Becoming an Emperor Starting from the World of The Wandering Earth

After a long silence, Irving was the first to speak.

"Murphy, your idea... is very bold. To bypass the Federation and form a secret alliance would be a significant weakness if word got out."

As soon as Irving opened his mouth, Murphy knew that he had already agreed.

Secret societies have existed in Europe and America since ancient times. Whether it was the Illuminati, Freemasonry, and Skull and Bones, which were rumored to be incredibly powerful in the early days, or the elite clubs and fraternities of modern times, they have always existed.

However, no one brought it up in public. Irving's meaning was clear: he didn't disagree, he just wanted to see what he would do.

Irving's meaning was clear: Murphy's idea was acceptable, but the risks were considerable.

You want to establish your own faction, but how can you ensure it's discreet enough so that some naive reporter or political enemy won't leak it and use it as leverage against us?

Murphy naturally understood the subtext.

Meeting Irving's scrutinizing gaze, Murphy showed no sign of panic at being questioned; instead, he revealed a confident smile.

“I understand that, Uncle Owen, so this mutual aid society isn’t a formal partnership,” Murphy replied immediately. “There are no written bylaws, no fixed location, and not even a specific list of members. Only those of you here, and a very small number of core members whom we absolutely trust, are aware of it.”

"Mr. Murphy, what you said is very interesting, but what do we need to give up, and what will we get in return?" Mia, whom I had just met this morning, asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Ms. Washington, and everyone else, what you need to do is not difficult: within the scope of policy, provide some conveniences for members. For example, appropriately speed up the approval process, offer some friendly reminders during compliance checks, or use your influence to block some obviously unfair proposals."

Murphy paused for a moment, then continued, "Member companies, including my Murphy Energy, will first and foremost ensure the absolute priority and stability of energy supply and equipment maintenance related to each of your jurisdictions. At the same time, a portion of the company's profits will be regularly transferred to your designated channels under the guise of consulting fees or community building funds, or to help you resolve some issues that are inconvenient to resolve yourself."

Another silence followed.

The councilors and representatives from various regions exchanged glances.

Murphy is absolutely right. Everyone can see the current environment clearly, and the future will definitely be even more challenging. Having more friends is like having an extra layer of insurance.

Having an informal but reliable mutual aid network is like having an extra layer of insurance.

A few minutes later, Irving cleared his throat and spoke first.

"Gentlemen, I think Murphy's suggestion is indeed very meaningful. The gears of the UEG are too large, and it is inevitable that they will not be able to take care of the details when they turn. If we, who are in the local area, can find ways to fill the gaps ourselves without violating the general principles, make the machine run more smoothly, and avoid unnecessary losses, this is itself a form of support for the Mountain Moving Project."

As Irving spoke, he looked at Murphy, his eyes showing both scrutiny and, more importantly, approval.

"Of course, the details need to be carefully considered, but I think the direction is feasible."

Since Irving had already agreed, Sophia and Thomas, who were on his side, naturally followed suit.

"Mr. Murphy's performance in Parliament today proves that he is a responsible and sensible young man, and I agree with the idea of ​​this mutual aid society."

"Resource integration and intelligence sharing can indeed enhance the resilience of our local Texas businesses."

"As long as it's kept within a reasonable range, I think this plan is acceptable."

……

The discussion gradually reached a consensus.

Murphy felt reassured, knowing that things were mostly settled, and quickly stood up again, raising his already full glass of wine.

"Thank you all for your trust and support! The road ahead will be difficult, but as long as we unite as one and share our resources, we will surely be able to protect everything we have."

All the guests stood up and raised their glasses.

"For a better tomorrow!"

"For a better tomorrow!"

The crowd repeated in unison, and the wine glasses clinked gently in the air, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.

The banquet lasted for several more hours before guests began to leave one after another.

Murphy also very warmly escorted them to the entrance of the manor.

As the last industrial representative left, Murphy's smile vanished instantly.

Turning back to the manor, the heavy doors slowly closed, and the flames in the fireplace flickered, illuminating the four remaining faces around the long table.

Irving Walker, Sofia Rodriguez, Thomas Christian, and Mia Washington.

Murphy walked to the head of the table, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he looked at the group with a serious expression.

"Uncle Owen, Aunt Sophia, Uncle Thomas, Ms. Washington, there are no outsiders here. There are some things that are not convenient to say outside, but now, I think we can talk about something more practical."

He took a light puff of his Cuban-made cigar and slowly exhaled, the grayish-white smoke making his face somewhat blurry.

"More substantial? Murphy, you've already given us more than substantial tonight."

His words sounded like a joke, but there was no hint of a smile in his eyes.

"Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Owen. But I'd like to ask you all, we currently have power, money, and territory, but have you considered how much power we'll have left once we enter full-scale wartime control, or even to the point where we have to move into the underground cities?"

Upon hearing this, Thomas's lips twitched involuntarily.

"What do you mean?"

"Uncle Thomas, what I mean is very simple."

Murphy walked back to the table, placing his hands on it. "You all know better than I do about UEG's dungeon allocation mechanism. With our current power, how many slots would actually be left inside that metal shell?"

At this point, Murphy deliberately paused for a moment.

None of the four people present answered, but their eyes flickered slightly.

Seeing this, Murphy continued, "The situation is alright now, and we can still retain our power, but once we actually enter the underground city, we might just be slightly higher-class passengers."

These words were like a block of ice, instantly freezing the atmosphere in the room.

"So, what's your suggestion?" Owen finally asked.

Instead of answering immediately, Murphy walked to the side of the room, opened a combination lock box, and took out a folder.

"The mutual aid society is for dealing with the present," Murphy said, his finger tapping on the folder. "And this is our backup plan."

Murphy opened the folder, inside which was a flexible display screen.

As Murphy tapped the screen, it lit up, revealing a complex three-dimensional structure.

"This is the design blueprint I've prepared for everyone: a small-scale, modular underground shelter."

Murphy's finger swiped across the screen, and the blueprints zoomed in, revealing the internal structure.