In a sense, the two strictest and most thoroughly enforced laws in the federal system are the First Charter and the Wild Animal Protection Law, which happen to be the laws that Repair Shop Boss Feng Yu despises the most.
The origins of the First Charter cannot be traced back very far, although it touches upon the most fundamental aspects of privacy protection. However, in the hearts of federal citizens, it seems to have become an accepted part of their existence, and no one has dared to question it. Perhaps, over the course of hundreds of thousands of years of civilization, many truths have been neglected and overshadowed by history.
On the other hand, the Wild Animal Protection Law is another enigma in federal history. Many social activists are unclear as to why wild animals and natural vegetation hold a higher position than humans in the federation. Apart from mining resources, the federal civilization has made limited progress in transforming planetary surfaces, as if some invisible force has been promoting a harmonious coexistence between civilization and nature.
On each planet, there are electronic fences that divide vast areas outside the cities, protecting the wild animals within. Any act of poaching is met with the harshest penalties from the Federal Administration Committee. However, this harmonious coexistence is not without its challenges, especially for individuals like Xu Le and Feng Yu, who have an appetite for meat and cannot find satisfaction in synthesized food.
"While we managed to kill that cow six months ago, the HTD folks found out about the black market sale in the city. It's been four days since we had any wild meat for sale, and luckily no one discovered that we were the ones responsible. Otherwise, we might have been caught and locked up for three months..." Xu Le cautiously followed his uncle towards the electronic fence, still feeling a lingering fear.
"If the HTD were truly fair and just..." the repair shop boss coughed, unable to express his mockery. He stubbed out his cigarette butt under his foot and said, "Where in the Bell Tower Street black market did all that rabbit meat and mutton come from?"
"What we're selling... is buffalo meat." Xu Le's fear resurfaced. "No one has dared to sell it for several years."
"We won't be selling it on the black market," Feng Yu waved his hand decisively. "Even if the HTD catches both of us, the most we'll get is a suspended sentence."
The HTD, or the National Marine Outer Space Land Management Bureau, may sound intimidating, but it is actually a specialized agency established by the federal government to enforce the Wild Animal Protection Law. Their power is indeed significant.
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Standing at a distance from the electronic fence, Xu Le and Feng Yu stopped in their tracks as they looked at the herd of wild buffalo on the other side. The buffalo showed no fear of humans on the other side of the wall. They roamed about, their pitifully trapped feet visible through the wall. However, it had been many years since anyone had a close encounter with them. But today, the leader of the wild herd seemed to sense the hostility emanating from the two humans on the opposite side. It became vigilant, raising its massive head aggressively, its eyes filled with a growing temper.
Xu Le felt a bit worried, but seeing the provocation of the buffalo, he couldn't help but vent his anger. He thought to himself, "I just want to eat your meat, why do you have to look down on me?"
With a few mooing sounds, Feng Yu imitated the roar of a buffalo towards the other side of the electronic fence. The leader of the wild herd was immediately enraged and charged towards the fence. Feng Yu and Xu Le quickly dashed along the fence, leading the buffalo far away from the mine tunnel and down a small hillside.
While panting from the run, Xu Le admired the somewhat unwieldy figure in front of him, thinking that his boss was truly extraordinary. He could even provoke a buffalo. No wonder, since he had known him, his boss frequently got angry even over food that couldn't be eaten.
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Underneath that hillside, Feng Yu spat and wiped his mouth, resting against the electronic fence. Across from him, the buffalo was already exhausted. He stared at the cow's hooves and the two sharp bull horns digging into the earth, gasping for breath as he said, "Don't worry, these cows have been trapped for hundreds of thousands of years. They've learned their lesson and won't dare to challenge this fence."
Xu Le, leaning against the fence, nodded wearily. The electronic fence on this planet was made entirely of reinforced steel products, with an interior managed by a software IC system. If the stress exceeded the limit, it would automatically release an electric current. After so many years, the fence showed no signs of rust or damage from being dashed against, indicating its remarkable strength.
"Same plan as before. You kill the cow, and I'll keep watch," Uncle Feng Yu said matter-of-factly.
"..." Xu Le resigned himself to his fate, walking dejectedly towards the electronic fence. In his subconscious, he ran his finger along the chip on his neck, wondering if the electronic surveillance network would detect any irregularities. After all, he had crossed the electronic fence three times before, so he didn't worry like a common criminal. Taking a deep breath, he spat on his palm, transforming into a monkey in an instant. With incredible speed and agility, he quickly and gracefully crossed the fence.
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"Good." Feng Yu sat on the hillside, smiling as he watched. He thought to himself that if the recruiting officer at the Ministry of Defense's entrance examination wasn't blind, they would surely see the potential in this young man.
If the people in the federal society were to learn that someone could bypass the electronic decoding and directly cross the so-called "crying wall" known to the black market peddlers as the electronic fence, they would surely be shocked speechless. The surveillance systems of the federation were everywhere, yet this young man managed to cross the border without his neck chip emitting any signals or the monitoring system responding!
Unaware of his remarkable feat, Xu Le bounded towards his familiar home, taking a step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the First Charter and the federal society. He didn't notice that the small device held by the deserting military deserter in the hands of the repair shop boss emitted a pale blue light, enveloping them and the angry bull.
The prairie was vast, and the angry bull was glad to run. When confined in an iron cage, one would feel anger. Or when it sensed that someone wanted to harm it, it would feel anger. As Xu Le gently stepped onto the prairie, the black-brown angry bull charged fiercely towards him, its neck hair flowing heroically in the wind!
Xu Le felt a mix of fear and a slight paleness on his face, but he remained calm. When the bull's sharp horns were just a meter away from him, he turned his left ankle, swiftly moving to the side, while his right hand aimed a finger at the bull's large body.
A crackling sound, followed by a flash of blue electric arc. The bull couldn't resist the inertia, and with Xu Le brushing past, his powerful military electric shock stick struck it directly.
With a loud thud, the bull collapsed onto the grass, stirring up dust and blades of grass. Xu Le approached cautiously, his face showing no excitement, only vigilance.