"The first stage, physiological needs, is simple. They are the essential needs required to sustain human survival. When one is plagued by hunger and unable to ensure one's own survival, people cannot afford to care about so-called morality, much less any other rules and constraints of human society. This is the inevitable result of the instinct for life to survive."
Meeting Krauser's thoughtful gaze, John smiled faintly. Then, recalling his own memories, he added in a rueful tone:
"Like me, when I was an orphan. After my mother died, I had no choice but to wander the slums. In order to survive, I had to try stealing. Even though I knew such things were immoral and wrong, when I had nothing to eat and did not know whether I would live to see tomorrow, people could abandon every bottom line for survival."
"Once physiological needs can be guaranteed, however, people move on to the next stage: the need for safety. After their physiological needs are met, people begin pursuing security and stability in their lives, such as workplace safety, occupational security, stable living conditions, and avoiding disasters."
"If the needs of this stage cannot be met, people will try every possible means to stabilize them."
"This precisely corresponds to my experience of being taken to a laboratory by the officers of the Empire's Forbidden Experiments and subjected to experimental modification."
At those words, Krauser's pupils contracted slightly. As if he had recalled something, the look he gave John became somewhat complicated.
John did not mind. He simply continued speaking on his own:
"During that period, although my basic survival was guaranteed, every day I had to endure the agony of countless pieces of flesh being stripped away or my mana circuits being altered. Therefore, under such torment, I wanted to