Evolution - Chapter 28
Chapter 28
“Alpha?” Ji Changqing repeated mechanically. Having read her fair share of web novels, she certainly knew what an Alpha was. She tilted her head up and asked in all seriousness, “Does this mean I’m going through a second puberty? Can I still grow taller?”
The psychological counselor was shaken to her core, a look of “Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?” plastered on her face.
“Of course, you can.” Her mind a mess of garbled code, the counselor answered the question with an appearance of calm, carefully observing her subject. This was truly the most bizarre case she had ever encountered. Was the main point whether she could grow taller? Shouldn’t it be what to do with her life after differentiating?
Having received an affirmative answer, Ji Changqing was quite satisfied. Her train of thought finally got back on track, and she was filled with curiosity about the unknown. “Is the heat cycle really so bad that you get dizzy, lose your mind, and only want to jump into bed?”
I swear, this woman…
As a psychological counselor dispatched to this newly discovered civilized planet, she had a general understanding of this world’s fictional settings for ABO society. How to put it… it was rather indescribable.
“Of course not.” She smiled faintly. “The concepts of ABO society on Blue Star bear some resemblance to certain situations from over ten thousand years ago. But with the perfection of our laws, everyone’s self-control has greatly improved.”
There was some influence, and it was true that people could become uncontrollably infatuated, but the idea of losing one’s mind was just nonsense. As the most upvoted comment on the StarNet regarding the historical development of the Alliance’s ABO society put it: You see, when the punishment is severe enough to make life unbearable, the self-control of Alphas across society improves. When mental power and physique training largely level the playing field of natural physical differences, everyone becomes polite. And when the invisible privileges that come with gender are completely stripped away, putting all genders on the same starting line, the vast majority of people learn respect.
Under the iron-fisted education that “to have rights, one must pay a corresponding price,” at least there were far fewer idiots who thought the world owed them something.
As a psychological counselor, she was skilled at chatting and soothing emotions. After talking for half an hour, she confirmed that this newly-minted Alpha was genuinely unfazed. She had accepted her sudden mutation without any resistance and was completely unconcerned with the physiological changes to her own body. Instead, she was full of curiosity about the unknown society that might result from these changes.
The relatively pleasant counseling session came to an end, and the two parted ways naturally.
After leaving the room, the counselor made a note next to Ji Changqing’s name: Rational and restrained, pending observation. After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but add a few more words: Unconventional thought process, requires special observation.
Among the hundreds of people who had differentiated here under her care, there had been those who were ecstatic, those who were hysterical, those who were panicked, and those who were anxious and lost…
But among them all, every single one had been more concerned with their own mutation than with potential societal changes.
These reactions were all within expectations. After all, new things always required time to adapt and accept, especially when the changes were happening to oneself.
In comparison, Ji Changqing’s reaction was just too bizarre.
But whatever, she shrugged. The people of this planet weren’t great at technological development, but their imaginations were boundless. They dared to think of anything; there was nothing they couldn’t imagine, only things they couldn’t do. What was so strange about a few oddballs?
Soon after the counselor left, Ji Changqing was visited by a doctor. After an examination, the doctor gave her some instructions on what to pay attention to during her differentiation period and informed her that over the next week, she would be scheduled for a series of vaccinations, similar to those given to newborns on Blue Star.
Not long after the doctor left, an official from the Galactic Interstellar Alliance’s population management department arrived. The official entered Ji Changqing’s information, collected a genetic sample, created a file, and then handed her a personal terminal. He methodically guided her through linking the terminal. “This is your identification credential in the Galactic Interstellar Alliance, as well as your payment and communication account. You can link your current ID from the holographic game. Oh, right, the game points and contribution points from the holographic game can be exchanged one-to-one for the Alliance’s universal currency and merit value. You can use it for any purchases you need to make on the StarNet.”
No wonder this training was paid for with game points and contribution points. It turned out they were basically real money.
“Blue Star is not yet connected to the StarNet, and your current condition is not suitable for logging into the holographic game. You can use the terminal to study some basic courses and learn about interstellar common knowledge.”
Ji Changqing tried operating the terminal. It already had about a dozen videos and some test question collections stored on it. Clearly, these basic courses on ABO society and interstellar common knowledge for the Galactic Interstellar Alliance were going to be tested.
Putting the tests aside for now, she clicked on a video with great interest. Some of the courses covered topics they had already learned, such as the structure of the Galactic Interstellar Alliance, how many star systems it was divided into, and how many planets were in each system. But there was also new information, such as the history of ABO social development, the cultivation systems and their levels, and some of the civil rights, obligations, and welfare policies applicable in an ABO society.
Ji Changqing guessed that the intelligent species in the Galactic Interstellar Alliance weren’t limited to humans, and even among humans, there were different systems. ABO society was just one of them.
The cultivation system was somewhat consistent with her previous guesses, but also slightly different. The basic versions of mental power and physique cultivation were divided into twelve levels, but the twelfth level was not the highest. Above it were three more advanced cultivation levels: Star, Moon, and Sun. Sun Master was the highest, followed by Moon Master, and finally Star Master.
Reading this, Ji Changqing blinked and couldn’t help but ponder. Big Sister had given her a technique that cultivated using the primordial energy of the rising sun, and she had given The First a technique that cultivated using the power of the moon’s essence. Could there be a connection to these Star, Moon, and Sun Masters?
If so, she mused, she had really hit the jackpot.
