CHAPTER 1149: SECTION 709: TRANSACTION (2)

"A song that is rarely heard." The person in charge seemed to have seen much of the world and expressed his view on the song Malin was listening to, "It’s a song from an era long before the Great Destruction, around the 21st century, quite a long time from now."

"Yes, it’s indeed been a long time." Malin put away the player. Deep down, Malin understood that the era belonging to him and Susu had truly ended. Fate had no intention of sparing anyone; within the chimes of destruction, no one could escape.

Besides collecting some ancient weapons, the person in charge mostly selected household appliances that could still be used. Although many were damaged, at least in New Hangzhou and the North, traders had their ways to repair them, enabling a significant profit — at the very least, not a loss.

The goods from Sage Yu arrived at three in the afternoon. Shen Wansan acquired a large quantity of tools and armor he had longed for. The former were given to subordinates clearing the ruins, and the latter were to be handed to the hunting team going out of the city.

Sage Yu also had the airship bring ten shotguns and twenty boxes of ammunition. Malin personally taught Shen Wansan how to shoot a few rounds. Once he understood, he could teach his subordinates. However, most adult zombies lacked the ability to use shotguns — their hands were mostly twisted and unable to grip the shotgun. Yet, the younger zombies’ fingers were still developing. With guidance, they could have the ability to use them.

Though poor in marksmanship, shotguns were meant to greet the other party with lead at close range. Ultimately, Shen Wansan decided to personally lead a group of young zombies, aided by adult zombies, to hunt next time. Upon witnessing a shotgun tear through the thick-skinned prey’s hide up close, he no longer doubted the weapon’s reliability.

After all, the thick-skinned prey’s hide couldn’t even be penetrated by the iron spears of zombies. The zombies simply ran the prey to death.

By the way, this creature has a scientific name: the East Asian rhinoceros, originally cloned for horn harvesting for medicinal use. After the Great Destruction, these creatures escaped from pharmaceutical factories and became the dominant herbivores in this region during the era of human civilization’s regression. Even adult Giant Salamanders wouldn’t eat them — too large and hard to digest.

After the transaction, Malin took Sage Yu to an orphanage. When Sage Yu saw the old director and the children, he couldn’t believe what he saw — pre-destruction humans had turned into True Lords.

After hearing Malin’s story, he couldn’t help but sigh at how dramatic it all was.

"I completely can’t believe all this. If you hadn’t told me yourself, I would have dismissed it as nonsense." Sage Yu said, looking at the old lady and children, along with the young zombies surrounding... Lastly sighed: "If only this True Lord could go to New Hangzhou to enlighten the children."

"Human children can learn on their own, but these young zombies can only accept enlightenment... Sage Yu, please don’t underestimate yourself. Our human children will only be more excellent than these poor zombie children."

"...Let’s not call them zombies; they are completely different from regular zombies, Malin." Sage Yu’s statement made Malin pause, then he smiled and nodded: "You’re not wrong; they were initially biochemicals, turned into beast-like appearances by mutation. But now, enlightened, they’re no longer beasts. How should we refer to them."

"New humans certainly aren’t suitable." Sage Yu said.

He probably didn’t know what the term ’new humans’ meant eight millennia ago, but Malin knew, and could only silently mock, "Awakeners, how about that."

"Hmm... As a name for a new race, it’s a bit unpleasant, but you’re not wrong either, they indeed have awakened... Let’s call them that."

"No, they are also humans. They were enlightened and awakened by the old director; their teacher is human. They shouldn’t mind being called humans." Malin said.

Sage Yu was silent for a moment, then clapped his hands once: "You’re absolutely right, Mr. Malin."

Speaking with smart people is always demanding, as the saying goes. To Malin, letting these enlightened and awakened Shen Wansan kids call themselves human is crucial. Only then could Malin utilize this theory to confirm his view: if these Enlightened Ones could self-identify as humans and be recognized by humans, perhaps one day in the future... all intelligent species on this planet could self-identify as humans. Even if they have beast ears and tails, some with even exoskeletons on their bodies, they could speak the language used by humans, eat food made by humans, and acknowledge human laws and civilization.

Unity is the path to survival, right?

With this view, after resting for a night, Malin let Sage Yu and the trading caravan return on their own, then stayed for another week, taught Shen Wansan some human knowledge, and was very pleased to see Shen Wansan embrace his theory — the old director’s transformation was indeed effective.

On the seventh day, Malin heard that a group of adventurers was seeking refuge outside the city gates — it seemed Sage Yu had already notified the adventurers in New Hangzhou. So Malin brought along the small Awakener named Shen Ping’an by the old director to the city gate and saw a group of adventurers covered in scars.