In the present empire, it was as difficult for ordinary civilians to evolve as it was for pigs to fly. If they didnāt hit the jackpot overnight, nothing could change their fate besides fate itself.
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In fact, there was a turbulent movement surging under the peaceful front. The monopolization of genetic evolution agents and the abuse of their privileges by the powerful had gradually roused public dissatisfaction. Some were unwilling to submit to the increasingly corrupt aristocracy, and even created rebel forces to challenge the rule of the empire. However, under the empireās powerful military suppression and propaganda, the number of rebel forces never grew large.
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Ji Ling could understand that for most imperial citizens, life was peaceful and comfortable. Even if social inequality existed, no one was willing to give up his life to fight against the powerful empire. In general, most revolutions in history started because people were forced into desperate situations. The state of the imperial society now was far from that. Even in Ji Lingās native society, wealth was similarly monopolized by a few people. Itās just that the inequality wasnāt as obvious.
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However, Imperial Emperor Sui saw not only the prosperous face of the current empire, but also the many hidden dangers beneath. Although the current rebel army seemed weak, its very existence signified a spark that could eventually start a fire if not controlled.
Imperial dignitaries carried too much authority, and excessive power left unchecked would inevitably lead to corruption. They disregarded the value of human life, perched so high above the others that ordinary people seemed like an inferior race in their eyes. They thought it was natural for the lowest links to work like slaves. Under their beautiful and glamorous appearance, hid this dark and ugly truth; Anyone who dared go against them would be suppressed by force.
Inevitably, wanton suppression would lead to resistance.
If sentiments continued to brew like this, a revolution would break out sooner or later, and Emperor Sui didnāt want to see that happen or else the foundations of the country would be shakenā¦ Even gods could one day fall from heaven, not to mention a mere group of indulgent nobles. How many more-developed civilizations had fallen before them?
No one could be prosperous forever.
In order to change this situation, Emperor Sui advocated for lowering the price of genetic evolution agents, further improving the civiliansā rights, and slowly lessening the gap between aristocrats and civilians. He hoped to build a more united and powerful empire by increasing the per capita strength of the whole country. He believed that it wasnāt feasible to rely on only a few people for a country's strength. Ordinary civilians, who made up the vast majority of the population, were a force to be reckoned with.
However, Jing Sui's actions violated the interests of most of the powerful people. They were unwilling to relinquish their rights and give the lower links the opportunity to rise to equal footing, or even be stepped on along the way.Ā
The dignitaries who opposed Emperor Sui followed the lead of Grand Duke Carlos. They went against Emperor Sui in all in their political views.
Carlos believed that there was no need to change the status quo. All this was simply the result of survival of the fittest. Lower beings didnāt deserve equal status with them.
In their eyes, ordinary people were just like ants on the ground. They had obviously given them a peaceful and prosperous life, protecting them from foreign invasion, but these ingrates still clamored for more. This kind of insatiable human greed shouldnāt be tolerated.
Carlos called for blood. Rebels needed to be suppressed by force in order to maintain the absolute dominance of the empire. There was no need to compromise with some greedy ants.\n
The two sides fought and a whole book was written on this.
Ji Ling thought about it, and decided it wasnāt something he could interfere with as a rich kid. What's more, he wasnāt that invested in this world as a substitute. He only cared about how to play his role, complete the mission, and go home.
No matter how much larger or realer this world may be, it wasnāt his original world, nor was it where he wanted to stay.
Thinking of this, he gave a rare sigh. He placed his hands behind his head, and looked up at the stars in a daze. Suddenly, his ears perked, and he heard someone calling his name in the distance. It seemed to be one of the originalās rich pals.
I've been out for long enough. It's about time to go back.
Ji Ling sat up, pushed off with both hands, and nimbly jumped down from the tree.
As soon as he landed, he looked up and saw a handsome and elegant middle-aged man standing in the shadows under the tree, smiling at him. He was so scared that he missed his footing and almost fell to the ground. This resulted in him crashing right into that man's arms.
Carlos looked at the young man who threw himself into his arms, stretched out his hand and gently held him by the shoulder. His voice was low and he smiled: "Be careful."
