Will the kemonomimi encounter Alien Ranch Story?

But Lao Xia was different. He immediately used all the money he received as additional investment and gave extra bonuses to the construction teams that performed well in the first phase of the project.

On the one hand, he boosted everyone's work enthusiasm; on the other hand, he made people think that this guy was stupid and rich. He caught the wolf empty-handed and then spit out the meat. What else could he be but a fool?

Although he bought the entire old town, Lao Xia did not intend to turn it into his private kingdom. Instead, he planned to sublet most of the space to generate revenue, leaving only the central area, power area, and logistics area, which he would then develop into his massive food processing center.

Lungmen has a large number of infected refugees and a large consumer market. Compared to the Ursus snowfield, it is more suitable as a place for industrial development, especially light industry, especially since there is no transportation obstacle caused by heavy snow blocking the roads.

However, the base in Ursus cannot be abandoned. Although the natural conditions there are harsh, it also means abundant resources and it is far from the sight of others. It can serve as a research and development, technology and rare mineral production base. With the advanced equipment in the workshop, it can also serve as a production base for the microelectronics industry when Lao Xia enters the consumer goods market.

Low temperatures are not a bad thing for the electronics industry; in fact, they are a positive development. Not to mention the extremely rich resources of Originium and Synthetic Jade in Ursus North Plains, which can keep costs down to the minimum for the Terra-style consumer electronics and various commodities that Lao Xia wants to get involved in. The only problem is transportation costs, which requires dealing with Black Serpent.

Since Lao Xia is prepared to follow the capitalist path, he won't play any tricks of fighting alone. As long as this path is profitable and his Xia Group makes huge profits, he will have plenty of power to negotiate or exert pressure on Black Snake, even if it's just to reduce wholesale costs.

"Besides, do we really need to fight the Black Serpent ourselves?"

Kazdel has many mercenaries who lost their jobs after the end of the civil war, Blacksteel International and Raytheon Industries are locked in a fierce battle for defense business, and Rembitox's workers' regime would not refuse a generous sum of foreign exchange to provide equipment support.

"These mercenaries I've armed might be even more disciplined than Duke Kosiché's regular army."

"Then why are you supporting Talulah?"

"These people can fight wars, but they're not good at governing a country." As long as Old Xia throws in enough benefits and money, this move can easily shatter the Duke of Kosiché's territory.

However, the only way to turn this mess into their own production base and the "New Ursus" that everyone desires is through Talulah and her Reunion Movement.

"The fate of Ursus should be decided by the people of Ursus. I am just an outsider, or more precisely, just an investor. I believe that my investment in this new Ursus can be a strong backing for me. That's why I'm investing. If Talulah can't be saved, I don't mind finding another target, such as Rhodes Island."

“I need a steady stream of reliable employees and educated technicians. These things don’t just fall from the sky, and I can’t really do everything myself like a slave, or they would be exploiting me. So, the current situation is the best.”

"Boss, be on your guard," Skadi, who was following behind like a shadow, said. She had changed back into her original attire and was already holding a greatsword. "Someone is following us."

"Again? Haven't they been bombed enough? This time, I'll give them something fresh..." White Rabbit, who had finally managed to go shopping with Old Xia, was about to start a fight, her face flushed with anger.

"Don't make a move yet. It's daytime, and we're on the street. Give the Guard some face. Send a message to Swire saying that terrorists are planning to attack me. After we get their statement, have W go and deliver warmth tonight."

Xia Lin seems to have developed a strong sense of collusion between officials and businessmen, the kind of mentality that "money and connections make you great."

Nothing seemed amiss until they left the street, at which point the little orca finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was currently in standard duty mode, or rather, she had always been in duty mode. Goredia had given her three orders:

First, the mission to monitor the remnants of Hai Si is over; the entire mountain is gone.

Second, he will act as a liaison officer, and if there is anything that Lao Xia needs to provide, he will relay it through Skadi.

Third, we should exchange information and learn about the equipment and tactical system here, and see what can be used in Agor.

Aside from that, conservation work is a secondary task. Therefore, the little orca has always been carrying out a mission, only temporarily obeying Old Xia's orders and doing whatever he's told to do.

She is a true soldier, not some non-mainstream person who pretends to be a soldier in a military uniform to have a romantic relationship. She is a real, well-trained, and disciplined military personnel.

When on duty, one should not and cannot let personal feelings interfere, let alone fall in love with the mission target.

Of course, inhaling people is instinctive, like smoking in the trenches. However, for Skadi and Old Xia to have any sparks, she would have to end her "duty status" first; otherwise, their relationship would just be that of superior and subordinate or comrades-in-arms.

Therefore, many fanfiction writers overlook the fact that Little Orca is not a guerrilla fighter or a corporate employee, but a real soldier. She would never have such thoughts while on duty or on assignment. It's like how the US military, known for its lax discipline, can go out and have fun as much as they want on vacation, but causing trouble while on duty will still lead to certain death.

In a sense, this is why Yelena wasn't too opposed to Xia getting close. She wasn't stupid; she could clearly see that the little orca was coming over purely to attract attention, like having a smoke after a battle, with no extra emotional exchange whatsoever.

