Chapter 503: Penal Punishment and Lies
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Zhang Lisheng was already used to the idea of switching his ident.i.ty back and forth from being a cruel G.o.d in the primitive Shrimp World No. 2 to a privileged billionaire in the most developed civilization of Earth. However, when he encountered a group of dirty, tall, and st.u.r.dy cowboy-wearing Caucasian lumberjacks who were carrying chainsaws not long after he left the short h.e.l.lfire people who wors.h.i.+pped him, he could not help but be stunned.
Similarly, when the workers who were planning to start work suddenly saw a huge spider appearing in the jungle, they were also stunned for a while before cursing in shock, “The f*ck? There’s a huge spider! Don’t those ‘shorties’ clear the surrounding properly…”
“Don’t panic, you idiot! Are you trying to cut off your own head by starting the chainsaw on your shoulder…”
“There are over 50 of us, and there’s only one of this son-of-a-b*tch bug! The one who should feel fear is that fellow, not us…”
One by one, they placed their chainsaws in front of their chests and pulled the steel wire to start it loudly.
The roar of the chainsaw brought the young man to reality. He realized that these lumberjacks in front of him were wearing a coverall printed with two bold letters’ LS’ with some simple abstract island pattern. A pang of realization hit him as he finally understood where these workers came from. Bursting into a loud laugh, he greeted, “Hey, gentlemen. Don’t get too worked up. This is not just a big wild insect, but it’s my domesticated mount.”
When Zhang Lisheng opened his mouth, only then did the lumberjacks notice that there was a yellow-skinned, black-haired young man who was wearing fur sitting above the big spider. A few of them who were witty finally realized what was going on. After overcoming the shock, they quickly guessed the origin of the incomer and turned off the roaring chainsaw in their hands before trying to ask tentatively. “A-Are you Mr. Zhang Lisheng—Erm, I mean—D-Dr. Zhang Lisheng?”
“If it wasn’t me, who else would appear suddenly in a primitive jungle in the foreign world while riding a purple-colored spider? Aladdin from the Arabian Nights?” The young man asked in jest.
“Good day to you, Doctor! W-We’re your employees, the lumberjacks in the Shrimp B1 Island Comprehensive Development Company!” Upon hearing that Zhang Lisheng was acknowledging his ident.i.ty, several dozens of big and st.u.r.dy workers flashed a simple smile and greeted him.
The Shrimp B1 Island Comprehensive Development Company was the company that Zhang Lisheng asked his business agent, Charlie, to establish as a ‘fish bait’ for his intention to turn the Wizard Li Island into the fifty-first state of the United States. His primary purpose was to let the Americans understand the value of the island, so the only project was the energy mining business on the foreign world’s island.
Later on, due to various reasons, the possibility that the Wizard Li Island would become the fifty-first state of the United States had become next to nothing. Thus, the young man had already forgotten about this company. He did not expect it to still be operational and became an independent business of the LS Group.
“Shrimp B1 Island Comprehensive Development Company?” Looking at the lumberjacks’ rugged faces that obviously came from the desolate countryside, Zhang Lisheng’s heart jolted as his smile grew even more amiable. “Oh before I came to the Shrimp B1 Island, Charlie said that this company is the fastest-growing part of the group’s profits. I wonder how is the benefit now?”
Upon hearing the young man’s question, the workers began to scramble on, “The company is earning a lot of money now, Doctor! This one big tree alone can produce five to six barrels of crude oil, which is simpler than mining oil fields…”
“The company is going to build a refinery soon, Doctor! It’s said to be built on the outskirts of New York, and the gasoline that it produced will be sold directly to those New Yorkers…”
“Not only that, but the company will build a seaport on the Shrimp B1 Island and buy large tankers…”
The information that the lumberjack provided shocked Zhang Lisheng. However, with an unchanged expression, he said, “I feel at ease that the company’s business is doing so well. Speaking of it, more than 80% of the reason a company can operate so well because of the efforts made by employees like you. As the chairman of the LS board, I’m very grateful to see all of you taking the risk to work in the foreign world to create profits in the group!”
“Doctor, our group of workers is mostly from Male Cat Town in Wyoming. There’s nothing to do in that sh*tty place except becoming a soldier or digging up coal. In comparison, it’s like a paradise here, cutting wood on this warm island. As for danger, well, hehe, because of you, the natives never attack us. They even helped us to fend off the wild beasts, and speaking of it, the risk is much smaller than that of mining. This work is really amazing, but well, it would be even better if we can have a little raise.” A worker with a big beard and round face chuckled as he replied.
Other than the big cities, the daily life of the deserted towns in the US was actually very dull. Even though ore mining and steel smelting were much safer than the ‘mining of blood and tears’ in some other less developed countries on Earth, there was still a higher amount of risk in it.
In comparison, instead of mining coal in a rural town, it was better to take a high salary and work hard in a foreign world.
