In Donatan's mind, the company never exploited any planet's resources. The company granted people the right to survive, and in return, these planets offered everything to the Amber Lord. And the company couldn't afford to sustain freeloaders—those who wanted to keep living had to work for their resources.
Since the planet had been offered to the Amber Lord, its people could only work for the company to obtain resources for survival.
Joining the company was the only way to stay alive, and only by surviving could they offer more resources to the great Amber Lord.
In Donatan's eyes, since this planet had building materials worthy of being offered to the Amber Lord, it was imperative to take full control of it with absolute strength. The people of this planet had to be made to continuously produce construction materials that the Amber Lord might need at any given moment.
Donatan: "To work for the great Amber Lord—this is your fortune!"
As a fervent believer, Donatan had already formulated a plan to take over this planet on his way here.
His plan consisted of three phases.
The first was to use the planet's debt as leverage.
While pressuring its rulers, he would also order his subordinates to spread the word about Belobog's massive outstanding debt. At the same time, following company protocol, they would conduct an asset valuation. In his estimation, Belobog's current debt was an astronomical sum that the city could never hope to repay in its lifetime.
Once this was confirmed, they could use it to pressure the city's leadership into signing an agreement, securing control over the planet and all of its construction materials capable of reinforcing buildings.
During this process, he planned to let his subordinates act freely. Once the people of this planet grew dissatisfied with the company's employees, he would step in as the mediator, promoting the faith of the Amber Lord. By promising some benefits, he could easily take over the planet—standard carrot-and-stick tactics.
If the first plan failed, then he would resort to dismantling Belobog's economic system, forcing the company to take over the planet's economy.
Compared to the first plan, this one would require sacrificing a small amount of resources and credits, but as long as the mission was completed, this cost was acceptable.
If even the second plan failed, he had one last resort—the company would dispatch battleships to impose military pressure. For a civilization that had never left its home planet, the company's battleships were an overwhelming force beyond their comprehension.
He had also considered the Trailblazers. His investigation showed that the Astral Express was currently stationed at the Xianzhou Luofu, and its next destination was Penacony, leaving it no time to bother with this place.
Besides, what was so special about a frozen planet ? The Trailblazers surely wouldn't pay attention to it. As long as he secured the planet before they took notice, those wandering nobodies would have no chance to interfere in the company's plans.
After reviewing his strategy once more, Donatan adjusted his glasses and smiled confidently.
"Belobog, here I come."
He then led his team toward the city.
Just like Topaz before him, he encountered Gepard leading a patrol. Although Donatan had come with a clear purpose, he naturally ran into Gepard due to the patrol routes.
As with Topaz's arrival the previous day, Donatan explained the situation. However, Gepard looked surprised. "Hm? A company employee?"
Gepard was unaware of Pei Guang and Bronya's plans. He simply found it odd that another wave of company employees had arrived so soon after the last.
Turning to Donatan, he said, "Sir, please allow me to report to the Supreme Guardian first!"
The moment Gepard finished speaking, one of Donatan's subordinates interjected, "Do you even know who he is? He's—!!"
This employee spoke arrogantly, about to introduce Donatan's identity, but Donatan immediately rebuked him. "What are you doing? This gentleman is unaware of the urgency of our work. Why are you yelling at him? Have you forgotten what I told you earlier?"
The employee lowered his head. "I remember… Director, you said we are forbidden from provoking conflicts with local residents. I just thought—"
Donatan: "And what happens when someone violates that rule?"
The employee lowered his head even further. "A month's salary deduction… plus a percentage off the year-end bonus."
Donatan said nothing, while the employee retreated with a somewhat dejected posture. Meanwhile, the other employees whispered among themselves.
"Is this guy an idiot? The Director has repeatedly ordered us not to disrupt local life, and yet he still talked back?"
Another employee responded in a voice just loud enough to be overheard, "Eh, he's a newbie. Trying to make an impression without understanding the Director's ways."
Neither Donatan nor his subordinates were acting spontaneously—this was a routine tactic Donatan frequently employed. A 'naïve' and 'hot-blooded' newcomer would stir up a dispute, only for Donatan to step in and quell the conflict.
A simple maneuver, yet it ensured that the first impression others had of him was overwhelmingly positive.
However, watching their performance and listening to their words, Gepard couldn't shake an uncomfortable feeling.
Just yesterday, he had interacted with Topaz and her team. They had said nothing unnecessary, conducted themselves with discipline, and had even voluntarily surrendered their weapons before entering the city.
According to Gepard's investigation, Topaz's employees had done nothing after entering Belobog. They simply stayed at the temporary residence Bronya had arranged for them—though they had paid for it themselves.
Furthermore, Gepard had secretly instructed his subordinates to probe them. Their response was straightforward: "Director's orders—violating the code of conduct will be met with strict punishment. No one would dare defy the Director's instructions."
From this, it was clear that as long as the higher-ups forbade something, even the newcomers wouldn't act recklessly.
More importantly, as the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard had employed similar tactics himself before. When he combined all these observations, an undeniable sense of unease settled within him.