Chapter 17: A man named Gilbert Jane

It is uncertain where this man was born.

According to the records, his earliest memory was playing as one of the many children in a slum who didn't even know their parents' faces. He did whatever it took to survive in a place where life was cheaper than bread. Although there are no official records, it seems he killed about three people in his early teens.

Due to his natural charm and intellect, he became a leader among the slum's children. Observing the adults who came to the orphanage, he devised a business idea: human trafficking. He ingratiated himself with the old woman who ran the orphanage and gained her trust within a year. He claimed he learned to read and write during this period.

Once he was confident enough to handle the job, he acted quickly. He teams up with a local tailor and the brothel's landlady, whom he uses as a hideout to dress the children for a bit. He does not discriminate between customers, whether they are a sincere couple looking for a child or a rich man with unclear intentions. He sells the children to them for the right price.

For the children in the slums, any foster parent was a godsend. The slums were a living hell, where fewer than one in ten children survived to adulthood. To these children, Gilbert was a hero, providing them with a roof over their heads. He himself believed that what he was doing was good, at least until he reached a certain age.

Gilbert Jane, now known for his orphanage, became a well-known figure among the people of his country by his mid-twenties. The old woman had already passed away, leaving him in full control of the orphanage. By now, corruption was evident in his actions.

Due to his success, the number of orphans in the slums gradually decreased, so he began collaborating with local gangs. He would reveal information about rival gangs, leading to successful attacks that left many children without their parents, who had previously considered him their "hero."

Even though Gilbert instilled their sense of gratitude through manipulative means, the children adored him as an older brother and never forgot it.

During this period, Gilbert also came into contact with a revolutionary group. One of the early orphans he had placed was now a leader in the revolution. This person, still loyal to Gilbert, requested his help to further their cause.

While publicly assisting the revolutionaries by finding foster homes for orphans, he also maintained connections with the country's elite, hedging his bets to see which side would bring him the most profit.

The revolution initially went well but fell apart after a major failed operation seven years later, leading to the group's collapse.

It was no coincidence that Gilbert Jane's name appeared among the high-ranking officers of the national army at that time.

Human lives are a commodity. This was the lesson Gilbert had learned.

He continued his clandestine operations, gathering children orphaned by the civil war into his orphanage and indoctrinating them.

"Stay quiet in your new home. Patience is key. When you grow up, seek revenge on the nation. I was a collaborator with the revolutionaries; we share the same grief. But wait until you're strong enough."

Using such rhetoric, he filled the children with hatred and then released them into the world.

Gilbert was shrewd, hiding the orphans' true origins and selling them to influential people. "Taking in children displaced by war will improve your reputation," he said, convincing many to adopt these children.

These orphans, adhering strictly to Gilbert's teachings, would listen quietly, harboring their anger and tears.

Fifteen years later, another revolution erupted in the country. This time, many of the participants came from powerful families, and the capital fell in just three days. They executed most of the ruling elite and established a new revolutionary government.

In this new regime, Gilbert Jane received a promotion to president.

He had never been in the public eye, yet he had ascended to the pinnacle of power by trading in war and human lives just before turning fifty.

However, his downfall was swift.

One of the original revolutionaries who had survived knew him well.

On the day of the President's inaugural speech, a man missing an arm and a leg shouted to the gathered crowd:

"That man is the cause of everything!"

He revealed Gilbert's human trafficking, his betrayal of the revolutionaries, and the fact that only Gilbert could have leaked vital information known only to the leadership.

The poor man was shot dead after making his statement.

Initially, few believed him. Many regarded Gilbert Jane as a selfless saint of the Jane Orphanage.

But subsequent inadequate governance lent credibility to the unknown man's words, and the ensuing oppression brought widespread death to the nation.

After two years of dictatorship, Gilbert Jane fell from power. Authorities arrested him as a political criminal and sentenced him to exile. Only his accumulated wealth could spare his life.

After serving his exile, Gilbert returned to Earth after nearly a decade.

Weakened, he struggled even to stand at first. His main purpose for returning was to exact revenge on those who had betrayed him. But this sentiment shattered against the bleak landscape of Earth, where few of his intended targets likely remained alive.

