326 "Thank You."

Thinking about it this way—

Li Aoz suddenly remembered that when he used Isaac's body to clean up Azure Planet, he had already used his [Bloodline] to be immune to the [White Knight's ] poisonous blood.

"This plan is indeed feasible."

Based on the known intelligence, the hidden problem is the small number of people: three speakers, thirteen members of parliament, seventy-two juries, and six hundred and sixty-six citizens.

And without exception, they all require the C3 Luca-type Cosmic Human Race.

According to the Fairy of the Lake, even on their Homeworld Haynes, where C3 Luca-type Cosmic Human Race are everywhere, it would be difficult to gather a council for the secret society—it's safe to say that the probability of transforming a Hidden Citizen is about one in a billion.

This is even worse than the lottery.

But the outside of the abyss is different from the inside; the Star Abyss has no shortage of people.

With Sixth Layer Star Abyss, even if one were to secretly search through each one, and with the worst of luck, one could still gather enough members for the council and rule the Star Abyss.

In other words...

If Li Aoz can solve this problem, he might be able to completely cut off the secret members' resupply, preventing Earthlings from ever invading Star Abyss again.

Li Aoz remained calm and considered the feasibility of the situation.

"If you want to study Sequence Aura... I'm not enough."

"I need [Biochemists], I need more Aura Scholar, I need [Dominion] theologians to study and deconstruct authority. In other words..."

Li Aoz narrowed his eyes. "I need the Life Commune."

Mr. Liu E and hundreds of thousands of scientists with lofty ideals formed the Life Commune in order to break the Narrative Hegemony. Their view is that if everyone can live forever, they will give up the pursuit of material civilization and turn to the lofty ideal world to strive together.

Although the Life Commune is too idealistic and does not align with the interests of the stars, no one can deny that their research on Aoneng and life is absolutely unparalleled.

"However, I don't need to break the Narrative Hegemony —what I want is a Life Commune that belongs to me and serves only me."

Li Aoz doesn't like having his profits and power shared.

The weak only need to stand obediently behind him, accepting to be controlled and protected by him; they don't need to think about anything else.

"In order to resist the crisis of human invasion, if I do not want to repeat the disastrous defeat of Lioz, I must build my own Life Commune."

Li Aoz opened the system's notepad function and, relying on his memory, quickly compiled a list. It contained the names, occupations, backgrounds, and alma maters of former members of the Life Commune.

"Astel Megan, Kubrick Domick, Nangong Xiyue, Beichen Changan, Lin Aimin, Kishida Ippon, Sutwell Verrazzi —wait, damn, there are actually traitors from capitalism in the commune! I didn't even notice back then!"

You wouldn't know unless you saw it listed. Looking at the list and combining it with the search engine, Li Aoz immediately gasped.

These idealists came from various civilizations: capitalists, Landlords, peasants, mercenaries, demigods, high priests, warlords, revolutionaries...

These people, in order to change the Narrative-level Civilization, are willing to give up their privileged treatment and betray their class to gather here, seeking no reward or profit, and fighting for the ideal of equality for all.

How pure it is.

Perhaps their goals are too unrealistic and impractical, but their spirit and actions are worthy of respect.

He's on his way to the Hunter's Gathering, so he can go and ask him.

"I need more scholars to join my tutelage."

Li Aoz turned off the laptop, composed himself, and looked at Nefes:

"It's alright, I've taken care of it."

"I don't really have anything to say," Nefes said calmly. "You've broken my shackles. My past self is completely dead. I no longer belong to the company."

"Next, you will be hunted down for killing a company member."

Li Aoz said:

What are your plans?

"... I don't know. I've never thought about such a question. Freedom is not something that belongs to me. I have no assets, and my hometown is nothing more than a breeding ground for selecting assassins. I have no one to rely on, and I have no relatives. It can be said that apart from this life, I really have nothing."

Nefes was silent for a moment, then said, "I have no ideas, but I just want to live. I want to... slowly find a reason for me to exist in this world."

"That's right—as long as you survive, even if you're unlucky, good things will happen."

As Li Aoz spoke, a business card popped up. "Here."

"This is--"

Nefes took the business card and read it aloud:

"President of the White Candle Autonomous State, Lioz Dominate. Contact information..."

"If you can't find meaning in life, why not try working for me?"

Li Aoz shrugged:

"I am different from capitalists. I will not use people as resources. As long as you are not part of society, I will treat everyone equally, regardless of your background or race."

"Work...?"

Nefes pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked:

Will I receive a salary?

Li Aoz replied, "The basic insurance and four funds of White Candle Star are based on the position and workload, with more work resulting in more pay. There is arranged dormitory, uniform and year-end bonus, weekends off and statutory holidays, no time off in lieu, and overtime pay is four times the normal rate. I am Industrialists and president, I will not delay wages like a financial Landlords."

"... I probably don't have any options."

Nefes shook his head slightly:

"How can I tell you... you make me feel very different."

"What's wrong?" Li Aoz, looking at the other person.

"At the company, everyone bosses me around and treats me like dirt. In their eyes, I am a commodity; if I don't meet the standards, I will be thrown into the pool and destroyed."

Nefes clutched his chest, his expression stiff, seemingly at a loss for what to do. "But... you gave me freedom, and you gave me the power to choose."

She looked at Li Aoz, trying her best to express her feelings. "I... I feel very strange. Do all normal living beings feel this way? What should I do? My emotions are perfectly calm, but I feel very uncomfortable..."

Nefes poked her heart in her hand; her tone was harsh, but the words she spoke were tender:

"My heart feels empty, there should be something in my eyes, I should say something, I should act differently."

She opened her mouth, lowered her head, and whispered, "But I can't do it."

"I don't know how to express it to you. This body has been chemically damaged and biologically modified. I can't express... my emotions."

"Lord Lioz, please tell me, how would a normal person behave in this situation?"

Nefes looked at Li Aoz and, for the first time, uttered the word 'please' to someone other than a capitalist.

"... No performance is required."

Li Aoz raised the corner of his mouth and smiled:

"Everyone has their own unique characteristics, and so do you. If you can't express your feelings, there's no need to force yourself—it's quite amusing how awkward and speechless you are."

"...interesting?"

"It's quite adorable, like a little kid who's limited by their education level and can't accurately express their feelings."

"Unable to express emotions..."

Nefes lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Then tell me, in this kind of situation, how would you react?"

"I?"

Li Aoz put himself in her shoes and thought about it:

"I am the person who cannot tolerate confinement the most. If I am taken away from being detained for even a day or two, or if something goes wrong, my mental state will be affected..."

As a broadcaster, Li Aoz has a very strong desire to perform, and he hates the feeling of being ignored.

If his freedom were taken away, Li Aoz felt that it wouldn't be long before he really would die.

So he said with great emotion, "If I were enslaved for decades and someone rescued me from that dark and hopeless fate of enslavement—damn, no matter what that person is, I'd hug and kiss them!"

Smack

"Learn."

Nefes stepped forward, opened his strong arms, and hugged Li Aoz tightly.

"Then, with my most fervent enthusiasm, I'll properly thank... uh, Nefes?"

Before Li Aoz could react, he was tightly restrained by strong arms. He tugged at the corner of his mouth:

"Hello--"

"Thank you, Lioz."

Then, she opened her mouth, slightly revealing her sharp crocodile teeth, and pressed her pale pink lips to Li Aoz's ear.

Chirp—