Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Three months later.
“Everyone, please step onto your respective treadmills.”
“I said now, immediately!”
Inside the laboratory building of Blacklight Biotechnology Research Center. A stern-looking researching staff glared pointedly at thirty-three black men.
All thirty-three of them were Ovambo people, dressed in standard white hospital gowns. Though not all of them were particularly enthusiastic, most, if not all of them were healthy at least.
Just three months ago when they had just stepped foot into the research center, they were a bunch of old and frail men. Yet, they had now miraculously become younger than they were.
Judging by appearance, they appeared to be in their forties. It was as if the sands of time ran in the opposite direction.
Most of them appeared somewhat uncooperative in following the orders of the research members.
However, a line of B.S.S. security personnel was stationed right next to them, each one of the guards intimidatingly glared at them. Any form of disobedience resulted in a round of beating.
The cooperative members were sectioned out and rewarded with a delicious meal with the occasional alcoholic beverage as a supplement.
When the choices of reward and punishment were laid bare before them, there was not much by way of options for these people.
As the group begrudgingly stepped onto their respective treadmills, the researcher tapped a button of the main console which caused the treadmills to spring into motion.
“The speed now is 5 kilometers per hour. Move your feet, start running!”
...
“7 kilometers per hour now, keep going.”
...
“10 kilometers per hour.”
When the researcher set the speed to ten kilometers per hour, one of the black men could no longer keep up and quickly hopped off the treadmill.
The security personnel stationed in that section immediately approached and violently swung his electric baton at the escapee’s hip.
“Ah!”
The man shrieked in horror. With his hand still clutching his hip, he hopped back on the treadmill.
“15 kilometers per hour!”
The researcher looked at the timer. It had been five minutes since commencing, a lot of them were already struggling to catch their breath.
However, they were not at their limit yet.
The researcher considered for a moment before turning it up to 20 kilometers.
The group could no longer keep up. One after another, they hopped off the treadmill and collapsed onto the ground like a bunch of dead animals, struggling to catch their breath. Even with the beatings they received, they remained sprawled on the ground.
“Not bad.”
The researcher nodded happily and was noticeably pleased with the data collected. The physical strength this group had presented was above that of regular shut-ins who hardly, if ever, exercised.
It should be noted that the average age range of this group was above fifty years old. A fifty-year-old in Africa was roughly the equivalent to a sixty-five to a seventy-year-old back in the Mainland.
The researcher took out a logger and jotted “B” in the “Physicality Recovery” section.
In the physical fitness category, there were labels such as bone strength, organ proficiency, muscle proficiency, joint toughness, and similar keywords.
Most of these sections were marked down as either “A” or “B”.
“Alright, we’ll now run another round of x-ray on everyone and that concludes the tests for the day.”
The researcher clapped his hands and instructed, “After that, the rest of you can go back to the dormitory. The five of you from Kadi and Yasua’s group will stay here for a moment. There are some other tests that we’ll need you for.”
After that, he took the five he had selected and left.
While that was going on, five life incubators were running in the unmarked mysterious laboratory.
The life incubators were filled to the brim with some sort of yellow liquid which had a slightly cloudy texture. Occasionally, bubbles gurgled from the bottom of the solution and floated to the top.
A human fetus the approximate size of a regular fist could be spotted floating in the solution.
The human fetus was curled up and wrapped in a translucent film like it was currently residing inside a womb.
Several tubes could be seen connected to the umbilical cord which was latched onto the fetus’ belly button. The tubes attached to the umbilical cord were linked to a giant device placed outside the life incubator.
With the help of the machine, every single nutrient required for regular development was injected accordingly into the fetus.
“The five of them will be here shortly. We can start making preparations for organ matching.”
Upon receiving the intel from the main control center, Hannibal quickly passed on the message to the other two members in the laboratory.
“Is there no other way around it?”
Neumann, who was completely immersed in the statistics displayed up till that moment, snapped out of it and noted hesitantly. “Based on the tests we ran last time, after the five of them went through the age reversal treatment, their organs functionality is already in the process of recovery. Even without needing to perform organ transplantation, their cirrhosis and pneumoconiosis were able to recover on its own.”
