Warhammer: Starting with Industrial Revolution

"So, how do you plan to negotiate this deal?"

Milley paused, the gentleness on her face vanishing instantly, replaced by the shrewdness of a seasoned businessman. She crossed her arms and looked at Luo Ning. Her beautiful eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, and her fingertips unconsciously tapped her arm.

This was her habit of quickly calculating costs and benefits in her mind; Ronin didn't even need to use Slaanesh's powers to guess what she was thinking.

Luo Ning smiled, his gaze passing over her and looking towards the industrial area with its towering chimneys in the distance. His voice was low but clear: "I don't want to do a one-off deal with you. What I want is a long-term, in-depth partnership."

"Cooperation?" Milley raised an eyebrow, his interest genuine, but so was his underlying resistance.

Luo Ning clearly caught her fleeting thought: this marginal planet was dirt poor, with almost nothing except for ammunition factories, and long-term cooperation meant frequently running this remote route, which would multiply the costs of time, fuel, and escort several times over.

Unless the profits are so overwhelming that she can't take her eyes off them, a stable income can't offset the deficit that keeps her from making ends meet.

He didn't expose the scheme, but continued slowly, "As you just saw, the light industrial factories in Lower Nest have already been set up. We can make military uniforms, military boots, canvas backpacks, prefabricated fortification components, ration packaging, and all the supporting military supplies needed by the Astral Army and PDF. Moreover, our production capacity is still expanding."

"I've done a thorough survey. In the entire Valtok star system, not a single planet is willing to engage in this kind of low-tech, low-profit, and arduous business. Looking at the entire Empire, there are no more than two hundred worlds that can reliably mass-produce these kinds of military supplies. But how many Astral Armies does the Empire have? How many PDF Legions are stationed there? The front lines are always at war, and the demand for these things is a bottomless pit that can never be filled."

Milley didn't speak, but his jawline tightened slightly.

Of course she knew the ins and outs of it.

The Empire's forging world focuses solely on high-value military products such as heavy weapons, starships, and armor, while the nobles' private factories only produce luxury goods that can generate huge profits. This seemingly insignificant military supply chain is precisely the biggest supply and demand gap in the entire Empire.

Having worked on air routes for so many years, she has seen too many quartermasters of the sector garrison frantically trying to find a batch of qualified marching tents, even willing to pay a 30% premium for immediate delivery.

If she could monopolize this supply, she could not only dominate the entire Valtok star system, but also sell the goods to several neighboring star sectors. It would be a stable business where she could make money effortlessly.

But she still didn't budge, her fingers tapping even faster as she rapidly calculated in her mind:

Since Luo Ning dared to offer such a large package, what he wanted must be expensive. Was it perfectly good industrial machine tools? Or rare STC templates? Or even contraband weapons and technology? Could the cost of these things cover the profit from the distribution rights?

Luo Ning looked at the calculation swirling in her eyes and handed her the data panel in his hand.

The screen displays the current production capacity report, yield rate data, and next month's expansion plan, all clearly written: the existing production capacity is already able to stably supply the basic needs of the entire star region, and next month all production lines will be put into operation, directly doubling the production capacity.

"It is indeed very tempting." Milley sighed as he looked down at the reports. He looked up at Ronin, his tone carrying the unyielding nature of a businessman, "Tell me, what do I need to give up to get this exclusive agency rights? Let me make it clear, I won't accept any unreasonable conditions."

She was prepared to be asked for an exorbitant price, but to her surprise, Luo Ning simply shook his head, his tone incredibly serious as he said, word by word, "I don't want machine tools, I don't want blueprints, and I don't want weapons. I need people."

"A person?" Millein froze, frowning as he looked at him, thinking he had misheard. "What person?"

"Skilled technicians, mechanics proficient in pipe laying, circuit maintenance, and equipment repair, qualified medical personnel, and veterans of the Astronautical Army—preferably all of them with systematic training." Ronin's tone was not joking at all. "I don't need many, just a total of no less than five hundred people. Deliver them to Vatos VII within a month."

What he didn't say was that this talent shortage was almost pushing him into a corner.

This planet has been rotten for thousands of years, and the crisscrossing underground pipes and lines are long since aged and riddled with holes.

The facilities in the upper-class noble district are still maintained, but the infrastructure of the middle-class factories and lower nests is practically undeveloped.

Fires, explosions, pipe bursts, and short circuits occur every day in every corner of the city, causing anything from work stoppages and reduced production to mass casualties.

He did consider training them himself, but a skilled worker cannot be trained in just three to five months.

The workers in the hive city know nothing about infrastructure maintenance, while the mechanical priests only care about the sacred machine tools in the factory. As for the water and electricity supply and public infrastructure for mortals, they are not worth touching in their eyes. Asking them to do things rashly will only make it easy to be accused of blaspheming the machine spirit.

These five hundred skilled workers are not just icing on the cake; they are the backbone that will allow this crumbling city to truly survive.

Looking at his incredibly serious expression, Millein was first taken aback, then couldn't help but let out a wry smile, shaking his head and sighing:

"I really don't understand you. You're giving up all that easy money and choosing these people instead. One day, your loyalty to the empire and to that useless governor will be your downfall."

Despite saying that, the wariness in her eyes had largely dissipated.

Five hundred skilled workers, though scarce, were not a difficult task for itinerant merchants.

She traveled across most of the empire and saw too many technicians who had lost their homes due to war and famine, as well as too many veterans who had no way to make a living. As long as they were given a stable meal and reasonable compensation, it was easy to raise the money.

Compared to hard currency like machine tools and STC (Self-Propelled Toys), which can easily drain a company's coffers, this offer is practically free.

"I agree to the conditions." Milain returned the data panel to Ronin and said with a smile, "But I'm only responsible for bringing people to you; you'll have to support them yourself."

Luo Ning shook his head and said with a smile, "Of course."

Without further delay, the two went straight back to the governor's office.

Luo Ning quickly drafted the contract details, with the terms clearly written:

Milain's caravan has obtained the exclusive rights to operate all categories of light industrial products on Planet Vatos VII. The ex-factory price of the products will be settled according to the guaranteed price set by Ronin, and Milain can take 30% of the profits from the terminal sales.

As for how much higher she can raise prices outside and how much more money she can earn, Luo Ning doesn't interfere at all; that's her own ability.

In exchange, Milley must supply Vatos VII with no fewer than 500 skilled workers, medical personnel, and veterans within a month. Furthermore, Milley must continue to bring in scarce professional talent to the planet. Incentive terms for talent recruitment during the cooperation period will be negotiated separately by both parties.

Governor Karl took the contract without even glancing at its contents; he always trusted the decisions made by Ronin.

He signed his name with a flourish and then stamped the governor's seal.

The contract signing went exceptionally smoothly. Luo Ning looked at Miline and listened to her barely concealed elation, but he wasn't bothered by the fact that his offer was too low.

Merchants of Milain's scale have very wide channels. By establishing a cooperative relationship with her, he can not only export light industry but also gain more benefits from her.

The connections, combat strength, and distribution channels of the wandering merchants are all things I currently lack.

The introduction of talent will be a powerful tool for them to go further.