LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 66: Caesar's new law
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With the completion of the conquest of the Ironmongers, I took the opportunity to request advanced medical and chemical equipment to be sent from my settlement. Despite ruling this province in the southern part of the Legion, I couldn't afford to abandon my responsibilities. I knew I had to seize the chance to delve deeper into the social structure of the super mutants and understand more about their hierarchy and leaders.
As I studied the Ironmongers, I discovered that most super mutants were barely intelligent, acting more on basic instincts. However, there was a distinguished group, known as the "Children of the Master." These were significantly smarter, even surpassing an average person in many ways. I wasn't entirely sure who this "Master" was, but it was clear that his influence had shaped these beings in a way that couldn't be ignored. What I did know for certain was who Attis was, one of the generals of this Master in a failed attempt to conquer the southern lands. Juggernaut, the leader of the Ironmongers, had been one of Attis' generals. Apparently, after Attis' death, the super mutants split into separate factions, each following different objectives.
The Ironmongers united under Juggernaut's brute strength and his desire to conquer Mexico to continue building increasingly larger and more powerful war machines. But they weren't the only group of super mutants. Shale, another of Attis' generals, was smaller than Juggernaut but far more intelligent. Shale sought to reunite the different super mutant groups and carry on Attis' vision: the conquest of Texas. Finally, there was another leader, a super mutant who had changed his view of the conflict. Instead of continuing the fight, he chose to coexist with humans, becoming the mayor of a town to the north—something the other super mutants despised.
I realized that super mutants only respected two things: strength or intelligence. Whoever possessed both automatically became their undisputed leader. It was a simple but highly effective system for maintaining control among such chaotic creatures, though usually the faction of strength won over intelligence.
As for the factory, as dictated by Caesar's laws, this new territory had to be auctioned and made available to the highest bidder. Although many offers were made to take control of the plant that had been modified for the production of combat vehicles, it was Todd who purchased it for his personal property, not for the Association. He later sold me half of the factory as a token of our alliance in the arms trade.
The Texas Arms Association solidified itself as a crucial ally in maintaining control in the south. While I focused on managing the Mexicans, Todd handled the Texans. The alcohol issue, though still lingering, had taken a back seat; the population was more concerned about returning to work. With robots now banned, the Texan factories were desperately in need of labor, ironically solving the unemployment crisis that had plagued the Association. However, this wasn't well-received by everyone.
The factory owners, accustomed to their massive profits thanks to automation, began to express dissatisfaction. Their revenues were shrinking as they had to hire and pay human workers instead of relying on robotic labor. This created tension, but it was clear that calming the masses of workers was far more important than catering to the complaints of a few greedy factory owners.
These owners, though powerful on paper, were easy to "silence." There was no need for grand displays of force. A merchant or industrialist could easily be neutralized with a veiled threat, a well-timed bribe, or, in extreme cases, a dagger to the throat. A man dead in the dark raised far fewer suspicions than the hunger of thousands of enraged people. The stability of the south and the Legion's control were paramount, and I wouldn't allow a few saboteurs to jeopardize that control.
In Mexico, the situation with alcohol was much more complicated than in Texas. Here, alcohol consumption was deeply rooted in the culture, and the first crucifixions were already taking place for defying Caesar's strict laws, which had become a serious problem. Much of my success in the conquests was due to my ability to strike deals and present myself as someone willing to negotiate, but the harshness of Caesar's laws regarding alcohol and drugs did not help my cause.
I found myself at a crossroads. I knew that Caesar's law was clear and absolute: no alcohol, no drugs. There were no obvious loopholes I could exploit to soften the implementation of these regulations. However, I knew that if I continued to enforce these laws so strictly, I risked losing control of the region and much of the trust I had gained with the locals. I needed a creative solution.
That's when I decided to turn to empirical knowledge and rhetoric—something that always fascinated Caesar. I started a debate with him, using ancient information about the natural fermentation of fruits, vinegars, condiments, and even bread. I proposed that if fruit juice could naturally ferment, then technically, any consumption of that liquid, use of vinegar, or even eating bread could be considered alcohol consumption under his zero-tolerance policy. This point of debate opened up a long and interesting conversation, as it would mean we'd have to crucify a large number of Legion subjects—if not almost all of them.
