Super Island Tycoon

So, when the adjutant took out the cigarettes, those men felt a light brighten in front of them.

Their lives were constantly at risk, living each day full of anxiety. Even though they were often hungry and poorly clothed, sometimes barely finding food to eat in a day, and whenever harsh weather came around, it seemed like a disaster for them. Yet, these men still possessed an extraordinary enthusiasm for cigarettes. Sometimes, they would find some trees in the forest, dry them out, and roll them up to smoke as cigarettes. These trees weren’t tobacco; besides the pungent taste of smoke, they only made their throats burn like crazy. Smoking these so-called ’cigarettes’ wasn’t about enjoyment at all. However, they still indulged in this endlessly. In their spare time, or after a meal, they would light one of these cigarettes up, even if the smoke made their eyes unable to stay open, even if they coughed relentlessly, they still took this as a rare enjoyment.

Now, seeing the cigarettes in the adjutant’s hand, some of them who had smoked before nearly drooled at the sight, the taste of cigarettes was so wonderful it was unforgettable. Now seeing what they could only dream of before right in front of them, how could they not be overjoyed? Especially after the adjutant gave each of them a cigarette, some people deeply inhaled, holding their breath tightly, fearing the smoke in their lungs would escape too soon, while more people, having not smoked for a long time and inhaling more powerfully, became dizzy and could only sit on the ground, waiting for the hit of the cigarette to pass.

Jiang Cheng watched in awe from the side, although he appeared calm on the surface. How to say this, his friends were all people of identity and status, and many of them didn’t smoke for health reasons. Some, in Jiang Cheng’s presence or in occasions where Jiang Cheng was to appear, would resist smoking. Thus, Jiang Cheng’s astonishment at cigarettes could be understood.

The adjutant coldly watched these people smoking; he didn’t smoke and loathed the smell of cigarettes. Back when he was serving in the prison on Ashek Planet, he couldn’t comprehend the immense craving prisoners had for cigarettes. He had witnessed one prisoner extorting another, and after the fight, the prisoner handed over a few cigarettes stashed under a blanket; from his expression, one would think he was handing over a treasure rather than cigarettes.

And these were viewed as precious, whereas the adjutant himself, since he didn’t smoke, could save a bit of spending money, no matter how harsh prison life was. Seeing how influential cigarettes were, whenever he had money, he exchanged it for cigarettes, either giving them to the prison leaders as respect or pulling out a couple during recess to share with friends. Watching their overjoyed expressions and seeing them take turns smoking one cigarette while closely watching each other to prevent anyone from taking too many drags always amused him.

He clearly remembered, several times, those greedy smoke-hogging guys inhaled nearly half a cigarette in one breath, and besides receiving a beating, nobody shared their cigarettes with him again from then on.

During his time in the army, he witnessed more than a few bloody incidents caused by cigarettes.

Two Long Warriors engaged in a deadly duel over a pack of cigarettes, with some even killing an entire family at a general store just for a pack. Once, a Long Warrior went to a small town to buy cigarettes, and somehow another Long Warrior found out. That warrior’s body was left unattended by the roadside, his cigarettes long gone. On another occasion, a commander strangled a soldier who smoked his cigarette.

Such events were not uncommon in the army.

Therefore, the adjutant understood the lure of cigarettes. He and Jiang Cheng had a fundamental difference. Jiang Cheng, with his overwhelming power, was someone many sectors and even planets sought to curry favor with. Money held no value to him. Once, he casually remarked that Old Zhao, the steward, spent money like water, and the account seemingly had little left.

Immediately, people around him signaled their entourage, assistants, or whoever to bring out all sorts of cards or checks for Jiang Cheng to use freely. These people were very shrewd, knowing that once Jiang Cheng owed them a favor, when they required his help, and the things they needed him for were extremely important, even life-threatening, they wouldn’t mind the cost at all.

Of course, Jiang Cheng never once borrowed their money. These people were shrewd, and he was even sharper than they were. He knew that owing them a favor meant when they required him, it would often be extremely tricky matters. Although Jiang Cheng could solve almost anything, he wouldn’t partake in things with low cost-effectiveness.

Jiang Cheng, one might say, was born into nobility, while the adjutant was merely the child of a merchant. He understood human nature better than Jiang Cheng, especially after serving time in prison, a place full of dark human nature, where getting beaten was a good outcome, and losing one’s life was not uncommon.

Of course, emotions exist between people, but more often than not, emotions are just a guise. Without some benefit, feelings aren’t firm, and the magnitude of this benefit depends on the counterpart’s worth.

For instance, at the same banquet, if inviting celebrities to attend, those with big names command high prices, while those with smaller names are cheaper. The pricing between these cannot be mixed up.

The adjutant had the fortune to attend a noble’s gala on the Sek Planet. On the viewing platform, the best seats were reserved for esteemed guests. Someone like him originally didn’t have a seat, but to save face in front of his beloved, he spent a considerable sum to buy a seat from a young noble who happened to have urgent matters, bringing joy to all parties.

So, the adjutant knew that to make someone obey, one only needs to offer the equivalent price, whether it be emotions or money. Here, on Sek Planet, in front of these people, it was cigarettes.

The price for these people to take up arms was so trivial, just a pack, or even a few cigarettes.

The adjutant wasn’t in a rush; he stood quietly waiting for those people to finish their smoking moments.

Some finished their cigarettes in a few puffs, lying flat on the ground, enjoying the dizziness that shot to their heads, feeling as though ascending to the clouds. Others, however, took small puffs, experiencing the smoke entering and leaving their mouths, slowly permeating every organ in their body.