This is one of the reasons why Goreia kept the baby killer whale. If she had kept a goofy character like Specter, she might be pregnant with her second child by now. Skadi wouldn't do something like a night raid, but Specter is a different story.

Leaving the old town, it's less than 200 meters to enter the city center of Lungmun, which is in a sense why Lungmun has always wanted to renovate the old town.

After all, the wealthy people in the city center can see that dirty and chaotic old town just by looking down, and nobody is in a good mood.

"So, all their windows are on the opposite side, except for the management building's windows, or rather, it's a circular window, tsk—"

As soon as Yelena entered, she could tell from the structure of the building what the locals' attitude was towards the old town.

"I'm a kind-hearted man, and I can't stand seeing poor people. So... I'll close all the windows—" Old Xia told a joke that wasn't funny at all, and might even make people cry while they were laughing.

"However, Lungmen is indeed quite different from the cities of Ursus; it feels more..."

"vitality……"

The crowds on the street came and went in a hurry, a typical fast-paced modern city, quite different from the sluggish and slow feeling in the towns and villages of Ursus.

It's not that the Ursus people are slow workers or dawdle on the road, but rather it's a very strange feeling.

“Because although the people of Ursus face greater pressure in their lives, they also have less hope. They are different. You could say it’s a distorted prosperity, a highly efficient form of exploitation, but in the eyes of the people of Lungmen, their struggle is meaningful,” Xia Lin explained.

"But in Ursus, a noble's child is a noble, and a farmer's child is still a farmer. No matter how hard you try, you'll only go from a starving farmer to a less starving one; no matter how depraved you become, you'll only go from a wealthy noble to a poor one. However..."

“A nobleman is still a nobleman, and a farmer is still a farmer…” Yelena seemed to understand something as well. “So, Old Xia, you don’t like this at all, right…”

"Yes, I don't like it. It's lifeless and devoid of vitality, like a still pool of stagnant water. It looks calm, but it only breeds flies and mosquitoes, which is disgusting..."

"Even if I dislike these unscrupulous merchants in Lungmen even more, they're still better than those noble lords. At least the people here have energy, even if that energy is fueled by false hope..."

"False hope?"

"A capitalist's child is still a capitalist, not because of bloodline, but because of capital; while a worker is still a worker, not because of bloodline, but because of capital..."

Old Xia casually pointed to the office workers on the street, "For example, he might be a middle or lower-level backbone employee in a company. His income is barely enough to make ends meet, and he can set aside a portion to invest in himself."

However, this kind of investment is very limited, and he won't have enough money to start his own business. Therefore, he will still be an office worker in the future..."

"And his child? He's also an office worker..."

"Of course, but compared to something as unchangeable as blood ties, capital is fluid. It could be a bonus, an unethical embezzlement of public funds, his child winning a big prize, or even just simply accumulating seniority step by step—he could rise from the lowest-level clerk to a manager..."

"Although the glass ceiling is still above his head, at least he can't see it. He can't see it, so he still thinks he can climb up, and he still has hope. But in Ursus, the nobles are not glass; they are stone coffins placed over people's heads. You can see the stone of despair as soon as you look up."

Xia Lin concluded, "So even if Lungmen's hope is false, it's better than real despair, just like a placebo is better than no medicine at all."

Is there any real hope?

"Yes, but they can't, they can't do it, objectively they can't." If productivity, or the ability to create material wealth, hasn't reached that level, social progress can only stop there; taking any further steps would be disastrous.

"Can't you do it either?"

"no……"

"What about your kinsmen?"

“That’s possible, but they’re not here. I’m all alone, and I still can’t do anything. It’s like I can’t level every mountain and plant my crops on every piece of land. You know, I spent two years breeding rice just to grow rice in that small area of ​​the snowfield. To solve Terra’s food problem, I might not be able to make enough even if I spent my whole life.”

"Alright, let's not talk about these heavy topics. Didn't we come out today to have someone treat us to dinner?"

Yelena tugged at her little skirt; the cool-toned, one-shoulder dress accentuated her aloof demeanor. "It feels so light and airy, it's not safe at all, and it's not convenient for moving around..."

“In this respect, you shouldn’t learn from Talulah.” Xia Lin ruffled her short white hair. Both of them were raised by single fathers, and he even wondered if Yelena would turn into a second Talulah, a tough woman.

In that instant, he felt a sense of kinship and even telepathy with Lao Wei.

Chapter Ten: Infernal Affairs

chapter Ten

In the central area of ​​Longmen, the best place for Shihua Yayue is a high-end restaurant. Just how high-end is it? You can tell just by looking at its location. It's located at the bottom of the slope of the plaza opposite the management tower.

The modern minimalist style, as sharp as a sword, reveals a hint of ruthlessness. The magnificent entrance hall, the glass curtain wall reflecting the sunlight, and the height that is second only to the management tower all point to one thing.

That means the poor should stay away and not approach. This is not something that Brahmins can enjoy alone, but it certainly belongs to Old Money.

