For humanity, burn the stars.

The mentor gently wiggled his whiskers as a sign of approval when Hector displayed the specimens.

"Excellent, Hector."

"A specimen of a high-ranking human commander with clear historical significance and identity can certainly make our discussion more concrete."

Hector's optical organs trembled with pleasure at his mentor's approval.

Then it looked at Luke and made a slight, provocative wiggle of its whiskers.

Luke snorted softly, suppressing his urge to immediately summon Qin Heling, and continued to wait.

As its best work, it must wait for the right moment to be perfectly presented.

Next, it was Varian's turn to share.

It slid forward, but no actual exhibits rose from the ground.

Because the exhibits it presented at the seminar were not physical objects, but rather a few floating light screens.

Varian's synthesized voice opened smoothly, clearly reciting the prepared script and content:

My research focuses on the behavioral level.

"Based on recent field observations of District 51, combined with historical records of its transformation, I analyzed the remnants between the behavior of the 'Shell People' group and the social nature of primitive humans."

Numerous data charts, behavioral trajectories, and brief recorded clips flashed across the screen.

Shell-like beings writhe in the garbage heap, their gaunt figures wrestling for resources, their instinctive reaction of curling up into their shells when threatened...

As Varian continued the presentation, he said:

"As you can see, the transformation of the Shell People has completely erased complex social behaviors such as 'family,' 'community building,' and 'long-term planning.'"

"Their logic of action has been simplified to survival and instinctual conditioned reflexes."

"This indirectly confirms that human sociality is not inherently indestructible, but rather a fragile system built upon specific physiological and cognitive foundations..."

The report was very substantial and offered some unique insights, but it was clearly less appealing to the young Vera members than the physical exhibits.

After all, it's rather boring for them at their age.

Is there any need for analysis and research on humanity, which has already been defeated and completely extinct by them?

Playing with what they left behind, looking at the artworks and culture, is about enough.

Therefore, although the instructors said that participants could share their views at this seminar, most of them only brought some things from home.

Many students began to lose focus, and the movement of their optical organs became sluggish.

Only the mentor listened attentively, occasionally using his whiskers to jot down key points on the light screen in front of him, and casting an approving look at Varian to encourage him to continue.

In its eyes, Varian was an excellent student, and one of the few students it could truly trust.

And for a student like Varian, whose research focuses on human culture, he is indeed the only student who has truly satisfied him so far.

"Very solid observation and deduction, Varian."

"Your perspective on reflecting on the architecture of civilization from the ground up in behavior is very valuable."

The mentor spoke softly, and in response to the praise, Varian mimicked human gestures by bowing slightly and quietly retreating to Luke's vicinity.

Time passed, and more than half of the workshop presentations were completed, leaving very few students who had not yet presented.

Some Vera began to turn their attention to Rook, who remained inactive, their expressions conveying both curiosity and urgency.

"Rook, it's your turn!"

"Could it be that they weren't prepared?"

"Where's the grand finale you promised? Don't disappoint everyone!"

Hector slid right up to them, his whiskers swaying gently:

"Luke, where's your 'surprise'?"

"Could it be..."

"You weren't actually prepared; you just planned to coast along and get your name listed on Varian's report, like a group project?"

Hearing the mockery in Hector's synthesized voice, Luke finally moved.

It glided slowly to the control area in the center of the classroom, the fiber optic organ swaying gently in a rhythm.

Instead of acting immediately, Luke first looked around the classroom, drawing all of Vera's attention.

"Professor, and classmates..."

"What I'm about to show you might overturn your understanding of humanity."

With a flick of its whiskers, another transparent cylindrical container slowly rose from the floor in the center of the classroom.

In the watery liquid, a human male with black hair and yellow skin, dressed in a dark blue general's uniform, floats.

His eyes were closed, his face was calm, and his lifelike posture seemed no different from the previous human specimens.

There was a moment of silence in the classroom, followed by some disappointed murmurs.

"Another specimen?"

"While it was certainly a pleasant surprise, it wasn't quite as amazing as I'd imagined."

"And it seems... his rank is even a little lower than Hector's?"

Luke ignored the whispers around him.

Hector approached the gliding levitation device, smiling, his whiskers outstretched and pointing at Qin Heling.

"A...human specimen? It's quite well preserved."

"But this is what you call a 'surprise'? Looks like we've got the same idea."

"Rook, you didn't just grab anyone you could find to fill the gap, did you?"

Luke gracefully raised one of his whiskers, a gesture indicating that the other party should remain calm.

Thinking about what was about to happen, its emotions were filled with obvious smugness:

"Hector, be patient. He's not in the same league as your ordinary specimens."

Luke waved his tentacle and gently patted the container.

Immediately, the surrounding Veras watched in disbelief as Qin Heling slowly opened his eyes inside the cylinder.

The Veras around him were stunned for a moment, and then the classroom erupted in chaos.

The oscillation of the fiber optic organ caused a sudden tremor, leaving the Veras utterly astonished.

"A living human?! How is that possible?!"

"Haven't humans gone extinct?"

"Could it simply be a physiological response triggered by bioelectric stimulation?"

Hector, too, stared in astonishment, his eyes widening in disbelief, and exclaimed:

"His eyes are moving...he's looking at us!"

Such comments immediately arose one after another, showing great surprise.

Seeing this effect, Luke smiled with satisfaction, its voice echoing throughout the classroom via the translator:

"Dear students and teachers."

"What I will be showing you today is not an inanimate object."

"But a living human being."

The instructor raised a tendril, exuding authority over the students, and the classroom gradually quieted down as usual.

It approached the force field chamber and carefully examined Qin Heling inside.

His calm, unyielding, and dark eyes, in particular, left a deep impression on it.

Living humans? But how is that possible?

Human lifespan is only about a hundred years, and no matter how much we extend it, it will only be that long; it's impossible to be this young.

The unified requirement for making specimens at that time was to kill the consciousness and preserve only the body.

This order came directly from the mother planet; no one would dare to openly disobey it.

Could it be a transference of consciousness?

But that's even more impossible, because there simply isn't a mind capable of controlling the human body on Earth right now.

The mentor's gaze shifted to Luke, his expression revealing a serious and inquisitive intent.

"Rook, I need an explanation."

"Human biological lifespan cannot exceed one hundred years. Does this involve unapproved technologies?"

"Or perhaps, this is some kind of advanced bionic system?"