Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 224 - 224 4 Arrival

224: Chapter 4 Arrival 224: Chapter 4 Arrival The topic at the dinner table next turned to the “sports event.”

No one knew who started it, but they began to discuss the various limitations of the human body, mentioning that “non-aggressive competitions do not sufficiently demonstrate the superiority of Prosthetic Bodies.”

In the ensuing chaos, some martial arts enthusiasts who had joined later suggested “simply holding a Martial World tournament.”

Ingrid was quite interested in this proposal.

She even blurted out the idea of the “Number One Martial Arts Tournament.”

Well, it’s said that this sister’s Japanese study materials were “Dragon Ball”—the greatest manga in the world.

After she had learned the basics of Japanese, she bought a set of secondhand manga and, with the help of a dictionary, stuttered her way through them, and her language skills improved significantly.

Everyone contributed ideas back and forth, quickly constructing a framework.

Xiang Shan, who abstained from alcohol, seemed like the only sane person among the lunatics.

Silently, he calculated the insane budget the plan might require, only to realize that it was about one-third of the funds needed to take over a space enterprise…

—Damn, the idea was very tempting!

—No, no, they still had to consider public perception.

If it were seen as a “bloodthirsty fighting competition with no regard for human life,” the company’s reputation would be ruined…

Since Xiang Shan seldom drank, others didn’t bother to persuade him.

While he was calculating the costs, the topic unknowingly shifted.

Everyone casually discussed their ongoing tasks, looking to other areas for a bit of support or inspiration.

All the projects in the “company” served one ultimate goal—within the small group, some melodramatic individuals summed it up as “Flesh is weak; Mechanical Ascension is the future.”

Under such circumstances, “a clod elsewhere may be a brick to us” sometimes became a viable choice.

Also, as most people in the company held similar philosophies without conflict of interests, it was convenient to start cooperative projects.

At this point, Ingrid complained to Xiang Shan in a typical Beijing accent, “Shan, didn’t I tell you before?

I am short of people.

I need someone who understands the original form of languages to help us decipher the secrets of the Soth area!

Yes, especially Kanhara Tsun.”

“I looked for Tsun before I left,” Xiang Shan shook his head and relayed what Kanhara Tsun had told him.

“I see.” Although Ingrid believed that the project underway in this park was the ultimate mystery of linguistics, she thought Kanhara’s choice made sense and said nothing more.

It was around midnight when the gathering finally broke up.

The others left one after another.

David Klein had been asleep for a while and then staggered around as if dancing.

Seeing that David was unstable, Xiang Shan downed his low-alcohol cocktail and followed him, stuffing him into an elevator.

Once on the ground floor, Xiang Shan called security and asked them to bring over a battery car, a common means of transportation within the park.

“Hehehehehe…” David was still sniggering when Xiang Shan stuffed him into the seat.

He even took out his phone and called his family in the Federation.

Xiang Shan distinctly heard his son’s disdainful voice.

Despite his towering height of 1.9 meters, full beard, and round face making him look intimidating, David’s alcohol tolerance was quite poor compared to the deceptively frail-looking Ingrid, a descendant of Vikings.

She could down most of the group at the table.

This was typical of David after a drinking bout.

Soon after, his rebellious son hung up the phone.

David then turned to Xiang Shan, “Tell me, you didn’t have a drop to drink either, right?

You definitely can’t pass an alcohol test now!”

“Yes, yes, fine, fine, right, right,” Xiang Shan humored him: “I’m not driving a motor vehicle, am I?”

David snorted with laughter for a long time, then suddenly clapped Xiang Shan on the shoulder, “Shan, you’re not happy, really not happy.”

“Thinking that I have to shove a drunk into a dorm or a communal resting area later, doesn’t cheer me up—you better not throw up.”

“No, you haven’t been happy since the beginning today.” David persisted, “Is it because of Kanhara’s refusal?”

“Ha, maybe a little,” Xiang Shan admitted, “It’s indeed quite a pity about Kanhara.”

“Our mission is just, you know.” David looked up at the night sky, “Argon has changed human society’s view of the universe and brought decades of peace, as well as ushering in another industrial upgrade.

But peace is not permanent.

We must transform the biological aspects of humans permanently before this peace is broken—that was your own words, our mission.

I still remember that.”

Xiang Shan nodded.

“But, humans indeed have more than just this one great virtue.

Kanhara’s benevolence towards Africa is also a kind of righteousness.”

“Don’t misuse words…”

David smeared his face haphazardly, “Don’t bother with a drunk man…

Oh, what was I about to say?

