410: They raided my house!

On December 1, Year 98 of the Star Calendar, a thunderous storm codenamed "Clear Sky" descended upon the entire Eastern Federation, with a speed and intensity far exceeding external expectations.

The source of this storm pointed directly to the attempted kidnapping three days prior in New Chang'an City, Mars, but its scope and depth far exceeded the case itself.

The Eastern Federation's highest decision-making body demonstrated unprecedented determination and highly efficient operation of the state apparatus.

After Lin Mo officially brought back the company's stance from Pierpoint, the "tacit" combo move was initiated.

A Special Action Command Center, jointly formed by multiple Eastern Federation departments including Security, Judiciary, Taxation, and Industry & Commerce, was established under the direct leadership of Zijin Pavilion. Massive amounts of data were retrieved and analyzed, and clues that had long been known but previously unused due to various concerns were brought to the table.

A vast net, targeting the nouveau riche who had rapidly grown wealthy during the great wave of interstellar development but disregarded the law, was quietly cast and then swiftly tightened with overwhelming force.

According to statistics, over the past three decades of Great Interstellar Development, approximately one million individuals or families within the Eastern Federation, including on more than ten planets such as Blue Star, the Moon, and Mars, as well as various major city-level space stations, rapidly rose with net assets exceeding 100 million Eastern Federation credits.

Among these, nearly 700,000 were placed under investigation in the "Clear Sky" operation for suspected crimes such as tax evasion, illegal business operations, organizing and participating in triad-like organizations, and endangering interstellar public safety!

This number was astonishing.

It meant that the wealth accumulation process for the vast majority of the Eastern Federation's emerging capitalist class was filled with gray, or even black, marks.

Mars, Tharsis Plateau, inside a private estate known as "Crimson Gold City."

"Mine King" Liu Fugui was lying in his hot spring pool, which was comparable to a small lake, enjoying the service of two bionic massage therapists, squinting at the fluctuations of interstellar mineral futures on the holographic screen.

He relied on early low-cost acquisition of rich rare earth mineral veins on Mars and caught the boom in starship manufacturing demand, causing his net worth to skyrocket to the billion-credit level, making him a strong contender for the richest person on Mars in the Eastern Federation.

"Boss, outside... outside there are many patrolling aircraft! They've surrounded the estate!" The butler scrambled in, his face pale.

Liu Fugui abruptly sat up, splashing water everywhere, and initially exclaimed in shock and anger: "Damn it! Who dares to cause trouble here? Don't they know I'm with Chinnan Province..."

His words stopped abruptly.

Because he saw that those who had trespassed on his private property were not ordinary planetary Security officers, but teams of special agents in black uniforms with the emblem of the "Eastern Federation Interstellar Security Agency" on their armbands!

The leading official showed the arrest warrant and search warrant expressionlessly: "Liu Fugui, you are suspected of nineteen charges including massive tax evasion, illegal mining, destruction of the Martian ecological environment, and bribery of public officials. This is the arrest warrant and search warrant; please cooperate with the investigation."

The fat on Liu Fugui's face trembled violently. He recalled the bragging session with CEO Wang a few days ago in a private club, where he had mocked CEO Wang for his subordinates' inefficiency, which led to trouble.

He had thought it was just CEO Wang's personal bad luck, and relying on his deep Foundation and complex network of connections, he hadn't paid too much attention, even harboring a slight desire to watch the show.

At this moment, as the cold handcuffs locked his wrists, he truly felt a bone-chilling coldness.

He watched as the special agents skillfully sealed his servers, froze his accounts, and took away his core management team. He felt as if his bones had been removed, and he collapsed to the ground.

He realized that this storm was far more violent and thorough than he had imagined. His self-proclaimed solid "protective umbrellas" were fragile and vulnerable before a higher-level will.

Blue Star, Shanghai City, top floor of the Global Financial Center, headquarters of Zhao Ruihu's "Ruihu Capital."

Zhao Ruihu was in high spirits, presiding over a cross-border video conference, planning a new round of hostile acquisition targeting a rare metal mining company in an asteroid belt.

He manipulated the capital market through insider trading, market manipulation, and illegal fundraising, earning him the reputation of a "Midas Touch" financial giant.

The conference room door was violently pushed open, and a group of stern-faced personnel from the Securities Regulatory Commission and the Criminal Investigation Bureau, dressed in formal attire, entered.

"Zhao Ruihu, you are suspected of manipulating the securities market, insider trading, money laundering, and other crimes. Mandatory measures are now being taken against you according to law."

Zhao Ruihu was first stunned, then erupted in anger, slamming the table: "Do you know who I am? This is a frame-up! I want to see your leader!"

The lead investigator didn't bother to respond; with a wave of his hand, the Criminal Investigation Bureau personnel immediately stepped forward and restrained Zhao Ruihu.

