394: Go to Hope Chamber of Commerce branch

Looking at this new message, Li Yang was first stunned, his face showing an expression of disbelief.

He could understand the increase in the loan amount, after all, he had demonstrated strong economic strength; he could also accept the extension of the repayment period, as the amount had increased significantly, requiring more time for turnover.

But what surprised him most was that the interest rate was still 0!

This made Li Yang a little dazed for a moment, and he couldn't help but ponder in his heart.

“Is this... is the bank here to give away money?”

His eyes were full of doubt and surprise.

Li Yang stared at this message, his heart full of doubts, and he even once suspected that the bank was planning to bribe him in disguise.

But he quickly calmed down, thinking to himself, they are the Xili Empire Supreme Bank, the top existence in the entire empire's financial system, and the bank president's administrative level is much higher than his own, so there’s no need to curry favor with him in this way.

Such generous loan conditions must be a special treatment given by the bank based on its high recognition of his repayment ability and its optimism about his future development potential.

“That's right, Captain Li Yang.”

Pal broke the brief silence at the right time, reporting earnestly.

“The Blue Star Management Department reports to you that the population of Blue Star is now growing rapidly, having reached a considerably large scale. Although they have been encouraging people to migrate to other planets, many are unwilling to leave due to their attachment to their Blue Star homeland or concerns about the environment of other planets. However, Blue Star's resources and space are limited, making it truly difficult to accommodate so many people.”

Hearing Pal's report, Li Yang couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling a little puzzled.

In his vision, solving the problem of Blue Star's overpopulation was not difficult, so he said without thinking.

“If Blue Star has too many people, then transfer some of them to Mars. Mars has a vast territory and should be able to accommodate them.”

“Uh, Captain...”

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Pal's face as he continued.

“Similar reports have come from Mars, also facing the problem of overpopulation.”

In fact, this is not difficult to understand. With the booming development of tourism on both planets, their popularity in the interstellar space is increasing day by day, attracting a large number of interstellar immigrants.

Don't underestimate these immigrants; you should know that immigration requires paying high fees.

Take Blue Star for example, before the rise of tourism, immigrating there might have cost a few hundred thousand star coins, but now, even with millions of star coins, successful immigration is not guaranteed.

It is precisely because of this that within just a few years, the two planets have accumulated such a huge amount of star coins wealth through immigration fees and the generous income from tourism.

Hearing Pal's words, Li Yang couldn't help but fall into deep thought, a look of distress appearing on his face.

He knew in his heart that solving the problem of planetary overpopulation was not an easy task.

After all, if the volume of a planet were to be increased out of nowhere, although it is not impossible with the Xili Empire's advanced technology and a Star Controller, this is strictly prohibited by imperial law.

Unless it is a special case strictly approved by relevant imperial departments, for ordinary private planets, unauthorized alteration of their size is absolutely not allowed.

Otherwise, if everyone could casually buy a small planet and then transform it into a large one, wouldn't the entire interstellar resource allocation system fall into chaos, and opportunistic people would likely make a fortune.

“It seems I can only buy another planet to alleviate the population pressure...”

Li Yang pondered to himself.

After all, currently in the Solar System, only Blue Star and Mars are suitable for human habitation.

Other planets, even if one wanted to transform them into habitable planets, would first have to be purchased to obtain legal ownership before any transformation projects could begin.

However, transforming a planet not only requires a lot of time, effort, but also a huge amount of capital.

Considering all this, it would be more cost-effective to directly purchase an existing habitable planet, which would save a large sum in transformation costs and solve the population resettlement problem more quickly.

“I'll go to the Hope Merchant Guild in a while and take a look.”

Li Yang silently made a decision in his heart.

With ample funds now, buying a planet should not be a problem.

Even if the funds are temporarily tight, he can always borrow more from the bank; after all, the interest is zero, so there are no worries at all.

“Go and notify the management departments of Blue Star and Mars.”

Li Yang turned to Pal and instructed.

