I cultivate mushrooms in warhammer

Li Nuo ended the communication.

A few seconds later, the encrypted message Delton mentioned arrived.

Li Nuo opened it to check, and the content was beyond imagination, causing him to subconsciously stop in his tracks and fall silent in the alley.

The encrypted message was a shadow of Lord Vaughes' handwritten letter.

At the top was a red seal bearing the family crest and the Governor's personal symbol.

Below the seal was Vaughes' handwritten letter.

The specific content is as follows:

...

To Li Nuo, active agent of the 9th Guard,

This secret letter concerns your future destiny and your position in my Hive Capital, Epithemus.

My only daughter, the beautiful and kind Tido, has developed an interest and curiosity about you for reasons I have not yet fully understood.

You and I both know that curiosity is the starting point of a turning point in fate.

Tido's favor towards you is a double-edged sword, which can either push you to the peak of power or plunge you into the abyss of death.

You are not my ideal son-in-law.

You are of ordinary origin and humble status. Even with strong personal strength, you cannot withstand my cannons and swords.

All of this will be transformed after you become my son-in-law.

I have ample means and capital to change all your past records and shape you into a reclusive nobleman, ancient, low-key, mysterious, powerful, and wealthy.

But are you worthy of my resources?

Prove to me that you are qualified to enjoy my status, wealth, and power, and that you have the ability to make my daughter happy.

You must complete the following tasks:

First, before you come of age, contribute 0.5% of the Hive Capital's tithe to the Imperial Tithe Child Project - Materials Tax. The more tax you can contribute, the higher my evaluation of you will be.

Second.

The way you inherit the position of Governor goes against the mainstream views of the nobles. You are bound to endure despicable means from opponents, including but not limited to murder, assassination, and poisoning.

Before you complete the first task, I will constantly arrange for people to assassinate you, without mercy, without scruples, and regardless of cost.

You must persevere through one challenge after another.

Remember, Li Nuo, do not try to beg for my mercy, and do not ask Tido for help, that will only prove your weakness and incompetence.

Survive, and you will gain everything; fail, and you will have nothing.

Good luck.

Sincerely, Governor of Hive Capital Epithemus,

Vladric Vaughes.

P.S.: Do not disclose the contents of this letter to any third party.

...

After reading the secret letter, the letter was automatically destroyed, and the data panel was blank.

Obviously, there was a bowl of soft rice in front of him that was extremely difficult to eat.

Cao Dahua, the fierce tiger of the Serious Crimes Unit, once set an example to the world, showing the true colors of a man by eating soft rice the hard way.

Influenced by this pioneer of soft rice, there were no extra emotional fluctuations in Li Nuo's mind, only calm thinking and rapid logical analysis.

The tax level of Hive Capital Epithemus is the first-class primary, two levels lower than the first-class special of higher Hive Worlds.

The tax cycle for materials tax is 1 Terra year.

The list of materials tax amounts can be found in the database, and its amount is roughly equivalent to 20% of the Hive Capital's total industrial and agricultural output value.

If priced in Throne coins, the total value of the materials tax is approximately 200 million Throne coins.

0.5% of 200 million Throne coins is 1 million.

That is to say, under the premise of recovering costs, his own industry must provide materials worth 1 million Throne coins to the Hive Capital's tax affairs department every year.

It is also possible to pay taxes directly with an equivalent amount of Throne coins; the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs allows this.

So, what is the concept of an annual tax amount of 1 million Throne coins?

Li Nuo calculated it on the data panel.

After the expansion of the Ginkgo Manor is completed, his estimated after-tax net income from dividends each year is 206,955 Throne coins, at most enough to pay 0.1% of the materials tax.

It would take five fully productive Ginkgo Manors to help him fulfill his obligation to pay 0.5% of the materials tax.

If Throne coins are not used for payment, but instead materials such as tobacco leaves are used, then the 20% equity dividend tax can be avoided.

This is undoubtedly more cost-effective; only four Ginkgo Manors would be enough.

The betrothal gift for marrying the Governor's daughter is really unusually high.

However, the higher the difficulty, the more interesting it is.

At least, Li Nuo understood the Governor's standards for choosing a son-in-law.

Tax-paying ability and self-protection ability; only by meeting both of these requirements can one enter the Governor's eyes.

Tax-paying ability can come from one's own industry, or from one's supporters.

For example, Osgoods.

The total output value of his industry is not high, but the families who publicly support him in the noble council have strong tax-paying ability.

