A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

Stonnov asked from the front as he drove the car.

"That's because we went too far and made our Grand Duke feel threatened."

Quan Duoer said coldly:

"Didn't you hear what Dunkel just said? 'A person should stay in their post and do what they are good at'... Heh heh, he thinks I've taken a few extra steps and escaped his control, so he wants me to continue to be a dutiful dog."

“Just wait and see, Stonnov. He’s putting on a show for those new elites now, trying to appease them. But when it’s time to purge those new elites, won’t he still have to use us, the knives,?”

"But by then, it won't be Dunkel who can keep his word."

“…Hmm.” Stonnov nodded, and then the two stopped talking about that topic and started discussing the changes that had taken place in Chernobyl recently.

“General, since that night, the brothers have kept their mouths shut and sealed off the inner and outer cities. But some news has still reached the outer city. The people in the outer city now basically know what we are doing in the inner city.”

Stonnov slowly began to speak:

"Furthermore, of the students you ordered to be arrested, very few have returned to the inner city. It seems they've heard about this and that's why they haven't gone back."

"...With Azazel's group in the dungeon and the new elites in the inner city, it wouldn't be difficult for them to leak information," Quan Dor said with an indifferent expression.

"Why is the general..."

“That was for Prince Baikal’s benefit, to let him know that we would handle things cleanly, and at the same time to tell him that the situation in Chernobog was urgent and that we could only keep it a secret for a while, not forever. We hoped to gain his full support.”

Quan Duoer sneered and said, "Unfortunately, our Grand Duke never intended to let us border troops leave this place from the very beginning. He won't fully support us; he only wants to squeeze every last drop of value out of us. In that case, there's no need to keep the news under wraps."

“I’m not entirely sure what Azazel wants to do with this information… but he will certainly not let the army group or our trusted Viscount Dunkel have an easy time. Heh heh… let them make a scene, let them make a scene… how can we regain the initiative if they don’t make a scene?”

"General... are you raising an enemy to enhance your own power?" Stonnov finally understood why Alldor was no longer concerned about the leak of information, and even intended to fan the flames and create an atmosphere of terror throughout the city.

"But won't this cause any problems?"

"We have a total of 20,000 elite troops, and I have also contacted our brothers in the two cities closest to us. Once they arrive, we will have 30,000 elite troops. Even if something unexpected happens and we can't clean up the mess, it will be enough for us to escape unscathed!"

"That's what Quan Duoer said."

After hearing Dol's explanation, Stonnov understood, and then he continued, "What about the students? Are we going to go into the school to arrest them, or..."

"As I just said, just wait and see. The border troops don't need to make any big moves these days," Quan Duoer said with his eyes closed. "As for those students, heh, a bunch of immature kids who haven't even been weaned yet, what great things can they possibly accomplish?"

Little did Dortmund know that in the near future, he would personally regret the decision he had made.

……

Industrial Zone

"So you're planning to send these blueprints over in the name of Azazel and the workers who used to work here?"

Looking at the design sketch of the special full-body costume, Herag frowned and said:

"Even so, those craftsmen might not be able to build this thing, right? Even Ursus would need to spend a lot of money to build such a full-coverage heavy armor."

"Hehehe, this isn't equipment for combat. On the contrary, this treasure of mine is exactly what these workers urgently need right now. For them, it's like sending charcoal in snowy weather."

Wang Chong chuckled as he explained the blueprints to Helag.

Chapter 275: Laying out Industrial Zones

The blueprints Wang Chong brought were none other than design blueprints; they were the Originium Protective Suit that the Reunion Movement was currently developing in full swing.

These protective suits are not only suitable for mining operations, but also for all kinds of industrial processes, as long as the process involves Originium.

In fact, most of the infected people in the city were infected accidentally during operations involving the transportation, smelting, processing, and use of Originium.

It can be said that they were the ones who created the industrial prosperity of Chernobog and even the Ursus Empire.

