"…Today marks three years since the creation of humanity's greatest project…"
"Ha! Listen to that bastard Maria, lying so blatantly as if 100 years had passed since the great war."
"Haa… how many times have I told you not to talk about politics at the table…"
"Hmph! How can I not talk about politics? Those bastards sent us to die for their stupid disputes, and now other vultures, equally bad or worse, come to eat the remains of what we left..."
While he watched his father discuss the great war, Alex continued eating breakfast and returned his focus to the television.
"…The creation of the Confederation of Humanity, the epitome of the wisdom of our founders, and the only way of salvation left for the human race…"
Click…
"Hey, I was watching that…"
Alex turned his head at the voice coming from his right.
His sister, only two years younger than him, was pouting as she watched their father turn off the television.
"Sarah, my daughter, you have to learn that these bastards only lie. They are opportunists, vultures who took advantage of the blood of all our fallen friends and family…"
While Alex's father spoke, a sigh escaped his mother's lips as she came over to caress her husband's back.
Seeing how the atmosphere was beginning to turn solemn, Alex's father forced a smile and turned on the television again, while also going back to breakfast.
"Honey, you don't have to force yourself if you don't want to…"
"It's okay, Maria. As that man said, it's been three years, and in the end, I didn't get the worst of it…"
Click…
"…After the efforts of the High Council and the greatest minds of the Confederation Space Agency, from today, humanity will begin a new era…"
Alex, who was having breakfast, was surprised to hear the presenter's words.
The Confederation had made several announcements of medical and technological advances, but they had never used such grandiose words.
"Hmm, a new era?"
Upon hearing his father's doubt, it seemed that he thought the same as Alex, who was absorbed in the TV and did not realize that the other family members had stopped eating breakfast and also focused their attention on the presenter.
"…And for a better explanation of what happens next, let's give a big round of applause to the director of the Confederation's Space Agency, Mr. John Smith."
As the presenter introduced him, a middle-aged man made his entrance.
He had brown eyes and black hair, a well-groomed and outlined black beard with small white streaks, a sign of the passage of time.
The most striking feature was his professional smile, which didn't seem unnatural at all.
Alex was surprised by the "guest."
The Confederation had always been reluctant to appear in public.
The official reason they gave the public was that they were still restructuring, but everyone knew that terrorist groups would take advantage of the slightest opportunity to kill even a mid-level official of the Confederation.
"…Thank you, Mr. Basil, for inviting me to your program. I am delighted to be here today with all of you."
As the director of the Space Agency sat down, he maintained his faint smile and thanked everyone present.
"Hey, look at that bastard with that fake smile, they're just vipers."
Alex's father mocked the person who had just entered.
To be honest, Alex also felt that his "perfect" smile was a little fake.