37: Chapter 37 Taking a Big Gamble

The news of Ronan and his group moving into the Honeycomb Building exploded throughout the Underhive that very night.

"Did you hear? That group of Ronan's moved into the Mid-Hive!"

"Really? Didn't they say they were just going to make do with tents for now?"

"Make do with tents, my ass! The Governor renovated a Honeycomb Building; there are dozens of households on each floor, with a canteen, shops, and even guard posts inside. Once you close the door, it's a fortress!"

"But what if the Governor goes back on his word and kicks us out?"

"Go back on his word, my ass! The first batch to move in were all from the Planetary Defense Force. Could the Governor really screw over his own people?"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go 'scavenge' some more of the nobles' trash. Once I get a residency permit, I'm going to buy an apartment and live there too!"

Early the next morning, a long line formed at the entrance of the Underhive Tax Bureau, more than three times longer than usual.

Unlike previous days when people only came to pay taxes to clear their crimes, today there were people asking about the conditions for buying a home.

Inside the Honeycomb Building, it was already a completely different scene.

Ronan pushed the door open after work, and warmth washed over him.

His wife was crouching at the edge of the mini-farm on the balcony, tending to it. This was a vegetable plot that every household could apply for, which could be used to supplement their living expenses.

His two young sons were lying on the folding dining table, swallowing their saliva as they looked at a bowl of fresh meat soup.

"You're back?" his wife looked up and smiled. "Mom and Dad just signed up for jobs at the farm. The Governor said these positions are prioritized for military families and households in need. The pay is good, and they provide lunch too."

Ronan walked over, patted his sons' heads, and scanned the balcony.

The shops in the building had already opened, with daily necessities neatly arranged, and prices were half as cheap as the black market in the Underhive.

Ronan clenched his fists, warmth welling up in his eyes.

This was the first time in his life he had tasted the feeling of stability; it was like falling into heaven.

Meanwhile, in Fu Haoran's office, Yuri rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue in wonder:

"You're quite something, kid! Back when I used to cook the books to evade taxes, I thought making something out of nothing was a real skill."

"But you? You're collecting taxes, selling houses, and setting up farms and shops for self-sufficiency. You can even cover the Tithe with this."

Yuri rubbed his chin, his eyes shining with a hint of envy: "It's more stable than cooking the books, and it's risk-free. If I had known real estate was played like this, I wouldn't have cooked the books back then. Following you into real estate—wouldn't that be more comfortable than living in constant fear of being investigated?"

Fu Haoran glanced at him and said very modestly: "It's all child's play, just a normal performance."

"Tch, don't think I can't see what you're planning," Yuri pouted and said.

"You're just trying to rely on high-value agricultural products to sell to the minor nobles and strongholds in the Mid-Hive to make a profit."

"And use the money you earn to purchase Promethium and minerals from other planets to fill the gap in the Tithe."

"Your idea is good, but there's not enough time; you won't be able to make up for it."

Fu Haoran smiled without saying anything; he couldn't exactly tell Yuri that his main source of funds was from the 2K World.

With two worlds backing him up, there was still hope of completing the Tithe within two years.

In the corner, Lucifer watched quietly. She actually had some interest in this "game" played by humans.

Fu Haoran was about to announce the next step of his plan—

Boom!

The ground shook.

The night sky outside the window was illuminated by the glow of fire.

In the Honeycomb Building a few kilometers away, Ronan shielded his wife and child, crouching in the corner.

Debris fell from the ceiling, and his young son cried out: "Daddy, I'm scared."

Ronan hugged him tightly and said nothing.

But the veins on his hand clutching the Laser Gun bulged.

Wade's communication came through at the same time, his voice urgent: "My Lord! The military factory in the west of the city has been bombed!"

"The battery workshop is completely destroyed! Of the 178 people inside, 112 have perished, the rest are all severely injured, and the production line is completely ruined!"

Fu Haoran rushed to the window.

The firelight reflected on his face, his eyes cold.

Yuri's face turned pale: "Who did this?!"

Fu Haoran didn't answer.

He stared at the firelight and slowly said: "Wade, tally the losses and comfort the families."

The communication cut off.

The command center was deathly silent.

Lucifer stepped out from the shadows, her green eyes narrowing slightly.

A scarab flew out from her sleeve, tracing a ghostly green trail in the darkness.

