187: Setting off again

The year 2128 of the Earth Calendar.

Exactly ten years had passed since Lei Wen's world-shaking speech.

During these ten years, the Solar System seemed to have been pressed by a silent acceleration key, sailing toward a new world meticulously designed by Lei Wen—one that appeared utopian but was, in reality, strictly hierarchical.

Mars was now shrouded in an atmosphere where depression and prosperity coexisted.

Industrial Zone 104, located on the Tharsis Plateau, was once the busiest and most cruelly exploitative place on all of Mars. Ten years ago, the air here was forever permeated with the sour stench of machine oil and sweat; millions of contract workers crawled like ants through pipes and pits, selling their dignity for expensive synthetic water and a breath of clean air.

But now, it was terrifyingly quiet.

Giant mining machinery still roared, but this roar was no longer mixed with the curses of overseers or the gasps of workers. Instead, there were countless intelligent construction robots bearing the 'Paradox Technology' logo; tireless, breathless, and without complaint, they devoured mineral veins with an efficiency humans could never hope to match.

In a spacious office, the current President of the Nikola Group's Mars branch watched the empty streets outside his window, the electronic cigarette in his hand already burnt out.

"How is the recruitment going?" he asked without turning his head, his voice aged and weary.

Behind him, an AI secretary—developed by the Nikola Group itself and far more rigid than Paradox Technology's versions—replied mechanically: "The recruitment plan completion rate for this quarter is 0.3%. The primary reason is a shortage of labor in the eligible age bracket. Most eligible workers have chosen full-time tester positions in the zero test zone."

The President let out a bitter laugh. This was Lei Wen's method; that man's way of flipping the table was very unique.

He hadn't sent troops to seal off factories, nor had he forcibly confiscated property through radical laws. He had simply done one thing: he gave the people at the bottom a choice.

The 'zero test zone' Virtual Reality Project, combined with the 'Universal Basic Income'—which, while not officially passed into law, was effectively being piloted in Paradox Technology-controlled areas (the Moon) and some developed regions—had completely shattered the Nikola Group's model of controlling labor by monopolizing survival resources.

When a low-level worker discovered that all they had to do was put on a helmet and live as a 'salted fish' in the virtual world to receive a monthly salary sufficient for rent and synthetic food—while also enjoying immense mental satisfaction—who would still be willing to risk their lives in the pitch-black pits of Mars for Elon's financial reports?

Without cheap and compliant labor, the Nikola Group's massive industrial machine was like a giant beast drained of its blood.

They were forced to purchase automation equipment on a large scale, but the irony was that the most efficient and cheapest robots and automation solutions were all in the hands of Paradox Technology.

Thus, an astonishing economic cycle formed over these ten years: to maintain production, the Nikola Group had to buy robots and technical services from Paradox Technology. Every cent of profit they earned eventually saw a significant portion flow back into Lei Wen's pockets through this method.

They had gone from being the rule-makers to becoming high-level workers within the Paradox Technology ecosystem.

It was a slow death, a strangulation akin to boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

It wasn't just the Nikola Group; the once-unrivaled traditional energy giants and pharmaceutical oligarchs on Earth were all gradually losing their control over society in this irresistible torrent of the era.

They were still wealthy, still possessing mansions and yachts, but they had lost their core power—the control over 'people'.

It wasn't that they hadn't resisted; they tried political targeting, media propaganda, inciting riots, and even assassinations directed at Lei Wen or Paradox Technology's high-level executives.

But these methods were all ineffective. No matter how meticulous their plans, Lei Wen seemed to have foreknowledge and devised targeted countermeasures. Often, just as these giants finished discussing a plan and before the orders could reach the next level, the entire plan was already sitting on Lei Wen's desk.

Everyone knew Lei Wen possessed a 'Super Ghost' that mastered global information. His surveillance of the world was far more comprehensive and without blind spots than the American Prism program of old.

