173: Idealists

New York, Earth Council Headquarters Building.

In the conference room on the top floor, symbolizing the highest power core of Human Civilization, the air regulated by the constant temperature system was not so fresh. Instead, it was hot and filled with restless hormones due to the detailed investigation report on the F-81 Star System submitted by Lei Wen regarding Dr. Ilya.

A giant holographic projection floated in the center of the conference table, displaying the detailed ecological scan map and information report of F-81-03A Mana Star, transmitted by Dr. Ilya from 81 speed of light years away.

The blue-green planet slowly rotated in the dark void, much like Earth before it was polluted by the smoke and dust of the industrial revolution. In the magnified windows on the planet's surface, astonishing scenes were playing: human knights galloping on steeds, orcs wielding machetes and greatswords, dragons soaring in the clouds, multi-headed monsters lurking in swamps, and merfolk building city-states in the deep sea.

“This is simply God's grace.”

The representative from the European Union was a veteran politician known for his composure. At this moment, he took off his glasses and pointed at the screen with trembling fingers, his eyes gleaming with undisguised greed.

“A perfect Earth-like planet, with a complete and stable ecosystem, requiring no environmental modification that would take countless years like Kali Star, and not lacking essential water and atmosphere like Mars.”

“Most importantly...” his gaze was fixed on the Mana humans trading in the market, “there are people here, living, intelligent laborers in a feudal era.”

The atmosphere in the conference room was instantly ignited.

In the past few decades, although the Human Federation, driven by Paradox Technology, completed the leap from a surface civilization to a stellar system civilization, and the advent of antimatter reactors allowed humanity to touch the threshold of interstellar civilization, a huge hidden worry always clouded the minds of all decision-makers — population.

Despite advances in medical technology significantly extending human lifespans, and despite extremely high levels of mechanization and automation, as humanity's territory rapidly expanded, the labor gap remained an astronomical figure.

The Moon Base needed people, the Mars Industrial Zone needed people, asteroid belt mines needed people, large space stations needed maintenance personnel, and the various fleets under construction needed even more people.

And humanity's natural reproduction rate, when faced with the demands of the vast cosmos, was despairingly slow. Although Paradox Technology provided a large number of intelligent robots, robots required energy, maintenance, and in certain roles requiring creativity, flexibility, or simply as “consumers” and “managed entities,” carbon-based life still played an irreplaceable role.

Now, a planet with a large population and a technological level even more backward than the Kari Civilization, easily conquered and controlled, lay naked before humanity.

“Regarding the races on this planet,” a representative from North America eagerly spoke, “Dr. Ilya's report mentioned that their genes are almost identical to ours?”

“Yes, 99.99% similarity.” Lei Wen sat in the position of the Director of the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau, answering calmly, “From a biological perspective, they are human and can perfectly interbreed with us.”

“Perfect!” The North American representative slammed the table. “This means they don't need any adaptive modifications to directly integrate into our society! Gentlemen, imagine billions of laborers who can be immediately put to use! This will completely solve our labor shortage for the next fifty years!”

“Not only that,” added the representative from the South Asian Subcontinent, his gaze lingering more on the non-human races, “look at these centaurs, their muscle density and bone strength far exceed humans, making them natural heavy laborers. And those merfolk, they can help us develop Europa's subsurface oceans, and even those so-called dwarves... if the report is correct, their engineering minds can also be utilized by us.”

“This is a huge biological resource library.”

The direction of the discussion quickly shifted from initial scientific discovery to the division of interests.

“We need to formulate a detailed ‘New World Development Act’.” An economic advisor proposed, “The indigenous humans of Mana Star can be introduced into the Federation system as second-class citizens and a small number of true citizens, to engage in infrastructure, agriculture, and service industries, while those non-human intelligent races...”

He paused, then said in a matter-of-fact tone, “can be used as special laborers, or rather, biological assets.”

“When our faster-than-speed of light fleet is formed and can reach Mana Star in a short time, we should establish vocational training schools on Mana Star to teach them how to operate our machines and learn our language.”

“No, I think able-bodied young laborers should be transported in batches by transport ships directly to Mars and the asteroid belt. The environment there is harsh, and that's precisely when such cheap labor is needed. Our citizens should engage in more respectable and advanced work.”

“Agreed, the citizenship of the Human Federation must be sacred. These aliens must undergo at least three generations of assimilation and contribution to obtain citizenship.”

