Hello, Governor!

Storm Port's Governor's Mansion had an aerial restaurant on the 888th floor, floating above the clouds. Beyond its floor-to-ceiling windows stretched brilliant interstellar lanes, where starships streaked past like flowing light.

The crystal chandeliers inside cast a warm golden glow. Dark-patterned tablecloths edged in silver covered the long table, and beside the exquisite alien tableware stood exotic flowers that gave off a faint luminescence. Even the air was fragrant with a blend of top-tier nutrient liquid and rare ingredients.

Tang Ping stood by the table himself, watching Liu Hui and his family of three take their seats with stiff formality.

Since first venturing into the stars, he had never felt such pure trust. Liu Hui had brought his wife and child across tens of thousands of light-years to join him, without a moment's hesitation. The weight of that trust warmed Tang Ping's heart.

So this is the "bond" those Human Race powerhouses talk about?

He suddenly understood. Those mighty warriors who would lay down their lives for their people weren't fearless by nature. They simply had too many people behind them they wanted to protect.

"Come on, we're all family here. Make yourselves at home!" Tang Ping waved away the maid robots standing by, then picked up the serving chopsticks himself and put a slice of alien beast steak, gleaming with an amber sheen, on Liu Hui's wife's plate. He also poured their six-year-old daughter a glass of pinkish-purple Nebula Juice.

"This steak was brought in from Bull Star just yesterday. It was slow-roasted at a low temperature to preserve its freshness. Give it a try."

Throughout the meal, he kept Liu Hui's glass filled as he listened to him talk about his two and a half years wandering the stars: the terrifying moment the Star Pirates captured him, the thrill of stumbling onto a primitive planet and facing off against giant Zerg, and the strange and wonderful people he'd met at interstellar transfer stations.

Clearly, he'd been through a lot—and experienced it all firsthand. Liu Hui's stories swung between thrilling and hilarious, and even Tang Ping was enthralled.

Fascinating.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, soft footsteps sounded at the restaurant entrance.

Luo Xiaoyu wore a moon-white cultivation outfit, her long hair pinned up with a jade hairpin. Her cool demeanor immediately quieted the lively atmosphere.

She walked over to Liu Hui with a glass of wine. Her voice was calm, but sincere. "Brother Hui, Sister-in-law Hui, it's nice to meet you. I'm Tang Ping's wife, Luo Xiaoyu. You must be tired after traveling so far. This toast is for you."

Liu Hui and his wife froze, unsure what to do with their hands.

The Luo Family's authority and domineering reputation had spread throughout Earth's sphere long ago. They'd never even had the right to catch a distant glimpse of one of them before. Now a direct descendant of the Luo Family was personally toasting them.

Liu Hui's wife's fingertips turned white with tension. Only after Luo Xiaoyu finished her wine and turned to leave did she quietly let out a breath. "I was so afraid I'd say the wrong thing and cause trouble for Governor Tang," she whispered to Liu Hui.

Seeing how tense they were, Tang Ping smiled and tried to put them at ease. "Xiao Yu's just a bit reserved. Don't mind her. Here, try some of this Stardust Cake. Kids usually like it."

Liu Hui watched his daughter, with her mother's help, make a mess of the cake. Silver frosting clung to her chubby cheeks, and her eyes crinkled into crescents. A long-missed sense of security suddenly welled up inside him.

He set down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and stood with his glass raised. "Brother Ping, I'll skip the formalities. I'll say it all with this drink. I want to work for you. Wherever you point, I'll go. Even if I have to cross Blade Mountain or plunge into a sea of fire, I won't hesitate."

"I only ask that if anything happens to me, you'll look after my wife and child. In my next life, I'll work like an ox or a horse to repay you!"

He tipped his head back and drained his glass. The fiery liquor made him cough again and again, his face turning bright red.

Tang Ping suddenly sighed and emptied his own glass too, his brow creasing slightly. "Brother Hui, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

Liu Hui froze, then gave a bitter smile. "I've made it through every kind of hardship these past few years. Give me the bad news first. Save the good news for last."

"Xiao Yu's talent caught the attention of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, and she was selected for the Ganwu Secret Realm. Only the most exceptional geniuses get to go there. I'll be accompanying her in a few days. I've already submitted my resignation to the family, so in theory, Storm Port will soon be out of our hands." Tang Ping's voice was soft, but his words struck Liu Hui like a boulder.

Liu Hui's face turned deathly pale. He instinctively looked at his wife, whose eyes were full of uncertainty and disappointment.

The hope that had just started to rise in them had been doused in an instant. The plunge from cloud nine felt even worse than being captured by the Star Pirates back then.

"Then... what's the good news?" He swallowed, his voice trembling.

Tang Ping suddenly smiled, a sly glint in his eyes. "The family rejected our resignations and put me and Xiao Yu in charge of the two hundred star systems nearby—about two hundred light-years across.

"There are three habitable planets in the area, and we're allowed to appoint someone else to manage them. So, Governor Liu, welcome aboard! You'll be the uncrowned king of these two hundred star systems, second only to us and above a hundred billion people. Your annual salary will be one million Black Dragon Coins!"

"Huh?" Liu Hui's eyes widened. His glass clattered onto the table, spilling wine everywhere.

His fortunes had turned so quickly he could hardly keep up.

And had he just been played? Still, what a great trick! What a perfect trick!

But...

He sat there stunned for a good half minute, overwhelmed by all the things racing through his mind. Then his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably, and tears welled up without warning. "Brother Ping, I've... I've never even been a team leader in my life. How could I manage two hundred star systems? What if I mess things up and drag you down with me? You should find someone else."

"Don't be silly, brother. Who manages everything personally these days?" Tang Ping clapped him on the shoulder, his tone casual. "Xiao Yu and I have been at Storm Port for over a decade, and we've barely handled any of the day-to-day affairs. Artificial intelligence takes care of everything.

"Your job is just to report to the family if anything unexpected happens, like a Star Pirate attack or a cosmic disaster. And I'm leaving the security force with you: one Universe Level powerhouse, ten Star Rank guards, and hundreds of Planetary Rank guards. They'll keep you safe.

"All you need to do is take good care of your family and enjoy life."

Liu Hui couldn't hold back any longer. He got up, went around the table, and threw his arms around Tang Ping, his voice choked with emotion. "Brother Ping, knowing you has been the greatest blessing of my life. If you ever need anything, I'll give my life for you!"

The family dinner lasted until late into the night. Seeing how exhausted Liu Hui's family looked, Tang Ping called over a servant. "Take them to the presidential suite we've already prepared. And from now on, the Governor's Mansion is theirs. Have the empty rooms tidied up."

After Liu Hui's family left, Tang Ping tapped his Communicator. "Tear down everything on the 888th floor where Xiao Yu and I used to live. Send the materials to the incinerator to be converted into basic energy.

"Also, give bonuses to all the Governor's Mansion staff and guards, equal to two years' wages, and let them know about the new acting governor."

When he was done, he leaned back on the sofa and gazed at the stars outside the window, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Life was easy when you had nothing to do.

This was the life of a hands-off boss. Pure bliss.