Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Si1-L0-K Discovered and Earth Quarantined
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The machine Si1-L0-K was discovered, and control over Earth was tightened.
We had originally planned to accept alien residents on Earth, but this has become quite the headache.
Among the planets owned by the Lushaka Kingdom, there were only a few suitable for other races to inhabit, forcing us to make a choice.
Either outright ban immigration to Earth and bolster security around Si1-L0-K, or permit immigration to Earth while blocking access near Si1-L0-K's location.
There are no immigrating races yet, but from the Lushaka Kingdom's standpoint, our willingness to accept them overflows.
Since the entire planet belongs to me, welcoming diverse races would be an excellent way to secure a variety of genetic resources.
As I see it now, Si1-L0-K's existence is nothing short of a hot potato.
Even setting aside whether it can truly see the future, the suspicion that it's peering into parallel worlds instead—and the fact that security levels prevent proper answers to questions—casts serious doubt on this machine's utility.
But its uncontrollability and the way it vastly surpasses the kingdom's technology leave me genuinely worried about the unpredictable variables it might introduce.
In the end, I went ahead and comfortably sealed off access to Earth.
No point inviting needless future troubles.
Once the controls were in place, I started pondering how to make use of this machine and gave it a try. The feeling was eerily similar to the dawn of the AI era back in my human days.
At first, I imagined it would let me verify information from perspectives utterly different from what I currently understood. It'd be incredibly useful, right?
But the tin can won't give straight answers, and most of its responses are utterly useless. It hasn't outgrown its role as a toy for idle chit-chat when bored.
It even occasionally pierces right through my blind spots with a sharp reply, just like back then.
"Tell me about Ozz."
"Warning. Unauthorized access. Security level insufficient."
Argh, you damn tin can.
With that, Earth was locked down, and we shifted to accepting immigrants on Nualalkaima instead. The climate here is at least tolerable.
The native Lushakans don't accumulate personal wealth yet work diligently. To typical races, they seem excessively frugal. Naturally, there are no entertainment venues or decadent facilities.
As a result, even races initially interested in immigrating to the Lushaka Kingdom often change their minds after a short stay.
So, we switched to those with no other choice.
Criminals, deserters, or the destitute.
From other nations' perspectives, we're taking on their trash they want gone or can't easily eliminate. Why would they refuse free disposal?
Precisely: even if criminals flee to the Lushaka Kingdom or immigrate illegally, no one chases them. If we're handling it ourselves, no need for them to bother.
Of course, if they want to punish them for whatever reason, we hand them over upon capture. Once they've entered Lushaka even once, hiding their location is impossible.
As for the rest—if they decide to stay in Lushaka but commit crimes again—they quietly turn into organic matter, unnoticed by anyone.
Who cares if criminals or illegal immigrants die? If they've been granted a second chance at life, they should live honestly.
As immigrants began swelling Nualalkaima's pristine public order, they started building their own facilities and forming societies among themselves. It's only natural, really.
Work is plentiful. Ordinary beings trying to match the grueling intensity of jobs done by our legion's superhuman specimens is murderous, but anyone can work, and anyone gets paid daily. In a way, it's true equality.
Daily wages, instant hiring. No need to hunt for fixed jobs—just work whenever you want.
Salaries are state-guaranteed. Anyone, even foreigners or criminals, can become civil servants. Where else in this galactic utopia can you find that? No pensions or social insurance, though.
But those lacking physical prowess do face a lack of jobs, truthfully.
While the state creates many positions, societies naturally spawn their own as they form.
Starting with entertainment like bars, gambling dens, and arenas, then restaurants, inns, smithies—the facilities that spring up wherever people live.
Criminals or exiles, in the end they were human-like, and they settled smoothly into the Lushaka Kingdom.
Being from Earth myself, I instinctively thought of it first as an immigration planet. But spreading out the galactic map and thinking it through, there aren't many spots better than Nualalkaima.
For starters, the World Tree's homeworld title brings exceptional climate. It provides environments for diverse lifeforms.
Nualalkaima's star, Alhamra, is an F-type main-sequence, so UV rays are intense for humans. But in the space age, blocking UV is trivial. Plus, it toughens vegetation a bit—call it a perk.
Location-wise, it's prime. Adjacent to countless nations, close to the Committee, frogs, and cats; via cats, even reasonably near the Federation.
Great access for various countries.
Also great for attacks, but no worries on that front right now.
Watching immigrants arrive and settle on such a planet made me think: I need to properly develop Nualalkaima.
Into a galactic megacity, like New York or Tokyo on Earth.
Governments rarely succeed at force-growing planned cities, but with hive consciousness, it's doable.
Sacrifice this generation; nurture from the next. Who'd want a crime-ridden slum? I like the easy control, but the races sending those criminals won't.
Unlike the legion, other races age, forget over time—but I don't. No generational turnover means I can stick to the original blueprint to the end.
Starts with criminals or whatever, but eventually they mix, assimilate, time passes, and it's all forgotten.
Turn Nualalkaima from prison planet image to a haven for countless immigrants, like America.
In a territorial expansion deadlock, such a megacity planet would massively boost national power. For a small strong nation, isn't it tech and population?
The descendants of those gathered immigrants will see the Lushaka Kingdom as their true homeland, burying the fact that I'm the hive even deeper.
The Committee and Lushaka Kingdom can't expand further. All hyperlane routes are claimed.
Separately, I later learned the Committee's entire star system was nominally leased from the Amphibian Cooperative. That's why they can't expand and hold only a handful.
So what explains Lushaka's expansion block from the outset, without such excuses?
Anyway, expanding nations gained vast territories and began contacting more aliens.
The problem: not bordering Lushaka means no direct intel.
Unlike Earth, where ships and planes eroded borders toward globalization, hyperlane dependency makes inter-system exchange impossible otherwise—more medieval than modern.
Without border passage, you can't even scout beyond. Exactly like a medieval inland nation.
Telescopes can observe stars, but distances are vast, stellar glare hides orbiting planets, moons, or fleets.
Even if observed, hyperlane connections require direct scouting—no big help.
To fix this, you'd need tech transcending hyperlanes: wormholes or FTL. If easy, those races would've conquered the galaxy already.
Why bring this up? Varisa Space Company's recent movements are suspicious.
The Deneb Federation, a true ally, lets us cross borders freely to meet aliens. The Amphibian Cooperative coolly relays comms channels.
But these cats? Not cooperative. Not hatred, more like they're watching their step. Because of the Federation coup attempt?
Broad-minded Lushaka doesn't sweat such trifles.
Of course, the Federation hates Varisa—at least the president does, not the populace.
That near-successful coup would've been far riskier with Varisa aid. I'd probably have leaned toward recruiting Taniguchi over forcing a stop.
Without Varisa intel sharing, we couldn't ID aliens bordering them. But trade anomalies arose.
Food imports spiked—too much even for Varisa gluttons. Later confirmed stockpiling near Treegalaon.
Mineral exports dropped; now they're importing.
Classic pre-armament buildup sign. Curiosity piqued—might as well check it out.