Chương 73: Chapter 72 - Alpha (XXXIV)

August 7, 2024 - Washington, D. C., US"U-Universal Climber Income?" Senator David Caldwell stared at the screen as Elena Morales finished her discourse, barely containing his growing irritation. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the armrest of his chair.

"You can't be serious." He spun around to face Thomas Renwick, the undersecretary for technological development, a man as sharp as a razor blade. Renwick adjusted his glasses and shrugged casually.

"I think she makes a compelling case, Senator," Renwick replied, voice calm. His demeanor, always composed and annoyingly thoughtful, grated on Caldwell's nerves.

"A compelling case?" Caldwell scoffed, rising to his feet.

"You mean the idea that we hand out taxpayer money to these so-called 'Climbers'? 99% of whom—" his voice rose, almost seething, "—are barely scraping by in The Tower, and the other 1% probably don't even understand the technologies they're supposedly bringing back!" Renwick met Caldwell's glare with measured calm, unruffled by the outburst.

"It's not that simple, David. The entire program is merit-based. Only the top performers—the ones who actually advance our society—get the higher payouts. And it's not tax-free. They're still contributing to the economy." Caldwell snorted.

"Contributing? Please. You think a million people suddenly living off government stipends, doing God knows what with their time, is 'contributing'? This is just Morales' latest attempt at some utopian nonsense. She's going to bankrupt us while she plays socialist games with people's lives." Renwick leaned forward slightly.

"You're underestimating the impact of what these Climbers bring back. We're talking about the possibility of accelerating human evolution—of finding a viable path to transcend the current limitations of our species. What would normally take centuries or millennia through traditional research could be fast-tracked by their achievements.

These individuals risk their lives to climb The Tower, and if they succeed, they exponentially enhance our capabilities across all fronts with their heightened mental faculties—research, programming, technological breakthroughs. The universal climber income isn't just a reward; it's an investment in our future."

"Ok, but you can't expect every country to keep up with this!" Caldwell barked, cutting Renwick off.

"What about the poorer nations, huh? You think they can afford to pay their Climbers these outrageous amounts? They're barely keeping the lights on as it is, and now you want them to dole out money for some merit-based fantasy?" Renwick remained calm, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"David, this isn't a one-size-fits-all plan. Countries will contribute based on their capabilities. The top climbers will be supported by an international fund, and it's scalable depending on a nation's resources. We're not asking Malawi to pay the same as Germany. But every country benefits from the technologies that Climbers bring back." Caldwell sneered.

"You say 'scalable,' but how much are we talking here? How much are we really going to end up paying these people?" Renwick glanced at his watch, then pulled out his tablet.

"I thought you might ask that," he said in a steady voice.

"ASCENT has already opened its service to the public. You can find it pinned on just about any search engine." Caldwell folded his arms, watching skeptically as Renwick logged in. Renwick's fingers moved swiftly, navigating through the various tabs on the ASCENT website.

"Here's the public dashboard," he said, pointing to the home screen.

"Anyone can see this part. A transparent breakdown of climber progression, payouts, and tech advancements." Caldwell leaned closer, eyes narrowing.

"I've seen dashboards before. Show me the money." Renwick didn't flinch at Caldwell's impatience, tapping into a separate section labeled Merit Allocation and Payouts.

"Alright, here's where it gets specific. First, let's check the Gen-1 Climbers." The screen displayed a chart with a tiered payout system, starting at $100 for the first floor.

"For passing the first floor, a climber gets $100 a month. It increases incrementally from there." Caldwell raised an eyebrow.

"Incrementally?" Renwick tapped another tab, revealing the next series of figures.

"Second floor? $200. Third? $300. It keeps climbing like that, up until the seventh floor, where they'll earn $10, 000 a month. But that's only if they reach tier 2, and fewer than 0. 03% make it that far. As you just heard Elena, less than 300 people reached tier 2." Caldwell crossed his arms, his tone slightly softened.

"And Gen-2?"

"Gen-2 Climbers receive half of those amounts. So, they start at $50 for the first floor, maxing out at $5, 000 a month by passing the seventh floor." Renwick flicked through another tab showing global progression data.

"Again, it's all based on merit. There's no automatic payment unless they've earned it through their climbing efforts." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Caldwell stared at the figures, his mind racing.

"So, what you're saying is, most of them—99. 9%, as you implied earlier—will never even see serious money."

