However, this brought the discussion back to the destruction of the Old World.
If the Precursors were indeed the ones who destroyed Earth due to some grand cosmic conspiracy, then according to Arthur's logic, humanity might have already passed the Great Filter, making them an incredibly rare species in the cosmos.
But as for who actually pulled the trigger, it was glaringly obvious that no one in the room had an answer. The scientific community had analyzed the planet's destruction for months, concluding only that it was an artificial attack by an alien intelligence, not a natural disaster. Beyond that, they knew nothing. Humanity had never even seen a living alien, let alone the one that destroyed their home.
For a moment, a heavy, suffocating silence fell over the auditorium. Humanity's understanding of the universe was truly pitiful.
