138: The Price of Man of Steel

On Europa's largest social platform, the #MechanicalAscension# topic had occupied the top spot on the trending list for three consecutive weeks.

A combat video of a Qilu Corporation modified warrior was being frantically shared. In the footage, a silver-grey figure dodged bullets at speeds beyond human limits, then punched through the armored core of a Militech "iron blood" robot.

"This is humanity's future!" exclaimed the famous tech blogger Maxim, excitedly waving his mechanical prosthetic arm during a livestream. This was the third-generation civilian model he had just installed last week. "Look at this precision!" He manipulated the prosthetic to pick up a coin and easily folded it in half.

The comment section was abuzz:

[So cool! Already booked my surgery for next week!]

[When will Qilu Corporation release a civilian version?]

[Humbly asking, can religious people get them?]

But in front of St. Peter's Cathedral, hundreds of believers were protesting, holding signs that read "God's creation is perfect and flawless." A white-haired old priest roared into the camera: "This is sacrilege! They want to replace God's creation!"

The streets of the New United Federation presented a strange polarization.

On Fourth Avenue, a long queue formed outside the newly opened "Evolution Clinic," with well-dressed young people vying to book the most expensive full-body modification packages.

"For just 998,000 credit points, you can have the physical capabilities comparable to a modified warrior," the sales consultant said with a smile, displaying a holographic advertisement. "Special offer: Book now and receive a free neural enhancement surgery."

Three blocks away, conservative citizens were burning models of bionic prosthetics in front of City Hall. Signs read "Flesh and blood are sacred and inviolable."

"My son was brainwashed by that damned advertisement!" a middle-aged woman cried. "He sold our ancestral home just to get that damned mechanical arm!"

Meanwhile, in the black market clinics of the slums, unlicensed "doctors" were performing illegal modifications on addicts using smuggled second-hand prosthetics.

Ever since an addict discovered that some mechanical prosthetics could enhance the pleasure of smoking weed, the black market had seen a new boom in business.

The dirty operating tables were stained with blood, and infected limbs, amputated due to rejection, were piled in the corner.

The streets of Donglian Capital presented a completely different scene.

A giant holographic screen was playing an official propaganda film: "The Wisdom of a Thousand Years of Body Heritage." The fluid movements of a Tai Chi master in the footage contrasted sharply with the mechanical movements of a Qilu Corporation modified warrior.

"We Eastern Federation people emphasize the unity of heaven and man," an elderly white-haired man in the park was teaching his young disciples. "No matter how intricate machinery is, it cannot compare to a natural body with smooth qi and blood."

But in the dark corners of the internet, some hidden forums remained active:

[Seeking smuggled Europa prosthetics, price negotiable]

[Any brothers who've had black market modifications willing to share experiences?]

[Latest news: A new batch of bionic joints has arrived in the Southern Territory, those who understand, private message me]

Late at night at the Southern Territory dock, an unmarked freighter quietly pulled in. Several dark figures quickly unloaded containers, which held well-packaged first-generation civilian prosthetics from Qilu Corporation.

"This batch of goods is in good condition," the buyer checked the goods. "Much better than those second-hand ones from last time."

The seller grinned: "Directly from the Europa military, absolutely genuine. There's just a small problem..."

"What problem?"

"The neural interface has a slight overheating defect, it occasionally makes people pass out from pain." The seller shrugged nonchalantly, "Nobody dies."

Not far away, the searchlights of the customs patrol swept across the sea. Subsequently, after a warning shot, the smuggling gang was completely rounded up.

In the Security Department's monitoring center, staff members stared at the constantly flashing data. In the past week, the frequency of terms related to illegal modifications within the Eastern Federation had surged by 750%.

"Director, the Southern Territory Province just got some information from a smuggling gang and busted an underground modification den," an assistant handed over a tablet. "The seized ledgers show they've performed 26 surgeries."

The screen showed a crude basement filled with low-quality prosthetics and bloody medical waste. Most chilling was the slogan plastered on the wall: "Evolution Knows No Borders."

Inside the circular conference hall of the Eastern Federation's Zijin Pavilion, a high-level meeting concerning the nation's future was underway.

The Premier sat at the head of the table, flanked by the Ministers of more than a dozen core departments, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Security, and the Ministry of Culture. A holographic projection in the center displayed a heatmap of mechanical modifications around the globe, with crimson legends indicating that this storm was accelerating its spread.

"Latest intelligence shows," Minister of Security Lin Zhengxiong brought up a set of images, "Qilu Corporation has already established three large modification centers in Europa, with appointments booked two years in advance."

The screen switched to the streets of the New United Federation, where young people marched with signs reading "Evolution is Not a Crime," clashing violently with opponents.

