Chapter 543: Chapter 512: You Must Stand at the Summit (5/4)
What do ordinary people really represent to the Sublimators?
Perhaps it is only to ensure the scale of The Empire, to safeguard the potential of the "future," and to cultivate more geniuses and Sublimators with a greater base number that they continue to protect these "ordinary people."
The reason why Ian of Inega II could persuade the major groups within The Empire to implement universal education was not only because of his strength, but probably also because other groups harbored the notion that universal education could enhance the quality of citizens and create more Sublimators to bolster their influence.
The Emperor dines on meat, and they can sip the broth. Everyone is ultimately a subject, no match for Emperor Inaga and the First Knight. Since thatâs the case, so be it, follow their lead, and sipping the broth isnât bad at all.
But in the end, due to excessive technological advancement, these educated ordinary people instead lost their channels to advancementâInega II miscalculated human nature, thinking that learning and acquiring more knowledge was a reward in itself, but many did not see it that way.
They needed a more direct, more tangible "reward."
Among these people, indeed, a batch of Sublimators emerged in greater numbers than in the past, but far fewer than imagined, leading to social unrest in many regions.
The Empire recognized the benefits of universal education but also its "disadvantages," and Inega IIâs demise made them wary of this policy, willing only to invest in those certain talents and Spirit Energy Users who could definitely become Sublimators.
The reason why Ian could receive so many privileges along the way is precisely because of the continuation of this policyâhe was chosen by the system, and that is why his rise was so meteoric.
This is why Ian received so much favor from the Nobles and even prompted Michael, a Crown Prince, to come warn him personally.
Because he is an "investment that can reliably reap rewards and not cause chaos."
A surefire, no-loss stock.
Enough to make people invest heavily.
As for the ordinary people, they just need to be protected.
For most of the Terra Sublimation rulers, they only need the elites among the ordinary people, to select these individuals and turn them into Sublimators. Whether the rest of the mediocre ordinary people can be educated or have hopes and dreams is inconsequential.
They donât care.
âThis has already... transcended the issue of class.
"This is a separation. A near-impossible chasm to bridge, caused by technology that is beyond the era!"
When Ian learned that The Empire had already mastered the technology of "Inscription Intelligence" capable of producing "Alchemical Potions," his heart soared with âecstasyâ, but then gradually âcooled.
The ecstasy was because Terraâs artificial intelligence technology had a foundation, suggesting that the worldâs productivity would soon experience an explosionâif it could be made practical, then productivity could boom, and Terra would be ready to become a near interstellar civilization at any moment.
But the cooling came from a simple question.
âSo what if it explodes? A Fourth Energy Level... No, a Fifth Energy Level, could destroy it all at any moment.
Even without destruction, who could consume all this bursting productivity?
Give it away for free? Offer it for free? Provide benefits without compensation? What a joke, such a thing never happened in my previous life, expecting the Alchemy Workshop run by Sublimators to do such a thing?
Even with Inega IIâs authority and power, they would still resist...
âOh.
The young man finally understood why, why Inega II was betrayed by nearly all his old companions back then.
Because that naive guy, that supremely genius guy who overlooked the problems under his feet, really intended to do it.
"Itâs probably because he wanted to launch a welfare giveaway to everyone... Thatâs not running, thatâs rocket jumping to a utopian society. My past lifeâs homeland didnât manage it, and could only rely on interstellar expansion to consume resources, tackling symptoms through infinite productivity through interstellar colonizationâbut the root causes remained unaddressed."
"Without four or five Fifth Energy Level individuals endorsing the reform, daring to advocate such changes? Considering that era, our Cheharlowa Family even developed the technology of Eternal Echo, everyone thought about being tormented by Inega II for their lifetimes and future generations, no wonder all revolted."
"Not to mention the Crown Prince of that time. Everyone probably held a compromising mindset of âThe Emperor and the First Knight are too strong, we canât oppose them, and even if we could, the cost would be too great, better to endure and wait for them to die of old age,â and then accidentally learned of the eternal life technology, even just the Mirror Echo kind of stuff... They were frightened and thus had to fiercely âcounterstrike.â"
"And at that time, Inega IIâs base support, the emerging productivity, Alchemy Association, and other forces were probably still tallying up bankruptcy."
Ian chuckled bitterly in his heart, the more he understood about the world of Terra, the more he found it fraught with problems.
People? Not lacking.
Technology? Thereâs no lack of it.
Social system? As long as youâre powerful enough, do whatever you want.
But here lies the problem: what does it mean to be powerful enough?
