CHAPTER 440: 242 LIGHTHOUSE DOWN

Is that a utopia?

A place that only exists in fantasies.

The people below didn’t know why their boss suddenly said these things, or why their boss’s thinking had changed so drastically, each of them stood there stunned.

Chen Che raised a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, looked at the sky, and said, "Actually, it’s not that difficult; it’s just a matter of whether someone is willing to do it.

But those in high positions think, I’ve already reached this position, why should I reform for some unfamiliar ordinary people?

Clearly, in this world, I can already enjoy everything.

If common people die, then they die.

But I feel something is wrong. My teacher could dedicate everything to save a country on the brink of extinction, could dedicate their entire life for a group of strangers.

I believe, our city can change too.

Can you all imagine that picture?

When, in the distant future, the common folk on the streets and alleys, when they hear the words Wildfire Gang, their look at you is not one of fear and dread.

But passionately ask if you’ve eaten, pull you into their home, and prepare a hot meal for you.

Do you believe such a thing can exist?"

The crowd was stunned.

Can it exist?

In this selfish and indifferent dystopian wasteland.

Can such a world truly exist?

"Haha, I think, to be born as a human, to walk the earth without leaving something behind, isn’t that a pity?"

"Everyone, have you heard? The capitalists led by Tasting Commerce Association, clearly have a large amount of coal in their hands, clearly now is the eve of the cold wave, each household needs to store coal.

Yet they deliberately release only a small amount of coal to inflate coal prices, just to extract that little bit of money drenched in sweat and blood from ordinary people.

Does everyone with power and influence in this city have to be like them?

I don’t think so.

I believe we can change this city.

Do you want to be dirty gang worms all your lives?"

The crowd exchanged confused glances, Bobby took a deep breath, and shouted loudly: "Master Chen! If you could stand above others, who the hell would want to lick blood off the blade for life?

If we could live without being a gang, hell, the coal used for cremating corpses could support so many people!"

"Master Chen! What do you want to do? Just tell us! If you want to overturn this city, we’ll be with you!"

"Master Chen!"

"Master Chen!"

In that moment, the passion in everyone’s hearts was completely ignited, shouting out loud.

Chen Che’s prestige had reached its peak, and with a glint in his eye, he said, "From today, I want to reform our entire gang.

From today, you don’t look for Wildfire Gang, you don’t look for Hunters, we will rename to Lighthouse!

From today, all businesses under Lighthouse... human trafficking, organ trafficking, protection fees... will cease completely.

I will make this Lighthouse a flame in the apocalypse, lighting the path forward for everyone.

I will have you walk out from Lighthouse, proudly declare you’re from Lighthouse, and the people around will look at you with admiration and respect, not awe and fear!"

Everyone felt confused, but their belief in Master Chen before them would set that confusion ablaze into raging fire.

An undefeated flame.

...

"Master Chen, you’ve just stirred the passion of everyone in the entire Wildfire... no, Lighthouse.

Do you really want to restore this city to a state akin to the pre-apocalyptic world?"

Faced with Bobby’s question, Chen Che shook his head and said, "I just think that in this world, there’s no need to live so tired, so painfully.

Do as I say, completely cut off the businesses I mentioned.

Smuggling of arms can be retained.

All routes involving contraband, human trafficking, and others, cut them all off for me.

Initially, cutting off all these things would cause too much trouble, and I wasn’t ready, but now I have enough time and energy to deal with these things.

Cut off all these businesses for me.

Our Lighthouse doesn’t need such businesses to earn that kind of money.

As for these interest chains, if anyone involved wants to cause trouble or question us, just tell them it’s the decision of Lighthouse’s leadership.

If they are indeed unhappy with us Lighthouse.

Then we can go to war.

Lighthouse can go to war with anyone."

The cold glint in Chen Che’s eyes sent chills down Bobby’s spine, while fully sensing Chen Che’s determination, the aura of a hero was clear and intense.

"But right now we’re the largest contraband supplier in the entire Ninth Special Zone, and cutting off contraband suddenly could cause these many addicts seeking trouble, even result in unrest in the entire Ninth Special Zone."

"Announce it, Lighthouse will help all addicts quit various contraband addictions for free. If they still long for the pleasures contraband brings, still willing to struggle in the mire, let them be.

But if they’ve felt the harm contraband brings, realized its horrors, and want to completely rid themselves of contraband’s control, Lighthouse provides free treatment to everyone.

And inform all districts managed under Lighthouse, from today, ordinary people running various small businesses will be managed by Lighthouse’s set governance street, dispatch people for management.

Every stall for me will have real-name management, only a small management fee will be charged.

If I find anyone below still collecting protection fees, issuing threats or false promises like before, not doing their job.

No mercy.

I will negotiate with Godfather Kamon to procure a batch of affordable coal.

These capitalists in the Commerce Association want to profit from coal, but I’m not going to let that happen.

Also, I’ve informed the Investigation Department, and I’ll have investigation units set up some reporting points on civilian streets.

From today onwards, all the streets controlled by the Lighthouse will have their security maintained by the Lighthouse.

All those causing trouble on Lighthouse-controlled streets, suppress them with the most brutal means.

I want to elevate the prestige of the Lighthouse to its peak as soon as possible."

Bobby swallowed hard.

The Lighthouse, is it already starting to take over some of the governmental responsibilities?

In Bobby’s view, what Chen Che is doing is completely thankless; it benefits the ordinary people greatly, but why?

Bobby hesitated for a moment and said, "But Master Chen, if we cut off these businesses, we’ll lose a substantial source of funding..."

"Who said we can only rely on this avenue for money?

The farms from way back then, what do you think I was growing there for?

Now, all the farms have been cultivated, the land has been reclaimed, and now every day produces new fruits.

They can now be brought to market.

And, the printing press I had you work on earlier, did you get it?

There are plenty of legitimate means at my disposal; it was just that the entire gang’s system was unstable before, and I didn’t have a general direction... More importantly, I didn’t think it necessary, and I hadn’t made up my mind to pursue these things.

I just wanted to guard my own little plot and live comfortably.

But experiencing certain things made me realize that people can’t live like this.

The greater the power, the greater the responsibility.

Perhaps I came here with a certain purpose and mission.

To civilize the apocalypse?" Chen Che shook his head and smiled.

The many plans his boss had in mind suddenly gave Bobby peace, but he was still somewhat confused. Scratching his head, he continued to ask, "Master Chen, forgive Bobby for being a bit talkative, but Bobby still doesn’t understand. What you are doing, in actuality, doesn’t help our gang much but rather gives away our interests to other people in the Ninth Special Zone.

Moreover, it’s not to curry favor with the upper echelons of the Ninth Special Zone; instead, what you’re doing is purely gratuitous, benefiting those without status, background, or power—the struggling masses of the Ninth Special Zone.

Benefiting the poor.

Helping these people isn’t really all that beneficial for our Lighthouse, is it?"

"Bobby, you’re wrong, completely wrong.

Civilization is made up of humans, and humans are the strongest foundation of this world. The human system, society, is always a pyramid. A few people at the top of the pyramid dominate the many people below.

But don’t forget, the entire foundation of the pyramid is composed of the struggling masses, and those at the top of the pyramid climbed up step by step from the masses.

Water can carry a boat, or it can overturn it.

When the pyramid system withdraws or begins to crumble, then you’ll understand the importance of ’people’."

Bobby listened, understanding only in part, but he knew that following Chen Che’s instructions surely wouldn’t lead to trouble.

Step by step he gave orders, and after everything was done, Chen Che stood atop a dilapidated high-rise.

Gazing into the distance.

"Sir, did you persuade me to come back because you also saw this broken world in my memories?

Do you also think that even in an apocalyptic world, things shouldn’t be this way?

After all, the initial phase of the apocalypse has long ended.

Why shouldn’t the shared destiny of humanity continue to move forward?

Instead, we fight and compete with each other.

Even regress to a primitive feudal era.

This is a degraded world for the whole of human society; it shouldn’t be this way. Humanity shouldn’t be this way.

Sir, I don’t have your vision or capabilities.

I can only do my best to leave my name in this world, to try to change the situation of this world from this city.

Sir, the student will learn from you.

Sir, if one day the student truly becomes you or surpasses you.

To build a brand new world like you.

You must visit your student in their dreams.

I will always be your student."

Standing high up, Chen Che, his mind never so clear, for the first time since arriving post-apocalypse, has a clear goal to strive towards.

Now he has the people, the ability, and the power.

Perhaps it’s time to leave a significant mark in the history books.

Xia Na came up behind him, silently wrapping her arms around his waist. She could sense this man had changed yet again.

Sometimes he was carefree, other times solemn and serious.

She felt so troubled.

Yet she felt drawn to him once again; a man focused on his career has a unique allure.

Chen Che turned his head to pull Xia Na to his side, resting his chin on Xia Na’s shoulder, watching the sunset glow together.

The sun had set, but a new sun would rise again.

The light of the Lighthouse will illuminate this post-apocalyptic world.