"What is our situation?" the Premier asked in a deep voice.

Minister of Culture Li Jing brought up a survey report: "Currently, 12% of the Eastern Federation's population explicitly supports mechanical modification, but implicit supporters may be as high as 25%. Most concerning is the university student demographic, where this number reaches 39%."

"It must be immediately legislated against!" Minister of Defense Wang Zhenguo slammed his hand on the table. "This is already threatening national security and social stability! Look at the combat power of those modified warriors!"

"Calm down," the Premier raised a hand to signal. "Ministry of Science and Technology, what is your technical assessment?"

Minister of Science and Technology Academician Xu Qingshan pondered for a moment, then offered his opinion: "According to the Academy of Sciences' discussion, from a purely technical perspective, these prosthetics indeed represent the pinnacle of technology after the fusion of biology and mechanics. But..."

He brought up a set of anatomical diagrams and slowly explained: "All modifications involve direct intervention in the nervous system, and this is where the most critical problem lies."

"What does that mean?" Zhou Zhenguo pressed.

"It means unpredictable risks," Academician Xu Qingshan's voice suddenly lowered. "As Old Yu would say, behind the nervous system is the brain, and that means thought, it means consciousness."

The conference room instantly became eerily quiet.

"The most troublesome thing is," Academician Xu Qingshan continued, "these technologies all originate from Interstellar Peace Corporation. To this day, we don't know why they allow Qilu Corporation to use these technologies, without even a statement."

"Although the Corporation doesn't really care about some infringement and imitation, these prosthetic technologies are now being used for military purposes, and it's truly incomprehensible that the Corporation still hasn't said anything."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Li cleared his throat: "I contacted the Corporation's business representative in Shanghai, and they stated that they do not interfere with commercial licensing. Especially since the military technology used by Qilu Corporation is a secondary development, this is not within the scope of Blue Star's general commercial law, and the Corporation cannot manage it."

"Who would believe that!" the Minister of Defense sneered. "When has the Corporation ever cared about the Ten Thousand Nations Roundtable's waste paper? There must be a larger scheme behind this."

The Premier pondered for a moment: "Any news from Skyreach City?"

"Comrade Lin Mo doesn't have any definitive news yet," Lin Zhengxiong shook his head. "But his report yesterday mentioned that many foreigners in Skyreach City have started inquiring whether the Corporation also provides modification services like Qilu Corporation, while almost none of our people have."

"According to the responses collected, the Corporation does not provide prosthetic installation services other than for medical needs. And..."

"And what?"

Lin Zhengxiong frowned, organizing his words, "According to Comrade Lin Mo, the Corporation employee responsible for handling this matter harbors a very deep, uh, disdain for Qilu Corporation."

Lin Zhengxiong's final choice of words silenced everyone present. Not only because of the word itself, but also because of that Corporation employee's attitude.

After a long pause, there was finally some movement in the conference room.

"Gentlemen," the Premier looked around at everyone, "we now face three choices: First, a complete ban, but that may provoke social backlash; Second, limited opening for medical purposes; Third, wait and see."

Academician Xu Qingshan immediately objected: "Opening for medical purposes is opening Pandora's box! Those black market doctors will immediately raise the standards to combat prosthetic levels!"

"But a complete ban would incur huge enforcement costs," the Interior Minister said, worried. "Every day there are cases of people going to Europa for modifications."

"Even if explicitly forbidden, if a group of people are stopped at customs when returning home, public opinion will definitely be a huge problem."

Li Jing suddenly suggested: "Perhaps we can approach this from a cultural perspective, strengthening the traditional concept of 'our body, skin, and hair are received from our parents'..."

"It won't be of much use," Lin Zhengxiong shook his head. "Latest monitoring shows that the topic of 'Cybernetic Immortality' is surging in popularity among teenagers; they are romanticizing mechanical modification as 'breaking the shackles of the flesh'."

The debate lasted three hours, tea was refilled three times, and still, there was no conclusion.

"Alright," the Premier finally spoke. "Until we thoroughly understand the Corporation's intentions, we must hold the line."

He stood up and issued instructions, enunciating each word clearly:

"First, revise the 'Biosafety Law' to classify non-medical modifications as a criminal offense;

Second, the General Administration of Customs will upgrade scanning equipment, focusing on monitoring neural interface smuggling;

Third, notify Yanhuang Intelligence to initiate a project for external enhancement equipment that does not rely on neural interfaces;

Fourth..."

The Premier paused: "Finally, have Lin Mo find a way to contact Eastern Federation employees within the Corporation. Ask indirectly; we need to know whether this is the Corporation not caring, or... some kind of test."