Earth Star severely lacked resources.
After Ms.
Samantha purchased the planet, Novus Government staff dispatched an environmental survey team to measure it for registration purposes.
The planet was not small.
It consisted of water sources with low-to-medium pollution, dried soil, and wilderness.
There were no precious resources, nor were there any rare plants or animals.
The water’s composition had also undergone strict surveying and showed no special characteristics.
Earth Star produced zero energy, and its vegetation was entirely ordinary.
The best that could be said was that humans could survive there, but the environment was certainly not conducive to it.
It lacked the conditions for agriculture and held no value for manufacturing or entertainment development.
Based on all these factors, Samantha Garland’s transaction amount back then had not been particularly high.
In the end, she paid only thirty million to acquire it for her private ownership.
Compared to other Astral Domains, this price was actually quite a bargain.
Since her rebirth, Julianna Garland had managed to roughly figure out the purchasing power of Novus currency by integrating the original Julianna’s memories.
The currency’s value here was almost identical to that of Earth.
Listening to Cedric Sutton up to this point, Julianna had a rough idea of what to expect regarding the taxes.
“Taxes are paid once every five years.
The tax rate is about five percent of the thirty million—” Cedric paused as he watched her expression stiffen as if the sky were falling.
“But I’ve looked through the contract for you, and there is one advantage in your favor,” Cedric said calmly.
“In the transaction registration details, apart from being privately owned, Earth Star is also registered with a ‘commercial use’ tag.”
“What does that mean?” Julianna asked in a low voice, fighting back her urge to break down.
Cedric replied, “You probably know the situation on Novus.
Over the past few decades, many planets have been abandoned.”
Since Julianna’s family were refugees from an Abandoned Star themselves, she was well aware of this situation.
Hearing this, Julianna nodded.
Cedric continued, “In response to this situation, the Novus Government strongly encourages certain investors to ‘revive’ these abandoned planets so they don’t just drift aimlessly through the Astral Domain.
Therefore, they offer incentives to individuals who purchase them.”
This also touched upon some headaches for the government.
Because humanity had unified under Novus, they had entered a long period of stability and safety.
Consequently, the population had continued to grow, gradually putting a certain amount of strain on planetary resources.
The result was that rich, developed planets grew even more developed, while many backward planets were discarded.
Abandoning a planet was easy, but finding a brand-new habitat suitable for human colonization was a momentous event worthy of being recorded in Novus history.
Reaching this point, Cedric finally got to the main topic.
“Earth Star also qualifies for these favorable policies.
This five percent tax every five years includes commercial taxes.
“This means that whether you use this planet for your personal life or for business, you only need to pay five percent of thirty million every five years,” Cedric said.
“Given this situation, personally, I think you could develop it commercially.
If the business is successful, Ms.
Garland, it will be of great benefit to you.”
Hearing this, Julianna finally understood.
“Wait, are you suggesting I start a business on Earth Star?”
Cedric nodded.
“Correct.”
“…” Julianna almost laughed out loud.
“Lawyer Sutton, to be honest with you, I’m completely penniless.”
In fact, if it weren’t for the Earth Recovery System, and if the original Julianna hadn’t been driven into a corner—facing the prospect of ending up on the streets and living on government handouts if she couldn’t find a job—she wouldn’t have gone to Earth Star to live alone in the first place.
“I’ve already thought this through for you,” Cedric said seriously.
“Earth Star is valued at thirty million—”
Here, he paused for a moment.
Truthfully, after changing hands, Earth Star’s value had plummeted once more.
It was highly likely that if it were listed for sale again, no one would take it even at half price.
However, Cedric refrained from mentioning this for the time being.
“You can use Earth Star’s estimated value to apply for a loan from the Novus Government under the preferential policy scheme to develop the planet,” he said.
“Our firm has lawyers who are well-versed in the relevant regulations.
I can hand your case over to them, and I guarantee they will handle this matter perfectly for you.”
Julianna was trembling with fear as she listened.
“I believe you can do that, Lawyer Sutton, but what if I take out a loan and can’t pay it back—”
Cedric fell silent for a moment before continuing.
“There are two final escape routes.”
He held up two fingers.
“One: If you go bankrupt, you can apply for bankruptcy liquidation.
Based on our relationship, I can guarantee that in the future, a menial position will be reserved for you at the Aeturnum Firm, allowing you to meet your basic needs for food and clothing.
“Two,” Cedric paused.
“Ms.
Have you been doing a lot of outdoor activities recently?
When the time comes, you can also look out for related jobs that provide room and board.
You’d be able to survive.”
Julianna’s mouth twitched.
She thought for a moment and said, “I have indeed been digging in the dirt recently.
I want to try a new direction in cultivation.”
Cedric’s expression stiffened for a second.
Finally, he nodded hesitantly.
“That is also a new employment direction.”
Julianna said, “If things change in the future, I invite you to come be a guest on Earth Star, Lawyer Sutton.”
Cedric assumed she was just exchanging pleasantries and didn’t take it to heart, but he still nodded earnestly.
“Alright.”
After that, Cedric brought up the matter of her medical expenses.
Once he confirmed that Julianna was aware of it, he finally picked up the water glass beside him.
It was an implicit gesture to see off his guest.
Lawyer Sutton was extremely famous, and his time was precious.
Having concluded their business, he naturally wouldn’t waste any more of it.
Julianna was very sensible and immediately took her leave.
Cedric didn’t try to keep her.
Instead, he politely escorted her out of his private domain.
After leaving Cedric’s “home” on the Interstellar Net, Julianna’s worries hadn’t lessened; in fact, new ones had sprung to mind.
Just then, a message notification chimed from her Interstellar Net.
When she tapped it open, a message popped up.
A slender silhouette materialized and appeared right in front of her.
“Julia, I’m engaged.”
This person’s handle on the Interstellar Net was “Pun Intended.” Julianna thought for a moment and retrieved the person’s identity from the original owner’s memories.
She was a schoolmate Julianna had added back in school.
Her real name was Rosamund Keating, and she was one grade higher than the original Julianna.
During her time in school, Julianna had joined a campus club where she learned cooking techniques.
There weren’t many types of ingredients on Novus, but there was a selection of staple foods.
However, these natural food sources were mostly reserved for the wealthy and specific individuals.
Ordinary people couldn’t access them and mostly relied on convenient fast food just to fill their stomachs.
By some strange coincidence, the original Julianna had joined the club and met Rosamund Keating.