Chapter 956: Education Plan (Revised)

Chapter 956: The Education Plan (Revised)

After sailing for some time, the fleet finally returned to the Broken Star Ring. Han Xiao immediately headed back to headquarters, summoning his numerous executives to review their recent work and gain a more detailed understanding of the situation.

By and large, the old problems persisted, though there was slightly better news: the Sprout Consortium was developing smoothly.

As an affiliated financial organization under the Black Star Legion, it had people, money, and status, not to mention the armed support of the Legion. In the Broken Star Ring, it was as if they had activated some cheat-like fruit of prestige, swiftly consolidating a massive amount of the Legion's auxiliary businesses and securing long-term cooperation agreements with countless commercial organizations, thereby streamlining the Legion's structure considerably.

It was worth mentioning that Impetus, whom Han Xiao had poached from the Empire, had demonstrated exceptional business acumen. The team he led consistently ranked at the top, signing one lucrative cooperation treaty after another for the consortium, and while consolidating auxiliary businesses, he also strove to open up new channels.

In her evaluation of him, Sylvia noted that Impetus possessed excellent business negotiation skills, strategic vision, leadership abilities, persuasive eloquence, and calm judgment, among other qualities. He was a high-caliber managerial talent who, after further tempering, could be placed on the shortlist for executive positions.

Nowadays, the Black Star Legion was brimming with talent. Due to its enormous scale, there were numerous positions at every level of command. Philip assessed the Legion's members, screening out different talents to form an exceptionally long shortlist; everyone on it was a candidate for a cadre position within the Legion.

Han Xiao approved some backlogged documents, and after concluding official business, the many executives finally relaxed.

"By the way, how is Nilo doing with his studies?" Han Xiao asked, turning his head.

"Quite well. He is very gifted," Renard replied succinctly.

"Mm, I'll go see him after the meeting," Han Xiao said, stroking his chin before suddenly adding, "I have a question for you."

"Please go ahead."

"If, one day in the future, I am forced to kill your sister, what would you do?"

Renard was taken aback, his expression hesitant. "That..."

"Don't be afraid, just tell me the truth."

"...Why would you want to kill her?"

"Well, let's assume she did something wrong and endangered the interests of the Legion."

Renard exhaled a breath, his face expressionless. "If that were truly the case, I would not hold a grudge against you. She would need to bear the consequences of her own evil deeds, but at that time, it would be impossible for me to continue serving you. Please understand."

The atmosphere grew tense, and those present wore varied expressions.

They knew Han Xiao would not speak without a cause; could it be that Lotherin, who had left the Legion, had actually done something?

Han Xiao looked at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed heartily, dispelling the taut atmosphere in an instant.

"Who can predict the future? Don't mind it, there is nothing wrong with your answer."

Renard nodded silently, stepping aside, lost in thought.

Glancing at his expression, Han Xiao shook his head inwardly.

Ever since the three founders of the Silver Revolutionary Army came to the Legion to poach talent, he had planted an observation mark on Edmund. Just recently, through that mark, he had witnessed the official establishment of the Silver Revolutionary Army; the movements of Edmund and the others simply could not escape his notice.

According to his original plan, he was prepared to sit back and watch the Silver Revolutionary Army grow. First, to cultivate them like leeks, so that when the three major civilizations took the Silver Revolution seriously, he could claim credit; second, to use someone he knew inside out to provoke conflicts between the three major civilizations and the super-star cluster civilizations, making it easier for him to deal with; and third, to make secret arrangements, feeling that there might be opportunities to utilize the Silver Revolution in the future.

However, Han Xiao's ideas were never set in stone; he always flexibly adjusted his plans according to the situation. Now that his position in the Empire was consolidated, he might not necessarily need this credit anymore.

The problem of the World Tree was something he encountered later, and it had now become a ticking time bomb. With the external threat advancing ahead of schedule, whether to continue letting the Silver Revolutionary Army be had become a question.

The conflict between the three major civilizations and the super-star cluster civilizations was the trend of the times. These advanced civilizations would inevitably rise up against their ruling status one day; the contradiction was bound to erupt and could not be avoided. The Silver Revolutionary Army was simply the fuse that happened to ignite it at the right moment.

Han Xiao knew that eliminating the Silver Revolutionary Army in advance would not resolve the contradiction, but it would have the chance to delay the time of the outbreak.

And no matter what choice was made, the upper echelons of the Silver Revolutionary Army had to be dealt with. Many times, ideas were more feared than guns and cannons; reformers rarely met with good ends. Thus, Han Xiao concerned himself with Renard's thoughts, intending to give him a shot of preventative medicine, though for someone like Renard, once he made up his mind about something, he would hardly ever change it.

Sylvia looked left and right, cleared her throat, and broke the silence. "By the way, I have an interesting proposal here. Please take a look."

As she spoke, she pressed her communicator, projecting a virtual screen that displayed a document.

Han Xiao glanced at it, his eyebrows raising. "...The Transcendent Education Plan?"

"Yes, we have opened training camps on many planets to train reserve members, but it is too militarized; only those who sign a contract to become reserve Legion soldiers can receive training. The meaning of this proposal is that the Black Star Legion will provide the funds and personnel to vigorously open civilian transcendent schools across the Broken Star Ring, where any commoner can pay to attend, without needing to become a Legion reserve..."

"Wait." Han Xiao raised his palm. "These kinds of transcendent schools are everywhere; every interstellar civilization has its own official transcendent schools. For me to do this seems unnecessary."

"No, it is somewhat different." Sylvia shook her head. "You are now the strongest in the star zone. This title has a rallying power that can attract students to the maximum extent. The significance of the civilian schools we open is different."

Stroking his chin, Han Xiao browsed the proposal and asked casually, "And what about the profits?"

