Master Leehay Brixton turned out to be a controversial ch designer.
Even though he was a Master who was rooted in the LRA’s bioch industry, he rejected its orthodoxy.
With a career that spanned two centuries, Master Brixton developed his design philosophy step by step and endured lots of opposition towards his deviating ideas.
"The LRA’s bioch industry is deeply flawed." He spoke to Ves. "That old geezer Cline was already old back when I was starting my career. He was just as opposed to innovation as before."
When one Master criticized another Master, Ves thought it was prudent to keep his mouth shut. If he really had to say sothing, then he had to do his best to stay neutral!
"I don’t really understand the division within your bioch industry." Ves innocently said. "I’m just a visitor. I didn’t even know that there were ch designers who preferred to design cyborg chs such as you until recently."
"You know nothing!" Master Brixton said in a heated voice! "Our state is kept in constant stagnation due to all of the geriatric dodders who are currently in charge! You may know them as conservatives, but they are cowards who are afraid of taking risks and value the status quo above all else. The mission to propagate the wonders of biotechnology to the greater galaxy is no longer on their minds. They don’t care if their chs are falling behind as long as they are able to lord over others in the LRA!"
Oh boy. Not again. What was it with old people and their rants?
Ves had a lot of practice with being on the receiving side of rants. Gloriana yelled in his face often enough for him to develop different strategies towards different kinds of rants.
Luckily, Master Brixton did not direct his ire at Ves. This made the situation much more tolerable. Besides, the Master ch Designer was revealing a lot of insider information!
"Human civilization is built upon multiple forms of information. The mistake made by old fogeys like Master Cline is that they only think about incrental improvents. They just think that biochs will eventually win everyone’s hearts if they improve their performance step by step by building upon existing accomplishnts. THEY’RE WRONG! These slowpokes are so bad at innovating that once they achieved a breakthrough, the conventional ch industry has already taken several steps forward! I thought that several centuries of failure would have made them realize that they’re constantly falling behind, but they have done the opposite! They have dug in even deeper!"
From what Ves had learned about the bioch industry, he wasn’t sure whether that was fair. One of the factors that complicated the matter was that the LRA’s bioch industry did not exist in isolation. There were other enclaves throughout the galaxy that had chosen to adopt biochs rather than classical chs.
Even if the local bioch industry failed to make any significant breakthroughs, it could always leech from the success of other communities!
"The current leaders of our industry have all exhausted their usefulness! They may have contributed significantly to our sector when they were in their pri, but they have lost their drive to push their craft forward after achieving their greatest dreams! Becoming a Master is the end to many ch designers, but it is just the beginning to the truly ambitious!"
"And you happen to be among the latter?"
"That is a given!" Master Brixton proudly stated. His mind blood and loosened so of the restraint that kept it contained. Ves sensed a conviction that was so inviolably strong that it could probably endure a direct attack from a dark god! "Life-prolonging treatnt is both a blessing and a curse. It can make the worthy live longer. It was originally ant to extend the lifespans of useful and productive people so that they can contribute even more to society. However, each century of life also removes an imnse degree of urgency to the recipients. Those with feebler ambitions have beco too complacent after they have lived a couple of centuries. They are no longer willing to do whatever it takes to lead our state to greatness!"
What did this have to do with Ves? He was still in his thirties. The profound issues related to extending people’s lives was so far above his head that he couldn’t even imagine what he would be like if he was two centuries older!
Master Brixton suddenly adopted a calr tone. "The younger generation deserves a chance to be in charge. They’re closer to contemporary society and their thinking is not as outdated as those who have lived in a ti when the Age of Conquest was still a short-term mory. Constant change is necessary to move our state forward. No matter how much conservatives such as Master Cline are willing to consider other solutions, they always default to the least drastic option. It’s in their na!"
To be honest, while Ves agreed with Master Brixton’s logic, he didn’t think that the conservatives were doing anything wrong.
Sure, they hadn’t co up with anything exciting for a very long ti, but that just ant they were doing a good job in maintaining people’s livelihood. Stability may not be as s.e.xy as radical innovation, but it also did not introduce any volatile changes that could easily worsen the lives of trillions of citizens!
The conservatives were good stewards of the state. Whatever their faults, the Lifers were happy and enjoyed a high standard of living.
Many other second-rate states were less well-off. The Garlen Empire was in a constant state of internal warfare while the center of the Komodo Star Sector turned into a slaughterhouse as millions if not billions of people died every day!
Of course, not everyone was satisfied with providing a good life to citizens. So leaders wanted to achieve more, and they weren’t afraid to risk the happiness of lots of people in order to accomplish a goal that many people might not even care about!
"Earlier, you questioned who I am. Well, let introduce myself to you properly. I am Leehay Brixton, cyborg ch designer and co-founder of the combinants."
