I Don't Agree to the Terms

```

Players now depend on the AI brain system to automate their gameplay, and everything produced is part of a virtual internal cycle, sustained entirely by the recycling of Gold Coins. If those were to disappear, the in-game economy would collapse in an instant. By then, there would be no talk of profit; the gaming environment has already changed and can't return to the days filled with pay-to-win cash flow.

Jile Technology's other monopolies, on the other hand, could be broken and a portion of their share forcibly taken. Alas, doing so would be more trouble than it's worth.

The reason Jile Technology can maintain its monopoly isn't because it's a large corporation but because it possesses cutting-edge technology and exceptional management conditions.

If the Royal Family were to take over, not only would production plummet, but morale would too, and efficiency wouldn't be nearly as high.

After all, Jile Technology's salaries and benefits are extraordinarily high, so high that all other companies on the market can't bear the cost. Otherwise, why would so many people flock to it?

If the Royal Family were to take over, the first thing they would certainly do is cut salaries and reduce benefits to decrease costs, at least to the average market level.

This would be a significant drop, and the employees would undoubtedly not accept it. Not only would their compensation and benefits be reduced, but their workload would also increase. It's classic less pay for more work, and the moment there's a lack of balance, they would resign and flee.

As a Jile Technology employee, just being hired is an exceptionally impressive part of one's resume at other companies—as long as one is not fired. They would be totally able to find a better job, even after a pay cut and reduced benefits.

After various considerations, the Royal Family and the parliament ultimately decided to suppress Jile Technology rather than dismantle it or bring it under the Royal Family's ownership.

The effects of the crackdown weren't very significant; instead, throughout this process, Jile Technology corrupted many officials.

When the top fails to set a good example for the bottom, suppressing Jile Technology brings no benefits but only creates enemies. Whether it's the credit or the profit, it all goes to the upper echelons, while the losses and blame are borne grittingly by local officials—who are naturally displeased. They would rather collude with Jile Technology, not only to fare better themselves but also to pacify the leadership, who, frankly, don't really care about these issues.

"This is almost akin to the behavior of those who would doom their own country," Gu Shanhai commented, criticizing the rampant greed. It's fortunate that Jile Technology exists; otherwise, the contradictions might have already exploded.

Emperor Navia actually prefers this situation, seeing it as a balance of power.

He doesn't mind the greed of the parliament members or that officials have been bought, as long as their struggle doesn't affect the royal authority. He could even tolerate Jile Technology.

This is probably a deliberate move by Emperor Navia.

In Gu Shanhai's eyes, this is outright madness. But he had no interest in saving or correcting the situation. For him, this was just perfect, a suitable environment for Jile Technology to flourish.

By the time Emperor Navia truly realized what was happening, Jile Technology might have already taken control of the entire Navia Empire, and all other powers would be nothing but illusions in his hands.

"Boom~"

Gu Shanhai suddenly heard a loud explosion. With a casual sweep of his Spiritual Sense, he wanted to know where the explosion had occurred.

The prime suspect was the Royal Research Institute, for it had previously experienced a blast.

Last time, it was due to an escaped cancerous creature; they had used thermal weapons to destroy it and then claimed it was a gas explosion to the public.

This time...

"Still due to an escaped cancerous creature, no, what experiment did they conduct on this cancerous creature?" Gu Shanhai quickly found the reason.

Although most of the eternal life experiments were conducted in the Cancer Universe, this did not mean that the experiments on cancerous creatures in the Navia Empire would cease. On the contrary, they were actively seeking ways to eradicate at scale these cancerous creatures.

The parliament planned to colonize the Cancer Universe and was not willing to share it with the cancerous creatures; hence they naturally sought to exterminate them entirely.

Although their region is just an insignificant planet in the Cancer Universe, they don't know this. Instead, they believe it to be the entirety of the universe.

"The life structure has undergone significant changes, utilizing synthetic human technology and Ghost Energy technology, allowing the cancerous creatures to evolve into a new level of life."

Gu Shanhai hadn't anticipated that the Royal Research Institute harbored such talent; they managed, relying on local technology, to balance the interspersion of the cancerous creatures' internal alienation with Ghost Energy, granting them immense strength.

```

At least now, that gas explosion couldn't have killed the mutated life form.

"His strength must be at least that of a Prince in the leaf-expansion phase, and he's even close to touching the flowering phase."

"And because it's a preliminary fusion, once the integration further deepens, his strength might become even more formidable."

"He may even reach the fruiting phase."

Gu Shanhai quickly analyzed the data and technology on this mutated life form, swiftly reverse-engineering the corresponding information.

As for dealing with this mutated life form, Gu Shanhai had no intention of intervening. Why should he help when it was a monster created by the Royal Research Institute?

As for the possible death of others, that had nothing to do with Gu Shanhai. It wasn't something he created, and trying to be a hero would surely bring no benefits—on the contrary, he could be denounced by the Royal Family for showing off.

Moreover, Gu Shanhai planned to use this incident to undermine the prestige of the Royal Family, to keep them from constantly causing trouble.

"Entered the urban area? Wow, this is surely making a big fuss." Gu Shanhai couldn't help but smile.

In the Navia Empire, the penetration rate of Jile's 'extreme pleasure package' among the civilians was as high as 70%; seven out of ten people would have undergone Jile Technology's modifications.

There was no chance of keeping this incident under wraps, especially since the populace altered by these modifications typically had cameras built into their faces.

The incident had already sparked an internet uproar.

The common theory was that the Royal Research Institute had been conducting illegal human experiments and biological enhancements in secret.

Synthetic humans and synthetic beasts didn't look like this; they were half-mechanized, whereas one could tell at a glance that the mutated life forms were fleshly in appearance, without any mechanical support.

What's more, if they were synthetic humans or beasts, they wouldn't have lost control—the implanted machinery alone would have kept them obedient.

It wasn't as if they'd never seen them before.

Instead, it was the presence of Ghost Energy that led the public to believe that the Royal Research Institute had caused mutations in humans through Ghost Energy radiation.

God knew which energy company was behind this, directing the blame towards Ghost Energy, instantly inciting a massive societal critique.

In response to this, Gu Shanhai could only say that this wasn't the way to seek death, as Ghost Energy was the backbone of the Navia Empire. Therefore, a swift retribution followed, setting an example with a stark warning.

Besides energy politics, next they targeted Jile Technology, arguing that Jile Technology should reflect and introspect—although not directly involved, could they really say they bore no responsibility, disregarding the facts?

Seeing this, Gu Shanhai just smiled and instructed the Four Saints Beasts System to notify the Legal Affairs Department, the Information Department, and so on, to file lawsuits one after another.

There were those not afraid to die, but to be so foolhardy was quite rare. With such a big incident, Gu Shanhai thought it a waste not to send a few to cheer themselves up.

This also served as an opportunity to deal with the enemies of Jile Technology.

Those muddying the waters at this time were definitely competitors; reporting one meant one less rival.

Was he supposed to engage in a verbal or public relations battle with them? Gu Shanhai had no such luxury of time or interest; a physical resolution would suffice. Why bother with a roundabout approach when everyone from the judges to the guards was in his pocket?

Just win directly.

"The main force has arrived; it looks like things are about to settle down." Gu Shanhai sensed that roughly half an hour after the mutated life form's escape, the armed forces of the Navia Empire had also rushed to the scene. Through the suppressive firepower of Ghost Energy Weapons, they quickly incapacitated and captured it.

They did not kill it outright, clearly indicating that the Royal Research Institute had no intention of abandoning the project.