24: All the tasks in Chapter 24 have been completed, so who's in a hurry?

[Mission Accomplished: Air Support]

[Evaluation: S (Cheap Violence Aesthetics)]

[Rewards: 666 General Points, 1 Free Attribute Point, 3x Skyclaw-pattern Valkyrie Gunships (Master-crafted)]

Fu Haoran's eyes lit up as he stared at the three gunships that appeared out of thin air before him.

Although they were equipment for mortal troops, they could occasionally be provided for Space Marines to use.

"Finally, some decent air power."

The three gunships were painted grayish-blue, their hulls a size larger than the standard model. Heavy Bolters were mounted on the belly, and Hellstrike Missiles hung under the wings on both sides.

The most conspicuous feature was the magnetic hook system under the fuselage, capable of directly airlifting light vehicles.

"VTOL, thick-skinned and durable, capable of fighting and transport..."

Fu Haoran walked around a gunship, patted the heavy armor, and was very satisfied.

"This is like a Warhammer version of a cross between a Hind and an A-10 Warthog. It's one of the few vehicles in the Empire that wouldn't feel out of place in other sci-fi works."

Fu Haoran was already calculating how to use them in his head.

"With these things, elite squads and light equipment can be rapidly deployed to key locations."

"Three is a bit few, but if used sparingly, they can still handle most situations."

Just as Fu Haoran finished allocating his attribute points, another system message popped up.

[Congratulations to the Host for capturing the Promethium Factory]

[Rewards: 6666 General Points, 6 Free Attribute Points, Military Ammunition Power Cell Technology (No STC)]

Fu Haoran's mouth twitched. "Giving the tech but no STC... System, can you be any more stingy?"

[Ding! Main Mission Triggered: Counterattack of the Nobles]

[Introduction: Led by the Silver Thorn Family and joined by 7 vassal noble families, they have assembled 50,000 private troops plus members of various major gangs. They are expected to arrive at the designated area in 72 hours.]

[With over a hundred thousand violent terrorists inside yet to be cleared and another massive wave of enemies on the way, it is suggested the player pack up and run quickly to save some General Points~]

Just then, Wade's communication came through.

"My Lord, the remnants of the Iron Hand Gang have all hidden inside the factory buildings. We didn't dare chase them in because the space inside is too vast; a forced assault would result in too many casualties."

"How should we proceed?"

Wade was feeling apprehensive, but he heard Fu Haoran say nonchalantly, "We won't fight."

What?

There was two seconds of silence on the other end of the comms.

"My Lord, there are at least seventy to eighty thousand rebels inside. Leaving them alone will definitely be a major problem."

"I know," Fu Haoran's attitude didn't change in the slightest.

Fu Haoran really wanted to say that since the system mission already showed as completed, there were no extra rewards for hunting down those 'drowning dogs,' so why go to all the trouble?

However, in front of his subordinates, Fu Haoran definitely didn't dare say that. He changed his explanation:

"Next, do as I say."

"I will deploy a batch of chimera personnel carriers and Leman Russ Tanks over there. Position them at all entrances and exits, and equip each exit with a Heavy Bolter."

Fu Haoran paused.

"Then, use the loudspeakers to play a notification on loop."

Wade was recording on the other end.

"First, anyone who comes out to surrender will have their past crimes forgiven, but they must be incorporated into the Punisher Reserve Squads to redeem themselves through service."

"Second, bring out the head of a core gang member to be exempted from service, plus 3 days of rations and 1 bottle of low-grade liquor."

"Third, those who bring more than five people to surrender in an organized manner will be granted the rank of Corporal and incorporated into the Planetary Defense Force, responsible for the cleanup operations inside the factory."

"Fourth, those who bring over a hundred people to surrender will be granted the rank of Sergeant and put in charge of a newly formed squad, equipped and supplied according to regular army standards, also responsible for cleanup operations."

After Wade finished listening, he was stunned for a good while, then his eyes brightened, and he said excitedly, "My Lord, this move is too ruthless!"

"The core gang members only number ten or twenty thousand; the rest are all fence-sitters. With no food or drink plus the temptation of bounties, they will definitely fall into internal strife. We won't have to expend a single soldier!"

"But... what if they decide to burn their bridges and rush out to fight to the death?" Wade asked with some concern.

