Ming Rong sat lazily in his exclusive chair,leaning against the sleek,obsidian-like backrest.His fingers lightly tapped on the imperial totem carved into the armrest,the sound echoing softly in the silent meeting room.His gaze was cold and penetrating,as if he could see through the minds of everyone present.A faint smirk lingered on his face,his eyes slightly narrowed with a mixture of disdain and scorn.He raised his hand slightly,gesturing towards the holographic screen by the table,and spoke in a detached tone,"Show me the latest gene data."
One of his subordinates quickly stepped forward and transmitted the data to him.A holographic image appeared in front of Ming Rong,with countless genetic sequences flickering and jumping across the light screen,representing the fates of thousands of test subjects.His gaze slowly swept over the numbers,his expression remaining as calm as ever,as though those lives were nothing more than meaningless symbols to him.
"The gene collection numbers are impressive,"Ming Rong remarked casually,as if discussing an ordinary transaction."Over the years,we've accumulated more than enough high-quality gene sequences."His tone was relaxed,yet his words carried a cold and decisive edge.He turned his head slowly to face his colleagues at the table,his smile deepening,though it held no warmth.
"It's time for some changes,"Ming Rong's voice was low and steady,but laced with a chilling authority."I propose we eliminate all defective and low-quality genes.We no longer need those useless sequences—they're nothing but a waste of resources and space."
As soon as he finished speaking,the room plunged into an eerie silence.An invisible pressure seemed to hang in the air,and all eyes were fixed on Ming Rong.The so-called"Super Politicians,"who typically basked in their influence and power,now showed hints of tension and unease on their faces.
The room remained quiet for a moment before an elder,aged over fifty,finally spoke.His name wasShen Qianyun,a veteran of the Empire's political arena.Though slightly stout,his posture remained upright,and his steady gaze reflected his commitment to both power and responsibility.His thick gray curls resembled those of a legendary hero,but his deeply furrowed brows revealed the weight of the history and moral responsibility behind each decision.A flicker of concern passed through his eyes,and despite years of political struggle,they still retained a glimmer of warmth and humanity.
Today,Shen Qianyun wore a deep green robe adorned with silver medals on his shoulders,symbols of his many years of service to the Empire.Though his expression seemed composed,anxiety roiled within him.The oppressive presence of Ming Rong caused his heartbeat to quicken,and his fingers tapped nervously on the table,as though this small gesture could offer him some semblance of comfort.He knew he had no choice but to speak up,even though he was facing the formidable and fearsome Ming Rong.
He glanced around at the others.The atmosphere in the room was suffocating,like the air had turned solid,and no one dared to speak first.Shen Qianyun sighed inwardly,realizing that if no one broke the silence,Ming Rong's decision would pass unchallenged.The heavy burden of responsibility urged him to speak,though his voice carried a slight hesitation,"Supreme Leader,completely eliminating those defective genes...isn't that a bit too extreme?"
His voice echoed dully in the quiet meeting room,laden with unspoken weight.He paused for a moment,carefully choosing his words,"Though their genes may not be excellent,these individuals still perform essential roles in society.Much of the Empire's low-level labor depends on them.Eliminating them entirely could trigger social unrest."
As he spoke,Shen Qianyun's hand involuntarily tightened around the edge of the table,his knuckles turning white.He was torn inside,knowing that every word he uttered might provoke Ming Rong's wrath,yet he also knew that he represented the countless lower-class citizens who couldn't speak for themselves.Though these people were deemed"defective"by the Empire's genetic hierarchy,they were an indispensable part of the social machinery.
Just when he thought he might have swayed Ming Rong,the Supreme Leader's sharp gaze suddenly fixed on him,those eyes like a bottomless icy pool,sending a chill down Shen Qianyun's spine.His heart sank as he realized that his words had not softened Ming Rong's stance;instead,they had only fueled his cold,cruel derision.
Ming Rong's lips curled into a faint,mocking smile."Unrest?"His voice was low,laced with amusement,as if toying with a childish idea."I think what the Empire needs is more efficiency,not wasting resources on these useless individuals.Their existence is a burden.As for low-level labor...there are alternatives."
Each of Ming Rong's words cut like a cold blade,slashing through Shen Qianyun's convictions.The scorn and disdain in his tone weighed heavily on Shen Qianyun,crushing him with a sense of helplessness.Ming Rong's gaze,as sharp as a knife,pierced through his defenses,leaving him feeling utterly defeated in an instant.
Shen Qianyun felt his breath hitch,his throat dry.He wanted to argue further but found himself unable to muster a compelling rebuttal.The deep sense of responsibility he carried for the lower classes,and his sympathy for them,seemed to be shattered under Ming Rong's oppressive aura.In its place,an overwhelming sense of powerlessness settled in.As Shen Qianyun glanced at the others in the room,he saw that they were all watching him in silence,their eyes filled with a mix of pity,fear,and silent agreement they dared not express aloud.
Ming Rong didn't spare him another glance,as if his existence had become irrelevant.Shen Qianyun's hand trembled slightly as he withdrew it from the table,feeling as though he had been abandoned by the world,isolated and alone.
In that moment,Shen Qianyun was overwhelmed with a sense of futility.As a representative of the conservative faction,he had always sought to push for reform while maintaining the existing social order.But the harsh reality before him made him feel more powerless than ever.He knew his stance wouldn't easily sway Ming Rong,yet he couldn't abandon the lower-class citizens who depended on the Empire's low-end jobs.Looking into Ming Rong's cold eyes,Shen Qianyun felt the creeping sense of isolation,as though the values he had fought to uphold were crumbling.
"Perhaps...I was wrong,or maybe the Supreme Leader's vision is simply more forward-thinking,"Shen Qianyun mused bitterly to himself,though his expression remained calm.He knew that no matter how conflicted he felt inside,this was not the place to challenge Ming Rong's authority openly.
Ming Rong's gaze slowly shifted away from Shen Qianyun,as if his presence no longer mattered.He settled back into his chair,his attention returning to the holographic data before him,as if the earlier debate had been nothing more than a minor distraction.