Toward Prosperity

[Remaining Sentence: 0 Hours.] "Turn over a new leaf." Tossing out that hasty parting remark, the guard on duty slammed the detention center's iron door shut as if ridding himself of a plague. Staring at the three silver coins and slip of paper lying in her palm, Ye Ao Nai Wo He bowed her head and muttered an "mm," appearing as meek and honest as a genuine rookie. Her seven-and-a-half-day sentence had ultimately been cut in half. Not only had her early release earned her 10 contribution points, but she had also received three silver coins in wages and a handwritten thank-you card from the Refugee Home— [Thank you for helping us homeless folk. :) —Pilusen] Most of the tents ordered by the Refugee Home had been dispatched to Bugra City, where the civil war had just ended. These greeting cards had likely been crafted while the Refugee Home's school was teaching children how to read and write. Although the note was written in the Human Alliance language, she had picked up a bit of it during her time in the detention center and could already decipher some simple everyday phrases through guesswork. Feeling the weighty significance in her hand, the silent Ye Ao suddenly broke into a silly grin. This trash game was actually kind of fun. "Heheheh... now do you see the true value of a vault dweller? Even when pedaling a sewing machine, the power of Yours Truly isn't something ordinary small-fry convicts can match!" A delighted smile spread across her delicate, proper face, though before long, her expression turned utterly ferocious again due to the "noise" drifting over from beside her. "...While it delayed us a bit, it's just as well. An experience like this isn't a bad thing for a brat like you—better than going out into society and learning the hard way." Stuffing his three silver coins of wages and card into his pocket, Professor Yang had already strapped his VM back on. His preachy look made him seem like an elder arriving at the detention center to pick up a wayward junior. "...Has this old bastard not had enough hard lessons yet?" Ye Ao Nai Wo He took an aggressive step forward, her ferocious scowl instantly making Professor Yang tense up. Though he had no desire to play the fool alongside this person, bowing his head to a mere brat was completely out of the question! Two Level 0 noobs somehow squared off with the aura of a Level 99 peak showdown, tense enough to make even the ants by the roadside curl their toes in embarrassment. A great brawl was on the verge of erupting! Just as the two were about to earn themselves a second stint behind bars, Zhu Shi Nianzhe Dao, who had rushed over to pick them up, finally pedaled his bicycle between them. "Calm down, both of you. If you really want to PK, there'll be plenty of chances. Why insist on stirring up trouble in a safe zone? Besides, haven't you thought about leveling up first? You wouldn't want to step out of the respawn point naked, would you?" Those words had a slight effect. Finally remembering that he had real business to attend to, Professor Yang curled his lip and loosened his clenched fists. Ye Ao Nai Wo He clicked her teeth threateningly, then jerked her raised chin sharply to the side. Kicking down the bicycle's kickstand, Brother Pig looked at the two quickly calming down and showed a gratified smile, nodding with a deep sense of accomplishment. Not bad, not bad. His hard work had not been in vain. While these two clowns were still energetic, they were far more normal than before. He felt somewhat like a farmer watching his prized pigs grow up. "Speaking of which, neither of you has accepted the Passing the Torch quest yet, right? Care to consider teaming up with me?" "You?" Professor Yang glanced at him and chuckled. "Don't get cocky, young man. Back when I was a pre-registered player, you were probably still playing the dream of three hundred million mice." Ye Ao Nai Wo He had a similar reaction, curling her lip in disdain. "Tch, not interested. What good does doing that quest do me?" Brother Pig wasn't angry in the slightest, merely finding it amusing. Looking at the pair of clowns, he chuckled and said, "Yes, yes, yes, you two grandpas are amazing... Not to make you laugh, but I only pre-registered half a year ago. My understanding of the game really can't compare to yours, so I might need to ask you for guidance quite often in the future." Ye Ao Nai Wo He: "Guh—" Thunder King Professor Yang: "!??" Watching the deeply shocked pair, Brother Pig gave a light cough and continued, "I probably can't offer you much in the way of perks—at most, I can show you around. By the way, I'm planning to head to the Wandering Marsh next. There seem to be quite a few quests to do there, and we might pass through the Free State and the Great Rift Valley along the way... Want to come along?" Professor Yang looked at him in surprise. "Can a Level 0 go to a Level 20 map?" Brother Pig smiled and replied, "Of course you can. This game isn't that rigid. The recommended level only affects insurance payout ratios, and it's not like you have any gear worth insuring anyway, right? Staying in safe places won't let you power-level quickly." "Ooooh, fighting high-level monsters above our