There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

"You're overthinking it. The Federation's military power began to decline rapidly around the time the Deep Space Fleet defected. The standing army is only used for routine security, and retired soldiers like Harris are simply reassigned to sheriff positions."

Okay, doesn't this setting sound a lot like Britain during the First Industrial Revolution?

"How did you do that?"

Thomas said in a low voice, "For the inland areas, they adopted the method of abolishing towns and converting them into cities, incorporating all the territories of these independent towns into the surrounding municipalities. During that period, three commercial cities were established at the same time: the Eastern City, the Southern City, and the Archipelago City. The resulting urban clusters were layered upon layered, almost spanning the entire territory of the Federation, crushing the original structure of the inland independent towns..."

I understand. It means that by accelerating urbanization, land and population are re-merged and relocated, ultimately destroying these small-scale farming economies and local interest groups.

This method has been widely used in modern times, driving displaced farmers to work in cities, ultimately forming massive modern urban systems such as the London metropolitan area and the Tokyo metropolitan area.

"What about the open sea?" The inland areas clearly have no way to deal with this, unless they have enough military strength to resist... Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse, how can a small town stand against a country? The history of existence being justified has already explained everything.

"The situation is even simpler for the outer islands. The Federation established the National Resource Industry Committee, which is responsible for supplying the Federation with various special products, minerals, and plant and animal resources from the outer seas. It was established as an administrative agency for the outer sea colonies. Later, the dumping of space resources led to the bursting of the outer sea economic bubble. Now, once the Federation bans the export of important materials such as food, medicine, and machinery, the outer sea islands will be completely finished."

This era feels very familiar. The rapid prosperity of the offshore economy attracted a large amount of investment, which further fueled the investment enthusiasm in the region, ultimately creating a typical trap similar to the "tulip bubble".

Originally, offshore islands with physical output and rudimentary industrial systems would still have something left even after the bubble burst. However, the devastating impact of space's various mineral resources and industrial products caused the value of these industries to plummet, sweeping them directly into the dustbin of history. Those who invested there lost everything.

cough cough.

I'm not targeting anyone in particular, I'm just saying everyone in town is a loser!

I only learned today that the establishment of Mineral Town was probably due to this favorable wind. The current residents are probably all part of the generation that has been eliminated.

Early colonist groups that explored America often fell into a vicious cycle of inbreeding and loss of civilization. When later settlers discovered the place, the entire village consisted only of a group of drooling, mentally challenged individuals and freaks resembling savages.

This phenomenon of being abandoned by civilization is not uncommon in any era.

"Mayor, this is such an unfair loss. It's like a giant stepping on an ant."

"That's exactly what I wanted to tell you!"

After rambling on for a while, Thomas the Tank Engine finally remembered his purpose. "What do you think I'm busy with every day? Do you know how many telegrams the town sends to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission every day to report import and export data? Do you know that this data has to be accurate to the cent and the gram? Even a slight deviation from the data of the Voyagers' Alliance will deduct from my performance bonus! Delaying the report will lead to charges of concealing data and invite trade blockade!"

"Thank you for your hard work, little train!"

"...Didn't you just call me Little Fire Dragon?" Thomas scratched his head. "Never mind, that's not the hardest part! Do you know there's a time difference between here and there? The daily reporting time is between 3 and 4 a.m. here!"

Hahaha, there's a time difference!

I almost burst out laughing. No wonder this guy always looks so tired!

Thomas tearfully recounted his life over the past few years: "Do you know what I've been through all these years?!"

"...Playing the Greedy Trap?" I probed.

Thomas's face darkened further, his previously rosy complexion now resembling that of a villain. "I'm here to remind you. Whether it's opening a canteen to sell your products domestically or renting out the police station as public property, you need to report it to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission! Otherwise, you'll be in big trouble!"

"Mayor, you'd better not use that abbreviation anymore, or this book will be in big trouble..."

Chapter 234 Longing for Perch and Water Chestnut

"Train conductor, is what I did wrong? Will I end up like Harris and get arrested?" I asked anxiously, and as I spoke, another bass...

God, what do you mean by this? Do you want me to shout, "Life is about enjoying oneself, why should I be bound by officialdom thousands of miles away for fame and rank?" and then drift away?

But I'm currently just wandering around in the countryside. No matter how much I miss it, there's nothing more suitable than this, right?

Resign from office?

That's simply impossible!

The sheriff gets a salary!

salary!