At the same time, diplomatic representatives from various countries were in a meeting with personnel from the Interstellar Alliance, led by Claire. Well, strictly speaking, it wasn’t so much a meeting as an informational briefing on the direction of evolution.
“It has now been confirmed that Blue Star’s evolutionary path is ABO,” Claire announced unhurriedly, the corner of her eye sweeping over the expressions of everyone present. Hmm, confirmed. The people of Blue Star had wild imaginations, but it seemed none of the dignitaries here were web novel enthusiasts.
“ABO society is slightly different from what you might know on Blue Star. Genders are divided into six types: male Alpha, female Alpha, male Beta, female Beta, male Omega, and female Omega…”
No matter how well the attending representatives managed their expressions, they couldn’t hide their astonishment.
Claire smiled imperceptibly and continued, “After the evolution is complete, the average lifespan of an ordinary person will reach 180 years…”
Before the astonishment could fade from the representatives’ faces, they were struck by a mix of shock and delight. They all stared at Claire, their eyes screaming, “Is that true?”
Claire pretended not to notice, continuing in a calm, steady voice, “And for those who achieve success in cultivating their mental power and physique, their lifespan will extend with the growth of their cultivation.”
When her presentation reached a pause, the representatives exchanged hushed words. Someone tentatively asked, “Excuse me, the direction of evolution should be controllable, right? Is it possible to… without changing one’s gender…”
Claire offered a polite smile, her voice gentle yet unhesitating as she cut off his probing question. “I’m sorry, but the direction of evolution is neither controllable nor reversible. All we are doing is accelerating the process.” A smile touched her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I believe everyone here understands that to gain rights, one must pay a corresponding price, correct?”
There was no such thing as having the best of both worlds, wanting this and wanting that.
“Great power, a superior physique, a longer lifespan—these are determined by our planet’s environment, our aptitude, and our own genetic characteristics. They cannot be changed by individual will.” She paused, then added leisurely, “However, Blue Star is a bit different. If you evolve naturally, it would likely take several hundred or even a thousand years to complete. You can also choose to maintain the status quo for now and not accelerate the evolution.”
A glimmer of hope flickered in everyone’s eyes again.
“Those who follow the ABO evolutionary path are eligible for the highest level of civilized planet treatment and resource support from the Galactic Interstellar Alliance.” Claire’s lips curled slightly. “Alliance citizens on Blue Star are free to individually choose whether or not to accelerate their evolution. The Alliance will not force anyone.”
With that single statement, she thoroughly cornered everyone present who had been hoping to have it all.
This was a clear-cut prisoner’s dilemma.
It was obvious. Even if they found it difficult to accept evolving into six genders for the time being, there would be plenty of people willing to accept it for the sake of greater power, a superior physique, and a longer lifespan. Once others accepted it and they didn’t, those who hadn’t undergone accelerated evolution would have no competitive edge against those who had. They would quickly sink to the bottom of society.
It was just like parents desperately enrolling their children in all sorts of interest classes, training programs, and tutoring sessions. Regardless of whether the children were willing, the parents didn’t dare to slack off, doing everything in their power not to fall behind and to strive for the top. Because the moment they relaxed, their social standing would decline.
A thousand thoughts raced through everyone’s minds. They felt a little aggrieved, but it was a grievance they couldn’t voice. This was an open and honest scheme, and they were even given the freedom to choose. It was just that they didn’t dare not to choose.
As if that weren’t enough, Claire refused to let them off the hook, delivering the most fatal blow. “Oh, right. We understand that you were all previously concerned about birth rates falling below the population replacement level and worried about the crisis of an aging society. After evolution, you won’t have to worry anymore. In addition to a superior physique, greater strength, and a longer lifespan, five of the six ABO genders have a chance to give birth to children themselves.”
Everyone present was a diplomatic representative for their country, their reading comprehension skills at their peak. They all precisely grasped Claire’s meaning. My god, it wasn’t an ambiguous “possess reproductive capabilities,” but “can give birth to children themselves”!
Personally giving birth to children! Most of the people in the room were middle-aged or elderly men. Upon hearing this, they felt a mouthful of old blood rise in their throats, wishing they could spit it right in the vexing Claire’s face.
After finishing her brief introduction and successfully backing everyone into a corner they couldn’t escape, Claire made a graceful exit, her mission accomplished. She gestured for her assistant to send the electronic version of the detailed introduction to all the attendees, thoughtfully leaving them enough time—time to read the documents and digest the information, and time to report back to their superiors.
In the age of technology, even when worlds apart, information traveled at the speed of light.
The higher-ups in various countries who received the information also fell silent.
This method, these tactics, were all too familiar. It was the classic carrot-and-stick approach—a slap followed by a sweet date. A very normal and effective way to manage subordinates.
But in the end, everything else was illusory; only interests were eternal. With so many benefits to be gained from evolution, what did six genders matter? And what did it matter if five of those six genders could personally give birth? There was still a gap between having the ability to give birth and actually being willing to do so.
The thought was a rather beautiful one.
After announcing a temporary recess, Claire led her assistant out of the conference room, leaving the space to the others.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw Xie'er in a purple dress, leaning lazily against the wall. Seeing them emerge, Xie'er turned her head and threw a flirtatious wink as a greeting. Then her gaze locked onto Claire, and she called out softly, “Claire.”
She drew out the last syllable, her voice a tantalizing caress, like a hook tugging at the listener’s heart and making it itch.
Looking at the radiant and unabashedly charismatic Xie'er, who made no effort to hide her charm, Claire felt that the top button of her collar was suddenly a little too tight today.
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment