Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

No wonder even though they're infected, they aren't ostracized by the Ursus military and police, and can freely enter and exit key areas of Chernobog like I do. Yes, the Scourge Messenger is the only identity in Terra that allows infected individuals to be identified without facing severe discrimination. Because they are crucial to all mobile cities, and those who chase the Scourge are destined to remain in high-density Originium environments for extended periods, thus becoming infected.

[So that's it. The Infected are ostracized not because they are dangerous, but because the danger they pose far outweighs the benefits they can bring. They do far more harm than good to the community, which is why they end up like this. Conversely, if all the Infected could find positions like messengers of natural disasters, could the world achieve peace while the underlying mechanisms of Originium remain ineffective?]

[How interesting! It turns out that Origin Stone isn't the biggest destabilizing factor in the world. Warmth and deep-seated hatred are always just facades; what truly matters are the underlying crises and interests.]

Ming Yanwei nodded, feeling she had gained a lot—though she didn't understand the purpose of figuring this out. But she still felt she had learned a great deal.

It's 5:30 now, and there's still a long time before the Rhode Island pharmaceutical team arrives.

She decided to have a good chat with the messenger—after all, she seemed to be waiting for someone or a ship as well.

Section Twenty-Two: Zhan Lan, Part One

Ming Yanwei was very surprised.

It wasn't the identity of 'Black' that was unexpected; even she herself, her true self, the one at the pinnacle of extraordinary life, who was close to unlocking the fourth stage of the genetic lock and becoming a 'real person,' was extremely surprised.

She genuinely hadn't expected that an ordinary messenger she'd just met on the roadside would be so thoughtful. She casually brought up a few topics, and he effortlessly connected with each one. Even when she extended the conversation, steering it towards areas that had previously puzzled her, he was able to offer unique and interesting insights, and none of it was the kind of empty boasting or rambling that comes from nowhere!

The Black Question—Suppose there exists a powerful, super-life form that emerges from the mortal realm; is it still considered part of the original mortal realm? Does it bear any responsibility to its original mortal race, and should it continue to adhere to the rules and regulations of that race?

Angelina gave the following answer:

"Suppose there is a bird that is larger than a duck, has whiter plumage, is stronger and smarter than a duck, and has larger and more powerful wings. Then it is not a duck. Even if it always thinks it is a duck, it still is not."

“The Ugly Duckling and the Swan? I’ve heard that story.” Black couldn’t help but interject. “But the Ugly Duckling was destined to be a swan from the very beginning. And she was driven out… What if the Ugly Duckling hadn’t been ostracized by her people, but had been well taken care of from beginning to end?”

“There’s no difference,” Angelina replied. “Because before the Ugly Duckling became a swan, none of the ducks, including itself, considered it a swan. So whether it was a natural swan or a mutated swan doesn’t really matter. And in either case, the Ugly Duckling wouldn’t, and had no need to, return to the wild ducks’ pond. Because the swan’s hunting range and lifestyle are completely incompatible with ducks. Forcing itself to believe it was one of the ducks would only harm itself and kill the flock of wild ducks.”

"Did it pretend to be a pig so much that it actually became a pig and was eaten by a tiger? If so, then there is some truth to that. Shouldn't it repay the flock of ducks that once raised it?"

"If she were still a duck, even one that had immigrated to a foreign country, then she should repay the flock that raised her. Because an individual should serve the flock. And the reason why an individual should serve the flock is that the strength of the flock is more conducive to the continuation of the individual. And when life exists as life, its first priority is 'continuation'."

"Ducks serve their flock because the flock protects the individual, and the individual's return to the flock forms a complete cycle. This is a necessary and expected thing. But if a duck is no longer a duck, but a swan, then the flock of swans will build a new cycle of protection with this swan."

"She should fight for the swans, and how she treats the former ducks is up to her own judgment. In any case, at least on a life-level level, she no longer has the responsibility or obligation to pay a heavy price for the ducks." —This is how the young messenger explained.

Is that the case?

Ming Yanwei sensed something was amiss, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was... Ah, that's right. Having become a transcendent being, she was no longer of the same kind as the mortals she once was. Because mortals would be distorted by her Dao erosion, and if she continued to associate with them, she would eventually be dragged down and die, or the mortals around her would one day be drawn into her war and perish.

Therefore, one should distinguish oneself from mortals. Should one ignore their existence?

