Liu Hui stared at the apocalyptic vision of Mars transmitted back by the starship orbiting the planet, and he was deeply shaken. When faced with the awesome power of Nature, individual strength, no matter how great, amounted to nothing more than that of a tiny ant.

"Anqi, how did the impact go? Was it successful?" Liu Hui asked.

Anqi replied, "The first phase of the Mars impact plan is complete. This initial phase was executed flawlessly, so the impact should be considered a success. However, Mars is currently undergoing cataclysmic changes, and these chain reactions will continue for over six months. Therefore, our instruments cannot yet observe the specific nature of the changes. But after a month, the seismic activity on Mars will gradually subside, and at that point, we can observe the situation in detail and determine if the transformation is proceeding according to our plan."

Liu Hui looked at the world-altering changes consuming Mars, fell silent for a moment, and then said, "I hope our impact on Mars can forge a brighter tomorrow for the planet, and carve out a legendary chapter for humanity's journey into the stars."

Director Grayden of the American N again sought an audience with the President of the United States.

"Director Grayden, six months ago you said you had an urgent matter to report to me in person. Now you say again you have an emergency for a face-to-face briefing. Tell me now, what is this urgent matter?" the President stated flatly.

Because the President's engagement with 'City of Starlight' had severely impacted the interests of domestic oil and automotive magnates, his recent mood was sour, lending a sharpness to his tone when addressing Director Grayden.

"Mr. President, here is the situation. At noon today, our Hubble Space Telescope suddenly observed an anomaly on Mars. Mars is currently experiencing global, violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, all seemingly triggered by an asteroid impact." Director Grayden reported.

"Mars was struck by an asteroid?" The President was startled.

"Indeed, Mars appears to have been struck by an asteroid. As for its origin or precise specifications, we have not yet gathered any useful clues," Director Grayden confirmed.

The President said, "Director Grayden, I am aware of this event. Now tell me, what do you wish me to do?"

Director Grayden replied, "Mr. President, this Mars impact event presents an excellent opportunity to collect data on celestial impacts and environmental modification, which will greatly assist in refining the Martian terraforming plan currently being developed by the N. I therefore suggest we immediately launch an artificial satellite to orbit near Mars to observe the ongoing situation."

The President responded, "Regarding the satellite launch, the N should be authorized to proceed on its own. Why bring it to me?"

Director Grayden shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. President, it is already the end of the fiscal year. The N's budget has been completely exhausted, and yet this matter is of such critical importance, so you see…"

The President managed a wry smile. "So you've come to ask me for money."

Director Grayden offered a placating smile. "Mr. President, space strategy concerns the very survival of America, so…"

The President cut him off. "Enough, Director Grayden, I understand. I will immediately apply to Congress for an increase in your budget allocation."

Director Grayden was overjoyed and immediately expressed his deep gratitude to the President.

The President suddenly inquired, "Director Grayden, the last time you mentioned a satellite went missing behind the Moon and was never recovered—what was the presumed cause? And now Mars is inexplicably hit by an asteroid. Do you see any connection between these two incidents?"

Director Grayden responded, "Mr. President, although we have yet to ascertain the cause of the satellite's disappearance behind the Moon, it seems unlikely to be related to the Martian impact. Consider this: an asteroid capable of causing such a massive spectacle on Mars must have a diameter of at least ten kilometers. If there truly exists an entity capable of directing such a colossal object to strike Mars, then that entity is not human, but a god."

One month after the Martian impact, Liu Hui suddenly received a communication from Anqi on the Moon.

"Liu Hui, the American N has just launched an artificial satellite into space. Based on our trajectory analysis, its destination is Mars. What should we do?"

"Could it be that the US has also detected the anomaly on Mars and wants to send a satellite to investigate?" Liu Hui conjectured.

"That is a possibility. Just as the American N satellite was placed into orbit, we observed Russia preparing its own satellite launch. Our analysis suggests the Russians have also noticed the abnormal conditions on Mars and surely intend to see what is happening," Anqi reported.

Liu Hui considered this and stated, "Our Martian terraforming plan has just begun, so we absolutely cannot allow the US or Russia to discover any clues on Mars. Immediately activate the laser weaponry on the Orbital Space Station and destroy the American satellite. Furthermore, if you confirm the Russian satellite is also heading to Mars, destroy that one as well. Outer space is entirely ours now; we must defend it. Anyone who dares to trespass into our outer space will be eliminated."

"Understood!" Anqi affirmed.

