Chapter 272: Debate on Doomsday Political Systems

The live report from Ruins Star ended, and the screen cut back to the North Star TV Station studio.

Larry, the famous host over 70 years old, looked at the audience.

“Today, we have invited a special guest to participate in the interview.”

The camera panned, and to everyone's surprise, Apocalypse Queen Anya appeared in the studio.

“Ms. Anya, what is your opinion on Mr. Sang being the boss of Dark Sun?”

The host leaned forward, asking a serious question.

“Oh, come on, my dear Larry—”

Anya, wearing an elegant black dress, sat casually on the sofa prepared for guests, shaking her head disdainfully.

“We all actually knew about this a long time ago; it's just that the Council has been helping Mr. Sang conceal it.”

She directly “declared war,” pointing her spearhead at the New Hope Council.

“Then, what is your evaluation of the Council's decision?”

“No surprises, no expectations, and no hope for any improvement.”

Anya shrugged.

“Our Council, not long ago, made the incredibly idiotic decision to support the Jialan. Is there anyone still holding naive illusions about them?”

“Haha—”

The host chuckled awkwardly and winked at the audience.

“Indeed. The public's opinion of the Council's decision isn't very high.”

Like most humans in the post-doomsday era, New Hope citizens admired strength, courage, and noble qualities.

Cang Yuan, with his “king's return,” perfectly fit this image, becoming a shining moon in their hearts.

In contrast, Galan—

behaved extremely cowardly and was extremely unpopular.

If this cowardice could previously be covered up by “victory propaganda,” then the battle that occurred right under the space station's nose later completely revealed their true nature as rats.

Moreover, the Jialan people encountered in daily life, whether they were soldiers stationed in the port, businessmen, or those corpulent high-ranking citizens, were truly too self-important and annoying.

Thinking that Cang Yuan was forcibly dragged into war by these walking piles of excrement, most New Hope citizens expressed sympathy and understood the previous act of the battleship's main cannon aiming at the space station, believing it was a last resort, done out of desperation.

At the same time, they felt a deep unease about the Council's judgment in choosing allies.

“Don't think this is an anomaly from the Council,” Anya continued to stir the pot, “their competence has always been like this; otherwise, they wouldn't have endorsed Mr. Sang for the past two decades.”

“But we also have to face reality,” the host said, “the Council's cooperation with Apollo was likely due to their ability to provide security services.”

“And now? Can they even protect themselves?”

Anya's single sentence killed the debate.

“Furthermore, how many security problems were instigated by Mr. Sang, that scumbag who cultivated bandits for self-importance, through the Dark Sun?”

She looked at the audience beyond the camera again,

“On the matter of security services, the Council should have chosen carefully, but they simply did not put in the necessary effort when action was required.

“Once an ally is chosen incorrectly, the adverse effects cannot be eliminated! Can we now choose whether Cang Yuan is provoked? Can we choose for those merchants plundered by pirates whether to forget their hatred, whether to forgive the Council that covered for Dark Sun?

No! We have no choice; I can only clean up after these council members!

“Citizens of New Hope, I promise you, if we continue to tolerate the Council's stupidity, one day they will make a grave mistake, provoke someone New Hope cannot afford to provoke, and drag the entire space station down with them!”

If Bianca's news only revealed bombshells, Anya's subsequent interview was sparking a serious public reflection.

“Ahem!”

The host cleared his throat twice,

“The above does not represent the official stance of North Star TV Station, hahahaha. Ms. Anya, I must remind you here that the Dark Sun Pirates maintain a friendly cooperative relationship with Paradise Island, and behind Galan stands the Super Democratic Empire. Are these two forces also among the ‘people New Hope cannot afford to provoke’ that you mentioned?”

Anya crossed her legs and smiled helplessly.

“Larry, do you really think that scoundrels like Prime Minister Nadi and Mr. Sang can bring long-term peace to New Hope?”

“No. I think people who hold such thoughts are, how should I put it, very, very—”

The host hesitated. “Very despicable, right?”

Anya finished his sentence for him.

“But our great space station Council truly only has this level of understanding! They believe that as long as these two say a few nice words, the Super Democratic Empire, which has always coveted the Star Alliance, will abandon its annexation attempts; Paradise Island, whose industries overlap with ours, will also abandon competition and send their criminal masterminds over to sing and dance hand in hand with us. What a bunch of idiots!”

Anya's candid remarks left even the seasoned host speechless, offering only an awkward smile.

Finally, he put away his slightly embarrassed smile and returned to seriousness.

“So, what exactly brought New Hope to this point today?”

Anya sighed.

“Once, we invested too many unrealistic fantasies in the parliamentary system. We thought this system could largely avoid individual incompetence and misjudgment, and allow for collective wisdom. But now, let's face reality. The Council devotes the vast majority of its energy to negotiations and maneuvering, political interests are constantly lent and exchanged like currency; today I supported you, tomorrow you must support me.

“Achieving consensus is no longer a political means to make New Hope better; instead, it has become an end in itself, a governing objective.

“No matter how idiotic a proposal, as long as it conforms to the council members' unspoken rules of interest exchange, it can pass smoothly. Larry, do you know what the real problem this brings is?”

