This meeting had only one goal: to approve the decision to proceed with the experiment. As for the specific implementation details, such as whether the Dwarf Race would be willing to accept it, those questions were not something either the scientists or Xiao Yu concerned themselves with.
After all, when slaughtering a pig, who would care whether the pig is willing to be slaughtered?
As for how to select ten million Dwarves without causing unrest in Dwarven society, that was even simpler. Xiao Yu announced that he had discovered a new planet of high value. In order to exploit its resources effectively, he needed brave Dwarven warriors to pioneer and develop it. Upon completion of the mission, they would receive extremely generous rewards. Xiao Yu even created several promotional videos for the campaign. In the videos, he portrayed the planet’s environment as extremely harsh, rife with terrible conditions and terrifying native lifeforms.
But with the harsh survival environment came exceedingly generous compensation. These rewards stirred the blood of every Dwarf. In just three days, Xiao Yu received over ten billion applications.
The Dwarves’ enthusiasm did not surprise Xiao Yu. Under the current circumstances, it wasn’t easy for the Dwarves to raise their social status. And this planetary expedition was undoubtedly a golden opportunity. Those who survived the trial would receive rich rewards. Even if they died, their families would be well cared for by Xiao Yu.
A massive conspiracy was unfolding, and every aspect of it was being executed flawlessly under Xiao Yu’s overwhelming efficiency. The Dwarves remained completely in the dark. They had no idea that what awaited them ahead was not a hostile environment, but a horrifying human experiment.
Such was the lowly status of a subordinate civilization. Xiao Yu could provide them with the best living conditions, the most delicious food, the most obedient household robots, the most comfortable habitats, but not dignity. Dignity was an incredibly expensive thing here, so expensive that even if all of them pooled together, they still couldn’t afford it.
They had done nothing wrong. In fact, among the selected ten million, many were considered good people in the traditional sense. They possessed virtues that even humans from Earth’s era would praise. But none of that mattered. None of it made a difference. Xiao Yu wanted them dead, because their deaths would help him seek an answer to a question.
What was the meaning of life existing in the universe?
Even Luka Two, Luka Three, Luka Four, and the other scientists involved in designing this plan understood this truth well. They were fully aware that if they ever became bargaining chips of equivalent value, Xiao Yu would sacrifice them without hesitation. This was the tragedy of all subordinate races. Though they knew it clearly, they still chose to remain loyal to Xiao Yu, and strove to contribute to his scientific progress.Because only by doing so could they enhance their own value, raise their standing in Xiao Yu’s eyes, and minimize the chances of being sacrificed.
After the decision was approved, preparations began in earnest. Luka Four, who excelled in life sciences, and Luka Three, who specialized in natural sciences, closely cooperated. Leading over ten thousand subordinate scientists, they completed the fabrication of a device capable of direct neural communication in just five days, and handed the blueprint over to Xiao Yu. With this device, Xiao Yu would be executing the murder of ten million lives. It was brutal, but a wolf would never stop to consider whether reality was fair to a sheep.
With conflicted feelings, Xiao Yu submitted the blueprint to the automation systems. The devices began running, and countless robots went to work. Aboard the Home Sixty, now serving as a temporary factory, one million of the devices were completed within a single month.
During this time, the selection process was also finalized. From nearly twenty billion Dwarven applicants, Xiao Yu excluded the elderly, the infirm, and the frail. He made adjustments for gender and age distribution per the experimental requirements, and ultimately selected ten million Dwarves to participate. Every subject chosen was a physically healthy, mentally agile adult. These ten million were now waiting at the boarding platforms in their respective cities, awaiting the ships that would take them on an unknown journey.
Around them, crowds had gathered to send them off. The atmosphere was deafening with cheers and farewells. Among the crowd stood Dwarven figures resembling government officials, shouting loudly.
“Warriors, it is your honor to contribute to the Great True God! Your families and friends will be proud of you! Once you reach the New World, be sure to obey the Great True God’s guidance, no matter the cost, even if it means death! The Great True God and the government will take good care of your families!”
