Wasteland's Only King

Gangval Star, Oak City.

At this moment, the night is deep.

But in the offices of Oak City’s largest chamber of commerce, the Lambert Chamber of Commerce, the lights are still blazing.

Over the past twenty-four hours,

every staff member in the chamber has been working relentlessly.

Everyone is practically doing the same thing—

acquiring Low-dimensional Fortress Battleships from other free agents or chambers of commerce.

Such a sudden and massive move by the Lambert Chamber of Commerce has already stirred up no small amount of trouble among the other chambers in Oak City.

“Why are they suddenly hoarding Low-dimensional Fortress Battleships?”

“Could there be some new opportunity we’re unaware of?”

The human mind is always complicated.

More than a few chambers have even decided to suspend cooperation with the Lambert Chamber of Commerce until they figure out what’s really going on.

But…

The number of Low-dimensional Fortress Battleships is still far, far too many.

To the vast majority, these fortress battleships aren’t actually worth much themselves.

A Super Large Interstellar Fortress only goes for five thousand Source Points in the Wasteland server’s open market.

Five thousand Source Points?

That kind of money in Oak City isn’t even more than what many people make at work.

President’s office, Lambert Chamber of Commerce.

At his desk, Funi is just as busy.

Hovering in front of him are dozens of holographic projection panels.

On these panels, there are numbers, diagrams, even lines of code.

“Order 6657, ten Super Large Fortresses: transaction complete!”

“Order amount: 45,000 Source Points!”

“Ten Super Large Fortresses have been deployed to the reserved coordinates in the Wasteland server!”

…

“Order 8654, one hundred Large Interstellar Warships: transaction complete!”

“Order amount: 185,000 Source Points!”

“Warship fleet is transitioning from the original coordinates to the assigned locations!”

…

“Order 9999, ten thousand High-Tier Unmanned Combat Mechas: transaction complete!”

“…”

One transaction after another shows up continuously.

As president of the chamber, Funi is personally overseeing and confirming every order.

At the same time,

on the light-screen to his right, a few lines of ever-changing text are displayed.

[Super Large Interstellar Fortress: 950/5000]

[Large Interstellar Warship: 1580/100000]

[Unmanned Combat Mecha: 65000/1000000]

[…]

The numbers before the slash show what’s already been acquired.

The numbers after, that’s the target given by Yu Jin.

To be honest,

even now, Funi can’t figure out why Yu Jin needs so many Low-dimensional Fortress Battleships.

These resources…

they’re not worth anything, really.

If you leave Wasteland—no, they can’t even leave Wasteland in the first place.

No matter how large the Interstellar Fortress, it can’t manifest in the Ophelia Federation, can’t be brought to the High-dimensional Universe, it’s meaningless.

Each day, Oak City teems with newcomers. Especially those who once were rulers, Lords of civilization powers—they all used to command dozens, even hundreds of fortresses.

And now?

Never mind rising above others, just to survive, they have to work, sign away their freedom.

Of course,

Funi’s confusion aside, when it comes to obeying Yu Jin’s orders—this “big figure”—he is utterly obedient.

Not just obedient, he has to give it his all, make sure everything is perfectly done, not a single leak!

That’s why he’s personally stepping in, working through the night.

Even yesterday, on his wedding anniversary, he only went home for a quick meal, not sticking around.

Even now, Funi still remembers his wife Erin’s mournful and disappointed gaze when he left last night.

Funi knows Erin had expected something better for the two of them…

“Phew—”

Another stretch of hours passes by in nonstop work.

Funi lets out a long, turbulent breath, pausing for a brief rest.

[Ding—!]

Right at this moment,

a crisp communication chime suddenly rings out.

Funi freezes for a second.

This is…

“Father?”

The father Funi refers to, of course, isn’t his biological father, but his father-in-law.

He married into the family fifty years ago, so the title changed accordingly.

“Why would he suddenly contact me at this hour…”

Funi doesn’t know why, but he has a bad feeling swelling in his chest.

This father-in-law is the Lambert Clan Leader, but has long since retreated to the background.

The Lambert Chamber of Commerce has also been handed to Funi.

Ordinarily,

unless something truly major happens, the clan leader doesn’t contact him directly.

“Because of the massive fortress warship acquisitions?”

“No, it can’t be…”

“This kind of thing isn’t even worth father’s attention…”

Countless thoughts flash through Funi’s mind, but in the end, he still accepts the call.

Shua—

A translucent light screen unfurls.

On the screen, not a silver-haired old man, but a vigorous-looking middle-aged man appears.

“Father!”

As a son-in-law, Funi has always held a certain natural fear towards the clan leader, even though he’s been married to Erin for fifty years.

“Funi.”

From the light screen, the Lambert Clan Leader’s voice sounds faint and neutral.

Just those two words, revealing no hint of emotion.

“Father, is there a reason you called me so late…?”

Funi hesitates for a moment, then just speaks his mind.

“Heh—”

What echoes back is a cold chuckle.

“Aren’t you going to explain yourself to me?”

Those words leave Funi frozen in place.

Explain?

Explain what?

“That kid.”

“That kid with 5.8 billion Source Points sitting in his account!”

“You work yourself to death acquiring low-dimensional junk for him, those worthless fortress battleships, and all for what?”

“Did I bring you into the Lambert Clan so you could be some little punk’s lapdog?!”

On the light screen, the Lambert Clan Leader’s voice turns suddenly icy and severe.

Funi breaks out in a cold sweat, not daring to speak.

“Heh—”

“How many Source Points is that?”

“5.8 billion!”

“Do you have any idea what that even means!”