Ves already guessed that Master Brixton was related to the combinant faction. The amount of cyborg ch designers in the LRA was definitely small, so it should be a given that each of them banded together in order to pool their strength.
What he didn’t expect was that the old man currently in front of him was one of the faction’s leader figures!
In fact, he might even be their visionary considering his outspokenness!
Although Brixton mostly ca across as a cranky old man to Ves, the man’s ability to design cyborg chs was unsurpassed. Anyone who could design chs that could compete against the products of other Masters was still worthy of respect!
Ves awkwardly smiled. "As an innovator, I wish you luck in your goal. I need to go now. I only have three days to fix my broken chs and I can’t afford to linger too long here. Every second counts."
A strong grip clamped onto his arm. Master Brixton wasn’t done with him yet!
"You must win." The older man hissed.
"Uhm, I already intend to win."
"You. Must. Win!" The Master emphasized. "I am being serious, here! Our faction has already given up trying to clear the fog from the minds of old fogeys such as Master Cline. These geriatrics are beyond redemption. What we can do is break the illusion that has captivated many of our citizens. Too many layn who have no idea about the true state of our bioch industry think we are already strong enough to hold our ground. They’re wrong!"
Were the combinants responsible for hijacking the design duel and turning it into a matter of national pride? That possibility caused Ves to beco a lot more vigilant towards Master Brixton!
Even if Ves sympathized with fellow innovators, he never wished to get caught up in soone else’s ambitions!
"I can’t promise anything, sir. While I am confident in my own design philosophy, I am still younger and less experienced than Dr. Navarro. I can only promise that I will do my best. No matter what is going on around , I am still a ch designer. I will exert myself to the best of my abilities and let my chs do the work."
Master Brixton slowly let go of Ves’ arm. He took a deep breath. "That is good to year, young man. Keep my advice in mind and do not base your decisions on faulty assumptions. Biochs are highly adaptable and Dr. Navarro is better at changing the configurations of his chs than other bioch designers. If you want the second phase to go smoothly, then you must adapt your chs as well in order to avoid getting countered."
"I got it. I’ll do my best, though there is only so much I can do in just three days."
The older man stared deeply into Ves’ eyes. After a few seconds, the leader of the combinants finally departed.
Ves could feel the expectations put on his shoulder. The most galling part of this was that he never asked to carry the hopes of a faction he knew nothing about!
Just as he thought that he was rid of the cranky old man, Master Brixton abruptly stopped and turned around. He walked back and presented a pleasant smile towards Ves.
"I have studied your situation to an extent. You wish to venture into the Red Ocean, is that right?"
Ves nodded. This was no secret. "That’s correct. We are only at the start of our journey, but we will definitely make it to the other side."
"That’s great. The old galaxy is filled with entrenched rulers who are already content with their existing accomplishnts. Only a new region of space will allow ambitious pioneers such as you to bloom. Have you already gathered the necessary amount of rits to obtain passage through the beyonder gate?"
"We are still working on it. We’ll probably satisfy this requirent once we reach the gate."
"Well, let offer you so aid. I happen to have a few million MTA rits to spare. I will grant you 5 million MTA rits if you are able to win this design duel. Is this an interesting offer to you, Mr. Larkinson?"
What?!
Even though Ves already earned a lot of rits, it was extrely difficult for him to earn more. The prospect of gaining 5 million MTA rits was a very attractive prospect!
However, nothing ca for free. There was also another issue with this reward.
"Aren’t MTA rits supposed to be non-transferable?"
"That’s correct." Master Brixton replied. "While I cannot transfer any of my acc.u.mulated rits to your personal account, I can still put the aforentioned amount of rits at your disposal in another manner."
"How?"
"I can transfer one of my students to your Larkinson Clan. Once he is a part of your organization, you will effectively gain control over the rits he possesses!"
This was a viable way to transfer rits between people!
Technically, the rits belonged to the individual. Master Brixton’s apprentice could easily refuse to contribute his rits, but Ves didn’t really care about this problem.
He had plenty of ways to ’persuade’ an unwilling person to act on his behalf!
Ves needed more information, though.
"What kind of person is your student?"
"He’s a fairly accomplished Journeyman ch Designer. He’s a little older than you, but not as brilliant. He’s similar to Frederico Navarro in that regard. To be frank, he’s one of my more disappointing disciples. I am not sorry to let him go, and he has already expressed a d.e.s.i.r.e to leave and find his own way."
That.. didn’t sound very glowing. Still, awful ch designer or not, Ves was not about to let 5 million MTA mreits slip from his grasp!
Ves smiled. "As long as your student is willing to be a part of my clan, then I will welco him to the fold."
"I am certain he will be ecstatic to hear the news."
The two had ford an agreent at that mont.
User Comments
0 comments from readers