Chapter 13

But to transform an entire planet crowded with hundreds of billions, even over a trillion, of beings into beasts—

Even Ruan Mei could not help but marvel at this scale of intelligence-reduction technology.

She could vaguely sense that the Calamity Empire possessed an extraordinary understanding of the essence of life,

which filled Ruan Mei with a moth-like yearning for the light.

"The Calamity Empire..." Ruan Mei murmured the title involuntarily, her gaze fixed firmly on the scene upon the luminous screen.

On the ground, the starfish writhed like beasts, emitting piercing, shrill howls and performing foolish, ugly movements.

Bodies evolved to serve wisdom were ill-suited for a beastly existence;

indeed, after losing their intelligence, they could not even manage basic self-care.

Just as Ruan Mei wondered how the Calamity Empire intended to deal with these starfish,

several research vessels and engineering ships suddenly materialized beside the giant colossus in the sky.

These ships opened their Cang Sects, and squadrons of small carrier aircraft swept across the sky of the city-planet,

scattering some powder-like drug over the ground below.

The starfish on the ground raised their heads in bewilderment, inhaling the powder-like drug through their nostrils,

whereupon their bodies began to writhe and transform continuously; minute changes accumulated, gradually altering the starfish's physiological characteristics.

"What is this?" Ruan Mei blinked slightly. "Genetic recombination? What highly efficient genetic technology!"

【Genetic Recombination: Biological structures cannot limit the Calamity Empire in the slightest; genes are as malleable in the Empire's hands as clay in the hands of a sculptor.】

【"Nature is a blind guide."】

【"Natural evolution has always been describable by only one simple and crude word: failure."】

The scene on the luminous screen flickered slightly, settling upon the hazy figure of the Calamity Empire's Emperor,

who spoke slowly to the biological researchers before him:

【"Now, we shall personally define success."】

【"We have surpassed the stumbling gait of evolution to become masters of our own destiny..."】

【"... and masters of all other life in the universe."】

In the moments after the Calamity Empire's voice faded from the luminous screen,

the writhing starfish on the ground underwent a change.

Thick layers of fat began to accumulate beneath their skin, their muscle fibers became tender and chewy, lactic acid secretion within their bodies decreased, and they began to exude a fragrant aroma...

One starfish stumbled to its feet, only to trip and injure itself accidentally,

yet what flowed from its wound was not foul-smelling blood, but rather a sauce-like liquid carrying a pungent, spicy fragrance...

Just like barbecue seasoning.

The luminous screen was miraculously potent; the beings throughout the universe watching it could even smell the aroma within.

"Gulp." The beings of the universe involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

But soon, the text that lit up on the screen made their eyes widen in shock.

"Holy crap, no wonder the starfish come with their own sauce..."

"What heaven-defying genetic modification is this?"

"Madmen! Letting a civilization like this master biotechnology is sheer madness!"

Not only the beings of the universe, but Bronya, who was also watching the screen, could not help but shudder slightly.

She saw two lines of large characters appear on the luminous screen:

【Genetic Trait: Docile Livestock: Docile and delicious! This species has been transformed into harmless livestock through the modification of higher brain functions. They can care for themselves and are spared the trouble of social interaction and self-determination!】

【Genetic Trait: Delicious: This species has wonderfully evolved into one that is nutritious to eat and crunchily crisp.】

(Aiming for at least four updates a day, aba aba aba.)

19. 【Bronya: Truly Fragrant】

【Genetic Trait: Delicious: This species has wonderfully evolved into one that is nutritious to eat and crunchily crisp.】

A line of text appeared plainly on the screen,

and combined with the increasingly delicious-looking starfish on the luminous screen, it left the beings of the universe momentarily immersed in confusion and bewilderment.

They watched as the Calamity Empire's ships descended from star-space, established factories, and dragged the starfish from the cities into the processing plants.

In mere moments, canned starfish were transported out of the processing plants, shipped from this planet to various locations throughout the Calamity Empire.

【"Starfish Cans, Imperial Selection!"】

【"No additives or seasonings; all flavor relies on the innate deliciousness of genetically modified organisms."】

【"Official Imperial guarantee: contains no components of intelligent life. Good taste, no burden."】

【"A key Imperial enterprise; every can consumed adds a brick or tile to the Imperial Fleet."】

【"The delicious cans that His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire also eats."】

Imperial merchant ships broadcast advertisements, constantly jumping through space to transport the starfish cans to various regions of the Calamity Empire.

The residents of the Calamity Empire quickly snapped up the first batch of starfish cans put on the market,

forcing the Empire to sweep several more planets inhabited by starfish with intelligence-reduction beams, converting these planets into new canning factories.

This showed just how incredibly delicious the starfish cans truly were.

But the beings of the universe, watching the scene of Imperial residents feasting on the luminous screen, could only tremble with fear.

"What exactly is the difference between the Swarm and the Empire? Aren't they both treating other races as food?"

"At least they don't eat intelligent life."

"They turn intelligent life into beasts before eating them; the Calamity Empire is quite particular, strangely enough."

"I would rather die than fall into the hands of the Calamity Empire and be transformed into livestock that comes with its own sauce; it is too humiliating."

In Belobog, inside the Goethe Grand Hotel...

Bronya stared almost blankly as the scene in the light screen slowly faded, feeling a lump in her throat yet unable to speak.

Transforming an entire species into delicious livestock, casting a whole planet into a canned food processing plant,

this made Bronya shudder with fear, making her realize even more clearly just how insignificant Belobog was before the Calamity Empire.

The Starfish Empire in the light screen was obviously far stronger than Belobog, even a vast civilization spanning multiple planets,

yet before the Calamity Empire, it was nothing more than a weapons testing ground and a canned food processing plant.

Noticing Bronya's expression, Xiao Hui blinked her eyes, then reached into her pocket space to pull out a palm-sized can.

Printed on the can was a cheeky starfish, gleaming with an arc of light under the lamps of the Goethe Grand Hotel.

Xiao Hui pushed the can toward Bronya and casually popped it open.

Inside were thick starfish arms, charcoal-grilled to perfection and soaked in a rich brown sauce.

The moment it opened, thick steam billowed out, the aroma rushing straight to Bronya's nose.

"This is from the very first batch of starfish cans."

Xiao Hui stuffed the can into Bronya's hands:

"I kept it stored in my pocket space, where time does not flow, preserving it until now."

"Although the taste doesn't compare to the later void-synthesized starfish cans, these were made from truly hunted starfish, making them exceptionally meaningful."

Bronya looked at the starfish arms soaking in the sauce,

gazing at the plump flesh and viscous juices atop them, her expression beginning to crack slightly.

She murmured softly, "I still don't...."

"So fragrant!"

"So delicious!" A few minutes later, Bronya said with tears in her eyes, having wolfed down every starfish arm in the can.

Bronya could have pounded her chest to declare

that this was the most delicious food she had ever eaten in her life.

The plump starfish meat was bouncy yet firm, tender yet sweet, paired with a sauce made in heaven, making it impossible to stop eating.

Bronya could not help but tear up.

Yet after finishing, looking at the empty can, she could not help but shiver.

"Residents of the Empire do not like eating creatures that look like humans."

Zhou Xuan propped up his chin, smiling gently as he said:

"Besides, we long ago passed the era of needing basic supplies."

"... We are humans," Bronya said, blinking her eyes.