Chapter 23
Fortunately, the leaders hadn’t dispersed yet. Xia Anran quickly explained the new changes to the system she had just discovered.
She figured that this “gift switch” must be the method through which the cryo-freezer had been delivered. At the time, the system had indeed prompted that the freezer was being sent as a gift. But back then, she had received it completely passively. Did this “automatic gift switch” mean she could now choose to turn it on herself? The only problem was, after searching for a long time, she still couldn’t find where the so-called gift switch was. This livestream app didn’t even have an instruction manual.
After hearing about the functions that could be unlocked with the system upgrade, the leaders were undoubtedly most interested in the upcoming shop function. A shop provided by a system with technology completely beyond their own… one could only imagine the incredible things it must contain.
After Xia Anran explained the gift switch, the top leader pondered for a moment and said, “This function is also very interesting. It could allow the interstellar side to send us things we need.”
“Little Xia, we’ll have to trouble you to study this function carefully. After all, besides you, no one else can operate this software.”
Xia Anran nodded like a bobblehead, patting her chest and guaranteeing she would figure it out as soon as possible.
Then, another question occurred to her. “Chief, what about the money in the account?”
This money could actually be withdrawn. The twenty-million-plus yuan was still sitting in her bank account. The government had never mentioned it, so she had forgotten about it. But now there was over a hundred million in the account. It seemed like a waste to just leave it there.
“How about… I withdraw it and donate it to the state?” Xia Anran asked tentatively.
Given the enthusiasm of the interstellar viewers’ donations, the money in her account was likely to increase at an incomprehensible rate. She couldn’t possibly use that much money herself. It would be better to make a contribution to the country. After all, this was starting to feel like an infinite ATM.
The leaders exchanged a smile. The top leader chuckled and said, “Little Xia, thank you for your kind offer. The government has already received immense help from you. This money was earned by you through legitimate means. You should keep it for yourself.”
Hearing the words “legitimate means,” Xia Anran herself almost couldn’t keep a straight face. She understood this was the leader’s tactful way of saying they would pretend not to know about this money, and they would help her legitimize its source, treating it all as her private property.
No one dislikes money, so Xia Anran didn’t dwell on it and happily accepted. Now she had to think carefully about what to do with this sum.
….
The United Star System was also in a state of jubilation.
“Excellent! With the large supply of fruit and green plants from Miss Anran, we have gained a significant advantage in our negotiations with the Interstellar Empire,” the consul of the Fifth Planet said, overjoyed. He wished Xia Anran were streaming right now.
The entire interstellar community was currently fixated on Xia Anran’s livestream. Besides the official fervor for the Earth-exclusive products she brought, the general populace was mostly captivated by the natural environment and local customs she showcased, which were completely different from their own.
One could say that Xia Anran was the hottest star in the interstellar era right now. Of course, the concept of a “star” didn’t exist yet, but merchants existed everywhere. Many businesses immediately smelled an opportunity and began producing a large amount of “merchandise” related to Xia Anran.
One company even developed a new app with Xia Anran as the protagonist, set against the backdrop of the Hua nation scenes revealed in her stream. Players could have holographic interactions with the in-game “Xia Anran,” travel around the Hua nation, and even spend real money to buy clothes and jewelry for her. All the outfits and makeup styles that had appeared in Xia Anran’s streams so far were collector’s items in this game. To date, only one fanatical whale from the Interstellar Empire had collected them all by spending an astronomical amount of Star Coins.
Moreover, the game would unlock new maps in sync with Xia Anran’s livestreams. In just a few days, it had become popular throughout the entire star system.
And then, its founder, Zhang Yuyu, was arrested by the United Star System’s StarNet police for infringing on Xia Anran’s privacy.
When the police broke down the door, Zhang Yuyu was in the middle of a celebration with his son, having even opened several bottles of a prohibited beverage smuggled from the Interstellar Empire. And so, he happily added another charge to his name, putting him on a direct path to a life sentence.
Even as the restraining device was being placed on him, Zhang Yuyu tried to struggle. “There are so many products related to Host Anran on the market! Why are you only arresting me?!”
The police officer replied, “There are already three hundred and twenty-five of your peers in the detention center. You can go in and exchange experiences with them.”
Zhang Yuyu: “…”
When did that happen?! How come I didn’t hear a single thing? If I had known earlier, I’d be in the Interstellar Empire by now! He wouldn’t be weeping behind bars.
The police officer seemed to read his mind and reminded him sharply, “Don’t even think about it. This arrest operation was a joint effort between the United Star System and the Interstellar Empire. Unless you can run to the Beastman home planet.”
Zhang Yuyu: “…”
Damn it! The Interstellar Empire and the United Star System are working together before the universe even ends?
With Zhang Yuyu’s arrest, the game that had been a sensation across the star system was forced to shut down. Billions of players across the StarNet logged on to find their world had collapsed. Their fair-skinned, tender, and beautifully dressed Anran was gone!
