Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

"But compared to the consequences of the 'giant ape not showing up,' these criticisms are nothing."

The doctor's vision was blurred from processing a large amount of information. When he turned around to face Kal'tsit, he even lost his footing due to exhaustion and almost fell off the command platform.

"Doctor, watch out!"

Amiya promptly offered her support, but then another force came from the other side of the arm Amiya was supporting. This was the reason why the two of them were supporting the Doctor simultaneously.

"Thanks……"

Being surrounded by both Amiya and Kal'tsit made the Doctor feel a little embarrassed, so he expressed his gratitude and slowly walked down the steps.

“I can deal with conspiracies and malice to some extent by devising strategies, but if a person loses their life, no amount of thinking will help.”

When the Doctor said these words, Kal'tsit and Amiya both paused for a moment involuntarily, but the Doctor did not notice the abnormality.

Only the two of them recalled a past that the doctor, who was a participant, had forgotten.

"But I'm still a little unwilling. It's precisely because 'the giant ape helped us a lot' that I feel that Rhodes Island is really lacking in power right now. Compared to the current situation, which can be described as a win-win situation, I can't even imagine how much damage my so-called 'optimal solution' would cause."

Amiya and Kal'tsit could both feel that the Doctor was clenching his fists tightly.

—With the assistance of the giant ape, property damage and casualties in the Siesta region were reduced to a level comparable to that of "mobile cities that can foresee natural disasters and evacuate in time".

—In the Doctor's original plan, without the help of the giant ape, the best solution he devised could only save one-third of the city's population.

Perhaps under the preconditions of "sudden disaster" and "non-mobile city", Rhodes Island's rescue achievements under the guidance of the Doctor are a great feat that can be recorded in history.

However, compared to the results caused by the overwhelming force of the giant ape's intervention, it is enough to describe it as "major casualties".

Perhaps from a common-sense perspective, no one would compare themselves to a world-destroying monster, and would even naturally accept such a fact when overwhelmed by overwhelming power...

But the PhD student used what outsiders would perceive as an obsession with his pride to express his dissatisfaction with his "powerlessness."

"Doctor, you don't need to feel ashamed of your own inadequacy when you receive helpful assistance while doing what you have to do."

Kal'tsit, however, expressed her understanding while simultaneously extinguishing the thoughts that were welling up in the Doctor's mind.

"Especially comparing yourself to that monster is unrealistic, and clinging to unrealistic pursuits will only make you feel powerless and lost."

She could tell what the doctor was thinking.

And that psychological struggle cannot be resolved simply by acknowledging that "the Doctor has done a very good job as commander."

After all, the doctor had already focused his mind on the fact that his strength was not strong enough, and the giant ape was the object of comparison.

“Doctor… I understand your desire to use more power to help everyone, but everyone already recognizes you and no one will look down on you because you are not as good as the giant ape.”

Amiya also tried to comfort him, even though she knew more than the two of them, she also felt that the Doctor didn't need to feel powerless about it.

"Amiya, you've made a mistake..."

But after being helped to a seat, the Doctor shook his head at both Amiya and Kal'tsit.

"I felt powerless, struggling against the giant ape... In reality, it was just my personal desire. I longed for that kind of power. It had nothing to do with recognition; I just wanted to become strong and possess such personal strength."

The two of them got it wrong from the very beginning.

The doctor's expression stemmed more from a yearning for power than from being completely overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness and hatred towards his own weakness.

Even though it's already beyond what's acceptable to be an object of longing, the difference between the two mindsets leads to different behaviors and consequences.

If a person is immersed in a sense of powerlessness, they will stop taking action because they can't even do the things they are capable of doing well.

But if you want to become stronger, you will use everything you have to strive for more, rather than becoming depressed.

When the doctor spoke, he seemed somewhat ashamed, but at the same time, he was full of sincerity and enthusiasm.

Because what is being expressed is the longing that many people felt when they were innocent children, gazing upon those powerful figures in stories, pictures, or films.

Superheroes who fight evil and promote good, invincible giant lizards that defeat monsters, armored and masked knights who can transform, and mechanical giants that can combine and transform...

It was as if, after watching the film, they were vying with their friends for who would play the roles of these powerful beings, openly expressing their longing for them.

Perhaps everyone has such feelings, but as we get older, we become ashamed to express them, or as our experiences broaden, we hide these thoughts in the deeper corners of our hearts.

Just as Amiya and Kal'tsit kept trying to persuade the Doctor with their own ideas, they each had their own reasons for hiding or abandoning the same thoughts.

But why would a doctor say that this sounds like a naive and obsessive yearning?

Perhaps it is because the doctor, who has suffered from amnesia, still retains the memories and experiences he has accumulated so far, that he still maintains a pure and innocent heart, and is happy to share them with the two people in front of him.

After listening to the doctor's confession, the two fell silent.