In the void of space, an artificial satellite was hurtling toward Mars. At a distance of ten thousand kilometers from the satellite, a section of the Earth's low-Earth orbit suddenly warped, and a massive space fortress materialized in an unprecedented display. A beam of high-energy laser fire erupted from the fortress, striking the flying satellite dead center. The satellite instantly exploded violently, vanishing into the vast emptiness of space.

Earth, American N Command and Control Center.

"Director Grayden, we have just lost contact with the satellite bound for Mars."

"What do you mean, 'lost contact'?" Director Grayden started, a jolt of alarm in his chest.

"Director Grayden, we can't communicate with the satellite through standard channels, and our orbital Earth satellites can no longer detect where it has gone. For context, our Earth satellites were still receiving imaging data from it just two minutes ago."

"Switch to full-spectrum contact immediately, and mobilize every available satellite. We must find out what happened to our satellite heading to Mars," Director Grayden commanded, anger lacing his voice.

In truth, Director Grayden had harbored a sense of foreboding when the satellite launched. The mystery of the Moon satellite remained unresolved, leading him to fear a similar fate for this one. He hadn't anticipated the new satellite would disappear so shortly after achieving orbit.

The American satellite launch technology was highly refined; a double failure due to malfunction was statistically improbable. What was happening to these two satellites? Was the President's suspicion correct—was someone manipulating events from the shadows? If so, who? Could it be their old adversary, Russia? Why else would they choose this precise moment to launch a satellite?

Not long after the American satellite was destroyed in space, while the US side was still scrambling to determine its fate, the Russian satellite lifted off, entering space and setting a course for Mars. Correspondingly, another beam of high-energy laser fire shot from the Orbital Space Station, obliterating this satellite as well.

The sudden disappearance of the Russian launch sent them into a frenzy of speculation. Connecting it to the recent American launch, suspicion immediately fell upon their long-standing rival, the United States.

The 'City of Starlight,' by destroying both the American and Russian satellites heading to Mars, not only evaded detection but inadvertently caused the two major space powers to become mutually suspicious and defensive. For a time, they lacked the focus to investigate the unfolding drama on Mars itself.

After all, developing satellite technology required long periods of accumulated expertise, and even the US and Russia couldn't guarantee a 100% success rate in covertly attacking another nation's satellites. The 'City of Starlight,' having been established for only a few short years, while demonstrating exceptional technological prowess in certain domains, still lagged behind the established powers in aerospace and space weaponry. Therefore, neither the US nor Russia would direct their suspicions toward the 'City of Starlight' regarding the satellite shoot-downs.

Upon its establishment, the Government of the City of Starlight immediately demonstrated high administrative capability by moving to standardize the various management systems of the 'City of Starlight.'

The first action taken was the registration of all citizens' identities. Not only were detailed personal files collected by government departments, but blood samples were also drawn. As explained by the staff in the Population Registry, these samples would be used to create a 'Genetic ID Card.' Once possessing this card, they would officially become legal citizens of the 'City of Starlight,' entitled to all corresponding welfare benefits. Furthermore, owing to the uniqueness of their genetic makeup, they would never have to fear identity theft again.

When citizens went to the City of Starlight government office to collect their completed Genetic ID Cards, they were required to sit in a small room accommodating ten people, listening to a small broadcast detailing the 'City of Starlight Citizen Conduct Code.' Cleverly embedded within this code were key phrases such as prohibitions against espionage, betrayal of the 'City of Starlight,' and participation in crime.

The broadcast concluded quickly, and after waiting an additional five minutes, the individuals could proceed to the reception desk to claim their unique Genetic ID Card.

What these citizens did not know was that the room was fitted with a miraculous mind-reading device—the 'Eye of Truth.' When the small broadcast began reciting the Citizen Conduct Code and hit the key phrases, the attendees' true thoughts would surface. These genuine thoughts would be recorded by the mind-reading device and instantly transmitted to an analysis computer in the central control room, which would rapidly assess whether any spies, traitors, or criminals were present among the group.

If the computer indicated everything was normal, the individuals would immediately receive official recognition of their status from the 'City of Starlight' and become formal citizens. However, if the computer flagged an issue, police officers would instantly arrive to investigate the individual concerned.

Liu Hui had acquired twenty 'Mind-Reading Artifacts' through transactions with Xiaoyaozi and commissioned the Starlight Science Academy to produce connecting instruments, forming a vast filtering system. This system would bar all spies, traitors, and criminals from entering the 'City of Starlight,' ensuring its absolute security.