Anya's speaking speed grew faster and faster.

The host shook his head.

“What is it?”

Anya stared, eyes wide, at the camera: “Ultimately, all proposals that pass are merely the simplest ones to implement! This is why we tolerated Galan!

“I can reveal some inside information here: when Galan first proposed to gather the Punishment Fleet at New Hope, we knew nothing about Cang Yuan.

“At that time, several council members suggested not to agree to Galan immediately, but rather to make a decision after fully understanding both warring parties.”

“Well, that's the correct attitude!” The host spread his hands. “No—why didn't it pass in the end?”

“Because the council members responsible for port and foreign affairs played their old game of political interest exchange, secretly reaching agreements with more people. In the end, 30 council members cast 26 abstention votes, preventing the number of affirmative votes from reaching the required majority.

“They were unwilling to provoke the Jialan, fearing direct criticism from Prime Minister Nadi. This would be a stain on their political careers and become a handle for political enemies to attack them.”

Anya explained.

“They questioned the motives of those who made the proposals, believing the other party was setting a trap for them.

“Citizens, do you think the council members you elected are elites who can represent the collective interests of the space station?

“Wrong! You merely elected a group of highly positioned, richly compensated opportunists. Council members treat New Hope as a place of fame and fortune where they can profit but lacks a true boss. When risks suddenly emerge that might cost them their jobs—”

Clap!

Anya snapped her fingers crisply.

“Just ignore it. At worst, after the disaster, they'll collectively apologize, saying we perhaps should have done something earlier, but it's too late now, so please just obediently eat the shit we've laid.

“And this is the concrete manifestation of weakness! It is the most dangerous signal in the post-doomsday era!”

Host Larry frowned deeply, his mouth turned down, clearly genuinely angry.

In terms of inciting emotions, Anya was a master among masters.

“And Cang Yuan doesn't have this problem—” Larry said slowly, “I mean, as far as I know, the Executive Officer completely controls the entire enterprise.”

Anya nodded in satisfaction.

“Exactly! Because the Executive Officer and Cang Yuan are one; while he enjoys the dividends of the enterprise's development, he also has to bear all responsibilities; there's no internal friction, and no way to escape!”

Anya completely controlled the pace of this interview.

Larry's cooperation was also excellent.

As a veteran journalist, he keenly caught the subtle scent in the air and, at the most opportune moment, summarized the conclusions Anya and the general public most wanted to hear.

At this moment, Larry adjusted his earpiece.

“Uh—I just received news that the Council has unanimously passed an emergency motion, and the space station is about to enter a state of martial law. The specific reason is unknown, and the duration of the martial law is undetermined!

“So, Ms. Anya, the show seems to have to end. Please say a few final words to the audience—”

Anya's gaze suddenly softened considerably, as if every word she was about to speak came from the bottom of her heart.

“In the golden age of peace and prosperity, the parliamentary system might have been the choice of all mainstream civilizations, but in this Star Alliance universe after the doomsday catastrophe, its disadvantages of inefficiency and low sense of mission have been exposed very clearly.

“Whether it's our Council or Galan's Council, their performance so far, I think, is even worse than that of the seven criminal oligarchs of Paradise Island.”

Then, her expression changed abruptly, and a terrifying cold light gathered in her eyes.

“To the extent that our council members actually thought that martial law was truly up to them to decide. How incredibly naive. Well, let's see.”

Hearing that last sentence, Station Master MacMillan's heart skipped a beat, his throat bobbed, and he swallowed hard.

With Apocalypse Queen, “let's see” meant “you're dead.”

Damn it—

Was the decision just now a bit ill-considered, a bit overconfident..

The previous emergency motion was passed in a state of panic.

“There's no turning back now!”

The older Speaker said fiercely.

In fact, he was the individual with the most authority on the space station, apart from Anya.

“We absolutely cannot let that damned woman continue to incite public opinion! She should still be at the television station now. This is a perfect opportunity to deal with her once and for all. Quickly order the security forces to surround her!”

The order was given, and hundreds of security officers rushed to the front of North Star TV Station, forming a complete encirclement.

Click!

Weapons were cocked.

However, a moment later, hundreds of phone calls started coming in, one after another.

The callers were the families of these security officers, and each one was overjoyed.

They had all received a condolence payment of 30,000 star alliance credit points issued in Anya's name, as a token of gratitude for their silent support and sacrifice as family members of security officers.

30,000 credit points was equivalent to half a year's salary for most people.

Being able to receive money for nothing was naturally a good thing.

But on the other hand, the condolence money was distributed by Anya's subordinates, delivered door-to-door, precisely to each household, and they even smilingly suggested calling to share the good news, so the whole family could celebrate together.

This was not just ordinarily frightening.

If you weren't obediently happy now, you might never have the chance to be happy again in this life.

The security officers' faces turned pale; they looked at each other, each understanding without words.

Unfortunately, they were just wage earners.

Everyone uniformly retreated, lowered their guns, clasped their hands behind their backs, and watched Anya's bulletproof limousine drive away, infuriating the Speaker, who cursed loudly.

Inside the car, Anya merely sneered, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

Cang Yuan and I have been planning for this day for over a month. You're hastily responding; what makes you think you can play with me?!