The Industrialist

He thought of the air – the contaminated air. The Multifunctional Air Filters (MAF), the gigantic hovering equipment like large hot air balloons hanging and immovable, had provided a stable clean air supply within the walls of Axe Central City.

However, it only suffices a limited coverage and manufacturing one MAF would be so expensive that it would probably exhaust the funding of the City, sacrificing other economic programs.

’There should be a better way to cleanse the air,’ Lance thought. And upon the notion of it, it would nullify the greatest achievement of a subtle Government tyrant, Levi Menks of the Corporation.

’Now that would be the start of the fall of Menks,’ He thought and it raced his heart. It fueled his motivation and such a sight would be the noblest thing he could achieve.

’Small steps,’ He remembered the teachings from his father. Every day, his father’s teachings resounded in his mind like clockwork.

Checking on his holographic logs, he navigated to his accounts.

______________________________________

Scientist Level: Scrapper 2

Available Currency: 1700 units

______________________________________

He shrugged. For a month of grinding, it seemed his account had not grown significantly. It was still far to purchase the Energy Accelerator and other components that would create a reliable perpetuating power source.

Then he realized that he had just enrolled as a Scrapper 2 which he spent 1000 units for his registration and another 700 units for fixing his trade permit processing for Jonaz Enterprises’ business front.

In addition, his recent transaction with the Seer, bought 10 full grown Aiveez plant and some seedlings, about 600 units.

’Business investments,’ He convinced himself.

Running an illegal business was like riding a motorcycle. If you fall asleep, you will fall. If your tire collides with a stray animal, you will fall, and many other factors would contribute to the inevitable failure. Unless nothing goes wrong.

His Tyllrium trading business would contribute 900 units per month net of all expenses, and his Zelkian farming would provide him with around 1000 units monthly.

A total of 1900 units per month. But he would had to pay for his groceries, then he would pay for the team of volunteers for his Salt mining mission.

Expectedly, he already had 3 breeders, female Zelkians, that would increase his farm production by 30%. The Mafia’s requirement of 20 Zelkians will be sufficed by his farm.

But the second delivery would still materialize, after 4 weeks.

Despite the minor predicaments, it would not demotivate a persistent mindset.

Well, he and Grebert had made a deal about Salt supply through a black market deal, preventing further scrutiny by authorities. Such mining activity would be unregulated by the Government and would only be organized by Lance and the rebels.

Grebert of course would have his fair share.

The Government had not delivered four truckloads of Salt for the past weeks as the Abominants had ambushed the caravan. The citizens were only concerned about the activity of Abominants outside the walls, and they only knew the Salt was only used for kitchen condiments.

’We will be eating bland processed food these coming weeks,’ The citizens would joke about it.

The News had broadcasted the attacks and it created a stir among the citizens. However, the News and the Government was not able to emphasize the magnitude of the Salt supply shortage.

Oblivious to the majority, the lack of Salt would not complete the filtration cycle of potable water in Wastewater Management Departments (WWMD).

Thus, a shortage of drinking water supply was inevitable.

They kept it a secret that wastewater was recycled to supply drinking water for the citizens. Unethical to even think about it, would churn every stomach of utter disgust.

Such an event would be unimaginable. What the citizens knew was that the water supplied from the deep wells harvest was sufficient enough for a 20 million population.

One of the privileged who knew this was Lance. Hence, the supply of salt was of grave importance. Otherwise, those who would suffer greatly of thirst would be the Commoners.

"Are you sure about this, kid?" Jefferson asked.

"What will happen if Abominants attack the caravan like what happened on the North Mountain?" An old Rebel council asked.

"Do you have a plan on how to stop these attacks?" Another council member asked.

His knees again gave away his confidence. He felt them shivering beneath his jeans, although imperceptible from the circling council members of the Truth Seekers. There were five of them, the founders of the cause.

"Lance is right," Jefferson spoke. That one voice that everybody would be silenced and listen to, shutting their minor side conversations. "We need to farm Salt for ourselves. This is not for the City alone but for our members and the commoners. We will suffer greatly if there will be a shortage of water supply in the coming months."

"I am sure the Government will send again a mining team to the North mountain and would strengthen their defenses to protect the caravan," A female council member said, strongly, and with utter authority.

"No, Akira," Jefferson retorted. "Let us not put our faith solely unto the Government. Demetrian Season is coming and the Abominant’s activity will be increased. And if the Government decides that they will let the season pass and mine in January, then we will be doomed in December. Many will perish. Thousands."

The Seasons shifted so drastically that December season would increase the hours of darkness and decrease the temperature to almost zero degrees Celsius, while other seasons were warm and arid.

The wells will be frozen from below the ground and would decrease supply of 50%.

Lance only knew this gruesome fact and the Rebel Council members. However, such information was only discreet to them and not to the ranks below them.

"What the kid is proposing to us is to risk 20 soldiers in our ranks and do the mining ourselves in the North mountain? That is too much to ask. Is there no other way?" Akira raised.

"No! Not in the North Mountain. We will mine in Broadridge Mountain, South," Lance spoke up.

"Are there Salt deposits in that mountain?" The other council member asked.

"Yes, there is," Jefferson answered. "It was his father who knew about the Salt deposits in Broadridge. Although, the Government have not look closely at that mountain because it is near Bay City."

"Oh my God, Jefferson. Are you even considering this risk? Bay City is where the Hive is," Akira responded, her body leaning forward and piercing eyes towards their leader. Her hands clenched on the sides of her chair.

"Yes, Akira. I am considering this. The kid has something to share, I believe this could help our battle against Abominants. We can share this with our brothers living outside the walls."

Akira and the rest of the council members stared the kid standing in front of them. In his hand was not a bomb. It was a manual spraying device that held the bluish nectar.

"This is the Aiveez’ nectar. Seer of Axiom had shared this element to me and this could greatly help us against the Abominants.’

Lance squinted at Joe who held a cage of Rattus, an Abominated Rat. Joe ambled forward with the cage on his hand. The caged creature was then placed in front of Lance where every council member could see.

"This Abominated rat, or what we call Rattus, will experience accelerated cell degradation. I have seen this work in my own eyes with other Abominated species like the Zelkian and it somehow burned the flesh to ash, or any matter invisible by our naked eyes."

Lance took careful step to the Abominant. Rattus was active, circling the cage, bouncing off against the four corners, and chittering his protruding teeth and claws against the metallic screens.

Then he sprayed everything from the bottle, bathing the rat with bluish specks of liquid. The fragrance of the nectar-filled their nostrils as the council members had reacted.

And what awed them was that the Abominated Rat squirmed in utter agony, black miasma emerging from all exposed flesh that was blended with sampled liquid.

Cries of the hopeless creature echoing within the halls of the Maintenance Deck where the rebels camp.

"What’s happening?" Akira asked, his eyes never left on the suffering creature.

"It was the nectar invading through the muscle fibers and into its internal organs," Lance explained.

"How?" Jefferson asked.

"Such knowledge was hidden and Lost, along with the Lost Engineers," Lance answered.

"The Lost Engineers are a myth. They don’t exist. Even the Science they hold bears no meaning," Akira contested. The other council members were silent.

But even Lance could not rebut her opinion.

"I can’t explain this phenomenon but I know this nectar works. And imagine this if it’s a bomb." Lance said.

"We’ll test your bomb. If it works with 100 Rattuses, then we can proceed with your request. In addition, I will be coming with you in Salt Mining.