The observation pavilion of the Sovereign Aurora arched gracefully into the starry void.
Through the massive crystalline viewing dome, ninety-five star systems were visible at once. Each system glowed with a warm, steady golden halo, illuminated by the radiant majesty of Lin Mo’s Rank 8 Peak Golden Benevolence Sun.
In the lower landing bays, ninety-eight diplomatic shuttles descended through the atmospheric forcefields.
The shuttles bore the weathered insignias of ninety-eight civilized worlds across the Astral Silk Road.
Down the wide red carpet walked ninety-eight newly elected Civic Mayors.
Some were gray-haired schoolmasters, others were honest mine supervisors, clinic doctors, and municipal engineers. Each wore simple, clean robes embroidered with the local emblems of their home worlds.
Just twelve hours ago, every corrupt Blood-Tax governor across all ninety-eight worlds had been impeached and placed under arrest by their own citizens.
Seeing CFO Mordecai sitting in a neon-yellow debtor vest counting pennies on the bank steps had broken the illusion of the cartel’s invincibility.
