Chapter 20: Huh?
Chapter 20: Huh?
“You’re so silly! What kind of look is that?”
On the bustling streets of Lingchuan City, Qinzhou Province,
a family of three walked by the crowded sidewalk.
The middle-aged man in the family suddenly acted like a child, swinging his arms and bouncing forward a few steps.
The woman holding the child’s hand behind him spoke with complaint in her voice, but there was a smile in her eyes.
“Heh heh, I’m just happy. After we got the 2611 Longevity Injection last night, we didn’t get home till two or three in the morning, right? We only slept four or five hours, yet I feel full of energy now… It feels like I’m a teenager again. Feels great.”
The man stopped, tilted his head back and sighed happily, a huge smile on his face.
Hearing this, the woman couldn’t help but smile more too.
“It really does feel comfortable. My brain feels clearer than usual too.”
“By the way, didn’t you say it was hard to get time off from your company? How did you manage today?”
“On a normal day, the boss definitely wouldn’t agree, but it couldn’t be helped. Too many people asked for leave today; practically the whole office did. Some still haven’t gotten their 2611, rushing to line up for it. Others, like us, want to take a day off to celebrate… Because after taking the 2611, it really feels like I’m a completely new person. The boss wanted to celebrate too, so he just gave everyone the whole day off.”
The man said, beaming, then lifted his hands and stretched his arms and legs.
“Daddy… Run ahead, see if I can catch you!”
“Okay then… I’m going…”
“Hey, you two, could you be careful? Honestly! After using the Longevity Injection, your whole mood changed, you two are acting like kids again?”
The woman said this, couldn’t help laughing,
and suddenly decided to chase and play too.
After playing for a while, both the woman and the man deliberately let the child catch up to them.
But the child seemed to become a little unhappy just then.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy that Mommy and Daddy are playing with you?”
“…I heard someone say yesterday, after everyone gets the Longevity Injection, I’ll have to study until I’m over thirty!”
The child sounded rather dejected.
For a primary school kid, this was definitely an annoying thought.
Hearing this, the child’s parents couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Daddy, Mommy, why are you laughing so happily?”
“Because that means we get to be with our precious baby for a lot longer,” the child’s mother said, gently stroking the child’s hair.
…
In a way, this scene was a perfect snapshot of most families across Huaxia Nation that morning.
The day after the official announcement of the 2611 Longevity Injection’s creation,
an atmosphere of noise, celebration, and excitement still filled the entire Huaxia Nation.
Thanks to the 2611 Longevity Injection being distributed in advance to hospitals and grassroots units in every area,
and since medical personnel weren’t required for the injection itself,
people only needed their ID to collect it.
So the distribution was proceeding rapidly.
Nearly a day later, many people within Huaxia were already personally feeling the effects of the 2611 Longevity Injection.
“I’m forty. Right now, I feel like I could walk quickly with so much energy. Didn’t sleep much last night, but I don’t feel tired at all now, and my heart feels absolutely fine.”
“Person above, the authorities said this feeling is normal after your first dose of the 2611 Longevity Injection. It doesn’t mean you don’t need sleep anymore. You should rest normally tonight… But seriously, wow, I feel like I’ve suddenly become ten years younger. Have way more energy than usual.”
“I didn’t get the ‘suddenly younger’ feeling, since I’m only in my twenties anyway… but yes, I feel super comfortable, really relaxed. Just feel… healthy. You guys understand that feeling?”
“Totally, totally… Sincere thanks to Professor Qin Yu. I really feel like putting a statue of him in my house! I’ve decided to say thank you to Professor Qin Yu every single day from now on.”
“I’ve decided, if anyone dares to badmouth Professor Qin Yu, I’ll blow up at them!”
“Who on earth would dare badmouth Professor Qin Yu? Who? Show yourself?”
“Friends, we can live to be over one hundred and fifty now! Do you realize what that means? Over one hundred and fifty years ago, airplanes hadn’t been invented yet, computers didn’t exist. I could barely imagine what things would be like now, but we get to live that long and see what things are like over a hundred years from now! With our own eyes!”
…
Meanwhile, Qin Yu had already returned to Research Institute 011.
He didn’t need to conduct any research or do any more work for the time being.
