Chapter 274: The Era of Extreme Wealth
The behavioral and sociological analysis of the Lizardmen quickly resulted in several thick manuscripts. This was essentially a frenzy for sociologists and economists. They wrote reports and books non-stop, acting as if they had discovered an entirely new continent.
The sensation was akin to playing god, manipulating a civilization and watching the results play out. It made people wonder what kind of state this native civilization would ultimately reach under human influence.
This trend quickly spread throughout the Noah, where everyone started discussing profound topics like economics and sociology. A major talk show began airing, featuring a host discussing these very topics with several prominent sociologists, and it instantly became a massive hit.
"...This kind of social experiment is truly fascinating. We don’t know if the seeds of capitalism will successfully sprout among these Lizardmen, or if they will manage to establish a rational trading system within their society..."
"Will a reasonable social system actually be established?"
"Recently, we’ve observed that a group of clever Lizardmen have learned basic addition and subtraction. They’ve started charging others to calculate prices for them at the vending machines in order to make a profit..."
"Exactly! The very first internal transaction among the natives has taken place. It wasn’t the buying and selling of physical goods, but the buying and selling of labor! This is driven entirely by profit; if there’s money to be made, someone will step up to do the job. The Lizardmen have experienced the benefits of intelligence for the first time, and the economic incentive driving them is enormous."
"But without laws and regulations, won’t some of them take risks... like committing robbery or petty theft?"
"Crime is always the fastest way to make money!"
"Just as expected, the first thief has appeared!"
"We spotted a Lizardman stealing money on the security cameras, but we didn’t arrest him. It’s an internal matter for their civilization, and we maintain a strict policy of non-interference."
"He ended up getting caught by his own people..."
In the eyes of the scientists, these Lizardmen were no longer as innocent as they used to be; they had begun to engage in organized criminal activities. It escalated quickly from petty theft to outright robbery and extortion, especially targeting rivals from other villages.
With a 20% profit margin, the Lizardmen grew restless; at 50%, they took bold risks; at 100%, they were willing to risk the gallows; and at 300%, they dared to trample on every moral rule in existence!
Greed is a devil; it can propel a civilization to great heights, but it can also plunge it into the abyss.
However, the Federation didn’t care about such things, as long as the natives didn’t interfere with the archaeological excavations. These illicit activities only occurred after their shifts ended. During working hours, under the watchful eyes of the security robots in the commercial districts, the natives were all unusually well-behaved.
"They’ve even developed factions based on their home villages, forming armed organizations akin to organized crime syndicates..."
"Is the rise of these gangs meant to protect property? That makes perfect sense. Without a strong organization, their money could easily be stolen, leaving them feeling unsafe. They’d rather spend some credits to buy a sense of security."
One sociologist wrote this in his daily report. He was deeply moved, witnessing the rapid evolution of a civilization firsthand. These were developments the Federation could barely anticipate, only realizing their significance after they happened. Yet, it all seemed to unfold so naturally.
"Because of the rising crime rates and the emergence of these syndicates, the violent brawls have escalated and are now affecting their normal work shifts."
"After receiving a stern warning from the Federation guards, they’ve started behaving themselves..."
"I believe they will soon establish conventions to curb the violence. Otherwise, no one benefits, and nobody truly wants to live in constant chaos."
"These informal rules are essentially the most primitive form of law!"
For the Lizardmen, the introduction of currency acted as a massive stimulant for their civilization’s development, serving as its primary driving force. They craved economic benefits and material goods.
The Federation, on the other hand, merely acted as a guide and observer, refusing to directly teach them how to govern themselves. After all, human social structures were far from perfect, so forcing the natives to mimic humanity wouldn’t foster genuine inspiration. True inspiration came from giving the civilization a slight push and then letting it evolve on its own.
In reality, the entire Lizardman society was now rife with exploitation. A few months later, large syndicates based around the biggest villages began to take shape. If an independent villager wanted to join them for protection, they had to pay up.
Protection money!
The clever Lizardmen even adopted a new concept from the humans: paying taxes.
"Now that we’ve earned our wages, of course we have to pay taxes, right?"
...This was simply the golden age of the underworld!
Judging from the current situation, order was emerging from the chaos. While there were plenty of sordid incidents, the civilization as a whole was progressing upward. Every native wanted to earn more money to satisfy their material desires. To do so, they had to use their brains.
Lizardmen who were good at arithmetic and critical thinking began to secure higher social standing within their tribes. "Intelligence" gradually began to replace "brute strength." The natives who could do math were highly respected, while the purely "strong" ones were reduced to mere henchmen, sitting slightly lower on the social ladder.
This was a highly positive trend.
...
After reading this chaotic and dark "Sociological Report on the Natives," Jason was at a loss for words. The once-innocent Lizardmen had turned into this...
He wasn’t sure if the Federation had done the right thing. But the development of a civilization was never smooth sailing; it was inevitably accompanied by bloodshed and setbacks. This group of Lizardmen was actually doing relatively well.
Humanity had once gone through a similar phase—one that was far more violent and deadly!
Fortunately, all of that was in the past. Humanity was now enjoying the fruits of its long, arduous journey. In comparison, the current Federation was much more orderly and mature.
With the successful launch of automated mining operations in the planet’s Arctic region, the Federation’s internal resource scarcity had been resolved. Overall social wealth began to surge. Humanity was gradually entering an era of immense prosperity!
Yes, the era of extreme wealth had arrived unexpectedly, but it was an undeniable reality.
Social productivity now far exceeded material needs. The amount of physical Federation Credits circulating within the Noah plummeted, and virtually all basic necessities began to be provided for free. The Federation now possessed enough resources on this planet to sustain itself for tens, or even hundreds of thousands of years. Survival was no longer a daily concern.
This massive shift was entirely driven by advanced technology and hyper-efficient productivity.
For the Federation, the next major goal was to completely phase out currency and transition into a more advanced social system! Humanity would no longer be driven by base material desires, but by higher ideals and a shared sense of responsibility. Every citizen needed to recognize this shift and strive toward it.
Everyone knew the Federation was not yet invincible. For the citizens of this new society, hoarding money was no longer appealing. Society was already affluent, and most goods could be accessed freely. Furthermore, after years of social conditioning during their long space voyage, people were accustomed to a system where the means of production were publicly owned.
The citizens generally possessed strong moral character and lived frugally; there was no rampant extravagance or waste. Perhaps their deeply ingrained habits from harder times were keeping them grounded.
But this was also a perilous tipping point. Jason didn’t know how long this cultural inertia would last. The Federation could not afford to grow complacent just because life had become comfortable!
People needed to shift their core motivation from "surviving" to "fulfilling ideals and responsibilities." This was the hardest leap to make; failing to take it meant stagnation and eventual downfall.
Jason couldn’t help but marvel at the Federation’s luck. Two incredible opportunities had presented themselves at the exact right moment: the discovery of the Nix Civilization ruins and the cultural observation of the Lizardmen.
These two massive projects reignited everyone’s passion, providing unparalleled motivation to keep working hard! Perhaps their collective mindset had already begun to shift; working passionately on meaningful projects was something everyone genuinely enjoyed.
This fighting spirit had been sustained for a long time. It would gradually influence the next generation, solidify into a cultural habit, and eventually become the new normal.
If the next generation was raised with "pursuing higher ideals" as their default mindset, then... the Federation’s chances of ultimate success would skyrocket!