According to public information in the database, a force capable of bearing 0.5% of the materials tax must be a Hive Capital commercial group with a small family background at the very least.

The Kram family currently bears about 5% of the materials tax.

The project Isabel is in charge of can pay 0.5% of the materials tax, so she has one-tenth of the say within the family.

The Lowe family is the top pharmaceutical family in this Hive Capital, bearing 7% of the materials tax.

Further up, the Wanzer family, which owns several military factories in the middle Hive, bears 8% of the materials tax.

The Promethium tycoon Mauro's family bears 15% of the materials tax.

The family with the largest proportion of tax burden is the Vaughes family, accounting for 30%.

Second is the Water Guild giant - the Watt family.

The Watt family is Osgoods' biggest supporter.

The water purification facilities, water storage equipment, and purified water it provides to the Empire account for 18% of the Hive Capital's materials tax.

The remaining 17% is borne by families large and small.

Why not just let the Water Ball Bacteria make a public appearance and smash the Watt family's rice bowl?

Hmm... no, it's unwise to set up such a strong competitor for himself.

Perhaps Isabel will be forced to terminate her cooperation with him because she can't withstand the pressure from the Watt family.

At that time, if he is isolated and helpless, and even called upon by the Watt family to be attacked by other families, then things will be difficult.

He has to change to a more stable way of thinking.

While expanding his annual total output value, he should not form a direct competitive relationship with existing families.

Only in this way can he quickly and steadily carry out the work of increasing output value.

Li Nuo completed the operation of replenishing the fungal warehouse while thinking, and also consumed points to exchange for universal psionic materials to make the remaining Water Ball Bacteria bioreactors.

After completing these steps, he had a clear answer in his mind.

He thought of a plan that could quickly increase output value without making enemies for himself.

The core product of this plan is:

Food.

In Epithemus, providing food to the underhive people is completely a losing business.

The entire upper and middle hives are bearing the expensive food expenses for supporting the underhive people; this is an unchangeable fact.

Not only is Epithemus in this situation, but so are other Hive Worlds of the Human Empire.

This can be seen from the statistical data of Epithemus over the years.

In order to prevent the underhive people from rebelling due to famine, the Hive Capital has to provide subsidies to factories producing synthetic starch every year.

The selling price of synthetic starch is three ration cards per serving.

Its cost is six ration cards per serving.

The factory producing synthetic starch loses three ration cards for every serving it produces.

Therefore, the Hive Capital will provide a subsidy of three ration cards per serving of starch to such factories.

As for how much money the factory can earn from synthetic starch, it all depends on the factory's own cost control level.

The main raw material for local synthetic starch is a byproduct of refined Promethium.

Its main components are pollutants and carbonized compounds.

Reducing several processes of removing pollution, recycling starch from sewers and garbage cans for recycling, and using cheaper but more polluted Promethium refining residues as raw materials.

All of these measures can further reduce the production cost of synthetic starch.

Most of the existing starch factories are opened by Promethium tycoon Mauro's.

Li Nuo checked the data.

Undoubtedly, the Mauro's family is doing a losing business; even with the Hive Capital's subsidies, they lose one ration card for every bowl of starch they sell.

They have been able to persevere until now entirely because of the Governor's mandatory requirements.

Between two evils, choose the lesser.

Rather than offend the Governor, it is better to honestly use Promethium refining residues to make synthetic starch.

Therefore, even if they don't make money, the Mauro's family has to produce synthetic starch for a long time.

If he steals the synthetic starch business, the Mauro's family will be more than happy.

The key is how to reduce the production cost of synthetic starch.

Can edible fungi such as milk mushrooms be used as a substitute?

Li Nuo thought about it and rejected the idea.

The cost of irrigation water is too high, far exceeding the revenue of synthetic starch.

Considering everything, Li Nuo felt that the best method was:

To convert Promethium refining residues into edible starch through microbial fermentation.

This happens to be his area of expertise.

The Mauro's family uses chemical synthesis, hence the high cost.

Microbial fermentation is known for being cheap but inefficient.

As long as the shortcomings of inefficiency are solved, from now on, the Hive Capital's synthetic starch industry will be completely controlled by him.

"System, enable automatic simulation."

【Please select a sample.】

"Just use the stuff in this can in front of me."

Li Nuo pointed to the glass jar on the table, which contained the Promethium refining residues he had just obtained from the factory next door.