“In a while, I will purchase another planet and have it transported there. Let them prepare for personnel adjustments in advance and plan the population resettlement scheme for the new planet.”

“Yes!”

Pal responded in a deep voice, immediately turning to relay the order... In a blink of an eye, more than a month had passed since Li Yang returned to This Galaxy Cluster.

After this period of organization and arrangement, all aspects of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision's work have entered the right track, with all matters, big and small, handled in an orderly manner, and the entire department's operation has regained its efficient and orderly vitality.

During this time, Li Yang did not forget his previous promise.

He specifically contacted Minister Sha Li, whom he had met during his advanced studies at the Officer Cadre Advanced Studies Branch—the Person in Charge who managed various affairs of the branch.

After some communication and coordination, Li Yang successfully secured a valuable advanced study slot for Xiao Ran, hoping to use this opportunity to help Xiao Ran improve his abilities and accumulate more strength for his subsequent work.

On the other end of the communication, Xiao Ran's voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement and earnestness, thanking him repeatedly, with every word expressing his loyalty to serve wholeheartedly.

Li Yang listened, but calmly interrupted him.

“No need for pleasantries, just one thing—complete the advanced study as quickly as possible.”

In Li Yang's view, the length of the advanced study directly reflected the strength of one's ability.

He didn't demand that Xiao Ran finish his advanced study in one year like him, but the bottom line was that it absolutely couldn't exceed three years.

Xiao Ran on the other end of the communication immediately perked up, his tone full of confidence.

“Captain Li Yang, rest assured, it won't take three years! I am confident that, like you, I can finish it in one year!”

That unyielding spirit could be clearly felt through the communicator.

After resolving Xiao Ran's advanced study matters, Li Yang let out a long sigh of relief.

Now that the work of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision was well arranged and all affairs were on track, it was time to fulfill his previous idea—to choose a suitable planet.

He stood up and straightened his collar, a decisive glint in his eyes, and used the communication device to call Pal over, preparing to head to the Hope Merchant Guild.

“Pal, go prepare. I need to visit the Hope Merchant Guild branch in This Galaxy Cluster.”

Li Yang put down the star map in his hand and instructed in a steady voice.

“Yes!”

Pal acknowledged the order and quickly turned to arrange the travel matters.

As the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee and supervision director of This Galaxy Cluster, Captain Li Yang's travel safety has always been a top priority, allowing no room for carelessness.

Soon, Pal began to dispatch personnel.

He knew in his heart that the Empire Executor Type I main starship absolutely could not be used—its colossal size, if parked at the guild's entrance, would be a blatant declaration of “important person arriving,” too ostentatious and inconsistent with Li Yang's usual low-key style.

According to the Empire's Administrative Travel Regulations, Li Yang's rank was entitled to deploy standard starships from the administrative center of This Galaxy Cluster.

After carefully checking the authorization list, Pal quickly finalized the Guard lineup.

Two star river class starships served as the main transport, with sleek hull lines and some offensive armaments concealed, maintaining necessary deterrence without appearing aggressive. These were accompanied by four super-star class frigates, arranged in a diamond-shaped escort formation, with energy shields and weapon systems constantly on standby, sufficient to handle any emergencies that might arise during the journey.

Some might question “private use of public starships,” but in the Empire's regulations, there is no such concept as private use of public starships.

The starship resources of the administrative center of This Galaxy Cluster are inherently provided to ensure the daily or work use of officials at all levels, with different ranks corresponding to different specifications of deployment authority. Li Yang's current deployment fully complies with regulations, neither overstepping nor being wasteful.

Before long, Pal returned to report.

“Captain Li Yang, the fleet is on standby at the spaceport, and all personnel and equipment have been checked. We are ready to depart at any time.”

Li Yang nodded, stood up and tidied his cuffs, his gaze sweeping across the starry sky outside the window, and said faintly.

“Let's go.”

The Hope Merchant Guild branch in This Galaxy Cluster is located in an open spaceport area.

It was an enormous space structure, shaped like a giant top suspended in the starry sky, gleaming with a cold and magnificent luster under the starlight.