"Vigorously opening transcendent schools bearing your name can effectively expand your influence; you can treat it as a public welfare act," Sylvia spoke eloquently and composedly. "Many of the Legion's current businesses are too far removed from the living standards of interstellar citizens. Opening schools can transform the citizens' adoration for you into actual support, embedding your influence deep among the masses. Incidentally, it will also give many idle Legion soldiers something to do."

"That sounds quite good," Han Xiao nodded.

This method would also help cultivate leeks. They hadn't done this before mainly because their influence wasn't great enough and their funds weren't abundant enough, but the current Black Star Legion indeed had the qualifications to run educational institutions.

No matter how strong a Super A-Class was, or how resounding their title, to ordinary interstellar citizens, they were like celebrities. Aside from being topics of conversation over tea and meals and usual hotspots of public opinion, their actual impact on daily life was not very significant. Opening schools, however, was a way to monetize influence; by providing benefits to the public, the public would increasingly support the various businesses of the Black Star Legion in their daily lives, yielding long-term and multifaceted benefits.

Moreover, the Black Star Legion's scale had now surged so many times over that there were indeed many soldiers left with nothing to do.

No matter how many mercenary missions there were, there was a limit. Compared to the past, the security of the Broken Star Ring had improved considerably. The Black Star Legion's Pirate's Joyous Abode had long since become a forbidden term, striking terror into the hearts of countless pirates and scavengers; the moment they saw the Black Star Legion's emblem, they would immediately pull up their pants and flee.

"Alright, let's do as you say. We'll pilot it first in the Kelton Star Cluster and open a few hundred schools to start with."

"Then the funding for this..."

"Approved."

Han Xiao waved his hand grandly. Anyway, money just sitting there was doing nothing, so it was better to spend it on something. Having too much money was a nuisance in its own way.

"Since it bears my name, I'll be the honorary principal. As for the actual management..."

Glancing at Sylvia's seemingly receding hairline, Han Xiao coughed awkwardly and averted his gaze.

Beside him, the exceptionally hairy and currently daydreaming Laki caught his eye, and the Great Technician Han immediately felt a surge of irritation.

"You're the one, Laki. You're going to be the principal for me!"

Laki snapped back to reality, his face bitter.

"Wasting life in a meaningless post, this is the fate of all living beings. I never expected that despite my utmost efforts, I still could not escape this cycle..."

Hearing this, the corners of everyone's mouths twitched as they suppressed their laughter.

To describe slacking off in such a fresh and elegant manner, you son of a bitch are truly a genius!

Watching the dejected Laki and the other executives leave the room, Han Xiao took out his communicator and contacted Rothel to ask about the recent situation.

Rothel's position was different from that of a guard officer; he was a Shadow Walker. Guard officers protected Black Star, while Shadow Walkers operated covertly in the outside world, carrying out a series of missions such as assassination, espionage, infiltration, and sabotage. Currently, under Han Xiao's command, there was temporarily only Rothel as a Shadow Walker.

After the Blood Gold Organization incident, Han Xiao had ordered Rothel to infiltrate the black market organization, gathering intelligence while continuously assassinating mid-level cadres of the Blood Gold Organization. After long-term observation, Han Xiao had decided to instruct Rothel to establish the Assassin's Mutual Aid Association, just as in his previous life, as a secret affiliated force under the Legion.

Rothel himself was very strong, and his personality was decisive and ruthless. He was a silent and reliable adult man, fully capable of handling things on his own. Han Xiao was quite reassured about him, not worried that he would recklessly get himself killed.

After chatting for a few sentences and hanging up, Han Xiao proceeded to the logistics department to visit Nilo.

Nilo had grown a head taller. After his hellish studies, he was gradually becoming proficient. Seeing Han Xiao, he looked very happy, rushing up to pester him for gifts.

Han Xiao thought for a moment, took out a cognitive technology learning enhancement device, and placed it in Nilo's hands, successfully earning a roll of the eyes in return.

Giving Nilo his customary injection, Han Xiao checked the panel; Nilo was now at Advanced Mechanical Sense and had not yet continued to evolve.

Patting Nilo's head, Han Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "In a while, go back to Aquamarine Planet to visit Bennett, and stay there to attend school while you're at it."

Hearing this, Nilo's eyes immediately filled with mist, his face looking aggrieved. "Are you trying to drive me away? What did I do wrong?"

Han Xiao chuckled. "Haha, you misunderstood. I was thinking that always making you bury your head in your studies and lacking social interaction isn't a good thing either. Coincidentally, the Legion is preparing to open civilian schools recently, and Aquamarine Planet will definitely be among the first batch of pilot areas. You can attend school on Aquamarine Planet normally, spend more time with Bennett, and also spare some time to study under Renard. It's about balancing work and rest; consider it a reward for studying so hard all this time."

Nilo was shocked.

Has his godfather changed his ways?!

He's actually giving me a holiday!!

...What is that look in your eyes? You look as though you've seen a ghost.

I... I'm just overjoyed. Nilo swallowed hard, stealing furtive glances at Han Xiao, half-afraid this was some imposter in disguise, playing a cruel jest upon him.

Han Xiao had initially wished for Nilo to master the Perfect Mechanical Sense under Leonard's tutelage in one go, yet upon seeing the boy had grown half a head taller, he decided against pushing him so ruthlessly. In a few short years, Nilo's childhood would be behind him; perhaps granting the boy a period of respite would better serve the future refinement of his Mechanical Sense specialization.

After all, as a certain philosopher so wisely put it: all work and no play makes a bright child dull.

Having settled his various affairs, Han Xiao retreated into the mechanical modification chamber for a secluded retreat, beginning the overhaul of his entire reserve of the mechanical legion while simultaneously setting to work on forging another hallmark of the Throne Mechanic—the Mechanical Throne.