grade, right? That sounds pretty fun," Ye Ao Nai Wo He finally showed an interested expression. "It's decided! Rookie, Yours Truly will let you show me the sights!" "No problem! Leave it to me!" Brother Pig smiled, turning to Professor Yang. "What about you? Coming along?" "Up north, huh... You've got good taste. That place really is full of opportunities." Rubbing the bridge of his nose with an index finger, Professor Yang turned his gaze toward the sky. "Fine. We're heading in the same direction anyway... Rookie, hit accept on that Passing the Torch quest." Brother Pig gave an OK sign with a smile. "Got it!" ... Universe Beta, Summer 2026, Earth. Half a year had passed since Shelter 404-β fulfilled its historical mission. During these six months, not only had the "game world" of Wasteland OL stepped across the threshold of a new era, but the seeds of a new era had also begun sprouting in the "real world." The landmark event among these developments was undeniably the ignition of the "Pangu" controllable fusion reactor. Although first-generation nuclear fusion technology utilizing deuterium-tritium fuel was already considered a museum relic on the wasteland, for Universe Beta, which was still lingering in the "classical era," this obsolete technology could still be described as cutting-edge. Under the influence of the Pangu reactor, the transformation of the entire East Asian region, and even Southeast and South Asia, could only be described as earth-shattering! Backed by an energy supply rivaling a star, China—having pioneered the ignition of controllable nuclear fusion—saw an astonishing chain reaction unfold across its forward-looking initiatives in new energy, information technology, and other fields, creating multiple multi-trillion-scale markets out of thin air! In the face of such robust economic momentum, all debts accumulated during previous development dissolved away. Nor did it stop there. The power grid expanding outward from Daya Bay radiated across not only the industrial belts of the two great river basins, but also crossed oceans via undersea cables, penetrating westward into the Bay of Bengal and southward into the Solomon Sea. Exported along the power grid was not merely endless, cheap electricity, but also the accompanying infrastructure and low-end manufacturing plants characterized by high energy consumption and labor density. Those were jobs that Chinese citizens were growing increasingly unwilling to perform. Over the past five years, the wealth generated by technological innovation had been funneled into the National Development Fund. Workers who lost their jobs to technological turnover lost only the labor itself; they did not simultaneously lose their "right to survive," which had been tightly bound to labor in the old era. With five years of continuous growth, the social development dividends distributed by the National Development Fund gradually surpassed the income from assembly-line bolt tightening. Without having to worry about survival, marriage, child-rearing, healthcare, or retirement, uneducated people mostly chose to use their subsidies to pursue education or learn a trade, while educated people gravitated toward more creative endeavors. Whether it was creativity aimed at reaching the stars and diving into the oceans, or creativity for short videos. While all professions were dignified, one had to admit that some jobs were indeed more equal and decent than others. No one was born to haul parcels or carry bricks, nor could anyone truly haul them for a lifetime; the lower back simply couldn't take it. Given the choice, nearly everyone would choose to live a slightly easier life, and no one minded spending more time enjoying social welfare while leaving cumbersome physical labor to workers from developing economies. Although the downside was an influx of lazy loafers leading to an overabundance of terrible internet memes, the silver lining was that everyone became happier and had more time to spend with their families. Things that were not yet good enough would slowly improve over time. People who possessed happiness in reality were far kinder and more tolerant toward others. As society's overall strength rose, a consumer market vastly larger than that of any preceding era was steadily rising. Perhaps before long, this ascending radiance would bless the entire azure planet and illuminate other barren soils across the Solar System... And once the underdeveloped regions providing low-end labor, along with the jobs that battered body and mind, were eventually replaced by new advancements over time, the true Era of Prosperity belonging to this planet would fully arrive. ... On a scenic resort island in the South Seas, people strolled back and forth across the golden beach. Beyond those well-known emerging economies, even this small island, whose name most people could scarcely pronounce, had recently been connected to the controllable nuclear fusion power grid from China via an undersea cable. Thanks to this, the RMB's local influence had surpassed that of the USD, becoming just as warmly received by the locals as the generous Chinese tourists themselves. While this introduced some minor inconveniences to Shelter 404-β's