But after contracting the disease, not only did the government ignore them, but it even orchestrated the persecution of infected individuals by civilians. While diverting attention from the problem, it continuously exploited their value.

All the people of Chernobog, especially the working class, were acutely aware of the future that awaited them. But they had long since become numb and even resigned to their fate through repeated bloody repressions and divisions.

Just in case, just in case I can retire peacefully... just in case I can get promoted and escape this shitty low-level job...

This is also why the integration movement in Chernobyl has consistently failed to make progress. They understand the道理 (principles/reasoning), but until the fire truly burns their own heads, they won't feel the pain, nor will they truly take action to resist.

So this time, Wang Chong didn't come to the industrial zone to lecture the workers. He brought them what they desired most—Originium suits.

This would both reduce their chances of contracting Orescia, satisfy their wishful thinking, and give them the "hope" they were hoping for; it would also lay a friendly foundation with the people in the industrial zone and prepare for everything that followed.

"My God, did those old guys really develop this themselves? Cough cough... I mean, I know their capabilities; they can build things, but for them to come up with the design blueprints..."

A middle-aged man took the blueprints from Helag's hands, his face filled with disbelief.

“Actually, this wasn’t entirely Haved’s idea. The real mastermind behind this byproduct was my friend, who researched this new material and applied it to the protective suit,” Hrag replied with a smile.

At this moment, through Hrag's introduction, Wang Chong made contact with the director of the Originium Workshop in the industrial zone. Wang Chong and Hrag immediately got to the point, handing the director the blueprints for the protective suit and explaining its functions one by one.

With Wang Chong's keen eyesight, he could tell at a glance that although the director in front of him did not have obvious traces of Originium on his body, his internal organs had accumulated a lot of Originium dust, and the crystal content in his blood had exceeded the normal standard.

The other party is a genuine infected person. The reason they are still in this location is mainly because there are no obvious traces of Originium exposed.

In fact, there are many such workers in the industrial area. They have long been infected, but they have to hide it in order to make a living and to avoid discrimination and persecution.

They pinned their hopes on their bodies lasting until retirement, and to that end, they spent most of their savings on medications that could suppress Oripathy.

Since the best Oripathy inhibitors in Chernobyl are mostly produced by the Azazel Clinic, it is precisely for this reason that the head of the clinic, who also needs inhibitors to suppress his condition, is so familiar with Herag.

"May I ask who you are, sir...?" the workshop director asked, looking at Wang Chong.

“Dr. Wang, that’s basically what they all call me,” Wang Chong said, standing up and extending his right hand.

“Oh, thank you for coming, Dr. Wang. Peter Kovalev, as you can see, is the director of this production workshop.” Peter also stood up, introduced himself, and shook hands with him. (The last part, "你林有梅我我空你林在在没呢…", appears to be unrelated and likely a transcription error.)

“Dr. Wang, your product is indeed what we people who frequently deal with Originium need… but blueprints are just blueprints; I need to have a clear understanding of its production difficulty and actual effectiveness.”

After sitting back down, Peter spoke very tactfully:

"You have to understand that with the current restrictions in place, most of the manufactured goods cannot be transported out, and many workshops have been forced to shut down. The few products that can be exported without restrictions are basically from workshops like ours that are related to refining Originium ore."

"After all, refined Originium ore is not only the most important power source in the country, but also a strategic resource for the military. It can be said that the huge industrial zone now basically relies on smelting Originium ore to support itself."

"Therefore, our workshop has always been under heavy workload... If the production of these protective suits cannot meet your requirements of balancing safety and efficiency, I'm afraid..."

“Director Peter, you don’t need to worry. You can try this product yourself.” Wang Chong opened the huge box he had brought with him, which contained a set of protective clothing.

"Look, these protective suits were all handmade by the craftsmen who left your company. You should know their skill level now, and they used some outdated semi-automated machines for processing and production."

"If even their finished products can be preserved, then there's no need to worry about setting up specialized equipment in the industrial zone for precision manufacturing," Wang Chong said with a smile.