For hours, we exchanged arguments over the radio, exploring the nuances of the law. My goal was to lead Caesar to the conclusion that we needed to define a tolerance threshold for the alcohol content in beverages and food. It wasn't about legalizing alcohol per se, but rather about establishing a clear and reasonable limit that would allow the population to continue enjoying the taste of fruit or other items without violating the Legion's laws. I knew the debate intrigued him, and that played to my advantage.
Caesar finally allowed a 0.5% margin of alcohol content in beverages and food. Though it wasn't much, it was better than nothing. I knew the Legion wasn't going to spend thousands of aureus to inspect every corner of the territory, and with this, alcohol production could resume. At first, they would comply with the rule, keeping the drinks within the permitted limit. But over time, it was inevitable that some would start exceeding that 0.5%, claiming they were adhering to the rule, even though it was obvious the alcohol content exceeded what was allowed.
My plan wasn't perfect, but with a couple of strategic crucifixions, most violators would understand there were lines they couldn't cross. It would be enough to maintain order and, more importantly, the appearance of complying with Caesar's laws. We couldn't be entirely inflexible, and the key to maintaining control was allowing the locals a minimum of freedom while reminding them that, ultimately, they were under the dominion of the Legion.
The balance between flexibility and control was delicate but necessary. After all, we weren't as close-minded as some believed—or at least I wasn't.
The days passed, and Caesar's new laws finally reached the region. As I expected, the locals received the news with approval. I was almost certain that, although the drinks would be labeled as "0.5% alcohol," many would start enjoying drinks with much higher alcohol content. As long as they maintained the appearance of following the rule, I would turn a blind eye most of the time. Occasionally, I would crucify the most notorious drunks so that at least the fear of punishment would encourage some self-control.
With this measure, I managed to take a portion of the market away from the narcos. Until now, they had controlled both alcohol and drug sales in the region, but by allowing everyone to produce their own "0.5% alcohol," I was cutting off the monopoly they had on alcoholic beverages. Now they would focus almost exclusively on drug trafficking, a business that was still outside Caesar's laws.
However, it was a small victory. We had cut off one of their sources of power without having to fight directly.
The news was also well-received by Todd and his friends in the Texas Arms Association. Like the locals, they quickly found ways to circumvent the regulation. In fact, the sharpest minds in the Association were already planning how to keep the flow of "0.5% alcohol" while actually distributing products with a much higher alcohol content. It was a move that greatly interested me, as if anyone in the Association decided to misbehave or go against my interests, all I would have to do was find a bottle of their high-proof alcohol and use it as an excuse to take everything from them.
The same law they had found a way to exploit would become their greatest weakness. A small slip-up, a poorly hidden bottle, and I would have the perfect excuse to dismantle any of Todd's "friends" who became troublesome. Not only did I give them a false sense of security, but it allowed them to relax enough to make mistakes that would give me the upper hand in any future negotiations.
Meanwhile, Todd seemed more pleased than ever. With the ability to produce beverages within the legal margin, he and the Association ensured that the factories and markets kept moving, feeding both the population and their wallets. It was an alliance that, for now, worked in our favor.
With some free time after having partially solved the region's biggest issue, I began to foresee what would happen sooner or later: the Cult of Mars would start gaining more followers. With that growth would come fanatics who despised alcohol and any type of indulgence, which would make alcohol consumption a thing of the past. The presence of the cult would not only bring stability but also a new social structure that, if I played my cards right, would consolidate my power in the region, finally establishing lasting stability.
With that thought in mind, I wasted no time and sent the new blueprints for the tanks that the super mutants were to assemble. These vehicles, improved according to the specifications we had developed alongside Todd and the smarter super mutants, would be a key piece in our war machine. I knew these tanks could make a considerable difference in future conflicts.
Additionally, I established a brahmin ranch near the factory to keep the super mutants well-fed. I couldn't afford for them to be tempted by human flesh again, so I ensured a constant supply of brahmin for them. This way, I kept their loyalty and focus on their work in the factories, which now produced vehicles and machinery with remarkable efficiency.
Finally, with stability restored in Mexicanorum, I was able to dedicate myself to studying and analyzing many of the samples I had been collecting but never had time to examine. Among them was the vial containing the green virus I had obtained during the conquest of Attistown. With access to the advanced medical and chemical equipment I had requested from my settlement, I immersed myself in the research, hoping to unravel the secrets of this substance.
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