operations, it conversely spared them a great deal of trouble. First, flights to and from the island had multiplied, allowing Shelter 404-β's shadow operatives to travel far more efficiently; second, the power supply problem was solved. Especially the latter. Previously, they had needed to construct secret ocean current generators beneath the sea. Now, all they had to do was put up a front by building a few data centers or claiming they were mining cryptocurrency. Paying for electricity was infinitely more convenient than running their own power stations. Shelter 404-β might have faced shortages of high-end manufacturing capacity, but they had never lacked money. For a reincarnator who had read the script in advance—and who had practically written the script of the future himself—legally acquiring some worldly possessions was trivial. Long before Shelter 404-β commenced operations, the Professor had already resolved foundational issues such as operational funds. As for the problems of the future... Those were matters for the children to handle. "It's about time for me to depart." On an unremarkable fisherman's wharf, the suitcase-toting Professor bid farewell one by one to the colleagues he had worked alongside, before coming to a halt in front of Dr. Principle. Seeing that face filled with reluctance, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and he patted the shoulder of this prized pupil. "You were an unexpected variable in my plans... Frankly speaking, I thought you might look for me at the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, which is why I specifically instructed 'Conclusion' not to disclose my whereabouts. Yet I never expected you to figure it out anyway, and even pursue me all the way here." "It is my honor to be an unexpected variable in your plans," Principle said with a slight nod, then raised his head and looked at him with sincere eyes. "If you do not mind, please allow me to continue following in your footsteps. I am willing to accompany you to the ends of the galaxy!" That was not merely his own thought. It was the thought of many present. Not everyone had started a local family or begun a new life with the mindset of having accomplished their mission; some still lived in that bygone era to this very day. After all, they were products of that era. Although a portion of them had prepared to return the way they came, there were others who felt that even if they returned, they would find no place for themselves in the new era. They had dedicated their entire lives to Project 404. Understanding their sentiments deeply, the Professor fell silent for a moment. After a brief pause, he met those eyes and spoke. "None of you need to follow me... nor do you necessarily have to return to Universe Alpha. If you truly miss the past, then simply keep moving forward along this timeline. You will eventually return to that prosperous era, and perhaps you will even help the people here overcome the problems we once encountered during the Era of Prosperity." Dr. Principle lowered his eyes and said in a raspy voice, "Perhaps... Based on the evolution of our models, it is only a matter of time before the people of this world enter the Era of Prosperity. Yet along this timeline where you do not exist, no matter how far forward we walk, we will never meet our 'Professor' again." He did not know what the others felt. Yet for him at least, what he yearned for was never the Era of Prosperity itself, but his mentor—the man standing at the pinnacle of human intellect, the one who had guided him into the Era of Prosperity. It was precisely because of this that he had chased after him all the way from Qingquan City in Universe Alpha to this very place. Seeing the reluctance written across his student's face, the Professor laughed with easy grace and gave his shoulder a firm clap. "Isn't that wonderful? In the past, there was only one of me. In the future, all of you will be me." "My mission has come to an end, and it's time I set aside a little time for myself... This is also for your own good." With that, he pulled his hand back from Dr. Principle's shoulder, picked up the suitcase resting on the wharf, and boarded the submersible that had surfaced on the water. The spacecraft components deployed in the central Pacific had already entered their final pre-launch preparations, ready at any moment to break free from the bonds of gravity and enter outer orbit. He had been preparing for this ever since the Pangu fusion reactor was first ignited the previous winter. Now, it was finally complete. It was time to give the "real world" a taste of shock from an "advanced civilization"! Watching the hatch slowly close, the Professor chuckled heartily and called out to the reluctant Dr. Principle, "Seeing me off this far is enough!" "By the way, Shelter 404's Administrator... that is, the 'other me,' intends to have a chat with you." "As for the notion of a 'timeline where I do not exist,' it isn't actually accurate. I am always here, whether as myself or as my continuation, and I have never truly left—neither Universe Alpha nor Universe Beta!" "From the moment our project first commenced, the fates of both universes were already bound together!"