Chapter 958: Chapter 277: Patching the Loopholes
Psychological issues, especially those involving Zuo Jing and civilians.
The first person Chen Ming thought of who could help him resolve this was, of course, Bai Quan.
On Bai Quanâs end, just like usual, he quickly answered Chen Mingâs call.
Before Bai Quan could ask, Chen Ming spoke first: "Let me ask you something, if you needed to sacrifice a group of people to achieve your goals, would you do it?"
Bai Quan was confused by Chen Mingâs sudden and inexplicable question, but he still answered seriously: "If itâs on the battlefield, of course, I would. Why do you ask?"
"Just asking, what if itâs not on the battlefield?"
"If itâs not on the battlefield, it would depend on the situation. Iâd have to see if what Iâm doing aligns with my values when sacrificing a group of people."
Chen Ming gave an example: "What if a Space Station with Zuo Jing has kidnapped civilians, threatening to explode if you approach them? Would you sacrifice those civilians to eliminate Zuo Jing?"
"I would."
Bai Quan answered without hesitation, "As long as my goal isnât self-serving, Iâd sacrifice them without any hesitation. Did you run into a problem? Or is your group leader facing an issue over at Cai Mo?"
"I just suddenly thought of something, so I wanted to ask."
"...Are you serious..."
Bai Quan didnât believe Chen Ming would be sitting quietly at the division and suddenly ponder such questions.
He could easily guess that Chen Ming was secretly using his Spiritual Energy for something and encountered a similar situation, prompting him to ask.
Nowadays, synthetic technology is so advanced that itâs not difficult to create a robot that looks exactly like a human with a bit of effort.
As far as he knew, the Empire indeed had people manufacturing and producing such synthetic robots for companionship.
Especially in the Prosperous Star Realm, these robots arenât considered rare.
If Chen Mingâs Spiritual Energy is controlling such a synthetic robot while piloting a spaceship, itâs generally hard to tell.
In fact, if Bai Quan hadnât secretly ordered a detailed body scan and DNA testing on Chen Ming when he arrived at the division, he would have doubted whether the Chen Ming at the division was the real one.
Upon hearing Bai Quanâs suspicion, Chen Ming felt a bit embarrassed at being questioned.
The effects of his Spiritual Energy had long been analyzed, and Bai Quan had been the first to deduce the effects from the traces of his actions.
So, itâs certainly been thought of to use Spiritual Energy to manufacture mechanical replicas; Bai Quanâs think tank had even considered this beforehand.
But Bai Quan surely wasnât aware of matters regarding the Insect Race.
Yet this was enough for Bai Quan to think that Chen Ming was causing trouble outside.
To Bai Quan, whatever Chen Ming is doing right now doesnât really matter.
Chen Ming was probably just controlling some robot or autopilot spaceship running around the Empire, accidentally encountering similar issues he just mentioned.
Lately, incidents involving Zuo Jing have been happening everywhere in the Empire, making it impossible to guess where Chen Ming might have taken a robot.
Though thereâs a primary suspectâthe Cai Mo Star Realmâthe situation there is extremely complex right now.
The Fourteenth Legion currently focuses mostly on the war with the Mechanical Race and Dusk, leaving internal matters to other legions, so they arenât paying much attention and certainly donât know much.
But no matter what, as long as Chen Ming doesnât violate that unwritten rule, itâs fine.
Which means, never use Spiritual Energy to control things that donât belong to Chen Ming.
Even if Chen Ming is clearly asking about this matter now, clearly staying at the division, controlling robots or spaceships outside, Bai Quan still trusts Chen Ming to adhere to a comforting personal boundary.
Of course, Bai Quan feels assured himself, but thereâs always someone who doesnât think the same.
So Bai Quan made efforts to protect Chen Ming, occasionally hinting to him during class.
Chen Mingâs no fool; he knows very well how powerful his Spiritual Energy is and how much concern it can cause among people.
Luckily, his Spiritual Energy can only spread through direct contact and indirect contact using Dusk, otherwise thereâd be more people trying to limit him.
So he always cooperates, at least his fake body cooperates within the Fourteenth Legion.
All fake bodies brought to the Fourteenth Legion with Dusk cores are openly placed in front of Bai Quan for monitoring.
The only others with Dusk cores are the small fleet wandering around the Gallo Star Realm earning pocket money.
Because Chen Ming acts transparently, Bai Quan isnât worried about Chen Ming trying to stir up trouble, he sincerely replied, "Let me put it this way, even for myself, Iâm a necessary sacrificial object in my own eyes."
"Just like if sacrificing me now could solve the Mechanical Race, Zuo Jing, or Dusk, Iâd willingly sacrifice now."
Bai Quan spoke nobly, and Chen Ming believed Bai Quan would indeed do so, but he wasnât Bai Quan, surely having different thoughts when pondering some matters.
He was more inclined to use Bai Quanâs perspective as a reference to the predicament he currently faced.
"If itâs not for such goals, but more personal ones? Like youâre not part of the government army besieging Zuo Jing, but just an ordinary person holding a grudge against them."