Since leaving the solar system, human technology has entered a new era of rapid development, and humanity's conquest has swiftly spread across the Milky Way. Although the existence of terrifying cosmic races in other galaxies confines humanity within the Milky Way, the galaxy itself is vast enough. Human territory has long surpassed everyone's imagination and continues to expand endlessly. However, with the advancement of civilization and technology, humanity did not merge into a unified whole; instead, it fragmented, carving up the entire galaxy.
Remember, the saying "Those not of our kind are bound to think differently" applies not only between humans and other cosmic races but also within humanity itself, which has split into various races due to numerous conflicts. Differences in race mean differences in civilization, culture, technology, ideology—everything. Unless one side compromises, it's hard for them to coexist. Racial conflict is the greatest internal contradiction within humanity!
For the sake of human survival, the major human races can unite against cosmic races externally, but internally, they are fraught with contradictions, each claiming territory and splitting the vast Milky Way into pieces. The center of the galaxy is a massive black hole, uninhabitable, while the rest is divided into four regions: East, South, West, and North.
The Huaxia Interstellar Republic, with the Huaxia ethnic group as its main body, dominates the entire Eastern Milky Way and part of the Southern Milky Way due to its massive population and strong cohesion. The Western Milky Way is split into two parts, mostly occupied by the Europa Alliance and the Roman Federation, both predominantly white races. The multi-racial United States of America Star Federation and the so-called "Fighting Nation" Soviet Russian United Nations carve up most of the Northern Milky Way and part of the Southern Milky Way.
The Southern Milky Way, where the solar system is located, is humanity's birthplace. All major human powers refuse to give it up, each claiming territory and dividing it, making it hard for small nations to survive. Thus, no unified empire exists there. Some weaker races can only find small, suitable planets in the galaxy's cracks to establish their regimes, such as the Eastern瀛 Interstellar Empire, the Indian Federation, the African Chief Alliance...
Thus, the human forces in the Milky Way form a pattern of four superpowers and many smaller states. The remaining barren star systems are even more chaotic, with multiple races living together, complex power structures, and no morality or law, known as chaotic star regions, such as the famous Viking Star, Caribbean Star Region, and Bermuda Star System...
The most famous chaotic star region is the solar system. As humanity's birthplace, though resources have been depleted after ten thousand years of development, it holds immense political and cultural significance. Other super interstellar powers naturally want to claim it as their own to assert legitimacy, but none are willing to yield. Ironically, this prevents any one from successfully annexing the solar system. It's a strategic battleground no one wants to abandon. Thus, no one wants to trigger a galaxy-wide war over one system; any nation attempting it would become a public enemy, and no one can bear that cost.
In the end, no one got the solar system. By a twist of fate, it became independent amid the power struggles of the superpowers, turning into a notorious no-man's land. With various nations' forces lurking within, it's a tangled, chaotic mess. The solar system's joint government is a puppet controlled by these nations, existing in name only.
...
Hearing this from Supervisor Frank, Feng Lin immediately understood his situation. Watching his struggling expression, Frank added fuel to the fire: "The solar system is a chaotic star region. Laws are just a facade, a veneer to fool the lower classes. Often, they're utterly useless—otherwise, how could so many small families exploit their own people and violate human rights? But the outside environment is even harsher. Those people have to band together for safety, even if the treatment is poor. At least it ensures their survival. You know, such things couldn't happen in a law-abiding, peaceful, and orderly super interstellar nation. Isn't that your case, Feng Lin? Exploited by your family, forced to intern at their factory, you resisted and fled, hoping to return only after becoming an interstellar cultivator! What you don't realize is that in the chaotic solar system, Earth and Mars are relatively decent. In the asteroid belt, the fringe zone, Saturn, and many remote planets, fierce and bloody star pirates abound. It's a world of survival of the fittest, with no trace of civilization or order. Strength—only strength—is the sole rule in chaotic star regions. Do you understand now?"
Each word struck Feng Lin's heart like a blade, exposing the solar system's chaotic cruelty before him. Feng Lin's eyes narrowed to a point. "You investigated me?"
"Since you're now an employee of our company, we naturally had to check your background to feel secure in hiring you! In fact, this trivial matter wasn't hard to uncover." Supervisor Frank shrugged with a light smile.
Feng Lin fell silent. The words carried a hidden threat, far from simple. He had fled his family, and now Giant Pharmaceuticals had a hold on his secrets, trapping him in a dilemma.
"Why conduct human experiments in the solar system?" Feng Lin asked, still unwilling to give in.
"It's simple! The solar system is humanity's origin, a treasure trove of races—black, white, yellow, brown—and everyone has pure bloodlines, untouched by messy genetic modifications. Experiments on humans here yield the most practical and effective data. In fact, the subjects we use at Giant Pharmaceuticals are all death row inmates from the solar system's joint government, and our experiments are government-approved! That's why we dare to establish a base in Mars's Shitai City." Supervisor Frank saw nothing wrong with human experiments and made no attempt to hide it.
Feng Lin remained silent, his face contorted in struggle, unable to decide for a long time. Seeing his hesitation, Frank's eyes darkened slightly, and he advised meaningfully, "Feng Lin, you have strong talent in genetics. Joining our company means you'll be heavily cultivated, with a good chance of becoming a geneticist! Do you really want to back out? You can't afford the 500,000 star coins!"
Feng Lin's heart tightened. The words seemed like persuasion but were actually a threat. Frank was now gentle and seemingly valued him, but if he truly reneged, would that attitude hold? Feng Lin thought it over and decided to be pragmatic. Though he was outraged by the human experiments, it had nothing to do with him. Since the solar system's joint government had approved it, what use was his lone resistance? It would only make him a laughingstock. Why trap himself over this? Feng Lin didn't see himself as a hero who could change the world single-handedly. He knew his limits and nodded. "I agree. I'll stay at Giant Pharmaceuticals and do good research."
"A wise choice!" Supervisor Frank broke into a warm smile, extending his hand with a teasing tone. "So, we're in this together now!"
Feng Lin didn't answer directly, just reached out. Their hands clasped. They exchanged smiles, understanding passing unspoken. A hint of triumphant glee hid in Frank's eyes. Feng Lin lowered his eyelids, concealing his gaze, a deep, unfathomable light flickering in his dark, gleaming pupils—unreadable, inscrutable.
One day, I will...