253: Chapter 254 Galactic Overlord? No, I'm the Galactic Village Chief

The interstellar frontier was originally the hunting ground of the Sweeper Civilization.

Now, it has become an open-air wholesale market for Chenxing Technology.

Spaceships of all shapes and sizes moved in and out of this star sector, bustling like a busy marketplace.

Jiang Chen sat in the command chair of the luan niao starship, holding a freshly straightened piece of wire, repairing a sensor that was flickering due to a recent overload.

He had no airs of an overlord; his white T-shirt was even stained with some unknown lubricant.

"Boss, this is already the third batch."

Zhao Gang stood nearby, holding a thick stack of "Planetary Sovereignty Confirmation Forms." "These were sent over by those civilizations; they are all mineral operation permits for these remote star systems."

"They say as long as we are willing to open up the 'Good Luck' loop playback rights and supply five million boxes of spicy strips annually, they are willing to concede thirty percent of their planet's tax rights to us."

Jiang Chen curled his lip and tossed the wire in his hand aside.

"Taxes?"

He looked at the group of obsequious alien spaceships outside the window, queuing up to pick up goods, and couldn't help but laugh. "These guys really haven't seen the world, treating that tiny bit of tax revenue like a treasure."

"This isn't tax revenue; this is them bringing us trouble."

"What we want is spot goods, hard currency that can be loaded into our spaceships immediately!"

"Tell them, forget the taxes. But all mineral extraction must use our technology. Furthermore, all extracted raw ore must be sold to us entirely at Chenxing Technology's internal price."

Zhao Gang nodded and turned to relay the order.

This scheme was planned even higher than Mount Everest.

On the surface, the taxes were canceled, giving these alien civilizations so-called "independence."

In reality? Once they used Dragon Country's extraction technology, and once their logistics were choked by Chenxing Technology's Space Elevator, the lifeblood of these civilizations would be completely in Jiang Chen's hands.

This was what was known as "harvesting leeks."

And they were harvested willingly, practically handing over the roots for you to cut.

At this moment, the command room screen lit up again.

Several high-level officials from alien civilizations were offering their most humble respects to Jiang Chen via holographic projection.

"Respected Excellency Jiang Chen."

A civilization leader with four heads and a completely green body spoke, his tone sycophantic to the extreme:

"We are extremely honored to become a member of the Galactic Federation. We are willing to fully cooperate with your resource integration efforts. This is the supreme access right for our star system; it is now completely under your control."

Watching these powerful figures who usually occupied a corner of the star map, now scrambling to offer their pledges of allegiance just to "operate legally" in Jiang Chen's territory.

Jiang Chen suddenly felt that the title of "Overlord of the Milky Way Galaxy" was a bit hollow.

"Overlord?"

Jiang Chen chuckled at the screen and shook his head.

He crossed his legs and played with his fingers nonchalantly. "Don't go slapping labels on me. How am I any kind of overlord?"

"Look at my spaceship; it's for scientific research. Look at this dock; it's for logistics."

"At best, I'm just a Village Chief of the Milky Way Galaxy."

"It's just that the roads in this village happen to be built by me; the water and electricity in this village happen to be sold by me."

He looked at the group of alien civilization high-ups who were listening in confusion, a hint of craftiness flashing in his eyes:

"Since everyone lives in the same village, the rules naturally have to be set by me."

"Who I want to sell goods, only they can sell."

"Who I want to get rich, they can get rich."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood! Understood!"

The several four-headed aliens nodded frantically, fearing that being one second late would get them kicked out of the "village."

In the livestream, those Dragon Country netizens who were still watching this scene burst into laughter.

[Village Chief? This title for God Jiang is so fitting!]

[So the entire Milky Way Galaxy is God Jiang's private plot, and we Earthlings are all villagers?]

[Doesn't that make me a chosen villager? Am I proud yet?]

[Isn't this the legendary — Calling for Love (selling goods) at the center of the universe?]

[Don't talk upstairs, hurry to the official website to queue for spicy strips, otherwise you won't even have soup to drink if you're late!]

Academician Chen Shuyin pushed up her glasses, watching Jiang Chen's arrogant demeanor of "treating interstellar diplomacy like a village committee meeting," and a complex emotion unexpectedly arose in her heart.

She found that she was increasingly unable to see through this man.

He seemed to have no interest whatsoever in so-called power, status, or even that so-called "rule."

His only pleasure was turning those high-and-mighty things into tools for making money.

Whether it was the mother ship of The Sweepers or the integrity of these alien dignitaries, as long as it fell into his hands, it could all be converted into spicy strips and energy.

"This man is truly a businessman through and through." Academician Chen Shuyin sighed softly.

But immediately, she thought of that day on the Far Side of the Moon, when Jiang Chen faced a terrifying threat, the back of him stepping forward.

He was not just a businessman.

He was also this civilization's only guardian deity.

"Mr. Jiang." Zhao Gang walked back, holding an urgent message. "Tianhai City sent a notice saying those few unlucky agents have already been dealt with."

"Also, Commander Qin wants to ask you..."

"After this expedition, will our fleet... return to Earth?"

"Return?"

Jiang Chen looked at the vast star map, then took a glance at Pikachu, who was trying to gnaw on the power reactor.

His gaze seemed to traverse light-years, landing on a more distant star sector.

"Return to what?"

Jiang Chen stood up, straightened his collar, his tone filled with unquestionable decisiveness: "Get them to rush out our 'luan niao 2' that hasn't been finished yet."

"Since I've already become this 'Village Chief' of the Milky Way Galaxy."

"Then we must have the awareness to patrol our territory."

"Pass the order down."

"Target, Andromeda Galaxy."

"By the way, help me ask Jiang Wanqiu if the spicy strips on her side are enough to pay wages."

"If not, just drag another ship over."

"These aliens are still waiting for me to give them the next wave of 'Good Luck'."

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he strode toward the bridge.

Behind him, an entire "Yiwu Logistics Brigade" composed of various civilization warships was, like a steel dragon, slowly sailing toward the unknown abyss.

In this dark forest, because of the appearance of this "Earth Village Chief," it became livelier than ever before.

Even... more dangerous than ever before.