355: Unexpected title, Water Chapter

Pexito nodded thoughtfully, gently waving her hand to bring up a holographic projection interface between them, displaying some public statistics and reports.

"I saw these records in the database, and some parts I don't quite understand. For example, the material distribution data here doesn't seem to match the actual consumption..."

Robert's gaze fell on the familiar reports, and his hands involuntarily began to tremble slightly. He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Miss Pexito, some things may not be as simple as they appear on the surface."

"Oh?" Pexito showed a curious expression, "Can you tell me in detail? I'm just starting to look at these materials and there's a lot I don't understand."

Robert took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

"The monthly rations of basic living materials distributed by the company to each family are indeed sufficient. But in reality, many people struggle to even secure basic sustenance."

"Because the company is only responsible for allocation, but not for distribution."

Pexito listened quietly, her eyes devoid of judgment, only showing focus and understanding. This attitude gradually lowered Robert's guard, and he began to reveal more truths hidden behind the data.

Tampered material reports, suppression records, evidence of transactions in human trafficking networks... "The situations described in these records," Pexito's voice remained calm, "are they truly the way Oceania City-States and Skyreach City operate?"

Robert looked at the familiar evidence of crimes, his eyes flashing with pain and shame, ultimately dissolving into a heavy sigh.

"Yes," his voice was hoarse, "these are all true. In fact, it's even worse than this."

He began to recount details that were not officially recorded, and Pexito maintained her listening posture throughout.

When Robert spoke of the suppression incidents disguised as "accidents," Pexito softly asked: "Why did the company know about these situations but failed to take effective measures?"

"From what I know, many people within the company take the word 'Preservation' as their creed, and those with this belief generally hold high positions."

Robert was momentarily speechless. After a minute of silence, he still revealed everything he knew.

"That's true, but for this group of people, the objects they protect are the company and those humans who identify with the company's philosophy. As for the rest, as long as they don't perish, that's also a form of Preservation."

"What's more, many mid-to-lower level employees within the company have more or less connections with the Eastern Federation. Many things are ultimately executed by them."

"And whether it's the people in Skyreach City or Oceania, for these company employees, keeping them alive is the bottom line."

"The suffering they endure, the perpetrators are not them."

"They are merely watching two fierce dogs bite each other..."

"Hatred that has lasted for over a century cannot be easily dismantled."

"..."

The conversation lasted a long time, and the starry sky outside the window had quietly shifted position.

"You just mentioned the Eastern Federation and the hatred from the old human era. Does this have any relation to the current situation in Oceania?"

Pexito had not yet seen data regarding the Eastern Federation, so she didn't understand the connection in Robert's words.

Robert took a deep breath, as if about to tell a long-buried story.

"This goes back to an earlier time. The Eastern Federation was once the most powerful nation on the Blue Star, bar none."

"This status even lasted for a millennium."

He looked out at the starry sky, seemingly reminiscing about that history.

"But over two hundred years ago, the Eastern Federation entered a century-long period of civilizational regression due to internal unrest, while other nations rapidly grew powerful through two technological revolutions. Then, a nearly century-long period of oppression began."

"During these hundred-plus years, the Eastern Federation suffered so much and so severely that no amount of words could fully explain it."

"Tens of millions of them sacrificed their lives for the chance to become powerful again, but those other nations only wanted them dead."

"Under a series of carefully planned economic wars and technological blockades, the Donglian people almost used their blood and lives to provide the next generation with a foundation and a way to survive."

"But these people still didn't give up. They stole technological patents, assassinated high-level talents, manipulated international markets, and plunged the Eastern Federation into decades of difficult development."

"Such instances are countless."

"But this is already history." Pexito's brow furrowed slightly: "Today's Eastern Federation has even reached a more glorious place than in the past, so why does it still influence the company's decisions now?"

"Because hatred is inherited," Robert said with a bitter smile, "When the elites of the Eastern Federation joined the Interstellar Peace Corporation and used their abilities to gain the power to control company resources, they naturally vented this hatred."

"And what happened twenty-five years ago turned this unspoken hatred into open hostility."

"Twenty-five years ago?"

Robert nodded: "Yes, twenty-five years ago, the super-enterprise alliance of the Oceania City-States did something extremely foolish; they conspired to blow up the Star Gate that the company was building."

A hint of shock flashed in Pexito's eyes. She had seen in the database that the Star Gate was a critical infrastructure for interstellar travel developed and built by the company; destroying the Star Gate was tantamount to declaring war on the Interstellar Peace Corporation.

"Why did they do that?" she asked.

"Fear and impotent rage, nothing more." Robert's tone was sarcastic, "Because the company cut their interstellar shipping quotas, and they wanted to retaliate. Their thinking was simple: 'I may not be able to succeed, but I can easily cause trouble.'"

"So, they chose the most foolish solution: destruction."

"Attempting to force the company to compromise in this way."

He shifted his sitting posture and continued: "That attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of company employees, including many high-ranking Engineers of Eastern Federation nationality. More seriously, the Star Gate was completely destroyed, and the losses were incalculable."

"And because of this, they incurred their current enormous debt."

Pexito nodded thoughtfully: "So the company's current attitude towards Oceania is, to some extent, a punishment?"

"That's not wrong to say. If you ask me, it's more like a strategic neglect. The mid-to-high-level personnel in the Traditional Projects Department, which is responsible for this business, especially those from the Eastern Federation, believe that Oceania is beyond saving."

"They would rather invest resources in earning service fees from the newly established principalities and kingdoms in the North and South Roman Continents than waste energy on Oceania."

"But what about the innocent civilians?" Pexito pressed, "Why should they bear the consequences for the decisions of a few?"

Robert showed a bitter smile: "That's the irony."

"The decision to blow up the Star Gate was made by the highest echelons of the Oceania Enterprise Alliance; ordinary citizens didn't even know about the plan's existence. But when the company held them accountable, they tried to use ordinary people as a shield to drag the company down."

"And even more ironically, the company's high-level executives ultimately gave these ordinary people a way out, a life that, though without freedom and somewhat arduous, was still a decent life."

"But in the end, these people still chose to turn their blades on their own kind."

Pexito fell silent.

Robert sighed, "And I, my family, was once a part of this system. We enjoyed privileges, and at the same time, we carried sins."

"But you chose to change," Pexito said softly, "You've been secretly helping those in need, haven't you?"

Robert lowered his head, his voice almost inaudible: "These small efforts cannot possibly atone for the mistakes our family has made."

As the first ray of dawn broke through the window, Pexito said softly: "Thank you for telling me all this, Mr. Robert. It has given me a new perspective on many things."

Robert looked at the mysterious white-haired girl before him and suddenly felt that this late-night conversation was like a baptism for his soul.

He didn't know Pexito's true identity, but he could feel a special aura about her that made people willing to confide their deepest secrets.

"Thank you for listening as well," Robert said sincerely, "Some words, I've kept them in my heart for too long."

Pexito smiled slightly, stood up, and prepared to leave. As she reached the door, she turned back and said: "Change may not be easy, but it is not impossible. What's important is that someone is willing to start acting."

Watching Pexito's retreating figure, Robert felt a sense of inexplicable hope. Perhaps, the appearance of this mysterious girl would truly bring about some change.