The conference room was filled with a lively atmosphere, as if the planet 81 speed of light years away was already meat on their chopping block, ready to be carved and cooked at will.

During this process, no one raised any objections regarding “human rights,” “morality,” or “indigenous will.”

In the face of enormous interests and the absolute disparity in civilizational levels, so-called universal values were tacitly confined to the narrow circle of “Solar System humans.”

For higher civilizations, lower civilizations are not equal interlocutors, but resources, data, and consumables.

Lei Wen sat there quietly, not saying a word.

He was like an outsider, coldly observing this spoils-sharing meeting about the future.

His gaze swept over the faces, slightly flushed with excitement. These people were humanity's elite, leaders chosen by various nations, possessing the era's most advanced wisdom and cunning.

Yet at this moment, what Lei Wen saw in them was still the shadow of the colonizers from the Age of Discovery hundreds of years ago.

Even older, more primitive.

“Is this humanity?” Lei Wen asked himself.

After nearly a century of technological leaps, humanity had mastered controllable nuclear fusion, antimatter, and was even on the verge of mastering Warp Drive.

Productivity had risen to unimaginable heights.

Material abundance was extreme, energy was almost infinite, and hunger and disease had been largely eradicated on Earth.

But, had humanity changed?

No.

Humanity's social structure, distribution system, and relations of production had not fundamentally changed with the explosion of productivity.

It was still a pyramid structure, with a minority controlling the vast majority of resources and power.

Only the base of the pyramid had changed from the proletariat of their own country to the future Kari People, Mana People, and robots.

“With 50 percent profit, capital dares to do anything; with 100 percent profit, it will trample all human laws.”

Marx's words still resonated profoundly in the interstellar age.

The reason these high-ranking officials were so enthusiastic about Mana Star was not for the welfare of all humanity, but because it represented new growth points, new spaces for exploitation, and fuel to allow their behind-the-scenes interest groups to maintain their rule and extravagant lives.

“If Human Civilization ventures into the universe with such genes...”

Lei Wen's eyes became deep and cold.

“Then we will not become a civilization like Faleim, but rather the next Iofer Federation.”

A pirate civilization that maintained its prosperity through plunder and enslavement.

Such a civilization might be powerful for a time, but it was destined not to last, because its interior would always be filled with oppression and resistance, and its exterior would always be filled with enemies.

“Director Lei? Director Lei?”

The voice of the rotating chairman interrupted Lei Wen's thoughts.

“Hmm?” Lei Wen looked up, his eyes returning to calm.

“Does the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau have any opinions on the ‘F-81 Galaxy Development and Immigration Draft’ just proposed? After all, future interstellar transportation and security still rely on the support of your bureau and Paradox Technology.”

All eyes turned to Lei Wen. Although they had been discussing heatedly, everyone knew that without Lei Wen's approval, they couldn't even leave the Solar System.

Lei Wen slowly stood up and adjusted his collar.

“The Interstellar Affairs General Bureau agrees in principle to develop the F-81 Star System.”

His words made everyone present breathe a sigh of relief and smile.

“However,” Lei Wen's tone shifted, his voice not loud, “regarding the treatment of Mana Star's indigenous people, the principles of the ‘Basic Law of Interstellar Civilization Contact’ must be followed.”

“We are here to guide civilization, not to be slave owners.”

“All labor export must be based on voluntary and paid principles, prohibiting any form of forced enslavement and biological trafficking. Mana humans, after assessment, should enjoy the same legal status as Federation citizens.”

Lei Wen's words slightly cooled the atmosphere in the conference room. Many representatives frowned slightly, finding Lei Wen too “idealistic” or “saintly.”

“Of course,” Lei Wen looked at their expressions, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, “I also understand your urgent need for labor.”

“Paradox Technology can provide a complete labor dispatch and vocational training system. We will act as an intermediary to ensure that Mana Star's labor force enters the Federation's industrial system in an orderly and legal manner.”

“This way, both your needs and the Federation's reputation can be guaranteed. How about it?”

This was actually a compromise.

The representatives exchanged glances and nodded.

“Director Lei has considered everything thoroughly.”

“Indeed, we are a higher civilization after all, we must maintain appearances.”

“Agreed.”

Looking at these hypocritical faces, Lei Wen's urge for change grew stronger.

After the meeting, Lei Wen declined all dinner invitations and returned alone to the underground command center in Tianqiong City via shuttle.

Only when the heavy blast door closed behind him, isolating him from the outside world's clamor, did Lei Wen let out a long sigh of relief.

