The moment the factory second standard time arrived, the entirety of Dorun Star was plunged into chaos. Armed riots erupted in almost every city, regardless of whether it was day or night.

The supervisors the rebels stationed at the major factories were dragged out and killed one by one. These supervisors had long acted as an occupying force, using their privileges to swagger and act wantonly, which had already boiled the public resentment. It was only because they were backed by the rebel army and constantly shielded by armed bodyguards that they hadn't been overthrown sooner. Even so, reports of assassinated supervisors were frequent, after all, this was an arsenal planet, and it wasn't impossible for the workers to steal some weapons if they were willing to risk their lives.

Now, however, the major rebel bases on Dorun Star were either destroyed or suppressed, leaving them utterly incapable of backing their supervisors. Furthermore, the resistance organization had distributed a significant cache of weapons, greatly emboldening the workers. Thus, the supervisors’ doom had arrived.

Instantly, armed uprisings began across the major factories. Even after the riots started, the distribution of weapons continued. Resistance operatives secretly infiltrated the factories, bringing large quantities of arms. Apart from what they used themselves, much was left over. They established numerous secret assembly points within the factories, summoning workers to receive weaponry.

This distribution was not indiscriminate. The resistance organization had informants in many factories who provided intelligence and screened the workers. Without their introduction, no weapons would be issued.

This scene could be witnessed in many factories. Large numbers of vetted workers lined up before the assembly points. One by one, they stepped forward to take a Uranium Rifle from the resistance operatives. Those who could prove they had received military training were even gifted a set of standard military protective gear.

Aside from the workers, citizens in other professions were not considered targets. Since Dorun Star was a thoroughly industrial planet, workers constituted the vast majority of the populace. The main manpower in the cities was concentrated among the laborers, so the resistance organization focused its attention primarily on them.

Soon, the rebel presence within most factories was swept clean. Under the clever guidance of the resistance organization, this armed uprising entered its second phase: the armed workers shifted their focus to the government organs established by the rebels in the major cities.

Groups of Flinn people could be seen sprinting through the streets, clad in civilian clothes but carrying Hammer Rifles, shouting various slogans, gathering as they ran.

Three hours after the riots began, the armed uprisings in most cities had progressed to this second stage. Within each city, armed workers mobilized into groups numbering in the thousands, marching mightily toward crucial departments like the City Hall, Energy Sector, and Life Services.

Huawang was the largest industrial city on Dorun Star. On the northern outskirts of the city lay an extremely vast affluent district, preserving one of the few natural landscapes on Dorun Star. Across this expansive wilderness, spanning several hundred square kilometers, dozens of surrealist luxury villas were scattered in meticulous arrangement, as if composed by a master artist. Gardens and pools were situated perfectly, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

This area was originally the residence of the great capitalists who controlled the planet's lifeline. However, few people ever actually stayed here, despite the villas being exquisitely luxurious.

To those magnates, the air on Dorun Star was simply too polluted. Their enterprises spanned the entire Flinn domain, and there were countless places with an ecological environment ten times better than Dorun Star. These grand capitalists spent their lives in leisure, leaving only junior relatives or household servants to reside here to oversee the properties.

Yet, there were exceptions.

One villa stood at the very center of the dozens of residences. It was magnificent and imposing, standing out with an exceptionally grand presence, appearing as the leader of the surrounding villas.

Presently, inside this villa:

“Grandfather, something terrible has happened! The workers are rioting!” A richly dressed young Flinn man burst into the study, his voice laced with panic.

In the study, an aged-looking Flinn man sat with his head bowed. His hands, engaged in carving, did not tremble in the slightest, as if he hadn't heard a word. Before him lay a slab of obsidian-like stone. It wasn't entirely black; against the pure dark background, there were scattered silver stars and lines, resembling the mysterious, deep cosmos, drawing the eye.

This type of stone was the hardest material discovered in the galaxy so far, hundreds of times harder than diamond, surpassed only by super-matter like neutron stars. Consequently, it was revered by all galactic races and dubbed Galaxite!

Carving Galaxite was the most widespread and widely regarded as the noblest art form in the galaxy. Legend held that it was already popular tens of thousands of years ago when the unified Atlantean Galactic Empire still existed. Below this high art were classifications such as Sculpture Carving, Slab Engraving, Stele Carving, and Pendant Carving. To achieve even a slight mastery in any one category meant one would never go hungry, even traveling the entire galaxy.

