Warhammer Survival Guide

Chapter 116 Human Resources (Bonus Chapter)

"Case number 774-903, lung scan shows fibrotic shadows, life expectancy less than five years."

Marquez's scanner turned slightly.

"Defective product. Rejected. To be retained by local fertilizer production personnel."

This is a very direct selection process.

There was no tearful farewell.

Those selected will have the Imperial double-headed eagle barcode branded on their necks on the spot.

Then, like livestock, they were herded onto the waiting heavy transport planes.

Luo Wei remained expressionless, but in his mind, he was conducting a cold cost calculation.

He couldn't control the people in the other granaries, but every able-bodied young man taken away from the eastern granaries under his jurisdiction was a valuable labor asset because they had consumed his "green soup."

Since taking over the eastern grain depot, he has invested a real amount of money to feed the laborers.

The green soup from the eastern granary is usually a bit more concentrated and richer in nutrients than that from other granaries, and it also occasionally rewards you with some corpse starch.

But he couldn't stop it.

And one must not show any dissatisfaction.

This is the operating logic of an empire.

In order to maintain the existence of a vast interstellar empire.

In order to fight against those unspeakable terrors among the stars.

Human flesh and blood are merely the most basic fuel.

Just as the human resources recruitment was about to end, Márquez suddenly stopped.

His sophisticated multispectral mechanical eyes locked onto a team standing behind Rowe.

Buck and his men.

They were wearing the armor plates of the Valentine family guard, all obtained from looting loot boxes last time.

Marquez began, "Advisor Lowe, according to the retrospective analysis of tactical assessment data, during the plague invasion three months ago, the Seventh Agricultural Zone's material loss rate was less than 20%, and the personnel casualty rate was less than 10%."

"This is the lowest loss record among the ten remaining agricultural war zones of the Fengrao II."

"And the data for the eastern grain depot you oversee is even more impressive, it's unbelievable."

Luo Wei felt a chill run down his spine.

He keenly sensed that behind this praise lay a dangerous logical trap.

"I am happy to answer your question, Your Excellency Tax Officer, because we have constructed effective fortifications and adopted—"

""

Just as Lo Wei began to explain, Marquez raised his mechanical claw, stopping him from continuing.

"The data shows that a low casualty rate necessarily corresponds to high-intensity fire suppression."

"This means that the Seventh Agricultural Theater, especially your eastern granary, has firepower that far exceeds its defensive needs."

""

At the heart of Márquez's logic lies an irrefutable deduction: "According to the wartime amendment to Article 42 of the Imperial Requisition Act, in a state of total war, surplus military equipment in the rear security zone should be given priority to the front combat zone."

"The Astartes and the Astral Army at the front are facing severe supply shortages."

"And you, as a safe granary, have stockpiled a large amount of excellent equipment."

Marquez's voice suddenly rose, becoming increasingly imposing: "This is a serious misallocation of resources."

"This is a reservation of loyalty."

Luo Wei felt a chill rush straight to his head.

He never imagined that performing too well would become a reason for exploitation.

Marquez spat out a long list from the mouth of the servo skull.

"I demand that the Seventh Agricultural Theater surrender all standard high-energy laser weapons, large-caliber live-fire weapons, and all unregistered heavy explosive weapons!"

Buck, standing behind Rowe, suddenly tensed up.

This isn't taxation; it's outright robbery.

He instinctively took a half step back, gripping the explosive pistol in his hand even tighter.

The surrounding guards also became agitated.

The guns in their hands are their lives.

Making them surrender their weapons is tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

Loewe took a deep breath, stepped forward, and stood between Buck and Marquez.

"Your Excellency Tax Officer, your reasoning is clearly flawed."

Luo Wei pulled up his inventory list and handed it over with both hands.

"The reason why our eastern grain depot suffered low casualties is not because we possess superior firepower, but because we implemented extreme isolation measures, and—"

Lowe paused, thinking of the "Warspace Crystal" and the "Special Green Soup" from the heart of Nurgle's chosen one, and of course, the Wall of Gluttony.

"—and made full use of the advantages of the environment."

"This is our actual inventory list. Please take a look."

Marquez took the data panel.

His probe pierced the interface and instantly read the contents.

next second.

This cyborg, who had always maintained absolute rationality, tilted its brass head slightly.

This rather humane gesture seemed quite out of place on him.

This represents "confusion" and "disbelief".

"This data is illogical."

Márquez pointed to the items on the list.

"Six heavy logging guns."

"M35 laser rifle (40% scrap rate)"

""

"Homemade earthenware shotgun".

"Modify the saw blade of the harvester."

"Agricultural tools such as sickles and hammers."

"Is this your equipment?"

In Márquez's mechanical eyes, the red light flashed at an accelerated frequency.

"The Fourth Agricultural Theater, with two regiments of Chimera armored vehicles, was completely wiped out."

"The Ninth Agricultural War Zone, with its automated sentry turret array, has become a dead zone."

"The Third Agricultural Theater had an entire company of heavy logging rifles, and more than half of them were killed or wounded."

