Si waited for Taj to project. Another summary. This time, however, everything was different. Why? Because it was peaceful.

  Not perfect, but peaceful.

  Si had to admit, Lukai was not patient.

  People were not soldiers.

  One could give orders, and it would work, but only up to a certain point. Lukai wanted to create a happy nation, but he had gone too far. He began to use force, scaring people with his actions.

  People needed to want what the ruler wanted.

  Si wanted to steer conversations to the point where people were asking him to change, manage, help, or provide funds or resources. At the same time, he could calmly work on the topics that were not stirring up the nation.

  The Gates net should be unified soon; the direct impact on people would be zero. But the impact on him and the managers across the planets and moons—enormous, not to mention Taj. Si wanted to start talks about the unification of manufacturing processes as well. How it worked was ridiculously ineffective.

  Would people notice? Some, probably. Would it cause riots? Not really.

  When there were multiple problems to solve, avoiding things that didn’t matter to the ruler, but that mattered to the people, was the easiest way. Why didn’t Lukai…?

  Si used this approach with Shadows, and it worked well—good enough. He decided to repeat this when he took over the New Empire, and it began to work.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  Not perfect, but good enough.

  Si silently laughed at how ‘good enough’ had become his most repeated phrase. He knew it shouldn’t persist. ‘Good enough’ was dangerously close to ‘not enough.’ Or ‘let’s leave it like that forever.’

  Though it was a sufficient starting point, suitable for the kickoff phase.

  Taj. It was good that they could meet whenever needed without having to hide. Si now tried to recall when they had met for the first time. It was… at the end of 170 ACD.

  To gain Taj’s trust in full, it took around two years. Two years of talks and guesses until Si could say he earned the famous: ‘o, correct.’

  Si laughed louder.

  All the o’s of Taj. He even noted it somewhere…

  Lukai was too impatient. He wanted to be given trust out of thin air. As if he couldn’t understand that trust had to be gained.

  Sporadically, it was faster, but usually, it was not. However, when it was achieved… Taj, for example, was very loyal.

  When Si learned about Taj’s personal matters, it confirmed his previous notions of his loyalty. The same when in love, the same in friendship, and clearly the same when working with someone. When Taj trusted, he trusted fully.

  Si had a sudden thought. Commander. Would he like to rule? If Taj ever found him and woke him up, what kind of person would he be, and what… but no, Commander hadn’t acted as if he wanted to gain political power back then.

  Moreover, Si smirked at the thought; it was said that Commander wasn’t great at politics. His skills were different.

  How interesting it would be if Taj were to find him.

  … Taj would be more attached to his life. It had already changed. He was still investigating how to destroy himself. It was out of curiosity, according to him. However, Taj was not depressed. He had hope.

  Very good.

  Loyalty. Lukai could have such a loyal friend and worker… being patient sounded easy, but it was not.

  The only missing part was in science; Si had another thought.

  In terms of science. Currently, there was no one like Elder Liu Lan. They needed someone like her. Where to find such a person?

  “Si? I have news, good ones,” Taj projected, and they started their calm meeting.