Why can't they come here and are instead making you go? Doesn't that indicate that we are showing they are important enough to warrant the emperor of the empire being at their beck and call by having him personally go to them instead of them coming to you?" the next reporter asked.

Aron responded calmly, "The reason I am going to them is not about showing subservience or being at their beck and call. It is a matter of practicality and diplomacy. Their environment and circumstances are unique, as their bodies are literally roots encompassing the entirety of the planet, and it is essential for me to understand their situation firsthand.

Although they can transfer parts of their consciousness to small humanoid trees, there's no assurance that the connection can be maintained over the distance between the two star systems. So, the easiest solution is for me to go and have discussions with them there.

As for the second reason, you have to remember that this meeting will determine whether the empire gains more than ten billion new citizens of working age who are also natural awakeners or if we have them as only our closest allies, which would limit our benefits.

Given all the potential benefits of this deal, going there to secure the chance of having them as citizens rather than just allies is nothing but a rather simple compromise for me and the empire."

"Based on your previous statements, it seems there is no direct communication between the two star systems. So, who are you going to put in charge during the period when you will be cut off from communications with the imperial government?" asked the next reporter, as if the question had been planned in conjunction with the previous one.

His previous statements immediately led to the following question, as it indicated there is no direct communication between the solar system and the Proxima Centauri star system. The idea of the emperor being disconnected from the empire for more than a year was both dangerous and opportune, opening the door for potential issues either from external threats or internal factions aiming to seize power during his absence.

This concern was on the minds of many reporters and politically savvy viewers. Although the empire had swiftly entered a period of stability, unprecedented for a new regime, much of this stability was credited to the emperor's absolute power and control over the military. The military's consolidation, following the elimination of the cult and hardliners sent to other star systems, and the advancements in technology that enabled swift suppression of any dissent, had cemented his rule.

However, the possibility of power being usurped during the emperor's prolonged absence loomed large. Those closest to power, such as his wife, relatives outside the imperial family's succession line, and the awakeners who viewed themselves as superior, could potentially attempt to seize control.

The awakeners, in particular, posed a significant threat. Although currently subdued by the emperor's display of force, his absence could embolden them, risking a civil war. The military, now primarily equipped for interplanetary warfare, might struggle to contain internal conflicts without causing significant collateral damage.

However, the greatest potential threat was overshadowed by the current imperial military commander, John.

As second-in-command of the military, he possessed significant power and authority, making it relatively easy for him to seize control should he become greedy during the emperor's absence.

This was the prevailing perception among the public, imperial officials, political scientists, and anyone who wasnt the emperor, as they couldn't fully grasp or even fathom the level of control the emperor actually maintained.

Everyone with a political mind anxiously awaited the emperor's response, as it would either allay their fears or confirm their worst suspicions.

"Just because I said that I will be going, it doesnt mean that I will choose a representative, wake up one day, and just go without any preparation since that would be quite counterintuitive." Aron paused, noticing the confusion on the faces of the reporters, easily imagining the same puzzled expressions on many viewers.

With a smile on his face, He continued, providing more details on his previous response.

"I must remind you that with the change to the constitution, the people in the Proxima star system will also be considered citizens or allies. This means the Constitution applies to them, including the clause granting freedom of communication. By law, they are required to have access to the internet that connects them to the rest of the empire.

"At this moment, we are in the process of creating the signal towers that will be used to connect the two sides and allow for instant communication. The creation and installation of these towers are expected to take six to nine months, and I am not planning on going there for at least a year. By then, none of the stated or anticipated problems will be issues anymore."

The next reporter asked, "Are people from there going to visit Earth, and will the opposite be allowed, too?"

"For the moment, no," Aron replied. "The reason being that they have not yet formed a society. For at least the next five years, access to their star system will be limited to allow them to develop the capability to exploit their resources and prevent them from being exploited due to their naivety."

His response clarified that the empire was giving the new species time to adjust. However, the underlying meaning was not fully grasped by many. While some might interpret his statement as implying humans were potential exploiters who could take advantage of the new species' naivety, the reality was more nuanced.

Both sides had the potential to exploit each other, and the empire's restriction on access was aimed at preventing such things from happening at the start while also preventing misunderstandings or conflicts that could arise if there was no adjusting period between the two sides.

"But the same cannot be said for VR," he continued. "Once their training and adaptation period is over, they will be connected to Earth's public communication infrastructure through VR. This means you will be able to interact with them in virtual reality earlier than in real life." He added this to preempt the imminent question he anticipated would follow from his previous answer.