The production of the 2611 Longevity Injection within Research Institute 011, which had been running at full tilt to meet Huaxia’s needs, had already stopped.
All Qin Yu needed to do was simply stay there and do whatever he felt like doing.
Although, respecting Qin Yu’s personal wish, he had appeared in person during the live television broadcast announcing the creation of the 2611 Longevity Injection – essentially confirming himself as its inventor,
considering his safety, it had been strongly recommended that he not make public appearances for a little while.
Even though, logically,
if anything was going to happen, actions aimed at Qin Yu by North Bear Nation or Moon Nation shouldn’t involve harming him.
Or to put it even more bluntly, even if they tried to “take” Qin Yu, they would want him alive.
But in the current tense situation, it was impossible to rule out accidents… or complete fanatics emerging.
Of course,
to Qin Yu himself,
this was not a matter of concern.
Safety aside,
even if he wanted to go out exploring right now while staying at Research Institute 011,
with his abilities of ‘Intangibility’ and ‘Disguise’, no one would be able to spot him.
However, Qin Yu didn’t really have that idea for now.
For him, it didn’t matter where he stayed.
During these last couple of days,
Qin Yu mostly paid attention to the online buzz,
checked in on the status of the ‘Doomsday Gene Bank’ during the day – the facility within Research Institute 011 that the authorities had agreed to set up as he requested.
At night, he’d just gaze up at the stars overhead.
The changes in the world after releasing the 2611 Longevity Injection seemed to satisfy Qin Yu.
After all, everything was progressing exactly according to his plan.
…
Also on that day,
or rather, starting from the previous night.
Outside Huaxia,
other parties finally began to voice their reactions.
The attitudes expressed generally mirrored those seen online.
Countries around the region of the Nine Provinces, especially those within Huaxia’s sphere of influence,
mostly held press conferences that very day.
They formally expressed congratulations to Huaxia Nation.
“…We note the tremendous breakthrough Huaxia Nation has made in the Field of Life Sciences. This is a glorious moment shared by all humanity.”
“We are grateful for the contributions Professor Qin Yu has made to all humanity. We are already discussing with Huaxia Nation the import of the 2611 Longevity Injection. We will ensure our citizens gain access to the 2611 Longevity Injection as soon as possible.”
These countries also expressed hopes to visit Huaxia Nation in the near future.
In response,
Huaxia Nation welcomed their visits.
As for nations within the HCC influence zones of the other two major powers,
most of them remained silent about the matter, offering no timely reaction.
They only began to chime in after North Bear Nation and Moon Nation made statements in their respective press conferences.
“We congratulate Professor Qin Yu on his magnificent achievements in the Field of Life Sciences. Undoubtedly, the birth of the 2611 Longevity Injection will utterly transform all of human civilization,”
“Professor Qin Yu will surely be the greatest scientist, biologist, and scholar in the Field of Life Sciences of this century.”
“We also welcome Professor Qin Yu to visit our countries.”
Regarding Qin Yu, the father of the 2611 Longevity Injection, these two sides did not express outright hostility.
After all, speaking ill of Qin Yu himself served no purpose and risked public resentment at this moment.
But after praising Qin Yu individually,
the stances of these two sides took a sharp turn.
“…However, we sincerely hope that not only Huaxia Nation and its allies can enjoy the era-defining changes brought by Professor Qin Yu’s research achievements – the evolution of the entire human species.”
“We believe the 2611 Longevity Injection is the greatest blessing bestowed upon human civilization by the heavens. It rightfully belongs to all humanity.”
“We, alongside other nations, intend to jointly discuss with Huaxia Nation the application of this century’s greatest scientific achievement, ensuring its use is not confined to a limited scope.”
These words sounded impassioned and righteous,
but such sentiments were meant to be expressed by Huaxia Nation itself, not the other two parties within the HCC speaking on its behalf.
Huaxia Nation did not back down.
At its press conference,
when addressing related questions,
it listed some advanced technologies held by Moon Nation and other countries,
then restated Moon Nation’s previous arguments verbatim:
“…We believe these technologies are valuable treasures given by nature and the world to humanity. We hope Moon Nation and others will not be stingy, but generously share these technologies with all mankind.”
Of course, everyone expected
that nothing would come from merely a few exchanges of rhetoric.
