I chose the safe house, and the Human Alliance regretted it.

Some astute individuals, especially those from large families, instantly grasped the significance of the White List.

This is a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Within minutes of the White List being published, a large number of starships took off from various major city ports and headed to Imperial Star City.

However, the vast majority of people are still observing and holding back.

They are waiting for the empire to make a statement.

After all, it would have a huge impact if a store that claims to "not cheat the poor" did this.

The empire could not stand idly by.

No individual can be above the [Imperial Will].

But soon, a piece of news shattered their last glimmer of hope.

Everyone on the blacklist has been arrested by the Empire!

It's important to know that the blacklist contains hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life in the empire, including some heavyweight figures in the imperial military.

The arrest operation was launched simultaneously, swiftly and decisively, without the slightest delay.

Some of those arrested were taken away from the conference table, some were forced to leave their homes while they were asleep, and some were intercepted on starships.

Not a single one escaped.

The virtual space network instantly exploded.

"The Empire is serious now!"

"The people on the blacklist really have something going on, otherwise the empire wouldn't be taking such a big step!"

"The shop owner has done a great job!"

"Hurry, hurry, let's go! To Imperial Star City!"

At this point, everyone became restless.

Those who were watching will stop watching, and those who were hesitant will stop hesitating.

Starships lined up in long queues at the ports of major cities.

The person who started this whole mess was still in bed with Bai Lu.

"Are you full?" Wang Wei asked.

Bai Lu blushed and covered her face with the blanket in embarrassment.

A muffled voice came from under the covers: "Can't you...can you be serious for once?"

Wang Wei patted her lightly: "Don't hide, get ready, someone's coming soon."

Bai Lu peeked out from under the covers: "Aren't you going to show up?"

Wang Wei patted her head: "There's a big order that requires my personal attention."

After saying that, Wang Wei got up and put on his clothes.

Bai Lu quickly got dressed and came out.

But by the time she arrived in the lobby, Wang Wei had already left.

"The shop... is it just handed over to me like this?" Bai Lu murmured to herself.

Yesterday alone, millions of energy liquids were delivered.

With such a large sum of money involved, Wang Wei simply became a hands-off manager.

However, before leaving, Wang Wei had already exchanged all 90 million energy liquids that Zi Chen had given him and yesterday's earnings for safety points.

There are a total of 930000 trillion safety points.

It wasn't that Wang Wei didn't trust Bai Lu; he just needed to make room for the clients who were making payments today.

On the other side, after leaving the store, Wang Wei piloted his starship directly to the city lord's mansion.

He had to come in person to pick up the 10 billion vials of energy liquid, as his shop couldn't hold them all.

This made Wang Wei determined that the branch store must be large.

Moments later, the starship arrived at the city lord's manor and automatically drove into the helipad within the estate.

As Wang Wei disembarked from the starship and looked at the luxurious manor, he suddenly felt that his shop was a bit too small.

Artificial hills and flowing water, pavilions and towers—everywhere you look is a garden.

Before he could observe carefully, Zi Jin walked over.

Today, Zi Jin wore a long purple dress with a cinched waist, her long hair flowing down her back, and the hem of her dress swaying gently in the wind.

Wang Wei looked at her, somewhat surprised.

Zi Jin's appearance isn't exactly stunning, but it's definitely top-tier, and very pleasing to the eye.

Especially when set against the backdrop of the manor's scenery, it possesses an indescribable charm.

Seeing Wang Wei staring intently at him, Zi Jin couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.

Although women may outwardly dislike men staring at them lecherously, they can't help but feel a little smug inside.

But just then—

"Where's your dad?" Wang Wei asked, breaking the silence with his first question.

Zi Jin looked bewildered and subconsciously said, "They went to the front lines."

"Mm." Wang Wei nodded.

He also learned from the virtual network that the First Empire's wars against foreign powers had been somewhat stalemate in recent decades, with constant battles in the border star systems and the Empire's main forces locked in a tug-of-war on the front lines.

"What about the energy liquid?" Wang Wei asked again.

Zi Jin stared at him with wide eyes.

She didn't expect that Wang Wei would ask her these two questions as soon as they met—where was her father, and where was her money?

There wasn't a single superfluous word.

She took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

"Come with me," she said.

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei followed.

The two continued deeper into the manor, passing through artificial hills, flowing water, pavilions, bamboo groves, arched bridges... Wang Wei followed Zi Jin through several gardens, but they had not yet reached their destination.

He couldn't help but marvel at how enormous the city lord's mansion truly was.

Ahead, Zi Jin spoke without turning his head: "Your black and white lists are a bit too much."

"Oh," Wang Wei replied with a single word.

Zi Jin stopped and turned to look at Wang Wei: "I know you're very capable. But if you want to make money in the First Empire, you must do so within the limits of the Empire's will."

Imperial will? This was the first time Wang Wei had heard this term.

"Do you know why the Empire didn't intervene?" Zi Jin asked, "and even cooperated to bolster the reputation of your stores?"

Wang Wei was taken aback; he hadn't really thought about that.

He issued the black and white lists, and the First Empire immediately arrested everyone on the black list. The speed and scope of the operation were so great that it seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something that had been planned in advance.

This action by the Empire has indeed increased the value of the Black and White lists.

However, he scoffed, "Do you think there's anything in this world I don't know?"

Zi Jin paused for a few seconds, then gave a wry smile.

Yes, this is the shop owner who "uncovers the secrets of the world and settles human affairs".

How could she forget?

However, she still said, "These are things my father asked me to convey to you. The Empire hasn't intervened because you've obtained Imperial status. In name, you're a part of the Empire."

Wang Wei was somewhat surprised.

Because of an ID card?

Purple Ember earnestly reminded him: "Remember, all the energy liquid you earn in the Empire can only be used by yourself or within the Empire."

"Why?" Wang Wei asked.

"So you didn't know." Zi Jin said with a hint of smugness, giving an example.

"If the older brother tricks the younger brother out of his money, will the parents intervene? Usually, the parents won't, because the money is still at home. But if the older brother gives the tricked money to an outsider, the parents will get involved."

She paused for a moment: "Do you understand what I mean?"

"You are part of the Empire. How much money you make is up to your ability, and the Empire will not interfere."

"But the Empire will not allow you to let the money you earn flow outside the Empire, nor will it allow you to revoke your Imperial identity."

Wang Wei smiled upon hearing this: "The empire doesn't care about the gap between rich and poor within the country; it only cares about whether imperial assets are flowing out of the country."

"No matter how large the gap between the rich and poor is within the empire, the money is still in the empire, so there is no loss for the empire. Only when assets flow out of the country will the empire suffer a loss."

Zi Jin was taken aback, then nodded: "That's what I mean."

However, Wang Wei said nonchalantly, "It's my money, I can spend it however I want."

Zi Jin's expression hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "Do not underestimate the Empire, and even more so, do not challenge the Empire's will. The Empire has stood in the starry sky for countless years because the Empire's will is eternal."

Wang Wei looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Imperial will?" he repeated softly.

Then, continue walking forward.

"Lead the way. Pay first."