Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 259 - Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Elegant Death

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Elegant Death Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Elegant Death Captain Zhao couldn’t help but smile, “So, the artworks we have aren’t much, and compared to other civilizations, it’s just like being unsophisticated country bumpkins.”

Since it wasn’t a formal meeting, he joked, “Does that mean that people like us, who don’t understand art, might give off the impression of being upstart novices?”

“It’s not impossible…”

Another deputy captain named Zheng also joked, “Zhang Yuan, that painting Elwin gave you might be the most refined piece we have on our spaceship. If it comes to using it as a decoration, we might have to borrow it from you… Of course, it would only be a loan, we would definitely return it, and even pay you rent.”

Zhang Yuan laughed as well.

However… the facade, cultivation, and depth of a civilization cannot possibly be adorned by just one painting…

After everyone calmed down, Zhang Yuan continued, “There are so many civilizations in the universe, each with its own art, and with numerous artworks, there inevitably comes a range of quality. So, the question is, if we go by purely human standards, those high-value interstellar artworks must meet extremely demanding criteria, and cannot just be common goods.”

Several experts frowned, “It sounds somewhat reasonable… But, Mr. Zhang Yuan, what significance does discussing interstellar artworks have for us? Surely the Glizerians want to trade their art with us, but that’s obviously not feasible. Even if the artworks do hold value, we’d have no way to discern it.”

They were a bit perplexed as to why Zhang Yuan suddenly shifted the topic to artworks; this wasn’t the main point at all!

“No, hear me out!”

Since Zhang Yuan put it that way, they simply endured and continued listening.

To judge the value of an artwork, the first thing is of course the artistic quality, including the emotions it encompasses, the meanings it expresses, and the artistic standards it presents, which are rather abstract… It’s all subjective, depending on personal tastes.

“From the perspective of our human artists, their artistic levels are quite commendable, meaning the emotions they encompass have certain universality.”

Next is the civilization that created the artwork; it must have a long-standing culture… Whether it’s a history of rising struggle or a tragic bumpy history, it needs to have enough narrative.

There must be a narrative to have enough charm. Earth’s artists like Picasso and Van Gogh, each had their unique stories.

“Since it’s interstellar artwork, not only does the artist need a story, but the entire civilization’s story needs to be interesting too.”

“There’s no doubt the Gleize Civilization meets these criteria. It hadn’t shown any sprouts of Science, and after finally being enlightened by an alien civilization, it got stuck due to lack of oxygen.”

“A huge tragedy!”

Lastly, there are various additional conditions. For interstellar civilizations, forging an artwork is too easy; all these added conditions are essentially anti-counterfeiting measures.

For instance, the artwork must have a clear origin, it can’t be contraband, must be obtained through legitimate means; it must have a clear transaction record, and things snatched from some obscure corner are not acknowledged.

Lacking any anti-counterfeiting measure would considerably reduce the transaction value of the artwork.

Li Zhendong added, “Art, being high-end and classy, needs to be civilized and elegant, and it cannot accommodate any blemish. That’s why there have been no incidents of looting. Of course, it might also be because the interstellar merchant cares about his reputation; he didn’t directly bully the Gleize Civilization.”

And one last point…

It’s best if it’s a unique piece!

That’s…

The real crux!

Zhang Yuan slowly said, “… It means, the civilization that created the artwork has been completely exterminated, or for various reasons can’t produce similar artworks anymore, which would substantially increase the value of the existing artworks.”

“Scarcity brings value, and that’s inevitable. While the artist is alive, the prices of the artworks remain not too high, since similar art could still be continuously produced. Only when he dies, do the prices truly rise.”

When the discussion reached this point, the answer was nearly self-evident!

Suddenly, the entire meeting room fell silent!

Why would that interstellar merchant do such a thing?

What was his motive?

Why give away 13 Universal Factories?!

Was it out of kindness, pity, sympathy?

No, none of the above!!

Those professors, who were somewhat drowsy, suddenly had their pupils constrict, realizing a highly sinister possibility!

Fifty thousand years ago, an interstellar merchant passed by and discovered the Gliese Civilization, which was severely stuck in the Electric Era.

After conducting a trade, the interstellar merchant generously offered not only to help the Gliese Civilization achieve electrification but also gifted 13 Universal Factories to enhance their lives substantially.

You get what you want, I get what I want, both parties are happy…

The interstellar merchant left, feeling like he had done nothing more than a trivial act. No one condemned them; even knowing the truth, people would sincerely admire–what a helpful, kind, friendly, and generous civilization.

The naive Glizerians were profoundly grateful, fervently trembling and praising.

“How very, very fortunate we are!”

But the subsequent history was already doomed!

In front of the uncontrollable enormous productive power, they jumped into the furnace without a second thought, fire, such a beautiful thing, legends, myths, unimaginable in dreams.

Unwittingly, they were engulfed in flames, not even realizing it, still sincerely praising the generous alien civilization, praising from their hearts.

They didn’t know they had been reduced to ashes by the blazing flames!

In the end, all that remained were the unchangeable remnants, witnessing this segment of history, serving as the “anti-counterfeit mark” of this transaction!

Zhang Yuan spoke softly, “Just like this, they can no longer create similar art.”

“The prices of those trade items naturally rose, didn’t they?”

“That is what we deduced, the real motive of the interstellar merchant giving away 13 Universal Factories!”

In the dim starry sky, it was as though a pair of ruthless eyes emerged, shattering so-called morals, righteousness, and etiquette.

I’m sorry, to make this transaction more valuable…

Please,

Go and die.