Fortunately, no one was killed. Only a warehouse full of newspapers was lost.

When Chu Guang finished hearing the entire report, just as he’d been discussing the next day’s negotiation details with Charlie, he was completely stunned.

After a long silence, he finally muttered, “... Are you serious? They burned down the printing factory?”

“You’re underestimating your own influence, and those young men’s admiration for you.” Looking at the stunned Chu Guang, Charlie sighed softly before teasing, “I’d wager that right now, every citizen in Dawn City is sympathizing with the rioters... everyone except the factory owners in the industrial district.”

The truth was, every social class had its own interests. Though the New Alliance preached unity, it was impossible for everyone to be of one mind.

Still, one thing was undeniable: the soldiers, farmers, workers, clerks, and shopkeepers of Dawn City, almost everyone, were fervent supporters of Chu Guang.

Unlike the technicians and scholars drawn here by the New Alliance’s ideals, most ordinary people didn’t really understand those lofty principles, nor did they care to. They simply believed in the Administrator and the shelter residents who followed him.

That was why, when the gunshot rang out, the entire city erupted.

The unity it revealed, the cohesion among the people, was beyond imagination. When hearts came together like that, the light they produced rivaled nuclear fusion.

At that thought, Charlie couldn’t help but feel awe.

With the prestige the administrator held, even if he were to abandon the New Alliance’s ideals and crown himself Emperor, no one could stop him. In fact, they’d probably cheer for him, Charlie included.

Other shelter residents might have objections, but after so many years surviving the Wasteland, he had long since seen the ugliness of human nature stripped bare. He had no illusions left.

He firmly believed that letting a wise ruler govern the ignorant masses wasn’t a bad thing at all. Even a dull king was better than watching foolish wastelanders stumble from one stupid consensus to the next.

And yet, what made the administrator remarkable was precisely that. He could have become an emperor at any time, but instead he chose the harder path, the nearly impossible union of all.

Just then, the door of the viewing room opened. Lu Bei entered, stopping beside the sofa to salute smartly.

Half an hour ago, Chu Guang had sent him to investigate the incident. Judging by his face, he already had results.

“... We’ve identified the culprits,” Lü Bei reported. “They’re a group of traders from the Bugra Free State. They traced the supply chain of newspaper kiosks, then bribed the second supervisor, warehouse manager, and truck drivers at the printing factory. They slipped their hastily fabricated Clearspring Daily into the shipment overnight. We still don’t know whether they acted under the Bugra Free State’s orders or for their own motives. As per your instruction, we haven’t alarmed them yet.”

He hesitated, then added a personal note. “Also, our investigation found major loopholes in Tuja Press’s supervision. They are basically nonexistent. I would call this a production safety failure more than anything.”

It made sense in a way. A factory that didn’t even check what it was printing ended up having its warehouse burned down by angry citizens. He and the other men from the Guard Corps thought it was almost poetic justice. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Chu Guang shook his head. “Whatever the reason, arson is still wrong! That’s an industrial district! Less than a kilometer away there’s a flour mill! Luckily, the fire was contained, if it hadn’t been, the damage would’ve dwarfed that damned newspaper a thousand times over.”

Lu Bei replied quietly, “They didn’t plan to set it on fire at first. They just wanted to find the factory owner and ask where the Clearspring Daily came from... but the boss saw the crowd and bolted. Someone thought he looked guilty.”

Charlie chuckled, “Tomorrow, there won’t be a newspaper to read?”

Lu Bei’s face turned awkward as he nodded.

Privately, he sympathized with the rioters, he even admired them a little. After all, they had done what he’d wanted to do but couldn’t.

If not for the administrator, there wouldn’t be an industrial district, hell, the entire northern outskirts would still be wasteland.

Those turncoat profiteers had been blinded by greed, forgetting where their silver coins came from in the first place.

Chu Guang could easily guess what the young man was thinking. He understood Lu Bei’s instinct to defend those troublemakers, and he knew the other soldiers probably felt the same.

Not long after the incident, he’d heard from the Guard Corps that Wrench, commander of the First Army, had personally gone to the station and demanded the detained soldiers’ release, insisting that only a military tribunal had authority to judge his men.

Chu Guang was moved by their loyalty and devotion, but that loyalty was also the root of his headache.

Uneasy, Lu Bei finally asked in a cautious tone, “The traders involved in the Clearspring Daily incident are all under watch inside Dawn City. How do you wish to handle them, sir?”

“Arrest them, all of them!” Chu Guang said sharply. “Interrogate them thoroughly and find out who ordered this!”

Those damned dogs. He had meant to ignore them, but they just had to stir up trouble when his guard was down.

Lu Bei nodded, then hesitated. “And... the rioters?”

Chu Guang thought for a moment. Compassion flickered in his eyes as he asked, “Anyone confessed to burning the place?”

At this point, the factory was pitch-dark and packed with people; no one could even tell who had started the fire.

If no one came forward, he would let it go. Most factories had fire insurance from the New Alliance Bank, and one word from him would ensure compensation.

Thank heavens no one had died.

He would just detain the worst agitators for two weeks, give them a few civic-law lectures, and that would be that.

“There is, actually.” Lu Bei nodded, his expression full of admiration. “He’s one of our First Army brothers. Said a man should answer for his own actions. He’s a real man!”

“...”

Charlie immediately grasped what was going through Chu Guang’s head. Though he knew it wasn’t the moment to laugh, he still coughed twice to hide a smirk.

“This one’s tricky,” he said. “Especially since the culprit is from the military. And I’ve also heard the initial crowd included some shelter residents.”

Of course Chu Guang knew that. Little Seven had issued the ban personally.

“Are many people talking about it?” he asked.

Charlie shook his head. “Not many. I’ve already reminded the innkeeper to mind his words, but I suspect he already knows to keep quiet.”

Chu Guang sighed. “Appreciate the effort.”

His players were a constant headache, this wasn’t the first mess he had to clean up for them.

Charlie smiled faintly. “Please, it’s nothing. It’s my duty, after all. No need for you to waste time on petty incidents like this. What truly matters is using Hive as leverage, to gain more allies among the old survivor factions.”

He paused meaningfully. “We didn’t just win a battle, we created a miracle. Not only the Enterprise and the Academy, but many others are watching us now. They haven’t acted yet, but they’re all observing quietly.”

He leaned forward slightly. “This matter isn’t serious enough for you to intervene personally. If you trust me, let me handle it.”

Chu Guang had no doubt in Charlie’s competence, and the logic was sound.

He nodded. “All right. I’ll leave it to you.”

Then he turned to Lu Bei. “Your unit should move too. Arrest those traders under charges of espionage and incitement to sabotage. I want the interrogation report on my desk right after tomorrow’s meeting.”

Lu Bei pressed his right fist to his chest in salute, answering crisply, “Yes, sir!”