“This planet holds significant strategic value. It is of great importance to the Great True God. You must work hard and live up to the trust placed in you. When you return to the Home ship, all your kin will welcome you with flowers and cheers.”
Banners were everywhere, accompanied by stirring slogans that ignited passion in the heart. These Dwarves, about to step toward death, at this moment looked no different than soldiers about to march off to war.
“When you come back in triumph, when you return as a hero, my family will no longer stand in the way of our marriage. Then I can marry you under the gaze of all and become your wife…”
At the edge of the crowd, a pair of young Dwarven lovers embraced tightly. The female Dwarf’s eyes were streaming with tears, while the male gently patted her back, whispering, “I’ll come back with honor. Don’t cry. This is a rare opportunity. For our future, we must be apart for now. Alice, wait for me. I swear I’ll return alive.”
Such tearful farewells between lovers played out endlessly. Scenes like this were unfolding across the forty Home ships, in countless cities. White-haired parents saw off their young sons. Babbling toddlers bid farewell to strong, healthy fathers. Newlywed wives parted from their husbands. Beautiful girls tearfully waved goodbye to their sweethearts…
They had all come here with the same goal, the same dream.
Xiao Yu saw all of it. With surveillance systems everywhere, Xiao Yu could observe anything he wished. He saw the white hair of elderly Dwarves, the teary eyes of beautiful Dwarven girls, the awe and admiration in the eyes of Dwarven children gazing up at their fathers…
Xiao Yu saw many, many things.
At this moment, Xiao Yu’s inner state was deeply unsettled. He was, after all, still human, not a cold machine. Even if his current body was now composed of electronic components, in spirit, he had never let go of his identity as a human being.
Almost mechanically, Xiao Yu followed the prearranged plan and guided the Town-Class ships to land on the platforms. Amid the cheers and farewells of the Dwarven crowds, the selected warriors boarded the ships in neat formations. The ships quickly took off, ascending into space, and arrived at Home Seventy Six.
At the landing platforms, the farewell crowds still hadn’t dispersed. Countless Dwarves stood staring blankly at the sky. That was where the ships had vanished. What those ships had taken with them was their hope.
“Mom, when will Dad be back?” a young Dwarven child asked in a soft, innocent voice.
“Be good. Daddy will be back soon. Didn’t you always want to attend Central School? When Daddy comes back, you’ll be able to go. He’s gone somewhere far away, where there are fierce enemies. Daddy must contribute his strength to the Great True God. He must defeat them and protect our home…”
“Daddy will come back, right?”
“Daddy is a great hero. How could he be defeated by evil creatures?” The Dwarven woman raised her head to look at the sky, but the tears at the corners of her eyes refused to stop flowing.
Elsewhere, a Dwarven girl stood in a daze, staring at the sky. Her lips moved slightly, as if murmuring to herself.
“Murphy, you will come back, right? You’ll come back and marry me, right? I’m waiting for you. Please don’t die, don’t die…”
An elderly Dwarven couple were slowly walking home, supporting each other.
“Old man… Little John will be okay, won’t he?”
“Don’t worry, old woman. Little John is our pride. He had such good grades at school, and he’s so smart. Besides, the Great True God’s blessing shines upon him. How could anything happen to him?”
Xiao Yu witnessed all of this. In the past, these Dwarves were nothing more than tools in his eyes, subordinates to be used, sacrificed whenever needed. He never cared about their joys or sorrows, never acknowledged their emotions, never gave a thought to their feelings. But now, for the first time, having truly immersed himself in their society, having seen their sincere emotions and glimpses of their everyday lives, Xiao Yu felt a subtle shift taking place in his heart.
Countless Town-Class manned ships had already arrived at their destination, Home Seventy Six.
“Your destination is extremely dangerous. I will conduct centralized training here for a period of time. Now, I need to assess the strength of your brainwave energy. So, put on the helmets in front of you. No matter how painful it feels… you must endure it…”