Chapter 194: Genetic Ascension!
Upon invitation, Lu Yuan arrived at the highest watchtower of the giant tree.
“Hello, Executive.”
Sasha was already waiting there. She wasn't wearing her work uniform but a white polymer suit resembling formal wear, indicating the meeting was official.
“Please have a seat. I noticed that over 60 people didn’t return from this operation. Is that alright?”
“It’s fine.”
Lu Yuan sat down.
“I’m more heartbroken about the loss of equipment.”
Emerald Life Science had already sensed Cangyuan’s strangeness, and continuing to conceal “resurrection” would only make them look foolish.
“I see. So, you are actually survivors of Cangyuan Future Technology, right?”
“Yes.” Lu Yuan nodded. “May I ask how you determined that?”
“Before our ancestors embarked on their journey to this planet, there were rumors that Cangyuan was developing technology for consciousness preservation and projection. Combined with clones, it could significantly reduce casualties on the battlefield.”
“So, when I saw the people who hadn’t returned earlier reappear, I already guessed your origins.”
So that’s it. As expected, quite astute...
“Executive, I know that Cangyuan and Infinite Deep Space were competitors in the past, but this will not cause Emerald Life Science to bear animosity towards you. I am speaking with you today for something else.”
Next, Sasha recounted a piece of history.
Starting around 2780, as the benefits brought by zero element physics gradually diminished, Infinite Deep Space’s technological research and development speed changed from accelerating to constant.
At the same time, two factions, conservative and radical, split within the corporation.
The conservatives, though conservative, were optimistic.
They believed the company was already great enough and should moderately abandon scientific research, consolidate interstellar influence through political and diplomatic operations, increase military expansion, launch grand expeditions against other civilizations, and ultimately establish the strongest universal mega-corporation in history.
The radicals, however, believed that the universe was 14.5 billion years old, and in comparison, humanity was too young. There must be races far more powerful than humans in the depths of the void.
Scientific research should not only not be relaxed but should be intensified.
Emerald Life Science, which belonged to the conservative faction, was sent to Emerald Star because of this factional struggle.
Emerald Star was then located on the edge of human territory. Such planets were often used by the radical faction to build scientific research bases. In 2803, the parent company's reconnaissance ship arrived at Emerald Star, discovered that the radical faction's research institute here had been abandoned, and then summoned Emerald Life Science to recover data and then destroy everything.
After Emerald Life Science landed, they discovered that this was actually Infinite Deep Space’s radical faction’s Genetic Ascension site.
As someone who had played “Stellaris,” Lu Yuan couldn't be unfamiliar with the concept of Genetic Ascension.
“I actually guessed this. From the research results recovered from the ruins, Infinite Deep Space doesn’t seem to be conducting bionics research; it’s more like they’re designing biological weapons. I guess the Radiant Dragon must be a bio-warfare unit they cultivated.”
“Hehe, perhaps…”
Sasha smiled somewhat enigmatically.
“But if you think the purpose of Genetic Ascension is just to create biological weapons, you’re greatly underestimating this plan.”
“Oh?”
Sasha moved her chair closer to Lu Yuan and whispered.
“What I’m about to tell you has only been passed down through generations among the highest Person in charge of the Outpost: The core of ‘Genetic Ascension’ lies in a complete negation of traditional human scientific research methods and an emphasis on the concept of evolution.”
“Negating scientific research?”
Lu Yuan found it hard to understand.
“Why?”
“Because traditional scientific research is too slow and consumes too many resources!” Sasha said. “Throughout history, all major human weapon developments have to go through a series of stages such as project initiation, preliminary research, verification, tackling key problems, and later improvements, spanning at least several years.”
“Furthermore, it requires enormous human and material resources, the construction of specialized research facilities, and the dedicated mobilization of large amounts of resources and high-level scientific researchers.”
“In the golden age, the resources occupied by human scientific research already exceeded half of the total. At that time, if they wanted to continue developing the next generation of warships and weapons, military spending would be greatly reduced.”
“This is also the fundamental reason why the contradictions between the conservative and radical factions were irreconcilable! Energy, minerals, and human resources are all finite.”
“But biological evolution is different! Organisms continuously accumulate advantageous mutations, automatically becoming stronger and more adapted to the environment, yet they don’t need to build separate research facilities, nor do they need complex research procedures.”
“Organisms only need to do three things: hunt, reproduce, and protect themselves. Isn’t that a wonderful model?”
