Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 260 - Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Black Technology in Hand

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Black Technology in Hand Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Black Technology in Hand When the possibility was analyzed, everyone fell into a deep shudder…

This is… the Universe!

The dim universe was so serene, yet it harbored almost infinite threats, with various interstellar civilizations always comprising friendly civilizations, neutral civilizations, and deceitfully cruel civilizations. Although these differ greatly, they all had one thing in common–true power!

This power was comprehensive, encompassing technology, humanities, history, and institutions. Civilizations like these had numerous bloodless methods to push a low-level civilization into the abyss!

Moreover, the low-level civilization felt grateful and indebted while being pushed toward the abyss.

This despair was even harder for people to accept than death. The Star Annihilation Cannon was not the most dreadful weapon; what is physical death compared to spiritually killing a civilization?

Many felt as if the future of humanity was going to play out exactly like this. The mere thought of making contact with aliens felt suffocatingly terrifying!

Captain Zhao’s scalp tingled as he listened. He had an inkling that, although there wasn’t much evidence, these speculations were ultimately the truth.

Zhang Yuan rubbed his sore temples, seeing everyone stunned. This deep anxiety almost infected everyone present.

It was incredibly difficult for a civilization to develop; what good was intelligence? Mere intelligence could only manage trivial personal needs, but when it came to the whole civilization, it was utterly insufficient.

After a pause, Captain Zhao suddenly said, “Even so, we must not fear contacting alien civilizations! Hiding and barely surviving in a corner, whether we will decline further is still debatable, but alien civilizations will still seek us out… This place has been visited by interstellar civilizations twice already; who knows if there won’t be a third or a fourth time? Developing ourselves swiftly is crucial!”

“Furthermore, we must obtain the detailed history of the Gleize Civilization. We need more complete data to refine New Civilization History. Even if we have to make concessions and pay a price, it would be worth it.”

Zhang Yuan and Li Zhendong both nodded. The current, vague history was insufficient for calculation and inference. Comprehensive historical documents, over a million words, detailing specific key figures, were necessary before people could analyze the critical historical nodes and refine New Civilization History.

Captain Zhao added, “Moreover, our civilization also possesses super-technologies granted by other civilizations, which we don’t understand–namely, the High-dimensional Fragment and the Bozeman Consciousness Converter.”

“Do you think this uncontrollable, dark technology could lead to our self-destruction?”

Everyone thought silently, becoming cautious and careful after the previous discussion, trying to analyze the possibilities.

Zhang Yuan spoke first after some thought, “It’s hard to judge if Gaia Civilization’s Artificial Intelligence Yita has good or ill intentions towards us. Although it seems to lack malicious motives… whether our civilization survives or dies has nothing to do with it, so it’s the hardest to gauge. As for the High-dimensional Fragment…”

Dr. Ding, responsible for the related matters, with a furrowed brow, said, “It is theoretically unlikely that the High-dimensional Fragment will destroy our civilization. Moreover, physical annihilation is something that can be foreseen and guarded against.”

“What concerns us more is spiritual destruction. Including Consciousness Upload, immortality, Virtual Worlds; such temptations are hard to resist. Even if it is a trap, one might willingly leap into it.”

That was the most crucial point indeed.

Zhang Yuan nodded, “Indeed, I requested this Consciousness Upload device myself. But Artificial Intelligence Yita seemed to warn me not to get carried away with it… which means, indeed some civilizations have destroyed themselves with this technology.”

“Now that I think about it, I carry a lot of responsibility. Seeing the high technology of alien civilizations, my first instinct was that it was good, useful for our civilization, so I wanted to bring it over…”

Li Zhendong said, “That can’t be said to be your fault. At least it hasn’t had any negative effects so far. If it does cause them, it would be the responsibility of us, the decision-makers… and a fault of all humanity.”

He sighed, “Currently, I’m more inclined to believe that the Bozeman Consciousness Conversion Device, offering an alternative form of immortality, is negative.”

“A civilization striving for betterment does not need the technology of immortality… just like the cells in a human body, old cells should perish, replaced by new ones. If cells never die, wouldn’t that be equivalent to cancer?”

“Our civilization and ideology can’t handle this technology.”

Zhang Yuan nodded in agreement. “Yes… no calculation is even needed.”

“If water does not flow, it quickly becomes foul. Various bacteria will occupy the entire basin, preventing other life from surviving. Only by flowing will it remain pure for a long time… The Immortals achieved through Consciousness Upload are undoubtedly those stubborn bacteria occupying social resources.”

Li Zhendong added, “Also, there’s an issue with the virtual world after the Consciousness Upload! If we really create a virtual world where there’s little difference between what’s real and what’s not, why should we choose to live in a harsher real world?”

“The real world isn’t that beautiful, whereas the virtual world allows you to achieve whatever you want! Isn’t that temptation alarmingly strong?”

“It might sound strange to conclude this way, but now we think that what’s real is real and what’s fake is fake–how could the fake ever surpass the real? But what if the virtual world and reality aren’t much different? After living in it for a long time, and having your own attachments, who knows whether there could be a significant change in thought?”

“Then, it’s not impossible that everyone willingly enters the virtual world!”

Everyone fell into a long silence, facing immense temptations and various difficulties…

It’s too hard, too hard to choose.

That’s… immortality!

Some more radical individuals even thought they should smash that machine while they were still strong and of firm will!

“Otherwise… when old and frail, on the verge of death, who would refuse!”

“Ah, it just feels like a waste…”

“Everyone understands the principle, heh, wait another hundred years, when we are old and frail, we won’t resist this technology anymore.”

For a moment, the voices of the pessimists were predominant.

“Even if we resist this technology, generation after generation, there will always be those who can’t resist the temptation. So the best solution now is to smash it.”

Captain Zhao frowned and signaled everyone to be quiet for a moment. “Alright everyone, let me say something.”

“Smashing this machine may seem like an ultimate solution, but it is also the most cowardly and incompetent path. Such high technology might be beyond the limits of our intelligence, something we could never develop on our own.”

“Can’t we find a way to use it beneficially… What about calculations? Can’t New Civilization History find a method?”

As the Minister of the New Civilization Development Department, Zhang Yuan felt somewhat ashamed.

Human computational power was currently only strong enough to barely determine if a direction was correct or not, but it was difficult to directly find the right path for what might happen in the next few centuries.

“I understand. I will carefully consider this issue.”

After a lengthy discussion, they ultimately decided to maintain the highest degree of caution with this technology.

Continuing research wasn’t too much of a problem, but strict confidentiality measures had to be maintained, and massive dissemination was not to be allowed until the correct direction was found.