76: The Kingdom of Chaos

On the seventh day of controlling Ashen Earth Star, the joy of victory had long been washed away by endless trivial matters.

In the command center, the atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified lead. The administrative team led by Irene was on the verge of collapse, tormented by the massive amount of data pouring in from the Interstellar Exchange.

"Boss, I can't do it anymore... there's too much data, and 99% of it is junk information!" Irene rubbed her temples, her voice filled with exhaustion. "We're severely understaffed. Everyone has to review tens of thousands of shipping records a day, and their eyes are almost blind. The efficiency is too low!"

Chen Feng looked at the chaotic data stream on the screen and felt a headache coming on. The makeshift team he had assembled was like a crude tractor attempting to plow an boundless field.

"Where's Reno?"

"The Security Department is conducting full-scale military training in the mining area. He said he wants to turn all workers into...

Before Irene could finish, a piercing alarm suddenly shattered the oppressive silence of the command room!

"Alarm! Emergency incident in C-7 Mining Area! Repeat, emergency incident in C-7 Mining Area!"

Chen Feng's face darkened, and he immediately rushed out with his people.

The accident scene was a mess. A heavy-duty transport aircraft lay on its side like a beetle crushed by a giant, its bulky body having flattened half a conveyor belt, with tons of dark, heavy ore spilled all over the ground.

"Doctor! Call a doctor quickly! Wang Wu's leg is broken!"

"Move! Everyone move!"

The workers were in a chaotic frenzy, some crying out, some futilely trying to move the ore, but there was no effective organizer. Two miners lay on the ground, injured by flying debris, groaning in pain.

"What happened?!" Chen Feng pushed through the crowd, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

The chaotic crowd quieted. A grey-haired old miner, leaning on an iron rod, walked over. His name was Uncle Zhang, and he had high prestige among the miners.

"Boss Chen..." Uncle Zhang sighed, pointing to the overturned transport aircraft. "It's all because of those 'Contribution Points'."

"To earn more points for better food and accommodation, people from C-7 and C-8 Areas secretly started a production competition. This transport aircraft is only supposed to carry thirty tons according to regulations, but they forced in fifty tons. The operator was too impatient when turning... and this is what happened."

Just then, Reno arrived like a whirlwind with a squad of fully armed security forces. Seeing the chaotic scene before him, his face instantly darkened.

"Everyone stand still!" Reno's roar was like thunder. "Who is the supervisor on duty?!"

The workers were so intimidated by his murderous aura that they dared not make a sound.

Reno bypassed Chen Feng, who was tending to the injured, and directly took over the scene. He scanned the fearful faces and announced the punishment in a military tone devoid of emotion.

"From now on, all Contribution Points for workers on duty in C-7 Mining Area this month will be reset to zero!"

"Personnel involved in the accident will be subjected to mandatory labor for double the duration until all losses here are compensated!"

"Now, everyone, immediately return to your posts! Anyone who dares to make noise again will be treated as shirking work!"

This harsh order, like a match, instantly ignited the workers' long-suppressed resentment.

"Why?!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"We were trying to contribute more to Hanhai Trade! We didn't do it on purpose!"

Uncle Zhang stepped forward, confronting Reno, his voice hoarse but firm: "Manager Reno, we are not your soldiers! We are workers who want to earn a better living for ourselves! You cannot treat us, who have bled together, like enemies!"

"Exactly! We are not soldiers!"

"We just want to live a little better!"

Dozens of miners silently gathered behind Uncle Zhang, forming a silent standoff with the heavily armed security forces. The smell of gunpowder in the air was even stronger than at the accident scene earlier.

"Reno! Get over here!" Chen Feng forcibly pulled the furious Reno aside, shouting in a low voice.

"Look at the mess you've made!"

"The mess I've made?" Reno's eyes also turned red, and for the first time, he looked at Chen Feng with questioning eyes. "Boss! Look at them! Unorganized! Undisciplined! If this continues, we won't accomplish anything! Absolute discipline brings absolute efficiency!"

"Nonsense!" Chen Feng was also completely enraged. "Discipline without incentive and recognition is just oppression! Have you forgotten how we overthrew Bachm? What you're doing now, how is it any different from Bachm?!"

"I..." Reno was speechless, but he still stubbornly shouted, "All I know is that disobedient soldiers must be dealt with by military law! Your methods are too soft, Boss!"

The argument eventually ended inconclusively. The crisis temporarily subsided under Chen Feng's appeasement, but the atmosphere in the command center was even more solemn than when the accident occurred.

Irene handed a report to Chen Feng, her face pale.

"Boss... due to the equipment damage and production halt from this accident, we... we will have to delay the delivery of that undead crystal transaction to the Mechanical Divine Court. According to the contract, we might... have to pay an astronomical penalty for breach of contract."

Late at night.

Chen Feng sat alone in the empty command room, looking at the dismal production data on the screen and chaotic reports about worker absenteeism and departmental conflicts.

His argument with Reno, Uncle Zhang's words, "We are not your soldiers," and Irene's warning about the breach of contract, were like countless needles, making his temples throb.

He won the war, but lost in management.

He suddenly realized profoundly that what he had built was not an army, but an enterprise. An enterprise he had no idea how to operate.

A deep sense of frustration welled up in his heart.

He leaned back on the cold chair, closing his eyes wearily. After a long while, he opened his eyes, and with a last glimmer of hope, opened the Interstellar Exchange interface.

This time, he clicked on a section he had never ventured into before.

[Cross-Dimensional Talent Market].