The Great Worm Lich

Zhang Lisheng’s words were sharp, but Alison managed to find a loophole in it. “You’re stealing the concept to avoid the most essential problems, Dr. Zhang. The American Indians and our African-Americans ancestors were indeed in a primitive society about 200 to 300 years ago, but they were all Earthlings. The people in the Shrimp World No. 2, on the other hand, are not! This is the most critical issue!”

Zhang Lisheng already had a careful consideration regarding the ’51st State of the United States’ Plan. Upon hearing Alison’s question, he smiled and said, “Miss Officer, your so-called most important issue right now is actually an arrogant prejudice. At the end of the eighteenth century, America began to move westward. At that time, white people did not regard Indians as true’ people.’ Otherwise, they would not have openly plundered their wealth with long guns, caravans, and fast horses, which gave unstable and uneasy feelings to the Indians. In the mid-nineteenth century, before President Abraham Lincoln signed the Slavery Abolition Act, the blacks were still used as livestock-like slaves in the US, while the apartheid system continued into the 1960s and 1970s. So what’s the reason why the white people in the US were miraculously willing to treat other races as equal citizens in just a few decades? Is it because of the progress of ‘civilization,’ or that God has suddenly gifted kindness that made all white people in the US to achieve enlightenment? Everyone who knows a little about the history of America will understand that those KKK thugs who would always wear white masks while shouting—please forgive me for uttering this word—’niggers.’ Letting them die would not just suddenly remove their prejudice against other races with different skin colors once they become older. The reason for this change is the acceleration in the immigration process. It just meant that the ethnic minorities in the country had surpassed that of the whites. The power of these people could even elect a black person to become the president. In this case, racism has become a hated thing. It’s the change in the situation, and not any civilization nor religion, that makes the Indians, African-Americans, Chinese, and Mexicans to become US citizens. What is our current problem now then? Earth has become the Colossal World. In this broad ‘world, Earthlings have become a veritable minority. In such a situation, shall the US remain still and refuse to make any progress or to keep an open mind? I believe that the answer is self-evident, even without me saying it out loud!”

“Whoa, were you born in the United States, doctor?” Upon hearing the young man’s impassioned statements, Alison breathed a long sigh of relief and asked.

“I’m Chinese, but I was born in St. George’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. The most important thing is that you’re born in America.” The African-American female officer shrugged and said, “When I was listening to you just now, it’s like you have turned this car into a congress hall. Who knows, maybe twenty years later, you’ll become the leader of the western free society. Oh, no, no, it’s not who knows, but it’s a possibility. You’re young, smart, calm, yet passionate, and open-minded when you speak. Most importantly, you have a net worth of tens of billions of dollars and a background as a top biologist. US citizens will love you…”

“But there’s too little Chinese in the US, so I can never be elected to become the US President,” Zhang Lisheng chuckled and interrupted Alison’s words with a smile. “Don’t be naive, Miss. there’s no absolute ‘democracy’ in this world, there’s only the tussle of power.”

“Who would be able to tell what would happen in the future? Even if you can’t become a US president, you’d definitely become a big and important person too. Well, you have already become a big person now,” The female lieutenant smiled. Her tone suddenly changed, and she said sincerely and affectionately, “Doctor, the US has given you so much. I hope that you won’t hurt this motherland who treats you with kindness…”

“I won’t, Miss Alison. I won’t,” Zhang Lisheng grew silent for a while before answering solemnly.

“Thank you, that’s all to my questioning,” The female officer nodded to the young man and thanked him before smiling wryly to James. “Mr. James, my inquiry is over too. Looks like ‘language’ can’t hold off ‘wealth,’ we should send our billionaire back to town and let him rest.”

“Miss Alison, there are many billionaires who have been tried in the US. It’s not a fact that ‘language’ can’t hold off ‘wealth.’ Still, it’s a fact that I have never actively harmed the interests and rights of anyone except in regular business competition. I don’t have any enemies, only friends and I always think about the benefit of the vast majority of people. This is the key,” Zhang Lisheng smiled and chimed in.

“Perhaps, Dr. Zhang. Perhaps one day, your Shrimp B1 Island can really become the ’51st State of the United States. By then, those short natives who worship you can really become US citizens.” Alison nodded again and casually said.

