Above The Sky

Chapter 2198: Chapter 1: Sky, Pioneer, and Pioneer Space

It was said that, back then, the Silver Peak Sage summoned countless versions of himself, all like "Ian," and with the endless power of the War God, he suppressed the Whole Terra’s Fifth Energy Level in an instant.

Of course, some also said the Sage didn’t even use this ultimate technique to subdue all the Fifth Energy Level experts; in any case, no one knew the exact details.

In short, Humans used the power of the Synthesis Intelligence to strengthen their own civilization, and the Synthesis Intelligence in turn used all Human memories and daily lives to enrich itself.

By now, the Synthesis Intelligence had completely become the most important part of Humans, breathing and sharing fate together with them.

However... not everyone was happy to see this development.

Especially as that group of people most familiar with the Silver Peak Sage gradually fell into slumber one after another, or even disappeared altogether, the Terra Federation of today was slowly turning from its initial pioneering drive into something conservative.

"Sigh, the Federation has revised the pioneering plan again."

There weren’t many people in the dormitory’s public gym, only a few acquaintances. After greeting them, Aldo jogged to warm up while browsing the news through the Phantom Network, and couldn’t help but frown: "The second Space City near Jupiter has been urgently called off... lack of resources? They just don’t want to spend the money!"

The wave of expansion triggered by the Silver Peak Sage’s departure for the distant frontier had allowed the Terra Federation to build a Colonial City and five frontier stations on the Moon within just fifty years. There were also five full Space Cities in Terra’s orbit, with a total population of over twelve million, and a planned capacity of more than three hundred million in the future.

As for the Energy City near Jupiter, its main task was to extract hydrogen and helium fuel from Jupiter itself, and to mine various rare minerals from its hundreds of moons. However, this was a long-term investment plan spanning about a century; to actually turn a profit, they would have to keep investing for at least another thirty years from now.

During the term of the first generation of Federal Presidents from the Pioneering Faction, investing in these frontier industries was only natural, but fifty years later, as the Federal populace’s gaze gradually withdrew, the distant Jupiter exploitation project naturally began to look somewhat irrational.

The Federal Government had even begun to regulate the use of artificial intelligence—since the Synthesis Intelligence carried the entire burden of national infrastructure and resource extraction, Terra Humans only needed to study and research technology. Yet this pressure-free life had also turned many people into good-for-nothings who knew only pleasure and were immersed in online games.

In order to prevent the vast majority of Humans from becoming empty-talking trash, the Federal Government had even considered abolishing the existence of the Intelligent Steward—placing an independent intelligence within Human Souls, no matter how you thought about it, sounded terrifying!

Although this proposal was quickly voted down, it was enough to prove that the conservatives and the Human Purist faction were steadily growing.

"A bunch of Terra lords who only know how to flap their lips!"

Seeing this news, Aldo felt a kind of inexplicable anger: "If you’ve got what it takes, come pioneer on the Moon! Without an Intelligent Steward, let’s see if you can expand the boundaries of civilization on your own!"

As for those so‑called real issues raised by the conservatives, such as "Intelligent Stewards are replacing parents, leading to emotional estrangement between children and parents," "the existence of Intelligent Stewards has made the new generation indifferent to childbirth and emotional life," and "should Intelligent Stewards be granted human rights," Aldo simply couldn’t relate.

As a "Moon Artificial Human" who practically had no parents and could basically say he would never have "children" in the future, Aldo did not yearn for a family, nor did he possess any of the "happiness" that Terra People were accustomed to.

He didn’t need romance, nor did he need a partner or descendants. As for whether Intelligent Stewards should have human rights—only those old fossils who still carried slavers in the depths of their hearts would ask such a question. If an intelligence could do everything Humans could, then it was Human, without a doubt.

Of course, Aldo was not just "Pioneering Faction."

He knew that the reason the Federation had halted these frontier projects was to save resources, so that all Terra Humans—including him, a Moon Artificial Human—could live happier lives.

He also knew that the reason the Federation was discussing issues related to artificial intelligence was because the Federation had already developed to the limits of the legal code set by the Sage back in the day.

When, with the support of artificial intelligence, Humans gradually ushered all of humanity into the "Kingdom of Freedom," then should Humans not consider ending this increasingly meaningless "exploitation" of man‑made beings?

Too many, far too many—every era had its own problems, and the new era after the Sage was no exception.

Though the Federation was gradually becoming conservative, it was still a civilization that followed the code of law, centered on humanistic values, existing to make everyone’s lives happier.

Only, that raised a question.

—A stable life?

—Peaceful everyday moments with family?

—Growing old with a lover, raising children together?

—A more beautiful planetary environment?

What did any of that have to do with him, a Moon‑born Artificial Human?

The reason Aldo was willing to inherit the surname Silver Peak and remain on the Moon was because all those so‑called sources of "happiness" On Terra meant nothing to him.

Compared to Humans, he preferred machine intelligences; compared to happiness, he preferred pioneering; compared to family and friends, he preferred the distant frontier and the stars.

He was, from the very beginning, a child of the stars created by Humans, a being born without shackles, the freest existence of all.