"And you—" Marquez glanced again at the list of equipment that could be described as "junk," "You used this scrap metal to hold back the plague army? And maintain minimal casualties?"

Rowe nodded without changing his expression and said, "Yes, Your Excellency. We rely on our familiarity with the terrain and our devout faith in the Emperor."

Of course, he couldn't say that the real main force was that high-purity subspace crystal and the Wall of Gluttony.

Marquez remained silent for a long time.

His core logic seems to be about reassessing the value of the young man in front of him.

They can achieve the best results with the worst resources.

In the Ministry of the Interior's evaluation system, this is considered an extremely high level of management ability.

"High efficiency".

Marquez uttered that word.

"You have once again proven your worth, Consultant Lowe. Your efficiency in using resources is impressive."

Luo Wei had just breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Márquez changed the subject.

The cold, mechanical claw bypassed Rowe and pointed directly at Buck.

To be precise, it was pointed at the gun in Buck's arms.

"Given your already scarce regular stockpiles, this weapon seems even more out of place."

Marquez stared at the precision-engineered explosive gun.

The golden double-headed eagle emblem on the gun gleamed in the gloomy rain.

"Based on its craftsmanship and bolt action, this Imperial Wrath should be a lost relic belonging to a Space Marine chapter, or perhaps the sidearm of an Inquisitor."

"In short, it should not be in the hands of ordinary people to shoot rats and refugees."

"This is blasphemy against the sacred object."

"It's also a waste of resources."

Márquez delivered his final verdict: "Hand it over. This gun will be sent to where it belongs: the front lines."

Buck's breathing became rapid.

His chest heaved violently.

He had taken the gun from the bodies of the Valentine's Guard.

During this period, he even slept with it in his arms.

To maintain the gun, he even saved his own food rations and went to the black market to exchange them for high-quality gun oil.

This is more than just a weapon.

This was his foundation, a symbol of his authority as captain of the guard, and the highest reward for his loyalty from Lowe.

Now, this tin man is going to take away his manhood.

Buck's fingers were dangerously rubbing against the edge of the trigger guard.

The arbitrators in the vicinity reacted immediately.

Several shotguns were raised simultaneously, their dark muzzles locking onto Buck.

If Buck does anything too outrageous, he'll be riddled with bullets.

Lowe knew very well that this gun meant security and dignity to Buck.

He could give up everything of value on his person to trade for this gun.

He would even trade his own life for it.

But Loewe was even more aware of the cost of refusing.

Márquez was not discussing it.

He represents the Ministry of the Interior and the Imperial Law.

If a conflict breaks out over protecting this gun, the entire Seventh Grain Depot will be considered a rebellion.

All the effort, all the management, will be in vain.

This is a necessary expense.

The two were less than half a meter apart.

Rowe could hear a low growl coming from Buck's throat, like a wild animal guarding its prey.

"Buck, hand it over."

Buck trembled, his eyes filled with pleading.

"Boss, this is our lifeline."

Buck shed tears, like a wronged child.

"Without this guy, what will we brothers use to stop the next plague outbreak when Oglin comes in? Fire pokers?"

"If the 'Children of the Stars' cult riots again, how can I protect you?"

"Boss, please—"

Luo Wei didn't blink, remaining unmoved, and said, "As long as people are alive, there will be more guns."

"If you don't hand it over, you know the consequences. Not only will you die, but your brothers will die too."

Luo Wei held out his hand and ordered, "Give it to me."

Buck's large, calloused, and scarred hands began to tremble violently.

His fingers slowly loosened from the gun.

Each finger loosened felt like peeling away a layer of his skin.

When the last finger loosens.

Rowe grabbed the heavy bomb gun.

Buck let out a suppressed sob.

This tough guy, who could roll around in piles of dead bodies without blinking, completely collapsed in that instant.

His legs buckled and he fell forward.

He threw himself on Lowe.

He buried his stubble-covered and greasy face in the shoulders of Lowell's robe.

"Waaah————"

A harsh wail escaped from the throat of this burly man weighing over 200 pounds.

It sounded like the desperate howl of an old wolf with its spine broken, in the cold night wind.

Luo Wei's body stiffened for a moment.

He felt the mocking gazes of the arbitrators around him.

I felt the cold gaze of Márquez.

But he did not push Buck away.

He let Buck's tears and snot soak his clothes.

Rowe carried the heavy precision-engineered bomb gun in one hand, and with the other hand, gently patted Buck's trembling back.

He held the precision-engineered bomb gun with both hands and handed it to the arbitrator next to Márquez.

"As you wish, Your Excellency Tax Officer."

"This is Abundance II, the Seventh Agricultural War Zone, the Eastern Granary, loyal to the Empire."

Marquez frowned.

At the heart of his logic, he sensed the emotional data of anger.

But he didn't care.

In the Ministry of the Interior's books, emotions have no value.

Only resources and efficiency matter.

"very good."

Marquez nodded.

"This weapon will be used properly. It will be of even greater value in the hands of true warriors."

After saying that, Márquez turned and left.

All that remained was a scene of devastation and a group of guards who had been stripped of their weapons and were filled with anger but dared not speak out.