The Tycoon's Odyssey-Chapter 444 : 444

A heavy silence settled over the room after Evan's last words.

No one dared to move, much less speak. But then, breaking through the suffocating tension, a voice rose.

"I don't object," Prime Minister Zhao said, raising his hand. "But I have a question."

All eyes turned to him. Some leaders secretly applauded in their minds, impressed by his courage. Others, however, stared at him with wide eyes, wondering if he had lost his mind.

However, some others couldn't help but think.

'Does this guy not fear death?'

Evan, who had been watching the room carefully, leaned forward slightly. "Yeah? What is it?"

Zhao took a deep breath. "Who is eligible to run for the presidency?"

Evan's lips curled into a slight smile. "The Presidents of the regions will be eligible to run for the Federation Presidency—under certain terms and conditions."

A low murmur spread through the room. Many gasped at the words 'terms and conditions' and several leaders exchanged worried glances before one of them finally spoke.

"What are these terms and conditions?"

Evan let out a small cough before turning to Aurora. The AI's holographic figure flickered slightly before her voice filled the hall.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

"The candidates for Federation Presidency must meet the following criteria," she stated as a new list appeared on the screen behind her.

[1. The candidate must not have any criminal offenses.]

[2. The candidate must have passed a high-level administrative examination to prove their competency in governance.]

[3. The candidate must have an advanced educational background in administration, law, or political science.]

[4. The candidate must not have engaged in actions that harmed the collective interests of humanity.]

[5. The candidate must not have participated in corruption, war crimes, or any activity against world peace.]

[6. The candidate must be below 75 years of age.]

As Aurora read through the conditions, disbelief spread across the room. Some leaders frowned, while others whispered among themselves. These rules would eliminate many potential candidates—especially those with skeletons in their closets.

But before anyone could voice their concerns, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs.

"How will you ensure that it's fair?"

The voice belonged to Viktor, one of the representatives from the European region. He stood up, his eyes narrowed as he paused Aurora's speech.

"Corruption has always been rampant," he continued, looking directly at Evan. "No matter how perfect a system seems in theory, history has proven time and time again that it always finds a way to repeat the same problems. What guarantees do we have that this new world won't fall into the same cycle?"

The room fell silent once again. Everyone turned toward Evan, waiting for his response.

Evan's expression remained calm, but his voice carried absolute confidence. "It won't."

His words were met with quiet skepticism, but before anyone could argue, he continued.

"It won't—because there will be someone ensuring that nothing goes out of hand." He paused, scanning the room. "Someone who can monitor the entire planet, register criminals, and track any wrongdoing before it escalates."

A ripple of unease passed through the crowd. The implications of his words were enormous. Some shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others sat frozen, anticipation thick in the air.

"Who?" someone finally asked.

Evan's gaze turned toward Aurora.

"It's my AI, Aurora," he declared. "From this moment forward, she will ensure strict impartiality. She will control the rules and laws that govern this world."

The room erupted into chaos.

The shock was evident on everyone's faces. Some gasped, others whispered furiously among themselves. A few openly stared at Evan as if he had lost his mind.

"An AI controlling the world?" one leader muttered, disbelief clear in his voice.

"That's madness!" another whispered under his breath.

A few even went as far as to voice their concerns out loud.

"How do we know she won't abuse her power?"

"What if she manipulates things in your favor?"

"Isn't this just another form of dictatorship?"

Evan shook his head, his expression unwavering.

"Some of you may already suspect this," he began. "Some of you may not. But I will say it clearly—I will become the first President of the Federation."

The entire room went dead silent.

Though many had already suspected it, hearing it confirmed still sent a shock through them. Even those who had anticipated it found themselves taken aback.

"But after me," Evan continued, his voice firm, "my family will never enter this field. None of my descendants will run for office. The position of Federation President will belong only to those who are truly qualified."

Murmurs filled the air once again, but this time, they weren't as hostile as before. Some leaders, realizing what Evan meant, slowly nodded in acknowledgment.

Evan didn't stop there.

"This rule applies to all of us," he declared. "Certain regulations will be imposed on every single one of us here. You will not be able to manipulate these laws to keep your families in power. The moment your term ends, you step down. No exceptions."

He let his words sink in before adding, "And before any of you think about objecting—" he smirked, "—let me remind you. I won. And as the winner, I get to make my rules."

A heavy silence followed.

No one knew how to respond. Some looked at their peers, but all they found were the same expressions of uncertainty in each other's faces.

Noting hesitation in their eyes, Evan decided to ease the tension slightly.

"I understand this is a lot to take in," he said. "I'll give you time to process it."

A few sighed, relieved for the temporary reprieve, though their nerves were still on edge.

"But in the meantime," Evan continued, his voice taking a sharper tone, "I want every single one of you to address your people. You will reveal everything we discussed here." His gaze then swept over the room, making sure everyone had understood his message.

"And… I warn you," he added, his eyes darkening. "Do not manipulate your people into unnecessary hatred. Do not twist the truth to create conflict. If any of you do try, you will be dealt with brutally."

His words were final.

There was no room for negotiation.

With that, the meeting was officially halted.

The leaders, still shaken by everything that had just transpired, remained in their seats, too stunned to move. Some sat deep in thought, others whispered among themselves, while a few simply stared at Evan, their expressions unreadable.

But one thing was clear—whether they liked it or not, the world had just changed forever.