It was clear this was just the initial stage of pointless squabbling.
Sure enough,
that same afternoon,
an HCC meeting was convened.
The leaders of Moon Nation and North Bear Nation attended directly. Representing Huaxia Nation, the Senior Leader whom Qin Yu had met earlier, also participated.
The sole that afternoon was,
expectedly, concerning the 2611 Longevity Injection.
Moon Nation and North Bear Nation stood united on this issue, joining with several other nations to introduce a non-binding proposal.
It suggested that any “technology of historic significance to the whole of human civilization, or one that seriously impacts the equality of life rights among all human individuals,” should be designated for free public release.
The proposal practically named the synthesis technology behind the 2611 Longevity Injection without spelling it out directly.
On this proposal, many nations of various sizes, barring Huaxia Nation and its allies, sided with Moon Nation and North Bear Nation.
Predictably, opinions were divided along obvious lines of shared interest.
As potential beneficiaries, these nations naturally supported the idea.
However, even they, along with Moon Nation which proposed it, knew the proposal itself was meaningless.
For one, without Huaxia Nation’s approval, it wouldn’t pass.
Even if passed, what could they do if Huaxia Nation refused to grant access? Holding the resolution meant little.
The intent was simply to gauge Huaxia Nation’s stance and rally pressure against it.
In response,
Huaxia Nation issued an uncompromising statement.
“The ulterior motive behind this proposal and its sponsors is as plain as day to all.”
“Given that, we certainly won’t mind making our position crystal clear to some people.”
“Of course, we wish more could benefit from technological progress. However, if anyone thinks they can seize our own technological achievements through force or tyranny. Such as the 2611 Longevity Injection.”
“Then we inform those with malicious designs: We stand prepared to safeguard what is ours by any means necessary!”
After Huaxia Nation’s representative finished speaking sharply, the HCC meeting adjourned.
That night,
Huaxia Nation simultaneously received discreet requests from both North Bear Nation and Moon Nation to negotiate regarding the 2611 Longevity Injection.
The trade requests were remarkably similar.
Both sought to exchange technologies unavailable to Huaxia Nation, along with resources, for the synthesis process of the 2611 Longevity Injection.
Unlike smaller nations, these two major HCC powers were unwilling to settle for the mere finished product.
They likely harbored further ambitions: to leapfrog ahead and develop even superior life-extending serums built upon the foundation of the 2611 technology.
Huaxia Nation’s reply was direct.
No bargaining, simply a refusal.
“If your side requires access to the 2611 Longevity Injection, we can sell the finished product at a set price. Regarding the acquisition of its synthesis technology, we regretfully must decline.”
Thereafter,
North Bear Nation and Moon Nation naturally sweetened their offers slightly.
Huaxia Nation, however, reiterated the same refusal each time.
Negotiations concerning the trade of the synthesis technology for the 2611 Longevity Injection quickly reached a deadlock.
Therefore,
over the following days,
while residents within Huaxia Nation received and used the 2611 Longevity Injection, evolving their lifespans,
the world outside Huaxia Nation grew much more turbulent.
First,
since Huaxia Nation agreed to trade requests from smaller nations within its sphere for the finished product,
it would later sell specific quantities of the 2611 Longevity Injection to these areas at predetermined prices.
But these transactions would happen after a delay.
People in these nations naturally rejoiced at the news; even if they couldn’t get it immediately, they now had hope.
For the other two blocs within the HCC, this outcome was clearly unsatisfactory.
Within days,
Moon Nation’s leader made a highly publicized visit to North Bear Nation.
At the subsequent joint press conference, both declared,
“We cannot accept being left behind in the evolution of our species. If such a moment truly arrives, we will use every possible means, both conventional and unconventional, to prevent that possibility!”
Following this declaration,
Huaxia Nation offered its customary response, once again firmly and directly opposing their statements.
The attitude was clear: if you want to try taking it by force, then try.
After that,
global tensions noticeably increased.
The atmosphere between the three key powers in the HCC grew strained, like two sides poised for conflict.
As for Qin Yu himself,
he didn’t care much about the rest.
But the mention of “any means necessary” by Moon Nation and North Bear Nation
did hit a nerve for him, this sufferer of Apocalypse Anxiety.
Weren’t there simply too many major powers on Blue Star?