Chapter 516.2: Oh, I'm Just Cursing Them With Something From My Hometown

If only the south of the Brocade River Province could be incorporated into the New Alliance’s trade network as well...

Even though the Sunset Province already served as a granary and the New Alliance no longer needed food from the Brocade River Province, the development value of that land remained high.

Moreover, according to the intelligence gathered by the Order of the White Bear at sea and clues revealed by the Enterprise, the Federation Era managed to develop a third of the ocean! From the surface to the seafloor, many remnants of the Prosperity Era remained, perhaps even shelters!

To utilize those resources on a large scale, the New Alliance would first need a seaport of its own.

Carving out a southern corridor via Falling Leaf City seemed like a promising choice, at least, on paper.

"... I didn't expect such a drastic change in just a few months." Staring at the night view of Falling Leaf City, Chu Guang couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.

He wondered what the night view of Dawn City looked like from the sky.

It had been a while since the last celebration, hadn’t it?

Noticing the look on Chu Guang’s face, the acting captain asked respectfully, "Sir, shall we stop here for a while?"

"No need. Keep going. As much as I would love to admire this beautiful night view, I would rather deliver the news of our triumph as soon as possible."

After a pause, Chu Guang smiled and said, "Oh right, raise our banner! Let everyone see it! Don’t keep our fellow countrymen, those waiting eagerly for our return, in suspense. And let those who cursed us see it too."

"Not only did we return, but we’ve come back laden with victory and glory!"

Eyes shining, the acting captain straightened up with excitement, pressed his right fist to his chest, and gave a military salute. "Yes, sir!"

As the Heart of Steel raised the New Alliance’s banner high and sailed home in full fanfare, Boulder Town was ablaze with vibrant activity.

It wasn’t just the New Alliance that had profited from the war, those business firms and factory owners who had invested early in the New Alliance had also earned handsomely.

Outside the Queen of the Night's bar, guests came and went in droves, making the street seem extremely lively. Whether nobles from the inner city or factory bosses, those who made big money naturally needed a place to spend it, otherwise, what was the point of getting rich?

But the liveliness wasn’t confined to the bar or commercial district, it extended all the way to the city hall several streets away.

Thanks to a shrewd decision months ago, the president of Boulder Bank, Mr. Malvern, had become the center of attention.

If he and Dulong hadn’t pushed through the controversial decision to loan money to the New Alliance, Boulder Town would never have seen such prosperity!

Now that everyone’s pockets were overflowing, he clearly deserved the most credit!

Having just returned home from a meeting, Malvern originally intended to enjoy a small drink to relax, but he ended up getting roped in by his adorable daughter, who insisted on reading him a bedtime story.

Malvern was initially quite pleased. However, his expression darkened as soon as he saw the Survivor’s Daily on the table.

He could already guess, based on instincts alone, that this little girl had probably picked up some wastelander rhetoric and was about to recite a bunch of grand theories she barely understood.

Though impatient, he couldn’t bring himself to get angry. After all, she was his favorite daughter. He also happened to be in a good mood, so he patiently sat on the sofa to wait for her to speak.

Elisa cleared her throat, picked up the picture book in her hands, and began reading in her tender voice. "... A long time ago, during the Federation Era, there existed a very, very small kingdom. It was even smaller than the Honey Badger Kingdom."

"In order to expand the kingdom’s future, merchants set sail with the king's blessing. But after those merchants amassed great wealth, they bribed the people, hanged the aging king, and became the kingdom’s uncrowned rulers."

"Even without a king, life did not improve for the kingdom’s people. Once they worked the fields for feudal lords from sunrise to sunset. Now, they were driven into coal mines and factories, working endlessly regardless of age."

"Eventually, the suffering citizens united and overthrew the kingdom ruled by merchants and nobles. They strung up the swindlers on lampposts... just as those merchants had once done to the king."

After hearing the story, Malvern pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You mean to say our current situation is dangerous."

Elisa stared at her father without blinking. Her youthful face shone with a wisdom and keenness far beyond her age. "I heard from the housemaids that bread outside now costs 2 chips a piece. Even nutrient paste has tripled in price. It’s strange, you said our factories have grown, more people are employed, and everything’s getting better. But life for the citizens of Boulder Town hasn’t improved much. Isn’t that abnormal? I think it’s a bad sign."

A bad sign... Is that really the case?

Hearing her young voice, Malvern smiled and shook his head.