Moreover, this is a formal state job with five social insurances and one housing fund, annual physical examination, reimbursement of travel expenses, and a two-story police station with four bedrooms and one living room that I can use at will. When I have nothing to do, I can take out a gun and openly act on behalf of heaven. What reason do I have not to do it?

Coach Anzai! I really want to... be the constable for two more days!

“…Train conductor? Why is he called the train conductor?! The titles are getting weirder and weirder! I’m the mayor!” Thomas looked at me in despair, and it took him a long time to calm down.

"Don't worry, although Harris's case involves crimes such as stealing state-owned mineral assets and illegally using explosives, these are minor matters."

I nodded. Indeed, even ores aren't worth much these days, and illegally mining is a relatively harmless crime. Sebala often goes up the mountain to mine, and I've never seen this old man get arrested!

"Then why was Harris... arrested?"

Thomas sighed and pointed to the sky, saying, "His mistake was that he shouldn't have associated with the Deep Space Fleet."

Deep Space Fleet?

I've heard that name several times in the last couple of days, especially regarding Harris. But I remember Harris was taken away by a military court of the Deep Space Fleet?

"The Deep Space Fleet has deployed a large force in orbit, demanding that the federal government hand over the political criminals from the massacre. These space-based weapons are aimed at various key points of the Federation, but no one expected them to be used on Mineral Town. The government's top brass must have been quite surprised by this."

Thomas spoke softly, glancing northeast, "At this time, revealing our relationship with the Deep Space Fleet, how can the higher-ups not be suspicious? What they're considering isn't what purpose you'll use the weapons for or whether you have malicious intent, but rather how much damage these weapons can cause... If next time some people with ulterior motives sneak into the Capitol with locators, could they bypass the missile defense system and fall on their heads..."

"hiss………"

I gasped, sensing the danger lurking within. Harris was playing with fire; if this wasn't handled properly, the consequences would be unimaginable. An organization capable of massacring the families of fleet members couldn't be expected to be merciful, could they?

"Is there any hope for Harris?" I asked quickly.

Thomas's comical face showed a hint of contemplation: "It's not entirely hopeless. If he had remained in town, there would have been no hope at all. But since he was eventually taken away by the Deep Space Fleet for unauthorized use of space-based weapons, there's still hope..."

"That's even worse, isn't it?!" I shook my head and said, "It's already troublesome enough for the federal government to prosecute him, but now the Deep Space Fleet is going to court-martial him. That's a sure thing!"

Mayor Thomas then gave a subtle smile: "You're mistaken. Think about it, why would a small town sheriff be able to use such a dangerous weapon? Could it have been done so smoothly without internal authorization?"

That makes a lot of sense. The equipment Harris was wearing was clearly not just for show. While simple exoskeletons and kinetic guns could be smuggled in, the Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon was obviously a national strategic asset.

"So, by preemptively sending him to a military court, the fleet inadvertently saved him?"

"Yes! But whether it was unintentional or not is hard to say. At such a delicate moment, it seems the fleet made a special trip to take Harris away, which could very well be to create this diplomatic dispute and protect him. I even suspect that Harris himself is a spy for the Deep Space Fleet!"

...Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Why is there suddenly a spy drama plot?

Harris, the town's sheriff who had been lying low for many years, was actually the head of an underground work station set up by the Kuomintang before its retreat. He was responsible for stealing and sending secrets from Mineral Town and transmitting messages by telegram every night!

Ultimately, Station Chief Ha's actions were exposed due to his illegal mining activities, his identity was revealed, and he was caught in a sea of ​​people, forced to flee in panic! The wise and decisive Mayor Thomas of the town ultimately led Mineral Town to defend the fruits of the revolution!

Looking at Thomas's face, which was beaming with excitement because of gossip, I suddenly had an urge to kick him.

No wonder the townspeople are so excited about this. I bet you, fat-headed bastard, are adding fuel to the fire.

"I think Thomas, you're overthinking it. I'm the most qualified to speak on this matter; it's incredibly complex. Even if Harris is a spy or a sympathizer for the Deep Space Fleet, what difference does it make to us?"

"No, no, no, these things don't affect us, but they're incredibly significant to the Federation's top brass. They're negotiating with other interstellar powers, accusing the Deep Space Fleet of blockading outer space and obstructing satellite launches and spaceship maneuvers," Thomas said helplessly. "Even if what I'm saying isn't true, it's definitely the version that best supports the Federation's claims. When they get to the Interstellar Group, they can complain about agent infiltration, undermining sovereignty, and hindering freedom of interstellar travel to secure the greatest possible benefits."

