White Candle Autonomy
"White Candle Star eighty-nine million six hundred thousand, going twice. Any further bids?"
Seeing no response, the auctioneer finally declared:
"White Candle Star, eighty-nine million six hundred thousand, going thrice—sold. Congratulations to Bidder #077 on acquiring White Candle Star."
Pa!
Antifa fell to his knees, his face grim.
"How could this be… It wasn't supposed to happen. He should have sunk his funds into Polis Star!"
Naliya ignored her dejected fiancé entirely. She stood up, spoke in a tone of faint contempt:
"How disappointing."
"Well, I'm satisfied enough."
Li Aozi let out a breath and rose from his chair.
"Getting White Candle Star for under a hundred million is already a good deal for me."
Saying that… in truth, he'd initially expected to pay around fifty million.
If the Crystal Tower civilization hadn't been so greedy, he wouldn't have paid nearly this much.
Fortunately, he now had enough cash on hand, so his plans remained intact.
"But I wonder which poor sap got stuck with Polis Star at triple the price," Nikita commented sourly.
From his observer's perspective, it was just a simple bait-and-switch. Yet so many people had tried to corner Li Aozi, allowing him to secure his final objective.
"Since Polis Star was the finale, of course it caused a stir."
Li Aozi didn't mind. Once something was in hand, that was that. He quickly settled the payment and received the receipt.
"Now I'll have to spend a month running around finalizing procedures… So bothersome."
Setting the receipt aside, Li Aozi looked expectantly at Nikita:
"Brother Nikita, how about helping me—"
"Ugh, I'm too old for trotting across the stars." Nikita stroked his beard. "You're more than grown—how hard is it to find a secretary or assistant?"
"I just don't have a suitable candidate." Li Aozi shrugged. "I did try hiring a few, but either their education was too limited or they knew nothing about government procedures. I don't have time to train someone."
"If you find hiring a bother, then leave it for later. For this month, you'll have to handle the paperwork yourself."
In truth, Li Aozi held back one thought.
Originally, Yavanna would have been perfect for the assistant job—she'd been an agent, knew government ins and outs, and was savvy about negotiating.
But with the whole [Society] issue, now that he planned to immigrate to a Narrative-level civilization and join the interstellar alliance, he couldn't mention these things anymore.
"Campus recruitment season is coming soon. I'll pick someone from the graduating class."
Shaking his head, Li Aozi dropped the matter.
Over the next month, his tasks involved absorbing Azure Star, along with some official qualification reviews, nothing insurmountable—he was fully prepared.
In the past five years, the schools in Trivila had been completely dismantled. The only remaining higher institution, White Candle Interstellar University, had merged with other local colleges into White Candle Comprehensive University.
After five years, they even siphoned off the student resources, the graduate school hooking directly into the new educational planet's universities.
By luck, Nastisha had modified his student records, so in five years he finished both undergraduate and graduate degrees, plus completed his military service.
That was why he could participate in the auction. As far as the Crystal Tower was concerned, he still "counted" as one of their own.
And yet, though White Candle Star had sunk so low, the Crystal Tower still threw dirt on its grave.
On the day the auction concluded, the last magic college on White Candle Star—White Candle Comprehensive University—announced the faculty's withdrawal.
No matter how people begged or how much salary they offered, those teachers departed in cold indifference.
Just like before, leaving behind nearly ten thousand magic college students with no one to oversee them. They hadn't even stepped into society, yet they were effectively unemployed.
A month later.
The fifteenth day of Luyue, at 10:30 a.m.
White Candle Comprehensive University declared its closure. Thousands of students still incomplete in their studies staged a "White Candle University Protection" protest, launching a sit-in hunger strike.
And on that same day, White Candle Star officially took Li as its new name.
"Breaking news: Along the Galactic Eye rim, the former [Crystal Tower] civilization's administrative planet—White Candle Star—has now declared detachment from that civilization and claims independence."
"The hero who once repelled [Machine Society]'s Mashgegang—Leoz—announces his takeover of White Candle Star and establishment of an interstellar autonomous domain. It has already submitted an alliance membership application."
"Could the Galactic Eye rim soon gain its first alliance member? Will the last closed-off region of the Layered Abyss be opened up?"
"We now connect to our reporter on the scene."
On this day, the previously obscure White Candle Star suddenly became headline news.
"White Candle Star was once under the Crystal Tower civilization. While we now choose our own path to independence, we've remained on friendly terms up until the very handover. May that bond endure."