“This…” Peter looked at the somewhat rudimentary protective suit, then at Hrag.

Herag slowly said, "Director Peter, I guarantee with my reputation that if any problems arise during the experiment, Azazel Clinic will take full responsibility for you and will not charge you a single penny."

So Peter gritted his teeth, put on the protective suit himself, and went through the routine industrial process.

About an hour later, hearty laughter came from the workshop office. Peter was seen reluctantly taking off his protective suit, looking as if he hadn't had enough.

Clearly, during this hour-long trial, the protective suit not only proved its practicality but also greatly calmed Director Peter's anxious heart, which had been filled with apprehension since contracting the disease.

You should know that being exposed to that Originium dust environment every day, even with the use of inhibitors, his body wouldn't be able to hold out until the day he retires.

But ever since he put on the protective suit, he felt better than ever when facing the Originium dust environment. Not only did his body no longer ache, but even his breathing no longer had that nauseating metallic taste filling his mouth and nose.

More importantly, he discovered that the sharp ores could not pierce their protective suits, which meant that their efficiency in transporting ores would increase significantly. This also avoided the most likely route of disease transmission.

He was certain that these protective suits were truly effective in protecting him. And these were merely crudely made products. If he were to strictly adhere to the production standards outlined in the blueprints and refine them himself, perhaps the resulting protective suits would genuinely ensure his safety until retirement.

"I'm glad you like this protective suit," Wang Chong said with a smile.

“Dr. Wang, this gift you gave us is like a huge weight lifted off our shoulders and minds, something we’ve been carrying for so long. Logically, I should accept it properly… but…”

Peter knew the importance of these protective suits, so he became a little suspicious as to why the other party would send him such good things for no reason.

Nobody's a fool, especially given the sensitive situation in Chernobyl right now.

"...But this gift is far too valuable, and we don't know how we can ever repay this kindness. Besides, the bosses behind the industrial park probably won't let us use these protective suits."

Peter sighed and spoke indirectly.

"I'm giving you all this gift mainly out of consideration for the infected people like Haved. The infected people in the underground city are all trying to survive, helping each other, and building this underground community together."

Wang Chong slowly said, "It is precisely because of this kind of community that so many infected people have not completely erupted into conflict due to the oppression and discrimination of the people of Chernobog. However, the conflict can be tolerated for a while, but it cannot be tolerated forever. This fire barrel will explode sooner or later."

"With the high-speed operation of Ursus's heavy industry, infected people will be created at an increasingly rapid pace. Perhaps one day, when the number of infected people accumulates to the point that the underground city can no longer contain them, this conflict will completely erupt. Director Peter, can you imagine the consequences then?"

“I…” Peter could certainly imagine it, after all, he had watched from his youth as batches of workers, covered in Originium crystals, were driven out of factories and cities.

He saw the dejected look in their eyes, the furious and crazed look in their eyes. Sometimes he even had nightmares, in which the infected held up torches, smashed machines, and burned him, a 'normal person,' to ashes.

Until one day, he was also diagnosed as an infected person... and he never had such nightmares again.

Of course, he did have nightmares, but the content of his nightmares changed from being slaughtered by infected people to being oppressed and driven away by normal people.

Chapter 276: Struggling on Their Own

"It's clear, Director Peter, that you're aware of the situation." Wang Chong chuckled, observing Peter's expression, and then continued:

"So, by providing this blueprint, I am also saving the lives of an entire city's residents. Neither the infected nor the citizens want that day to come, right? If we can prevent the birth of infected individuals from the source, then the probability of this conflict occurring will naturally be greatly reduced."

"Cheer City is currently unable to leave, and if chaos breaks out, even I will be affected. So, by saving Cheer City, I am also saving myself."

Hearing Wang Chong's answer reassured Peter considerably, and he even deeply agreed with Wang Chong's prediction of the future, becoming even more convinced of his idea to produce these protective suits.