Lei Wen used technology and welfare to 'liberate' humanity from the whip of capital, and then gently locked them into another, larger and more precise cage of his own design... As the behemoths of the old era gradually fell silent, the gaze of Human Civilization turned once again toward deep space.

The Babel Space Station, humanity's most important starport, was now in a state of combat readiness.

In the military starport area on the outer side of the station, a massive fleet with a style completely different from the First Interstellar Fleet of that year had finished assembling.

This was the Human Federation's Second Interstellar Fleet.

Their objective was very clear: to head to the F-81 Star System, specifically the fantasy planet Dr. Illya called 'Mana'.

Unlike the First Fleet, which was configured with a large amount of heavy firepower to deal with unknown powerful enemies, the Second Fleet was composed primarily of transport vessels, with firepower as a supplement.

The fleet didn't have many multi-kilometer-long main battleships. Instead, it had hundreds of hercules-class assault landing ships with heavy armor and massive carrying capacity, along with thousands of armed transport ships loaded with various types of intra-atmospheric combat equipment.

"This is the first military expedition in human history where every member is equipped with a Warp Engine."

Inside the highest command tower of Babel, Lei Wen stood with his hands behind his back. Beside him stood Li Zhenhua, whose hair was now entirely silver but who remained in high spirits—he had returned to Earth a few years ago and was appointed as the general consultant for this expedition due to his outstanding merit and rich experience in subjugating the Kari Civilization.

The actual commander of the fleet was a young general who had risen during the Solar System War, named Karl von Schneider, a tactical genius who advocated for offense and speed.

"81 light-years." Karl looked at the distant point of light on the Star Map, ambition burning in his eyes. "According to the performance of the latest improved second-generation Warp Engines, it will only take us twelve to fifteen years to arrive."

"This is much faster than when the First Fleet went to the Kari Star System."

Lei Wen nodded. The leap in technology was indeed constantly shortening the scale of the universe, but he was concerned with more than just speed.

"Regarding the intelligence on Mana Star, have you all seen the data Dr. Illya brought back?" Lei Wen asked.

"I've seen it, Director," Karl replied, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "A bunch of primitives riding lizards, waving iron scraps, and living in stone castles. Although they master a supernatural power called magic, in the face of our Starrealm Army's orbital strikes and mecha legions, those fireballs and lightning bolts have no meaning."

"Do not underestimate the enemy," Li Zhenhua reminded him in a deep voice. "Dr. Illya's report mentioned that although that power is inefficient, it still poses a threat in specific situations, such as in the hands of individuals with extremely strong mental power. Moreover, there are giant creatures on that planet; some monsters are even larger than our landing craft."

"Don't worry, senior," Karl smiled confidently. "Our thermonuclear missiles and plasma cannons will teach them what a change of eras means."

"This involves the core strategy of our operation."

Lei Wen turned around, his gaze becoming serious.

"This is different from the Kari Civilization."

"The Kari Civilization was a highly unified race with a stable social structure and a mild temperament. Thus, we were able to take them without bloodshed through deterrence and negotiation, and even retain their government as proxies."

"But Mana Star..." Lei Wen shook his head and pulled up the geopolitical map of Mana Star.

It was a map as fragmented as a spilled palette.

"Hundreds of countries, thousands of races, tens of thousands of tribes."

"Humans, Orcs, Centaurs, Dwarves, Mermen..."

"They have blood feuds lasting thousands of years between them, believing in different gods and following different customs."

"There is no unified voice there, no government that can speak for the entire planet."

"You sign a peace treaty with the king of this country, and the chief of the neighboring tribe will bring wolf riders to harass you the next day. You appease the humans, and the orcs will think you are a helper brought by the humans and attack you."

"And," Lei Wen paused, pointing out the most critical point, "their cultural core is individual heroism and feudal loyalty."

"Knights swear fealty to lords, mages pursue truth, and dragons guard treasures."