The Lungmen Twin Towers are located in the most upscale consumer area of ​​Lungmen. The two buildings, one tall and one short, are located on the left and right sides of the street and are connected by underground passages and sky bridges, like two silent guardians protecting the Lungmen City Hall and the Administration Building.

Xia Lin's arrival with Yelena was inconspicuous among a group of well-dressed and fashionable people. In fact, Yelena's style made them seem somewhat... plain. However, real tycoons and rich young masters are not usually so bored as to step on others.

After all, their social status, the decorations they displayed, and their cars clearly demonstrated their identity. Even their polite attitude and manner of speaking clearly expressed their disdain for you as a country bumpkin. There was no need for you to spout nonsense like a nouveau riche from the countryside, which would only relegate you to that lower class.

If it were on a street outside, some newly rich people or their families might do something foolish if they hadn't yet grasped the concept of wealth, but inside...

Anyone who can get in here is not an ordinary person without money, after all, this is a place that operates on a membership system.

"Wow, it's so beautiful!" The white rabbit was a typical country bumpkin, looking around and his eyes constantly scanning the exquisite and elegant decorations and luxurious furnishings.

Of course, there were also the well-trained and polite waiters and the maids dressed like young ladies from her hometown.

The same action will produce different results depending on who performs it. If an ordinary Ursus girl does this, it will reveal her country bumpkin nature to everyone present.

However, if a girl wearing a one-shoulder children's dress costing at least 100,000 Lungmen Dollars, with a crystal lotus necklace on her chest and a cobalt spinel bracelet resembling the finest tourmaline on her wrist, and with a delicate and adorable face that looks like it has never been through the harshest storms, then she can only be described as innocent, cute, and endearingly naive.

In particular, the man holding her hand showed no embarrassment at all about being in a high-class place. He acted as if he were strolling through his own backyard, quietly introducing something to the little girl he was leading.

"Old Xia, how does this place compare to the Starry Sky Hotel you mentioned?"

"It has enough cultural heritage, the level of luxury is about the same, and the service level is slightly better, but the environment is not good, at most it is the level of a workers' resort."

Old Xia's assessment is fair, but considering Terra's productivity and Lungmen's geographical environment and climate, which are non-human factors, they cannot be used as harsh criteria for judgment.

After all, you can't expect a civilization that doesn't even have passenger planes to launch such a huge thing into space.

"Let's not even talk about the scenery. It's in the city, where's the scenery? It's just the entrance to the old town. But I can still offer a technical suggestion: how about adding a cloud generator at the waist of the building? That would give it a more 'tower in the clouds' feel."

"Sir, your suggestion is very sincere, and we gladly accept your evaluation. However, do you have an appointment?"

Old Xia, engrossed in his conversation, was completely unaware of the lobby manager approaching from behind. Although the manager maintained an elegant and polite smile and even complimented Old Xia's remarks, a strange look was clearly in his eyes.

"Oh, right, I made an appointment with Swire. This is the discount card she gave me. It's my first time here, and I'm not familiar with the place. Could you help me show me the way? This place is really big."

"Uh..." The manager paused for a moment, looked at the card in Lao Xia's hand, and wanted to say that it was not a discount card, but after thinking about it carefully, aside from the high-value names, it was just a discount card. "Okay, I'll show you to your seat."

"Elevator, Terra's greatest invention..." Old Xia muttered to himself as he stepped into the VIP elevator. The best part of the Swire was the music restaurant on the top floor.

Elevators aren't exactly rare, so why call them Terra's greatest invention?

However, the manager suppressed his curiosity because the white rabbit asked for him, "Why do you say that?"

Haven't you climbed enough stairs in your house?

"Which building?" The white rabbit looked confused, then realized after a moment that she was referring to the communications tower. "You mean that one? Why don't you just go back and install one? If that doesn't work, you can buy a few and install them..."

"The main problem is that I forgot about it when I was fixing it, so now I have to take it all apart and start over..."

"Then let's fix it again. It won't cost much anyway." It won't take much time either. As for all the parts and materials, we can produce them ourselves. As long as we're willing to waste time, we won't spend a single penny of Lungmen currency.

"Uh..." The manager silently looked away. What kind of lewd words were these? But when he thought about who this person had invited and what kind of card he was holding, it didn't seem like anything special. In fact, the conversation just now could be described as very simple.

"I think air conditioning is the greatest invention..." White Rabbit said seriously, "Especially in winter, I can't even get used to a room without air conditioning now. Old Xia, you have to take responsibility for this."

"I'm in charge of getting heating on in every household. Speaking of heating, should we consider heating and cooling in Lungmen? Hmm, I'll think about it when I get back. Should we install a large central air conditioning system at headquarters?"

"Ding—" We've arrived at the top floor. "Sir, please..."

"Over here, over here!" The little tiger waved happily, gesturing for Old Xia to come over. The restaurant was full of empty seats, and business didn't seem to be doing very well.

"Thank you." "You're welcome, it's what I should do." After confirming that the person waving was indeed the young lady of the Taikoo Group and not someone else, the manager bowed and said goodbye.