Chapter 358.2: The New Alliance Should Have Our Own Voice Chat...

Back in the wasteland, in the New Alliance’s office in Boulder Town.

Luca was arranging manpower to move several boxes containing bionic prosthetics out.

Boulder Town had strict control over incoming goods, but the checks for outgoing items were not as stringent.

With each person carrying a piece of luggage, making a few trips back and forth, it was very easy to transport things out of the city.

Recovering high-tech Boulder Arms Industry equipment from the black market was just one of the strategies the New Alliance had for Boulder Town.

As the Mayor of Dawn City, Luca's main focus was still on trade negotiations with the City Hall.

Since the news about the New Alliance planning to import goods worth 200 million chips from the industrial zone leaked from the city hall, the factory owners and business association bosses who had been causing trouble had immediately stopped stirring shit as they chose to wait and see what would happen.

As for the workers who lost their jobs due to the factories shutting down, although their lives didn't immediately improve, without the support of the behind-the-scenes manipulators, they temporarily couldn't cause any trouble.

Although it was unknown how long this tacit understanding could last, it should be able to continue for some time.

...

In the lounge, the radio was playing a loud voice.

Mr. House was passionately praising the greatness of Mr. Mayor and, in passing, took a couple of sentences to commend Dulong's wise decision.

"... If we distribute chips to everyone, the price of nutrient cream will skyrocket, and no one will benefit! But if we lend chips to our neighbors, it's a different story. 200 million chips will create tens of thousands of job opportunities! Save tens of thousands of families! We will get jobs and the opportunity to support ourselves! This is a beautiful thing!"

Sitting in front of the radio, Hal from the Lion Tribe in Sunset Province was curiously fiddling with the machine. "Unbelievable... Is there a person living inside this iron box?"

Shu Yu, sitting on the sofa drinking tea, looked at him curiously, moving his gaze from the procurement list. "I find it incredible too. You told me that in your father's palace, there were over a hundred android maids... How can you accept androids but not something as simple as a radio?"

The technology involved in the former was clearly much more advanced than the latter; that was obvious.

However, Hal quickly spoke up, “They aren't the same thing . Androids are essentially humans after all. So it's not strange that they can speak."

Shu Yu was stunned.

The tea cup in his hand came to a halt.

Although he felt that there were issues with his statement, he found himself at a loss on how to refute it at the moment.

Seeing Shu Yu's silence, Hal, who couldn't stop talking, continued eagerly, “Say, if I bring a radio back, do you think my father will pass the throne to me?"

"... I think you better not do that." Concerned about dirtying the table if he spilled what he was drinking, Shu Yu put down the tea cup and advised him gently.

The night before, he had a phone call with the administrator.

Besides discussing the procurement list, he also brought up the matter about Hal.

The administrator's suggestion was similar to Luca's. Regardless of the probability of this guy inheriting the throne, making a few friends wouldn't hurt.

Besides, hiring another clerk wouldn't cost much in the budget.

Even if he didn't become the king in the end, he could safely return and live a peaceful life as a regional lord, which would only be beneficial for the New Alliance.

The area of Sunset Province was several times that of River Valley Province, with an endless desert stretching for thousands of kilometers, spanning the entire central region of the continent. It was also connected to mountains and grasslands.

On the oases left by the Federation Era, there were several feudal kingdoms, serving as the transportation hub for east-west trade.

The Lion Tribe was one of the stronger and less xenophobic ones among them.

This information was also collected by the New Alliance from the traveling merchants that stopped by the New Alliance's territory.

"I’m getting a headache... What kind of thing is considered priceless? Do I have to go to Ideal City in the east?" Hal, with a troubled expression, turned off the radio and looked at Shu Yu. "My friend, can you give me some advice?"

"How would I know? I've never met your father." Shu Yu gave him a helpless look and continued, "But if you ask me, instead of pondering what priceless things are, why not think about your father's preferences?"

Hal, with a bewildered expression, said, "Preferences?"

Shu Yu nodded. "Yes, whether something is valuable or not is a subjective judgment. For instance, if he values trade, bringing back 10 times the money you carried when you left would surely impress him."

"If he values the military, you only need to prove your bravery. For example, by chopping off a few Deathclaw heads or bringing back a few brave warriors who have faced life and death situations together with you."

Hal had a thoughtful expression on his face. "I got it now... You mean I should cater to his preferences?"

Shu Yu casually said, "You can understand it that way; it will be more convenient."

Hal revealed a troubled look. "But my father doesn't like trade or the military. He only likes to mingle with women and holds banquets every now and then."

Shu Yu sighed. "Then bring back a beautiful woman... Prove your charm."

This tribe is beyond salvation.

But thinking about it carefully, wasn't it the same everywhere in the world?

Reproducing offspring could be considered a relatively healthy hobby.

However, to Shu Yu's surprise, after he casually mentioned it, Prince Hal, after some contemplation, displayed a look of sudden realization on his face. "My friend, you're a genius! Your words have opened my eyes. Could you come to my tribe and be my advisor! When I become king, you will be the minister of the Lion Tribe."

Shu Yu looked at him with an amused smile. "My loyalty belongs only to the great administrator. Let's not make such jokes."

Minister? He wasn't interested.

Even the extravagance of Boulder Town couldn't corrupt him, let alone a tribe in a remote and impoverished village.

Hal fell silent.

He had just mentioned it casually, not really expecting this young man to follow him back to help him contend for the throne. In fact, he himself hadn't made up his mind whether or not to pursue that endeavor.