"They don't understand interstellar situations, nor do they understand the power gap. In their perception, as long as they have courage and the protection of their gods, they will swing their swords even against an existence stronger than a god."

"Therefore," Lei Wen made his final judgment, "the Earth Council and I have reached a consensus."

"The probability of peacefully subduing Mana Star is infinitely close to zero."

"We cannot do as we did with the Kari People—send a broadcast, show some force, and have them kneel in surrender."

"To conquer this planet, the only way is—"

Lei Wen's palm cut down sharply in the air.

"Fight."

"Fight until they hurt, fight until they fear, fight until their gods dare not respond to their prayers."

"This is not a diplomatic mission; this is a pure military conquest."

The atmosphere in the command room instantly became grim.

"What is our goal?" Karl asked.

"Population," Lei Wen said bluntly. "And the special resources there, such as magic-related substances and technology."

"The human genes on Mana Star are highly similar to ours; this is a gift from the universe. We need these billions of people to fill the Federation's ever-expanding labor gap. We need them to become our miners, soldiers, and colonists, whereas those back on Earth who won't wake up from their games can't even handle these basic positions."

"Furthermore, while that world's magic system is backward, certain materials and biological characteristics within it are beneficial supplements to our technology tree."

"To obtain these, we must establish absolute rule."

Lei Wen opened the detailed operation plan.

"This is why the Second Fleet carries so much intra-atmospheric combat equipment."

A series of ferocious war machines were displayed on the holographic screen.

Donghuang-class Atmospheric Aerospace Carrier: This five-hundred-meter-long aerial fortress can hover in the clouds of Mana Star, serving as a mobile frontline command center and fire support platform. Its mounted ground-attack laser cannons and drone swarms are enough to destroy a medieval city within half an hour.

Forerunner Heavy Mecha: Twelve-meter-tall bipedal walking mechas equipped with thick composite armor and rapid-fire electromagnetic cannons. They were originally designed to counter giant demonic beasts and dragons. With the data support brought back by Illya, this mecha's armor has been specifically optimized against magic attacks, utilizing a large amount of low-energy-conductivity metal.

There were also countless AI autonomous drones, unmanned tanks, and Starrealm Army Marines wearing full-coverage power armor.

This was an iron torrent sufficient to sweep across the entire surface of Mana Star.

"Faced with such a backward civilization, I won't mention a specific battle plan; the specific action guidelines will be determined based on the situation after you reach the destination."

"Of course," Lei Wen added, "Dr. Illya specifically requested that for those mages with profound magical attainments and rare magical creatures, try to capture them alive. They are precious experimental specimens."

"Understood." Karl saluted. "We will bring civilization to these savages, whether they want it or not."

"Very well."

Lei Wen looked out the window; the Second Fleet had completed its final resupply.

"Depart."

"For the glory of the Human Federation."

As the order was given, the Babel starport boiled with activity once more.

Countless ship engines ignited, their blue light illuminating Earth's night sky.

The Second Interstellar Fleet, this massive army carrying a mission of conquest and colonization, slowly sailed away from the port, adjusted its posture, and aimed at that world full of magic and miracles 81 light-years away.

Warp Engines activated.

Space distorted, and starlight stretched.

The fleet disappeared into the vast sea of stars.

Watching the fleet depart, Lei Wen did not feel relieved.

As the Human Federation's territory continued to expand, they would encounter more and more civilizations, and the challenges they faced would become increasingly complex.

And... he subconsciously glanced at a black communicator on the corner of his desk; it was the direct line to the Faleim Civilization.

The Faleim People's recent movements made him a little concerned.

In their recent few calls, Price seemed to have mentioned—intentionally or not—some kind of abnormal situation regarding the 'central region of the Milky Way'.

And the Iofer Federation... that crippled demon civilization had been a bit too quiet lately.

"I hope my worries are redundant."

Lei Wen rubbed his temples.