“But natural evolution is slow.”
Lu Yuan retorted.
“It took Earth 2 billion years to evolve its most powerful creatures, which are only the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Megalodon.”
Sasha: “Indeed. So, what do you think is the reason for slow evolution?”
“Because organisms themselves don’t know which genetic mutations are beneficial; they can only rely on nature to slowly select them, huh…”
Having been led this far, it would be inexcusable not to guess.
Lu Yuan: “So, the radical faction of Infinite Deep Space has a way to enable organisms to autonomously identify and select genetic mutations, right?”
Sasha: “Absolutely correct! What they want to design is not just a single biological weapon, but an entire interconnected Gaia species!”
“According to the concept, every lower-level sub-entity within this species will transmit the experience accumulated during daily hunting and combat to the rare ‘node individuals’ through psionic connections; the ‘node individuals’ will then filter out advantageous evolutionary directions and upload them to the even rarer ‘decision main brain.’ The main brain is responsible for designing excellent genes based on the evolutionary direction, and then distributing these excellent genes to all sub-entities. This entire process repeats endlessly!”
“These three steps happen simultaneously, never stopping! This will give rise to the most excellent war species!”
Sasha grew more excited as she spoke, taking Lu Yuan’s hand.
“Imagine, Executive Officer! Perfect creatures created by us flying into space, draining stars for energy, and stripping planetary crusts for nutrients!”
“They will be continuously nourished until they grow into cosmic behemoths and biological warships several kilometers long! They will constantly pounce on our enemies, completing their evolution in never-ending battle. What a beautiful sight that will be!”
Lu Yuan said nothing.
He had to admit, he had underestimated Sasha before!
If Jubian’s occasional “madness” was merely an arrogant scholarly temperament, then for Sasha, “madness” had probably penetrated deep into her ideological core, or rather, the very essence of her soul.
It turned out that what sustained Emerald Outpost’s steadfastness here was not reverence for their ancestors’ wishes, but pure ambition!
For four hundred years, it had not diminished.
These “space elves” seemed guileless on the surface, and in reality, they were indeed quite simple. But when simple people became ruthless, they were truly fearless!
Sasha might be the only one among them who retained “tactical deception” skills, yet she ultimately chose to be frank with him.
Should this be considered a cause for celebration?
At the same time, Lu Yuan also gained a clearer self-awareness.
Listening to Sasha’s descriptions, he didn’t feel particularly uneasy or heretical; instead, he was filled with curiosity and desire!
Am I a little crazy myself?
Hmm, it shouldn’t be considered crazy, but it’s definitely quite radical.
“Are you sure such a species can be completely controlled by us?”
Lu Yuan didn't object, merely reminding her. Sasha shook her head.
“As a researcher, I must be frank: I dare not make such a guarantee beforehand! But we can try our best. At least, we must take the first step!”
Ha!
Good answer.
When humanity faced the first generation of nuclear weapons, they probably had a similar mindset, right?
No one could ever guarantee that nuclear weapons wouldn't proliferate, and no one could ever guarantee that a nuclear war wouldn't break out. However, no matter what, nuclear warheads were still built, and tens of thousands of them at that.
“It’s indeed not a bad idea—”
“I knew you would agree!”
Hearing the Executive Officer say that, Sasha was instantly delighted.
“Then can you promise me that no matter what is found in the research institute later, no matter how terrifying it looks, please do not destroy it. Please make good use of it. Emerald Life Science can provide all technical assistance!”
Sister, that’s what I was planning all along.
But Lu Yuan couldn’t just let go of the opportunity presented to him.
“Okay, but you have to agree to one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Emerald Life Science will need to join Cangyuan Future Technology as a subsidiary. We can discuss the joint venture ratio in detail.”
“Is that all?” Sasha widened her eyes. “You—you don’t want anything else?”
“Such as—?”
“You could totally possess me, if you like. We could even start a family.”
“Cough cough!”
This unique bluntness on Emerald Star was truly hard to adapt to!
“I don’t have more energy to deal with other matters for now, so a subsidiary is enough.”
“No problem, it’s a deal!” Sasha shrugged. “I can be whatever you want, really. Whatever. You don’t need to have any moral burden. I know your customs are different from ours.”
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay! I understand…
“Hehe~”
Sasha leaned closer to Lu Yuan’s ear, even closer than before, her voice softer.
“And, speaking of replenishing energy, I also have many unique potion formulas here…”