Chapter 80: A Startlingly Persuasive Heresy

Ma Jun's smile was brilliant; he paid no heed to Parker but instead turned to Miles. "Colonel, you've already heard about the massacre of humans by the Na'vi?"

"Yes," Miles nodded, his anger evident as he spoke of it.

Ma Jun’s expression hardened. He stood up abruptly. "While I strive to find answers for the fate of humanity, there are always those selfish individuals dragging us back! I’ve given them a chance, but clearly, they’ve squandered it!"

"Kars, execute!"

Ma Jun shouted, springing onto the table, leaping exaggeratedly through the air. With a swift elbow strike and rapid hand-to-hand combat, he subdued Miles in mere seconds.

Meanwhile, a large contingent of mercenaries appeared, seizing Parker’s companions.

"What are you doing? Mr. Ma Jun, have you lost your mind?" Parker shouted in panic.

"Mr. Miles," Ma Jun said with a smile, "I truly admire your approach and believe you won't stoop to the filthy level of some capitalists. But until matters settle, I have no choice but to restrain you." He gestured for Kars to bind Miles.

"Mr. Ma Jun, anger won’t solve anything," Miles remained calm, though surprised by Ma Jun’s skill. "RDA’s attempt on your life is certainly infuriating, but you should resolve this another way."

"I will," Ma Jun replied, smiling as he turned. "Kars, notify everyone immediately. Have them gather in the main base cafeteria. I will address them via video—let them witness some truths!"

Kars quickly carried out Ma Jun’s instructions, broadcasting the call.

Everyone in the human base had already seen Parker’s actions; regardless of their allegiance, all were eager to witness the next developments.

Currently, Ma Jun’s faction had arrested Parker and his associates. If things went awry, the base would be plunged into crisis.

Yet none of these humans realized that Ma Jun, cunning as ever, had already laid explosives beneath their feet, luring them in. Should control slip, he would send them straight to hell without hesitation.

Unaware, the crowds rushed toward the cafeteria: scientists, staff, and even Miles’ mercenaries.

Once the cafeteria was packed, a huge projection appeared, displaying Ma Jun’s impassive face.

"I trust you all are aware of what happened to me. Had my chief bodyguard not intervened, I’d be a corpse right now," Ma Jun’s voice was low and grave. "But I’m not here to discuss that yet. First, watch this video."

The screen flickered; a new image appeared. It showed Ma Jun’s recent outing, the battle with nearly a hundred Na’vi. The footage revealed dozens of mercenaries dying horribly, engineering vehicles ablaze, and some mercenaries burned alive.

"We’ll discuss this later," Ma Jun said after the video ended, lighting a cigarette and speaking in a deep voice. "The reality of human survival is well-known. Before coming to Pandora, I invented Life No. 1—a breakthrough that finally gave humanity a chance to breathe, at least no longer seeing countless die of hunger every day."

"I won’t hide it: Life No. 1 has brought considerable profits, but it’s never been a burden for humanity. Even the poorest only spend three and a half dollars daily—hardly expensive. And Junma Technologies provides free aid every day."

"Frankly, Junma Technologies’ profits in recent years have made me one of the wealthiest people on Earth."

"Yet I didn’t stay on Earth, wallowing in comfort. I came to Pandora—a dangerous place, with harsh living conditions. Still, I came, hoping to do more for humanity."

"The more I learn, the clearer it becomes: humanity’s ailments are severe."

"I won’t dwell on how, while risking my life to research Life No. 1, I faced constant obstruction from my own kind."

At this, some people glanced toward Grace.

Grace felt aggrieved and angry. "You claim scientific research? Why not show those hunting videos?"

Ma Jun sighed deeply, appearing utterly weary. "I want to reveal something—things that should be obvious."

"Today, everyone knows about the diamond scam: capitalists take a hard stone, dress it up, control its supply, and, flaunted by celebrities, make it unimaginably precious."

"If worthless things can be made valuable, what about things of real worth? Like superconducting ore."

"A single unrefined piece of superconducting ore is worth twenty million dollars. Of course, transporting it from distant Pandora requires immense resources. But remember: here, such ore is more abundant than oil on Earth, and RDA has mined it for decades!"

"We know now: if humans had abundant superconducting ore, we’d enter the space age, escape our ruined planet, and find new homes!"

"But doing so would devastate the capitalists’ enormous profits. They want to control the ore’s output, continuing to skin those humans who’ve become walking corpses."

"Oh, some may claim the Na’vi’s resistance is what’s slowed mining."

"But," Ma Jun’s voice rose, "remember centuries ago? The Age of Exploration, when European adventurers discovered the New World. They traded glass beads and cheap trinkets for gold from the natives, then unleashed endless bloodshed to seize the continent."

"And today—have the capitalists changed? No. For profit, they still kill."

"I don’t condone bloody plunder and slaughter, but there are countless other ways to obtain vast mineral resources."

"Humanity stands on the brink of extinction—must we cling to humanitarianism in dealings with aliens? When capitalists commit capital plunder and slaughter, no one speaks of humanitarianism. Only when the bloody capital is accumulated does humanitarianism become fashionable—how absurd!"

"Capitalists feign hardship, watching humanity’s struggle for survival, barely hanging on."

His words rang out, stirring the crowd. The cafeteria was abuzz with hushed conversations, faces grave; some nodded, others reflected.

No one objected.

Ma Jun could see their reactions and smiled inwardly. "Grand principles are always nonsense, for those who preach them always speak from their own advantage. Still, my words have had an effect. If these people know what’s good for them, there’ll be no need to blow them up and send them to meet their maker. Once this performance is over, my mission will be done, and I can freely enter and leave the world of Avatar."