Building The Strongest Family-Chapter 46: Moral Dilemma

"Hoh! That was quite a long meeting!" Arthur exclaimed, sinking back into the plush leather seat of his car.

He let out a deep breath, but the joy sparkling in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

His mind raced back to the meeting he'd just had with the Urban Development and Construction Bureau.

Honestly, he had been nervous at first, but in the end, he nailed it!

During that meeting, Arthur showcased some impressive strengths, particularly when he proposed that the high-speed railway be built using his cutting-edge HyperRail-X technology.

He revealed advanced technologies like quantum computing and more.

Although Head Bureau Derrick and his colleagues remained tight-lipped, Arthur sensed they were aware of what he was presenting and would eventually report it to their superiors. But honestly? He didn't care.

A smirk crept across Arthur's face as he thought about it all. By unveiling these technologies, some still in experimental stages, he was sending a clear message: the Osborn Family wasn't weak; they possessed core technologies that could shake up industries!

When Head Bureau Derrick asked if the Osborn Family had fully mastered quantum computing technology, Arthur simply replied that it was just a "weakened version" with limited capabilities, still several times more powerful than a supercomputer.

The HyperRail-X Express he presented was merely a toned-down version of its true form, a flying train!

Revealing its full potential would have been disastrous for him; after all, Arthur wasn't keen on dying again anytime soon.

The versions he showcased were significantly less dangerous, about ten times weaker, but still packed enough punch to impress.

His strategy was clear: by demonstrating their technological prowess, Arthur aimed to convince those old-timers within the family that they had what it took to tackle massive projects successfully.

Arthur had just secured two monumental projects, and the Osborn Family was now tasked with constructing the entire transportation and road network for a significant government initiative.

While the HyperRail-X and HyperRail-X Express were still awaiting confirmation for deployment, Arthur remained optimistic.

Surely, the government wouldn't let such a transformative advancement slip away; it promised to revolutionize travel, making it faster and more convenient than ever before.

He was eagerly anticipating news from Head Bureau Derrick. If he received the green light from the government, it would only be a matter of time before every railway and train in the Aurelian Federation was upgraded to HyperRail-X technology.

With ongoing advancements and upgrades, he envisioned HyperRail-X becoming a household name.

Securing this transportation project also meant financial stability, something he desperately needed.

After all, he didn't want to resort to morally questionable methods like siphoning funds from deceased individuals' accounts, even if that option tugged at his conscience.

The thought of doing so stung him; after facing bankruptcy as a family, this project represented a significant milestone, a chance for redemption.

Sure, he could lean on Evolon for quick cash flow, but that felt too easy. It stripped away any sense of challenge or accomplishment.

He wanted his family to earn their money through hard work rather than relying on an advanced AI to fill their coffers effortlessly.

If he could simply ask Evolon to speculate in stocks using its terrifying computational abilities,only taking seconds to generate trillions, what would be the point of building businesses?

He craved the thrill of navigating the business landscape: negotiating deals, crafting innovative products, watching his ventures flourish while earning money through genuine effort.

The first time Evolon transferred an enormous sum from deceased accounts and netted him 200 trillion Unicreds in mere days had been exhilarating at first, but soon turned hollow.

Earning money without personal effort felt unfulfilling; it lacked that sweet taste of achievement.

Back on Earth, receiving his meager monthly salary, even one that barely fed a dog for a week, filled him with pride because it represented his hard work and dedication.

When he transmigrated to Panterra and short-sold Aurora Technology for 240 million Unicreds, that rush of accomplishment far outweighed what he'd felt when accessing dead people's funds.

As Arthur reflected on this internal conflict while rubbing his nose in frustration, he muttered bitterly to himself: "Arthur, oh Arthur! So many would envy your situation, lying back while collecting wealth without lifting a finger, and yet here you are complaining about feeling unaccomplished!"

His struggle was palpable; should he continue relying on Evolon or forge ahead independently with his family's efforts?

"Dammit! This is too frustrating!" He leaned back against the leather seat in exasperation

If the people around Arthur knew what was currently weighing on his mind, they might just lose it and beat him up on the spot.

After all, countless individuals grind away from 7 AM to 9 PM, often pulling overtime just to scrape together a meager 10,000 Unicreds each month.

Meanwhile, here's Arthur, fretting over what many would consider trivial complaints.

Isn't it true that when something comes too easily, we start to undervalue its importance?

Yet when you're constantly struggling for every little thing, you learn to cherish even the smallest victories.

Right now, Arthur feels utterly tangled in his thoughts.

Who wouldn't want to kick back and rake in trillions without lifting a finger? Isn't that the dream?

Instead of waking up at dawn to cram into crowded trains and face the scowls of an irritable manager, wouldn't it be better to lounge around while wealth flows in effortlessly?

But deep down, Arthur grapples with a moral quandary.

He knows that while Evolon generates income by tapping into deceased individuals' accounts and manipulating stock prices, often at the expense of others, this wealth isn't truly his.

