Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

Chapter 959 - 277: Patching the Leaks (2)

Bai Quan was more convinced of his suspicion that Chen Ming was controlling some sort of robot causing trouble with the Left Path in the Empire, and he said, "Is there a difference between this question and the previous one? Can’t you align your personal goals with this larger objective?"

"Your goal is to kill Zuo Jing, and the goal of those hunting Zuo Jing is also to kill him."

"With the same goal, put the two tasks together and see if different thoughts and processes lead to the same outcome."

"If they do lead to the same outcome, then go ahead and do it."

"If sacrifices can’t be avoided, then try to minimize the number of people sacrificed."

"In the Empire, human lives are equal, at least to some extent; you can’t sacrifice more people to save one."

Chen Ming asked again, "But what if these two choices result in different civilian casualties?"

"What’s the key to this operation? Is it civilian rescue, or eliminating Zuo Jing? There’s always a primary objective."

"If it’s to eliminate Zuo Jing, then I can only express my regrets to the civilians and extend my sincere apologies and compensations to their families, but if it’s to protect the civilians..."

"I have only one thing to say, when it comes down to it, sacrifice is just a number."

Chen Ming asked the question that he most wanted to ask, "But who bears this responsibility?"

"Take responsibility? Is this your concern?"

Bai Quan asked rhetorically.

After a moment of thought, it seemed indeed a problem for Chen Ming.

Chen Ming had been a manager before, but only an ordinary one, managing at most a few dozen people, never having really been involved with a large number of lives.

To truly bear the responsibility for the deaths of so many people would be much more psychologically burdensome than directly killing an equal number of people.

Chen Ming had killed people before, but they were all enemies.

To cause the deaths of a large number of ordinary people, who have no hostile relationship with oneself, because of one’s actions, is not something everyone has the mental fortitude for.

This situation even made Bai Quan think, what in the Empire would require Chen Ming to endure such pressure.

And yet, the situation was still the same as before, everywhere in the Empire, Zuo Jing was being hunted, and it was hard to say where such an event occurred in which star realm or star system.

So Bai Quan straightforwardly said, "You need to figure out who actually killed them, was it you? Or Zuo Jing?"

"Go back to the root cause, who really brought about this situation, who really caused their deaths?"

"As for responsibility, I’ll put it bluntly, with the example just given, unless you literally become Zuo Jing and rush into the Space Station to massacre civilians, their deaths have nothing to do with you, and you bear no responsibility."

"It’s just that simple."

Chen Ming roughly understood Bai Quan’s meaning.

The confusion in his heart gradually dissipated, and the cycle of self-blame he was stuck in finally broke.

Chen Ming felt somewhat relieved and remarked to Bai Quan, "A bit heartless."

"Indeed it is, but it’s this experience that kept me alive on the battlefield."

"Of course, my mentality has actually begun to change since I left the front line, and I might find myself confused when faced with choices now."

"Oh, by the way, how is Xing Hai’s teaching going recently?"

Chen Ming suddenly coughed dryly and said, "It’s alright... uh, I have things to do, let’s talk later."

When faced with an awkward topic, Chen Ming was unsure of how to handle it.

A couple of days ago, Cheng Xinghai had already started giving him lessons. It was fine at first, but later during the classes, Chen Ming started to feel awkward.

No matter how he thought about it, it gave him a headache, so he decided not to think about it.

He had serious matters to attend to.

He ended the communication.

Chen Ming’s mindset finally returned to normal.

He asked himself a question in his heart, what was the purpose behind deploying An Wuping?

It was to cooperate with the leader, providing support to find the Psychic who caused him to realize Zuo Jing also engaged in dimensional infection, and then to resolve the major issues in the Cai Mo Star Realm.

And the reason he came to this Space Station midway.

Was because Zuo Jing had intentions towards him, and he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, trying to infiltrate Zuo Jing, attempting to dismantle them from within.

That was enough.

Chen Ming was not actively massacring civilians; it was Zuo Jing who pressed the weapon’s fire button, he didn’t need to blame himself for this.

Knowing that if Cai Mo faced issues, the dimensional infection could result in worse repercussions affecting the entire Empire.

It’s akin to sacrificing a few people in exchange for a greater chance of survival for many more.

One might say this is too utilitarian.

But in Chen Ming’s view, it was a solution that didn’t provoke the greatest loss in the shortest time.

If he really felt uneasy, Chen Ming could later erect a monument for them and provide their families with some compensation, which would be enough.

Surely, the Empire wouldn’t be stingy with such compensations.

Chen Ming relieved himself of this pressure internally.

Meanwhile, in reality, An Wuping, drifting in the cosmic environment, finally moved.

He adjusted his posture, facing the position of the third Zuo Jing Cruiser that had just destroyed the Space Station.

Radiant colors immediately coalesced into a Plasma Spear in his hands.

Even faster than before, in the underground laboratory, he accumulated the energy within the Plasma Lance to a strength approaching that of the plasma orb that destroyed the Mind Breaking Entity.