Fu Haoran glanced at his newly acquired three valkyries and said with a cold laugh:

"So what if they rush out? We are a group of regular army; are we afraid of this bunch of thugs?"

"If they dare come out, the three valkyries will teach them to remember to use their heads in their next life."

...

At the same time, inside the factory building.

Jack Norton, the leader of the Iron Hand Gang, slammed his fist onto the console.

"Damn it, what do the nobles say?"

The lieutenant tremblingly handed over the communicator. "Lord Victor of the Silver Thorn Family... says he's giving us one last chance."

Jack grabbed the communicator.

Victor's cold voice came from the other end. "Jack, in 4 days at most, our noble private armies, combined with other gangs, will reach the perimeter of the factory."

"When the time comes, wait for my signal. You lead the people in the factory to attack from the inside while we attack from the outside to crush the Governor's defensive line."

"Once it's done, the Promethium Factory will be returned to you, and I'll give you fifty more Heavy Bolters."

Victor paused, his tone turning even colder.

"If you fail, you and your Iron Hand Gang will both become discarded pawns."

The communication cut off.

Jack's expression was as ugly as if he were constipated.

The lieutenant asked in a low voice, "Boss, can we really hold out until then?"

"We have to hold out even if we can't!" Jack roared, then lowered his voice. "Have the core members go and scavenge for food and water, focusing on those peripheral members."

"Boss, there are so many peripheral members. If we don't leave them anything, I'm afraid..."

"Cut the crap! That group of peripheral cannon fodder—if they don't starve to death, they'll endure. If they do starve, it doesn't matter. Anyway, there are as many people like them as you want. As long as we get through this, are you afraid we won't have people?!"

Jack turned around and roared at the dozens of core members in the control room.

"Listen up! The noble reinforcements will arrive in three days!"

Jack intentionally shortened the time to appease morale.

"As long as we hold out, the factory is still ours, and we'll get new equipment! Anyone who dares to shake the army's morale..."

He pulled out a Bolt Pistol.

"This is the consequence."

...

Time passed exceptionally slowly inside the factory.

By the end of the first day, hunger had already swept in.

The battle from the night before last had left everyone exhausted, having consumed a massive amount of physical energy.

As a result of fleeing too hastily, they hadn't even brought water, let alone food.

After just one day, the army's morale had completely disintegrated.

Gangs had no loyalty to speak of to begin with, relying entirely on coercion and bribery. When their stomachs were growling, no one was willing to listen to Jack's commands anymore.

They gathered in small groups, grumbling, their eyes full of despair and dissatisfaction.

Having barely endured a day, instead of food, they received a notification telling them to hand over all the supplies they had on them!

"We've given you the stuff, what about us?" someone couldn't help but complain, only to be mobbed and beaten the next second.

"Pah! If you're not satisfied, go out right now and see if that Governor shoots you dead!" a minor leader cursed viciously.

Seeing the unfriendly gazes of the other peripheral members, the minor leader realized too late and cursed with a stiff neck:

"What are you looking at? When the reinforcements arrive, there will be plenty of food!"

The complaining person clutched his stomach and shrank back into the corner.

On the second day, things changed.

The sound of machinery operating suddenly came from a vent on the east side of the factory.

Several peripheral members leaned over to look and found a Servitor pushing a cart, walking toward them.

The speaker on the Servitor's head played on loop:

"Those who surrender will have their past crimes forgiven. Those who bring heads can exchange them for rations. Those who surrender in organized groups will be granted military ranks and equipment."

On the cart were all kinds of tempting foods: sausages, fried chicken cutlets, chicken strips... everything looked incredibly appetizing.

So much so that when Wade first saw them, he adamantly refused to allow these foods to be sent inside.

Fu Haoran only succeeded after much persuasion.

After all, these were carcinogenic foods from the 2K World. They were truly cheap, but the content of 'technology and hard work' was maxed out; the taste was entirely built on artificial flavors.

However, while no one in the 2K World dared to eat these, they were the most cost-effective tool for sowing discord in Fu Haoran's hands.

A peripheral member wearing tattered overalls swallowed his saliva, staring at the food on the cart.

At this moment, the sound of the Servitor's loudspeaker became the final straw that broke him.