Talulah looked at her ally, at his eyes that gazed into a void world. It was as if he had never truly looked at anything in this world, only at a distant kingdom.
As if only the distant Yan Emperor was worthy of being his true enemy.
Unlike the Black Snake, who had revolved around Ursus for generations, this fellow's schemes were astonishingly grand.
Ursus, Yan, Victoria... This guy was using the entire Terra as his chessboard!
[Your reputation with the Reunion Movement has increased once again]
[You are regarded as a schemer on par with, or even superior to, the Black Snake]
[Talulah feels a certain fear towards you. She doesn't want to get close to you, but she deeply realizes that she is still caught in the Black Snake's trap. By serving you and working together to defeat that immortal, she will have a chance to escape her nightmare and achieve her ideals]
[She will accept all your commands as long as they don't involve fundamental issues]
The prompter suddenly beeped, making Luo Su, who was discussing with Valon whether to fill the swimming pool with champagne, freeze.
No.
What happened?
Good news.
Talulah pledged allegiance.
Bad news.
He had no idea how he suddenly gained the ability to command this Dragon Girl.
[You'll have to ask that Dragon Girl. Her imagination is quite rich; it's a waste for her not to write novels or draw comics]
The prompter also sighed with emotion.
Damn it, a good-for-nothing who only thought about Victoria's cat's slender waist was imagined to be one of Terra's chessmasters.
Luo Su looked at the Red Dragon, who seemed to be at his command, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.
"Raise your head."
The beautiful Dragon Girl raised her head.
"Hold out your hand?"
"Huh?"
Talulah was stunned for a moment, then extended one hand.
"Shake hands?"
Talulah hesitated for a moment, then took Luo Su's outstretched hand.
"Do a somersault?"
An annoyed expression appeared on the Dragon Girl's face.
"Sir, this is a bit much."
The prompter was right; Talulah indeed obeyed him on matters that didn't involve fundamental issues.
Although he didn't know how this girl figured out that he really wanted to deal with the Black Snake, since she was willing to obey him, she would make an excellent secretary!
Almost instantly, Luo Su's DNA was activated.
He was just worrying that if he sent the Shadow Legion to twist screws in the factory, the mining efficiency would decrease—Naruto couldn't dig in the mine 24/7, after all. Hiring local beastmen to mine was a bit too anthropomorphic.
Now it was fine; he would let the Reunion Movement members do the screw-twisting.
Hmm, Talulah has Patriot, a top commander, under her. Managing a factory would be more than enough. She received a high-level education from the Black Snake, so letting her expand the inhibitor market worldwide probably wouldn't be an issue either... Luo Su instantly teared up.
He was just worrying about how to manage the Originium Arts Inhibitor factory, and Talulah submitted.
What a wonderful start this was?
If he didn't exploit her to death, would he be worthy of the Black Snake, who was about to be sealed into a kunai as a spirit weapon?
"Very good."
Luo Su suppressed the excitement in his heart and spoke indifferently.
"I have an Originium Arts Inhibitor factory near the mine in northern Chernobog. It needs two hundred workers. I'll leave the recruitment and management to you for now."
"The basic wage for workers, I'll temporarily set at three servings of Originium Arts Inhibitor. If the factory's production meets the standard, additional bonuses will be issued. How about that?"
Luo Su didn't give a specific salary amount but chose to distribute a portion of the factory's output as wages.
—Unlike Hui Hui and Naruto, who exchanged money for supplies, he exchanged his money for gold and had Skadi help him buy a big house—although Victoria's capital was controlled by a certain Sarkaz, it was still one of Terra's most prosperous cities. Without some serious investment, it definitely wouldn't be acquired.
Luo Su truly had no money on hand right now.
If he absolutely had to pay the workers, he would have to return to his original state and hang himself with a rope.
But upon hearing Luo Su's words, not to mention Talulah, even FrostNova at her side had a look of joy, as if stunned by a windfall.
The young man's offer was as generous as ever.
No, it was beyond generous.
It was almost unconditional aid.
The Reunion Movement was a group of Infected.
One dose of inhibitor.
In the eyes of normal people, it might just be a highly technologically advanced medicine, but in the eyes of the Infected, it was nothing short of a second life.
