"It's technology."
On Embassy Street in Dawn City, sharply dressed young men and women came and went along the street.
Every now and then, one could spot one or two "glowing" outfits, presumably Utopia City's "holographic clothing," which could even switch hair colors freely.
"Technology really is wonderful..."
Gazing out the window, Duke Garawa of the Utopia City Grand Hotel suddenly let out a long sigh and lamented again.
"If the Empire's technology were stronger, if the Human Alliance had left the Empire more of an inheritance... the people of my domain wouldn't have to eat dirt. What a sin."
Yesterday, Dawn City's Survivor Daily had reprinted Red Earth. Naturally, he had seen it too, though he had only read the reprinted opening chapter—The Tale of L.
That article was mostly deliberate slander, but he had to admit that there really were some lazy good-for-nothings in White Elephant City who could not even afford beans.
But where were there no lazy people?
Besides, Survivor Daily was clearly The Alliance's newspaper, yet it went out of its way to report on lazy people thousands of kilometers away while turning a blind eye to the drunks in Boulder City whose drinking had ruined their families.
Looking at it that way, the Dawn Garden News, which dared to tell the truth, seemed more like it was speaking for the millions of suffering survivors in The Alliance.
Still, arguing over words was a trivial matter. Duke Garawa did not care about Survivor Daily's smears. Seeing Red Earth had merely stirred old feelings.
If only they had the technology to produce nutrient paste.
He had heard that the stuff could turn things that could not be eaten into edible food, and it sounded quite nutritious too.
The more Duke Garawa thought about it, the more