Chapter 980, The Corrupt Prime Minister of the Old Empire

The core of Holy Terra's power is being silently decayed.

Although the Prime Minister is supposed to be working in the Terra Palace, Zibodu had already left long ago.

There are several new Prime Minister's residences. Prime Minister Qi Bodu will meet with government officials at one of them. No one knows which residence he will be at each day; even those who are scheduled to meet him will only find out by being notified at the last minute.

Most of the time, however, he was not actually in any of his official residences, but rather in his 'carriage' where he planned various matters.

His prime ministerial decrees still occasionally appear on Holy Terra's public broadcasts; many imperial government officials still receive his orders.

However, the specifics of whether they will comply are another matter.

Any bureaucrat loyal to the empire and to humanity would find it impossible to remain loyal to him after seeing his current appearance; they would believe he was still the same Qi Bodu they once knew.

Deep within Qi Bodu's bulging eyes, a murky green light flickered. Corrosive liquid seeped from beneath his velvet robe, cultivating one decaying plant after another, where numerous mosquitoes and 'little elves' frolicked, creating an eerie scene of vibrant life.

His fat, swollen knuckles tapped the edge of the table. His belly was so big that it could easily fit three adults. His fleshy face squeezed out his features... Only those who knew him very well could barely recognize that Qi Bodu had become the last unifier of the old empire's politics and the once brilliant prime minister of the empire!
Logically speaking, his life should have ended decades ago.

While the elite certainly have access to life-extending surgeries, lifespans of three to five hundred years are quite common.

However, no matter how advanced the technology, it is only a life-extending surgery, not an immortality surgery.

Unable to achieve immortality, Qi Bodu's lifespan, extended by the fifth life-extending surgery, had already reached its end; he had no other choice.

To undergo the sixth life-extending surgery? That's the guillotine. In the entire empire's ten-thousand-year history, only two or three people have ever survived the sixth surgery.

Although the powerful and wealthy—especially those at the level of Qi Bodu—often insist on undergoing the procedure even if it's a waste of resources, when there's no other way, rationally everyone knows that it's just another way to die—either dying of old age or on the operating table.

Before the cataclysm, he had obtained a promise from Gu Hang at a high price.

In exchange for a nominal high-ranking chairmanship, he received an improved life-extending surgery that could extend his lifespan by another sixty to one hundred years.

However, the outbreak of scarlet scars changed everything.

After the two places were separated, there was no news from the alliance on the other side of the rift, in the easternmost border of the empire. Despite his efforts, it was indeed impossible for him to find Gu Hang to perform the surgery for him.

But Qi Bodu really didn't want to die.

Before the cataclysm, he had already seized supreme power in the entire empire; the outbreak of the cataclysm completely destroyed all his plans, but he was still doing his best to maintain the operation of the Terra government. At that time, the situation in Terra and even the Solar System was still quite good.

However, he was already in his twilight years.

In the final stages of his life, he lost interest in politics and instead sought every possible way to survive.

But ironically, he clung to power relentlessly.

Not conflicting at all.

If he wants to survive, he must have enough power. Otherwise, how could so many people and so many resources be mobilized to find a way to prolong his life?
If one survives but loses all rights, what meaning does such a life have?

The weaker he was, the more obsessive his desire for power became. Anything that might even slightly threaten his power would be met with his full force.

This certainly caused great disruption to the functioning of the government, especially in such difficult times.

However, no one objected to him. Even a sick tiger retains its power; who would dare provoke it?
Everyone knew he was going to die, and no one wanted to bear the madness he was going to experience before he died.

Besides, there's no need for it.

Just bear with it, and everything will be fine once he dies on his own.

However, no one lived to see that day.

After exhausting all means to survive to no avail, endless despair and a yearning for life filled his heart. At that moment, he heard a voice from the heavens, a voice of utmost compassion that brought a miraculous blessing: if he accepted it, he would regain his health.

He had hesitated, but in the end, on his deathbed, he could not hold back.

And the blessing came so quickly.

His withered body quickly became fuller. He felt energetic and full of vitality.

He claimed that this was a blessing from the Emperor. The Emperor appreciated his contributions as Prime Minister of the Empire for over 140 years and had generously granted him the favor that restored his health.

But the hateful and despicable traitor dared to say that this was a blessing from an evil god; he had been corrupted!
The Tribunal, the Golden Knights, the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Guard, the Assassin's Court... these guys who deserved to be hanged, all of whom had once received his favors, came one after another.

At first, they conducted investigations and espionage covertly.

Later, it evolved into covert assassinations and overt questioning.

But what's the use?
He had been prepared for this for a long time and had done a lot of things in secret.

He delivered a passionate address to the High Council, and the many High Lords in the council, as always, supported him.

These high lords remained as close to him as ever, and in private, he generously shared the blessings he had received with them.

Although not all of them, they were enough for him to get a sufficient number of votes in the Supreme Council.

Everyone has gained health and eternal life, which is a blessing from the gods. What's wrong with that?

In the future, we can join hands to rule the entire empire forever!

However, even though the Supreme Council had already reached a conclusion on the matter, those damned traitors still wouldn't let it go!

In the end, they even led the way through the courtroom, with the royal guards in charge, and stormed into his prime minister's residence in Terra Palace!
But this was something he had already anticipated.

He moved away a long time ago.

He declared these people traitors and rallied the entire empire to bury them utterly!
Many government officials followed him out of the palace, still forming an imperial government that continued to function. A large number of troops loyal to the Prime Minister's office also received eternal blessings and fought for him.

In the Hive, on a scale of trillions within Holy Terra, the blessing had already been spreading throughout the ages. Inspired by the Prime Minister's grace, they gathered around him, rapidly expanding the scale of inspiration and grace.

Billions of people cherish the name of the loving father.

The empire will last forever.

Eternity, in whatever form.

(End of this chapter)