[Neo-Atlantis - The Royal Plaza]
It had been 48 hours since the borders opened. Neo-Atlantis was beautiful. The streets were clean, the air was pure, and the energy was free.
But Alex, sitting on the balcony of the Apex Tower (his new palace), was frowning.
"Report," Alex said.
"Sir," Luna read from the tablet. "Population: 200,000. Happiness: 100%. Productivity: 0%."
Alex looked down at the streets. People weren't working. They were partying. They were lying on the beach. They were eating free food from the synthesizers.
"They think this is a vacation," Alex muttered.
[The Problem]
In the plaza below, a man named Greg (a former union leader from New York) stood on a crate. He was shouting into a megaphone. Greg was actually a Council Sleeper Agent (Rank C). His mission: Incite unrest.
"Citizens!" Greg yelled. "King Alex promised us paradise! But look at this! He lives in a palace while we live in apartments! Why does he get the best view? We demand equality! We demand Universal Basic Income! We want $10,000 a month just for existing!"
The crowd cheered. "Yeah! Where is our money?"
Alex watched this on his screen. "I give them free homes, free food, and free healthcare," Alex said coldly. "And they want allowance?"
"Shall I send the Praetorians?" Luna asked, her hand on her sword. "I can silence the agitator."
"No," Alex stood up. "Violence makes them martyrs. We need to change the rules."
"Dawn," Alex ordered. "Open the National Policy Menu."
A massive holographic interface appeared.
Current Policy: Socialist Utopia (Everything Free).
Status: Unsustainable.
"Delete it," Alex said. "Implement Protocol: Meritocracy."
[The Shift]
BZZZZT.
Every smartphone, billboard, and speaker in the city chimed at once. A giant hologram of Alex appeared over the city.
"Citizens of Neo-Atlantis," Alex's voice boomed. "I invited you here to escape slavery. I did not invite you here to become parasites."
The crowd in the plaza went silent. Greg dropped his megaphone.
"As of this moment," Alex announced. "The 'Free Ride' is over."
[The New Laws]
The holographic text scrolled across the sky:
THE CODE OF GREED:
Survival is Free: Basic food (nutrient paste), water, and a 10x10 sleeping pod are free.
Luxury must be Earned: You want a steak? You want a beach villa? You want a VR headset? Earn Tycoon Credits.
No Taxes: You keep 100% of what you earn.
No Welfare: If you don't work, you survive. You do not live.
"You want equality?" Alex stared down at Greg from the hologram. "Here is your equality. Everyone starts at zero. If you are smart, you will get rich. If you are lazy, you will eat paste."
[The Aftermath]
"This is tyranny!" Greg screamed, trying to rally the crowd. "He is oppressing us!"
But the crowd wasn't cheering anymore. A young engineer looked at his phone. "Wait... the policy says if I invent a patent, I get 5% royalties tax-free? That's... that's millions." A doctor looked at the screen. "If I open a clinic, I pay zero rent for the first year?"
The ambitious people—the ones Alex actually wanted—didn't riot. They started running. They ran to the Registry Office to start businesses.
Greg was left standing alone with the lazy ones. "Wait!" Greg yelled. "Don't fall for it! We should strike!"
Alex turned off the hologram. "Productivity just jumped to 50%," Luna noted with a smile. "The rats are exposing themselves."
"Let them starve," Alex sat back down. "Or let them leave. I only build thrones for kings, not for beggars."