266: Illusion

Minutes later, Li Aoz, who was planning the expedition route in the presidential office, received a case from the Trivella University.

"Students are staging a hunger strike to protest the Crystal Tower Civilization's withdrawal of teaching resources?"

In front of his subordinates, Li Aoz blurted out:

"Then let them go find the Crystal Tower Civilization... What's the point of my hunger strike? It's not like I'm the one who withdrew the teachers."

Li Aoz said irritably, "Even if you want to protest, at least go to the Crystal Tower Civilization's embassy and launch this kind of activity in the school—what? Do you want to rebel? Or do you not recognize me as the new president?"

The country had only recently gained independence, and he didn't want to break ties with the Crystal Tower. These students were really causing trouble, showing no consideration for him at all, and disrupting his plans.

Just as Li Aoz was about to send a few police officers to disperse them and force them to go to the hospital for examination and treatment, he suddenly changed his mind and stopped this rash action.

No, we can't do it that way.

While this may solve the problem immediately, it is not good for revitalizing the education sector and will severely undermine students' confidence.

If things go wrong, the happiness level will drop again.

Li Aoz crossed his legs and fell into deep thought.

He had promised to give the White Candle People hope and protection, and as a man of his word, Li Aoz did not want to break his principles.

Moreover, the students were the victims in this matter.

Imagine this: a country boy, told from a young age that "studying can change your destiny," then burning the midnight oil, studying relentlessly, fighting his way through the fierce competition of the college entrance exam, and finally arriving at a top university. He stays up all night working on design plans, actively cultivating relationships with his advisor to secure a place in graduate school, and then passes every exam without failing a single course. Graduation is just around the corner, and workshops and large companies are waiting for him.

Then, with a 'thud'—the school was gone, and your way of changing your fate through exams and practice questions came to a complete end.

Thinking about it this way, it's not just about feeling sorry for them; it's practically leaving them no way out! Li Aoz's difficulties are twofold:

They couldn't damage the Crystal Tower's diplomatic relations, nor did they want to hurt the students' feelings.

This is a bit of a dilemma.

"The students' demands, tracing back to the essence of the problem, are still due to the Crystal Tower's reckless withdrawal of all scholar resources. If that's the case, then the traditional magic education industry can no longer be carried out, and the academic clique system that integrates academies and workshops can no longer be sustained."

Li Aoz hesitated for a moment, then picked up his pen and wrote a few fluorescent characters in the air: Monastery

Stormtroopers

Military Research Institute

"I can offer these three options to alleviate their employment pressure."

As for whether the students can accept that they'll be studying and then suddenly have to go to space to fight... well, there's nothing we can do about it. Let's just seize the opportunity to get into the factory.

The country's GDP can't even cover wages right now. If this drags on for another two years, Li Aoz be broke.

Li Aoz didn't want to borrow money from the Crystal Tower or Red King's people; he had to make a name for himself with his own hands.

Acting on his idea, Li Aoz quickly drafted an employment plan for students and released the news to the media to actively report on it.

"President Lioz took the White Candle Comprehensive University protests seriously and immediately convened a meeting to request the formation of a task force to handle the matter."

President Lioz emphasized that schools educate students to cultivate talents who can serve the country and the people, and that talents can only give full play to their abilities in actual work.

At 11:29 AM, Faithkeep City issued a document announcing the recruitment of 5-year contract soldiers, with priority given to current students with higher education experience...

With the cooperation of various media outlets, including news broadcasts, short videos, and films, the students at White Candle Comprehensive University finally began to get restless.

Some students approached the Student Union council, which was leading the movement, and spoke to Orwell Sigod, the leader of the movement:

"Westward, look, the government document from today states that we will be given priority for military positions."

Orwell Sigod, a master's student in Magic Application but also minoring in law, downloaded the document from the internet, frowned as he read it, and said in a deep voice, "No, that's not enough. They just want to trick us into going to the battlefield. Have you forgotten the Galaxy Eye's Flesh Mill? Even the Golden Dragon Monk is currently out of contact."