The contents of the jar were sticky and pasty, mainly purplish-black, with a colorful oil film on the surface, emitting a pungent stench.

The proportion of pollutants in it reached 75%, and the reusable carbonized compounds were about 25%.

The act of using this kind of thing to make synthetic starch is comparable to panning for gold in shit.

【Sample settings are complete.】

【Please set the experimental process and parameters.】

Pollutants include sulfur, hydrocarbons, nitrogen, salts, and heavy metals.

The fungal warehouse has an unnamed psionic fungus that can efficiently desalt and desulfurize, saving steps in the pollution removal process.

However, Li Nuo is uneasy about psionic energy and does not intend to use things that pose safety risks.

Similarly, when dealing with other pollutants and extracting carbon compounds, he will also use fungi that absolutely do not involve the substructure.

After using his mind to select over three thousand fungi from the fungal warehouse, Li Nuo handed over the tedious experimental operations to the system.

The only experimental goal he set was to find a feasible solution to efficiently remove pollutants and convert carbon compounds into edible starch.

The fungi required for this solution may be two or even more, so the simulation workload far exceeds any previous simulation.

【Automatic simulation started.】

【Due to the extremely large workload of this automatic simulation, the number of simulation days is difficult to estimate.】

【The system will collect the raw materials required for the simulation in advance.】

【Aborting the automatic simulation will not return the raw materials.】

The promethium refining residue on the table disappeared.

Automatic simulation information began to refresh.

【Day 1: You cut the sample into 100 pieces and label them from 1 to 100.】

【…】

Let the system automatically simulate; his daily work continues as usual.

Li Nuo placed the simulation interface in the corner of his vision.

After taking a tour of the water purification plant and confirming that the bioreactors and pipelines were operating normally, Li Nuo planned to return to the upper hive.

Before leaving, Li Nuo observed Leia, a little worried that she might develop psychological problems from working alone for a long time.

Facts proved that Li Nuo's worries were unnecessary.

Leia's data panel could connect to the lower hive's network. When she wasn't busy, she would play pixelated mini-games on the data panel or read fantasy novels written by lower hive writers.

She even got herself a set of indoor exercise equipment and used it to practice strength and flexibility when she had time.

Such a disciplined girl, there was really no need to worry about her mental health.

"If you're really worried that I'll get bored here, then buy me a holographic projection device, preferably one that can connect to the upper hive network, so I can play holographic games. Deduct the money from my future salary."

Leia said with a cigarette in her hand, smiling.

Holographic projection devices and holographic games were both sold in the upper hive. Li Nuo had seen them on the communicator before.

"Holographic projection devices are quite expensive, Leia. One set is enough to offset ten years of your salary. You're really not embarrassed to ask," Li Nuo joked with a smile.

Leia stuck out her tongue embarrassedly:

"Anyway, I've already decided to work here until I'm old, so why not slightly overdraw my future income and enjoy it sooner?"

Li Nuo didn't know how to respond, so he could only chuckle, wave his hand in farewell:

"Okay, I got it, I'll buy it for you. Play it after work every day. If it delays your work, I'll confiscate your holographic device."

"Don't worry, I still have that much self-control." Leia's smile became even brighter, and she even stomped her feet excitedly.

Li Nuo left the factory, leaving Leia inside to enjoy herself.

This time, she didn't launch a sneak attack while he was walking.

Arriving at the upper hive without any surprises, Li Nuo carefully planned his starch industry in the study.

He even made a special call to Isabel to ask for details and industry secrets in this regard.

After listening carefully, Li Nuo gradually realized that he was on the right path.

The demand for starch is extremely large, whether in the hive cities or the Empire.

Especially the Imperial fleets that are fighting in space all year round.

Their food supply all depends on the agricultural worlds, as well as the Imperial worlds with agricultural resources, such as hive city worlds and garden worlds.

If the starch industry is done well, the Imperial fleet will eat happily, the Empire's Ministry of Military Affairs will increase its protection of this hive city, and the governor's mouth will be grinning from ear to ear.

Vogues' attitude towards him could change 180 degrees.

Li Nuo was immersed in his work when a system message popped up.

【Save File 1: Mad Doctor Sack.】

【Save File Briefing:】

【Mad Doctor Sack received definite information that the Coin Clan will go to war with the Red Eyes Clan in 12 hours.】

【Please pay attention to the battle situation in time to avoid the death of the simulated character.】

"The war will start in 12 hours, which is about eleven o'clock tomorrow morning."

