Chapter 655 To go or not to go, that is the question (1)  

Within the time-accelerated VR's private space, Aron, Gaia, and Nova sat silently, gazing at the scene before them. Aron was struck by surprise, while Gaia and Nova struggled to reconcile what they saw with their prior understanding of reality, based on the data they had previously used to gauge the world.

This silence continued for more than ten minutes as each of them digested the information in different styles.

Without surprise, Aron was currently digesting the information about Liafu, which, to him, was the second most important piece among the messages sent. He realized this knowledge was something he would only have learned if he had bought advanced-level mana knowledge, if not higher, as it was a worldview-altering revelation. Despite not changing the current events, this information was akin to discovering a new fundamental law of the universe. It didn't impact ongoing matters but provided a framework to understand previously unexplainable phenomena and offered a new tool to exploit in the future.

"So, just as the laws of physics are the fundamental laws of the universe, mana also has its own fundamental laws, some of which have gained consciousness," Aron said, his voice steady and reflective as the scene around them faded. His words were not directed at Gaia and Nova, who were beside him, but rather served as a means to vocalize his thoughts. He continued, more to himself than to his companions, "Does that mean all other laws might also have gained intelligence?" He paused, contemplating the implications. "It should be the special properties of mana that are the differentiating factors in gaining intelligence. But that's just a theory at this point in time. Contemplating it any further without a means of proving our theories is pointless."

Aron knew that diving deeper into such philosophical and theoretical discussions would not be productive without concrete evidence. "I currently need to go through more of the information," he reasoned. "I'll leave it to the scientists to do the thinking for now."

With a sigh, he shifted his focus back to the task at hand. He wanted to review and digest all the information uploaded to him, as his role demanded a comprehensive understanding of every discovery. Unlike the leaders of previous nations, who often made decisions based on fragmented knowledge or trusted their assistants, who most of the time had other agendas they wanted to progress, Aron believed that his awareness of every detail would prevent him from being manipulated into doing someone else's bidding, issuing misguided or harmful orders.

He reflected on the past, thinking about how many disastrous decisions were made because leaders acted on incomplete information. Those mistakes had led to unnecessary conflicts, resource wastage, and even loss of life.

He then moved on to the next section, then the next, and then the next without stopping. Seventy-two days in VR-accelerated time passed with Aron learning about everything the Proxima Centauri exploration fleet had discovered. From the special minerals not found in the solar system to the intricate formation of the planet, every piece of information was thoroughly absorbed. By the end of this period, Aron and the two main AIs, Gaia and Nova, had completely digested all the data, embedding it deeply into their understanding.

"This is the best result we could have ever fathomed, even if we had thought of it in the first place," Aron said, clearly satisfied with the exploration fleet's discoveries. "Most of the time, they selected the best option among the choices they had, based on the limited connection they had with the imperial palace." {Yes, and they have even gained us more than ten billion new working-age citizens, allowing us to not worry about the manpower shortage that was starting to show itself,} Gaia responded, her focus on the influx of new people who would join the empire.

Usually, humanity was considered quite adept at adapting to new technologies and implementing them in their lives, but this was typically counted in decades. With the formation of the empire, however, that timeline was reduced to mere months. Spaceflight, once one of the most expensive endeavors imaginable, became cheaper than pre-empire plane tickets with a single announcement. The empire's opening of space access was followed by an immediate start to the production of affordable ships by a company owned by Aron.

This rapid expansion into a vast industry, coupled with the empire's efforts to make it accessible to almost everyone, presented a challenge. The industry, a million times the size of Earth, offered an ever-increasing number of jobs, risking a manpower shortage within a decade of its development.

However, in just a few years of the empire's existence, several factors mitigated this risk. Complete health rejuvenation for all citizens, combined with secure housing, abundant food, and numerous incentives for having children—such as low-cost and subsidized necessities free and high-quality education—led to a significant baby boom. This boom indicated a continuing trend for the coming years as the costs of raising children were expected to keep decreasing.

The influx of new working-age citizens from the Proxima Centauri exploration further alleviated the potential manpower shortage. The empire's proactive measures ensured a steady growth in population and workforce, supporting its expansive ambitions and securing its future.

{But we will only reap the full benefits if they join the empire. It seems that requires Sir Aron to physically visit them before they decide whether to join us or become our ally,} Nova interjected, reminding Gaia of the requirement, even though she was sure Gaia hadn't forgotten.

Instead of responding to Nova's statement, Gaia turned to Aron and asked, {Will you be visiting them?}

{Sir?!!!} Nova asked upon not receiving a response to Gaia’s question.

But that, too, was met with silence from Aron's side. He could be seen tapping on the armrest of his chair, clearly deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons of both choices before him. To go or not to go, that is the question. But that didn't last long as he abruptly stopped tapping on the armchair. He turned to Gaia and Nova and began, "Ten...