Right, right, do you remember one thing?

Before the Rama Project, it should have been.

There was this news about Japan organizing oceanic whaling, and then some animal protection organization, during a conflict with the whaling ship, actually rammed into the whaling ship, causing both ships to be in danger, and then both were towed back by the rescue team…”

Xiang Shan slowed the car to a crawl.

He was puzzled, “What does this have to do with our current topic?

It’s something from more than a decade ago.”

“Ah, it’s somewhat related,” David said.

“During the Rama Project, people from the FBI warned the expert team of the Federation that Yog was a member of that radical organization.”

Xiang Shan was shocked, “You aren’t suggesting that he was on that boat?

Or the person steering?”

“Ah?

Are you drunk or am I?

How come you have such a rich imagination?” David complained.

“He was still in class at that time.

But it’s said that his good friend was on that boat.”

“Hmm.” Xiang Shan finally nodded, “You scared me.

I was just saying, that doesn’t fit the impression I have of Yog.”

“When you initially rescued those sea snails, some members of that organization were helping you hustle,” David mentioned.

Xiang Shan nodded, “I have some recollection.

Does Niyaguti have some connection with that organization?

Makes sense.”

“What do you think about this news?”

“Legal whaling, if only non-endangered species are being killed, isn’t really problematic,” Xiang Shan curled his lip, “Clearly it’s that radical organization that’s being excessive.

Moreover, the fuel they used to track the whaling ship, plus the fuel used by the rescue team to tow them back, might have caused more damage to Earth.

That’s really thoughtless.”

David moved his neck around, “But in Yog and Nia’s view, protecting whales and your protecting those snails follow the same logic.

They advocate for protecting species and preserving materials for research on evolution and the mysteries of life.

They would argue that ‘non-endangered whales’ is sophistry, a human-defined number.

The wild population of whales isn’t healthy, and human hunting diminishes the genetic diversity of whales.”

“Yog would oppose ‘ramming ships,’ but that would definitely be because he thinks the idea is too stupid, only needlessly reducing third-party favorability, unfavorable for the organization to further promote their assertions.

But Tsun would definitely stand on the opposite side of this issue.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“Inga seems to have talked to him.

I heard it from Inga.

They also whale in Northern Europe, quite fiercely too.

They feel hunting whales is a part of their traditional culture.

This culture, cultural phenomena, or whatever cultural thing, is very precious research material, as well as a traditional way for hunters to communicate with nature.

Inga said, she has encountered Hunting Tribes banned from hunting by civilized society.

Those humans lost their ancestors’ lifestyle and found nowhere to place their spirit.”

“A culture that can only be put in museums has no value.

To protect the culture associated with whaling, we shouldn’t deny such actions.

Furthermore, it’s not the fault of the traditional fishermen that whales are endangered now.

The real issues are the mass hunting during the early industrial revolution, human maritime activities encroaching on living space, and environmental pollution reducing food availability.”

“If they want to elevate the theme, then they also have a similar reason—protecting these cultural phenomena is about preserving materials for sociological research.

Humans can delve deeper into understanding themselves through these vibrant cultural phenomena.”

Xiang Shan curled his lip, “It’s getting a bit absurd.

Really speaking, ethnic cleansing is also a traditional culture of our ancestors.

The extinction timelines of large terrestrial animals in the Holocene, and other hominid extinctions, almost synchronize with the expansion of Homo sapiens.

We don’t necessarily have to follow our ancestors and hunt every large animal to extinction.”

David looked at Xiang Shan, “See, you differ from both sides.

In the eyes of radicals like you, a culture detrimental to modern living can just be eradicated…”

“Only by shedding primitive cultures can humans build a more advanced, more beneficial culture for everyone,” Xiang Shan emphasized.

“Oh, right.” David nodded, “You are on this side.

You are a human-centric thinker…”

“Humanism.”

“Why quibble over terminology.

You’re a humanist.

You oppose ramming whaling ships because you think it’s stupid and also endangers human lives.

You’d sympathize with hunters who’ve lost their right to hunt, but you genuinely think the culture they cling to is incorrect.

Any culture that impedes them from living a better material life is pointless.”

Sleepiness seemed to gradually overtake, and David’s voice grew lower, “If you told Inga and Tsun your thoughts, they might even fight with you…

You can’t possibly win everyone over.

People are ultimately different…

‘great virtues’ are also different.

Different people hold different ‘virtues’…

Speaking of which, aren’t you driving anymore?

I’m getting sleepy.”

“We’ve already arrived, no more driving.” Xiang Shan let go of the steering wheel.