"Exactly," Renwick confirmed.

"This is a targeted system. Only the top Climbers—those who bring real, measurable value—receive significant payouts, and the income is taxed. This isn't a utopian welfare system, David. We're incentivizing people to push human limits. These Climbers are coming back stronger, smarter, and more capable, and the ripple effect is already being felt. The advancements they bring could realistically reshape entire industries—energy, medicine, and electromagnetic technology.

We're talking about tangible outcomes: breakthroughs in harnessing EM waves, revolutionizing communication, energy transmission, and even advanced medical treatments. This isn't speculation; it's what we can directly gain from The Tower, and it has the potential to redefine life on Earth." Caldwell turned away, mulling over Renwick's words.

"Fair, but let's keep the focus on the money. Do you really think it's sustainable? These Climbers won't just keep demanding more, expecting more as they ascend? Morales is pushing this hard, and we both know her long-term goals." Renwick's eyes narrowed.

"David, universal income has been discussed globally for years, and not just by idealists. The rise of AI has shown that fewer people are needed to maintain and advance society. You've heard the arguments from people like Matt Saltman and Amon Tusk. Small-scale experiments around the world have shown the viability of a universal basic income in response to technological change. This isn't some theoretical exercise—it's already being tested." Caldwell's shoulders sagged slightly as he processed the information.

"And what happens when these poorer countries can't contribute anymore? When the burden becomes too much?" Renwick met his gaze directly.

"That's where the international fund steps in. It's replenished through the technologies and innovations Climbers bring back. The goal is to create a self-sustaining system. Yes, there will be challenges, but if we don't lead this change, someone else will. And the U. S. cannot afford to fall behind." For a long moment, Caldwell was silent, the weight of the argument settling in. Finally, he exhaled slowly.

"I still don't like it. But I'll admit, the numbers make sense." Renwick nodded, his expression unchanged.

"That's all I'm asking. Let's keep an open mind as we move forward." Caldwell gave a curt nod, though his dissatisfaction still lingered.

"I'll be watching this closely, Renwick. Very closely." Renwick stood, gathering his things.

"As you should, Senator. But I believe in time, the benefits will speak for themselves." Stage 1 - 1. 801%"I stink like shit," Alonso muttered, shaking his arm to flick off some of the blood.

"Well, not gonna get that stain from putting my arm inside the brain tissue of 23 giant scorpions off easily."" Yeah, that's what happens when you go elbow-deep without protection." Alonso chuckled, then gazed at the sky. The sun was beginning to set, which was good since it had been less than kind to him in the desert. But also...

"What do you reckon is gonna change here in the desert? Another creature showing up, like the worms switching to panthers in the jungle?"" You seem awfully calm about it." Alonso walked over to his backpack and sat down, taking a few more sips of coconut water. He still had more than half left, but consumption was faster than he had anticipated due to the desert conditions and the intense fights. As for the distance covered, he was now 190 km from the shore, with 120 km through the desert.

He had maintained a solid pace, taking no more than a couple of short breaks.

"Well, the scorpions are fun, but now they only give 0. 003%. So, I'm expecting something fresh for the night. In any case, I'm not aiming to cross the full 770 km on this trip. I'll hunt a bit more, scavenge the last scorpion for some good gear, and then head all the way back to properly prepare for the real journey."" Fair enough. Just be careful what you wish for. That first panther almost killed you."

"Well, I was a noob back then," Alonso chuckled." Oh, and now, just a couple of days later, you're a pro?"

"Those are your words, Houston, not mine," Alonso grinned.

"And speaking of that, I need to update my status screen soon." He grabbed a piece of the old, cooked panther meat and started eating.

"You know, the good thing about the desert is that, while the environment's much harsher than the jungle, at least you get time between each scorpion attack. You can chill, grab a drink, eat some meat. Enjoy the scenery."" Yeah, especially that last part. Beautiful scenery, huh?"

"Well, I always wanted to visit a desert. I mean, I usually hiked in more forgiving, greener places, but the desert has always tempted me. Sure, the conditions are horrendous, but there's a certain charm in the sandy sea stretching out as far as the eye can see."" With giant metallic scorpions trying to eat you now and then."

"Well, they make for good dance partners. And perfect for honing my Domain and Simulation. What more can you ask for?" Suddenly, his EM Domain detected a faint vibration rippling through the sand. He stood up lazily.

"Well, here we go again."