Li Aozi calmly read out the statement.
There weren't too many reporters in the audience, but not too few either. Besides local media, two news teams from friendly Narrative-level civilizations attended as well.
Debuting politically as a once-marginal planet's secession, yet garnering so much attention—Li Aozi was quite satisfied.
His personal political clout was indeed substantial. Being a '[Society] repeller' alone drew serious notice.
"I hereby declare that White Candle Star officially breaks away from being a [Crystal Tower] civilization affiliate, and stands as an independent autonomous domain in the interstellar sphere."
Wearing a dark blue print suit, one hand resting on the newly drafted constitution, Li Aozi solemnly announced:
"By the power vested in me as the full-authority President, I—Leoz Dominate (Realze Dominate), meaning: Leoz, Master—am honored to serve as our autonomous domain's first leader. I pledge to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of humankind and citizens, abide by the constitution, and defend our nation's sovereignty, independence, security, and territorial integrity—faithfully serving all people."
As head of state, he couldn't be without a surname, so he simply adopted the transliteration of the "Domination" path.
This also expressed his great ambition.
"Now, by my authority as full president, I will announce our new national title, system, flag, and anthem."
Holding up his prepared notes—though he knew them by heart—he faced the media's flashing cameras, aware that hundreds of millions of people were watching.
He well understood what worried them and what hopes they had.
"Our new national name will be: White Candle Autonomous Dominion, structured as an independent mercenary city-state with a lifetime presidency,"
"Our flag is: a black field with a red seven-pointed star, symbolizing that we found our nation on the [Domination] path."
"Our coat of arms: a base of white crystal, an olive branch encircling a red seven-pointed star, joined by a gold ribbon. White represents our origin from the Crystal Tower, an embodiment of materialist values; the olive branch stands for peace and victory; the red seven-pointed star for dominion and rule; and the gold ribbon for our respect of ceremony and law."
"We will align with interstellar civilization, adopting a cosmic economic system. Building on our workshop model, we'll incorporate private enterprise, while appropriately expanding public resource allocation—public economy…"
As the only remaining Zeta-tier on White Candle Star—indeed, the only one visible—his right to rule was indisputable by force, by law, and by fact. In fact, the wealth he'd accumulated over the years created jobs for over a million people.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't just a ruler but had enough accumulated capital to be the planetary industrial oligarch. So to implement his blueprint, making the domain his exclusive oligarchic preserve was most fitting.
As a [Domination] ascendant, his drive to wield power far exceeded an ordinary person's. He disliked sharing authority.
People didn't fear him becoming a dictator or tyrant; they worried he'd gather his profits and leave.
Thus, addressing countless cameras, Li Aozi solemnly declared:
"Citizens, I'm not a talkative man. I say what comes to mind plainly."
"In the past, White Candle Star endured immense suffering: terrorists, idealistic madmen, Society citizens. For various reasons, they coveted the land we cherish, unleashing inhumane invasions and destruction."
"I lived through those events. I know exactly how it feels for those who lost lovers, children, siblings, or elders they respected to outside enemies."
"Therefore, I pledge to you, to all citizens of the White Candle Autonomous Dominion."
"As long as Leoz draws breath, I will guard you from any invader. We will build an independent army and fighting force to uphold our citizens' dignity."
"Those who call us the 'cosmic backwater of interstellar civilization' will find nothing but scorched earth."
"As for those who claim, 'Once you truly understand this land, you'll see their beliefs deserve their suffering'—good news for them, they'll only be left with shattered hospitals and schools."
"And for those who ridiculed us along our arduous path—one day they'll see our grand industries and colossal wonders, gnashing their teeth in envy."
"With all our heart and might, we'll stand upright in this universe. My beloved citizens, don't feel too dismayed by our past ignorance or short-sightedness. In every age, some people err. But those who keep going after their mistakes are far more worthy of respect than those who fell."
Taking a deep breath, Li Aozi declared:
"I will do my utmost to lead you to the summit of the Star Abyss."
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[You have legally obtained ownership rights to White Candle Star.]
[You have gained a new identity class—[President·Oligarch].]
[Identity classes do not provide main attribute bonuses, but will yield increased reputation influence based on your main attribute.]
[Your territory—"Faithkeep Village"—has expanded. Detection shows that the planet and nation under your control encompasses your home domain. Merge them?]
[Territory successfully merged.]
[Having founded a nation for the first time, the system has been updated…]