Chapter 94: Celebrating Too Soon

Actually, the base salary in this world is slightly higher. For instance, residents’ salaries, when compared to regular citizens, are about the same overall, but residents enjoy many benefits. Their tax rates are much lower, and they pay less in property tax. Additionally, residents can receive many subsidies, like the childbirth fund, which they can pay into voluntarily. For the most part, the government covers most of it, whereas citizens have to pay in full!

So, when you add everything up, residents end up with a higher overall income.

Fat Boss is also a Genetic Evolver, but he holds the lowest citizen status, specifically a resident status. When it comes to running a business, residents are taxed the least, and the government provides various subsidies and benefits!

The government doesn’t require verification to become a Genetic Evolver, as long as you don’t inject gene injections illegally or break any laws. Naturally awakened or privately injected gene injections? No one really cares about those.

As for where people procure those private gene injections from, no one asks too many questions. Yang Bo could guess as much!

The Gene Serum Yang Bo used before was government-issued, which is why follow-up check-ups were required by the government.

“You can even play games here?” Yang Bo headed to the bathroom, freshened up, and after changing into his sleeping clothes, noticed the virtual headset.

Yang Bo didn’t plan on playing any mecha games. He figured he’d play something else since he wasn’t busy at the moment. As for food, it was available outside the room, free to eat and drink as much as you wanted, as long as you didn’t wander off too much.

What Yang Bo didn’t know was that right after the sheriffs left, a warship extended a massive cannon, concentrating a ball of red energy at its tip. Once the energy hit a dark red hue, it was fired. The dark red energy hit the transport ship, causing the entire ship to collapse inward as if being pulled by an immense force.

The massive transport ship, over ten kilometers long, shrank to a half-kilometer in size. Then the whole thing began glowing with a brilliant red light, burning fiercely, resembling a small sun! “A Pirate Leader thought they could hide on a transport ship? To be destroyed by the Empire’s most advanced gravity cannon — you should consider it an honor!” The Chief Magistrate aboard the pirate warship muttered to himself as he watched.

Not many people got to see this spectacle. People like Yang Bo, for instance, although it seemed like the room had a window, it was just a projection, simulating the feeling of being on a planet.

The fleet and the pirate warship parted ways after this. The warship quickly disappeared into the depths of the Void, while the pirate warship, after undergoing repairs, continued on its course.

“Chief Magistrate, what about my other subordinates? There are about ten of them left?” The Fat Boss hurriedly found the Chief Magistrate in the command room of the pirate warship and asked.

“Due to the limited capacity of this warship, some residents were transferred to another warship. That ship is on a routine mission and will probably get there ahead of us since it’s faster,” the Chief Magistrate explained, relaying what the top command had said about the other warship.

“Good, good!” The Fat Boss didn’t doubt it at all. He knew only residents could board the warship. Those with chips wouldn’t stand a chance. Citizens with chips have perfect memory, with some chips even having special functions that might enable them to gather intelligence about the warship.

Yang Bo tried playing a game the Original Host used to enjoy, but after a while, he found it boring.

It was an adventure game, the typical type where you fight monsters, level up, and defeat bosses.

It felt pretty similar to games like World of Warcraft back on Earth, with its formulaic quests. It didn’t have the realism of the mecha games!

“This sucks. This is so frustrating. What do I even do in this place?” Yang Bo guessed there had to be surveillance equipment in his room since it was inside a warship!

Yang Bo decided to explore to see if there were any entertainment facilities. If not, he might have to come back and endure these uninspiring games.

This warship felt much smaller and less comfortable compared to the transport ship. Glancing around, all he saw was white and silver scenery, and the height of the bays was only about ten meters or so. It definitely gave off the vibe of a large prison, with bays scattered around, and a central area filled with a few entertainment amenities.

“Damn.” Yang Bo sat down, grabbing a drink. The anti-gravity system was impressive; previously, in the gravity suit, his clothes always felt a bit saggy. Looking up, he spotted a laser cannon’s focusing tube. The diameter was much larger than those used for mechas. Whatever mecha or person gets hit by one of these would be totally wiped out.

Upon closer inspection, Yang Bo counted at least six of them. The space was completely covered from all angles, with what he suspected were surveillance locations as well.

The drinks were served by robots. Whatever was needed, you just had to say the word.

The food was pre-packaged meals, similar to what Yang Bo used to eat while living in welfare housing.

“Tsk tsk, looks like the company providing food for welfare housing is quite powerful,” Yang Bo thought after finishing his meal, finding the situation a bit dull.

But the place did offer a sense of security. There were also various games available, just like on the transport ship.

Apart from a few soldiers stationed at a distant passage, Yang Bo found the accommodations pretty decent. He found a movie viewing area, similar to a larger, more advanced internet café booth. It offered a 360-degree immersive experience, and Yang Bo’s heart raced as he watched intense war films.

The best part? There were no content restrictions on these films. Yang Bo’s wristwatch had been blocked, and all he got to use was a temporary chest badge.

“Tsk tsk!” Yang Bo watched an action movie, though he found the scenes simple, and the acting a bit exaggerated. Still, the 360-degree immersive experience was impressive.

Yang Bo lived life as an ordinary resident, eating and watching movies on time, learning a lot from various documentaries in the process.

After happily enjoying his leisurely days, Yang Bo decided to buy a house once he got to March Planet, as well as a companion robot. Companion robots are indistinguishable from real people. Real women? Too much hassle. If he wanted kids, he could have as many as he wanted once he was wealthy enough.

If you get tired of a companion robot, you can always replace them. You can even get a custom-made one… ahem.

One day, as Yang Bo was about to eat, he glanced casually at a soldier on duty in the corridor. The soldier, a captain, was fully clad in energy suit armor, but Yang Bo instantly recognized him based on demeanor and movements.

Yang Bo almost turned back to his bay, but forced himself to sit down and ordered his lunch, trying to calm his racing heart. This was a warship, an Alliance’s main warship!

On his way back after eating, Yang Bo glanced at the soldier again, this time all but confirming it!

“Damn! That really is one of the Red Earl’s people!”