This was the Chief's voice.
Lox could never forget the charge that man had given him before he entered hibernation.
"Please ensure that humanity endures, that the flame of human civilization is never extinguished."
He had always honored the responsibility entrusted to him by the Chief. Though he could not claim to have exhausted every ounce of effort, he had never dared relax for even a moment.
He was not afraid of death. Over his long life, Lox had embraced death before, and that hollow sensation of nothingness could no longer truly frighten him.
But he alone feared that the responsibility the Chief had entrusted to him would perish because of his incompetence and foolishness.
Lox had never claimed to be wise, because he had seen what a true sage was like.
The Alliance Chief was the wisest person Lox had encountered in his long life. He was learned, seemingly omniscient; he was keen, and his extraordinary foresight had shown him the hardships human civilization was bound to face.
He had devoted himself tirelessly to human civilization, endlessly contributing his wisdom. The new scientific system he had pioneered had allowed human civilization to continue charging forward in song.
That was precisely why Lox had maintained such respect for a man tens of thousands of years younger than himself.
They had been both teacher and friend, though most of the time, the Chief had been the teacher.
"Chief... is that you?"
Lox asked the question in his heart, scarcely daring to believe it.
Only after truly taking up the burden of responsibility could one understand how heavy it was. Only those who had experienced it firsthand could comprehend that feeling.
"It's me."
Lox's heart jolted, and he could hardly believe the voice he heard.
"But it isn't me," the voice said.