The old man currently held a high-frequency carving knife. Its blade vibrated rapidly at a nanoscale amplitude. This oscillation was invisible to the naked eye and generated an ultrasonic frequency beyond human hearing. Overall, the knife looked no different from an ordinary blade, yet it was a crystallization of ultra-high technology. Beside the old man lay a row of other models of discarded high-frequency blades. Only a mystic blade, vibrating at nanoscale ultra-high frequencies, could disrupt molecular bonds enough to etch a mark onto Galaxite.

“Grandfather?” The young man, receiving no response, asked again.

The old man sighed, raised his head, and asked languidly, “Why are you rushing about so carelessly? What could be so urgent?”

The old man’s weak voice was a stark contrast to the powerful grip of his hands. Even the hardest stone in the galaxy yielded lines under his touch. Although the carving knife was a factor, the wrist strength required was beyond that of an ordinary person.

“There is a massive riot in Huawang City. The workers have support from the underground resistance and are assaulting various vital departments. The same thing is happening in other cities too,” the young man said anxiously.

“The sky isn’t falling, why are you panicking? This is normal; just wait a bit, and it will pass,” the old man set down the carving knife and said earnestly. “You should also know, the troops arriving are not the Kingdom’s forces, but a mercenary group hired by the Royal Family. They don't have the capacity to retake Dorun Star. They will leave soon, and Dorun Star will return to the Republic’s hands. No matter how much those workers riot now, it’s only temporary triumph. When the Republic’s reinforcements arrive, they will pay the price for their actions.”

“But when will the reinforcements arrive? Those rioting workers are already armed and are rushing toward this place!” the young man pressed.

“Hmph.” The old man fixed the young man with a gaze so murky that the youth felt as if doused in ice water, instantly shivering and daring not to speak.

“Insolent whelp,” the old man left the Galaxite slab and stepped before the young man, his voice stern. “I have taught you repeatedly not to judge things by their surface appearance. I also taught you that panic is useless under any circumstances; you must remain calm! Your parents died young, and the future of the conglomerate rests in your hands. But look at you now—what part of you resembles my heir? Now open your eyes and truly look. No matter how wildly those workers stir up trouble, it is nothing more than a trivial matter.”

The young man backed away repeatedly, his face flushed with shame, unable to retort.

The old man took a breath and continued, “Putting aside everything else, our military strength is tens of times greater than theirs! The security forces under the major magnates, combined with the eight million combat robots stored in our several warehouses, could crush this riot a hundred times over. The reason we old ones remain inactive isn't because we fear the ant-like resistance organization, but because we don't want that mercenary group to make a move too soon. Do you understand?”

“Is it because there are thirteen Peak Third-Level experts in that mercenary group?” the young man asked.

“Correct, but that’s not all. To completely occupy Hawke’s base in less than half a day, is that something just thirteen Peak Third-Levels can achieve?” The old man looked at him with disappointment. “Money lost can be earned back; factories lost can be rebuilt. As long as the Trand Mercenary Group hasn't made its move, the fire won't reach us. Even if they do move, we won't be afraid. The Trand Mercenaries and those lower-class people who only know destruction and recklessness belong to entirely different worlds. They can cause more destruction, but they possess restraint, whereas we hold a talisman capable of deterring them—a protective charm!”

“Oh.” The young man seemed to realize something, his worry turning to joy. “Yes, we have that Lord's protection. A mere Third-Level mercenary group would naturally be extremely hesitant to move against us.”

Seeing that the young man finally understood, the old man returned to the Galaxite slab and casually inquired, “Has everything that Lord required been prepared?”

The young man replied, “It has all been taken care of. Two hundred million tons of ore, containing over thirty types of rare minerals, are all crated and ready. We just need the Trand Mercenary Group to lift its encirclement before they can set sail for the Kusta Empire.”

“Good. Go see that Lord later. During your conversation, subtly mention the Trand Mercenary Group’s blockade of Dorun Star to gauge the Lord’s reaction, then report back to me. Also, if the Trand Mercenary Group intends only to grab a quick score and leave, that’s fine. But if they demand the evacuation of all factories, or even all cities, that’s a precursor to them using Weapons of Mass Destruction. Report that to me as well. Go on now, you can leave.” The old man waved the young man out.

“Yes, Grandfather.” The young man bowed respectfully, turned, and left the room.

The old man picked up the carving knife again, stood before the stone slab, took several deep breaths, and his gaze became focused once more. He began to carve, stroke after stroke.