It had been interrupted, of course, by the discovery of negatron matter in the sea, which made for a temporary frenzy for submarine technology. But that had slowly changed and had reversed since the Laminar and nebular invasions.

However, ever since Gaian Alliance guaranteed Liberty and Sovereignty to all people for all things outer space, the rush had accelerated progress more than Rui could have ever imagined.

In just a matter of half a year after that announcement, innovation skyrocketed as companies rushed to create practical solutions for pioneers, colonialists, and conquerors. Because there were massive profits to be made, companies created ways to develop terrestrial infrastructure in a cost/energy-effective and logistically viable method.

Sensors grew smaller and more effective, spaceships grew more modular, flexible, and versatile. Their capacity to travel had improved. On the other hand, Martial Artists had made more progress with exo-Martial Art in the past six months than they had in the past nine years.

Simply because there were powerful civilizational pressures that drove them to do so.

"It has been a truly spectacular period of productivity," Edward admitted. "Still, don’t grow starry-eyed about the gains. Don’t ignore the risks. There are... contravening forces within our civilization that will not necessarily act the way you want them to, nor necessarily share your interests."

Rui turned towards the old man with a pointed gaze. He still couldn’t get used to how different Edward looked and felt from how he was before. The man wore a simple pair of shorts and a gray t-shirt. His expression was relaxed while his shoulders were looser. He looked freer compared to when he was prime minister.

"You mean like the successor you appointed for the Britannian Empire?" Rui raised an eyebrow. "The one who is leading an anti-Kandrian movement within the Panamic Alliance?"

Edward shrugged without any compunctions. "He’s free to do as he pleases. The reality is that it is true that the Britannian Empire is weaker than it used to be, relative to the Kandrian Empire, and that is to an extent because of my rule."

"Your rule is the only reason that the Britannian Empire exists," Rui huffed. "If he had even half your political prowess, he would be able to see that. Instead, we have this raging nationalist who wants to restore the Britannian Empire to greater heights and believes the solutions are in the stars. Dividing the Panamic Alliance will hurt them far more than it hurts the Kandrian Empire."

"And yet, you made no attempt to stop it," Edward remarked knowingly. "Because you understand that stopping it will come at the cost of weakening human civilization."

Rui heaved a sigh. "A powerful political drive is at the heart of all growth in power. I just wish he were more like you."

"You cannot expect nations to remain the same as leaders come and go," Edward replied. "The reality is that he isn’t the only one who feels the way he does. There are many within the Britannian Empire who mourn the days when they were equal to the Kandrian Empire. The oldsters haven’t been able to let go of their resentment and antagonism toward the Kandrian Empire, and the youngsters dream of a glory that they never witnessed. It cannot be stopped without crippling civilization itself."

That was why Rui was allowed to continue. A powerful bid for power was most important to gaining more power, and human civilization wanting to grow stronger at all costs, regardless of motivation, would help accelerate the growth of Gaian Civilization.

"I foresee that human civilization will be more divided in the coming years and decades," Edward warned Rui. "Not just because suppressed powers unable to expand in an already jam-packed planet like Gaia will continue to expand outwards, but also because our civilization will be distant and distributed across the stars. Be prepared for that." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Rui’s ethereal eyes sharpened.

"I will be."

His tone was one of both patience and unrest together.

He knew he would have to wait.

And he was prepared to wait for as long as it took.

Time passed as more and more spaceships began being produced and proliferated outside Gaia and within the solar system. It got to such a point that the Gaian Alliance needed to ban any space manufacturing and production within five light seconds of Gaia.

Absolutely massive structures began forming around Gaia at that range: Entire ship manufacturing facilities in outer space that stretched many kilometers in any direction, comprising a truly standardized manufacturing process that began producing spaceships like they were toys in a factory.

Countless other space manufacturing hubs began developing in outer space for similar space technologies, while mining enterprises, terrestrial or otherwise, began exploding with activity, mining away entire planets as they began stripping away every ounce of raw materials that had yet to be tapped into by Gaian Civilization.

Naturally, this led to an increase in the supply of spaceships and thus fleets led by pioneers who began leading a second wave of expeditions, characterized by private organizations and individuals, and other non-state actors.

Millions of people across the world uprooted their stable lives on Gaia and had chosen to take a spot in the countless ships that began leaving Gaia, heading into outer space.

The dream of starting a new life in the stars.

The desire to explore the unknown.

The lust for new territory.

The search for resources.

The search for power.

The search for opportunity.

The search for wealth.

The search for knowledge and understanding.

The search for others.

Countless motivations drove countless people into countless different ventures into the stars.

A whole new world had opened up to all of them, a world that was limited merely to appreciation in the eyes of the beholder.

A cosmos with unknown wonders, tribulations, and treasures.

It was the beginning of a new Chapter in the history of man.

A new age.

They had a name for it.

They called this the Era of Expansion.

And just like that, more than a decade passed in the blink of an eye.