85: Chapter 85 Tax Collection Team

Of course, there were also quite a few lone-wolf players who chose to walk away silently.

These types of people were often top-tier players in other hardcore games; they disdained the novice equipment of legions and preferred the freedom of solo grinding.

With their Liver Emperor traits, it was believed that it wouldn't be long before they made a name for themselves in the wasteland.

Lin Li sat in front of the computer in the main control room, watching the surveillance footage as new players, led by veteran players, quickly headed to the surface through the hidden passage.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxing.

But before long, as a large number of players led the newcomers in a grand procession to leave the camp and head to their respective legion outposts for construction, the previously crowded main base of the Shelter suddenly became empty.

Lin Li frowned slightly.

The "beast of burden" players had all run off to develop their outposts; while the productivity of the main base wouldn't be affected too much, construction had slowed down.

Although the natives were obedient and capable of manual labor, they were limited by their education level and couldn't read, making them unable to handle advanced "beast of burden" tasks.

"I need to get some tireless labor that also understands technology."

Lin Li rubbed his chin, and suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck:

"Since that packaging machine Vaughn the Dwarf gave me can already stably produce high-energy hydrogen batteries, the energy problem is solved. Could I have 73 start building robots directly?"

Those robots without autonomous consciousness, which only work according to programs, are the most perfect workers!

"73, come here for a moment. Now that we can mass-produce high-energy batteries, can you manufacture some robots to replace manual labor?"

"Swish—"

The basin-sized metal body of STC-73 floated in.

To Lin Li's surprise, when faced with this technical question, 73, who was usually quick to answer, actually fell into a silence lasting half a minute.

The red light on its chassis flickered rapidly, which was rarely seen before.

Half a minute later, 73 gave its reply: "Absolutely. What type of robot does the Creator require?"

"I need a general-purpose type that can move bricks and scavenge trash like humans."

Lin Li stated his requirements, "It would be best if it could adapt to the harsh, high-radiation environment of the wasteland, and when encountering danger, it could directly pick up firearms to serve as guards."

73's red lens light flickered again, projecting a 3D blueprint: "Given the current material conditions, I recommend the [UR01 General-Purpose Robot] for you."

"Their humanoid mechanical skeletons are sufficient to handle the vast majority of production environments, and they can be equipped with conventional firearms when necessary."

"However, as they lack a logic core for autonomous thinking, they cannot handle certain specific, sudden tactical situations."

"That is enough. Try producing ten prototypes first to see the results," Lin Li decided firmly.

"Command confirmed."

73 turned around and floated out the door.

However, when it floated to the metal door frame, this mechanical creation actually stopped.

It rarely turned its head and asked Lin Li a question, the only question: "Creator, when a machine possesses computing power as complex as a human's, how will you treat them?"

Lin Li was stunned.

He looked at 73, which resembled a floating robotic vacuum cleaner, and fell into a long silence.

In the Warhammer universe, this was a deadly topic.

The Men of Iron rebellion during the Golden Age caused the Imperium of Man to issue an absolute ban on all artificial intelligence, viewing it as heresy.

But Lin Li was not one of those pedantic Ecclesiarchy fanatics of the Imperium.

He looked directly into 73's flickering red main camera, his tone calm: "I believe that robots possessing independent consciousness should enjoy the same rights as humans, while also bearing the same obligations as humans."

"They are independent lives, not living simply as tools to be consumed."

Lin Li paused, then added: "Whether it is Stone Men, Men of Iron, or those genetically mutated sub-humans, as long as they agree with this philosophy, it should be the same."

73's red lens light suddenly shone brightly for an instant.

"Understood."

It didn't say another word, turned around, and floated out of the main control room.

Lin Li watched its retreating back, lost in thought.

He was not clear about what profound influence these words of his would have on the future relationship between humans, Men of Iron, and the various sub-human races.

But he was very certain that the Empire's extreme policy of a one-size-fits-all approach, viewing all alien races and AI as pure tools or enemies, would definitely not last long.

After handling this matter, Lin Li returned directly to Room 1, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

He slept straight until the next morning.

After washing up, Lin Li was preparing to go to the west side to see how the relocation of the Nomads was progressing.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A rhythmic, heavy metallic sound of footsteps came from outside.

Lin Li looked up in surprise.

He saw a humanoid metal body, nearly 1.9 meters tall, striding into the main control room.

Its body was composed entirely of metal, and the surface had even been intentionally given realistic distressed scratches and battle-damage paint.

If one didn't look closely, one might even think it was some wasteland veteran wearing heavy armor.

Most conspicuously, the basin-like machine head of 73 was seamlessly connected to the neck of this metal body!

Furthermore, the height of this new body was exactly the same as Lin Li's!

"Creator, surface radar has detected a flight formation approaching from the east."

73 reported in its cold electronic voice, "Judging from the emblems on the ship's paint, it is suspected to be a joint fleet from the Coastal City Governor's Office military and the Coastal City Chamber of Commerce."

Lin Li's attention was completely captured by 73's new appearance. He walked around 73, marveling, "This new body of yours is not bad. Did you secretly work overtime for yourself last night? What was it you just said?"