...That seems to make sense. So, should I repay the kindness my tribe showed me when I was just a mortal?

She felt it was necessary.

However, given that this is necessary, to what extent should we do to repay that kindness?

Protect them and defend them against external enemies?

To step up when they face difficulties, even at the cost of... sacrificing one's life?

So how long will this protection last? Ten years? One hundred years? One thousand years? Ten thousand years? One hundred million years? Countless years?

So how many lives will be sacrificed for them? A portion? Half? A large portion? Die once? Die again after resurrection? Die countless times?

Can this be quantified? If so, what should be used to quantify it? If not, why can't it be measured?

“Well, although it’s a bit hasty, I’ve divided this subjective thing called ‘gratitude’ into two categories. If you don’t mind, Miss Black, you can listen to my opinion.” As if she could see her confusion, Angelina in front of her gave a slightly insecure smile, her ten fingers hesitantly pressed together.

“I divide gratitude into two types. One is ‘human favor.’ It’s a kind of implicit social order. It’s an invisible transaction built on the dark side of morality and law.” She blinked. “It’s like a relationship where ‘you helped me,’ and then in the future, ‘I’ll help you in return.’ It’s not recognized in itself, but it’s guaranteed by the operation of this entire social system. Because it’s actually a transaction, and what serves as collateral is the individual’s credit, and only credit.”

"The second type is gratitude in the true sense. It is based on morality, cognition, and customs. Its magnitude and depth depend on the individual's own cognition and judgment. It may be much or little, unfathomable or as light as a feather."

She raised a finger and made an example.

"For example, a feline was starving on the road, and a passing cat took pity on her and gave her a pancake. The feline survived after eating the pancake and later built a successful career."

"Therefore, depending on this Felin's different understanding, the depth of the favor between her and that Caterpillar also varies."

"She might feel that she owes that Catter's life because she can't survive without that pie. So she'll spend the rest of her time working for Catter, risking her life for him and even giving everything for him."

"She might feel that she owes that Caterpillar a favor because she got out of trouble with that help. So she might help that Caterpillar, or Caterpillar's friends and family, when they encounter difficulties in the future. That would be her way of repaying that kindness."

"She might think she only owes that cattery a pancake. Because she's confident she can find food and survive before starving, she might quietly bring the cattery a pancake or a lunch when it's hungry, and then leave."

"She might even think that she doesn't owe him anything at all, that it was just a normal transaction. And she decides that when she encounters Carter who is starving, she will give him a pancake. Then she forgets about it."

Angelina held up four fingers in a row, stating four possibilities. Then she brought her five fingers together and made a fist.

"So, Miss Black, you see, things become very simple. The first kind of 'favor' is merely a product of society. When you... when that swan leaves its original duck flock, this 'favor' has no meaning for it. The second kind of favor, however, depends on her perception and judgment. If she feels she has repaid it, then she has; if she feels she hasn't, then she hasn't. No institution or order can compel her to repay this favor. If there were, then the moment that institution existed, she wouldn't be confused, and the favor would even be completely extinguished in an instant."

Ming Yanwei lowered her eyes.

Her mind raced, quickly concocting a sufficiently realistic scenario. She imagined an avatar perfectly aligned with her own perceptions but shielded from those memories, and then placed it into that scenario.

Imagine a meteorite powerful enough to kill her is about to crash into Earth, the world she originated from. And she's the only one capable of dealing with it—what would she do?

In her eyes appeared a colossal meteorite, as large as the moon. As it approached the Earth's surface, it unleashed an unparalleled gravitational tide. The sea parted, revealing the bedrock. Islands crumbled, and countless lives perished amidst their cries of despair.

"What should I do?" she asked herself.

Then, she saw her imagined self rise into the air, unleashing all her power to crash into the falling star. The enormous shockwave spread out in concentric circles and struck the moon in an instant. Flesh and blood turned to ash, heart and soul were incinerated in a flash, and the enormous star collapsed, transforming into a giant ribbon that was thrown into the depths of space.

Earth was saved, but he died. Yet he didn't feel his death was unworthy. Even if he retained this memory and relived the moment the star fell, he would still be willing to step forward and shatter the star.

Then, things took a turn for the better.

—'With the premise unchanged, suppose that news of the planet's impending fall reached humanity beforehand. They found her before the fall and begged for her help. They knew she would die but would still succeed in saving Earth, yet they still made the request—so, what would she do?'

