Crime Prison Island

Gao Xin remained silent, only feeling a thunderous awakening.

He understood why Milan said that labor is humanity's last dignity.

When one can no longer use their own hands, their own efforts to create wealth, a person has nothing, even if they can freely receive many benefits and food, along with free internet and money directly distributed by the community for them to spend.

But isn't this just like a dog? Dog food, doghouses, and everything else they need rely entirely on the owner's allocation.

The only thing they can do is wag their tails and plead with their master, just like now, countless people outside are scrambling for a job as a servant for the powerful and wealthy.

Because that's the only way to enhance their own value.

Just like a pet dog, can it grow its own dog food in its owner's house?

No, there is no way.

Losing the right to labor is losing all dignity.

"So essentially, it's still the problem of the Supreme Council. They cut off all resources, including what Emperor Ran gives..."

"Speaking of which, the primary goal of the Jiyi Army has always been to overthrow the Global Government."

Gao Xin murmured.

Milan nodded, "Yes, the Jiyi Army naturally understands this. Their choice is to violently overthrow the giant enterprise regime and negotiate with Emperor Ran on behalf of humanity."

"But their strength is too small. Do you know how many people are in the Jiyi Army?"

Gao Xin was startled, "How many?"

Milan shrugged, "Just over two hundred thousand."

"Damn..." Gao Xin was shocked. The Jiyi Army, which has been resisting the Global Government, has only two hundred thousand people?

Milan added, "In fact, at its peak, there were millions, but many were taken to Crime Prison Island... So after all these years of development outside, it's still just two hundred thousand."

Gao Xin thought to himself that the gap was too big, as the Global Government controls almost all resources and population.

Damn, Cangyue might be the only one holding out.

Milan continued, "Why can't the Jiyi Army expand after most people are caught and taken to the island? Because no more like-minded people can develop outside."

"The vast majority of people who reap without sowing, they are dissatisfied with the status quo simply because they want more."

"And if they join the Jiyi Army, they lose all they have... The new generation, born and raised in this era, doesn't have the courage to start anew, to build a civilization through their own labor in the Jiyi Army's territory."

"Some people fantasize about joining the Jiyi Army, overthrowing the giant enterprises, and gaining everything, but these people lack a firm belief. They flee from the Jiyi Army's territory after less than three days..."

"Even after fleeing, the Global Government doesn't forgive them. They still lose everything and are thrown onto Crime Prison Island."

"With so many examples, almost no one in modern society wants to join the Jiyi Army."

"Even when the Jiyi Army captures a new territory, the local lower-class people rise up spontaneously... To prove they're not in league with the Jiyi Army..."

Gao Xin sighed, "It's really... ruined..."

He recalled the scenes of his life in the community, where people complained about life every day, but once the powerful threw out some benefits, they were willing to abandon all dignity to seize them.

Although they always claimed to want work, if they were really to work in a factory like robots, they'd think it was madness...

That was the lowly work meant for machines, they'd rather become servants... They believed they could provide the elites with more emotional value than machine servants, and they even took pride in it.

And the reason they could provide higher emotional value wasn't that they did better than robots, in fact, they were much worse...

It was simply because they were 'human'.

Milan sighed, "The territory occupied by the Jiyi Army can be described as a wasteland, you can't rely solely on loot, most things have to be created by themselves."

"They have to build their own houses to live in, grow their own food to eat, the life that ordinary people on Crime Prison Island dream of, those outside can no longer accept."

"So the Jiyi Army has already been on a downward slope for a long time, the report from a few years ago suggested two hundred thousand people, now there might not even be that many..."

"One less for every death, now they're just waiting to die slowly..."

"Cangyue is invincible in the world, but if she loses once, she loses everything."

"Humanity's last hope might only be left on Crime Prison Island."

Gao Xin was stunned, "Crime Prison Island?"

Milan chuckled softly, "That's my thought... It might be a bit ridiculous, but Crime Prison Island has indeed preserved the last piece of pure land for humanity's self-correcting ability..."

"Despite the survival of the fittest here, despite the rivers of blood from the killing, despite how much I detest the violence and cruelty here."

"But at least people here understand how to improve their own lives, understand how to build their own civilization, understand that if they want something, they have to get it themselves... Understand that everything in the world has a price!"

"It sounds simple, but the people outside have forgotten. They've lost their animal instincts, lost everything. Without these, there's no civilization to speak of."

"The primal drive to pursue order, pursue peace, pursue the creation of a better civilization is lost on the people outside, as they've self-domesticated into dogs."

"But the people on this island still have that capability... I've witnessed this island evolve step by step from a savage purgatory like a battle beast cage to establish city-states, nations, and order..."

"It's almost as if the history of humanity from ancient times has been accelerated by the Silver Tower... Evolving... Transforming..."

"Although the process is incredibly bloody, compared to the initial battle royale, it's actually slowly improving, spiraling upward."

"Perhaps for the individual, the outside world is better and more comfortable, but in terms of the hope for human civilization, the people here are the true 'humans'."

Gao Xin looked at Milan in shock, he had never imagined that this woman would say such words.

This strongest person, who had always opposed war, done everything to maintain the island's balance, and constantly avoided wars.