Originally, Ian thought that the Terra Peopleâs lack of enthusiasm for universal education was due to simple reasons like âeven if they learn, they canât find jobs,â or âthe mismatch between productivity and educationââthatâs easy to solve. Just gradually build an industrialized society. By improving productivity and increasing the citizensâ purchasing power at the same time, Terra could swiftly enter a modern society.
But now, it seems that the issues of âeven if they learn, they canât find jobsâ and âthe mismatch between productivity and educationâ are indeed correct.
Yet, the reality is completely the opposite.
In terms of production technology, Terra had developed âartificial intelligence,â which meant that ordinary people could study all they wanted, but it would be uselessâhow could average people ever compete with artificial intelligence!
Sublimators were also disinterested in this since what they needed were sufficiently âpowerfulâ alchemical potions, only producible by Alchemy Masters, or even high-level alchemical potions that required the assistance of a âsoulâ to manipulate. Artificial intelligence couldnât provide this, and neither could ordinary people.
Therefore, The Empire didnât dare to continue researching and felt that universal education was meaningless.
Because if they were to develop an Inscription Intelligence that could even possess a soul... wouldnât that mean, apart from ordinary people, the current alchemists would also become unnecessary?
And would that truly spark a revolt from the entire Sublimator class?
"The technology left by the pre-era civilizations is sometimes really no blessing... Alas, excessively powerful technology is truly a disaster; it can completely destroy the potential for an era to develop, turning the whole society deformed."
Engulfed in fervent contemplation, Ian spoke slowly.
"I understand now."
The words of the young man made Michael, who was about to leave in a glow of light, halt his steps, "Your Highness, you think the Former Emperorâs mistake was that he wasted too much time on ordinary people. Moreover, these ordinary people are like grass that sways with the wind, easily swayed by a bit of propaganda, smear, deception, and alteration, to change their stance and hate those who truly cared for them."
"So, ordinary people... they just help whoever wins. They need to be won over, but whatâs more crucial is to first make oneself stronger, to ensure oneâs own victory. Otherwise, everything becomes meaningless."
"Instead of being nice to ordinary people from the start, itâs better to choose a genius, cultivate them to the Fifth Energy Level, strengthen oneâs own forces, and then be able to do more."
"Kindness and love without the support of strength will definitely be twisted, twisted into... tyranny."
Michael stood with his back to Ian, listening silently to his words.
"Indeed." He only spoke softly after the young man finished, his expression unseen, his tone indiscernible: "Isnât this land just like that? Ian, why werenât you born a hundred years earlier, to catch the era of your grandfather?"
"If back then, beside your grandfather, there had been one more at the Fifth Energy Level, history would have changed."
But there wasnât.
Inega II had died.
"Ian, you are truly intelligent," the second prince turned to face Ian.
Before leaving, Michael said for the first time with such solemnity, "But the way you look at things is too focused on the technology itself; it lacks altitude."
"Your life in South Ridge let you experience the hardships of ordinary people firsthand. I understand; I truly have done similar things. But youâre already a Lord, and even though you might not take office so soon, itâs time you understood."
"Compared to the simple happiness of a group of people, ensuring the stability of the city and province where they live is far more important. You must realize, aside from The Empire, there are many other forces, other strong individuals at High Energy Levels. We are restraining and opposing each other, with the vast majority of resources being thrown into this bottomless pit, and within our lifetimes, we must continue to throw."
"All technology, all resources, must be skewed in this directionâwe canât change this distribution of resources, even if there are better options. But if this change will cause turmoil and dramatic upheaval, then we cannot do it."
"We cannot afford to be good, because transitioning from bad to good will create vulnerabilities, and we are competing to see who fails first, who shows their weaknesses first."
"Ian, you canât think about peaceful development, you canât indulge in such luxuries."
"You must divert resources to contend against the destruction by Magical Beasts and other nationsâa destruction thatâs much easier than constructionâyou must protect the peace and stability of this land, and thatâs when youâll have to make sacrifices."
The Crown Prince extended his hand, his right hand resting on Ianâs shoulder, while his left hand lifted, pointing towards the distance... Ian knew that it was the direction of the Imperial Capital Upper City District: "Youâre the kind of person who can stand at the highest point, Ian. You will become a heavy minister of The Empire, standing on the peak of the Imperial Capital."
Michael stated almost gravely: "Whether itâs me or someone else who finally becomes the Emperor... even if itâs the Emperor himself seeing you now, he would cultivate you. You will become one of them."
"You need to learn this way of thinking."
"Ian, you must stand on the mountain peak!"