“white flower.”

He sat in the command chair, rubbing his forehead wearily.

“Here, Father.”

“What did you think of today's meeting?”

“From the perspective of maximizing profit, the Council's resolution aligns with the logic of capital expansion.” white flower calmly analyzed, “Alleviating internal contradictions by plundering external resources and populations is a recurring pattern in human history.”

“Yes, recurring.” Lei Wen sneered, “Like a cycle that cannot be broken.”

“Technology advances, but human nature does not.”

“They think mastering powerful technology makes them gods, but their thinking is still stuck in the era of the Enclosure Movement.”

Lei Wen stood up, looking at the brilliant lights on the holographic globe.

Beneath this glamorous facade, wealth disparity still existed, and class stratification remained severe.

Although the living standards of the lower classes had risen with technological progress, and starvation was virtually eliminated, this was a dividend from “making the cake bigger,” not a change in “how the cake was divided.”

Those who controlled the means of production still controlled everything.

“If the relations of production cannot adapt to the development of productive forces, they will hinder the development of productive forces.” Lei Wen murmured, “It seems now that although productive forces haven't been hindered yet, the social form has already begun to deform.”

“To make these high-ranking officials act according to my ideas, for the perpetuation of civilization rather than immediate profit, persuasion is useless.”

“It must be driven by interest, or by fear.”

“But these are all temporary solutions.”

Lei Wen's eyes gradually sharpened.

“We need a revolution.”

“A true, thorough social revolution that touches the very roots of the soul and institutions.”

“Relying solely on external pressure can only bring temporary unity; once the pressure disappears, old habits will return.”

“Father, what do you plan to do?” white flower asked, “Overthrow the existing Earth Council? With the power you possess, taking over global political power would only take 48 hours.”

“No, that would only create chaos and hatred, and I don't want to be a dictator; it's too tiring and too prone to error.”

Lei Wen shook his head.

“What I want is not a change of power, but an evolution of consciousness.”

He thought of the Faleim Civilization.

It was a civilization he had designed himself.

The Faleim People were powerful not only because of their technology, but also because of their social consensus of absolute rationality, collectivism, and the willingness to sacrifice all individual interests for the civilization's goals.

Although this model was ruthless, it was the most efficient survival rule in the interstellar age.

In contrast, humanity overly emphasized individualism, liberalism, and capital interests. While this might have been a source of vitality in the Cradle era, it appeared loose and shortsighted when facing the scale of the vast cosmos.

“We cannot simply copy the Faleim model; humanity's genes do not possess that absolute rationality.”

Lei Wen pondered.

“We need to find a path suitable for humanity.”

“A path that can both retain human creativity and emotion, and achieve optimal resource allocation and high social equity.”

“Perhaps... the discovery of Mana Star is an opportunity.”

A bold plan flashed through Lei Wen's mind.

If Earth, this old tree, was already deeply rooted and difficult to prune.

Then why not plant a new sapling in the New World?

“F-81 Star System, Mana Star.”

Lei Wen looked at the distant light point on the Star Map.

“It's a blank slate.”

“We can use this colonization opportunity to conduct an unprecedented social experiment there.”

“We will screen the first batch of colonists, not only for their skills but also for their ideology.”

“We will establish a brand new social system there, without capital monopoly, with public ownership of the means of production, managed meticulously by super AI, combining distribution according to need and distribution according to work.”

“We will build a truly meaningful sample of the Human Federation on that planet.”

“If successful, it will become a model for Earth, forcing the mother planet to reform.”

“If it fails...” Lei Wen paused, “at least it will be an attempt.”

“white flower,” Lei Wen issued the command, “begin drafting the ‘New World Social Architecture Blueprint’.”

“Refer to the Faleim Civilization's macroeconomic regulation model, combine it with socialist ideals in human history, and our existing AI management technology.”

“We will try to build a Utopia on Mana Star.”

“Additionally,” Lei Wen added, “regarding those consortiums and politicians who want to become local emperors on Mana Star, set some thresholds for them.”

“Although we still need their funds and resources now, in the future New World, the scepter of power cannot be held in the hands of merchants.”

“Yes, Father.” white flower's voice seemed to hold a hint of anticipation, “This sounds like a very grand project.”

“Indeed.”

Lei Wen looked at the starry sky, his eyes burning with the flame of idealism.

“This is much harder than building a spaceship.”

“But this is the most interesting game, isn't it?”