Actually recognized that the island's primitive violence and desperate wildness are exactly what true humans should have.

"Why was Crime Prison Island established in the first place?" Gao Xin couldn't help but ask.

Milan shrugged: "This is the only requirement Emperor Ran had in the Emperor's Contract."

"All criminals are sent to Crime Prison Island, which is sealed off here, with no laws, and those in power above have no restrictions."

"Doesn't it sound like a show designed to toy with humanity?"

"But as time goes on, I increasingly suspect this is the last 'savage' sanctuary Emperor Ran deliberately left for humanity."

"Isolated from what is called the modern advanced society, yet it's a spark for humanity to self-correct."

Gao Xin was rendered speechless by shock, this notion was simply outrageous.

But it wasn't impossible.

The most people on the island are criminals, and among the criminals... most are the rebels from those initial years, over a hundred million caught in one sweep.

Why did Emperor Ran forbid the Global Government from exterminating them all? Why create a Crime Prison Island for exile and torment?

Because these are the people with the strongest spirit of resistance among humanity.

Gao Xin said solemnly: "The force that seals this place is the Global Government, facing the power of the entire human society, even the Angel Envoys will listen to the Supreme Council."

"If Little Ran truly supports using Crime Prison Island to correct human society, then why allow such a powerful force like the Angel Envoys to back the Global Government?"

Milan tilted her head and said: "No one can understand Emperor Ran's mind, you can interpret Crime Prison Island from any angle, I'm just sharing my thoughts."

"I believe Emperor Ran still has feelings for humanity, He is a life form that transcends humans, He is both a child and a father to humanity! He is both a creator and God!"

"With Emperor Ran's wisdom, would He not know how those representing humanity, the elite, think?"

"He surely knows it all, but this is also humanity's choice."

"Those representatives were chosen by humanity itself, and include almost everyone in the world."

"Emperor Ran has no interest nor obligation to inform or expose, He even accepted it. Because without those giant enterprises or elites, there would still be other elites."

"As I said before, this is the immaturity of the entire human society, independent of whatever Emperor Ran provides."

"So Emperor Ran changed nothing, letting humanity develop as they have, simply... leaving a spark for the soon-to-die human civilization."

Gao Xin fell silent, it was still Milan's previous analogy, that Emperor Ran was like a youth prospering but being endlessly asked from by parents and relatives.

He did not mercilessly destroy or forcibly control humanity, perhaps for reasons rooted in emotions, nor was He interested in doing so.

Rather, as desired, He provided material support, allowing countless machines to serve humanity.

He saw through to humanity's inevitable downfall and didn't bother advising, but left a way of escape, allowing a chance for self-correction... in the most primitive and natural way.

Truly like a Divine being overlooking everything.

Milan sighed: "Crime Prison Island is a transcendent form of wisdom by Emperor Ran."

"Indeed, Crime Prison Island is merely a small reserve, the outside sealing force is invincible, at most, a strong fighter like me can occasionally break out, only to be captured back by the irresistible Angel Army."

"But conversely, if, I mean if one day... everyone on this island could all break out, overthrow the obstructing Navy and Smart Mechanical Army, wouldn't that mean Crime Prison Island has nurtured a group capable of defeating the Global Government?"

"From this small island breaking out, even the Global Government that controls the Smart Mechanical Army can't stop them..."

"Doesn't that also indicate the birth of a stronger, brand-new human civilization?"

Gao Xin, dazed, said: "Yes, blocking us are the Navy, Angels, and even the Angel Envoys."

"If everyone on the island can break out and gain freedom, it inherently means that, to some degree, we have surpassed the Global Government."

"Regardless of the means, be it soft power or hard power..."

Milan nodded: "Exactly, that's the filter!"

"Crime Prison Island is like an embryo of human civilization, whether it's self-destruction or finally breaking the chains to be reborn, it all depends on how far we can push ourselves."

"Blind internal strife is meaningless unless there's an unstoppable trend of unity."

"Therefore, until a truly epoch-making system appears, I can only reject war and do my best to reduce the harm war brings."

"Don't let this place end in 'self-destruction'."

Gao Xin looked at Milan in shock, realizing this was what she had been doing all along.

Her anti-war stance wasn't out of cowardice or complacency, but if the reasons for war couldn't convince her, if it wasn't a truly viable trend that could replace the current structure, she rejected such war.

She would rather see more people live, for life itself is fundamental.

Milan finally declared firmly: "Life will find its own way."

"Humans must rely on themselves."

Gao Xin took a deep breath and gave her a slight nod: "I have been enlightened."

For the first time, he felt his insight was curbed, or rather, he felt this woman was incredibly cultured...

It's no wonder she remained an undefeated strong person for twenty years, even Quinn of the Jiyi Army had to submit to her, regardless of accepting some of her choices, he still deferred to her.

Because she's not only strong-fisted, her cultural knowledge is also formidable.

As a strong person, she didn't focus on surpassing others individually on the island; she considered a broader, more collective way out.

If Crime Prison Island can't bring change to human society, then ultimately it's just a group of criminals.

On the other hand, if they can break through all restraints and revive the vitality of human civilization, then they are the founders of a new civilization.

That's the real redemption game.

...