"That must be a battle between the Night Butterflies and the Crystal Tower!"

Some people questioned:

"But aren't we all independent now? Why should we join their fight?"

"Nonsense! Do you want to join the White Candle Autonomous State in this Abyss Civilization Depression?"

Visigoth said angrily, "Everyone here, let's be frank with each other. Who goes to university without wanting to go abroad? Who doesn't want to stay in the developed and wealthy Crystal Tower Civilization? Then why do we have to study so hard?"

"But now the government is much more willing to listen to our opinions, and we need jobs—"

"We don't need jobs, we want foreign Green Card! We want permanent residency and student status in Crystal Tower! White Candle Autonomous State, whoever wants to stay can stay, I don't want to waste my life in this cocoon of White Candle Star!"

Visigoth stated forcefully:

"We paid money and studied hard for ten years to get into this school. It's the government's fault! It's because the new president bought this planet that the teachers at Crystal Tower were greatly disappointed and decided to leave. If it weren't for the new president, we would all be foreigners!"

"... Is it an honor to be a foreigner?"

"If foreigners can't swagger around on foreign soil, it means their homeland must be a useless coward!"

Sigod raised his chin and argued vehemently. "The reverse is also true! Autonomous states should obediently be welfare machines that honestly spit out money. That new president insisted on talking about independence and self-reliance, and about developing industry. Look—the people from the Crystal Tower are gone. Without the educational resources of the Crystal Tower, this planet is meaningless!"

"But... this is our home after all." Some students' resolve had already wavered. "President Lioz announced plans to revitalize schools, and we students might be assigned to teacher training programs and then go to big cities like Water Moon Fort, Gudunsi, or even the capital to teach. And that's a permanent position..."

"It's precisely because of your mindset that you deserve the suffering you've endured!" Sigold said irritably. "People should seek out more comfortable places to live. Even joining the army and serving as a dog for Interstellar Civilization is better than being an officer for the White Candle Autonomous State!"

"Then tell me, Visigoth, what other options do you have?"

"Continue to protest and put pressure on the government to send us to the Crystal Tower Civilization to complete our academic registration."

Visigoth said confidently:

"We are all talents nurtured by the Crystal Tower, and we must not stop here."

"Let's all hang in there a little longer. If we give in now, all the suffering we've endured will have been for nothing."

Sigander's words calmed the students who had been agitated, but when he looked at them, their eyes were no longer firm.

"Just hang in there! As long as you persevere, you'll definitely win... Even if you have to join the army, reaching the Crystal Tower will be a success!"

The whispers in the West Goths were carefully listened to by the police's wiretapping equipment, and were even diverted to the president's office.

"These people..."

Li Aoz speechless.

He was well aware of what these people were thinking. Although he had worked with the media to create momentum and sway many people's emotions, he could not change the allure of the Crystal Tower for them.

So what should we do?

They were all young college students, Li Aoz really didn't want to be violent towards them.

"It seems we still need to make them face the facts."

Li Aoz rubbed his head, stood up, and prepared to use his status as a senior to try and persuade him.

He didn't mind condescending to do so as president, after all, he had promised to revitalize White Candle Star, Li Aoz couldn't go back on his word.

However, halfway there, the Crystal Tower sent him a message.

Upon closer inspection, Li Aoz discovered that the Crystal Tower had approached him to discuss military cooperation. They hoped that Li Aoz could take on the task of patrolling the star system and preventing the Night Butterflies from getting close. In return, the Crystal Tower was willing to provide some ports for docking and free supplies.

This news suddenly gave Li Aoz an idea.

"Don't these guys want to go to the Crystal Tower even if it means serving in the military...?"

Li Aoz stroked the chin of the cyborg's head. "Then, let's just take them to the Galaxy Eye and see what war is really like."

Hearing that the recent battles were fierce and even the Golden Dragon Monk had gone missing, Li Aoz also quite curious.