Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Building the Farm and Expanding the Army!
[500PS REACHED! Next Goal: 1000PS!]
After the Adeptus Mechanicus branch was established on Urth, Eden gave them their first task: to construct a new Green Wave farm.
The current food reserves would only last for about six months.
If the farm wasn't built quickly to grow new crops, the King's Court district would once again fall into famine after those six months.
Thus, the construction of the farm could not be delayed.
Following Moss's survey, the location for the new farm was selected in the large warehouse district within the King's Court.
It had vast open space and ample sunlight.
Using Golden Age farming technology, along with special energy cores, seed cultivation devices, fertilizer machines, simulated weather systems, and water purification units from the original farm, Moss and Kall, the two tech-priests, designed a massive vertical farm.
Of course, this was only the construction plan; it would take a long time to complete the entire farm.
The farm would need to be built step by step.
Once the design was completed, the King's Court began the grand first phase of the new Green Wave farm's construction.
To prevent sabotage from the Hoffman family, the surrounding area was cleared, and strict security measures were put in place.
Fortunately, the farm was located in the core of the King's Court district, making it difficult to attack.
Had it been located further out, it would have been subjected to endless attacks and harassment.
Soon, the first phase of the new Green Wave farm was completed.
The expected food output would cover the minimum consumption needs of the district's population, ensuring a sustainable cycle.
However, it would take much longer to fully construct the farm, and it hadn't yet achieved full automation.
The main reason for this was that manual labor in the King's Court was far cheaper than machines.
So, the crops would be planted and cared for by dedicated farm workers.
This was considered a sacred job, and only the most loyal and enthusiastic families were selected to become farm workers.
Those chosen arrived at the farm and saw, for the first time in their lives, the legendary soil.
Yes, Eden had also transported a large amount of unpolluted, high-quality soil from the original Green Wave farm.
Those who witnessed the soil wept, kneeling and kissing it, grateful for the mercy of the great God-Emperor and the benevolence of Governor Eden.
With a sense of divine purpose, they tended to every seedling with care, as if they were nurturing infants.
Soon, the seedlings were planted, and the farm was operating smoothly.
To prevent incidents, Eden stationed security drones brought from the original Green Wave farm around the perimeter.
Surprisingly, the energy cannons on those drones managed to eliminate several spies trying to infiltrate the farm.
With the farm up and running, Eden turned his attention to other matters.
During the farm's construction, he had already summoned the leaders of the Defense Forces, Arye and Kaes, and authorized them to start recruitment.
Eden planned to expand the Defense Forces from 30,000 to 80,000 troops.
The King's Court district had plenty of weapons and equipment, but couldn't afford to support that many people before.
Now, with enough food, he immediately expanded the force by 50,000 soldiers.
This was the maximum number the district could support.
Eden didn't need to worry about the recruitment or training—Arye and Kaes handled it entirely.
They looked like legendary figures and would undoubtedly train a powerful Defense Force for him.
At the same time, Eden tasked Moss and Kall with researching the security drones and optimizing the standard-issue laser rifles and cannons.
Now, the entire district was preparing for the final war effort, focusing all resources on the production of war materials.
Once the Defense Forces were trained and equipped with new weapons, Eden planned to launch the decisive battle.
He would personally lead the Royal Guard and Defense Forces into action, to finally eliminate the Hoffman family and unite the upper hive!
As recruitment progressed and resources were allocated, the mass enlistment began.
Young and middle-aged men alike signed up in droves, determined to fight to the death for the King's Court district.
At the entrance of the recruitment office…
A frail, middle-aged man failed to meet the enlistment criteria.
He knelt on the ground, pleading with the Defense Forces to make an exception and take him in.
In the past, someone like him would have been considered a qualified recruit.
But with the improved food supply, people's physical conditions had greatly improved.
The frail and sickly like him no longer met the enlistment standards.
The man's eyes were resolute:
"Officer, please accept me. I am determined to give everything for the God-Emperor and the Governor!"
He had no other options.
His family consisted of five members—an elderly mother, a wife recently paralyzed due to a work injury, and two young children.
He was the sole breadwinner.
In the current situation, there was no way he could support so many people.
His only hope was to join the Defense Forces, the only way to save his family.
The pay for soldiers was more than double that of regular workers. Becoming an officer meant he would receive Type II corpse starch bars with one-tenth wheat content.
With such a salary, he could easily support his family.
Even if he died in battle, the compensation would sustain his family for some time.
If he became a war hero, his name could be inscribed beneath the statue of the God-Emperor.
That would be the ultimate honor bestowed by the Governor!
The children of war heroes would be given priority to join the Defense Forces.
If they didn't want to join the army, they could instead receive good jobs in the district's major factories.
The most outstanding children had a chance to join the future Academy of Loyalty, which Eden planned to establish.
They would study alongside the children of nobles and officials, being groomed as the future elite of the district.
In Eden's vision, the Academy of Loyalty would be different from the Empire's original Academy of the same name.
It would be slightly less brutal, though there was still a risk of casualties during training.
The academy would admit and educate children from various backgrounds based on their loyalty and merit.
This would include the children of heroes, nobles, officials, and even child prodigies.
They would study together and grow into the future leaders of the district.
Of course, the Academy of Loyalty was still in the planning stage, and there weren't yet conditions to establish it.
But even the mere possibility of such an opportunity was enough to drive the lower-class population to madness.
They were determined to join the Defense Forces and offer everything to the merciful Governor!
The middle-aged man was one of them.
Whether to feed his family or for his family's future, he had to fight.
Yet he was rejected, and he couldn't accept it!
No matter how he begged, he was coldly turned away.
"Please, let me join! This is my last hope!"
The man cried and pleaded, kneeling and kowtowing, even grabbing onto the officer's leg.
But the officer's gaze only grew colder.
Citing a disturbance of order, the officer whipped the man several times and had him dragged away by Defense Force soldiers.
Had it not been for the Governor's new regulations, someone like him would have been executed on the spot.
"What's going on here?"
Arye walked over, his brow furrowed, the cold red glow of his mechanical eye scanning the scene.
The officer calmly reported the situation to Arye.
The middle-aged man begged Arye, his gaze resolute:
"Commander, I can fight. I'm willing to give my life for the Governor!"
(End of Chapter)
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