MTLNOVEL Chapter 484: Facing Hell
The disinfectant dripped down from the fingertips, Kalem silently changed into the uniform orange worker uniform, handed in his work card at the front desk, and clocked out.
Queuing took him a full half hour, he retrieved his tray and spoon from the locker, grabbed his meal card, and hurriedly rushed toward the cafeteria.
The artificial sun on the surface cast fake sunlight, while the engineering mechas on the roadside, amidst their busyness, didn't forget to graffiti the walls with paint.
Initially, there were safety notices posted there, but the workers' embedded chips were already filled with safety regulations. To motivate them, the site posted portraits of President David Lyn along with inspiring words, like 'Heads can roll, but projects can't stop; blood can flow, yet night shifts must continue', 'Seize the time, save the world', 'Correct attitude, accelerate progress, increase speed, deepen intensity.'
The workers were not interested in President David Lyn's slogans; they were more keen on some vulgar, impromptu drawings, like small animals and their feelings of the day.
Kalem, with drooping eyelids, blindly followed the crowd. Everywhere he looked, everyone wore the same clothes, had the same hairstyle. Clearly, their expressions and genes were diverse, yet they shared the same organization and destination.
Thinking about it closely is quite terrifying.
Without parents, bred by companies, raised by society, serving the state. Amongst people, there are no familial bonds, only connections formed through monetary transactions and contractual credit.
Yes, truly the workers of Frost Plated are the highest-paid group in the world, but what use is it?
He casually picked up half a roast pigeon, two barbecue pork buns, a salad, and a beef meatball soup, indiscriminately spread some lobster paste and caviar on the bread. Since he had to work the night shift, he couldn't touch the gourmet rye beer at the self-service counter, only randomly poured a cup of orange soda.
Busy, endlessly busy every day.
Kalem stirred the imported Grante veal steak in his hand, having no appetite at all.
He had just seen those two male and female workers before the disinfection room; he could clearly sense the female worker had ulterior motives, continuously getting familiar with the male worker.
'Should I report her for having old familial inclinations of the White Plum Army? She's always trying to get close to the workers, is she a spy?'
Indeed, reporting a spy would yield a reward of several tens of thousands of Derby, but Kalem always felt it shouldn't be this way.
— No matter how good the relationship is, they're only friends. Even if one works madly to earn enormous wealth akin to national fortunes.
People live here working to earn money, but no matter how much they earn, they can at best eat better than others, afford treatment when ill, and buy better prosthetics and biological implants.
But what's the point of making so much money?
The Frost Plating Federation abolished the marriage system, all citizens have no parents; those like them, reliant solely on companies and the state, even if amassing considerable inheritance, it ultimately belongs to the state.
If so, then why still work? Regardless, all is state and enterprise property; might as well lie flat, slack off, mix eating with waiting for death.
However, the Finance Minister—President David Lyn's son—quickly realized this. Since people can't possibly spend all their wealth in a lifetime, there will inevitably be leftovers.
Hence, the government proposed a suggestion: let people take out their money to buy 'Gene Weight'. The more money spent, the higher the priority of gene pairing they could buy, and the better the quality of the other party.
Thus, for the hope of a biological descendant they might never witness, that torch of heritage, people have a motivation to strive.
Even if they can never witness the child's descent, growth, nurturing, maturity, and stepping into the workforce, in a Creditism society, the productivity standard has been thoroughly applied, making property an unequivocal credit guarantee. Based on this credit system, the Federation can still obtain the people's credit.
But is this truly normal?
Kalem pondered.
Isn't it in the nature of living beings to be attracted to the opposite sex, form families, support each other, and nurture offspring?
Looking back now, Kalem felt quite lost in his heart.
"Is there someone here?"
A female voice rang in his ear, Kalem casually nodded.
"Thanks, it's really crowded right now, I couldn't get a spot."
The other party immediately sat across from him, thanked him, and began eating voraciously like a storm.
The noise she made while eating was quite noticeable, as if that bowl of fried rice was her sworn nemesis, immediately capturing Kalem's attention.
He turned to look at her, his gaze fell on her like a stone plunging into a lake, unable to move again.
"You..."
Kalem looked at her beige short hair, his mouth parted, speaking haltingly:
"You, you, have—ha, hair?"
"Oh, I just got here to the construction site, haven't had time to cut my hair."
The woman raised her head, nonchalantly explained.
Saying this, she untied her hairband, a head full of white hair tumbled like a little lion, wild and untamed.
That composed demeanor reflected in Kalem's eyes, as if lightly shot through his heart, with the bullet tumbling and rippling within, causing his breath to subconsciously quicken.