Then let the witch offer her loyalty

Seeing that Chen Moxin had successfully stirred up everyone's emotions, Charles knew that he absolutely could not continue like this, otherwise the roadshow would have the opposite effect.

So he posed a very pointed question: "Your vision is wonderful, but what about the results? Has the Star Sect produced any substantial results so far?"

"For so many years, all you've done is endlessly demand funding and squander citizens' taxes like a bottomless pit, without producing any results."

"If it weren't for the Star Sect burning through money all day long, bankrupting the entire planet's finances, why would the people here have to live on synthetic rations every day?!"

At this point, his expression became even more mocking, and he pointed specifically to Anies sitting in the car in the distance, saying in a sarcastic tone, "The taxes we work so hard to pay might end up in someone's pocket."

Chen Moxin laughed heartily: "Well said, I think so too."

Charles was completely stunned.

I'm cursing your master.

You're still saying "well said"?

Before Charles could react, Chen Moxin suddenly took out a small holographic projector from her pocket, pressed a button, and projected an image into the air.

In the scene, Charles is seen toasting and laughing with several men in suits.

Soon, the crowd recognized the people as well-known spaceship entrepreneurs from Planet Cicero.

In the video, Charles is seen flipping through a report in his hand, smiling as he says, "The demand for starships is growing louder, and the funding allocated to us is increasing. We need to refine our plans."

The man sitting to Charles's left casually stroked his chin and glanced at the documents on the table: "The budget for deep space probe development is 203 billion, but we won't actually need that much."

He paused for a moment: "This money can be spent under the guise of 'scientific research equipment procurement.' We'll find an equipment manufacturer, allocate this budget to the procurement contract, and agree on how to split the profits."

Charles nodded, his eyes gleaming: "We can have them quote a higher price for the equipment. If there's any extra funding, we can recoup it through a resale transaction."

"But the problem now is, how can we do it more neatly and without leaving a trace in those financial reports that need to be disclosed publicly?"

A capable-looking woman casually remarked, "As you know, the technology involved in interstellar spaceships is so complex that ordinary people simply cannot understand it. With proper operation, it can be completely concealed."

"For example, we include some technical consulting clauses in our financial statements, so that the consulting fee can easily cover a portion of the budget."

Another man chimed in, "Besides what you've mentioned, we can also make a fuss about 'core technology research and development,' for example, by using a fake technology cooperation agreement to shift the actual research and development costs to other projects."

Charles looked at him approvingly: "Good idea. How exactly do you plan to do it?"

The man smiled and leaned forward slightly: "In the technology cooperation agreement, we can introduce external research institutions—of course, these institutions are only nominal."

"They're called organizations, but they're actually very small, just a few people are needed to make up the numbers. But we can fabricate a large team, pay these virtual organizations hefty management fees, and then bring the money back..."

The spaceship-style entrepreneurs in the video were passionately discussing how to secretly embezzle funds, making Charles sweat profusely.

At the same time, he was both shocked and furious.

This was a private meeting he had with several partners last night!

The meeting venue had strict security measures in place; not even a fly could get in. How could Chen Moxin have managed to take a picture of it?!

However, he quickly recalled the invisibility ability that Chen Moxin had displayed when she appeared earlier.

That damned recipient!

Charles was frantic. In a moment of inspiration, he pointed at the image and shouted, "AI! This is an AI-generated image! How dare your Star Gate use something like this to slander my character! I will take legal action against you!"

Chen Moxin chuckled: "Then go to the court."

Seeing the voters below the stage looking bewildered and starting to stir, Charles became really anxious and quickly gave his security personnel a meaningful look.

Security personnel quickly arrived and drove Chen Moxin away: "Sir, you are disrupting the order of the scene. Please leave immediately."

Chen Moxin didn't clash with these people. She shrugged at the voters below the stage and said, "What can I say, everyone? Moxin is out."

He casually placed the microphone on the ground and swaggered off the stage.

Chen Moxin made her way through the chaotic crowd to the car and sat down next to Annie.

Anies was somewhat dazed at this moment, just staring straight at him.

Chen Moxin gave her a bright smile: "How was it? I didn't embarrass you, did I?"

It took Anies a while to come to her senses, her expression somewhat complicated: "...Generally speaking, I don't like my subordinates acting on their own."

She paused, a gentle smile appearing on her face, and patted Chen Moxin on the shoulder: "Well done."

Chapter 142 Assassination

At the roadshow, Chen Moxin pointed out the pros and cons and brought up the fact that Charles colluded with entrepreneurs from the spaceship faction to embezzle project funds, which did have some impact, but not much.

