178: The birth of a market star

Inside the Sky Palace City Central Conference Hall, Alfred Winston, the representative from old Europa, stood at the podium, his forehead beaded with fine sweat.

Before him sat representatives from the Black Continent Alliance, the Emirate, and other factions, each face etched with exhaustion and unease.

"Colleagues," Winston's voice carried a deliberately suppressed tremor, "according to the latest statistics, our supplies will only last for three days.

The failure rate of the tap water system has reached 40%, and food reserves are at rock bottom."

The conference hall was silent.

The Spacefaring People representatives, who had been full of vigor three months ago, now looked crestfallen, like frosted eggplants.

They had originally thought that with the advantage of occupying almost 100% of Sky Palace City's population, they could demand greater autonomy or benefits from the Eastern Federation and Interstellar Peace Corporation.

However, events unfolded completely differently from what they had anticipated.

The Eastern Federation directly ignored their requests, while the Interstellar Peace Corporation, citing annual maintenance, restricted the supplementary supplies delivered to Sky Palace City to an extreme level.

Unless everyone in Sky Palace City lived extremely frugally, they would inevitably face a survival crisis.

But clearly, these people had no such intention.

So, today they gathered here, preparing to find a decent excuse for surrender.

"We must make a choice," Winston continued with difficulty, "whether to continue this unwinnable struggle, or to seek a more sensible way out."

Jean Renoir, the representative from old New Union, suddenly stood up: "Mr. Winston, are you suggesting we surrender to the Interstellar Peace Corporation?"

"Not surrender," a representative from the Emirate calmly interjected, "but strategic cooperation.

We control the only passage from Blue Star to space; this is our bargaining chip."

"I heard from a rumor that the Interstellar Peace Corporation is pushing the 'Market Star Plan'.

They need a stable space outpost to manage the inflow and outflow of ground materials."

He looked around at everyone, "We can be this manager."

Ramil Petrov, the representative from old North Steel, sneered: "So, we're going to be the company's watchdogs?"

"Or, to put it another way," Winston's eyes suddenly lit up, "we can become the privileged class."

He lowered his voice, "Think about it, as for Blue Star now, the ground people are forever locked within the atmosphere.

And we will become the objects of their admiration."

The conference hall immediately erupted in discussion.

Representatives whispered to each other, their eyes glinting with complex emotions.

Sanchez added, "The Interstellar Peace Corporation needs someone to help them manage this 'prison'.

We can be the jailers and enjoy privileges."

Renoir frowned: "But at what cost?"

"Cost?" Winston chuckled, "We've already paid the price.

Three months of material shortages have made us lose too much.

Now, it's time to turn the tide."

He pulled out a secret report: "I have a friend who has a good relationship with a company employee.

When they were drinking together last week, he revealed that the company has already extracted all available rare earth resources for interstellar travel on Blue Star.

This news is already an unofficial secret among the high-ranking officials of various forces."

"In other words, the ground people will never be able to build spaceships on their own and leave this planet."

Petrov's eyes narrowed: "So, they'll always need our charity?"

"Exactly."

Winston's voice was seductive, "We will become the only bridge between them and space.

Think about what this means, we can set the rules, we can collect 'tolls', we can..."

"Like medieval nobles, looking down on the commoners from our castles."

Sanchez finished his sentence, a cold smile playing on his lips.

The vote was quickly held.

Ultimately, it passed with an overwhelming majority.

Winston, with trembling fingers, dialed the Interstellar Peace Corporation's communication channel.

A holographic projection lit up, and the image of a company employee appeared in the center of the conference hall.

She wore the black uniform of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, and the words 'Traditional Projects Department, P14 Class' on her chest badge shimmered under the lights.

"Representative Winston," the employee's voice was cool and chilling, "I hear you have a proposal?"

Winston forced himself to straighten his back: "Ms. Li Xin, we... the Spacefaring People Alliance is willing to reach a strategic cooperation with the company.

We can help the company manage Sky Palace City, becoming the, uh, managers between Blue Star and space."

Li Xin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? Do tell."

"We only ask to retain some autonomy," Winston's voice grew softer, "and appropriate privileged status."

Li Xin suddenly laughed.

That smile sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"Representative Winston, you seem to have misunderstood one thing."

Her voice remained calm, but each word landed like a heavy hammer, "The company only needs loyal agents."

"As for strategic cooperation, you are not qualified enough."

The temperature in the conference hall seemed to drop to freezing point instantly.

The representatives exchanged glances, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

"But as a reward," Li Xin continued, "outstanding agents can receive special treatment."

"For example, priority access to the latest technological products; opportunities for their descendants to enter company-affiliated schools; and management rights over certain areas of Blue Star."

A glint of greed flashed in Winston's eyes.