In the docking area outside the building, various starships were densely packed, though most were intricately designed and ornately decorated civilian starships, with military starships being few and far between, making them particularly conspicuous.

“Heh heh, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll pick out a new outfit for you in a bit, guaranteed to be the latest style.”

A corpulent, pot-bellied man with strangely green skin affectionately embraced a voluptuous and beautiful woman beside him, and the two slowly descended from their luxuriously decorated private starship.

The man's tone carried a hint of ostentation, and his eyes were full of self-satisfaction.

“Oh, dear, won't that be too extravagant...”

The woman leaned delicately into the man's arms, her voice sickeningly sweet, but her eyes involuntarily darted towards the grand guild building in the distance.

“I heard that things at the Hope Merchant Guild are terribly expensive, and I'd be worried about your wallet, you know...”

Though her words expressed concern, her tone couldn't hide a hint of anticipation and excitement.

“Don't worry, it's just a small sum!”

The man patted his round belly, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Who do you think I am? I'm a Member of the Hope Merchant Guild! The good things in here, as long as I want them, aren't they easily obtainable?”

He was spouting off, bragging about his Member status, trying to show off his power in front of the woman, when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the scene at the main entrance of the guild.

A group of Staff members in uniform stood in neat rows, their expressions solemn, as if they were on high alert, preparing to welcome some important person.

And the one behind the team, with an extraordinary demeanor, was precisely the management president of this branch.

“Honey, look!”

The woman also noticed the scene. She excitedly tugged the man's arm, her eyes sparkling with surprise.

“These people... could these people all be here to welcome you?”

In her opinion, to be welcomed by a team of Staff members from the Hope Merchant Guild branch was an absolute symbol of extremely noble status.

She had always known that Member status in the Hope Merchant Guild was extremely rare and unobtainable for ordinary people. At this moment, she naturally assumed that this grand display was prepared for the “esteemed Member” beside her.

Hearing this, although a trace of uncertainty flashed through the man's heart, meeting the woman's expectant gaze, his vanity was instantly ignited.

He straightened his slightly hunched back, deliberately slowed his pace, feigning a casual composure he was accustomed to, and said with a slight lift of his chin.

“Probably, yes. After all, I am a Member, and this display of theirs is most likely specifically to welcome me.”

The smugness in his tone was undeniable, as if all of this was naturally to be expected.

With that, he tightened his arm around the woman in his embrace and swaggered towards the main entrance, his boots clicking purposefully on the polished floor, as if announcing his arrival.

However, as soon as he approached, a Staff member in a black uniform immediately stepped forward, standing tall and straight, his tone polite but unyielding.

“Excuse me, sir, the main entrance is temporarily closed. Please use other entrances.”

His gaze was calm and unwavering, not moved in the slightest by the man's posture.

“What do you mean?”

The man's face instantly darkened, and his voice sharply rose.

“I am a Member of your Hope Merchant Guild! Which time did I not use the main entrance before? Other entrances are for ordinary people. Do I need to use such a place?”

He flung the woman's hand away, pointed at the Staff member's nose, his face full of disbelief and rage—in his opinion, this was not just an obstruction, but an insult to his Member status.

Hearing that he was a Member of their guild, the Staff member still maintained a professional smile, his tone softening a bit.

“Sir, please calm down. We mean no offense. The main entrance indeed has special arrangements today and is temporarily unavailable. We ask for your understanding. As an apology, we can apply a 30% discount for your purchases in the store today. This is the maximum concession within our authority.”

“Discount? A 30% discount?”

The man sounded as if he had heard the biggest joke, suddenly raising his voice, drawing the attention of surrounding citizens who had been going about their business.

“Do you think I'm the kind of person who lacks this small discount? What I come here for is this dignity! Use another entrance? What would that look like if word got out!”

He stuck out his neck, spittle flying with his agitated words, completely oblivious to the amused glances from those around him.

The onlookers stopped in twos and threes, whispering to each other, some discussing in low voices.