Thomas took a breath and wiped the sweat from his nose. "As for the truth, who cares?"

“…Okay, you have a point.” I nodded silently, then turned to look at him with amusement: “As the town mayor, you’re full of these anti-government remarks and harbor so much resentment. If I were to report you, would I get a medal too?”

Upon hearing this, Thomas broke out in a cold sweat: "Heh heh... dear Marcus, I think there's been a misunderstanding between us..."

Misunderstand?

I think he got too excited while introducing the story and blurted out the truth.

"Well... my memory has been really inconsistent lately. When it's bad, I can't remember anything at all, and when it's good, I like to write down what I remember on paper and mail it around... you know what I mean?"

"...Understood. Leave the administrative approval to me!" Thomas said through gritted teeth, his mind filled with images of working overtime until 3 a.m., frantically filling out various application forms, lists of documents to be reviewed, applications for official seals, review forms for applications for official seals, application forms for review forms for applications for review forms for applications for official seals, and review forms for review forms for application forms for review forms for applications for review forms for applications for official seals... He also had to deal with layers of reviewers, and his vision suddenly went black.

"Hmm, my memory seems to be getting worse again! While I still remember, there's something I need to ask you..."

I stood up, took a banknote out of my pocket, and said, "I still need to buy some seeds for the ranch, so I'd appreciate it if you could help me with that. Here's a hundred dollars; that should be enough for you, right?"

Thomas took the thin banknote with trembling hands, then his vision went black and he fainted.

Chapter 235 Power Systems

After finally getting rid of the expensive Thomas the Tank Engine, I was able to enjoy a precious break.

In the distance, Gotz had already begun diligently digging the foundation, driving in the piles to form the base. I watched as he swung his sledgehammer, hammering the wooden piles with a resounding thud, and the numbers "+80," "+80," seemed to float above his head, making my heart pound with fear.

If they charge per hammer blow, will they bankrupt me?

In such a noisy environment, the animals in the stables and chicken coops also ran out and wandered around the open space of the pasture, not daring to approach.

Two Alpha chicks climbed up a tree like a human pyramid, hiding in the branches to peek. But the overly fluffy little chick always had half its rear end sticking out.

She looked like a pale yellow flower blooming on a tree... a long dress and fluffy hair...

A strange background music track has been added!

Luckily, I bit my tongue in time, which brought me back to my senses... I was still very touched for a long time afterward...

I stared blankly at the chicken-butt flower on the tree, my mind filled with strange music.

Gradually, the strange music was mixed with the muttered "Please give me a cucumber" and the chirping of chicks, all blending into a grand symphony in my mind, the surging notes almost sweeping across the entire world...

Suddenly, a warm, wet sensation appeared on my face. I snapped out of my daze and found the little pony emoji standing next to me, licking my face repeatedly with its tongue.

Whoever said they had a bold idea, step forward! I promise I won't kill you!

"That was close! I almost lost myself!"

The damage caused by this mental pollution is simply ruthless!

I glared at my accomplices. Just then, two chicks perched on my shoulders, chirping away, but I couldn't understand a word they said. However, judging from their overly expressive body language, they were probably complaining about the pony again.

In the river in front of me, a green creature was floating, biting a fishhook and wailing incessantly. But between wailing, it was muttering, "Please give me a cucumber, please give me a cucumber."

"I'm fishing, what are you doing coming over here!" I tapped the kappa on the head and took the hook out of its mouth. What on earth is this creature thinking?

It's embarrassing enough to get a fish to bite for no reason, but at least you could laugh at someone for having a straight hook and salty bait. But my hook doesn't even have bait! Are you just here to bite and amuse me?!

When no one was around, I threw the shameful creature back into the pond.

"Marcus! I've come to see you!"

Another heartfelt and enthusiastic call came from behind, and yet another figure suddenly burst through the gate that Thomas hadn't closed before leaving, arriving like a whirlwind!

"...Oh no! It's Solar Flare! Krillin, you tricked me!"

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared before my eyes, accompanied by a dazzling golden light, and I instantly lost my sight. This sudden attack must be Krillin's Solar Flare!

"Who is Klin?" A familiar voice rang out beside me, and a ruthless man waved his hand in front of my eyes, oblivious to what was happening to me.

As I slowly recovered from the glare, I saw Sebala standing in front of me with a big bald head and a puzzled look on his face.