On the one hand, the media on Cicero's planet are mostly funded by the spaceship faction, and their main approach to these scandals is to not report, not forward, and not discuss them.

Some media outlets, particularly those skilled in public relations, even deliberately fabricated numerous "fake scandals."

Such things as Charles drugging and sexually assaulting an 80-year-old woman, Charles sneaking over the wall at dawn to raid Annais, Charles secretly having sex with a pig at home, etc., are all outrageous.

The media used these attention-grabbing things to generate public discussion, and then colluded with Charles to pretend to refute the rumors and shut down a few insignificant accounts.

The internet is a chaotic mix of truth and falsehood, with all sorts of messy information swirling around, making it impossible to distinguish between them.

With so much junk information circulating, something as trivial as misappropriating funds doesn't even generate any buzz.

As for the local court on Cicero, it naturally pretended to be dead.

The election results aren't even out yet, how dare they investigate randomly?

What if the investigation leads to the future governor of the planet?

There's even less chance of a response from the home planet. The two places are 1.4 light-years apart, and it would be more than a year before the home planet receives the message from Cicero Planet.

Thus, this roadshow controversy was like a small stone thrown into the water, creating only a tiny ripple before disappearing without a trace.

In the days that followed, as election day drew ever closer, the political atmosphere on Cicero became noticeably more intense.

The propaganda machines of the Star Gate Faction and the Spaceship Faction were running at full speed. Public vehicles bearing the images of the two candidates could be seen everywhere in the Upper City, and their respective slogans were displayed 24 hours a day between the high-rise buildings.

Charles and Annais were extremely busy, giving one roadshow after another, and exchanging insults and attacks on each other almost every day, trying to belittle each other's image and elevate themselves in every way.

Even the security situation has deteriorated. On the streets, it is common to see supporters and voters of the Stargate faction and the Spaceship faction confronting each other, hurling insults, arguing, and even escalating into violent clashes, with hundreds or even thousands of people fighting in groups.

For Chen Moxin and others, it was a firsthand experience of the democracy brought about by a nationwide election.

Next week is election day, and today Anies convened a seminar with her staff.

Annie has been extremely busy lately, only getting two or three hours of sleep a day. To maintain her work performance, she has even resorted to stimulants.

Prolonged sleep deprivation, coupled with the depletion of her body by stimulants, left her feeling utterly exhausted.

Annie stood in front of the conference room, a data sheet projected on the screen. With a grave expression, she said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have some bad news. The latest poll results are in."

“Charles has 58%, I have 42%, and the other side still has a significant lead. If this continues, we will be utterly defeated on election day next week.”

Anise looked at everyone. Although the situation was very unfavorable, she did not show too much emotion, whether due to her personal reasons or the reasons of the whole team, because what she needed most right now was to stay calm.

"The reason I've gathered you all here is to have us think together about how we can reverse this unfavorable situation."

“We’ve discussed a few options before,” Deputy Wilson continued, “We can strengthen the influence of social media, enhance our appeal to voters, and expand our voter base.”

Annies shook her head: "We've done all we can. At this point in time, most voters have already formed their own positions, and it's difficult to change their minds because of media propaganda."

Wilson whispered a few words to a few colleagues and continued, "We can increase our focus on people's livelihoods, especially on meeting the needs of those who are economically disadvantaged. These voters make up a significant portion of the electorate in this election cycle."

Annie said helplessly, "The idea is good, but the problem is, if you want to win over people with financial difficulties, you can't just talk the talk; you have to offer some real benefits, right?"

"Where will the money come from? There aren't many local consortia supporting us to begin with, and we're already very strapped for cash. Do you expect me to divert funds from the Stargate Base?"

Wilson looked worried and chatted with his colleagues for a while longer, his tone becoming less confident: "Perhaps we can put pressure on the media to create a more positive image for you."

Anies looked even more helpless, rubbing her swollen temples wearily as she said, "You mean, I should go to those media outlets that Charles funds and tell them—hey, stop supporting your sugar daddy and support me instead. Is that what you mean?"

The atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly heavy. Wilson and the others were at a loss for words. Everyone's eyes were filled with disappointment, and some even began to appear timid, as if they had already foreseen the impending defeat next week.

Anies pursed her lips, scanning the faces of her disheartened companions. Gradually, her gaze moved past the front row and landed on the middle and back rows.

After Chen Moxin and others joined the team, they always served as staff members.

Although these three had a record of beheading rebels, Chen Moxin later stole the show at a roadshow, really screwing over Charles.

