Having completed the Sanctuary upgrade, Li Qingyu loaded two bottles of sacred alcohol and one portion of holy oil into the Emperor's Sanctuary. When the mechanism entered production mode, he gathered himself, mounted the repair buggy, and headed to the purification station.
After considerable effort, Li Qingyu finally found Anton the Mech-Priest.
He looked at him with slight surprise.
"So quickly, with such efficiency… a rare case."
"If so, then we can conclude a contract for deep cooperation."
Li Qingyu crossed his arms over his chest, frowning.
"I came to you because the distillery had no electricity, and instead of helping, you sent me to raid the gang's factory."
"Now that I've taken the factory, I can just pull a cable from there. Why do I need you at all?"
Anton the Mech-Priest's metal fingers clicked against each other.
"And here's why: energy solves everything!"
"You'll solve the issue of energy yourself, but I can solve the quantity for you. The gang whose factory you captured is the Fertilizer Gang. They consume eight million kilowatt-hours per month. I'll make sure you get twice as much, and this surplus won't be accounted for in the tax quota reports."
Although the Lower Hive is formally a lawless zone, its life arteries are still controlled by Upper Hive lords. If they flip the switch – then in a month, only two out of ten residents of the Lower Hive will remain alive.
Curiously, control over the Lower Hive has long been exercised precisely through the distribution of electricity. If a factory is to deliver ten units of product to the Upper Hive, it is given exactly enough energy to produce eleven. One extra – counted as "losses."
This scattered management method allowed the Upper Hive lords to not waste effort or time supervising subordinate workshops. They only needed to deliver resources on time, receive the finished product back – and what happened below was of no concern to them.
Energy meant production potential, and thus income. And therefore, no self-respecting Upper Hive lord would allow a factory to receive too much power, otherwise the excess energy could be used for something uncontrolled.
One energy unit was equivalent to one unit of tax.
Anton the Mech-Priest could adjust the balance so that after Li Qingyu officially obtained a production license, he would have a hidden energy reserve, not reflected in the ledgers.
And Li Qingyu had the right to dispose of this energy as he saw fit – without reports or restrictions.
He licked his lips, unable to hide his excitement. This was what he called cooperation.
"Then consider the deal made."
The Mech-Priest rubbed his metal palms.
"To maintain double energy supply for your enterprise, you must supply me with forty liters of 101-standard fuel and forty liters of 101-standard lubricating oil monthly."
"I know, I know," Li Qingyu waved his hand. "At the beginning of each month, I'll send someone with payment."
A system signal sounded: quest completed, Anton the Mech-Priest's favor increased from Lv0 to Lv1. Unlocked items:
Precision lathe (available via quest), Optical calibration device (available via quest), Cogitator (available via quest).
Also available for purchase: electronic boards (2000), fiber optics (500), capacitors (500), and custom mechanical prosthetics (priced from 20 to 100 thousand).
After checking the assortment, Li Qingyu noted: the precision lathe and optical device are key components for upgrading the workbench.
With them, he could assemble weapons from scratch and push them to maximum modification. Extended and heavy barrel, stocks, grips, optics – anything he desired, he could design and manufacture himself.
The cogitator, on the other hand, was the core for improving the info-terminal. After obtaining it and buying a few electronic modules from the Mech-Priest, the hero would assemble a complete set for upgrading the system.
But the cunning old man foresaw that these modules could not be bought directly – only by completing special quests.
For now, Li Qingyu didn't have time for this. His primary task was to obtain Upper Hive residency credentials.
He felt he was moving too fast, while his official status couldn't keep up with his growing influence. This was becoming a weakness.
He needed to focus on personal development, forge connections with influential people in the Upper Hive. On one hand – for access to the richest market, on the other – to find a patron… and, if the opportunity arose, latch onto him like a blood source.
The plan was already beginning to take shape. After bidding farewell to Anton the Mech-Priest, Li Qingyu headed to the Security Zone, to the Water Purification Guild shop, where Reno was waiting for him.
"Everything is ready. Lead me – it's time to see the distillery."
In the depths of the office, Reno raised his eyebrows in bewilderment.
"You're sure? Do you have the full amount? We're talking about one million eight hundred thousand!"
Li Qingyu nodded seriously and took the backpack off his shoulders. He unzipped it – and a wide handful of banknotes filled the air with the smell of paper and ink.
"That's right. One million eight hundred thousand – it's all here. As we agreed: one hundred – for the plot, fifty – for connections, thirty – your fee for services."
Reno whistled, snapped his fingers at the stack of bills, and looked at Li Qingyu with disbelief.
"Where the hell did you get so much money?"
Li Qingyu stretched his lips into a predatory smile.
"The neighbors chipped in. Good neighbors, right?"
Reno's eye twitched nervously, he clicked his tongue.
"You're a miracle, kid! Alright. Since the funds are here – follow me, I'll show you your future property."
A few hours later, after trying all possible routes, they reached the Middle Hive. Before them lay an abandoned industrial district with a closed distillery.
Factories permitted in the middle level were only allowed with low pollution levels. The district stretched for hundreds of meters, but almost all factories stood closed.
Most gates were sealed, and in some places, bailiffs had written "confiscation" in bold paint. Everything around exuded decay and ruin.
Reno led Li Qingyu to a large iron gate, took out a bunch of keys, found the right one, and turned it in the lock.
"Come in. This is where your story of greatness will begin!"
The gates boomed open, revealing rows of dusty winemaking equipment.