There were a ton of caveats regarding the data terminal's new passenger teleportation feature. Raven 12345 couldn't explain them all at once. Kevin, after taking a look at the newly added manual on the terminal, realized it was something that required serious study. Previously, he'd only been a "passenger," and with his limited knowledge, he'd never considered the intricacies of something involving space. Now, he finally understood a little: civilian-grade teleportation can't be used near high-intensity gravitational fields; simultaneous two-way teleportation requires a calibration protocol to avoid accidents; the curvature issues caused by the activation of a Type I hyperdrive can hinder civilian teleporters; gravity well generators can catastrophically interfere with any form of teleportation...
It was a ton of incomprehensible stuff, so Raven 12345 told him not to delve too deeply and just listen to the data terminal's automated prompts. That's basically what the other examiners did anyway. Kevin excitedly put away his now-renovated and significantly enhanced data terminal, yet he still remembered himself as a country bumpkin who had never ventured beyond the atmosphere. "Just some details... Am I going to Kuiper Station? Will there be a guide? How do I get to that planet hundreds of light-years away? Will there be a spaceship or a direct teleport? I'm completely clueless."
"The data terminal is your guide. There are also staff at Kuiper Station to meet you. I've arranged a ship for you. It's a civilian transport, but it's in partnership with the Empire, so it's absolutely reliable." Raven 12345 simply tossed his tea aside and began to eat from the sugar jar, spoonful by spoonful. "I'm telling you, you're an Inquisitor. While you're considered a low-ranking official in the Imperial administrative hierarchy, you're still a civil servant in the eyes of all civilizations in this universe. Be mindful of your status when you go out." Remember the employee rules, right? Just follow them and you'll be fine. Be careful not to interfere with other civilizations, don't bully others, and ask for permission before anything. If I'm not home, you'll be on your own. Well, you should be on your own most of the time. Also, there's Kuiper Station. I think I need to introduce it to you first."
Kevin had a feeling that "Kuiper Station" sounded familiar; the word "Kuiper" sounded familiar. He seemed to have heard of it in some scientific magazine before. His ears pricked up. "What exactly is that place?"
"It's actually very close to Earth. It's actually in our solar system," Raven 12345 snapped his fingers, and a holographic image of the solar system suddenly appeared in the air, stretched and magnified. They quickly located a densely populated area beyond Neptune. "According to Imperial tradition, each 'terrestrial administrative region' similar to a capital world must be constructed according to the planning methods of the capital world itself. Therefore, we have established a relay station in the Kuiper Belt. This space station is concealed by a shield generator and is expected to be open to Earthlings in 235 years. However, judging by the rate of development on this planet... we'll probably have to consider removing the shield within a hundred years. You're developing space technology quite rapidly."
Raven 12345 added, "That's provided you don't act ruthlessly. If you suddenly die in World War III, everything will be gone."
Kevin's mouth hung open for a long time. Raven 12345 casually revealed a world-shattering truth: There's an alien base right here in our solar system?! Earthlings have been searching for extraterrestrial sounds for decades, yet a group of aliens have long been living, working, and conducting business right under our noses? "Don't be so surprised," Raven 12345 said with a cheerful wave. "Look at where you are now! There's a portal above that bastard that leads directly to heaven, and yet you're not surprised."
Kevin gave the "Lady Goddess" a strange look. "It's mainly because there's a goddess like you living in heaven..."
Raven 12345 took it as a compliment and waved his hand. "Alright, that's all I have to tell you about the business trip. Someone at the space station will tell you the details, and your data terminal will download the mission briefing shortly. Until then... do you have any questions?"
Kevin put the business trip aside. His face straightened. "Indeed, there are some questions about the witchers. Thank you for sending help yesterday, but there's a lot I can't understand. Witchers... are they good or bad? I heard they protect humanity, but you claimed to be a goddess. And I work for you... and now I'm fighting a life-and-death battle with witchers. I'm a little confused."
"Good or bad?" Raven 12345 gave Kevin a deep look. "One day you'll realize that's a stupid question. In many cases, the distinction between good and bad is meaningless; it's simply their current position that determines their behavior. Witchers are the protective force of this world. During a specific historical period, they protected this planet's primitive civilization from being destroyed by aliens. They also indirectly contributed to Earth's current stable development, even to this day." They are still the protectors of Earth's civilization. As for your role, you should also be a protector, but you're serving a higher power, hence your awkward position in localized conflicts. From the perspective of civilization's right to survive, humans are innocent, aliens are innocent, and witchers are innocent. But now these three innocent groups are divided into two irreconcilable factions. As an observer from a higher civilization, it's your mission to find a solution.
"Speak humanly."
"...I'm just taking a break. You figure it out yourself."
Kevin knew this would be the answer, so he let out a long sigh and didn't want to say anything. He only vaguely grasped the contradiction between humans, aliens, and witchers: they are just three groups struggling to survive. Many aliens must prey on humans (like "normal" vampires) or their very existence harms humans (like evil spirits). And both witchers and humans must hunt aliens to protect their own survival. So which side is acting with malicious intent? He suddenly recalled the expression on the witcher leader's face when he saw him yesterday in the northern suburbs warehouse: indifferent, calm. There was no hatred or malice in his gaze upon Vivian and Lily; it was simply his job, his life.
Presumably, back when vampires captive and hunted humans, they looked at the blood slaves in their castles with the same expression. It was simply a necessity. No vampire would drink human blood out of hatred or anger. Raven 12345 saw what Kevin was thinking and said, "You eat steamed buns, do you hate steamed buns?"
Kevin was at a loss for words. "But steamed buns can't talk, can't think, can't run or jump, and won't jump up and shoot you with crossbows. Now, I have a question: Since you said the universe is vast, with countless Earth-like planets, why not just separate aliens from humans? Especially now that aliens can barely survive on Earth, wouldn't it be better to give them a new world?"
"You've thought of this, which at least means you've gained some perspective and aren't limited to Earth. But this idea is still naive," the raven sighed. "First, each civilization's progress is its own, and gods can't interfere with the daily lives of mortals. Unless an entire civilization is facing extinction, the life and death of some individuals within it is a normal part of the overall process, so I won't intervene. Second, escape is never the solution. You can't just split two groups of people onto two different planets whenever they're fighting. No matter how big the universe is, there won't be enough space to divide them. Finally, Who are you asking to move? Humans have lived on this planet for tens of thousands of years, and so have the aliens. Why do you say this is just one side's 'territory'? Just because the aliens lost the fight, you're throwing them to a barren, desolate planet and having them start all over again? Do you think that's what a proper goddess would do?
Kevin really wanted to ask: Have you ever done anything a proper goddess should do?
"Actually, these three are secondary reasons. The main reason is: even if all the aliens currently on Earth were relocated to other planets, it would be a waste of effort," Raven 12345 sighed. "The root of all this is more complex than you imagine. One day, you'll discover the truth for yourself."