, and sat down.

His name was Weiliya, he was a canning worker on the production line, and he had already been working at the Bone Crushing Factory for ten days.

On the tray was half a bowl of synthetic powder and a bowl of meat broth; this meat broth was likely made from the scraps that couldn't be put into cans.

Some chunks of meat and vegetables floated in the meat broth, and a thin layer of oil floated on the surface of the soup.

He looked down at the bowl of meat broth, picked up his spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and drank it.

The fellow worker next to him saw his movements pause and asked.

"What's wrong? Is it not good?"

Weiliya put down the spoon.

"It's actually quite tasty."

"Let me try it too."

Another fellow worker scooped a spoonful of the soup from his own bowl, took a sip, and nodded.

"It's indeed not bad, much better than the food on the ore planet!"

Weiliya said.

"It seems the quality of this meat is better."

"Maybe the meat selection was done well."

The fellow worker next to him lowered his head and continued drinking the soup.

Weiliya put down the spoon and leaned back against the chair.

"Being able to eat this kind of meat is not bad. At least we are still alive and can still rest. As for the Broken Bone Orcs, they just turn directly into cans."

The other fellow worker did not look up.

"Don't think too much; being alive is better than anything. Besides, this soup is indeed not bad."

At the other end of the cafeteria, several Fengqi workers sat together; one of them looked older, the skin around his three eyes covered in wrinkles.

In front of him sat a similar tray, and he had already drunk more than half of the soup in his bowl.

"Although we are still only Second-Class Citizens, it's not like the Broken Bone Orcs, who turn directly into cans. It shows that those above have still left us a way to survive."

The fellow worker next to him said.

"A way to survive is a way to survive, but it's just that we work a lot—eighteen standard hours a day—and even eating has to be done in shifts."

"It's tiring, but as long as we can live, it's fine. At least we don't have to be like those compatriots mining on resource planets who can't even drink a mouthful of clean water."

Another fellow worker replied in a low voice.

"I stayed on Hetuo Star; the mines there had sixteen-hour days and poisonous gas. Not many lived past three years. Although it's tiring here, at least the air is clean and the food is decent. And we don't have to turn into cans like the Broken Bone Orcs."

"That's true. Time is almost up, hurry back to change shifts."