Chapter 292: Price of Evolution

Gao Ye’s face was far from the definition of handsome.

When he gritted his teeth, his face also became so distorted that Meng Chao had no words to describe it.

“Do you still think that I have groundless fears? That’s only because you do not know the newest development of runic symbol machines and automatized technology.” He cast a deep glance at Meng Chao and continued. “Let’s use the newest mining machine developed by our greatest competitor—Heavenly Works Machines. It’s a giant that has dozens of functions, including exploring, tunneling, crushing stones, gathering samples, and fighting. It can even take along hundreds of small unmanned excavating machines.

“Thanks to runic symbol machines and automatized technology, you will need only one machine master at the peak of Earth Realm to control this mining machine, and you’ll be able to have the work efficiency of hundreds of skilled miners.

“Of course, due to the radiation in crystal mines and the fact that automatized technology is still not fully developed, this sort of runic symbol machine can’t completely replace a human miner.

“But if Heavenly Works Machines manages to get the deal for Subway No.20 and get more deals in the development of the northern frontlines, they will get more money to invest in their research. One of these days, they will be able to develop a perfect machine that will have the work efficiency that surpasses thousands of miners but only requires one superhuman to control it.

“At that time, what are the thousands of miners who have been replaced supposed to do?”

Meng Chao opened his mouth. Gao Ye’s words were too realistic. He sank into deep thought but was unable to answer his question.

Gao Ye continued coldly, “This is what I mean when I say that times have changed. During the old era, even if the ones at the top had a mine, they needed thousands of people to work for them. They also needed mine protection teams, engineers, accountants, and all sorts of experts helping them to make up for what their brains lacked. And no matter how loyal those people appeared to be to those at the top, they definitely had their own thoughts and interests in their minds.

“Of course they could enslave and exploit those miners. They could even commit crimes that would make people bristle with rage, but if you look at it from another perspective, they had to use the miners, mine protection team, engineers, and accountants. The source of their strength came from these people. If they deserted the ones at the top, those at the top were nothing.

“Hence, when the miners’ rage turned into a storm, those at the top trembled in fear. They had to pay an extra price to suppress or placate the miners. It was only this way that they could achieve a temporary balance.

“But in the new era we are about to welcome, due to the infiltration of spirit energy and stimulation from genes, in just a short half a century, the 1% of superhumans in our population have been evolving rapidly, and they have turned into… a brand new creature who only look similar to Earthlings.

“Those at the top no longer need any engineers, accountants, guards, or miners. With their superior calculation abilities, they are the best engineers and accountants.

“Since they can move mountains and seas, they are their own army.

“And if they use the incredibly advanced Internet of Everything, automatized machines and runic symbol technology, with just one thought, they can control thousands of mining machines to replace traditional miners.

“Do you understand now? In the new era, those at the top do not need to enslave normal people, because normal people won’t have any value.

“Those at the top can then be callous and merciless and ignore normal people so that they would perish on their own. They can also still treat normal people as comrades from Earth. If they’re merciful and just, they might fork out a bit of their money to provide for the normal people.

“Honestly, that’s how Dragon City is now.

“Most of the superhumans are training and fighting madly to continuously enrich and improve themselves so that they can climb to the peak of intelligence, physical abilities, riches, and technology.

“But that also means that an increasing number of normal people are unable to get the chance to display their skills. They can’t catch up to the speed of superhumans, so they can only choose to curl up in their houses and live on the synthetic food made of earthworm meat, which is given to them by the Survival Committee, or take up simple and boring jobs that can be replaced by runic symbol machines at any moment. They can only be miners, expand underground spaces, or repair the parts of the city ruined by monsters.

“But as superhumans’ intelligence and strength continues increasing and runic symbol machines as well as automatized technology gets closer to being fully developed, those days when they have work will eventually come to an end.

“When more superhumans reach Heaven Realm and Deity Realm, and the internet, superbrain, and runic symbol machine technology becomes so advanced that they can project the superhumans’ unparalleled brainwaves to control more than one thousand drones and thinking machines at the same time, just what sort of meaning will normal humans have in this civilization?”

“Well…” Meng Chao finally thought of a point. “At the very least, normal people can be consumers. If there were no normal people, the superhumans wouldn’t be able to sell the products they produce using those automatized runic symbol machines.”

“They don’t need to sell them to anyone,” Gao Ye said. “Those at the top in the old era had the primitive urge to continuously expand the market, but to those at the top in the new era, there might be something even more attractive compared to profit, and that is cultivation.

“The Survival Committee’s slogan is that the normal humans and superhumans are like fish and water. Neither can be apart from each other. Without normal people supporting the superhumans, the superhumans would be water without a source and trees without roots. Perhaps that is the case for low-grade or middle-grade superhumans.

