With Aeron's upgrade to second-level citizenship, a notification pinged in his consciousness—a message had arrived in his inbox.
"Mail?" Aeron raised an eyebrow.
He shifted his thoughts slightly. A translucent screen appeared before him as he connected to the omnipresent network of the Universal Human Alliance. In this future world, physical devices like smartphones and computers were obsolete—citizens interfaced directly with the net via conscious signals.
"Open mailbox."
The first email appeared. The sender? The Central Administrative Office of the Human Alliance.
Aeron skimmed it.
> "Congratulations on your promotion to Second-Class Citizen. May you continue contributing to the advancement of human civilization."
Attached at the bottom was something far more practical—a five-million-credit reward.
"Now that's a proper welcome gift," Aeron mused.
He checked his bank balance. Sure enough, the credits had already landed.
In this advanced society, five million credits could sustain a family of four for over two hundred years. His father, Scott Aeron, had worked his entire life and barely earned that amount.
Even second-class citizens wouldn't shrug off such a gift. Wealth always mattered.
"It's clear now. The higher your citizenship level, the more valued you are—more than even becoming an evolver," Aeron thought.
After a moment of admiration for his new wealth—more than enough to buy top-tier nutrient solutions—he turned to the other incoming messages. Most were automated explanations of his new privileges.
There were five major ones:
1. Life Stipend: 10,000 credits a month from the Central Bank, unconditionally.
2. Immunity Rights: Second-class citizens could legally refuse forced conscription or relocation.
3. Virtual World Access: Permission to enter the internal LAN of the Virtual StarNet.
4. Legal Immunity: Within Alliance-controlled territories, second-class citizens couldn't be arrested or executed by regular law enforcement.
5. Purchase Priority: Certain rare resources could only be accessed by high-level citizens.
In addition, second-class citizens were often sought after by corporations and were required in key ratios by major interstellar consortia.
"No wonder second-class citizens are so rare," Aeron thought, amazed.
Then, his eyes paused on the third benefit: Virtual World Access.
Just as he was reviewing it, the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom echoed gently in his mind.
> "Citizen Aeron, would you like to enter the virtual world?"
"Let's try it," Aeron answered with curiosity.
> "Initiating connection to the virtual world… Identity verification in progress."
> "Iris scan: Passed."
> "DNA analysis: Passed."
> "Cloning check: No clone detected. Verified."
> "Unique life signature confirmed. Synchronizing consciousness…"
Aeron's vision faded to black. His awareness sank rapidly.
Although he could have resisted the process, doing so would have aborted the connection. So he let go.
When he opened his eyes again, he stood in a star-filled void.
Below his feet hovered a glowing blue planet—Canglan Star.
"Is this a simulation?" Aeron's pupils constricted.
It was an identical digital replica—continents, ocean mass, atmospheric patterns—exact to the real planet.
"Welcome, Citizen Aeron."
A beautiful woman in a flowing white gown stood in the distance, looking serene.
"I am the Goddess of Wisdom. I will be your guide."
She explained that this realm was the Virtual StarNet LAN of Canglan, and was divided into zones: Living Sector, Commerce Plaza, Battle Arenas, and Central Concourse.
As she spoke, sections of the planet beneath magnified and highlighted accordingly.
Then they arrived at the Central Concourse.
In the middle stood a monolithic stone pillar, radiating power.
"That is the Canglan Evolution List," the Goddess explained. "It holds the hundred most powerful evolutionary paths ever recorded on Canglan Star."
"I see…" Aeron nodded, intrigued. Then he asked, "Where does the Martial Path rank?"
"Based on current calculations," the Goddess replied calmly, "your Martial Evolution Path ranks ninety-third."
"Ninety-third…" Aeron showed no surprise.
He had spent twenty years perfecting it in the Martial World. Even with Heaven-Defying Comprehension, Canglan's near-million-year civilization had produced countless geniuses.
Ninety-third was already excellent.
"Tomorrow, the Canglan Evolution List will be updated. Your Martial Path will appear for the first time. Would you like to hide your citizen ID?"
"Yes," Aeron nodded without hesitation. "No need to draw too much attention."
After the Goddess finished her guidance, Aeron exited the virtual world. The sun was rising.
Just then, his mother's voice called softly outside his room.
> "Aeron, sweetheart, can I come in?"
All night, his parents had stayed silent, not knowing how to comfort him after hearing about the draft. Now, his mother, unable to bear the worry, had finally knocked.
"The door's open."
Aeron sat up on his bed as his mother, Cara, walked in.
"You're already awake?" she asked gently, her face pale from a sleepless night. "You must not have rested much…"
She sat by his side, voice trembling.
"We knew yesterday. The district head called your father. He refused. Of course he did. You're our son—we wouldn't send you away just to live comfortably."
Tears gathered in her eyes. "We're a family of four. How could we bear to split apart?"
Aeron said softly, "Mom… you don't need to say more. I understand."
He had always known it wasn't their choice.
"You're the boy I raised with my own hands," she said, voice breaking. "If the government takes you—how am I supposed to live?"
She pulled out a small black bank card.
"This is everything I've saved in secret over the years. Your father doesn't even know. It's not much, but if it can help you survive out there…"
Aeron took the card. He could feel the frugality, the love in every credit.
But he looked up with a gentle smile.
"I don't need it."
"Huh?"
"I'm not going to be conscripted," he said calmly.
Cara blinked.
"What… What did you just say?"
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