The Mech Touch novel Chapter 7616

Chapter 7616: The Question of Leadership

The question of whether the Larkinson Clan needed to take over a state or several states did not have to be answered right away.

In any case, the clan already spent many years doing fine without owning lots of territory. There was no need to hurry up all of a sudden.

When Gloriana heard that Ves actually took this kind of stuff into consideration, she expressed a predictably bold opinion.

"We have earned the right to hold territory. We have contributed so much to the development of red humanity that we deserve a greater stake in our society. Let the unworthy make way for our rule. If the Polymath is allowed to build her own empire, then I see no reason why we should be left out. We can do so much more if we have the manpower and resources of an entire state at our disposal."

Ves shook his head in disagreement. "You are too invested in the fantasy of crowning yourself as an empress. Don’t you see how many obligations we have to put up with if we take over a state? Our future will become tied to the fate of an immobile piece of territory. If anything comes and threatens the safety of our new subjects, then we are duty-bound to defend it to our deaths if need be. That goes against anything that I have worked for since I founded our clan."

His wife merely smirked in response. "Then do not assume direct responsibility. Have you forgotten the power of delegation? Instead of ruling the state directly, you can pass on the responsibility to a trusted subordinate or a daughter organization. For example, we can create a new branch called the Mildew-Larkinson Clan and have its leaders assume leadership over a state. All of the rights and responsibilities associated with defending and governing the new territories will solely go to the Mildew-Larkinsons."

"What about the main clan?"

"We get to access a portion of the benefits in exchange for providing high-value goods and services that the Mildew-Larkinsons cannot produce themselves. We will not be able to benefit as much if we ruled the state directly, but this alternative proposal successfully bypasses most of your objections."

Her idea actually had merit. He hadn’t thought to play the game this way.

Of course, he could recognize plenty of flaws in her plan. The connection between the Larkinson Clan and the so-called Mildew-Larkinson Clan might become tenuous or frayed over time.

The latter may eventually come to regard the former as oppressors rather than brothers and sisters of the same greater family.

Ves also doubted that the members of the Larkinson Clan would be willing to stand aside and watch the Mildew-Larkinsons get exterminated.

"Your idea is worth considering." He admitted. "I still have my doubts, though. This sounds like it could get very complicated very quickly. I do not have much stomach for complicated vassal relationships. A Larkinson should hold common respect with other Larkinsons. Creating an artificial hierarchy will ruin this basic sense of decency."

"That decency never existed in the first place, Ves. We have always maintained a hierarchy. You just sat at the top for so long that you never really grasped its existence. People listen to you much more than others. The Saint Commander has recently climbed up to your level as well, but for a long time, our clansmen valued your opinion more than Casella’s. This is the true reality of our clan. Do not deny that members of our main branches hold much more weight than the members of the side branches. The Larkinsons who remain planetside simply do not matter in your opinion."

She got him. Just as she said, he could not deny her accusation.

There were simply too many Larkinsons who only contributed to the clan in a marginal sense.

"To be fair, those landbound Larkinsons can always earn my respect if they transfer to the expeditionary fleet or the Premier Fleet." He pointed out. "I am not disregarding the contributions of clansmen who work at factories and other places, but those who fight the good fight are what earns us the greatest amount of rewards and prestige."

"Exactly. You are ranking our clansmen based on their supposed contributions to red humanity. I am not criticizing your approach. I just want to remind you that you should delude yourself into thinking that every Larkinson is equal."

He shrugged. "Whatever."

As husband and wife debated with each other, Marvaine toddled up to his father and climbed up to his lap.

"If you become a king, will I become a prince?"