Citizens of the 'City of Starlight' were required to undergo at least one session reviewing the Space Conduct Code annually, mandated by the city government. Similarly, anyone entering the 'City of Starlight' from the outside would be compelled to participate in this seemingly rote procedural requirement upon passing through the city's customs. Anyone flagged by the 'Eye of Truth' would be denied entry to the 'City of Starlight' to maintain absolute security.

Following this initial population census, the Government of the City of Starlight registered a total of 5.6 million citizens. From that moment on, these 5.6 million individuals became formal citizens of the 'City of Starlight,' vested with all the rights and subject to all the obligations of citizenship.

With the census complete, the 'City of Starlight' began easing entry restrictions for industry, commerce, service sectors, and finance. Apart from a few specialized areas, any citizen could apply to enter an industry of interest, and those lacking startup capital could even obtain loans from the Starlight Bank.

The demographic structure of the 'City of Starlight' primarily consisted of employees of the Starlight Group and their families. Starlight Group employees enjoyed excellent compensation, so very few chose to leave their positions to start their own ventures. Instead, their family members, who had been at home, found themselves eager for activity. They rapidly applied for loans and officially entered the booming industrial, commercial, and service sectors of the 'City of Starlight.' Consequently, factories, enterprises, and service centers sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, ushering in a vibrant, golden era of development.

Next, the City of Starlight government began promulgating a series of established laws and regulations. Since these statutes largely mirrored mature international precedents, they met with minimal backlash.

Soon, five luxurious, large-scale casinos appeared in designated sectors of the 'City of Starlight.' Adjacent to these casinos, a few narrow streets were cordoned off by the city government and designated as the Red Light District. Numerous display windows were constructed there, in which beautiful 'ladies' from across the globe would stand, ready to offer their services to those in need.

The legalization of casinos and the establishment of the Red Light District immediately drew harsh criticism from some citizens of the 'City of Starlight,' who expressed deep dissatisfaction. They were equally displeased with the regulation allowing men to marry multiple wives simultaneously. They feared that if such laws persisted, the 'City of Starlight' would rapidly degenerate into a sinful metropolis characterized by moral decline.

The 'City of Starlight' did not prohibit the right to assembly and demonstration. Thus, some conservative hardliners in the city, experiencing democratic rights for the first time, immediately organized street protests, attempting to overturn these unconventional clauses they believed would corrupt and degrade the 'City of Starlight.'

The City of Starlight government offered no public reaction to these protests. When the demonstrations failed to achieve their objective, the hardliners stormed into the Red Light District, forcibly dragging out the service workers, assaulting them, and beginning to smash municipal facilities in an attempt to pressure the administration into yielding to their morally puritanical demands.

However, what these old conservatives failed to anticipate was that their acts of violence severely violated the laws of the 'City of Starlight.' They were swiftly apprehended by nearby police and transported to prison.

Inside the prison, these hardliners showed no sign of repentance; they believed firmly that they were acting correctly, viewing themselves as guardians of morality.

The prosecutor soon brought charges against these hardliners, demanding the judge revoke their citizenship in the 'City of Starlight' and expel them from the city limits for endangering social security.

After hearing the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense, and comparing each case point-by-point against the laws of the 'City of Starlight,' the judge ruled to revoke their citizenship and order their deportation.

Only upon learning that their status as citizens of the 'City of Starlight' had been revoked did these conservatives realize the foolishness of their actions. They began to regret their choices, but the legal system of the 'City of Starlight' was rigorously fair and incorruptible from its inception, crushing any hope they might have had of bribing a judge to overturn the verdict. Even their fantasy that the majority of citizens would support them crumbled, as their violent actions had generated widespread public revulsion toward them. Consequently, after being expelled from the 'City of Starlight,' they had no recourse but to return to Huaxia, to continue their lives as moral crusaders.

Following this expulsion incident, the citizens of the 'City of Starlight' grasped a crucial reality: the laws of the 'City of Starlight' were exceedingly strict, and violation carried the real risk of losing their current superior lifestyle. Another realization was that the courts emphasized strict evidence, operating with impartial and professional judges who guaranteed that as long as one obeyed the law, one's interests would be safe. This further solidified their resolve to adhere strictly to the city's statutes.

After this minor turbulence, the regulations and systems of the 'City of Starlight' were enforced with unwavering commitment. Citizens intensified their study of legal knowledge, keen to avoid inadvertently breaching any regulations. As a result, the 'City of Starlight' shone with clarity and order, achieving a level of social harmony previously unimagined.

Acknowledgements to reader 006228 for the tip! RO