Chapter 291

"I'm giving the spot to your child." Old Wu fiddled with his wristband, found the transfer interface, and sure enough, the system had that function.

Translation: "Give the quota to your child." Lao Wu operated on his wristband, found the transfer interface, and the system indeed had this function.

We need to keep it as one line. Ensure no extra commentary.

"I'm an old man; going up would just waste resources. The child is still young—he should survive."

Translation: "I'm an old man; going up would just waste resources. The child is still young; he should survive."

The young mother stared in shock.

Translation: The young mother was stunned.

"But—"

Translation: "But——"

"No more 'buts'." Old Wu grinned, revealing a missing-tooth gap.

Translation: "No more 'buts'." Lao Wu grinned, showing a gap where a tooth was missing.

"I've been grilling skewers my whole life; I know exactly when each meat should hit the grill. Now… it's time to give the good spot to the tender meat."

Translation: "I've grilled skewers my whole life; I know exactly when each meat should go on the fire. Now…… it's time to give the good spot to the tender meat."

He pressed the confirm button.

Translation: He pressed the confirm button.

Transfer successful.

Translation: Transfer successful.

The young mother's wristband vibrated; she looked at the pop-up message, and tears finally fell.

Translation: The young mother's wristband vibrated; she looked at the pop-up message, and tears finally fell.

"Thank you… thank you…"

Translation: "Thank…… thank you……"

"Don't thank me." Old Wu waved his hand.

Translation: "Don't thank me." Lao Wu waved his hand.

"When we win, have your child come back and bring me some alien specialty. That's all. I'm off—there's still work in the workshop."

Translation: "When we win, let your child come back and bring me some alien specialty. I'm off; there's still work in the workshop."

He turned and left, his silhouette stretching long under the plaza lights.

Translation: He turned and left, his silhouette stretching long under the plaza lights.

Similar scenes unfolded around the world.

Translation: Similar scenes happened all over the world.

In Kyoto, a 90-year-old calligrapher gave his spot to the neighboring art student: "My characters have already been uploaded to the database; if I go up, it'll be the same. You're still young—don't let your brush stop."

Translation: Kyoto, a ninety-year-old old calligrapher gave his quota to the neighboring university student studying painting: "My characters have already been uploaded to the database; going up would just be the same. You're still young; your brush must not stop."

In Paris, a violinist gave his spot to a street dancer he met at the subway station: "Music needs dance steps; once you're up there, remember to keep dancing."

Translation: Paris, a violinist gave his quota to a street dancer he met at the subway station: "Music needs dance steps; after going up, remember to keep dancing."

In Washington, D. C., the former head of the Eagle Nation Academy of Sciences gave his spot to the lab's janitor:

Translation: Washington D. C., the former president of the Eagle Country Academy of Sciences gave his quota to the laboratory cleaner:

"Science needs curious eyes; when you wipe the instruments each day, the look in your eyes has more light than I, this old fellow, have."

Translation: "Science needs curious eyes; when you wipe the instruments every day, the look in your eyes is brighter than mine, this old fogey."

Statistics show: among those selected, 23% voluntarily gave up their spot, transferring it to relatives, friends, or even strangers.

Translation: Statistics showed: among those selected, 23% voluntarily gave up their quota, transferring it to relatives, friends, or even strangers.

The reasons for transfer were varied.

Translation: The reasons for transfer were varied:

"My husband is at the front; I want to stay and wait for him."

Translation: "My husband is on the front lines; I want to stay and wait for him."

"My mother is too old to withstand interstellar travel."

Translation: "My mother is old; she can't withstand interstellar travel."

"My research isn't finished yet; I can't abandon it halfway."

Translation: "My research isn't finished yet; I can't abandon it midway."

"I can't bring my cat up there; I have to stay with it."

Translation: "My cat can't come along; I have to stay with it."

Finally, this entry was marked by the system as an emotional reason, approved, sparking a small discussion: should pets really be allowed on the ark?

Translation: Finally, this item was marked by the system as an emotional reason, passed review, sparked a small-scale discussion: should pets really be allowed on the ark?

