"Although a Commander and a Planet Governor are of the same rank, the real power ultimately lies with Cen Yemeng. Even Cen Yemeng doesn't have absolute power; Jiang Ye makes the final decisions. So, don't feel pressured," Li Nannan said earnestly, trying to persuade her. "Once you're appointed Commander, you'll be part of the Galactic Empire's military system. If you want to establish a logistics industry on the Exile Star, your applications will be easily approved. You know the Exile Star's geographical location; the military certainly won't entrust vital lifelines to outsiders of unknown origin."
Isabelle, who had intended to refuse, found herself momentarily speechless upon hearing about business.
She frowned and began to consider.
"If you're willing to handle the duties of the Commander, I can delegate some real power to you. That would be even better and would lighten my workload. You served in the Galactic Empire's military, a far larger, more complex, and advanced system. I believe you have ample experience and knowledge to serve as Commander," Cen Yemeng added. "If you're busy, handling military affairs with Jiang Ye and me is perfectly fine. You can focus entirely on your business. In the Exile Star's industrial structure, transportation will play a significant role, and your career can truly develop here."
"If your previous business was like a seed sucking dew from a crack in the rock, coming to the Exile Star will turn it into a rainforest growing wildly in fertile land and great rivers. Within five years, tens of thousands of star-class ships will pass by the Exile Star daily like a meteor shower. The money from the transportation industry will pour onto the entire planet like a non-stop torrential rain. If you set up a large umbrella here and settle down, you'll hear the clinking of money above your head day and night," Jiang Ye chimed in immediately, his response as quick as a crosstalk comedian. He and his wife had developed a tacit understanding over the years.
"Right now, there's no one more suitable than you," Li Nannan continued. "Your appointment would put Cen Yemeng at ease, Jiang Ye at ease, and me, representing the military, at ease. Your taking this position would absolutely solve a major problem for us. If you insist on refusing, and we find an outsider, there will surely be many complications in the work."
"Then..." Isabelle's expression was peculiar. "I have a condition."
"Go ahead and say it," Jiang Ye smiled. "Hesitation isn't your style."
"If I feel I can't do it, I can resign at any time," Isabelle stated.
"No," Jiang Ye said immediately.
Isabelle glared. Was the intention to force her into a trap too obvious?
"But it's not entirely impossible," Cen Yemeng said, patting her husband's shoulder and smiling. "Because the position of Commander is special and of great importance, if you wish to resign, you can't just say you're quitting tonight and walk away tomorrow. You'll have to give us advance notice, hand over your duties, and only when the timing is right and we approve can you step down."
"Right," Jiang Ye nodded.
Isabelle didn't reply, falling into a new hesitation.
The Exile Star would grow to be vast, rapidly becoming a crucial hub on the edge of the galaxy. Being a Commander on such a planet meant facing a completely different life.
She had never imagined a day like this in her life. It was too sudden. Even after talking for so long, it still felt unreal. She even doubted if she had entered the room the right way, perhaps triggering some strange timeline.
Jiang Ye observed Isabelle's expression discreetly, sensing she was at a crossroads, able to accept or refuse the position. At this moment, a gentle push and a few words could completely change her destiny.
"Once you become Commander, I'll have only one request for you," Jiang Ye said. "Be selfless. Don't let any dark things seep into your heart just because you have power. Treat this position as a normal job. If there's anything you don't know, Mengmeng and Nannan and I can teach you."
"Never become like Ju Lanlan; maintain your composure. I believe you have the ability," Li Nannan immediately echoed, knowing what needed to be said at this moment.
Cen Yemeng directly tapped her desk screen, and a holographic electronic legal certification instantly appeared. Appointments to positions like Planet Governor and Commander were matters of the highest level, requiring coordination with the Galactic Empire's legal department.
Isabelle's head was spinning. She trusted the three people opposite her implicitly: one was a man she had once loved deeply, one was a good friend, and one was a close girlfriend of many years. Yet, she felt the matter was progressing too quickly. Less than an hour had passed from learning about it to entering the legal certification process. The sheer volume of information made her feel like she was on a roller coaster.
It felt like... being scammed.
After a long period of hesitation, she finally looked up at the holographic projection and began the procedure as instructed, including blinking, making gestures, reciting an oath, and manually signing.
If she was being scammed, then so be it.
Isabelle felt helpless; she was always too soft-hearted in front of her friends.
The three people opposite each other exchanged glances, revealing slightly cunning smiles.
The holographic projection displayed the words "Submission Complete."
"Is that it? I'm the Commander of the Exile Star?" Isabelle's dizziness intensified. "It feels so unreal, like registering for a game account."
"Not yet," Cen Yemeng smiled. "The sovereignty recognition for the Exile Star hasn't been finalized, but this matter is basically settled; it's just a matter of time."
"Before you officially start, why don't you train yourself first?" Jiang Ye pulled a cardboard box from behind his desk and pushed it toward Isabelle.
Isabelle opened the box and was startled, her face showing alarm. "What is this!"
"Textbooks," Cen Yemeng's expression was like a graduate student looking at freshmen. "These are the general textbooks used by the Galactic Empire to train the top leaders of various planets. I've studied all of these; I'm lending them to you to learn."
"Holy hell," Isabelle's face turned pale. "This much? Will I be exhausted to death?"
"Take your time," Jiang Ye said. "We recommend reading the entire text and memorizing it. Mengmeng and I will test your progress."
"I'll be responsible for providing the question bank," Li Nannan revealed her accomplice's smirk. "The questions are all very difficult. After reading the entire text and memorizing it, you'll need to think analogically and apply it flexibly."
"This..." Isabelle felt utterly betrayed. "How long will it take to finish studying all of this?"
"Very quickly. If we count pure study time, I passed all the exams in less than a year," Cen Yemeng's tone was that of a top scholar.
Isabelle was horrified. Studying for an entire year? She had graduated from school so many years ago, and now she had to undergo such prolonged, hellish study?
"Don't listen to her feeding you chicken soup," Jiang Ye poured cold water. "When I saw Mengmeng take her exams, I realized her brain was exceptionally smart. Her memory and comprehension abilities were maxed out; she's a bit of a genius. If this were ancient times, calling her a provincial top scholar might be an exaggeration, but she could definitely be a county college entrance exam top scorer. Plus, she had already studied the classics extensively, possessing relevant knowledge. For a rough fellow like me, these textbooks would probably take ten years to master. Many Planet Governors and Commanders in our training classes were retaking the exams for the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth year."
"You need to be prepared for a protracted battle," Li Nannan agreed. "I've also studied some of these subjects. I truly found myself agonizing over them even in my dreams. After my brain was wrung dry, I felt like a walking corpse."
Isabelle was terrified. She had truly boarded a pirate ship!