"However, I am quite curious, Director Peter, why did you say that those aristocratic gentlemen don't want to see you using these protective suits? Even if they don't care about the lives of their subordinates, don't they want to improve production efficiency? Don't they want to make more money?"

Wang Chong asked with a smile.

"No, those old men aren't just thinking about improving efficiency; they're thinking about how to maximize profits. They don't care at all whether a project can be operated in the long term."

Peter shook his head and said, "It's not like no one has optimized this before. Like transporting those Originium ore mines, even if we can't think of suitable protective suits, can't we think of using portable tools to transport them?" (The last sentence is a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly.)

“Even if we submit the proposal, the factory manager will not agree to it at all if the amount is even slightly too large after calculating the cost of optimizing and upgrading the equipment.”

“Even if it could bring more long-term benefits, the factory manager felt that instead of spending money on optimizing these equipment now, he would rather invest the money elsewhere and make money faster.”

"Heh, of course, that's the ideal situation I'm talking about. Sometimes, if these noble gentlemen are in a bad mood, they'd rather suffer a loss themselves than wish us any better off."

At this point, Peter chuckled self-deprecatingly, his eyes full of resentment.

After patiently listening to Peter's complaints, Wang Chong nodded and smiled, saying, "But the situation is different now, isn't it? The inner city is now under martial law, and those noble gentlemen are trapped inside and cannot easily come out."

“During this period, you have every opportunity to produce these things first. Anyway, you have stockpiled a lot of resources. As long as you keep the accounts right and everyone is of one mind, you don’t have to worry about this project failing.”

"By then, the die is cast, and efficiency has indeed been improved. He can't very well force us to destroy the production line and the clothes, can he? That would also incur costs. Don't you agree?"

These words naturally struck a chord with Peter. The noble lords were too busy to take care of themselves, and Peter even secretly gave himself a day off to rest.

Now that these things can guarantee his livelihood, he naturally wants to take a chance.

……

Soon, Wang Chong's exchange with Peter, the representative of the industrial zone, concluded with a cooperation agreement. Shortly afterward, the underground city would send personnel as technical consultants to guide the workers in producing protective suits and optimizing production capacity.

It seems that Wang Chong gave these workers a free ride, which may even make them more complacent and less likely to rebel.

But only Wang Chong himself knew that this was merely the calm before the storm.

“Actually, Peter knew perfectly well that protective suits and optimized survival modes would all eventually be overturned.” After leaving the industrial area, Hrag sighed and said.

"Do you think someone who says things like, 'I'd rather suffer a loss myself than see us have an easier time,' can't understand that these uniforms and methods touch upon the core interests of those nobles?"

Wang Chong chuckled and said, "What loss do nobles have to worry about? The biggest loss for them is when the workers are able to live a good life and can no longer be exploited and oppressed."

"But they've been dreaming for too long, preferring to deceive themselves rather than wake up."

“Words can’t wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep; only pain can.” Wang Chong finished speaking, then chuckled and said, “When they got used to that production method and protective suits, they were asked to go back to the way things were.”

"That was when their pain began... and when they began to struggle and learn to resist."

After speaking, Wang Chong looked at Helag and said with a hint of apology:

“I understand that too… especially seeing that Peter still harbors fantasies about that position, I understand that if Chernobog wants to rise, it must break down the old and build the new.” Herag nodded and said.

"The industrial zone is all set up now. Next, we just have to wait for the raid to be completed," Wang Chong said slowly.

After the two returned to the underground district, Herag, as instructed, sent the pre-selected personnel with materials to the industrial area. Meanwhile, Wang Chong continued to instruct Zao Lu, aiming to enable her to take on the responsibilities of the student district in two days.

……

"call--"

A biting wind howled across the northern lands. Talulah, looking at the Ursus soldiers who had already besieged Ashford, took a deep breath and said:

"Fire!"

"Boom boom boom boom!!"

The sound of Originium cannons rang out one after another. The dark mass of Ursus warriors bravely withstood the pressure of the artillery fire, allowing their cannons to advance into range and then fire at the city walls.