Damn it all! There is no justice in this world!
And then, the complaint boxes of both the United Star System and the Interstellar Empire were flooded with all sorts of angry messages.
But right now, the governments of both nations had no time to deal with this matter. They were in the middle of negotiations regarding the Beastman race joining the United Star System’s network to watch the livestream together.
Representing the Beastman race remotely in the meeting was the Beastman princess, Ruoya. After all, relations between the United Star System and the Beastmen were still very tense due to the recent, albeit unsuccessful, war. If Ruoya were to come to the United Star System in person, it was hard to say what kind of uncontrollable diplomatic incident might occur.
As the representative of the Beastman royal family, Ruoya got straight to the point, expressing the Beastman race’s demand to also access the United Star System’s internal network to watch the livestream.
The Consul General didn’t respond to her directly. He asked in a deep voice, “Doesn’t the Princess think she should first explain why the Beastman warships were stationed in the United Star System’s Fourth Planet star sector a few days ago?”
Your fleet was parked at our doorstep, and you want to just brush it off without an explanation?
Ruoya was also in rare formal attire today, sitting on her throne with dignity and grace. “Your Excellency, the Consul General, our warships were merely conducting routine patrols. They did not enter the Fourth Planet’s star sector.”
The meaning was clear: We didn’t even enter your house, we just took a stroll at the gate. What is there to explain?
“Ahem.” Emperor Phileas of the Interstellar Empire also participated remotely in this three-way talk. “As a third party, allow me to say a fair word. The Beastman race did not indeed enter the United Star System’s star sector. However, deploying troops near the star sector is indeed a bit excessive.”
Ruoya was clearly a bit more even-tempered than her unfortunate brother. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Alright then. On behalf of the Beastman race, I apologize to the United Star System. We will be more careful with our training exercises in the future.”
The group of leaders from the United Star System below were grinding their teeth in anger.
“This is too arrogant! She’s just brushing it off with a single, light sentence?”
“And they’re the ones asking us for a favor. As expected, the Beastmen are the most detestable.”
“This Beastman princess is at least somewhat polite. Their emperor has absolutely no class at all.”
Having completed the perfunctory apology, Ruoya impatiently continued, “So, can we continue our discussion about connecting to the United Star System’s internal network now?”
“Please don’t be hasty, Princess,” the Consul General said slowly. “The Interstellar Empire previously provided us with the resources of three planets in exchange for connecting to our internal network. I wonder what the Beastman race is willing to offer.”
Hearing this, Ruoya glanced at Phileas, surprised. So the Interstellar Empire also paid a hefty price.
Xuan Mo, who was attending the meeting with Ruoya, thought disdainfully, The fact that we Beastmen withdrew our troops is already giving them enough face. Now they want to rob us? We’re not as spineless as the Interstellar Empire.
Phileas saw the contempt in Ruoya’s eyes and glared back coldly. What do these Beastman brutes know? He didn’t lose out on that deal at all. The Interstellar Empire was able to watch from Xia Anran’s second stream. Otherwise, all that fruit would have belonged to the United Star System. How can a few mere planets compare to fruit? Such a small perspective!
“We can’t be seen as playing favorites. Therefore, our proposal is that if the Beastman race is willing to cede the five planets of the Aler System, then you may access the United Star System’s internal network and watch the livestream together,” the Consul General said leisurely after watching the drama for a while.
The Aler System?
Ruoya frowned. This was a notoriously barren star system. Its five planets had always been used by the Beastman race as a place to exile prisoners. And it was the worst of several exile sites; the suicide rate of prisoners sent there was the highest, with half of them killing themselves during transport. This showed just how terrible the environment of the Aler System was.
Phileas clearly hadn’t expected the United Star System to ask for the Aler System. But he quickly figured it out. After all, the Beastmen had been sharpening their knives just a few days ago, preparing to attack them. The United Star System obviously didn’t want to provoke them too much. Plus, with their long-standing pride, they couldn’t just ask for nothing. So, asking for a few garbage planets would allow the Beastmen not to feel too slighted, while also saving their own face.
As expected, Ruoya readily accepted the proposal. The Aler System had absolutely nothing of value, but as an exile site, the Beastman race had to grit their teeth and spend energy and funds on its upkeep every year. This was a perfect opportunity to get rid of it.
And so, this meeting, which was expected to be tense and confrontational, ended with bizarre speed and peace. The Beastman race paid the price of the Aler System to gain access to the United Star System’s internal network and would be able to watch Xia Anran’s next livestream simultaneously.
The moment the meeting ended, the high command of the United Star System couldn’t help but beam with joy. Heaven knew how hard they had been trying to contain themselves.
To the Beastman race, the Aler System was a barren wasteland where not even a bird would shit. But it was rich in the very ore that the United Star System had discovered could awaken the psychic potential within their people. They had been eyeing this place for a long time, but had never had the opportunity. They never imagined they would obtain it today without lifting a finger