Two mornings later, the sunlight was just right.
Benjamin met up with Amy and Victor at the landmark Startrack Plaza in the city center, as agreed.
When he arrived, he happened to see Amy, who had clearly been waiting for quite some time.
"Over here, over here!" Amy waved excitedly. She was dressed in lively casual clothes today.
Victor was still dressed in his meticulous Academy style. He nodded at Benjamin.
After briefly confirming their itinerary, the three decided to first visit Universal Mall, the largest commercial complex, to pick out a gift for Amy's aunt. Then they would wander around and catch a movie.
As he walked along the broad, spotless streets, where streams of hovercars silently passed by, Benjamin appeared to casually observe his surroundings.
His gaze repeatedly swept over the enormous public screens mounted on the facades of those towering buildings.
The screens were cycling through news reports on the "Frontline Galaxy Campaign" in extraordinarily lifelike holographic footage—massive starships exchanged fire in the depths of space, energy beams crisscrossed, and explosions silently blossomed in flames.
The broadcaster described the ferocity of the war and the bravery of their soldiers in a grave tone.
Yet in stark contrast to this war-torn news was the peaceful social atmosphere all around them.
There were no recruitment stations, no notices of wartime rationing, and no tension of a state of emergency.
At bus stops, young men and women enthusiastically discussed the latest holographic immersive game and the scenery of some newly developed tourist planet.
On park benches, elderly people leisurely basked in the sun and chatted about a community social dance.
Everyone wore an almost ordinary calm on their faces. As for the war shown on the screens, a war concerning the survival of civilization itself, they seemed—completely unmoved.
No fear,