He did not return to his homeland. He grew a beard and concealed his face with his hair, taking on a new identity as Damos and organizing the survivors. Having more people was useful for finding food.

However, this too reached its limit due to the excessive number of people gathered.

"You manage things quite well. It's as if you're intimately familiar with this sort of situation."

"Who are you, folks?"

"We share the same ancestors as you."

While rationing the scarce food, they walked across the barren land in search of their next meal and water. Damos was beginning to believe that they might have to kill and eat someone to survive when they encountered those who called themselves the "Devin."

The five "Devin" possessed advanced technology beyond anything seen on Earth.

"We have come from the far reaches of the sky to save you," they said.

Initially, Damos thought their words were nonsense, but when they provided food, he decided to trust them for the time being. He couldn't comprehend how the demon had produced the food right before his eyes.

He'd use them while they were useful and sell them out when they were no longer useful. It was a tactic he had employed many times before.

Rumors spread mysteriously, suggesting that in this place, food was not a problem. Within half a year, the population of the settlement had grown to tens of thousands.

One day, Devin informed Damos:

"The main fleet is coming. We need you to decide who will be the first to board the ship."

"Ship?" asked Damos.

"Yes, this planet is on the brink of death. There is no future for you here," they replied.

Damos felt a deep sense of realization. He nodded and then twisted his lips into a wide, crooked smile.

"So, how many people do I need to sell to secure my position?" he asked.

With a similarly sinister smile, one of Devins replied, "You noticed, did you?"

Yes, of course. This approach is similar to what he did throughout his life.

"How about ten thousand?" Devin proposed.

"Sold," Damos agreed.

He told them to select the people themselves, feeling a sense of clear relief.

A ship carrying ten thousand people left Earth. On the deck, one of the demons smirked. The majority of the buyers were already in line. It had been a while since they had such a large deal, and it felt exhilarating.

The Federation's absolute fortress, Zodokia, had moved. Based on past experience, they would abandon Earth, which was under surveillance, and leave. This was why their superiors had taken action.

Wiping away his smile, he sighed.

"What is the additional funding required for re-admission to the Federation?" he inquired.

"I don't know. Our superiors are also struggling," replied another member of the advance team who had descended to Earth.

"Their Majesties must be reaching their limits," the other mused.

"We're in the same boat. Without regaining Federation citizenship, we have no future," the first one responded.

"Damn, if only we could buy that system," he lamented.

The Federation had exiled him, erased his biological data, and denied him the ability to resurrect after death. The absence of a backup plan for their lives had a profound impact on their psychological state.

Thinking about it made his nerves tense. To change the topic, he voiced a sudden question.

"Speaking of those mortals,"

"Hmm?"

"Damos was quite capable. Why did you choose him?" he asked.

Devin always selected representatives before removing the "products" under the guise of protection. Damos was their second choice.

He pointed out that the woman known as the General was far more capable than Damos.

"She was no good. Damos was better."

"Why?"

"That woman acted for the future of mortals. Damos acted for his own desires."

"And?"

"Damos is straightforward. As long as we provide him with incentives, he will try to use us to his advantage," the other explained.

The answer made sense. Among the representatives they had considered, Damos met their conditions.

"Is that why you killed the woman?" he asked.

"Yes. If we had left her alive, she would have opposed us. Not dangerous, but trouble."

"Indeed. … Hey, how about getting Damos to grant us Federation citizenship?"

"Hmm? Could he be using his wits to get the system to us?"

"Or perhaps infiltrate the mortals to help us gain citizenship," the other suggested.

"That sounds good."

Devin's ultimate goal was to rejoin the Federation. The seeds of life they had planted on undeveloped planets were based on their own genetic information.

According to them, mortals who faced death were inferior beings. This sparked their disdain for mortals. As a result, they had a deep-seated desire to reintegrate into the Federation and regain the ability to defend their lives. They couldn't endure the burden of mortality, just like humans.

Replacing fear of death with disdain for mortals, the first wave of Devin ships ferried unfortunate Earthlings to their buyers.