"The Coastal City Governor's Office and trade fleet are arriving," 73 repeated patiently.

The smile on Lin Li's face gradually faded.

"Finally here," Lin Li sneered, "The people from the Governor's Office really did sniff out the mineral vein and come looking. I just don't know if the lackeys of that high-and-mighty Governor are easy to deal with."

"You stay underground; don't go out and expose yourself," Lin Li instructed, "I will go handle them."

Lin Li did not put on that set of red Power Armor, nor did he carry any conspicuous weapons.

He only wore a plain black combat suit and, with empty hands, took the elevator directly to the outside of the surface wall.

The wild winds of the wasteland howled.

Before long, a dull roar of engines came from the eastern sky.

Five massive shuttles broke through the thick radiation clouds and slowly landed on the flat ground a few hundred meters away from the Shelter's gate.

Strong air currents kicked up clouds of yellow sand.

The lead shuttle was a hundred meters long, painted entirely in dark gray, with the Imperium of Man's double-headed eagle emblem clearly printed on the bow.

The hatch opened with a hiss of hydraulics.

Several guard soldiers wearing high-quality flak armor and holding laser rifles stepped quickly down the gangway, splitting to both sides.

A guard soldier wearing an officer's cap with an arrogant look walked to the front and shouted loudly toward the Shelter, "Call whoever is in charge over here!"

Lin Li walked over with his hands in his pockets, strolling leisurely.

"I am."

The soldier looked Lin Li up and down, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes.

In this barren wasteland, it was rare to see a human who was so physically robust and had no traces of mutation on his body.

"Follow me," the soldier said coldly, turning to lead the way.

Lin Li followed him onto the hundred-meter-long military shuttle, passed through a metal corridor, and arrived at a spacious cabin.

Behind a metal table in the center of the cabin sat a middle-aged man wearing a crisp Imperial uniform.

Several dull medals hung on his chest; he was holding a report in his hand, his brows furrowed tightly.

As Lin Li walked in, the man didn't even lift his head and said in a cold tone, "According to the latest tithe regulations of the Governor's Office, your settlement needs to immediately hand over five hundred healthy adult inhabitants, three hundred tons of refined ore, and one hundred tons of high-energy fuel."

After hearing this, Lin Li was dumbfounded.

What the hell, is this tax collection?

This is clearly here to strip the bone and suck the marrow, forcing people to their deaths!

Five hundred people? And three hundred tons of ore? This appetite is even greedier than the greenskins covering the mountains and plains!

Lin Li took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.

Now is not the time to completely break with Coastal City.

His hand slowly reached toward his pocket.

The guard standing nearby instantly became sharp and ruthless, his laser rifle clicked as he chambered a round, and the muzzle pointed directly at Lin Li's head.

But Lin Li's movement did not pause in the slightest.

He pulled three silver, gleaming coins from his pocket and placed them gently on the metal tabletop.

These three Imperial silver coins, imprinted with the double-headed eagle pattern, were the meal money left by Neil after eating a bowl of noodles from a player.

I didn't expect them to come in handy today.

Hearing the crisp sound of the coins clinking, the man in the military uniform finally looked up.

He glanced at the silver coins on the table, then looked at Lin Li, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Speak," the man leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands, "What do you have?"

Lin Li immediately put on a humble expression, looking terrified as if afraid of offending a big shot.

"My lord, to be honest. We just suffered an attack by greenskins, and the casualties were heavy. We struggled with all our might, and now there are only fifty tons of raw ore in the warehouse. As for the population and fuel, we really cannot spare any."

The man's face instantly darkened: "Fifty tons? Are you trying to brush off a beggar!"

Lin Li hurriedly reached into his pocket again, pulled out a 50-denomination League Credits note, and respectfully pushed it in front of the man.

This type of League Credits was absolute hard currency in this star sector, with extremely strong purchasing power.

The man's gaze lingered on the League Credits for a second, but he still shook his head coldly.

Lin Li gritted his teeth, feigning an expression of extreme heartache, and pulled out another 50-denomination League Credits note, stacking it on top.

A full one hundred League Credits, plus those three Imperial silver coins.

The man's expression finally softened.

He swept the money on the table into the drawer without leaving a trace, straightened his posture again, and his tone became business-like:

"Although fifty tons of ore is a bit little, it counts as you fulfilling your loyalty to the Empire. Go."

Lin Li lowered his head, respectfully turned, and retreated from the cabin.

As soon as he stepped off the shuttle's gangway, the humbleness on Lin Li's face vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold chill.

He called Black Rat and told him to immediately take people to the mining area to bring over fifty tons of the lowest-quality mixed ore to deliver to the tax collection squad.

One hour later, the handover was complete.

The military shuttle imprinted with the double-headed eagle emitted a deafening roar, spewing exhaust flames, and left the sky above the camp.

Only then did those four slightly smaller, obviously heavily armored Chamber of Commerce shuttles, which had been waiting in the rear, slowly open their hatches with a harsh screech of hydraulics.