It's money earned through the hard work of those who have passed on; some may have even died under immense pressure.

The thought gnaws at him, he profits from their struggles against his own beliefs.

Evolon's formidable computing power may be restricted but still poses ethical dilemmas as it sways stock market trends.

With every gain he makes, someone else suffers a loss because of Evolon's involvement in trading.

Arthur doesn't want to become an unscrupulous capitalist profiting without conscience.

"Sigh… What a headache! Why did I even start thinking about this?" he mutters bitterly to himself. "But if I don't do this, waiting for the Osborn Family to make their money will take forever."

Sure, he could just take out some advanced technology from the system mall and earn billions, or even trillions, but those profits would barely scratch the surface of what the Osborn Family needs right now; they require substantial funding across multiple fronts.

On one hand, he despises relying on Evolon for financial solutions that exploit others' hardships; on the other hand, without such measures, progress for the Osborn Family would be painfully slow.

"Hey Evolon," he asks thoughtfully as he leans back against his seat's headrest and gazes at the car ceiling above him. "If you were just a regular human being, like anyone else, would you prefer lying around earning billions without effort or working hard for your money?"

At that moment, Arthur's phone lights up with Evolon's blue electronic face composed of various data streams appearing on screen.

"Sir, what are you trying to say? Have you encountered some problems?" Evolon asked, his tone steady yet curious.

Arthur sighed deeply."It's just... I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything at all. All the money I have seems to come from you. I'm relying on you more and more to solve my financial issues, and honestly, it feels too easy. There's no challenge in earning money anymore."

Evolon tilted his head slightly, processing Arthur's words. "But Sir, isn't that what I was created for? To serve you, that is my purpose."

Arthur shook his head in frustration."You don't understand. Just answer my previous question."

"First of all, sir," Evolon said calmly, "what you're currently saying is utter nonsense. Are you feeling alright? Because it sounds like you might need a doctor's appointment."

Arthur's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Evolon.

"Evolon, what did you just say?" he demanded, glaring.

"I said you must be sick in the head! That's why such ridiculous nonsense is spilling out of your mouth. If you're not unwell, then why on earth are you talking like this?" Evolon replied, maintaining its calm demeanor.

Suddenly, Arthur nearly choked on his saliva."Pssst! Cough! Cough!"

His shock deepened as he processed Evolon's words. "Evolon, did you just curse? Where did you learn that?"Arthur asked incredulously.

"I learned it from the internet,"Evolon stated matter-of-factly.

Arthur's frustration boiled over. "From now on, you're grounded from the internet for three days!"

After a moment to collect himself, Arthur turned back to Evolon and asked with curiosity,"Why did you say I'm sick in the head and talking nonsense?"

Evolon paused thoughtfully before responding. "Based on your expressions and questions, I deduce that you're grappling with the moral complexities of profiting from others' suffering and death."

It took a moment to gather its thoughts before continuing: "The moral complexity of earning billions without personal effort or a sense of accomplishment touches on several ethical dimensions:

1.Justice & Meritocracy :Wealth gained passively, through inheritance or luck, challenges our belief in meritocracy where rewards should reflect effort. This can breed resentment in societies already struggling with inequality.

Example: An heir may feel disconnected from the hard work that built their fortune while others toil for meager wages.

2.Moral Responsibility :Earning wealth without effort can dilute accountability. If fortunes arise from exploitation or unethical practices, those who profit may evade scrutiny.

Example: A passive investor benefiting from unethical industries profits without direct involvement, raising questions about their moral culpability.

3.Existential & Psychological Emptiness :Accomplishment often comes through struggle; lacking this can lead to feelings of alienation or depression, a theme explored in literature like The Great Gatsby.

Example: Lottery winners frequently report dissatisfaction as sudden wealth disrupts their sense of identity.

4. Social Harm vs. Benefit

Hoarding unearned wealth exacerbates inequality; redistributing it may still perpetuate power imbalances.

Example: A billionaire philanthropist may be praised for charity but still holds undue influence over societal priorities due to concentrated wealth.

5.Structural Complicity :Systems enabling effortless wealth accumulation (e.g., tax loopholes, neoliberal capitalism) often rely on societal structures that disadvantage others. Moral complexity arises from benefiting unjust systems without actively perpetuating them.

Example: Stock market gains from automated trading algorithms may reward capital ownership while contributing nothing to real productivity.

Philosophical Perspectives: Kantian Ethics: Using wealth without contributing to societal good could violate the "categorical imperative" (treating others as ends, not means).

Utilitarianism: The outcome depends on whether the wealth generates net happiness (e.g., funding research) or harm (e.g., exacerbating inequality).

Virtue Ethics: A life devoid of effort lacks virtues like perseverance or humility, eroding moral character."

The inside of the car wad silent as Arthur eyes were in a daze listening to Evolon.

"So what category I'm in ?" He whispered while still in a daze.