The office door opened again.

Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing walked out of the office one after the other.

"Academician Zhang!"

Shouts came from the side.

Zhang Zhengqing and Ren Feng simultaneously stopped their hurried steps and turned their heads to look in the direction from which the sound came.

The speaker was a researcher with a slightly youthful face, wearing a white lab coat.

Perhaps because of Ren Feng, the young researcher appeared extremely nervous.

"Zhang, Academician Zhang."

He stammered, "The results of the third exploration and comparison of the target star region are in."

"Hmm?" Zhang Zhengqing raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "Did you find anything?"

“No.” The young researcher’s voice became fluent. “We compared the data in the database in detail.”

“Apart from Ross 154, we have not found any abnormalities.”

Although he had expected this result, Zhang Zhengqing still felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

He nodded and waved his hand lightly, saying, "Okay, I understand."

With that, he turned and walked toward the elevator.

The long-range communication device is located on the fourth floor of the Academy of Sciences.

"Academician Zhang, should we continue the search?" The young researcher's voice rang out again. "The radio telescope repair is only halfway complete. Relying solely on optical telescopes for searching could easily lead to misjudgments."

Zhang Zhengqing took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

"Continue the search!"

"Keep a close eye on Ross 154's direction. Report any unusual activity immediately!"

...

Watching the young researcher's departing figure, Ren Feng nodded thoughtfully: "Is this a newcomer to the Academy of Sciences?"

Zhang Zhengqing was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Yes! You figured it out?"

Ren Feng shrugged: "Of course."

"He practically has the word 'newbie' etched on his forehead."

As he spoke, Ren Feng strode forward: "Speaking of which, it seems there have been quite a few new faces at the Academy of Sciences recently."

Zhang Zhengqing quickly followed Ren Feng, his expression showing a hint of excitement, and said, "There are indeed quite a few new people."

"Although the level of professional competence varies, it is ultimately a good thing."

"Over the past 25 years, our scientific research has become increasingly smooth."

"The progress of analyzing the existing technological system has also increased significantly."

"Perhaps it won't be long before we can build our first starship."

These words, however, brought Ren Feng no joy.

He sighed softly and reached out to press the elevator button in front of him: "What a pity..."

"bite!"

A crisp sound rang out, and the elevator doors opened.

The two stepped into the elevator together.

"pity?"

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the smile on Zhang Zhengqing's face gradually disappeared.

He frowned and asked in a low voice, "What's a pity?"

"call……"

Ren Feng exhaled a long breath and said in a deep voice, "Compared to twenty-five years ago, the birth rate is declining."

"According to the latest statistics, the birth rate within the civilization has fallen by 25% over the past 25 years."

"This is extremely bad news for our fragile civilization."

Zhang Zhengqing's expression changed slightly, and he said in a somewhat urgent tone, "Why didn't you say this sooner?"

"Hasn't Parliament done anything?!"

Ren Feng shook his head bitterly.

"We've used almost every available measure."

"But they were basically ineffective."

"Family values ​​are fading, and the birth rate is declining..."

“These conditions have become increasingly serious over the past 25 years.”

"Perhaps this is the last glorious moment of human civilization on Proxima Centauri."

"bite!"

A crisp sound rang out.

The elevator doors opened.

The spacious area on the fourth floor of the Academy of Sciences was presented to the two of them.

"Let's go." Ren Feng took a deep breath and said, "Let's deal with Ross 154 first."

With that, he stepped out of the elevator first.

He didn't see that Zhang Zhengqing, inside the elevator, had a gloomy expression and seemed to be pondering some important issue.

...

More than ten minutes later.

Zhang Zhengqing skillfully operated the long-range communication device in front of him.

Suddenly, his hand stopped moving abruptly.

"All done?" Ren Feng's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked.

"Not yet." Zhang Zhengqing shook his head. "I just thought of something."

"With the birth rate difficult to increase, have you considered other solutions?"

Ren Feng frowned: "For example?"

"One plan after another to stimulate young people to have children has been passed, but none of them have been very effective."

"Let alone the birth rate, the number of people getting married has also dropped significantly in the last two years!"

"I can't force these young people to get married and have children, can I?"

As he spoke, Ren Feng's anxiety grew even stronger.

He remembered the documents he had looked at that morning.

That is a newly drafted plan to stimulate childbirth.

Although it hasn't been implemented yet, Ren Feng knows in his heart that this stimulus plan probably won't have much effect.

Even so, he still chose to approve the proposal.

There is no other reason.

Human civilization on Proxima Centauri has no better choice!

"No, no, no." Zhang Zhengqing slowly shook his head, a mysterious smile appearing on his lips.

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