However, their seniority was too shallow, and they had not yet been able to enter the inner circle of staff like Wilson and others, and their seats in meetings were very far back.

At this moment, compared to the worried faces of his staff, Chen Moxin's expression was calm, even leisurely. He was sitting by the window, teasing a small spider on the windowsill.

"Chen, is there anything you want to say?"

Although Anies felt that this young man would find it difficult to offer effective advice, since politics requires seasoned experience and youth is not an advantage but a disadvantage.

However, thinking of the two surprises Chen Moxin had given her, she still wanted to ask.

Chen Moxin didn't look at Anies, still lying there playing with the insects, and said lazily with a smile: "I won't say anything, it's pointless to say anything."

Anies raised an eyebrow: "What's that Eastern idiom again? 'To lure someone in,' right? Don't try to play mind games with me. If you're going to say it, then say it. If you're not going to say it, then don't say it again."

Chen Moxin then sat up straight and revealed a sunny and cheerful smile: "It's actually very simple. Since you can't beat your competitors, then eliminate them."

"Why don't I just go to Charles's house tonight and stab him to death?"

As soon as Chen Moxin said this, the conference room fell silent, and everyone looked at him with astonishment.

Anies's expression also turned strange: "You mean...assassination?"

"Hmm." Chen Moxin neither confirmed nor denied.

“This is absurd!” Wilson couldn’t help but exclaim. “You want Ms. Anies to rise to power through assassination? This is an insult to her and to our entire team!”

Chen Moxin shrugged: "See, I have to say it again, and if I do, I'll get scolded. I might as well not say anything."

Anies shook her head helplessly: "Chen, I understand your point of view, but this really won't work."

Chen Moxin smiled with interest: "I didn't realize you guys had such high moral standards. I thought that in political elections like this, everyone would play dirty tricks, doing whatever was most dirty possible."

Anies retorted bluntly, "You're right, everyone plays dirty, and I've never considered myself particularly clean."

"In order to bring down Charles, I used many despicable means, including but not limited to framing, slander, and creating sex scandals."

"No matter how despicable I am, I have my own bottom line."

“Charles and I simply have different political views. But no matter how opposed our political stances are, we are both members of the human community, and it’s not to the point of wanting to take each other’s lives.”

Chen Moxin shrugged: "But the problem is, now is a time for choice. Do you want your bottom line, or your dream?"

"Are you willing to stand by and watch Charles rise to power, allowing her to dismantle the Stargate base right in front of you, destroying the efforts of generations and centuries in an instant? Is that what you want to see?"

Annies shook her head and sighed, "Let's not get that far ahead. You're overlooking something right now—do you really think that killing Charles will win me the election?"

“Charles was just the leader of the Spaceship faction. He’s dead, and the Spaceship faction can put forward a second candidate, a third candidate… Political elections have a set of plans, and the general election will not stop because of the death of a candidate.”

"Moreover, at this point in time, if Charles were to be attacked and killed, anyone with a sound mind would know that it was definitely arranged by us."

"When public opinion gets out of control, do you really think it will be beneficial for us? It will only put us in a more awkward situation."

"So let me make this very clear: forget about it. Whether from a moral standpoint or from a practical standpoint, assassination is the stupidest thing imaginable!"

Seeing Annie's rebuttal of Chen Moxin, Wilson felt extremely pleased and couldn't help but cast a gloating glance his way.

Young people are still too young. They've managed to do a few good deeds by chance, and they really think they're something special.

How childish.

But to everyone's surprise, Chen Moxin didn't feel embarrassed at all after being reprimanded by Annies; instead, the smile in her eyes grew even stronger.

"Since assassination is such a terrible thing...why not try thinking about it from the opposite perspective?"

...

Sunlight streamed through the blue sky onto the square, and the air was filled with the sounds of the crowd.

Tomorrow is the much-anticipated election day, and today is the final roadshow for the two governor candidates.

The Star Gate faction's roadshow was packed with people. All the voters who supported Annieis came here. They were crowded together, shoulder to shoulder, holding up various flags, like waves of a sea of ​​people.

"Annyeis! Our Governor!"

"Long live the Stargate! The Stargate is our future!"

"Go Annies! We love you!"

"Mommy stepped on me! Woof woof woof!"

A chorus of enthusiastic shouts echoed from the crowd, as everyone waved their signs with all their might, eager to convey their support for the candidate to the world.

Occasionally there would be a few strange shouts, but they were harmless.

Behind the stage, Wilson and other core advisors were watching the scene unfold.