“But to Deity Realm elites or even the peerless ones who are above Deity Realm, is that really the case?

“Let’s make an interesting thought experiment. Let’s say that we have a peerless elite who has surpassed Deity Realm. His brainwaves are powerful enough to reach the entire planet, and he has drones and automatic runic symbol machines spread all over the planet. What value and meaning do the normal people have to him, then?”

Meng Chao frowned and stared at Gao Ye before he said, “Director Gao, I’m beginning to think that you’re being a little extreme.”

“Perhaps my thoughts are extreme,” Gao Ye retorted. “But it’s also possible that you refuse to face the brutal future. But regardless of whether you’re willing to face it or not, evolution has never stopped walking forward. In fact, it’s even going faster now.

“You’re a superhuman as well. You should have experienced the unmatched pleasure of having spirit energy flow through your nerves and blood vessels. This pleasure is even more stimulating than becoming wealthy and having your capital increase. It’s enough to make superhumans cultivate nonstop and climb to new heights.

“There will definitely be more Heaven Realm elites, Deity Realm elites, and even the unmatched elites who surpass Deity Realm in the future. The distance between them and normal people will also increase.

“Similarly, if runic symbol machines and automatized technology continues developing at its current pace, those cold machines will become smarter, stronger, and more agile. Sooner or later, they will replace the normal people, who make up 99% of our society.

“We cannot stop superhumans from cultivating. In fact, we ourselves continue cultivating nonstop.

“But we can stop the development of runic symbol machines and automatized technology. We can reveal the evil plot of Heavenly Works Machines and stop them as well as other runic symbol machine companies from getting more deals so that biochemical modification technology will become the future of Dragon City. This is the only path we can take.

“Fortunately, when Spirit Creation Creatures was about to be accused of a crime we didn’t commit, you stood up and gave us critical evidence. Your deeds have not only saved Spirit Creation Creatures, but also changed the future for all of Dragon City,” Gao Ye said earnestly.

“I wasn’t thinking that much. I just wanted to find the truth.” Meng Chao thought about it and said, “Besides, Director Gao, when you use biochemical modification technology to create Giant Sandworms and other such biochemical beasts, they’re also a form of machine which can do a lot of things on its own.

“Based on what you said, if improved runic symbol machines will result in normal people losing their place in our civilization, the machines of blood and flesh will do the same.

“If we use just biochemical beasts to mine, the miners will also lose their jobs.”

Gao Ye was stunned for a long time, then he smiled bitterly.

“That’s right, Meng Chao. You’re very smart. In just a short few minutes, you managed to point out the main problem that I have been facing for years.

“Perhaps it’s all the same. Perhaps runic symbol machine technology and biochemical modification technology are the same. We’re living in an era where everything is evolving at a rapid speed, and our so-called evolution means that we have to cast aside 99% of our people so that the remaining lucky 1% will be able to reach a higher position in life.

“Alright, it’s very interesting talking to you. I hope that we’ll be able to talk further in the future. But now, I have to hand in the examination report to the related departments.”

Gao Ye looked as if he wanted to send Meng Chao away.

A thought popped up in Meng Chao’s head. “You’ll hand over the examination report to the local government?”

“Of course, since this is crucial evidence. It’s enough to prove that Heavenly Works Machines harbored a sinister plot against us. The sooner we send this over, the sooner we’ll be able to catch the culprit,” Gao Ye said calmly. “Besides, after something so big happened, the higher ups are already monitoring Spirit Creation Creatures. It’s just that they’re doing it discreetly. On the surface, they didn’t send anyone with guns and bullets to guard our place.

“But I believe that the higher ups already know about this. After all, many people would have seen us digging out such a big super Giant Sandworm.

“I can’t think of any need for us to hide the truth. The sooner we end this, the sooner I can stop bothering with this and resume my research.”

“Oh…” Meng Chao thought about it for a while before he asked, “Director Gao, is this government official you mentioned a police officer by the name of Shen Yupeng?”

Gao Ye was stunned for a moment. “You know each other? But he didn’t mention anything about him being a police officer. He just said that he’s from the Supernatural Tower.”

“Got it.” Meng Chao nodded. “One last question, Director Gao. This is out of pure curiosity, and you can just give a random answer. Do you have a lab in mind that you suspect might have created this mutated rabies?”

“Well…” Gao Ye shook his head. “How should I say this? Mutated rabies isn’t something that is difficult to create. Many of the biochemical labs have the skill, such as a lot of the labs from the various courses in Agricultural University. The labs in the monster colosseums can do this too. There are a lot of other labs which can do it too. I can’t tell.”

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