Rebirth of the Super Battleship-Chapter 742: Parasite and Hero
On the third habitation-type Star-Class spaceship, in sector A, before a cluster of buildings constructed in an imitation rural style, an intelligent being was standing at the fence, calling inward.
“Hey, Ares, stop fussing over those worthless sweet potatoes of yours. Today everyone in our community agreed to go together to Mining Base Number 3169 to do volunteer work. Are you coming or not?”
Right now the morning sun was just rising. The artificial sun shed gentle golden light, illuminating the land in brightness. The climate was very pleasant, neither hot nor cold. A warm breeze blew past, carrying with it waves of unknown floral scents. In the midst of vast stretches of farmland, this small village was especially tranquil.
Ares was busy in a patch of sweet potatoes in the backyard of his home. This crop from ancient Earth had, unexpectedly, become very popular among the citizens of the Pegasus Civilization and had quickly become their favorite food. After finding a woman of his own race and marrying her, settling into a peaceful life, Ares had planted some in his own yard as well.
Although household robots could provide an entire chain of labor from planting, to harvesting, to cooking, people generally believed that for things like this, only when you planted and harvested them yourself would eating them in the end bring a sense of accomplishment.
Ares straightened up, patted his somewhat tired body, and replied, “Mr. Riel, I have some things to take care of today. I will not go. You and the neighbors go ahead.”
The intelligent being addressed as Mr. Riel said somewhat displeased, “Ares, this is the sixth time you have refused to take part in volunteer work. The high-ranking figures of society are racking their brains for our civilization. Even Director Xu, Lord Two, and Mr. Jason have all died from overwork. The warriors are fighting in blood on the front lines. Our civilization has reached its most critical moment. This is exactly when we ought to contribute our strength to our civilization, yet you still have the mood to plant sweet potatoes.”
Ares’s body stiffened slightly, then he smiled and said, “Mr. Riel, I truly am sorry. I really do have some matters I have to handle today.”
“Hmph.” Mr. Riel snorted discontentedly, then turned and left.
After Xiao Yu chose to reveal their current situation openly to all levels of society, not only did no riots break out inside the Divine Ark Civilization, the intelligent beings of all races instead united as never before. Large numbers of intelligent beings spontaneously organized themselves to go to industrial bases throughout the Divine Ark Civilization to perform volunteer labor. Some went to mining bases to help with resource extraction, others went to refining workshops, while still others chose to work at spaceship construction centers.
Artists were creating all kinds of cultural works, encouraging people to hold out until the very last moment, encouraging people to have firm confidence in victory. Architects were responsible for constructing large numbers of comfortable and aesthetically pleasing buildings so that those doing volunteer work could rest in comfort. Nutritionists served as chefs, providing them with exquisite and delicious food.
The Divine Ark Civilization as a whole had mobilized completely. From top to bottom, not a single person was idling away their time. Yet Ares was an exception. In fact, in the eyes of his neighbors, Ares was simply a weirdo.
He never cared about public welfare, and he seemed indifferent to whether the civilization lived or died. He never attended community gatherings and never joined volunteer work. It was as if his entire world was just that somewhat shabby house of his and the sweet potatoes planted in his backyard.
Mr. Riel had already left. Ares went back to the yard and carefully tended the sweet potato sprouts that had only just begun to break through the soil.
“Dear, I think we should have a talk.” At this moment, Ares’s wife, a somewhat plain-looking female intelligent being of the Pegasus Civilization, walked out of the house leading the crystallization of their love, their child.
Ares’s body stiffened slightly, then he stood up and asked with a smile, “Dear, what is it?”
“You disappoint me.” Ares’s wife said. “When I first met you, I always thought you were a man with a sense of responsibility, a man with courage and resolve. But now I have discovered that this does not seem to be the case. You really disappoint me.”
The smile on Ares’s face gradually faded and finally vanished completely. He said slowly, “I take meticulous care of you and our child. I give you my wholehearted love. Is that still not enough?”
“It is not enough. That is still not enough.” His wife shook her head and said sadly, “A man’s work ought to be outside the family, not spending all day guarding his wife and child. Countless intelligent beings gathered together to form our civilization. The civilization provides safety, order, dignity, culture, and welfare to every individual within it. When the civilization encounters danger, as a member of that civilization, should we not also use our strength to contribute to it? Do not forget, only if the civilization can continue, can our family continue. But in all of this, you have deeply disappointed me.”
