Chapter 23: Ninglu's Request

One standard hour later, Ninglu returned to hear Howard's allocation plan.

"My King, among all the factories awaiting allocation, the Shimanski Family's pharmaceutical industry is the largest in scale."

"The Kurnikova Family's industry is in the chemical sector and has previously been involved in pharmaceuticals; their average annual production is approximately 52,000 units."

"Considering the industrial relevance and integration time, the Shimanski Family's industry should be handed over to the Kurnikova Family."

"……"

After listening to the allocation plan, Ninglu nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. Execute the plan as you have laid it out; send the messages to each family immediately."

"You are a true 'Arbiter'. Return to see me in one standard hour."

"Arbiter?"

Howard asked in confusion; wasn't that the title for the administrators of the Lower Hive domes?

"You will know shortly."

"As you command, my King."

After Howard took his leave, he walked down to the twelfth level, arrived at the Court Chancellor's office, and opened the communicator.

"Count Howard, I am currently executing the King's orders. What are his instructions?"

"Countess Yelena, congratulations. The King has decided to hand the Shimanski pharmaceutical industry over to you to manage. Send people to take it over immediately."

Howard suppressed his own feelings of envy, speaking in his usual tone.

"Really?"

Yelena's excited voice rang out over the communication channel.

"Naturally, it is true."

Howard understood her astonishment; every noble knew that relying solely on the workers of the Hantemanxi Dome, taking over the Boleslaw Family's massive industry was already the limit.

But being able to overcome the human weakness of greed was another matter entirely; the previous late King could not do it, for his greed was endless.

"Praise be to the King! The King is wise!"

Afterward, Howard continuously heard the nobles of various great families praising Ninglu.

【The King has already won the hearts of the people and gained a firm foothold in Teziwoke.

Of course, the most critical factor remains the power he possesses.】

His deep blue eyes were filled with longing. Just as his mind was filled with wild thoughts, the ticking sound of the timer rang out. He immediately straightened his formal attire and walked quickly toward the palace.

At the same time, in the "Kingdom of Disorder", Ninglu cast the Gavel into the furnace.

Golden light bloomed, the furnace crackled, and a golden, gelatinous Potion slowly took shape.

He scooped up the "Arbiter" Potion. Letting Howard walk the "Judge" path was not just because the Potion Materials he had on hand could only concoct this type of Potion.

It was also because, although Howard's loyalty had reached Ninglu's minimum requirement, it was not yet on par with Bukayo and Luoersiliefu.

The "Judge" path is an adjacent path to the "Black Emperor" path!

Some paths can be switched between relatively safely; they all belong to the same Source Essence.

The "Kingdom of Disorder" corresponds to the "Black Emperor" and the "Judge". Possessing the Source Essence, he would, upon unlocking the permissions, exert significant influence over Beyonders of the "Judge" path.

Both the "Black Emperor" and the "Judge" are Beyonders who can be manipulated after ascending to an Old One.

After returning to the real world, Ninglu walked up to Howard and opened his palm.

"Drink it!"

Howard looked at the golden, gelatinous Potion in the bottle before him, a flash of fear crossing his eyes.

【Poison? Impossible! If the King wanted to kill me, it would be like crushing an ant.

Could it be? The gift that Luoersiliefu spoke of.】

Knowing he had no choice, Howard immediately took the Potion, gritted his teeth, and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

After teaching Howard the method of Meditation to contain the overflowing power of the Potion, Ninglu instructed him.

"That is it. If you meditate often and act well as an 'Arbiter', you will be able to control the power I have bestowed upon you."

Only then did Howard understand the meaning of the gift; only a being as great as the Omnissiah could bestow power upon him in such a miraculous way.

He looked at Ninglu excitedly, "As you command, my Lord!"

"The arbitration system of Vostonia is not bad; it balances the nobles and the Mechanicus, but it is not yet perfect."

"My Lord, what do you mean?"

If Ninglu wanted to be a dictator, Howard did not doubt he could do it.

"Current arbitration is balance; true arbitration is the maintainer of order."

Seeing Howard seemingly enlightened, Ninglu continued.

"Mars's technology is flooding into Vostonia, and this world is rapidly industrializing."

"But what of the people in the Lower Hive, or even the Underhive? They see no hope their entire lives; they live in a daze, fighting tooth and nail for a single meal, killing and betraying."

"I think you should have seen the power contained within the people of the Lower Hive from my own rise to power."

Howard suddenly understood, his azure eyes flashing with light.

"You mean that once the people of the Lower Hive see hope, they will burst forth with initiative, work hard, increase production efficiency, and thereby raise output."

"Correct, but that is not all. You will understand in time."

Chaos was not yet known to the Vostonians, so Ninglu did not speak plainly.

He thought of what another Primarch, Robert Guilliman, would say to Dante after awakening more than ten thousand years later.

Just as Guilliman said, only by giving people better living conditions can a clear line be drawn between loyalty and betrayal; only then will they understand what they are truly fighting for.

Through his own personal experience, Ninglu understood the significance of a meal to the people of the Lower Hive.

He also truly understood the question Guilliman posed to Dante: When the Great Enemy strikes, what reason does a person living in a cruel hell have to refuse temptation?

The uneducated masses of the lower levels, even if they hear the grand principles preached by the State Church Chaplain with their own ears, will not accept them; they only know the oldest and simplest truth: if they do not eat, they will die. Whoever lets them eat their fill is their god.

Since the "Black Emperor" wants to establish his own order, then let it begin now; he does not have the ability to change the entire human collective, but he can start by changing his home.

Ninglu wants to build a prosperous world with immense potential for development; this is the initial version of his realm.

"I want you to go to the Hantemanxi Dome, utilize the existing equipment there and my previous system, and build a brand-new dome."

"I will assign a worker squad to you; you can draw reference from my previous system, or you can recruit personnel from the surrounding domes."

"I want you to learn how to be an 'Arbiter', and learn how to establish a new order."

Ninglu emphasized his tone: "The order I want is not for you to give handouts to the lower classes, but to provide them with a system where, through effort and contribution, they can eat their fill and live like human beings!"

"This system can be used in every Hive City, every Lower Hive, and every Dome!"

Howard frowned upon hearing this.

If Ninglu had requested the establishment of a developed dome, it would be easy with the financial resources of the Finde Family.

But the entire Vostonia that Ninglu demanded could not be achieved even if all the nobles of the Teziwoke Upper Hive went bankrupt, not to mention that other families would not agree.

Seeing Howard lost in deep thought, Ninglu decided to broaden his perspective.

"Do not be bound by the doctrines of the Adeptus Mechanicus; technology is merely a tool. I want you to establish a brand-new order."

"You can set a standard for qualification; workers who meet the targets receive a standard share, and those who excel can go to work in the Upper Hive."

"New factories can be built in the Upper Hive, or it can even be turned into a Zhongchao; the Hive Tower can be demolished to build a new Upper Hive, and a new Hive Tower can be built above that."

Howard suddenly saw the light, and he said with full confidence.

"As you wish, my Lord."

"Make good use of the abilities I have bestowed upon you."

Upon hearing this, Howard's deep blue eyes shone, and he said with full confidence.

"I will certainly not let you down."

"Now, take me to your family's treasury."

"My Lord, please follow me."

(End of this chapter)