"Congratulations on completing the gene modification surgery, Mr. Lu," Xiang Shan said to Lu Xuanyu. "It’s truly a stroke of luck."
"I must be the fiftieth Benchmark Man by now," Lu Xuanyu scratched his head. "Fifty-some surgeries and not a single accident."
"N=50, what does that prove... I mean, with only fifty samples, we can hardly say the surgery is absolutely safe," Xiang Shan shrugged. "Despite many unscrupulous scientists flaunting meaningless papers with N=2 or N=5 studies, we really despise that kind of practice. For now, we can only say the surgery isn’t necessarily safe."
Lu Xuanyu scratched his head again: "I just feel like, you’re quite intimidating when you talk. There have been no issues, yet you speak as if there were."
"That’s science for you," Xiang Shan said, pulling up a chair to sit down, "Sorry for only congratulating you now. I’ve been... quite busy these days."
Lu Xuanyu, feeling embarrassed, bowed his head: "About your friend, I saw it on the news. I’m very sorry... please accept my condolences."
Xiang Shan’s expression remained unchanged: "So you knew as well... It happened several weeks ago after all."
"That man from Japan, he was a brave soul," Lu Xuanyu said. "I only saw it on the news, but I admire him greatly."
Xiang Shan’s gaze drifted upward, and after a few seconds, he suddenly said, "Those damn Japanese are sick. After this incident, I see it clearly. I can’t get along with those Japanese people."
This statement was highly emotional. It was rare for Lu Xuanyu to see such a direct reaction from Xiang Shan—though every word he said was charged with emotion, it was always coupled with a sense of restraint.
Yet Lu Xuanyu felt that this statement was insincere.
He could only say, "At least he realized his own worth..."
"His worth..." Xiang Shan sighed. "Kanhara, that guy... Damn it. Let’s not talk about it."
Lu Xuanyu said, "Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up if it upsets you." Googlᴇ search noveⅼfire.net
Xiang Shan waved a dismissal: "It’s nothing. I just feel it’s a pity. He was a top-notch scholar. We all thought he could make a great contribution. Instead, he was wasted in a conflict that had nothing to do with him... There are so many bastards in the world who deserve to die, yet this one who didn’t, did."
Choosing his words carefully, Lu Xuanyu said, "I’m not good with words, so please don’t mind if I say anything wrong. But I think, he made a choice that he did not regret, according to his conscience. He will live on in your heart forever, I believe."
"Conscience, huh..." Xiang Shan looked at the ceiling. "Old Lu, old Lu... You know, when I was in the Peacekeeping Forces’ camp, I saw Kanhara’s body. At that moment, I had... some thoughts that were not exactly conscientious."
"Ah?" Lu Xuanyu offered comfortingly, "It’s human to feel hatred towards the enemy who killed a friend."
"At the time, I was wondering what the hell I was trying so hard to usher all of humanity into a new world for... some people shouldn’t benefit from it," Xiang Shan still wore that expression, but his presence now exuded an "authority that commands respect without anger."
Lu Xuanyu had heard from Xiang Shan about the dream he and Yogmoth had, the dream of spreading "Benchmark Human Remodeling Surgery" across the world, allowing humanity to enjoy longer life spans, greater physical prowess, and the universality of "modifiability." Although Xiang Shan had not previously used the phrase "all of humanity," Lu Xuanyu had indeed heard Xiang Shan prefix it a few times with "all citizens."
Lu Xuanyu said, "Indeed. Some people are real scum."
"The world is never short of villains, thugs, scum, and bad eggs... all sorts of rotten stuff," Xiang Shan said. "But the problem is, I don’t have the authority to screen humanity. There are some who are too vile to live, yet it shouldn’t be my decision whether they do; it should be left to the Judicator or others like that. I should not possess such power."
Xiang Shan looked down at his hands. "The many should decide for the many—that has always been my belief. That’s why I opt to give new technology to everyone without discrimination. Perhaps the official organization that ends up implementing this plan will screen people, but they are representatives chosen by the people. That’s their responsibility. That’s what I’ve always thought."
Lu Xuanyu looked puzzled, "I think... excuse me for saying, but this might be a bit harsh. Many officials don’t seem to have your level of understanding."
"It’s not the same thing," Xiang Shan shook his head. "A person’s thoughts can easily slide down a slippery slope. Today, I may decide someone who has killed does not deserve the new technology, tomorrow I may deem an entire group trash... What about after that? But a group of people influencing each other, and in turn influenced by a broader populace..."
Xiang Shan suddenly pressed a hand to his forehead, fingers burrowing into his hair. "I’ve always thought this way. But back then, I indeed wavered, and I haven’t fully recovered even now—you see, the words I’ve just spoken make me doubt."
Lu Xuanyu scratched his head, "Maybe... the masses are ignorant at times."
"We can’t think like that," Xiang Shan smiled. "Indeed, sometimes the people can be zealous and ignorant—they aren’t Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. But at the same time, for the most part, they calmly support the course of history. Rather than blaming them for their zeal, it’s better to first consider why they become ignorant and frenzied."
"Someone explained this to me a long time ago. So I decided my life’s work early on. I would never easily change my ideals. To put it another way, denouncing my beliefs of over a decade because of a handful of scum, that would be foolish. But I did falter a bit. I may need some time to adjust."
Lu Xuanyu looked at Xiang Shan, feeling respect for the first time from the bottom of his heart: "Mr. Xiang... I think you’re a person of high principles."
"High principles... Can someone as high principled as me behave this way?" Xiang Shan shook his head and waved his hand, patting Lu Xuanyu’s shoulder, "Take good care of yourself. There’s another hurdle to overcome in a few months."
Benchmark Men recently transformed from Homo sapiens differ from those who have lived as Metal-based lifeforms for longer periods.
It’s the latter who are truly suitable for Cybernetic Transformation.
Lu Xuanyu needed to wait for some time, for certain changes "that needed to accumulate with age" to occur within his body before he could undergo the next step in transformation.
Upon hearing this, Lu Xuanyu couldn’t help but clench his fists.
His reason for joining Superman Enterprise’s project, for being willing to risk being among the first batch of Benchmark Men, was precisely for this.