Chapter Ten: The Era of Competing Populations

After executing Criminal No. 1, Wang Yinlong turned his gaze to Criminals No. 6 through No. 10.

These five represented the exploratory value of the alien metaverse. Criminal No. 6 signified low exploration value, while Criminal No. 10 indicated extremely high value. The outside world would formulate different strategies based on the exploration value of this alien metaverse.

“Mr. He, Dr. Zhou, what level do you think the exploratory value of this alien metaverse should be set at?” Wang Yinlong did not make the decision himself but sought the opinions of the two deputy leaders, He Huai'en and Zhou Zhicheng.

“I suggest setting it at the highest level,” Zhou Zhicheng replied decisively.

He Huai'en did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned to consult with several other veteran scientists. Zhou Zhicheng continued, “Although we have not discovered much of value so far, we have already confirmed that the database content of this alien metaverse is extremely rich. That alone is enough. Moreover, the size of the alien metaverse is astonishingly vast. As long as we have enough personnel, there will surely be incredible discoveries in the future.”

Wang Yinlong nodded in agreement. At that moment, He Huai'en and the others finished their discussion and concurred, “We also recommend setting it at the highest level. This world is too large; to reap its rewards, we must have sufficient manpower. And to ensure enough manpower, the outside world must pay sufficient attention. Ha, history truly repeats itself. With the emergence of this alien metaverse, humanity will return to an era where population numbers are paramount. We, with our vast population, must make the most of this advantage.”

Hearing this, Wang Yinlong no longer hesitated. He turned to Criminal No. 10 and made a gesture across his neck.

…

Meanwhile, in the underground plaza of the First Base of the Space Army, Ye Guangyu stood motionless, resembling a statue as he silently watched the ten thousand metaverse pods before him.

Just then, the green light on Pod No. 1 abruptly shifted to red, and soon after, the green light on Pod No. 10 also turned red.

Seeing this, Ye Guangyu’s body gave a sudden jolt. He asked in a deep voice, “What happened?”

“Commander, the prisoners in Pod No. 1 and Pod No. 10… suffered brain death one after another,” a technician reported through the communication device.

“Brain death?”

“Yes, sudden brain death… This should be a signal sent to us by the advance team, indicating that the danger level inside the alien metaverse is extremely low and that no aliens have been encountered so far. Additionally, it also signals that the exploratory value of the alien metaverse is extremely high.”

But…” The technician hesitated.

Ye Guangyu naturally understood what he was trying to say. The matter of exploratory value aside, concerning the danger level… The danger inside is supposedly extremely low, but death within it results in real-world brain death. Can this truly be considered low danger? It’s inherently contradictory, but perhaps the advance team is not yet aware of this situation.

Ye Guangyu exhaled slowly. The scenario he had most hoped for was that, after dying in the alien metaverse, these prisoners would be forcibly ejected and reality would remain unaffected… But fate did not oblige, and the worst-case scenario had occurred.

…

After a moment, a researcher approached Ye Guangyu holding a report. “Commander, this is the death report for Criminals No. 1 and No. 10.”

Seeing the densely written report, Ye Guangyu turned his face away. “I can’t make sense of these details. Just summarize the situation for me.”

The researcher explained, “There are two possible reasons for their brain death. The first is that the alien metaverse is so real it is virtually indistinguishable from reality, fooling the brain… After dying inside, the brains of Criminals No. 1 and No. 10 believed they had truly died, so they ceased functioning and caused brain death.

The second possibility is a bit more sci-fi. As you know, some scientists have long theorized about transferring human consciousness into a virtual world to achieve immortality. This has never been realized, but the second possibility is that the consciousness of all advance team members was extracted and transferred into the virtual world, leaving only a tenuous connection to their physical bodies. Death in the virtual world would mean the total extinction of their consciousness, resulting in real-world brain death.”

He paused, then summarized, “If it’s the first possibility, and the alien metaverse is as real as reality itself… then any alien technology found inside can theoretically be directly used in the real world, without the need for extrapolation or further research. We could treat the alien metaverse as an actual world. The advance team’s decision to set the exploration value at the highest level is sensible.

If it’s the second possibility… then regardless of the alien metaverse’s content, the technology alone is enough for humanity to achieve a kind of immortality. So, regardless of which is true, one thing is beyond doubt.

This alien metaverse is a tremendous treasure for humanity.”

Ye Guangyu nodded, then turned to look at a camera above and behind him. The situation here was being broadcast live to some key figures across the nation. Presumably, they now understood the general circumstances regarding the alien metaverse.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you have seen the situation for yourselves. What should we do next?”

His words were followed by a slightly aged voice through the communication device.

“We’ve just received an important piece of intelligence.”

“What news?”

“At the instant the alien metaverse’s entrance opened, a total of thirteen million six hundred thousand people from various countries entered.”

Hearing this number, Ye Guangyu’s pupils contracted. So many people! It was madness!

“Since the genetic technology race began twenty years ago, nations have pursued technological advancement with near-fanaticism. Their willingness to wager everything this time is only to be expected.”

Ye Guangyu’s gaze turned icy cold. “Should we follow suit?”

“When the new humans were born… everything was decided. Once a country produces new humans, others must pursue genetic technology as well. If they don’t, then in a few decades, countries with new humans will be decades or even a century ahead in technological progress—a difference of an entire era.

The same applies now. They have risked everything to gain technological advantage through the alien metaverse. If we do not follow, we may lose any chance of claiming a share of this opportunity. It won’t merely be a matter of lagging behind by decades or centuries.

Thus, we have no choice but to follow. Our consensus is that, from this moment, the nation enters Level One combat readiness and conscription begins without limit.”

Hearing this, Ye Guangyu instinctively twisted his neck, then said in a deep voice, “Then let us follow suit!”