Game: Civilization Paradise

He didn't tell Luoxue and the others that Dikaya was in charge of those dirty affairs, because it would have been pointless. It would only serve to make them angrier.

"It's fine. It's perfectly normal that they're unwilling to give us a different assignment. After all, we only just joined the Star Alliance."

Luoxue replied calmly.

"Sigh... The problem is, our situation is terrible right now. We just received a message from City Lord Qian Luo. Funds are short back home, and they can barely afford to pay the citizens' subsidies. The City Lord told us to send money back as soon as possible."

Xiao Ning replied, troubled.

"Where are we supposed to get the money?"

Hearing Xiao Ning, Qian Wei felt just as troubled.

Luoxue fell silent.

In truth, their struggles were largely because Mountain City Mountain, even after joining the Star Alliance, continued to support its populace. This required an enormous amount of capital.

In contrast, after joining the Star Alliance, Sinful City and Star Tower City had simply abandoned their common citizens to focus only on the elite. Their lives were much easier.

As a result, the abandoned citizens from those two cities, along with people from smaller Sanctuary Cities, flocked to Mountain City Mountain, begging to be taken in.

City Lord Qian Luo was caught in an impossible situation: taking them in was a problem, but turning them away was also a problem.

Just then, Mira hurried over from a distance to report to them.

"Lady Luoxue, Lord Qian Wei."

"What is it?"

"The asteroid belt we were assigned is too dispersed. We can't possibly mine it by hand! One of our two miners is broken. What do we do now?"

Mira reported to Luoxue and the others.

"I know. I'm on pretty good terms with Captain Olette's team next door. I'll go ask to borrow one from him."

Qian Wei suggested.

Hearing Qian Wei's suggestion, Luoxue's brow furrowed.

Just then, a well-built man in a second lieutenant's uniform with a scar on his chin walked over, a broad smile on his face.

"Qian Wei."

"Olette, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you were assigned a pretty remote asteroid belt, so I came over to see how things were going."

"Just bad luck."

"Don't worry about it. There'll be plenty of other chances."

"Actually, I was just about to look for you."

"Oh? What for?"

"Do you have any spare miners?"

"Sure do. You guys short on miners?"

"We are!"

"I'll lend you as many as you need. One? Two? Just say the word!"

Olette said magnanimously.

"Really?!"

Qian Wei's face lit up.

Just then, Luoxue's brow tightened, and she spoke in a low voice.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Captain Olette, but we'd prefer to rent them."

Hearing this, Olette's brow twitched slightly. Then he smiled and said,

"Miss Luo Xue, you're being too formal. We're all friends here. It's perfectly normal to help each other out. No need to stand on ceremony."

"Yeah, Luoxue! There's no need to be like that."

Qian Wei chimed in.

"No. Since we're friends, we certainly can't let Captain Olette take a loss. We'll rent them at the market rate."

Luoxue's tone was firm.

A muscle in Olette's cheek twitched. He then smiled and said,

"Alright, we'll do it as Miss Luo Xue says. But as you know, miner rental prices have gone up recently. The market rate is 1,000 Star Coins a day. How about this? I'll give it to you for eight hundred."

"Eight hundred? That's so expensive!"

"It's not expensive at all! We're good friends, would I lie to you?"

"Alright, fine!"

Qian Wei gritted his teeth and agreed.

...

----------------------

「The next morning.」

「Aboard the orbital train.」

Long Ming sat in his seat, rubbing his temples as he frantically crammed from a textbook.

He'd drunk too much with Oritta the night before and had nearly overslept. He only got up because Windsor called him.

Just then, an official announcement interrupted the virtual advertisements playing on the train.

"The Star Alliance's latest recruitment drive is on! All soldiers who pass the physical and background checks upon enlistment will receive a free Type I Genetic Potion, plus a benefits package worth over one million Star Coins! Family members will also enjoy various tax, medical, and other benefits, and may even have the chance to receive a free Type I Genetic Potion..."

Long Ming was taken aback by the recruitment ad. 'All you have to do is enlist to get a Type I Genetic Potion worth a million Star Coins?'