Zhao Ruilong's face instantly turned ashen.

Moon, Tranquility Base, "Tomorrow Technology" R&D Center.

Sun Mingyu, a "Genius" technologist who rose by stealing core technologies from his former employer and defrauding the state of high subsidies through fake R&D projects, was eloquently speaking at a press conference, showcasing his company's "latest developed" quantum communication chip.

Suddenly, the conference hall doors burst open, and a team of law enforcement officers walked directly onto the podium.

"Sun Mingyu, you are suspected of infringing on trade secrets, defrauding national scientific research funds, and false advertising. The evidence is conclusive; please come with us."

The reporters below erupted in an uproar, and flashbulbs flared.

Sun Mingyu tried to remain calm, forcing a smile: "Everyone, this must be a misunderstanding..." But his trembling voice and the cold sweat beading on his forehead betrayed his inner panic.

He had originally thought that with his "Genius" image and polished packaging, he could always get away with it, but he never expected the reckoning to come so suddenly and thoroughly.

The storm not only swept through the business world but also violently impacted the political sphere.

As the investigation deepened, a group of "protective umbrellas" who colluded with these illicit businessmen and provided them with shelter were also uprooted. From provincial officials in Chinnan Province, Mars, to department and bureau chiefs in certain powerful departments on Blue Star, and even individual higher-ranking cadres, fell one after another on charges of suspected corruption, bribery, abuse of power, and acting as "protective umbrellas" for criminal organizations.

The Eastern Federation's official communiqué, with its wording of "eradicating the black sheep and purifying the political ecology," demonstrated the determination of this operation, which was by no means solely aimed at economic crime.

Such a large-scale, high-intensity cleanup operation naturally sparked a huge reaction among the Eastern Federation's populace. On interstellar online forums, various voices clashed fiercely.

"It's high time these parasites were dealt with! They make money from the state while undermining it! Ruining the Eastern Federation's image!"

"Such a big commotion, I dare say the company must have pressured them! Otherwise, how could they be so ruthless? Taking down so many people at once?"

"Some might just have had irregular operations, right? And isn't this too broad a sweep? Is the company a bit too overbearing?"

"Oh, wow, rare to see someone sympathizing with capitalists. Wake up, buddy! Can their money be clean if they become tycoons? Do they deserve sympathy?"

"Exactly, exactly, the state is doing the right thing!"

However, amidst the clamor, some keen observers, veteran media professionals, and international relations scholars gleaned some unusual implications from several announcements issued by the Eastern Federation regarding this incident.

They noted that in past announcements concerning cooperation with Interstellar Peace Corporation, the Eastern Federation's official language mostly used terms like "cooperation, invited, procurement, exchange," which were relatively equal and emphasized commercial and technical collaboration.

However, in this series of announcements regarding the "Company Study Group Attack Incident" and subsequent handling, the wording underwent subtle yet significant changes.

"The Eastern Federation and Interstellar Peace Corporation are important strategic partners..."

"Both sides look forward to comprehensive cooperation..."

"The Eastern Federation government has been invited to send a high-level delegation to Pierpoint..."

"Representatives from both sides will hold a meeting to exchange views on issues of common concern..."

These terms—"strategic cooperation," "comprehensive cooperation," "invited," "meeting"—are all specialized terms used in formal diplomatic settings to describe interactions between sovereign states!

The overall tone of the announcement was not merely to express a commitment to severely punish the perpetrators, but to emphasize the establishment of "a more complete and standardized system of exchange and cooperation with the company."

This far exceeded the scope of general crisis public relations or appeasing partners; it was more like laying the groundwork for constructing a long-term, institutionalized framework of relations, almost akin to those between nations.

These astute observers reached a startling conclusion. After this incident, whether intentionally or out of necessity, and regardless of either party's intention, the Eastern Federation had, in fact, begun to treat Interstellar Peace Corporation as an entity possessing the main characteristics of a state.

The company possesses economic strength, technological power, military potential, and influence comparable to, or even surpassing, that of typical sovereign states. Yet, it cleverly evades many obligations traditionally borne by states.

Such as the obligation not to invade other countries, not to interfere in their internal affairs, and to resolve international disputes by peaceful means.

However, for the company, territory holds little meaning; what matters is the market. As for internal affairs and resolving international disputes, they are also irrelevant to regular commercial activities.

This is an unprecedented form of international relations... Pierpoint, Strategic Investment Department.

"How is it? Any new news from Old Lin?"

"The home raids have been completed. Also, the first year's rent and 50% of the renovation fees for the office were just credited this morning. Twenty trillion credit points; the Talent Incentive Department has already processed it."

"That's efficient. It seems we'll be moving soon too."

"Any concrete news? Should we ask the boss's wife?"

"Why don't you go?"

"Oh, come on, you two are best friends; it's easier for you to get information."

Zhao Ruilong's face instantly turned ashen.