Chapter 1316: Home on New Hope Star

New Hope Star, formerly the third frontier colony of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, is now the forty-seventh Human settlement of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

This planet is located in the southeastern quadrant of the old Feng Qi Xing Alliance territory, possessing three temperate oceans and two fertile continents; it was one of the most important grain-producing regions of the former Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

During the rule of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, the grain and meat produced here supplied five percent of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance's military rations.

But not a single grain or piece of meat belonged to the Humans.

Two hundred thirty-seven million Human slaves were enslaved on this land for three hundred years.

They mined in the mines, farmed on the farms, and labored in the factories.

They were whipped by the Alien, enslaved by the Alien, and treated like livestock by the Alien.

Their children were born slaves, their elderly worked themselves to death in the fields, and their corpses were thrown into mass graves.

Until the fleet of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance arrived.

The officials and guards of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance were completely cleared out within one week.

Two hundred thirty-seven million Human slaves were finally free.

At this moment, the Immigration Bureau building in "Freedom City," the capital of New Hope Star, is a scene of busyness.

The Immigration Bureau Chief is named Viktor Soladin.

He is a senior Administrator sent by the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, with rich experience.

His hair is gray, his expression is serious, and he wears a dark blue uniform with the badge of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance pinned to his chest.

"How many people today?"

He asks.

The Adjutant, a young female official named Aila, looks at the Data Pad.

"Chief, three thousand people are expected to register today. They are mainly from the eastern mining areas and southern farms. Their physical condition is better than the batch that arrived last week, but many are still malnourished and require medical intervention."

Viktor nods.

"Are the medical stations ready?"

Aila says.

"Ready. Three medical stations, each with twenty doctors and fifty nurses. They are all volunteers who signed up, coming from Xiuluo Holy Star."

Viktor walks to the window and looks at the city under construction outside.

Once, this was still a wasteland.

Now, there are already neat streets, simple residential areas, medical stations, schools, and canteens.

"What about housing?"

He asks.

Aila says.

"Currently, there are five thousand units of temporary housing, which can accommodate forty thousand people. We are coordinating."

Viktor nods.

"Arrange it as best you can. Do not let families be separated. They have suffered enough in the hands of the Alien; now that they are home, they must not suffer anymore."

Aila nods.

"Yes, Chief."

At nine in the morning, the first batch of immigrants arrives at New Hope Star.

They traveled in modified transport vehicles from the mining area to Freedom City, a journey of six full hours.

The conditions on the vehicles were not great, but they were much better than the miner shacks they lived in before.

At least they were clean, at least there was no foul odor, and at least there were no overseers' whips.

The transport vehicle stops at the entrance of the immigration reception center. The doors open, and people walk down one after another.

They are gaunt, their skin dark, their eyes filled with the relief of having survived and confusion about the future.

They wear uniform relief clothing, carrying the few belongings they have.

Viktor stands at the entrance of the reception center, watching these people.

An old man walks off the vehicle, his legs go weak, and he almost falls.

A volunteer nearby quickly steadies him.

"Old man, be careful."

The old man looks up, his eyes full of tears.

"Here... is this Freedom City?"

The volunteer nods.

"Yes, old man. This is Freedom City. You are free."

The old man's lips tremble, unable to speak.

The volunteer supports him and walks toward the reception center.

A young woman walks off the vehicle holding a child.

The child is very small, only a few months old, wrapped in a piece of tattered cloth.

There is a scar from a whip on the woman's face.

Viktor walks over.

"Ma'am, do you need help?"

The woman looks at him, her eyes full of vigilance.

"You... are you from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance?"

Viktor nods.

"Yes. I am the Immigration Bureau Chief, Viktor Soladin. Welcome to Freedom City."

The woman's tears welled up.

"Are we... are we truly free?"

Viktor nodded.

"Truly. You are free. No one will enslave you again, no one will whip you again. You are Human, not slaves."

The woman held her child, knelt on the ground, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Viktor bent down and helped her up.

"No need to kneel. In the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, people do not kneel to people."

The woman stood up and looked at his face.

"Thank you... thank you all..."

Viktor shook his head.

"No need to thank me. You should thank the Emperor."

"Yes, thank the Emperor."

He turned around and said to Aila.

"Arrange for them to go to the medical station. That child needs an examination."

Aila nodded and led the woman toward the medical station.

In the lobby of the reception center, over a dozen windows were open simultaneously, and the immigrants stood in line, waiting to register.

Behind every window sat an official, with a holographic screen and identity entry equipment in front of them.

"Name?" the official asked.

"Lucas," a middle-aged man said.

"Surname?"

"No surname. We were slaves; we have no surnames."

"From today on, you may choose a surname for yourself. This is your right."

The middle-aged man was stunned.

"Choose... choose a surname?"

The official nodded.

"Yes. What would you like to be called?"

The middle-aged man thought for a long time.

"Soladin. Call me Soladin. Just like the Director."

The official smiled.

"Good. Lucas Soladin. From today on, you are a citizen of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Tears welled up in Lucas's eyes.

"Citizen... I am a citizen..."

The official continued.

"Age?"

"Forty... about forty. I don't remember. I stayed in the mines for too long; I can't remember the time clearly."

The official did not press further.

"Family situation?"

"I have a wife and two children. They are both in line behind me."

The official recorded it.

"Good. Your family is assigned to Residential District Seven, Row Seven, Room Three. This is the key."

Lucas took the key, his hand trembling.

"A house... our house?"

The official nodded.

"Your house is temporary; you can subsequently obtain permanent residency by making contributions to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Lucas turned around and looked at his wife and children behind him.

"We have a home. We have a home."

His wife held the child, her face streaming with tears.

At another window, a young man was registering.

"Name?" the official asked.

"Markus."

"Surname?"

Markus thought for a moment.

"Freedom. Call me Freedom."

The official nodded.

"Markus Freedom. Age?"

"Twenty-five."

"Family situation?"

"No family. They are all dead."

"My condolences."

Markus shook his head.

"No need to apologize. Those who are alive must continue to live."

The official recorded it.

"You have been assigned to the Ninth Residential District, second row, room number eleven. It is a single dormitory, shared with others. Is that acceptable?"

Markus nodded.

"It is acceptable. As long as there is a place to live, that is enough."

The official handed him a key.

"Welcome home."

Markus took the key, looked at it for a long time, and the corners of his mouth turned up.

"Home."