Ji Ling thought to himself, āThat was all your fault!ā He told himself to be bold and not panic. Then, he lifted his eye line from Carlos' arms, revealing a naive and unsuspecting look saying, "Uncle Carlos, why are you here?"
Carlos stared at the young man's blue eyes, resting on his active and vibrant face. A kind of complex nostalgia surfaced faintly in his eyes. He paused for a long time, and said, "I just finished speaking with your father, and saw you hereā¦"
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He paused in the middle of the conversation, his lips raised slightly in a playful way, before continuing in a doting voice: "I just wanted to see how long this little rascal was going to stay in the tree."
Ji Ling: "ā¦"Ā And thatās why you were watching for so long?
Fortunately, he didn't have the bad habit of talking to himself alone. He looked at Carlos' gentle doting expression, and felt strangely creeped out all over. His body couldnāt help but stiffen slightly.
Carlos sensed Ji Ling's unease and said apologetically, āSorry, did I scare you?"
Ji Ling bit his lower lip and shook his head. In front of the old fox, the more you said, the higher the risk of slipping up was. It was better to keep things the same, but be prepared for changes.\nHowever, he saw Carlos' eyes suddenly darken, like he was deeply repressing something, and his hand also pressed down on his shoulder slightly.
Ji Ling couldn't understand Carlos' expression, but he felt somewhat anxious, as if he was being preyed on. He blinked uneasily and said, "My friend is calling for meā¦"
Carlosā expression didnāt change.
Just when Ji Ling was starting to feel unsettled, Carlos slowly released his hand and took a graceful step back. The dim color that flashed in his eyes just now had faded away, revealing a gentle smile: "Go ahead. Don't keep them waiting."
Ji Ling nodded as if he had received a pardon, and said, "Then I'll be going first. Goodbye, Uncle Carlos."
As soon as he spoke, he flew away, not looking back once the whole way.
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He strongly felt that if he turned to look, heād meet that personās line of sightā¦
It didn't take long for Ji Ling to see Rhodes' slightly rounded face. He smiled and asked him where heād gone. Being surrounded by the familiar noise finally helped Ji Ling put that suffocating environment from before behind him. For the first time, he even thought this showy rascal looked a little cute!
At the very least, Rhodes was much better than Carlos.
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Carlos looked briefly at the figure of Ji Ling going away, then turned and left the manor.
His housekeeper, Anderson, had been waiting outside for a long time. He bowed respectfully, and opened the door of the idling car for him. Anderson hesitated for a moment, but couldnāt keep the wonder in his heart, asking, "I had already prepared the gift in advance as you ordered. Why did your honor come in person?"
Nobody knew of Duke Carlos' actions today in advance. Anderson was very surprised, and didnāt understand his intentionsā¦ Moreover, when anyone expressed interest in buying Blue Ocean Star from Duke Carlos before, he would ignore it. Today, however, he suddenly gave it to Ji Ling. This really puzzled Anderson.
Carlos looked back at him, and said lightly, "I know what Iām doing.ā
Anderson was scared stiff by this expression and bowed his head. āMy apologies. I was too nosy.ā
\nIn fact, heād never seen anything so moving before.
It was only after seeing this, that he realized how precious it was.
When he finally understood, that was also when he lost him.
He had killed him by mistake.
Carlosā pursed his thin lips, and his body let off a cold and ruthless aura. His grip slowly tightened.
If it weren't for Emperor Sui, you wouldn't have committed mistake after mistake. You even lost your life for him in the end.
That man was more merciless than you believed. He didnāt care about anyone, and he would never have loved you. You didn't understand that until you died. Even after your heart was humiliated like that, you were still willing to give your life for him.
That man was not worth your love at all!
But now, he was back.
This time, he wanted not only the empire, but also the boy who would simply look at him and call him, āUncle Carlosā with a smile.
This time, he hoped to never see those flawless eyes covered in dust. That young manās smile would forever be directed to him, and he would trust in him and rely on him again without fear.
When he saw Ji Ling again, he didnāt hesitate.
Rebirth was to give him a chance to make up for his regrets.
The look in Carlosā eyes slowly deepened.
You are countless times more beautiful and flawless than the unparalleled planet, Blue Ocean Star.