"A provocation from ants," she said. "Do you need me to crush them? Although it's troublesome, I can make an exception for the sake of the soul stones you provided."

Fu Haoran shook his head: "If we act now, we will lose even worse."

He pulled up the system panel, where a line of red text appeared: [Planetary Defense System Access: Locked]

"The Void Shield, defense towers, and volcano cannons are all in the hands of the Noble Council," Fu Haoran said.

"What's more troublesome is the Navy; a fleet consisting of 3 destroyers and 5 frigates is parked in orbit."

"A single round of orbital bombardment, and the Honeycomb Building will become a pile of rubble."

Lucifer glanced at the panel: "So you can only take the beating?"

Fu Haoran didn't speak.

The next day, news of the military factory being bombed spread throughout the entire Hive City.

The refugees panicked, the soldiers lost their confidence, and the long line at the Tax Bureau shrank by more than half.

Just then, a communication from Valerius, Commodore of the Planetary Defense Force Navy, came through on its own.

"Lord Fu Haoran," his tone was arrogant, carrying a sense of condescension, "I am deeply sorry for the accident at the military factory."

Valerius's voice was arrogant and hypocritical.

"I suggest you reflect carefully; forced tax collection and winning over refugees will only intensify conflicts and lead to more accidents."

Fu Haoran said coldly: "Commodore, speak your mind. Don't beat around the bush."

Valerius chuckled: "I propose that you immediately abolish your new tax regulations and transfer all military factories, Honeycomb Buildings, and subsidiary industries to the Noble Council to compensate for our losses."

Fu Haoran stared at him without responding.

Valerius wasn't annoyed; he threw out bait while also making a threat: "In return, I will give you a ticket and a sum of money, enough for you to get out to another planet and start over."

"This is the mercy I am granting you. Leave before the Imperial tax official arrives, and you may be spared from death."

Fu Haoran spoke: "And what about the people on this planet? If they can't complete the Tithe, they will be captured as slaves."

Valerius shrugged, his tone flat: "They're just low-level scum; what is there to care about?"

"The Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs has plenty of ways to transfer a batch of refugees from other planets to fill the vacancy, without us having to spend a single penny."

"Whether they live or die has nothing to do with the Imperial rule, and even less to do with us nobles."

He paused, then added a threat: "Remember, my fleet is on standby in orbit. If you refuse, the next explosion won't be a military factory, but your Honeycomb Building. I want to see if those scum will still follow you then."

"Alright, think it over carefully. Give me an answer in three days."

The communication cut off.

There was a three-second silence in the command center.

Lucifer spoke, a hint of amusement in her green eyes: "This is a declaration of war. What do you intend to do? Fight back or surrender?"

Fu Haoran looked at her: "Can your fleet move?"

"No," Lucifer answered bluntly. "The Dynasty fleet is still in hibernation; it will take at least three months to wake up, and it would attract the attention of the Imperial Navy. Are you sure?"

Fu Haoran rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache.

A head-on collision means certain defeat.

He had confidence in dealing with the Noble Private Soldiers on the ground, but the fleet in orbit was like a sword hanging over his head. A head-on clash would only lead to mutual destruction, and all his efforts would go down the drain.

Just then, the system interface suddenly popped up a blood-red notification:

[Ding! Heavens War initiated!]

[All Reincarnators must participate in the Heavens Battlefield: Modern Warfare Instance]

[Mission Objective: Survive in the instance; killing enemy faction units grants points]

[Hint: Points can be exchanged for a large amount of abilities, technology, etc.]

[Preparation time: 24 hours]

Fu Haoran withdrew his gaze and looked at Yuri: "I need to buy a destroyer. Do you have any connections?"

"Ha, you aren't planning on taking the money and running, are you? That's clever. Buy a destroyer, hide near the Eye of Terror, and no one will be able to catch you. Once the heat dies down, you can come out and be a pirate!"

Fu Haoran rolled his eyes: "Get lost, who said I wanted to be a pirate!"

"If you're not going to be a pirate, why buy a destroyer? Are you trying to risk your life against the nobles?" Yuri was even more confused.

"Don't be stupid. Our financial situation at best is only enough to buy one destroyer, and that's assuming they are even willing to sell!"

Fu Haoran said with an unkind look: "I've decided to gamble on something big."

"If I win, I might be able to topple the nobles."

"If I lose, I'll drag them down to hell with me."

"Since they won't give us a way to live, then no one gets to live."