Li Nuo noted the time of the war and decided to "log in" on time.

That night, he worked in the study past midnight before going to bed at Brandy's reminder.

…

As Li Nuo was being led into a dream by fatigue, another group of people were having sleepless nights for him.

Vogues was half-lying on the sofa in the study, with a huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the entire First District behind him.

A few meters away in front of him, a holographic device was looping the process of Li Nuo's confrontation with the No. 8 Guard members.

Ten screens, ten perspectives, presented every detail of the battle between the two sides to the governor in an all-round way, coupled with a large number of readings, tables, and grid diagrams.

From Li Nuo's psionic shield to his looking back at Madsen, the No. 8 Guard member in the submerged pipe, to his using magical psionic energy to continuously knock Madsen away.

Every frame was taken in by Vogues.

On the other side of the holographic projection, Delton and Chekav were observing here.

Chekav was eager to try, the more he watched, the more excited he became, wanting to fight Li Nuo immediately, a complete battle maniac.

Delton remained calm from beginning to end. Every move of Li Nuo's seemed nothing to him, and he could crack it with a wave of his finger.

The holographic screen played again and again until Vogues personally pressed the pause button.

He put one hand in his pocket, held a pipe in the other, came to the floor-to-ceiling window and slowly exhaled a cloud of mist.

He stared at his country, his eyes sweeping across the prosperous street scene.

He knew that Li Nuo's psionic energy was unique and powerful, but he never thought it would be so precise, efficient, deadly, and concealed.

"Chekav."

Vogues walked back to the sofa and sat down, calling his capable general.

"Sir, let me take action myself next time. I really want to know how strong this kid is." Chekav came to Vogues and rubbed his fists.

Vogues tapped the pipe on the table, poured out the ashes, and a smile appeared on his old fat face:

"That's exactly what I want, Chekav. Your task is to squeeze out all of this kid's combat potential. When you're ready, you can take action at any time."

"Haha, sir, leave this to me, you can rest assured. I guarantee to beat him until he only has one breath left. I'm leaving." Chekav excitedly bumped his fists, bowed to Vogues, raised his eyebrows at Delton in a provocative manner, and strode out of the study.

Inside the room, only Vogues and Delton remained.

Vogues put new tobacco into the pipe and asked while doing so:

"After you gave my secret letter to Li Nuo, did he contact you again?"

"No, sir." Delton shook his head slightly, "I originally thought he would ask me for ideas, but the fact is that he did not contact me."

"Then it seems he is more mysterious than we thought." Vogues suddenly laughed, full of self-deprecating meaning:

"Do you know, Delton? Li Nuo has registered more than three thousand patents in the field of biotechnology. I completely cannot understand how a lower hive person can have so many technology reserves. Perhaps only my daughter has glimpsed a part of Li Nuo's secret."

"Your daughter?"

"Yes."

Vogues handed the pipe to the servo skull, covered it with both hands, and sighed deeply:

"My daughter, my only child, she used the permissions I gave her to permanently delete all of Li Nuo's records in the bottom hive from all the Hunting Dukes' recorders, without any possibility of repair. This makes me sad, Delton, you also have a daughter, you should be able to understand my feelings."

Delton thought of Amy, his expression softened, and he deeply sympathized with the governor's experience:

"Sir, I can understand your feelings. When your daughter is trying to hide secrets, it means that something has already sprouted."

Delton pondered for a moment and tried to persuade:

"Just for myself, I think Li Nuo is not bad. His invention patents have been recognized and protected by the Empire's Ministry of Internal Affairs, and there are no legal or moral problems, and it has nothing to do with technical heresy."

Vogues put down his hands and nodded slowly:

"Since even you think he's okay, then what else can I say."

Vogues stood up and raised a finger:

"You will be a witness, Delton. If Li Nuo survives from Chekav's hands, then as long as he can afford 0.3% of the material tax, I am willing to wait for him to marry my daughter when he comes of age. During this time, he must first learn all the knowledge needed to be a governor before he can get engaged to my daughter."

"What if he can bear more material tax?" Delton asked.

Vogues didn't care about Delton's question; 0.3% was already very high.

Vogues spread his hands and joked:

"Haha ~ If Li Nuo can bear 0.5%, I will arrange for him and Tidor to get engaged that day. If it's 1%, I don't mind freeing up an area in the Royal Court District for him to work in. If he can have 2% or even more, I will step down as governor and become his Minister of Internal Affairs when he comes of age, helping him manage everything."