Talulah couldn't help but look at her side, at her good friend Yelena.
Yelena's physical functions were extremely poor due to long-term infection with Oripathy, often causing her to faint.
Because of the constantly developing Oripathy, her body temperature was severely below the hypothermia line, almost leading to full-body paralysis, and her body had become so mutated that drinking hot beverages would cause internal organ burns.
The Reunion Movement's strongest warrior—Patriot—was also suffering from Oripathy.
When he was young, he was known as Ursus's strongest warrior. Now, due to illness and damaged armor, he could only take down three Inner Guards.
If he could recover his health... Talulah felt her breathing become rapid and difficult to control.
This was exactly what the Reunion Movement needed.
FrostNova on the side was even more stunned.
In Yelena's perception, nobles were basically vampires among vampires.
As a noble by blood, Luo Su was actually so generous?
The price of Originium Arts Inhibitor was simply something workers couldn't afford.
This guy... was unexpectedly humane.
[Beep, Yelena's favorability towards you has greatly increased. Tsk—, who wants this poor guy's favorability? Oh oh oh, Talulah's favorability has also increased. Host, you've taken a big step forward on the path to becoming the next Victoria monarch's father]
The prompter's words were nothing short of snobbish.
Emm... Luo Su didn't care about these things.
Looking at Talulah and Yelena's completely unhidden smiles, Luo Su's face also broke into a smile.
He liked people who would work like oxen for him and still smile.
They won.
I also won.
Hmm, a win-win.
P.S.: I feel like the protagonist's skills are a bit too monotonous.
Considering whether to add a skill that makes people's small intestines grow taste buds.
Chapter 31: Black Snake, Your Doom Has Come
"So, when do we depart?"
While Luo Su was still chatting with the prompter, the representative of the Reunion Movement—Talulah—forcibly suppressed her inner excitement and spoke to Luo Su seriously.
However, the slight upward curve of her lips still revealed that her mood was excellent.
She already couldn't wait to work 996 at the factory, creating surplus value for Luo Su.
Frankly, Luo Su should have her sign a contract now.
After all, workers with such high enthusiasm are hard to find.
It's just—
Luo Su carefully scrutinized Talulah's beautiful face, then shook his head.
Before that, he had to deal with that damn Black Snake. Otherwise, if some special forces appeared along the way and attacked his Originium Arts Inhibitor factory, he would have to rush back from Victoria overnight, and that would be very troublesome.
The Black Snake is easy to defeat.
This is beyond doubt.
The Tiger Talisman—the Edict of Integration and Separation.
Activating its power can split a person with two personalities into separate individuals.
That old Black Snake has been caught.
The people who want to deal with him probably stretch from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
Luo Su would have to queue up just to kick him twice.
However, completely solving the Black Snake is actually very difficult—Koschei's Originium Arts is the transfer of will and soul. This guy's escape skills are extraordinarily high.
In terms of the art of running away, Hui Hui and Talulah are mere apprentices compared to him.
Luo Su didn't intend to let that old man escape like that, so he asked the Crimson Demon Clan to forge kunai that could bind souls.
That thing hasn't arrived yet... "Ah Tong, give me some advice."
Luo Su thought silently.
[Hmm, it's just a seven-day delay anyway. The Reunion Movement people are quite motivated to work, but their physical condition is really poor. Open the granary, distribute some cotton coats, and let them rest for seven days. Once their physical condition is better, it will be easier for them to work overtime later]
The prompter's words were as snarky as ever.
I like it.
Luo Su nodded, then spoke to Talulah.
"There's no need to be so anxious."
"I have no interest in watching a bunch of skinny guys work in my factory. That's quite a buzzkill."
He spoke like an old master from the start.
The master is kind-hearted; he can't bear to see poor people, yet he still doesn't kick them out of the factory.
"Sir, are you asking me to take some time to screen the workers?"
Talulah's face showed a hint of difficulty. The people under her command weren't in very good physical condition—the terrible tundra environment and Oripathy were like constant torture.
If Luo Su's requirements for workers included being in very healthy physical condition, then only the shield guards under Patriot would probably meet the requirements.
"No, what I mean is, I will open the granary and let those workers rest for seven days first."