The door of the lounge opened at this moment, and Luca walked in from outside.

As soon as he entered, he spoke. "The administrator just sent a message, hoping that we can open a branch of 'The Voice of the Alliance' in Boulder Town."

Shu Yu looked at Luca, feeling somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Isn't the broadcast signal from the north suburbs able to cover this place? Why do we need to establish a separate branch?"

Luca repeated the administrator's words. "Because this branch will mainly report local news in Boulder Town, and the staff and reporters hired will mostly be locals. Of course, we will insert some of our things in these news reports and correct the biased reports of 'The Voice of Boulder Town' about us."

"It’s just that these things are not convenient for us to say, and it needs to be in their own words."

"Not only broadcasts, but we also need to do print media, writing our thoughts on the newspaper before selling it to them."

Shu Yu's face showed a hint of surprise, especially when he heard Luca's last sentence. He couldn't help but speak.

"Having our own voice channel is indeed important, but using newspapers as a propaganda tool... Will people here be willing to pay for it?"

Most of Boulder Town's residents had a monthly income of less than 100 chips, equivalent to about 3 chips per day.

This amount of money was just enough for them to cover their daily living expenses.

Even if they set the price of the newspaper at the lowest 1 chip per copy, very few people would be able to afford it.

As for mercenaries...

Although they had money, their literacy rate was even lower than that of the factory workers. After all, the latter, despite being poor, at least lived within the giant walls and mostly had families. In order for their children to be able to work in a factory in the future, they may invest some resources in education.

It was not that Boulder Town didn’t have newspapers, but they were mostly bought by relatively wealthy citizens.

In this place, the market size of print media was quite limited, and it was difficult for an outsider's newspaper to break into it.

If it was for the purpose of propaganda, this obviously wouldn't be a good idea.

Facing Shu Yu's confusion, Luca confidently said. "People will buy it. Our newspaper is prepared for the ordinary residents of Boulder Town. The administrator said that we can use a subscription system. They only need to pay 1 chip per month to receive the newspaper for the entire month."

Shu Yu frowned. "In this way, ordinary people can indeed afford it, but for us... The pressure the cost brings might not be small..."

Paying only 1 chip per month would be equivalent to the retail price of 1 kilogram of nutrient cream.

They would basically be giving it away for free.

Luca nodded. "There will definitely be pressure at the beginning, but the situation will improve once the subscription volume goes up."

Shu Yu furrowed his brows, but soon a hint of realization appeared on his face.

However, Hal, who was sitting on the side, was still confused and couldn't help asking, "Why does the cost pressure decrease when you sell more? Shouldn't it increase? Is it not supposed to be larger?"

"... Because we can advertise in the newspaper. People who are willing to pay for the newspaper usually won't hesitate to invest in food and clothing, and even have some pursuit of taste." Patiently explaining to Hal, Shu Yu's eyes showed a hint of admiration.

As expected of the administrator.

Even such matters have been taken into consideration!

Seeing Shu Yu explaining on his behalf, Luca smiled faintly and continued, "... In the initial promotion phase, we can collaborate with some popular local taverns, supplying them with free newspapers each month."

"We can also cooperate with some excellent factories and carry out promotions such as exchanging 10 empty bottle of Nuka Cola for a newspaper.”

Shu Yu couldn't help but praise, "This idea is great!"

Nuka Cola was well-known in the taverns of Boulder Town.

And those unemployed workers had enough time to collect those things.

It would be great for both the factories and the newspaper.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Recently, our tension with Boulder Town has eased. So now is the perfect time to do this."

"Of course, to achieve our long-term goals, we need a talented person who is bright and skilled with words..."

At this point, Luca paused.

The gaze of the two people coincidentally fell on Hal.

Being good at using words was not a problem.

This guy's biggest skill was his loquacity, followed by writing rhyming but insubstantial doggerel in 12 different fonts.

But whether he was bright enough...

That requirement seemed a bit too high for him.

"What are you two looking at me for?" Hal felt a bit anxious under their gaze and nervously asked.

Luca did not continue to look at him, nor did he answer his question. Instead, he looked at Shu Yu. "What do you think?"

"... I don't know. We lack people with talent in this aspect. If I were to compile the newspaper, I would write the news very rigorously. Other than our people, few would be willing to read the articles written by me."

In the arena of public opinion, their opponents were not the factories of Boulder Town or the City Hall.

Instead... It was their ability to convey their thoughts!

In the presence of a silver-tongued eloquence and a thick-skinned demeanor akin to city walls, even the most impeccable truths may concede.

And people with both of these qualities were really rare in the New Alliance.

The news industry of the New Alliance had just started, and most of the news personnel were still reading scripts word for word, or even had only attended night school for half a year.

The players from the shelter might have talent in this area, but they couldn't speak the federation language. They mainly relied on translation tools for daily communication.

Strictly speaking, Hal wasn't such a person either. His courteous manners were far from the shameless quality they were looking for.

But this wasn't his hometown after all... Letting loose a bit wouldn't hurt, right?

At least his eloquence and writing skills were reliable, and the rest was a matter of experience that could be gained through work.

Faced with Luca's worried gaze, Shu Yu's expression was also full of hesitation, but in the end, he nodded.

"The administrator said we shouldn't be too concerned about a person's background and origin. Setting aside the issues of not being smart enough and lacking experience, he is indeed the most suitable candidate."

"I think it's worth a try."