"Regarding those infants... what do you think?"
After leaving the Huazhi Building.
Gu Shen spoke to the air, his words intended for Chu Ling.
Although Chu Ling had been silent during the visit to the Tenth Floor of Huazhi’s underground, Gu Shen knew... she was still connected in the link.
"I have to admit, the Genetic Bill violates the most basic ’human morals,’" Chu Ling’s voice gradually softened, eventually becoming inaudible: "But if it’s for the future of mankind..."
Gu Shen knew what she wanted to say.
If it’s for the future of mankind, who could judge the right or wrong of these infants being born?
"I once came across a problem called the trolley problem," Gu Shen said as he stood on a pedestrian bridge, leaning on the railing and looking down at the bustling crowd, "An out-of-control trolley that can’t be stopped, either killing one person or ten. If you had control of the lever, what would you do?"
"Sacrifice the few to save the many."
"But the problem is, not everything is that simple. The trolley problem can happen once, ten times, a hundred times. When life is weighed on a scale and you keep sacrificing the lighter portion, after many times... what remains is also just a small portion."
Chu Ling fell silent for a short while, then spoke weakly, "That’s why the Genetic Bill was halted."
"Yes... that’s why I felt relieved after I walked out of the Huazhi Building," Gu Shen said with a low chuckle, murmuring, "I’d rather these children just sleep in their nutrient chambers, never to awaken their own consciousness, never to wake up. If they knew the truth, they would probably be heartbroken, wouldn’t they?"
As experimental subjects.
Bearing the "salvation" burden.
Yet facing a destiny that could be placed on the scale of abandonment at any moment...
The mistake had been created the moment they were manufactured as products after the bill passed.
"Halting the bill is also like pulling back at the cliff’s edge," Gu Shen said. "Compared to the Genetic Bill... the Awakening Bill seems more prudent. But I always feel that this bill isn’t as reliable as Cui Zhongcheng suggests and that it poses many problems too."
Chu Ling said, "Once the Awakening Bill is implemented, it will inevitably require the public to connect to the ’deep water area,’ relying on Deep Sea’s power to stimulate the host’s Transcendent awakening... and this process is not fully controlled yet."
"Awakening is not controllable, and the number of out-of-control individuals will increase."
"Order, rules, the basic cognition that has been established for a long time... all will be shattered. Even if the Awakening Bill passes, the actual enforcement of the law requires a gradual approach. If mass acceptance is desired, then it is a destined lengthy process," Chu Ling said slowly. "Haven’t you felt... that the East Continent Council is too hasty?"
"Now that you mention it, indeed," Gu Shen frowned, "What is the attitude of the other continents?"
"Although I have certain permissions... for now, my permissions only circulate within the East Continent," Chu Ling said softly. "The five continents are autonomous, and I am not aware of the situations in other continents. However, from some intercepted information, the East Continent Council is the first to consider implementing the ’Awakening Bill.’ On this matter, other continents must be slower. Perhaps they are also waiting to see the reactions after its implementation in the East Continent. In an age of information explosion, implementing the bill in the East Continent is essentially announcing the secret of Transcendent disorder to the world."
That means the main battlefield for the Awakening Bill is the East Continent.
No... to be precise, the main battlefield is in Da Du, right before my eyes.
The stance of Changye City is already clear.
"In three days, the nomination of the alternate members for the East Continent Council will begin," Gu Shen mused to himself. "According to Zhao Xilai’s intentions, he nominates Lu Nanzhi, then with a two-to-one vote, the Awakening Bill will be taken down... and the battle over the bill will end."
But can the matter of the bill be that simple?
Zhao Qi sat up in his sickbed, staring incredulously at Liu Yi, clutching the bedsheet with both hands, his complexion pallid from anger, shock, and fear.
In the past few days of recuperation, with the help of the healing sealants, his injuries had improved significantly, the swelling on his face had subsided, and he had just finished dental restoration surgery. He appeared to have no serious issues, albeit a little pale.
"The content of the old man’s will has not yet been released... but he just announced that at the alternate council member’s conference in three days, he will fully support Lu Nanzhi," Liu Yi stood at the bedside, quiet and solemn. "The long-vacant third council seat of Da Du should come to be. Without accidents, it will be the lady."
But there was no trace of joy on Zhao Qi’s face.
Zhao Qi was lost in thought, and after a long while, he regained his composure... No one knew better than him what it meant for the old man to make that statement, with not much life left, cultivating his heir, what more could show his determination and intention than personally pushing them into a council seat?
Zhao Qi muttered, "For the past ten years, Da Du has only had two members of the council, and this situation has been maintained for a long time. There is no need to elect a third one. He is preparing to leave all his legacy to that woman."
"..." Liu Yi offered no opinion on the matter.
"A battle broke out at the River Beach Dam recently. Crow Song Ci and four righteous sons belonging to Chen San of the Sincere Heart South Hall clashed. As the fight escalated, it alarmed the two council members," she pondered, then continued, "Following that night, the old man announced his support for Lu Nanzhi... I think there’s more to it."
Zhao Qi was already staring blankly, not knowing if he heard her.
"I heard that the Grand Judge of the Judgement Institute, Zhou Jiren, also intervened," Liu Yi spoke softly. "He was recently entangled in an impeachment scandal, and his appearance in Da Du this time is probably no coincidence... there must be some significant move. Rumors also say that in the battle at the riverbank, Chen San’s four righteous sons were injured, while his biological son Chen Mei was personally arrested by the Grand Judge and has been staying in Da Du—one might take it as a signal that the nominations from Chen San’s faction are bound to fail."
On the surface, the two council members of Da Du "equally matched" one another.
But in reality, everyone clearly understood that maintaining a balance is a consistent tactic used by the council.
Chen San was indeed an impressive figure, successfully managing the rise of South Bay in Da Du, but, alas... in terms of faction and power standing, he was still too young, unable to match Councilman Zhao.
"It’s for the bill..."
Zhao Qi finally snapped out of his despondency, covering his cheek with one hand, his laughter emerging hoarsely through his fingers, "Father is creating momentum for the bill... using the incident at the riverbank to suppress Chen San, and with the nomination of the potential council members approaching. The Grand Judge of the Judgement Institute arresting Chen San’s son and staying in Da Du serves as a clear message, indicating the quick failure of Chen San’s faction’s nominations."
"The alternate council member... will only be Lu Nanzhi."
And once the alternate council member is decided.
Is there any suspense left in the formal election?