Hannibal shook his head disapprovingly with a frown on his face. “Neumann, you’re the same as you’ve always been. Don’t forget that we’re not doing this for charity. Do you have any idea how much it costs to perform the age-reversal treatment? Do you have any idea how many U.S. Dollars these life incubators burn up daily?
“In the grand scheme of things, do you have any idea how much the boss has to spend every single day for this research center?”
After an exasperated sigh, Hannibal continued. “We’re not doing this to save these people but to innovate the current technique. To this day, there isn’t a single research institution in the world that can develop stem cells into complete organs, you have any idea why that is? Tell me, isn’t it because of the sheer difficulty of cultivating individual organs which is even beyond the difficulty of cloning humans?
“But now, we can overcome this issue and develop a fully-formed, complete organ. Do you have a clue how many potential lives we could save by implementing this technology?”
Li Lei, who kept his silence all this time, approached closer as well and patted Neumann on his shoulder. “There’s a saying where I came from, ‘A minor display of kindness spells evil while the most benevolent act requires a great deal of cruelty.’ A true act of nobility stems from a rational mind that isn’t misguided by simple emotions. What we’re trying to accomplish here is of the greatest benevolence.”
Neumann nodded.
It was at this moment when Little X suddenly broadcasted its voice via the speakers. “Sir Godfather, I’ve finished sorting the logged data related to the age-reversal treatment program. All that’s left is the data from the organ match!”
“Good work, Little X.”
Chen Chen snapped his finger. “In that case, we may commence the next step of the plan.”
“The next step of the plan?” Little X asked curiously.
“Yes, the next step of the plan.”
Chen Chen raised his palm and looked into the center of his palm. “As you know, everything we’re doing now leads to the ultimate goal of extending the human lifespan.
“However, I’m woefully aware that this isn’t something that can be accomplished in several days. The good news is that my parents are only close to fifty. I should’ve another twenty to thirty years to bring the operation to fruition.”
Chen Chen gently clenched his fist, a sharp determination gleamed in his eyes as he spoke, “In twenty years, I’ll begin with extending humanity’s lifespan by thirty years. After that, I’ll fully devote my efforts to the anti-aging project!”
“Have you thought about how you’ll deal with the overpopulation problem?”
Little X suddenly asked curiously, “The total population of the Earth Federation currently stands at 7.84 billion. Each year, the population further grows by 81.3 billion, which is a growth rate of 1.09%.
“According to my calculations, in twenty years, the world population will reach 9.59 billion. As if this isn’t enough, in 100 years, the world will reach a global population of 30 billion. This will lead to heightened tensions worldwide which will incite a new world war.”
“There’s no need to worry about this.”
Chen Chen shook his head. “Little X, your abstract mind-mapping based on logical facts is still lacking. If technology is allowed another 100 years of development, don’t you think it’s possible to have attained nuclear fusion control?
“Even if mankind was ultimately unable to achieve it, can I not ‘extract’ it?”
“Ah, that’s true...” Little X suddenly realized.
“Upon achieving nuclear fusion control, it’ll be the official hallmark of mankind entering an era of unlimited energy. This also means that humans will no longer be bound to the Earth’s gravity. At that point, the continuous population expansion will no longer be an issue.”
Chen Chen smiled faintly. “Besides, a drastically lengthened lifespan shouldn’t prove to be an issue. By then, the federation will enact new policies such as delayed retirement, delayed marriage, population control, and such. These are problems that I won’t have to concern myself with. The point is, worrying yourselves with the potential dangers that will come with lengthening humanity’s lifespan are simply impractical concerns.”
Arriving at this point, Chen Chen picked up a book at the table and immersed himself in reading.
After about half an hour, Little X suddenly informed, “Sir Godfather, the human cloning laboratory just uploaded the research findings. The compatibility rate of the cloned and original bodies is 100%!”
“Excellent.”
Chen Chen put down the book and instructed, “Little X, get ready to begin.”