Finally, Qiming decided: each ship would reserve 500 "non-human organism spots," but they'd also need to be drawn by lot.

Translation: Finally Qiming decided: each ship reserves five hundred "non-human biological quotas," but a lottery is also required.

Pet owners worldwide erupted for three hours, until someone reminded us we might be facing extinction, then they calmed down.

Translation: Global pet owners boiled over for three hours, until someone reminded us we might be facing extinction, then they calmed down.

At 2 p. m., the civilization data upload entered its final stage.

Translation: At 2 p. m., the civilization data upload entered its final stage.

At the Longyin Control Center, Chen Guang stared at the progress bar: 99.7%.

Translation: Longyin Control Center, Chen Guang stared at the progress bar: 99.7%.

"What's the last batch?" Feng Yan asked.

Translation: "What is the last batch?" Feng Yan asked.

"The complete anime collection uploaded from Sakura Province, from Osamu Tezuka to the latest episode." Chen Guang read out the list.

Translation: "The anime collection uploaded from Cherry Blossom Province, from Osamu Tezuka to the latest episode." Chen Guang listed the list.

Note: The original text said Chen Guang read out the list; we'll treat it as Chen Guang.

"There's also the holographic version of the White Elephant Province's epic Mahabharata, and the Hollywood film library in Washington, D. C., including all the movies that have been slammed as terrible."

Translation: "Also there's the holographic image of the White Elephant Province's epic Mahabharata, Hollywood Movie Library in Washington D. C., including all the movies that were slammed as trash."

"Even the bad movies?"

Translation: "Even the trash movies?"

"Qiming said, the completeness of civilization includes failures and mistakes." Chen Guang pushed his glasses up.

Translation: "Qiming said, the completeness of civilization includes failure and error." Chen Guang pushed his glasses.

"A bad movie might contain fragments of inspiration that future artists need."

Translation: "A single trash movie might contain inspiration fragments needed by future artists."

Wang Hao came over: "Has my missile graffiti photo been uploaded?"

Translation: Wang Hao came over: "Has my missile graffiti photo been uploaded?"

"It has been uploaded, filed under the '21st‑century folk abstract art' sub‑library." Chen Guang paused.

Translation: "It has been uploaded, classified under the '21st Century Folk Abstract Art' sub-database." Chen Guang paused.

"Qiming gave your work a score of 79, saying the color use was bold but the composition lacked theoretical support."

Translation: "Qiming gave your work a score of 79, saying the color use was bold but the composition lacked theoretical support."

"This AI doesn't know jack about art!" Wang Hao objected.

Translation: "This AI knows fuck-all about art!" Wang Hao objected.

"But it gave Li Yang's mech combat dance a score of 92."

Translation: "But it gave Li Yang's mech combat dance a score of 92."

"... Then it still has some eye for quality."

Translation: "……Then it still has some eye for it."

Everyone laughed.

Translation: Everyone laughed.

Amid the laughter, the progress bar jumped to 100%.

Translation: Amid the laughter, the progress bar jumped to 100%.

【Human Civilization Database Packaging Complete】

Translation: 【Human Civilization Database Complete Packaging Finished】

【Total Data: 1.7×10^22 bytes】

Translation: 【Data Total: 1.7×10^22 bytes】

【Equivalent to compressing the entire history of the Blue Star into a storage device the size of a soccer ball】

Translation: 【Equivalent to compressing the entire history of Blue Star into a storage device the size of a soccer ball】

【Package Serial Number: HC-001 (HumanCivilization-001)】

Translation: 【Package Serial Number: HC-001 (HumanCivilization-001)】

【About to be loaded onto the Ark 'Departure'】

Translation: 【About to be loaded onto the Ark 'Voyage'】

Feng Yan watched as the silver‑purple sphere was carefully placed into the transport cabin by the robotic arm.

Translation: Feng Yan watched as that silver-purple sphere was carefully loaded into the transport cabin by the mechanical arm.

It contains everything human: from the first stone tool to the design schematics of the last mech, from the first cry to the record of the final embrace, from cave paintings to all the useless beauty of missile graffiti.