Since Zhang Lisheng first arrived in the US, he had always lived in the metropolis, so he did not know how tedious the village could be. However, when it came to money, he had never been stingy before. “I’ve already entrusted the management of the company to Charlie, but I can make a decision on salary increment. All of your salaries will increase by 10% next year as a reward for your work.”
“Long live the boss!” It was initially just a joke, but they really obtained a pay raise instead. The lumberjacks’ mouths dropped as they exchanged looks with each other with their eyes widened. Pleasantly surprised, they high-fived each other and cheered out loud.
Once they had finished cheering, Zhang Lisheng deliberately asked with concern, “Do all of you need anything else other than salary increment? How’s the living environment on the island? Any improvement that you guys would like to have? Oh yeah, I’ve forgotten to ask you, where are you guys staying on the Shrimp B1 Island? The former human gathering place?”
“Yes, Doctor. Right now, it’s said that the gathering place has shrunk a lot compared to before, but even so, it’s still pretty s.p.a.cious inside. Other than soldiers, only lumberjacks like us live there. Still, recently, more than ten Atlanteans have come.” One of the workers replied.
“Atlanteans?” An astonished expression crept upon Zhang Lisheng’s face as he murmured. “They’re very fearful against the foreign worlds and were not even willing to send more explorers in the beginning. Why would they suddenly appear on the Shrimp B1 Island for no reason?”
The young man was obviously talking to himself. However, because of the kindness he had just shown, when the lumberjacks saw him frowning in confusion, they immediately rushed to tell him what they knew about the Atlanteans on the island.
At the same time, in the original human gathering place from far away that they could barely see, several young redheaded men and women with snow-white skin and slender limbs had a heated argument in a s.p.a.cious room.
“Reinforcement! We need to call for reinforcement! Our Atlantean force is just less than 10 ‘Fei Miles’ away. Even if we don’t start the aeros.p.a.ce wars.h.i.+p, the White Flame Disc can still go to war, right? A disc of one organization system alone would be enough to turn all the natives on this island into steam…”
“Oh shut up, Deolis! Reinforcement? What reason is there for us to call for reinforcement?” Upon seeing their companions spouting nonsense with no reason, a very tall Atlantean growled. “Don’t tell me that we’d just tell Captain Alansol that half of our companions are killed in retaliation. This happened because we’ve initiated an attack against the short midgets of the foreign world and burned their houses? If it wasn’t for you, who acted crazily and suddenly attacked those natives who were riding the big birds, which forced us to enter a war with the natives, we could have prevented all of these in the first place…’A disc of one organization system alone would be enough to turn all the natives on this island into steam’? Hmph! Didn’t you say that you’ve read the information recorded by the Earthlings and that we have nothing to fear against the supernatural creatures guarding the indigenous people? Didn’t you also say that we’d eventually be able to make the native tribe yield to us? Tell me, what has actually happened now?”
“Enough, Morisha, it’s too late for us to blame Deolis now. Besides, although Deolis attacked the natives first, your desire to attack is even greater than his because of merit! If we’re to talk about the responsibilities of the offense, all of us are just equally responsible…”
Upon hearing their companion who is sitting on the milky white soft leather sofa in the room said ‘the responsibilities of the offense,’ all of the Atlanteans immediately turned pale.
As the second batch of Shrimp World No. 2 Atlantean explorers who was supposed to search for the first batch of explorers who had not yet returned for a long time after going to the foreign world to get a real-life understanding of the situation, the wars.h.i.+p staff officers had already set a plan for them. They were allowed to communicate with the natives and initially gained the natives’ trust.
However, now that they had self-righteously gone against the plan and had a fierce conflict with the natives on the Shrimp B1 Island, there were only two consequences left for them. If they forced the natives to yield to help them in exploring the Shrimp World No. 2 and proved that their actions would be more effective than the staff’s plan in completing the mission, then they could get great merit. However, if their self-a.s.sertion caused the mission to fail, then it would be harsh penal punishment. It would be difficult for them to get a pardon.
When Morisha thought of this severe consequences, his anxious expression grew even more apprehensive. Once again, he howled, “Aladus, even if my desire to attack the natives was strong, it was to make up Deolis’ fault. This is two completely different things…”
“Morisha, this is not the right time to fight with each other now! The situation is already bad enough. If we still don’t unite, we may be expelled for real. Let me think. Let me think about what we should do next… Maybe, maybe we can make up a reason and say that it’s those natives who attacked us first, so we’re forced to fight back. What do you guys think?” The woman with a pair of slightly slender eyes between the two only Atlanteans women in the house said thoughtfully.
“This idea is not bad! Unfortunately, the first batch of explorers had already left a message behind when they left the Shrimp B1 Island. They said that the indigenous people on the island are very respectful to that Earth’s Doctor! Don’t forget that the person who left the message is a sergeant major and between her and us, whose words do you think is more credible?”