“Oh, Miss Lieutenant, it seems like you still have some prejudice against the natives of the Shrimp B1 Island. Okay, let me tell you something more practical. The trees on the Shrimp B1 Island are more resistant to burning than coal, while the heat generated is higher than the best coke here. Not only that, but some special moonlight will rain on this island one whole night every 30 to 50 years and would catalyze the birth of thousands of supernatural creatures. Its side effect includes making the bare forest to grow dense vegetations again. Do you know what this means?”

“A natural coal mine, or even an oil field, with an area of ​​30,000 square kilometers, which can be regenerated once every 50 years,” Alison remained astonished as she blurted out.

“I must admit that your brain is indeed turning swiftly, Miss Officer,” Zhang Lisheng smiled and said. At this time, the car suddenly stopped. James, who had not spoken for a long time, perked up and opened the door before saying with a blank expression, “We have arrived at Feren City. You may leave now, Mr. Zhang.”

“Alright, I’ll see you again, Agent James,” Zhang Lisheng smiled at the middle-aged white man whose eyes were still filled with anger. When he stood up, he finally looked at the beautiful female lieutenant beside him again. “The Shrimp B1 Island Comprehensive Development Company, under my name, has already started an initial energy mining on the Shrimp B1 Island. If you’re interested, you can always find out more about it. I sincerely hope that more people can understand my thoughts. See you again, Miss Alison.”

After he finished saying so, the young man jumped out of the SUV and took a few deep breaths outside the car door before quickly walking away.

Looking at his disappearing back, James said coldly, “What a rambling daydreamer! I can’t believe that he actually wanted to use us as propaganda for his absurd delusions. My intuition tells me that he must be hiding many unknown secrets.”

“Sir, I think Dr. Zhang’s ’51st State of the United States’ Plan is fascinating,” The female agent in the car hesitated and chimed in with a soft voice.

“In that case, he must have misled you, Jennie. I admit that this guy does have a way with his words, even more so on young people like you who like new things. Just use your brain and think about it. Wanting to make the alien world’s people into the citizens of the United States of America? I can’t think of a more absurd idea of ​​solving problems! Those indigenous people on the Shrimp B1 Island can’t even be called ‘human’!” James grumbled in a low voice before shifting his gaze to the female officer who had a thoughtful expression on her face. “Lieutenant Alison, I’ll suggest in the report that the ‘target’ attention shall be raised from C to B. What do you think?”

“You’re a senior investigator in the FBI, so I can’t comment on your attitude. However, Mr. James, I need to remind you that even if we increase the attention to A, it would still be hard for us to have a hold on Dr. Zhang. He’s far too cautious, and almost everything he does has a good reason…”

“Then what should we do? We know that something is wrong with him, but we’ll just do nothing and let him be?” James heard the tactfulness in Alison’s words, but her actual stance had already begun to lean towards Zhang Lisheng. Interrupting her words, he asked with furrowed brows.

“I don’t know, Mr. James. I don’t know…” After a moment of silence, the female officer sighed and turned her eyes outside of the car, staring into the darkness, lost in her own mind.

At the same time, Zhang Lisheng, of whom she had no idea how to deal with, was amid the cold wind in the dim street while talking on the phone with his professional manager. “I can’t tell where I am now, Charlie. Both sides of the road are just simple and crude wooden houses. This is so f*cked up. I don’t know if I’m in the US or in New Mexico or in a slum in Mexico. There’s no electricity here, and I even saw somebody burning wood in the desert for warmth.”

“Don’t worry about it, Boss. It doesn’t matter if you can’t recognize the location. You just have to walk along the road and head north. You should be able to see us soon.” Charlie explained on the phone. “Feren City has less than 10,000 people, so the load on the urban power grid is minimal. They can only support the operation of the airport when they are all added up together. That’s why when all the citizens here voted to have the municipalities sell electricity at a higher price to the airport, they could only burn wood to get heat or to illuminate the night. They said that they can build the new power grid in the winter, so by that time… Oh, I can see you already, Boss. I can see you already…”

After a series of shouting, the phone beside the young man’s ear was hung up. Then, a large off-road jeep with its rear window rolled down slowly drove towards him from the front. A fat round face of a white person who was at the age between middle-aged and old was extended out from the window, “Here, Boss. We’re here!”

“Stop shouting, Charlie. You’re not as concealed as you think.” Zhang Lisheng waved his hand and quickly walked to the jeep. When he was about to open the door of the car, Maddie suddenly pushed it open, stretching out her body as she asked with concern, “Are you okay, Lisheng?”

“Of course, I am. Those federal agents are fine too. Everything is fine, Maddie,” Zhang Lisheng replied with a smile.