Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 989

Chapter 980: The Corrupt Prime Minister of the Old Empire

Minister of the Old Empire. The core of power in Holy Terra is mired in silent decay.

Although the Prime Minister is supposed to work in the Terran Imperial Palace, Zibodu has long since departed.

The new Prime Minister has several residences. Zibodu would meet with government officials in one of them. No one knew where he would be each day; even those who were scheduled to meet him next could only find out at short notice.

Most of the time, he was not in any of the residences, but in his carriage, planning various matters.

His Prime Minister’s orders still appeared occasionally on public broadcasts in Holy Terra, and many Imperial government officials still received his orders.

However, the specific compliance was uncertain.

Any official loyal to the Empire and humanity would no longer be loyal to him upon seeing him in this state. He was no longer the same Zibodu as before.

Deep within Zibodu’s bulging eyes, a murky green light danced. Putrefaction oozed from beneath his velvet robe. At his feet, decaying plants sprouted one after another, teeming with mosquitoes and “elves” frolicking among them, a strange display of life.

His bloated knuckles drummed against the edge of the table. His belly was so vast it could easily fit three adults, and his features were distorted by his fleshy face… Only those familiar with Zibodu could barely recognize him in this state. He was the last unifier of the old Empire’s politics, the once-skillful Prime Minister!

Logically, his life should have ended decades ago.

Human elites certainly have life-extending surgeries available, and lifespans of three to five hundred years are common.

However, no matter how advanced the technology, it’s only a life-extending procedure, not immortality.

Zibodu, unable to achieve immortality, had reached the end of his fifth life-extending surgery, leaving him with no other options.

A sixth life-extending surgery? That was the guillotine. In the entire empire’s ten-thousand-year history, only two or three people had survived the sixth operation.

While the powerful—especially those of Qi Bodu’s rank—would often insist on a single operation, even if it meant wasting resources, when faced with no other options, everyone rationally understood that it was simply another form of death—a natural death, perhaps on the operating table.

Before the Cataclysm, he had paid a high price to secure a promise from Gu Hang.

A nominal position as High Leader in exchange for an improved life-extending procedure that would extend his lifespan by another sixty to one hundred years.

However, the outbreak of the Scarlet Scar changed everything.

Separated from each other, the Alliance, far across the rift, in the empire’s easternmost border, had lost contact. Try as he might, he could not find Gu Hang to perform the surgery.

But Qi Bodu truly did not want to die.

Before the Cataclysm, he had already wielded supreme power throughout the Imperium. The Cataclysm completely destroyed all his plans, yet he still managed to keep the Terran government functioning. At that time, the entire Terran region, and even the Solar Segmentum, was in relatively good shape.

However, his life was already fading.

In his final stages, he had no interest in governing, instead seeking any means to survive.

Yet, he clung to power with

a fierce determination. There was no contradiction.

To survive, he must have sufficient power. Otherwise, why would so many people and resources be mobilized to find a way to prolong his life?

If he survived but lost power, what would be the point of such a life?

The weaker he became, the more his obsessive desire for power grew. Any threat to his power would be met with his full might.

This naturally had a profound impact on the government’s operations, especially in such difficult times.

Yet, no one opposed him.

The sick tiger still held a powerful presence; who dared to provoke it?

Everyone knew he was dying, and no one wanted to endure his final madness.

Besides, there was no need.

Just endure it, wait for his own death, and all would be well. However

, no one ever waited for that day.

After exhausting every possible means of survival, to no avail, endless despair and a longing for life filled his heart. Then, he heard a voice from the unknown, a voice so benevolent it offered a miraculous blessing: if he accepted it, he would be restored to health.

He hesitated, but in his final moments, he finally gave in.

And the blessing came so swiftly.

His withered body was instantly filled with life. He felt a surge of energy and vitality.

He claimed it was a blessing from the Emperor. The Emperor, appreciating his contributions as Chancellor of the Empire for over a hundred and forty years, had granted him a generous grace, restoring his health.

But the hateful, abominable traitor dared to claim it was a blessing from an evil god, tainting him!

The Inquisition, the Golden Knights, the Ministry of Justice, the Custodes, the Court of Assassins… all those deserving of death, each one a debt of gratitude to him, came one after another.

It started with covert investigations and espionage.

Later, it evolved into covert assassinations and overt questioning.

But what was the point?

He had been well prepared, having done so much in secret.

He spoke passionately before the Supreme Council, and the High Lords of the various councils supported him as always.

These High Lords remained as close to him as ever, and privately, he generously shared the blessings he had received with them.

While not all, it was enough to secure him a majority vote in the Supreme Council.

Everyone had gained health and eternal life—a blessing from the gods. What good could there be?

In the future, they could rule the entire empire together for eternity!

Yet, despite the Supreme Council’s final decision, those damned traitors persisted!

In the end, even with the Inquisition leading the way and the Imperial Guards leading the team, they broke into his Prime Minister’s residence in the Terra Palace!

But he had still anticipated this.

He had moved early.

He declared these people traitors and called on the power of the entire empire to bury them completely!

Many government bureaucrats followed him out of the palace and still formed an imperial government to keep it running. A large number of troops loyal to the Prime Minister’s Office also received eternal blessings and fought for him.

In the Hive City, with the trillions of people in Holy Terra, the blessing had actually been spreading continuously over the years. They were inspired by the Prime Minister’s grace and gathered around him, expanding the scale of inspiration and gifts at a very fast speed.

Tens of billions of people kept the name of the loving father in their hearts.

The Empire will be eternal.

No matter how it is eternal.

(End of this chapter)