After listening to Xiao Guanghan and Fan Yiyi's explanations, Zhang Chen roughly understood their intentions.
Simply put, he was like an honorary chairman of a company or an honorary principal of a school.
He wouldn't be involved in anything usually, but when needed, it would definitely be for major matters...
Zhang Chen had no intention of getting involved in this mess.
There were no benefits, and when he was needed, it would surely be a thankless task.
If it was handled, it was what he should do.
If it wasn't handled, he might even be blamed.
What's more, Xiao Guanghan's promise that Zhang Chen would not be bound by rules...
These held no appeal at all, because even if he hadn't said it, that was already the reality...
With Zhang Chen's strength, he could do as he pleased anywhere; no person or any rule-making entity could restrain him.
"Actually, I..."
As Zhang Chen started to speak, he was interrupted by Xiao Guanghan before he could finish.
He probably realized that Zhang Chen might refuse him.
Once such words were spoken, it would be difficult to take them back.
So he went on to persuade him:
"Actually, for this newly established civilization, I intend to adopt a constitutional monarchy!"
After all, the relations of production are determined by the forces of production. In the current situation, we are all living off the reserves from the thirty days before the apocalypse!
Once those supplies are gone, we will have to hunt edible mutated creatures and plants. This is extremely difficult. By comparison, our productivity is extremely backward.
Logically, a slave system would be a more stable structure, where the strong unite to form a regime and jointly enjoy the power to control the weak.
However, this would be detrimental to attracting ordinary survivors to join. Moreover, although it is the apocalypse now, many people have been influenced by decades or even decades of peaceful thinking and will not accept slavery.
They would prefer a democracy similar to Earth's, which is why I have compromised and established a constitutional monarchy.
And the monarch of our emerging nation is you! You don't need to worry about establishing systems, perfecting laws, and other troublesome matters.
You only need to make occasional public appearances, accept the love and admiration of the people, and enjoy the most honorable and luxurious life and offerings... You don't need to rush to answer me now; you can answer after we have taken over the entire city!
Xiao Guanghan looked at Zhang Chen with eager eyes, afraid that Zhang Chen would disagree. He spoke with a bit of leeway at the end.
"I'm sorry, Professor Xiao, I can feel your sincerity... but I must refuse you!"
"My strength is not enough to protect a camp, let alone a new civilization. Besides..."
"I also have many important things to do now and cannot be tied down to one place."
"There are still many strong people in this world. I believe that besides me, there will definitely be others willing to take this position!"
Zhang Chen refused him directly.
It was better to let Xiao Guanghan know his thoughts than to give him ambiguous hope.
"This..."
Disappointment was written all over Xiao Guanghan's face.
There were indeed many strong people in this world.
Even if he couldn't get Zhang Chen, the world's strongest, there would definitely be a second, third, or even more ranked strong individuals.
And this planet is so vast, having a strong person in the top hundred guarding it would already be quite good.
After all, some strong individuals were on the other side of the Blue Star, and given the size of this planet, they might never meet in this lifetime.
Although there were many strong individuals, strong individuals like Zhang Chen, who were willing to abide by certain rules, did not kill indiscriminately, were not perverted, and were not insane... there were too few.
Strength is power.
When some people, especially those who have been oppressed and bullied, suddenly gain great power, they often retaliate against society with a hundred, or even a thousand times the suffering they have endured.
If they encountered such a strong individual, they would become tyrants.
The entire human civilization would be plunged into a quagmire because of it.
"Brother Chen, if you become the monarch, you can enjoy all the delicious food, beautiful women, and everything that can be enjoyed on Earth!"
"And you won't be subject to any restrictions. Anything you do will be reasonable and legal. Isn't that good?"
Fan Yiyi tried to persuade him further.
"I'm not very interested in those things!"
Zhang Chen said with a smile.
As for delicacies, Zhang Chen's storage ring was overflowing with food, enough to supply the daily consumption of a city's population.
As for beautiful women, Zhang Chen wasn't in the mood for that yet.
When he was in the mood, he wouldn't lack them either.
Fan Yiyi was about to say something more, but Xiao Guanghan stopped her with a hand gesture.
"Alright, Zhang Chen, we won't disturb your rest. We'll leave now!"
"If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime!"
Xiao Guanghan smiled and nodded at Zhang Chen, then pulled Fan Yiyi out of the villa.
After walking a few hundred meters away from the villa, Fan Yiyi couldn't help but ask:
"Professor Xiao, are we just giving up like this?"
"If we don't have Zhang Chen... the leaders of the remaining camps all have their own agendas and are all coveting the position of monarch!"
"Even if we don't implement a constitutional monarchy, these camp leaders will probably not be convinced by anyone."
"And our camp is the smallest and weakest here. Without Zhang Chen, we probably won't even have a say, will we?"
Fan Yiyi said worriedly.
"After all, I am the initiator of this matter, and I am also the link between the various camps. They cannot bypass me!"
"Moreover, they are all amateurs regarding issues such as legislation, social hierarchy, division of labor, and integration of camps. They need our knowledge to assist them."
"As for the matter of having a say..."
Xiao Guanghan knew that Fan Yiyi's worries were justified.
Having strength is what makes people look up to you, and your words carry weight.
Without strength, who would pay attention to you?
Would humans stomp on an ant and ask for the ant's opinion?!
Xiao Guanghan pondered for a moment and said:
"At first, I was worried about the problems that would arise from their mutual suspicion and refusal to yield to each other, and that they would have issues when they united..."
"Now that Zhang Chen has refused our request, perhaps we can use this to create a subtle balance among them!"
"However... this is ultimately not a long-term plan. We still need to find a reliable strong individual to occupy a core position so that civilization can avoid internal strife and develop stably and in an orderly manner..."
Xiao Guanghan sighed as he said this.
But where on earth could such a strong individual be found?!