Translation: It contains everything human: from the first stone tool to the design drawings of the last mech, from the first wail to the record of the final embrace, from cave paintings to all the useless beauty of missile graffiti.

"Let's go." He said softly, "…to look farther into the stars for us."

Translation: "Let's go." He said softly, "On our behalf…… go see the farther stars."

At six in the evening, the ark launch site.

Translation: At 6 p. m., the Ark launch site.

Three massive ships hovered in lunar orbit, their rear thrusters already glowing with a faint blue light.

Translation: Three massive ships hovered in lunar orbit, their rear thrusters already glowing with a faint blue light.

The final batch of passengers was boarding.

Translation: The final batch of passengers were boarding.

The global broadcast cut to gathering points worldwide: parents crouched on the ground adjusting their children's collars, couples embraced in farewell, friends slapped each other's backs firmly.

Translation: The global broadcast cut to assembly points worldwide; parents squatted on the ground to tidy their children's collars, couples embraced in farewell, friends slapped each other's backs hard.

"Remember to save me a seat up there," they said, although everyone knew this parting might be forever.

Translation: "Remember to save me a seat when you go up," they said, although everyone knew this parting might be eternal.

Old Wu was in the workshop, having used the robotic arm to weld the last purple material panel of the day.

Translation: Lao Wu was in the workshop, using the mechanical arm to finish welding today's last purple material plate.

The small screen on the wall was playing the launch countdown: ten minutes.

Translation: The small screen on the wall was playing the launch countdown: 10 minutes.

He turned off the welding torch and walked to the window.

Translation: He turned off the welding torch and walked to the window.

Through the thick glass of the lunar soil processing plant, one can see the direction of Blue Star.

There, his hometown, the street where he had grilled skewers for thirty years, everyone he knew.

"We're leaving," he murmured.

His wristband suddenly vibrated, an unfamiliar message:

【Mr. Wu Jianguo, I am Lin Xiaoyu (the mother of the child whose name quota you transferred). We have already boarded the ship. Xiao Xi asked me to tell you: he will live well, waiting to come back and find you for barbecue. He said he would treat you to alien barbecue, no matter what that thing looks like.】

Lao Wu looked at the message and laughed.

Laughing and laughing, he wiped his eyes.

"You little brat," he said to the air, "If you come back without bringing alien barbecue, just watch me not whip you."

The final minute of the countdown.

All screens worldwide showed a unified image: the bridges of the three ark ships, their young captains, with an average age of thirty-two, the youngest starfleet captains in human history, simultaneously raising their hands in salute.

"Ark Fleet, prepare to set sail."

Feng Yan's voice rang out over the global channel, calm and resolute:

"Those who stay here will guard the homeland until the very last moment."

"Those who leave will carry the fire of civilization, flying into deep space."

"No matter where we are, we are still humanity."

"Now——"

He took a deep breath:

"Set sail."

The thruster light surged.

The three massive ships gradually accelerated, leaving lunar orbit, heading toward the unknown darkness at the edge of the galaxy.

On the ground, billions of people looked up, watching those three points of light grow ever more distant.

Hand in hand.

Shoulder to shoulder.

And on the Penglai bridge, Feng Yan shut off the comms channel, turned, and looked at the remaining companions.

The holographic projections of Li Yang, Wang Hao, Chen Guang, and Zhao Kaiyuan, plus Zhao Gong from the Moon Base.

"All right," he said, "the guests have all been seen off."

"Now it's time to tidy up the place——"

He gazed into deep space, where a new red dot was rapidly approaching.

"Getting ready to welcome guests."

【Time until the Harvester main fleet arrives: 29 days 11 hours 42 minutes】

【Ark Fleet status: departed port, heading toward the galaxy's edge, initial jump expected in 3 hours】

【Remaining human population: 51.99 hundred million】

【Final defense line check: countdown 72 hours】

In Jupiter's orbit, the newly deployed Heaven's Punishment Platform was calibrating its gun barrels.

And in the direction they were aimed, the depths of space——

Eight thousand red dots, tearing open the darkness, surging forward.