232: The height of civilization

Seawater gurgled from the shattered fish tank, washing over the messy floor.

The standing dark red Starfish Monster, as tall as an adult, slowly scanned the prepared Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan with the cold, yellowish-brown giant eye in the center of its body disk, finally seeming to glance at the immobile Liu Hongwen on the ground, whose eyes were vacant.

A lazy voice rang out from the other side of the Starfish Monster's body disk, where its eye was located:

"Hello, 'shadow', 'silver skeleton'. Let's go catch jellyfish."

As it spoke, the starfish sang and danced, "Oh~~~, who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"

Shen Mingyuan: ???

Lu Jianchuan: ???

Liu Hongwen: "spongebob!!"

(Wait, wrong script. The following is the real dialogue.)

"Hello, 'shadow', 'silver skeleton'... hm, and this interesting 'Hive' friend. As you can see, I am a starfish. Of course, I am now a starfish of the 'New Federation'."

Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan instantly entered a state of high alert. Shen Mingyuan slightly adjusted the aim of his dual pistols, while silver-white electric currents vaguely flickered on Lu Jianchuan's knuckles once more.

Liu Hongwen, slumped on the ground, also seemed to have his scattered attention drawn by this new threat beyond comprehension, staring blankly.

"Don't be so nervous," the Starfish Monster waved a tentacle, its posture actually appearing somewhat... casual?

"I know that according to the process, we'll probably have a fight next. But before we start, could you... answer a small question for me first?"

Lu Jianchuan asked in a low voice, "What question?" His gaze was locked on the opponent, not daring to relax in the slightest.

"You see," the Starfish Monster's voice remained lazy, yet carried a sense of inquiry, "Every time we meet, my compatriots have more or less answered some of your questions, right? About thoughts, about purposes... although you don't seem to agree much. So this time, it's my turn."

Its giant yellowish-brown eye blinked, its gaze seemingly moving back and forth between Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan.

"I've always been quite curious. I've observed you humans for so long, heard so many principles, and watched so many struggles... can you tell me—"

Its voice trailed off slightly, carrying the pure curiosity and confusion unique to a non-human creature:

"Just... what is 'civilization'?"

Shen Mingyuan's deep red goggles flickered slightly, seemingly not expecting the opponent to ask a question first, especially such a question. "Oh? After an introduction, you ask us about our view on civilization first? That's quite interesting.

However, everyone, or even every group, might have a different understanding of 'civilization'.

What I'm more interested in is, in your—or rather, the 'New Federation's'—observation, what is human 'civilization' like?"

The giant dark red Starfish Monster seemed to truly "think." One of its tentacles unconsciously tapped the overturned dining table next to it, making a soft thumping sound. A few seconds later, its lazy voice rang out again:

"Well... how should I put it? During the time I was still in the sea, and later when I was caught and placed in this glass tank, I suppose I was observing."

Its giant yellowish-brown eye turned toward Shen Mingyuan. "You humans... have a rather contradictory side. When facing the weak—like offspring, the elderly, or even some seemingly frail adults—you seem to produce an extra... hm, 'compassion'?

I've seen, in very cold weather, an individual who looked like they couldn't even feed themselves would share their only hot food with another shivering stranger.

No kinship, and no reward expected. This completely violates the basic logic of 'survival of the fittest and self-preservation' that prevails in nature.

This is the most significant difference I've observed between you and most animals."

It paused, its tentacle waving more broadly, as if finding the topic somewhat interesting:

"Aside from that... you don't seem to have much fundamental difference from other animals busy foraging, reproducing, and fighting for territory.

Oh, wait, there is one thing—you seem to be more... 'busy' than us?

I hardly ever see you truly stop to rest; you're always chasing virtual symbols called 'money,' worrying about it, fighting over it, and even using it to measure each other's value and status.

To me, this is a bit hard to understand, yet it is indeed one of the core driving forces of your society's operation."

Lu Jianchuan: "So, in your view, the only difference, or rather the most crucial distinction, between civilization and pure natural Law lies in this... 'anti-survival of the fittest' tendency?

An extra care for the weak, even one that goes against one's own immediate interests?"

The Starfish Monster's giant eye turned toward Lu Jianchuan, its tentacle gently patting the damp floor with a soft slapping sound:

"Yes. At least, that is the most significant and stable difference I have observed so far.

In other aspects, whether it's competing for resources, expanding territory, or internal Rank divisions, you have no fundamental difference from wolf packs in the jungle or schools of fish in coral reefs. You might even be more complex and efficient, but also more... circuitous."

"Yes," Lu Jianchuan replied, his tone becoming more solemn. "In fact, the essence of a civilization is, to a large extent, 'anti-nature'.

We build houses to withstand wind, rain, cold, and heat; we invent medicine to combat injury, illness, and death; we establish Laws to restrain violence and lynching... almost every step of civilization's development can be seen as a rebellion against the cold 'survival of the fittest' script set by nature.

We try to use rules, morality, and technology to buffer and change that naked Law of the jungle."

He paused slightly, seemingly organizing his thoughts to make his words clearer:

"And how we treat the weak within our group—whether we discard them as burdens or do our best to protect them and grant them opportunities for survival and development—"

The height of a civilization is precisely reflected in its attitude toward the weak.

Nature's logic is to weed out the weak to ensure overall adaptability, while the ideal of civilization is to avoid leaving anyone behind as much as possible, even if it slows down the overall pace and increases the burden of survival.

It's very difficult, full of contradictions and internal struggles, but... perhaps this is exactly what we call 'civilization,' its most core and fragile light."

The Starfish Monster fell silent for a moment. Its giant yellowish-brown eye narrowed slightly and then slowly opened. For the first time, its lazy tone carried a hint of what could be understood as "sudden realization" or "deep thought":

"Anti-nature... civilization. The height of a civilization is precisely reflected in its attitude toward the weak... I see.

This is indeed a... very interesting and demanding yardstick. It is indeed fundamentally different from our 'New Federation's' development approach based on survival efficiency, genetic optimization, and absolute population advantage."