Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva-Chapter 1643 - 89: The Unevenness of the World_2
The bright flame kept rising, gradually becoming a tiny dot in the sky. Although it could still be seen at that moment, people on the ground already understood that there was an insurmountable distance between them and those on the spaceship. This last glance would also be an eternal farewell in life.
After entering space, the spaceship set off towards the vast Star Sea. Perhaps decades later, they would land on an unknown planet, settle down, and establish a new world. Or perhaps several generations would spend their lives on the spaceship until they finally discovered a place where they could settle.
"If humankind cannot establish a new home in the Universe, they will forever be confined under the low eaves of the Solar System, and human civilization will never make substantial progress." The adage from the Fourth Era still resonates today.
Half an hour later, the video finished playing. Tilan woke up from the immersive state, feeling a slight sense of disorientation as if she was detached from that distant space-time and returned to her current body.
The people of that era were truly open and brave, filled with immense expectations and ideals for the future. They didn't seem to ponder the gains and losses involved, the difficulties they might encounter on a new planet, or whether life would be happier than on Earth. They simply did it, driven by the mission and excitement of the era.
This kind of sincere belief and determination is something the current Federation can no longer see.
————
After concluding their visit to the signal tower, the three returned to the small town, found a restaurant for a meal, and the time reached 1 PM.
"Let's go with this one." Prin pointed from a distance to the city center's complex of buildings, to the largest and most exaggeratedly designed restaurant.
An exaggerated large hand holding a rolling rainbow dough, accompanied by the conspicuous words 'Strongest Piki Restaurant.'
After arriving at the restaurant and sitting down, they could see quite a few tourists, along with a small number of locals. As described by the sign, this was indeed the largest and most popular restaurant in the area.
"Hey, what will you lovely ladies have?" A Beastman waiter with lynx-like cat ears walked over. She had a fiery figure and her skin was tanned, seemingly a result of the long-term local sunlight exposure.
"Your signature dish, chilled beer drinks, and we also need some sizzling barbecue," Prin spoke confidently and graciously.
"No problem, here's the bill." She swiped her record board, projecting the menu and prices in the air, with a payment key below.
"I'll handle it." Prin glanced at the black-haired girl opposite, flashing a bank chip card.
For her, creating a fake identity was effortless; she could even tell the managers of the Federation's database to give her a dozen identity chip cards. Tilan, on the other hand, without her Federation Songstress identity, couldn't do it as conveniently and easily, and had to disguise and detour a bit.
While waiting for the food, the three continued chatting casually, commenting on local culture and characteristics, as the restaurant got increasingly crowded, the tables gradually filling up.
"Hi, can we join your table? My friends and I just arrived for a tour today." A shy young man approached and spoke to the red-haired Prin.
"You?" Prin glanced over and soon noticed the Fifth Fleet badge on the young man's clothes.
"No duty today?" Although there were no signs of conflict at the moment, a member of the Fifth Fleet touring on land irked Prin a bit.
"We're on leave, and the fleet hasn't entered wartime status yet." The young man scratched his head and explained upon having someone point it out.
Logically, as a Mech Pilot for the Federation, even with Sequence 7 capabilities, he shouldn't have been that low-key in his explanation. Yet, for some reason, upon seeing the red-haired ponytail girl, he felt a bit intimidated and didn't dare to refute.
"Alright then." Prin recalled having signed a consent form a while back to let the Fifth Fleet members relax. After all, they'd been stationed in the Hanging Stone Star Domain for quite a while; keeping people in a starship for extended periods wasn't great.
"Thanks, this is my companion Wade, Misa, and Que Lin." The young man introduced some of the casually dressed people beside him.
"And you?" Prin pointed out when he forgot to introduce himself.
"I'm Biao Xing." After speaking, he calmed down significantly, no longer as nervous as before.
Thus, the three were joined by four others, making seven seated around the table, continuing their chat while waiting for the food.
Among the four newcomers, Wade was the most lively, using exaggerated tones to tell joke after joke, trying to make Prin laugh. Misa talked relatively less, with a hint of scholarly air, occasionally glancing at the green-haired girl, Que Lin, beside him. As for Que Lin, she didn't say much, flipping through the travel brochure and specialty menu on the table, somewhat absent-minded.
After Biao Xing took his seat, he became more composed, occasionally joining the conversation, and then flipping through the terminal, curiously glancing at the girl sitting in the corner.
At that moment, indoors, Tilan had already put her hood down, her smooth black hair cascading over her collar and back. Due to the angle, Biao Xing couldn't fully view her face, only sensing from her contours that she would be beautiful.
"Why is it taking so long?" Wade, feeling a bit impatient, spoke up. He stood up, seemingly trying to find the waiter.
"There are a lot of tourists today; it seems they're very busy." Being a local, the guide was familiar with the situation. It was indeed bustling and lively there.
"I see quite a few colleagues, hehe." Misa subtly noticed that many people were actually members of the Fifth Fleet on holiday.
"Tsk, so we're not the only ones on vacation?" Wade complained, but since they were all colleagues, he refrained from griping further and sat back down.
"I didn't expect such a small place to have so many visitors."
"Just for novelty, perhaps; plenty of people also have excess money without knowing how to spend it," Que Lin commented absentmindedly as she read the travel booklet.
"Haha, if it were me, I'd choose a place with sunny beaches, refreshing sea breezes, clear water, and lots of pretty girls," Wade laughed and chimed in.
"A place that's sandy everywhere is too poor; even if there are pretty girls, they can't thrive," he said, shaking his head.
"What, you think something's wrong with what I said? No, no, no, I sincerely think places like this can be abandoned. The Federation is so vast; there're plenty of places to live. Why insist on staying here?" He waggled his finger.
"Not every family is as lucky as yours, flourishing in the past decade and making a fortune. Some are actually in decline," Que Lin put down the booklet and shot a glare at the lively companion.
"Some? How's that possible? What's the unemployment rate now, and what was it twenty years ago? How could anyone still be in decline? They must not be trying hard enough," Wade remained unconvinced.
"Every place needs people—living planets, space stations; there's always somewhere needing development. As long as you have hands, anywhere can make money. Those who fail, perhaps they just want money handed to them on a platter; only then might they face decline."
Although Tilan wasn't looking at Prin to see her expression, she could sense the pride and joy emanating from Prin's heart.
Despite the criticism and discontent the process provoked, from a practical perspective, the Federation's economy and living conditions had indeed improved significantly over the past twenty years. That was why Prin was so confident.
It was possibly for this reason that she boldly invited her to make a bet, to tour this place. Regarding this achievement, Tilan wouldn't deny it, but unfortunately, some simply didn't appreciate this perspective.
"Are you saying I'm not trying hard enough and am being delusional?" Que Lin unexpectedly flared up, quickly altering the atmosphere at the table.
"My family lived in the Twin Trees Star Domain twenty years ago; it was a beautiful and harmonious place, but then?"
"My grandparents died in the turmoil and upheaval of those days, the family assets seized on baseless charges, and my beloved aunts and uncles disappeared one by one. Do you really believe that the prosperity you see is available to everyone?"
"Some are just bleeding while you look the other way." Her words threw the entire table into a state of silence.
