Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 1175: Chapter 185: Shocking Project Deal and Thrilling Corruption (Part 4)

His sigh was long and sour, filled with endless regret for the perfect opportunity to make money being unexpectedly interrupted by war. It was as if he saw a mountain made of Golden Crowns crumble significantly due to a damned, unplanned war. The soldiers’ deaths were cold numbers, troubles to deal with in reports, while the missed, continuous influx of massive orders and kickbacks were the true losses that cut him deeply. He lamented not the soldiers’ sacrifice, but his grand money-making endeavor that was ”unfortunately” interrupted by the Green Skins of Oka Mountain.

Su Li looked at him helplessly. Why was the Empire so dark and hopeless? It was precisely because there were too many corrupt and greedy officials in the Empire’s upper echelons!

”So this matter just passes like this? What do we do next?” Su Li had to ask.

”Yes, Lord Su Li.” Senator Smith finally found his voice, with a tone of post-catastrophe fatigue, along with a hint of uncontrollable greed, ”The committee has determined it was the supplier’s unilateral fraud. Within the parliament... necessary reviews and process streamlining have been done.”

He quickly glanced at Su Li and added, ”Of course, the loss of the Third Legion is immense, and the parliament is deeply pained by this. Our primary task is to quickly restore the legion’s combat power.”

He licked his somewhat dry lips, a familiar merchant’s shrewd eagerness reigniting in his eyes: ”Therefore, the parliament has decided to urgently procure a batch of truly ’Refined Level’ standard Star Iron Armor! Genuine Star Iron Armor! The quality must be completely reliable to withstand the most severe battlefield tests!”

”The parliament’s procurement intention is very clear, Lord Su Li.” His tone became decisive, as if the earlier discussion on catastrophic defeat and fraud had never happened: ”Given that the Star Iron Armor produced in the Hesse Territory has already proven its superior defensive performance and reliability on the Border Prince’s Territory’s battlefield against Chaos, Green Skin, and Beastman, the parliament hopes... to purchase directly from you.”

He paused for a moment, looking directly at Su Li, ”Considering the enormous impact of this event, the parliament needs to ensure obtaining the top-tier, undisputed Star Iron Armor, and requires you to ensure a capability for large-scale supply in the shortest time... Therefore, the procurement price will... double again!”

Hiss~ Not only does this matter just get glossed over, but they are also continuing to procure Star Iron Armor, and the price is to continue rising?

Su Li took a deep breath of cold air, feeling his entire worldview was violently shaken. How much do these senators intend to earn?

Their procurement price is 400 Golden Crowns per set, doubling it makes it 800 Golden Crowns!

And the Refined Level Armor Su Li provides does not exceed 200 Golden Crowns, which means that even if Senator Smith doesn’t engage in corruption and simply buys at the normal price, he would still earn more!

Su Li now truly understood how a bag lining could cost 90,000 knives. All this was reasonable and legal, with no consequences. It would be foolish not to swindle this, wouldn’t it? It must be quadrupled at least.

However, Su Li still found it incredible and was greatly shocked, asking, ”So, with such a severe corruption incident happening, there really is no issue or consequence?”

Zoe’s lips curled into a smile tinged with schadenfreude, ”There are, otherwise, why would Senator Smith be so utterly distressed? If he couldn’t find President Roger to confess and take all the blame with the parliament. His position as chairman of the Equipment and Manufacturing Committee must be given to someone else.”

So what Senator Smith was distressed over wasn’t the corruption! But rather that the one enjoying the fruits of corruption wasn’t him?!

Corruption continues, even doubles, just the beneficiaries change?

All this truly gave Su Li a small shock about the Empire’s corruption. The dark and hopeless style of this world is vividly displayed everywhere.

The key point is that Senator Smith is not just a committee member of only one committee; he holds positions in other committees too. One can’t even imagine how much wealth he has embezzled.