He looked at the other representatives and saw that Sanchez and Renoir's expressions had also subtly changed.

They were too familiar with this operation.

Compradors, they had quite a few on the South Asian subcontinent.

"We understand."

Winston's shoulders relaxed slightly, "We are willing to become the company's loyal agents."

Li Xin nodded, and an electronic contract appeared on the holographic screen.

The clauses were dense, but the core content was clear: The Spacefaring People Alliance would be reorganized into the Sky Palace City Management Committee, directly under the Interstellar Peace Corporation; Committee members would enjoy special treatment, including priority material allocation, children's education, etc.; they would be responsible for supervising the entry and exit of ground personnel to Sky Palace City and collecting management fees; any violations would result in the cancellation of privileges;...

"Sign," Li Xin's voice was unequivocal, "or continue the current state.

The choice is simple."

Winston tremblingly picked up the electronic pen.

He knew that once he signed this name, they would completely become vassals of the company.

But the temptation of the privileged class, the sense of superiority over the ground people, all lured him to make a choice.

The moment the pen tip touched the screen, a drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"What? Is there a problem?"

"No! I... I'll sign."

One by one, the representatives stepped forward and left their biometric signatures on the contract.

When the last person finished signing, the lights in the conference hall suddenly brightened a bit, and the hum of the ventilation system became steady and powerful.

"A wise choice."

Li Xin clapped her hands lightly, "The first batch of supplies will arrive in three hours, and company specialists will explain the specific privilege details to everyone."

With that, the image disappeared.

Leaving behind a room full of representatives with complex expressions, and a contract that completely changed their identities.

On Pierpoint, in Mars orbit, Chen Hao stood before the panoramic window.

Bronya leaned on his shoulder, her small face full of confusion: "Master, why were those people so proud, yet they gave in so quickly?"

Chen Hao gently stroked her hair: "Because of greed, Bronya.

Give them a little privilege, and they will rush to put on shackles."

"Will they be obedient?"

"They will."

Chen Hao's gaze was profound, "Because they know that if they perform well enough, they can gain more power to look down on others."

"As long as they can look down on others, they won't care about the price they have to pay, even if that price is the future."

Meanwhile, in Sky Palace City's high-end living area, a secret gathering was underway.

Winston, Sanchez, and Renoir sat around a private meeting room, savoring the freshly delivered precious red wine.

It was said to be a treasured collection from a certain winery owner in the old Champs Elysees Federation.

"To our new identities."

Winston raised his glass, his face radiating undisguised triumph.

Sanchez took a sip: "I've seen the first batch of supply lists sent by the company.

Our allocation is three times that of ordinary residents."

Renoir sneered: "Those ground people will never imagine how wonderful the Spacefaring People's life is."

"Not only that," Winston lowered his voice, "I just received news that the company will authorize us to review ground people's applications for space passage.

I've looked at the process, and we can definitely charge some 'handling fees' appropriately."

A glint of greed simultaneously flashed in the eyes of the three.

The sound of their clinking glasses was particularly crisp in the quiet meeting room.

On the surface of Blue Star, in the Oceania City-States, a grand press conference was taking place in New Paris City's central square.

The Interstellar Peace Corporation's logo hung above a giant holographic screen, below which stood dozens of dignitaries.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Interstellar Peace Corporation spokesperson said with a smile, "I am honored to announce the official launch of the 'Interstellar Talent Program'!"

The screen lit up, displaying exciting promotional images:

"Want to go to space? Pass the review and win residency in Sky Palace City!"

"Outstanding performers, after three generations, can apply to join the Interstellar Peace Corporation!"

"The opportunity to change your destiny is right before your eyes!"

The crowd in the square erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The streets were instantly packed with people queuing to sign up.

A scrawny young man was pushed out of the line by a security guard and fell into the mud.

"Get out, commoner!" the security guard yelled, "You can't even pass the basic test, and you want to go to heaven?"

The young man struggled to get up, his eyes full of despair.

On today's Blue Star, only a very small number of elites had the chance to leave this planet, which the company had designated as a "Market Star."

The rest were destined to spend the rest of their lives in this steel jungle.

In the central control room of Sky Palace City, Winston was receiving the first batch of "lucky ones" from Blue Star.

These elites, who had passed strict screening, looked up at the chairman of the Sky Palace City Management Committee with awe.

"Welcome to Sky Palace City," Winston's voice carried a condescending arrogance, "Remember, this is not Blue Star.

Here, you must obey our rules."

Sanchez, beside him, added: "The first rule: always remember your identity.

You are allowed to come up."

The newcomers humbly nodded, their eyes full of flattery.

Winston and Sanchez exchanged a knowing glance.

This was the privilege they wanted, this was the sense of superiority they had exchanged for their subservience to the company.