'Is the Star Alliance really that generous?'

A million Star Coins was no small sum. Even an ordinary citizen in the City of Stars couldn't make 10 Star Coins in a month, to say nothing of those on Star Island.

But a moment later, Long Ming realized what was going on.

'It's not that the Star Alliance lacks the ability to mass-produce low-level Genetic Potions. They're deliberately controlling the supply.'

'That way, they can set the price of Type I Genetic Potions to whatever they want.'

'They're intentionally using low-level Genetic Potions as a recruitment incentive.'

'It was a brilliant strategy, you had to admit. To the average person, a Type I Genetic Potion was worth a million Star Coins, and you couldn't even buy one on the open market.'

'Under normal circumstances, an ordinary person could never afford an injection.'

'But they desperately needed it. After all, even at its weakest, a Type I Genetic Potion could extend one's lifespan by a hundred years. Enlisting was their best option.'

Thinking this, Long Ming felt that the Star Alliance was far more formidable than it appeared.

...

「A short while later.」

Long Ming rushed to the entrance of the Sky Dome Training Ground and saw Windsor already waiting for him.

"Sorry I'm late."

Long Ming said apologetically.

"No worries, we still have time. Let's go!"

Windsor led Long Ming to a blue hover-sports car.

Long Ming opened the passenger-side door and got in.

"Buckle up. It might get a little bumpy."

"Okay!"

"Here we go!"

Windsor slammed her foot on the accelerator.

WHOOSH—

The hover-sports car shot forward, racing toward the Mechanical God examination center.

Long Ming silently reached out and grabbed the safety handle.

「Over ten minutes later.」

Windsor brought Long Ming to the main entrance of the examination center.

A magnificent, globe-shaped building covered in a blue crystal curtain wall came into view.

"Let's go."

Windsor said, opening her door.

"Right."

Long Ming replied, forcing a smile.

Windsor immediately led Long Ming toward the entrance.

They passed through several security checkpoints and finally arrived outside Examination Room 47.

Over five hundred candidates were gathered there, all with their heads buried in textbooks, cramming at the last minute.

"This many people are taking the test?"

A surprised look appeared on Long Ming's face.

"Mr. Long Ming, the Mechanical God certificate is highly valuable, you know. Even if you can't afford a Mechanical God, just having this certificate will get you a good position if you apply to any guild, mercenary corps, or security firm."

Windsor explained.

"I see."

Long Ming understood immediately.

"We'll just wait a moment. The exam is about to start."

Windsor said to Long Ming.

"Okay."

Long Ming waited patiently, turning to look at the other candidates.

He suddenly spotted An Jie and her companions—the ones he had eliminated in the previous revival match.

Just then, An Jie asked anxiously,

"Jeff, are you sure it's okay for me to just go in and take the test?"

"Don't worry, I've already made the arrangements. Just go on in."

Jeff assured her.

"Okay!"

An Jie nodded.

Just then, a proctor walked out of the examination room and addressed the crowd.

"The exam is about to begin. You may enter!"

"Yes!"

With tense expressions, the candidates filed inside.

If they failed this exam, they would have to wait another three months and pay another hefty registration fee.

"Long Ming, you should go in too. I'll be waiting for you out here!"

Windsor said with a smile.

"Okay!"

Long Ming then walked inside.

The interior of Examination Room 47 was spacious, filled with rows of computers. Each screen displayed a candidate's name.

"Everyone, find your assigned seat and sit down. The exam will begin in ten minutes. There will be absolutely no talking. Anyone who violates this rule will be considered to be cheating. Your score will be voided, and you will be banned from retaking the exam for three years!"

...

a proctor in a standard uniform announced grimly.

Hearing the proctor's words, the candidates grew even more tense.

Long Ming found his seat and sat down.

Ten minutes passed quickly.

The screen filled with a dense block of text—the exam questions.

Just as Long Ming was about to begin, he was stunned to find that every question on his screen was already filled in with an answer.

He was dumbfounded.