Was there any better sign than everyone’s pockets being stuffed with chips?

"My child, we’re fundamentally different from the kingdom in your fairy tale. Have you forgotten where the outer city came from? Originally, this place had only one skyscraper. There was only the inner city..."

"If we hadn’t taken in those wastelanders now living outside the walls, they’d have long been corpses in the wild, bones gnawed by hyenas and birds! They would have become prey for marauders and mutants... Their life would have been terrible."

As he spoke, his tone from the boardroom had unconsciously followed him home.

Elisa frowned, displeased with her father’s tone, and corrected him seriously. "... This isn’t a fairy tale. It’s our history."

"Of course, my child... These are things that may have happened on this planet once." Realizing his slip up, Malvern quickly spoke more gently to his daughter.

Looking at his lovely daughter, he patiently continued, "... But the difference is, Boulder Town has never been ruled by merchants. Do you really think it's the bank’s fault they can’t afford bread? It’s quite the opposite. Your father may not be a good man, but if I hadn’t loaned money to those factories, the poor wouldn’t even have a single chip in their pockets. And then what good would cheap bread do?"

A trace of confusion appeared in Elisa’s eyes.

She had learned a few things from books and newspapers, but only fragments. What her father was saying was beyond her current understanding.

Malvern gently patted her head and said lovingly, "Don’t apply stories rigidly to reality. Our situation is different from your book’s story right from the start. Whether it’s the Vega Trading Company or Boulder Town Bank, our shareholders were always the nobles of the inner city. They gave us our first chip."

"I must’ve told you before, your mother’s family... her ancestors were among the first survivors of the Boulder Skyscraper. I hope you’ll learn more about etiquette and conduct from her. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to send you to study in Ideal City."

He adored his clever daughter, but sometimes he wished she wasn’t quite so clever.

Being clever wasn’t a bad thing. But paired with naivety, it could become a big problem.

She wasn’t that young anymore. In a couple of years, she would be of marrying age. Perhaps it was time he became stricter with her and stopped treating her like a child.

Elisa blinked. "You mean where Second Brother is?"

Malvern nodded. "That’s right."

It was his backup plan.

He was well aware that Boulder Town had its hidden troubles, but they weren’t problems he could fix.

The City Lord wouldn’t support him. Neither would the militia commander, the chairman of the Boulder Town Arms Industry, or the nobles in the inner city.

Even animals knew to avoid danger and seek benefit, let alone a sharp-nosed banker like him. If the problem couldn’t be solved, then it was best to make as much money as possible before it hit.

Recently, he had discovered a promising new channel, an emerging force in the northern suburbs, the New Alliance.

Though the wastelanders and blue coats often acted in puzzling ways, their results were surprisingly effective.

Not only had they withstood the Army’s assault, but they had also gained the friendship of an ancient survivor faction.

According to a letter from his youngest son studying in Ideal City, the New Alliance’s merchants had even managed to sell fried chicken wings and Nuka Cola there!

It was unbelievable!

Who knew how they solved the transportation issue?! But that wasn’t the point. The point was, silver coins could be exchanged in bulk for CR.

They couldn’t do the same with chips.

Previously, to get CR, one had to trade for it like goods at their Boulder Town’s Exchange. The transaction volume was pitifully low.

Things were different now. A chip could trade for several CR, but that was only because few caravans came from the Among Cloud Province, most people had no use for CR.

If actual demand rose, even ten million chips might not get them a million CR at the Boulder Town’s Exchange.

With that thought, Malvern’s gaze drifted toward the Survivor’s Daily on the coffee table, and he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Come to think of it... Their administrator has returned."

Elisa nodded enthusiastically, eyes full of anticipation. "

Mm

! I heard there’s going to be a huge victory celebration... Can we go?"

Malvern patted his daughter’s head and said with a warm smile. "Of course... But you must listen to your father. The world beyond the walls is still a wasteland, it’s not as safe as home."

"Really? That’s great!" Rare excitement lit up her usually calm face. Elisa looked up at her gentle father with joy and swore earnestly, "I promise, I’ll be on my best behavior!"

Malvern smiled gently at his eager daughter, though his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

Boulder Town had borrowed a lot from the New Alliance to fund the war. It was almost time to pay the interest. He was sure that man had brought back some valuable things.

But what he truly had his eye on wasn’t the Falcon King’s treasure vault or shiny, useless gold.

It was something else entirely.

Perhaps... Their cooperation could go even deeper.