“The direction in which the civilization moves forward, should that not be decided by those in charge?” Ares said. “For example, the committee members of the Social Committee and the Military Committee, the planetary or habitation-ship governors, or perhaps… the Master?”
“The Divine Ark Civilization belongs to all of us intelligent beings, not to one single person or one single organization.” his wife said, looking into his eyes. “It is our civilization, everyone’s civilization. For the continuation of the civilization, we ought to make our own contributions as well. We are doing it for ourselves, not for some interest group.”
His wife lowered her head, her voice tinged with sorrow. “I do not want, when I go out, for our neighbors to say, ‘That is the wife of Ares, who has not contributed anything.’ I do not want them to whisper behind my back that our whole family are parasites of the civilization.”
“Dad, at school they all ostracize me and bully me. They say my dad is useless, that you have not made any contribution to our civilization. They say you just enjoy the protection of the civilization with a clear conscience. Dad, you have always been a hero in my heart. Tell me they are lying, that what they say is not true. Tell me, all right?” At this moment, the young intelligent being spoke with his unique childish voice.
“Ares, think it over carefully yourself. If you still refuse to go, then I will go with our child to take part in the volunteer work.” After saying this, she turned and left, holding the child by the hand.
Under the morning sunlight, Ares stood in the sweet potato patch, his body actually trembling slightly.
“The Divine Ark Civilization destroyed the Pegasus Civilization and destroyed the Level 5 Civilization Alliance. It cut off our hope of becoming a Level 6 Civilization. The Divine Ark Civilization is my mortal enemy…”
“Ares, hello. I am Xiao Yu.” At this moment, Xiao Yu’s voice came from the air. A flying robot gradually revealed its form in midair and projected Xiao Yu’s image.
Ares instantly regained his composure. In that instant, he once more became the civilization leader who commanded one hundred billion citizens.
“Xiao Yu, what is it?”
“Our civilization has already reached a critical juncture of life and death. All of my attempts have ended in failure. At this time, I need your help.” Xiao Yu said slowly. “As an outstanding figure who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Luka Two and even surpass him in certain aspects, I believe you have the ability to help me.”
“Oh?” A trace of a mocking smile appeared on Ares’s face. “And why should I help you? Because you destroyed my civilization and cut off our hope of advancing to a Level 6 Civilization?”
“I want to show you some images you do not know about.” Xiao Yu did not argue this point. Instead, he waved his hand, and a large amount of visual data was projected.
In these images were scenes of the original citizens of the Pegasus Civilization living happy lives, scenes of the former Pegasus Civilization citizens working hard at mining bases and foundries, and scenes of them piloting spaceships and fighting strenuously.
“Look, the citizens of your civilization are living very well within the Divine Ark Civilization. They love this civilization. They have already forgotten that dark period in the past. They too are contributing to our Divine Ark Civilization. Ares, I want to ask you one question. From what standpoint are you holding on to this so-called hatred?”
”If you still consider yourself the leader of the Pegasus Civilization, then seeing that the citizens of the Pegasus Civilization are living such happy lives now, you ought to let go of this hatred. If you are hating me as an individual, then you are nothing more than a despicable man who, for his own selfishness, forcibly hijacks the morality of the Pegasus Civilization.”
“For the sake of your own hatred, you ignore the life and death of the civilization. You must understand, the Divine Ark Civilization includes the original citizens of the Pegasus Civilization as well. If they learned that their leader possessed the ability to save the civilization yet refused to contribute because of such ridiculous hatred, I do not know whether they would hate you or support you.”
“Ares, stop being stubborn. Now is the time for you to stand up and contribute to our Divine Ark Civilization. Remember, the Divine Ark Civilization does not belong to me alone, nor to you alone. It belongs to all of us.” Xiao Yu said calmly.
Ares’s body began to tremble slightly. Xiao Yu said nothing more and simply watched him quietly.
“Let us say it is for the sake of my wife and child, so that they can proudly tell others that their husband, their father, is a hero who saved the civilization…” Ares sighed softly. Ten minutes later, he raised his head. “Tell me what problem you need me to solve.”
