A week later, Wang Feng officially changed jobs, taking on the position of Jiang Ye's captain of the guard.
Of course, his responsibilities extended beyond just protecting Jiang Ye; he was also tasked with safeguarding all high-ranking officials on Jiang Ye Star, Bi Rong Star, Liuwang Star, and Yunshi Star.
Wang Feng moved swiftly, first introducing some of his former colleagues to Jiang Ye, whom he had also recruited to serve.
This was followed by a massive procurement of security equipment, with orders totaling hundreds of billions.
Yunshi Star dedicated a new city to the production of various specialized foods.
Vast greenhouses and enclosed farms surrounded the city, producing organic, pollution-free food. Robots handled the sowing, and two mechanical legions were stationed for defense. The entire food production process was so secure that not only strangers but even flies were kept out.
From this point forward, a significant portion of Jiang Ye's food would be transported by air from Yunshi Star.
During transit, all food items underwent strict inspection.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, another inspection was conducted.
After cooking, a taster would consume a portion, and a specialized machine would perform a final check. Only after confirmation of safety was the food served to Jiang Ye.
All personnel and machinery involved in the catering chain were under constant surveillance and underwent regular lie detector tests. Food ingredients were also assigned numbers and samples were retained for one month at each stage.
In addition to this, dedicated food supply bases were to be established on Jiang Ye Star, Bi Rong Star, and Liuwang Star.
Once all food bases were operational, Jiang Ye would eat food selected by a lottery system, with each base's food having an equal chance of being chosen. Despite the stringent security measures at the food bases, Wang Feng insisted on this additional layer of precaution.
Following his recovery, Jiang Ye returned to work.
His primary focus was the Planetary Exchange.
Since its opening, the Planetary Exchange had seen considerable trading volume and turnover.
On average, six stars and twenty-eight planets were traded daily, with a total value approaching two hundred trillion.
According to the laws of the Galactic Empire, the Planetary Exchange collected a transaction fee of one in ten billion, resulting in a net profit of twenty million daily.
This was merely the direct profit; the indirect benefits were even more substantial.
Foreign investment experienced another small boom. Many customers who had traveled great distances to the Planetary Exchange found the place to their liking and began investing heavily. They made large purchases of fixed assets, established companies, built factories, and even made charitable donations.
This was only the beginning; as long as the Planetary Exchange operated smoothly, future benefits would continue to grow.
Ju Lanlan had also been diligently searching for planets that met the criteria.
She submitted the details of several planets to Jiang Ye.
Zhaoxing: Suitable gravity and climate, with a small indigenous alien population. It had not yet been incorporated into the Galactic Empire's territory, and ownership could be claimed by eliminating the inhabitants, with a price of twenty trillion.
Yangjia Star: Required minor climate modification. It housed a terrorist base of the Galactic Separatist Alliance, with approximately ten thousand individuals. Ownership could be claimed after their elimination, with a price of eighteen trillion.
Bejiaya Star: Suitable environment, with a small number of alien rebels active. Ownership could be claimed after their elimination, with a price of twenty-two trillion.
However, Jiang Ye rejected these, instructing Ju Lanlan to search for completely undeveloped planets, even if it meant paying more.
In the past, Jiang Ye would have decisively dispatched troops to seize them.
But after falling ill, his severe aversion to bloodshed and violence had not subsided.
The mere thought of sending troops and the ensuing violence made Jiang Ye feel nauseous and even break out in a cold sweat.
The atomic parasites had undoubtedly damaged some part of his brain tissue, possibly a very minor injury, but it had significantly altered Jiang Ye's psychology.
Jiang Ye consulted a psychologist on the planet, but the psychologist was overly cautious, hesitant to discuss anything with Jiang Ye or prescribe medication freely.
The Galactic Empire also sent a military psychologist to diagnose Jiang Ye, but no definitive diagnosis was made. They recommended a period of rest, suggesting that he might recover.
Many friends also called to offer Jiang Ye encouragement.
But nothing helped. Even watching a war movie on television triggered an instinctive feeling of nausea in Jiang Ye.
On a Saturday evening, Jiang Ye was busy in his office.
A call suddenly came through, but it had no caller ID.
Jiang Ye, surprised, answered.
"Hello, who is this?" Jiang Ye asked.
"It's me." A voice like an ancient dragon.
"Director Dai!" Jiang Ye immediately stopped his work, his tone respectful. "The Planetary Exchange is operating well. Do you have any tasks for me?"
"I heard you've developed hemophobia?" Dai Zhixing asked.
Jiang Ye was startled. This information was known only to a very few people; how had it reached Dai Zhixing?
Had Dai Zhixing planted informants around him?
Or did he possess some means of monitoring him?
"A military doctor from the Galactic Empire examined you, right? I've seen your diagnosis report. It states that any bloody scene, even in animated films, causes your blood pressure to rise, nausea, panic, sweating, and accompanied by numerous nightmares." Dai Zhixing's voice was accompanied by the sound of rustling paper. "It's suspected to be a pathological change caused by slight brain damage from atomic parasites, affecting the physiology and then the psychology?"
"Yes," Jiang Ye sighed. "I don't know what's happening."
"I'll come to see you," Dai Zhixing said. "I should arrive in about 48 hours. Which planet are you on?"
"You could just call me if you need anything. It's too much trouble for you to make a personal trip," Jiang Ye said quickly.
"When someone is sick, you visit them in their room; you don't ask the patient to come out," Dai Zhixing laughed heartily. "I'm also bored here, so I'll come to see you and take a trip to your place."
"Then I'll wait for you on Jiang Ye Star. I'll arrange a tour group for you. Do you have any travel preferences? For example, do you prefer cultural sites or natural scenery?"
"Thank you for the trouble, but no need for overly grand arrangements. I'll bring a few bodyguards. I plan to stay for about a week. Just assign me a few reliable tour guides, and try not to make a big fuss," Dai Zhixing said. "Avoid crowded tourist spots; let's go to some unique cities or the wilderness."
After a few more words, the call ended.
Jiang Ye fell into a state of severe anxiety.
During dinner time, Cen Yemeng called. She was working on Liuwang Star. Ever since Jiang Ye fell ill, she had been frightened and had become more clingy. Every day, during the three meal times, she insisted on video calls with her husband, using holographic projection to communicate as if they were face-to-face.
"Husband, why do you look so troubled? Are you feeling unwell again?" Cen Yemeng noticed something was amiss as soon as the video call connected.
"Director Dai called me. He knows about my condition and wants to come and see me," Jiang Ye sighed.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Cen Yemeng asked. "It means Director Dai cares about you. Why are you worried?"
"Think about it with your little brain," Jiang Ye tapped his temple with his finger. "He's been working for so long, giving me immense resources, and toiling away, like watering and fertilizing a tree, to finally get the Planetary Exchange to grow. Now, at this critical juncture, I've suddenly developed hemophobia and become a pacifist. How do you think he feels?"