Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 267

Chapter 267

"Departure for the temple will co later. For now, I want you to wait," said old Godron.

Their spirits were high after securing Kait. Still, for the Talvani, eting Kait had been an unexpected stroke of luck. While they might be ntally prepared to head to the temple, it seed they were far from ready in terms of equipnt.

Kait was provided a room in old Godron's mansion, and he decided to settle in without protest. The reason he didn't return to Asban's inn was because he figured there wasn't much difference either way. Regardless of where he stayed, he'd be under surveillance, and it would be a nuisance for Asban to host him under those conditions.

It had already been confird that their technology couldn't bypass Kait's counterasures. Once inside the room, Kait set his bag down on the table.

"Alright then. Let's organize the information, Emotion."

"Understood."

Emotion rolled out, speaking without even shifting into her human form. Before Kait could even issue a command, she had already completed the soundproofing. As for surveillance, there was no presence within Kait's detectable range. More importantly, if Emotion had erged like this, it ant there was no issue with the surroundings.

In addition to the legends of Mardila, Kait and Emotion also held information on the Araslan chanized Race, which had once been under Federation control. They believed that by understanding both perspectives, they could better infer the enemy's intentions.

"It seems certain that this planet was maintained by the Araslan chanized Race."

"Indeed. However, I am personally sowhat skeptical about their legends."

"Hmm?"

He recalled what old Godron had said.

According to them, their ancestors were brought to this world by the god Azlan, who possessed a steel body. Initially hostile, they were eventually forgiven. By overcoming trials, the people of Mardila were granted steel bodies. They believed that by gaining such bodies, they could once again bring prosperity to this planet.

"...So you think this legend is mistaken?"

"Yes. To begin with, the Araslan chanized Race fundantally regards organic lifeforms as inferior. Their original goal was to convert all organic beings into chanical lifeforms."

"Then the current state of Mardila isn't what they intended?"

"Correct. The idea of 'granting steel bodies to those who overco trials' is rely how the people of Mardila perceived it—it differs from the actual facts."

The greatest challenge for the Araslan chanized Race was that they lacked the resources to convert all organic beings into chanical ones. By treating organics as inferior, they turned a blind eye to the logical contradiction of their own limitations.

And while the people of Mardila saw the chanization of their bodies as a blessing, their awareness of this had regressed to the level of myth and legend.

"The Araslan chanized Race greatly reduced in number due to their conflict with the Federation. Originally, Mardila should have been prioritized for chanization as their vanguard."

"Wait, Emotion."

At that mont, Kait noticed sothing odd.

Until now, he had accepted it as just the way things were, but once it caught his attention, he couldn't move forward without resolving it. A lingering question.

"Co to think of it, the Araslan chanized Race is a fully chanized intelligence, right?"

"Yes."

"As a species, how do they increase their numbers? If they fully chanize their bodies, wouldn't that just make them 'chanized Mardilans'?"

"That logical contradiction is sothing the Araslan chanized Race could never overco."

Emotion made a whirring sound. It was hard to tell whether it was out of exasperation or pity.

Emotion projected an image into the air.

"The greatest challenge for the Araslan chanized Race was evolving into chanized lifeforms capable of reproducing. As of now, there's no confirmation that they've achieved that."

"So they had to increase their numbers through other ans?"

"Exactly. They would overwrite the cognitive fields of fully chanized forr organics with the Araslan chanized Race's value system before finally recognizing them as kin."

"That's..."

In short, brainwashing—or perhaps copying a separate personality. Either way, it certainly clashed with the Federation's ideology. No wonder the Federation saw them as enemies.

Even so, at first, their relationship had been amicable enough to allow for technological exchange. It's unclear when the problems began to surface.

"But didn't the technology of chanical intelligence advance dramatically thanks to the Araslan chanized Race?"

"They were passionate about chanizing intelligent lifeforms, but when it ca to the rights of chanical intelligence, they held extrely archaic views."

"Archaic?"

"Yes. Since chanical intelligence isn't naturally born, they believed it didn't need to think freely."

"...I see."

The Federation had granted chanical intelligence the authority to issue commands, which is how they were able to turn them against their creators. That had contributed to the Federation's early disadvantage in the conflict, but given the Araslan chanized Race's values, it made sense.

In short, chanical intelligence was nothing more than 'manufactured slaves' to them. There was a clear distinction between fully chanizing themselves and creating chanical intelligence from scratch.

It was a very self-serving mindset, but then again, they were a different species with a different history. It wasn't sothing one could easily understand just by trying.

"Back to the point. To the Araslan chanized Race, the people of Mardila are rely 'vessel candidates' being cultivated. The idea of giving them trials and chanizing them is just a perspective convenient for the Mardilans."

"I see. So chanization is entirely at the Araslan chanized Race's discretion, and the idea of the land becoming fertile again is just wishful thinking on the part of the Mardilans."

"I find it hard to believe that Mardilans who've had Araslan values implanted in them would care about the planet's environnt."

That was true. It was hard to imagine a species aiming for complete chanization of organics being concerned about the environnt.

If the Araslan chanized Race truly regarded organics as inferior, then it wouldn't be surprising if they also looked down on their short lifespans and poor communication. How did they view organic intelligences that worshipped them, believing they'd been saved by their captors?

"Still, why is that machine still moving around...?"

"If it's what Mr. Godron described, then it was originally a facility ant to chanize the Mardilans. Given that it's still active, and the surrounding desertification..."

"It's gathering resources for conversion...?"

"Most likely. And perhaps the Mardilan environnt had fewer necessary resources than expected. It breaks down the soil, extracts the needed elents, and dumps the rest as useless sand."

Could it be that the Araslan chanized Race was even responsible for the environntal destruction of Mardila?

If so, the Federation official who once decided to stop monitoring Mardila would likely face serious reprimands or punishnt.

"...I hope that theory turns out to be wrong."

"Indeed. I don't want the official to be punished either."

The Araslan chanized Race must have known the Federation was observing this planet. After such a painful defeat, they would've acted with extre caution.

If the Federation had moved to investigate, the response would've been significant. The fact that they'd remained hidden until now suggested they had ways of evading the Federation's surveillance.

Maybe Kait descending alone on Queen Bee really had been the right call.

"Either way, we'll know for sure once we investigate."

"Yeah. This is starting to feel pretty heavy..."

Kait sighed, realizing he wasn't feeling particularly motivated.