At the same moment, they asked themselves – didn't they want to too?

It's just that I've come to terms with reality and given up on that idea.

Does having this idea mean the doctor is "not recognizing reality"?

Dr. Mingming was the most pragmatic person present.

We will offer advice and suggestions based on various available information, and we will never make decisions based on wishful thinking or strong subjective opinions that would put everyone at risk.

This is no longer about the difference between "today's PhDs" and "past PhDs".

Amiya and Kal'tsit noticed the difference between the Doctor before them and themselves.

It's realistic enough, but it's also full of fantasy.

"...This is not a gap in knowledge or strength between people that can be bridged, but a shackle that is as difficult to overcome as the difference between heaven and earth."

Kal'tsit composed herself and continued to speak calmly to the Doctor, sharing her thoughts.

"Assuming this is just a fantasy you're indulging in to relax, I won't judge it, but I still hope that this kind of thinking won't affect your judgment—though you've already proven that, haven't you?"

Kal'tsit's statement was more like a risk assessment.

The doctor is different from before, but his abilities remain the same, and the previous rescue is undeniable proof of that.

However, the difference in their personalities still left Kal'tsit with some concerns.

She did not want Rhodes Island to fall into an existential crisis again due to unstable factors.

However, Kal'tsit will always express her worries in this stereotypical way.

"Thank you for your trust, but I'm serious. I really want to become stronger, and if given a chance, I'd definitely be willing to try."

The doctor stood up and took out his communicator.

After everything settled down, the doctor planned to contact another person.

That was Tomat, the man he had spoken with before.

Thomas asked the Doctor how to make Rhodes Island strong and gain the trust of the operators.

The Doctor avoided the condition that "Tomat exists on Rhodes Island and is used by it".

He answered honestly, "To make myself strong enough to be recognized by others."

However, the current PhD students feel they have one more reason.

That's just "wanting to become stronger".

The Doctor also knew about the conversation that Tomat had after defeating Winter.

Tomat used the harsh reason of "racial differences" to explain why he was far superior to ordinary people.

After witnessing the giant ape more directly, the doctor became even more convinced that if he really wanted to become stronger, or if others had the same idea, then...

Tomat could be a good start.

He is comparable to monsters in his human form, and is also far more mobile than other operators with powers.

“Unless you can prove that the monster also possesses powers that humans can have, I can only conclude that you've fallen into some kind of paranoia. Feeling powerless and having aspirations isn't a bad thing; it shows you have basic self-awareness, rather than being like Anura trapped in a well.”*

Amiya looked at Kal'tsit and the Doctor, wanting to chime in, but she was worried she might accidentally say something.

*Blue Poison's race name, a frog.

[Main Text] Siesta's Hottest Holiday: Chapter Sixty-Three - The Freest Orca on Land

Meanwhile, Tomat and his group met up with Black and his group at the broadcast tower.

The former left Cronin, who was identified as the kidnapper, to the latter.

After a brief exchange of whispers, the latter, with earnestness and gratitude, took control of Kronin.

Black has confirmed through his dealings with Ceylon that Ceylon is not investigating anything related to her father.

During this period, she was actually engrossed in studying volcano-related data.

It was actually Kronin who was lying.

At this point, Hei suddenly realized that there had never been any kidnapper in the first place.

However, Kronin was indeed doing shady things.

They made a mistake, but not a complete mistake.

It's not convenient to be too direct right now, so we'll just have to brush it off and express our gratitude for the help from Tomat and the others.

After all, Ceylon had always received help from Rhodes Island, and Tomat and the others also came from Rhodes Island.

Even the most ruthless person understands that they should give others a way out.

The conversation among the group avoided Ceylon's private conversation. Ceylon was unaware that a man was wearing Cronin's clothes while Cronin looked miserable with a bruised and swollen face.

As for Kronin himself—he was unaware of the real reason for his capture, nor did he know that the so-called "lenient treatment" did not actually exist; he simply repeatedly admitted that he was the "prisoner who kidnapped Ceylon."

"All that rioting and damage is wiped clean, thanks to you for catching the criminals."

Hei seemed somewhat absent-minded when he thanked her.

After all, she herself couldn't help but feel shy when she discovered that her conversation with Ceylon had been broadcast throughout the city.

After talking with Ceylon, he realized that the two of them were not on the same wavelength at all...

His own words were turned into a so-called confession.

And Ceylon even responded to himself.

I was happy, but also a little ashamed—and at the same time, I didn't know how to explain my true meaning to Ceylon.

However, it seems that not explaining it is fine.

After all, compared to the embarrassment of being misunderstood, expressing her feelings for the other person in this way, rather than in written words, was something Black wanted to try. However, whether it was due to professional ethics or the inability to feel from the bottom of her heart that she could stand on the same level as Ceylon, she was not given the opportunity to express it.