The meteorite reappeared, but this time it was located a little farther from Earth. As this imagined version of himself noticed this anomaly in his mansion, the door suddenly opened, and then people he knew, acquaintances, and blood relatives, led by several people who frequently appeared on television, pleaded with him. They used soft words, irony, and all sorts of seemingly ridiculous rhetoric to persuade him. Regardless of their methods, their goal was the same.

The world is about to be destroyed, and only you can save it.

—We know you will pay a huge price for this, even if we pretend not to know, or rather, we are honest, but we still hope you can save the world.

"What should I do?" she asked herself.

Then she saw her imagined self frown. And then, she sighed.

"This is the last time," Ming Yanwei said, lost in thought. The next moment, she soared into the air, tearing through the vast atmosphere and plunging into space. At the end of her rapid journey, she crashed into the falling star.

She died; she prevented the disaster.

After many years, she was resurrected, and this time, upon awakening, she left the planet and never returned.

Then, things changed again.

"The preconditions remained unchanged, and mortals seemed to anticipate a future where they would risk their lives to save the world. In an instant, nameless arrogance filled the hearts of every decision-maker. So, just before the star was about to fall, they sent, and only sent, a messenger."

Ming Yanwei, lost in thought, opened her eyes to find the door to her mansion open. A well-dressed, respectful messenger, whose eyes held a deep-seated arrogance and disdain, approached her. He extended his hand, handing her a sealed document.

"Hello, Miss Ming Yanwei, this is a document for you. Please open and view it now," the messenger said.

Ming Yanwei took the document, but hesitated to open it.

"Please hurry," the messenger urged.

So, lost in thought, she lowered her eyes and silently opened the file.

The content was simple: it compiled the events of the fallen star into a document and presented it to her in a straightforward manner. A coordinate point was marked on the star, and it was noted that if she burned everything and focused all her energy on hitting that point, it would have the best effect.

That's all, nothing more.

This was less of an intelligence report and more of an order.

So……

"What should I do?" she asked herself.

Then, she saw silence.

A silent dreamer, a silent dream house.

She heard the phone ringing in her room, and notifications from various communication devices. She heard hurried footsteps outside the room, and finally, she even heard the messenger's earpiece clicking.

"Miss Ming, is there anything I can do for you?" the masked messenger asked.

Ming Yanwei, lost in thought, smiled.

She said nothing and did nothing.

The surrounding noise grew louder and louder, and a strong sense of oppression came from beyond the heavens.

Then... the earth began to shake.

A tide of destruction swept across the land, turning the sky gray, while a scorching heatwave engulfed the entire world. Vast swathes of continents sank into a sea of ​​fire, yet her heart remained unmoved.

Until the very end...

Finally, she suddenly reached out and captured all the mortals she deemed sufficient before the tide of destruction descended, then took them to the cosmos.

The Earth was destroyed.

But the world of mortals was not destroyed.

Just as Yahweh had poured down the world-destroying waters, allowing only the chosen, pure to board the ark, she understood and emulated the actions of that mythical god—she did indeed save the world, and then she cast the remnants of this old world into a new kingdom.

And thus the cause and effect are severed.

She watched these mortals, survivors of the catastrophe, grope for survival in the terrifying darkness, rediscovering in them the awe they held for nature and the gods from their primitive past. Some worshipped her, some hated her, but none of it mattered to her anymore.

She no longer valued them; she no longer cared about them. Her gaze returned to her own residence.

She saw the messenger remove his mask, revealing Angelina's Walper face!

So she returned to the real world.

"Do you think what I said makes sense, Miss Black?" The messenger in front of her looked at her expectantly, tilting her head slightly.

Ming Yanwei fell silent.

silence.

silence.

There was a few seconds of silence.

She knew all three possibilities were extreme. So extreme that they were practically impossible in reality. Mortals wouldn't be that foolish, and she wouldn't be helpless in the face of a mere meteorite. Yet…

Nevertheless, she still received an answer.

She knew her own thoughts—she was willing to give, and she was ready to give. But how much she gave was up to her. And if anyone dared to interfere or force her, then all ties would vanish.

In other words, this so-called 'favor of protection' is, deep down, nothing compared to the 'self-respect' I possess. I'm just acting out of position, and the repayment I want to give is nothing more than a charity gesture.

However, even acts of charity are acts of kindness.