[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor":3,"chapter-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1680986,2147,"Chapter 16: Black Coal Street","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>The people of Black Coal Street forced themselves to smile and greet Will as he passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many elderly women pulled their children forward, urging them to show off their meager muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They begged Will to take the boys into the mining crew, as their families could no longer afford to feed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will smiled and responded kindly to each request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He accepted one boy but gently declined the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let them grow a bit more. Sending these little ones into the mines now would be a death sentence!\" Will said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being rejected, the people maintained their composure and dispersed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eyes of the governor, Will might have been just another replaceable figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on Black Coal Street, Will was their king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He commanded thousands of miners, holding the livelihood of the residents in his hands. No one dared defy him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that they would. Will had earned their respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching his door, Will turned back to the crowd. \"Go and let those boys who went home know they can return to work. Don't leave them waiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd dispersed, Will pushed open his door and immediately scooped up his two little girls, who came running to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door closed, and only the sound of their giggling could be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper in the street, in a lowly shack, Mecca and his family were gathered for their midday meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, they could only afford one meal a day now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to finish eating before the sun moved, or else they'd have to eat in the dark, as the sunlight wouldn't reach their shack deep in the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for candles, they couldn't afford them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Candles were a luxury. Only Mr. Will and his captains could afford such extravagances on Black Coal Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was the world. Miners dug up energy stones to power the hive, yet couldn't afford to use electricity themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the electricity was sent to maintain the shields and air circulation systems of the upper hive or to power the factories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest was sent to the royal district to illuminate the night skies there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca watched his son devour the last bit of food with a tender gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was twelve now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a few years, he'd be able to find work, and then there'd be hope for the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad, I'm still hungry...\" his son whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hungry, yes...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca's smile faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see the hunger in his son's eyes. The boy was growing—of course, he was still hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no more food left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife's hands were crippled, so no factory would hire her. The entire family survived on Mecca's earnings from the mining crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But yesterday, the mine had put him on \"paid leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca didn't quite understand what that meant, but he had received his next day's wages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he had been happy, but the pitying looks from others made him realize this wasn't good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had asked the man delivering the news why he couldn't return to work the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man simply replied that it was the governor's orders. Everyone who received wages for the next day had to stay home and was forbidden from going to the mines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was terrified, asking why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they didn't go tomorrow, someone might take their place. Would they ever be allowed back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man couldn't answer and only barked that they had to follow the governor's orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, overseers from the royal district came and drove them away, injuring a few unlucky souls in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad...\" Mecca's son tugged on his hand, looking up at him with pleading eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca patted his son's head with a heavy heart. \"Go to sleep. If you sleep, you won't feel hungry. Tomorrow, when I get paid from the mine, I promise to feed you until you're full!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His son hesitated as he crawled onto the bed and wrapped himself in the blankets. He sat up again, still unsure. \"You promise I'll be full tomorrow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You little rascal, when have I ever lied to you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied with the answer, his son lay back down and soon drifted off to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Mecca's wife looked at him with concern. \"Do you really think you can go back to the mines tomorrow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know,\" Mecca said, slumping in defeat. \"Mr. Will went to see the governor. Hopefully, he'll come back with good news.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But... but I've heard people say the royal district is out of food. They say even the governor can't get his hands on a decent loaf of sawdust bread anymore...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca's wife was on the verge of tears. \"They say the mines can't pay that many wages anymore. Once you leave the mines, you'll never be able to go back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She broke down, sobbing into her hands but quickly covered her mouth, afraid of waking their son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God-Emperor, are we going to starve to death?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a man in Black Coal Street could no longer work the mines, starvation followed soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were countless such stories here. It was nothing new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when it happens to your own family, you realize how terrifying it truly is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his wife in tears, Mecca felt helpless. He didn't know what to say to comfort her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't confident that he could return to work tomorrow either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's wait for news from the mines. Mr. Will will speak on our behalf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca forced out the words, then fell silent again. The only sound left in the room was his wife's muffled sobbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the midday sun shifted, the light began to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shack, carefully tended by his wife, was slowly swallowed by darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And like the shack, so too would this family, just like thousands of others in the upper hive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, even the sobbing stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only silence and darkness remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang, bang, bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud knocking sounded on the shack's iron door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca instantly tensed, gripping the iron rod he kept by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Coal Street wasn't completely safe—strange attacks occurred from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's me, Mecca!\" a gruff voice replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca nearly jumped to his feet, asking eagerly, \"Did Mr. Will get an answer from the governor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, of course! When the boss steps in, it's all taken care of!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain's voice was cheerful. \"The governor said the mines will continue as usual. You'll be able to return tomorrow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's... that's wonderful!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca was so overcome with emotion, he could barely speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like to come in?\" Mecca's wife, equally excited, invited the captain inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she quickly realized there was nothing left to offer him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure at the door didn't seem to notice the awkwardness. \"No need! I've still got to spread the word to the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain turned and left, only to crash into something nearby with a loud clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damned Black Coal Street! You can't see a thing after noon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grumbling faded into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commotion woke Mecca's son, who rushed out in the dark and hugged his father, scared. \"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! It was someone from the mine. Tomorrow, you'll finally get to eat your fill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mecca, overjoyed, hugged his wife and child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clung to each other tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somehow, the night didn't seem so dark anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the spire office of the royal district...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eden furrowed his brow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A maid immediately drew the curtains, preventing the bright sunlight from distracting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eden was deeply worried. The territory's food reserves would only last one more month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he had just one month to reach Green Wave Farm in the space hulk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to bring back the crops and agricultural technology from the Golden Age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, once the food ran out and chaos erupted in the territory, gathering Hope Energy would become even more difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eden switched off the data pad and leaned back in his chair. \"How am I supposed to foster hope among the people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt like he was on the verge of an idea but couldn't quite grasp it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Governor, do you have a moment?\" Bayev entered the room and bowed to Eden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\" Eden asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>====\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][[email protected]\u002Fzaelum]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Thank You For Your Support!]\u003C\u002Fp>",1412,"2026-06-06T13:29:01.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","7843ab1d6539679be364b743e32f7ba50ea96596d7e051831181ef6d5d7651e7","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-17","warhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-chapter-15",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-starting-as-a-planetary-governor-cover.jpg"]