212 Radioactive People (Part 2)

“The helium ore, which is the size of a fingernail, contains enough energy to support interstellar battleships for more than half a year.

“There is a well-known truth on the origin planet that said, the size of a helium ore is natural. It means that every piece of helium ore is fixed in size during the natural formation process. Changing the size of a helium ore can only be done over time and by letting the helium ore grow by itself.

“Humans cannot interfere.

“This phenomenon is called the closed loop of helium energy.

“However, when we humans mine, helium ore is a large piece that is condensed together.

“Before using the helium ore, the condensed helium ore must be divided according to its original size.

“If there is an accident during the separation and the helium-energy structure is slightly damaged, the helium energy will emit a small number of radioactive elements. If the structure of the helium ore is severely damaged, the helium ore will explode.

“The explosion will cause terrible damage and powerful radiation.”

Ning Shi knew nothing about helium energy. He asked curiously when he heard Old Li’s words.

“Helium energy is so dangerous. Wouldn’t it be easy for accidents to happen in our daily life? Mechas are also powered by helium energy. If someone attacks the part that drives the mecha, wouldn’t the mecha self-destruct?”

Old Li picked up another red-eyed rabbit and placed it on the chopping board before he answered.

“The helium ore itself is extremely strong and very difficult to cut. Generally, it can only be separated by a nano-level precision machine using laser cutting means.

“The helium energy, on its own, is strong enough to ensure its stability.

“Not only that, but there is also a special law on the application of helium energy on the origin planet.

“The law stipulates all the regulations on the mining, cutting, and application of helium. In the regulations, it is stipulated that the energy chamber must meet safety standards before helium could be used on any machinery.

“The larger the size of the helium ore, the higher the energy density, and the higher the design requirements of the energy chamber. The legal standard was that the strength of the energy chamber had to be higher than the damage caused by the helium explosion.

“This way, even if the helium ore explodes, it will not destroy the shell of the energy chamber.

“For example, the helium ore on mechas and battleships is relatively large in size. The material used to make the energy chamber is at least A-level alloy, and it also has a special damage and shock reduction design to ensure that the helium ore receives the strongest protection.”

Old Li glanced at the smart wristwatch on Ning Shi’s hand and continued.

“There’s also a helium ore smaller than a grain of rice in your watch. It’s placed in the energy chamber of the watch. Even if the helium ore explodes, the energy chamber won’t be broken through. The watch will only lose power and there won’t be any other problems.

Ning Shi understood that this was the same as the use of nuclear energy by the people of Saturn. It must be regulated and used, otherwise, it would lead to disastrous consequences.

Even if there was a strict management system, people were not machines, and it was inevitable that there would be omissions. For example, a country on Saturn that had the spirit of a master craftsman had a nuclear leak.

They even shamelessly discharged nuclear waste into the sea and destroyed Saturn’s ecological environment.

Ning Shi guessed that the appearance of the radioactive people was probably related to this.

“The system isn’t omnipotent,” Old Li said. “Whether it’s the precision machine for cutting helium ores or the solid and safe energy chamber, they all require high manufacturing costs.

“For many mine owners and companies, profits are more important than anything else. In order to save costs, there are always people who do not follow the rules.

“In all fields of helium-energy mining, cutting, and application, there had been incidents of structural damage to helium ores and even helium explosions because of cutting corners.

“Ever since humans discovered and used helium ores, the radiation caused by helium energy has never stopped.”

For the tens of thousands of years of history on the origin star, everything had always been ruled by the aristocrats. These aristocrats did not care about the lives of the people at the bottom for the sake of their interests. The radiation incident was just a small matter of some people dying.

Ning Shi cut the windpipe of a red-eyed rabbit with a knife and threw the fat rabbit at Old Li’s feet, asking.

“Will humans and animals mutate after being exposed to radiation? This is how radioactive people come about.

“Could it be that the rich relied on technology and the poor relied on mutation?”

Old Li shook his head and sighed.

“It’s a complete tragedy. The more powerful the helium is, the more severe the damage caused by the radiation is. In every helium accident, the number of casualties is in the hundreds of thousands.

“Those with severe radiation turned into pus on the spot. Those with less radiation had their muscles atrophied, and some had their bodies completely deformed and twisted, completely losing their ability to live.

“Those high and mighty nobles and rich people would always make a fake apology after every accident, and then turn around and continue to cut corners. The radiation accidents had never stopped.

“The adaptability of humans is extremely terrifying. After thousands of years of constant radiation, some of the human genes gradually adapted to the radiation.

“In the year 5497, the first batch of radioactive people appeared in the human world.

“These people could slowly absorb the radioactive elements in the helium energy. By condensing the radioactive elements in their bodies, not only could they improve their physical fitness, but they could also develop various magical abilities.

“Because normal humans have no resistance to radiation, radioactive people could cause great damage when they fight with normal people.

“Because of this, the radioactive people have never been recognized by normal humans. The major human aristocrats came together and adopted a policy to exterminate the radioactive people, thus forming a hatred.”