Not to mention the insane output of Coastal Industry in recent months, making money off anything and selling everything, leading many settlements to the brink of bankruptcy due to Ji Jue's pressure.

The originally easy money-making avenues are all blocked by Ji Jue, and it's really strange if one isn't grinding their teeth in hatred.

Currently burning with oil, Coastal Industry has long been the target of public criticism.

Previously, the reason for its restrained appearance was the fear instilled by Ji Jue during the massacre at Diaomao Town, forcing dormant claws to endure while waiting for a chance to dye the estuary of Spring City red...

Ji Jue is also waiting.

He very much wants to know, when the estuary of Spring City is dyed red, whose blood it will be.

At this moment, after briefly flipping through the report on the table, his gaze fell on the bottommost part.

Gou Er's proposal.

Still filled with typographical errors, jumbled order, yet subtly not affecting readability, and the language is straightforward.

To put it simply, making a report look polished is difficult, but making it rough is easy. The tricky part is... to write such a rough report that is still comprehensible without affecting understanding.

A bit of beauty with no outlet to use one's cleverness.

Still idle...

Not enough workload, is it?

Ji Jue glanced at him, and Gou Er instantly straightened up, standing in attention.

However, Ji Jue didn't give any directives, only told him: "The measures and settlement plan you proposed are good, go with that."

Gou Er's plan was simple.

Taking advantage of an early rainy season, seize the opportunity to 'kick them when they're down,' select a batch of strong labor from among these scavengers, suppress their wages, and take advantage of the chance to sign them on as beasts of burden.

Definitely heartless, but the irony is, this kind of thing has become almost a rule and norm in the wasteland.

Moreover, the treatment Ji Jue offers here is already far more generous compared to other places, almost equivalent to charity.

In other larger settlements, wanting to find refuge at this time doesn't just end with a significant loss of blood.

The better ones pick those who can do useful labor as beasts of burden, the worse ones treat them as slaves, and some settlements even have human trafficking as a side business, whether alive or dead. Once inside, there's not much difference between them and livestock waiting for slaughter.

Ji Jue even guarantees personal safety, allows you to bring two people into Xinquan, and even provides food and lodging... just makes you work hard. They even teach you to fix TVs and refrigerators...

Almost like a Saint.

Logically, scavengers entering such a place shouldn't at least kowtow twice to spare their conscience.

Unfortunately, 'kindness leads to bullying' is a common rule in the wasteland, just like building roads leaves no corpses behind.

You're already so kind, why can't you help me for free? You're so rich, with such a big family business, isn't it a big deal for a huge Coast to support a useless person like me?

Among those who wanted to charge and force their way through in the morning, who knows how many had such intentions, just like the trash Gou Er drove out from the shantytown before.

Otherwise, how much use can the noise and the instigation from a few people be?

Apart from taking the opportunity to recruit hands, Gou Er also suggested selecting relatively clean and honest 'good citizens' for settlement, offering them a loan to rent a place in Xinquan, to temporarily settle down.

For those who lack skills but are willing to work, the Coast also has a loan training plan, colloquially known as pay-to-work, six months of Coast training, then ten years of toil and hard labor, not a day less.

As for those who really have no money, no ability, and don't want to exert themselves...

Why don't you just go and die then?

Such people, to put it harshly, even if they died in front of the Chongguang Church, the church wouldn't care.

And at the end of the suggestion, there's one more point.

For those children without parents or relatives and temporarily unable to work, if Ji Jue really wants to care, that's fine — Didn't the market just expand?

There's a shelter to block wind and rain, and laying a blanket on a wooden board can still sleep people. After all, a mouth doesn't eat much, expired compressed biscuits can be soaked into porridge with some pickles, definitely won't starve to death. If they can't do heavy work, they can go clean the sewers, sweep the streets, and clear mud.

There are no labor laws in the wasteland, and minors aren't protected. Although the Coast here is harsh and cold, it at least offers a way to survive, without having to sell their bodies or become consumables...

"What you suggested is good, just follow your way."

Ji Jue nodded: "Draft some rules, report to Yan Gong, and see if there is anything that needs coordination. If there's not enough housing, find a few Chosen Ones from the Ruins to expand again."

It can be foreseen that after this round, Coastal Industry might continue to grow, productivity UP! UP! UP!

But the problem is... productivity is already in excess!

After all, the current market is only the wasteland, and settlements are mostly made of poor brothers, can't squeeze much money to satisfy Director Ji's interests, apologies there.

Need to quickly open up new sales channels.

Should we make efforts towards Longyuan or the neighboring Shan State?

Ji Jue pondered, deliberating.

He heard Isis' voice.

"Data compilation completed, confirming high-threat target location—"

The screen abruptly activated, and a series of monitored images appeared, a red dot emerged on the Xinquan map overlaid by drones.

The daytime near riot from the crowd had long triggered Isis' warning; such a peculiar situation likely had some Heart Core orchestrating from behind.

After several hours of analysis, searching, and continuous tracking, the probable hiding places of the target had been identified.

Ji Jue glanced and immediately laughed.

Amused.

After causing trouble, didn't even run right away, instead hid in place...

And right within Xinquan!?

How interesting.

"It's nightfall."

Ji Jue turned back, looked at the gradually emerging night outside the window, then looked at Lu Feng, with a meaningful undertone: "Brother Feng, interested in warming up?"

"This small fry needs me?"

Lu Feng instinctively shook his head, but suddenly understood Ji Jue's implication.

The two exchanged looks, silently grinning.

During the day, with many prying eyes, some things were naturally not suitable to reveal. But once the lights are out, who can distinguish between power armor and exoskeleton?

Having the new gear for so long, it's time to put it to use!

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