Chapter 572: Humanity's New Goal: The Singer Civilization_1

At Number Three's funeral, Jiang Yu gripped Yang Dong's hand tightly. "People by my side are becoming fewer and fewer," he said. "I'm truly afraid that one day you will also leave me."

Suddenly, Jiang Yu felt that longevity might not be such a blessing after all.

Yang Dong had become a bit fuller in figure by now and looked a few years older than Jiang Yu. The change in her appearance wasn't significant, but her demeanor had become much more elegant, almost to the point where it didn't seem fitting for a research scientist's strict demeanor.

Yang Dong also held Jiang Yu's hand. "After Jiang Yan gets married, I'm going to hibernate again for a while, to wait for you," she said.

The two exchanged a smile.

Just then, the holographic images of Jiang Shiliu and Thirty-Six appeared beside Jiang Yu and Yang Dong. Jiang Shiliu let out a sigh of relief, "I finally made it in time."

Last month, the two of them had entered four-dimensional space to conduct an experiment. When Number Three became critically ill, Jiang Yu immediately instructed the personnel outside the four-dimensional fragment to enter it and notify them.

Both individuals had reached middle age by this time and were dressed in white research uniforms, looking stern and precise.

Jiang Shiliu and Thirty-Six walked up to Number Three's body. Jiang Shiliu said, "I have good news for you, we succeeded. The first batch of four-dimensional bodies is functioning normally. Humanity is about to march into four-dimensions!"

The two stood silently in front of Number Three's body for a long time. Now, besides Jiang Yu and Yang Dong, there was no one else who knew of the bond among Number Three, Jiang Shiliu, and Thirty-Six, akin to that of siblings born of the same mother.

Nor was there anyone who knew their origins, that they were more eager than anyone else to defeat the Trisolarans.

They had harbored this desire since the Crisis Era, and now at last, their wish had come true.

After standing for a long while, Jiang Shiliu and the other came to sit beside Jiang Yu and Yang Dong.

The four sat in silence for quite some time until Jiang Shiliu said, "Father, Thirty-Six and I hope to become part of the first group of four-dimensional humans."

Jiang Yu was taken aback. "Aren't there any volunteers?"

"There are quite a few volunteers," replied Jiang Shiliu. "But entering four-dimensions is only humanity's first step; the journey ahead is still long and arduous.

"Besides, I find myself increasingly obsessed with four-dimensions, always thinking about what it truly is!

"Although we've already simulated the form of four-dimensional space, I can't help but yearn to see it with my own eyes!"

Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Shiliu, whose face was filled with longing, and let out a long sigh. "Having dreams is good, but you must always be careful.

"Once you become a four-dimensional human, remember to tell me what four-dimensions is like," he said.

Thirty-Six expressed concern, "I've heard that humanity has become a bit blindly optimistic again; if it continues to develop..."

Jiang Yu smiled. "To achieve such a great victory, how can people not rejoice?

"Give me two or three years, and I'll point out a new goal for everyone," he said.

Thirty-Six nodded. With Jiang Yu around, the human race of the three-dimensional world didn't need to worry.

The body farewell ceremony went on for an entire day, and then Jiang Yan took Number Three's body to the cemetery.

According to Number Three's last wish, he was buried in the cemetery on Base Island.

If it had been a space burial, cremation would have been mandatory to prevent human remains from falling into the hands of other civilizations.

In cases like that of Number Three, prosthetic limbs were also not allowed to be launched into space, as they were considered high-tech human products that should be kept from other civilizations as well.

…

The year 309 of the Galaxy was a year of sorrow for the Solar System State, with the passing of Number Three, followed by Cao Yang, Hao Ying, Zhuang Yue, and other influential figures who had dominated the scene over the past several centuries.

Jiang Yu fell ill, not seriously, but his condition showed no signs of improvement.

The doctors diagnosed it as a psychological disorder triggered by excessive grief, and it took him a year or two of rest at home to regain his health.

It wasn't until the year 312 of the Galaxy that Jiang Yu resumed his work.

He had intended to remind everyone not to make the same mistakes of the Intimidation Era; however, according to the Strategic Department's investigative report, the citizens were not blindly optimistic.

This great victory continued to inspire everyone, and many worked with even more vigour, their pride in their own civilization also heightened.

Only a few places experienced a trend towards lavish indulgence, but it soon disappeared under the criticism of the community and didn't cause much impact.

This response filled Jiang Yu with contentment, as if watching his own child finally grow up.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yu looked out the window of the airship, feeling the entire city had a solemn, sacred air. The greening is extensive here, and mostly comprised of plants from Earth, making the whole planet resemble a vast garden.

The buildings were varied and aesthetically pleasing, each like a work of art.

Jiang Yu felt a pang of sentimentality, realizing that if he had traveled directly from the Common Era to the present, he would never have imagined humans could build such beautiful cities.

He arrived at the Wallfacer Office Building and, amidst a chorus of salutations, Jiang Yu entered the grand hall.

Today, an extremely important meeting was convened to set a new objective for humanity's future.

Presently, humanity had seven key systems, more than eighty provinces, plus an Earth Special Zone and five Star System Autonomous Regions.

A new level, "Key System," had been added between the Governing Council's headquarters and the provinces, with capitals typically located in the "dot-style colonies," the first Planetary Systems colonized by humans.

In comparison with the world of the Trisolarans, the "surface-style colonizing" method was, for now, unique to humanity.

The Trisolarans' worlds were far apart, and without their main world constantly on a war footing, they would be hard-pressed to muster significant forces in a short amount of time.

With Jiang Yu's intervention, humanity was navigating a path never before taken by other civilizations: prioritizing rapid concentration of power.

Long ago, Jiang Yu had realized that in the Dark Forest, a timid, fragmented, and divided development would progressively worsen humanity's situation.

Humanity had recognized in the distant past that unity is strength, while dispersion leads to weakness.

The meeting was attended by the new generation of the Solar System State: Wallfacer Yun Tony, Fleet Admiral Belinsky, Governor Shi Mingwei.

In attendance were military and political leaders and chiefs of the Wallfacer Offices from each Key System, as well as major officials from the provinces.

Rather than a meeting, it was more apt to say that Jiang Yu notified everyone, explaining the significance of setting a new goal for humanity.

In prior, smaller-scale meetings, Yun Tony and others had already endorsed the new objective Jiang Yu proposed.

The meeting began with an opening speech by Yun Tony: "You all might have noticed that after the heavy blow dealt to the Trisolarans, humanity's development in various aspects has slowed to some extent over the last two or three years.

"In order to give the human world new momentum, we need a more far-reaching goal, and we cannot be complacent with our past achievements..."

Then, Jiang Yu spoke, "Many may have almost forgotten, but aside from the Trisolarans, we have another enemy, a civilization that destroyed our homeland!

"Yes! The next target for humanity is the Singer civilization!"