History professor Sarah Jenkins lectured on a course called ‘The New Era: Humanities Post Scarcity Transformation.’

“The UBRS (Universal Basic Rationing System) mandated the distribution of only healthy foods, medicines, and products while requiring participants to stay physically fit as part of a regime of preventive medicine. It also required that recipients give back by working for the system. However, those with excessive wealth did not need to apply for UBRS, so they would consume anything they wished while affording intelligent automation for nearly every basic life task. As a result, their BMIs severely increased to unhealthy levels, causing heart disease and many other catastrophic ailments.”

A student raised his hand.

“Yes, Jim?”

Jim stood up, revealing his slim and muscular build, similar to that of his fellow pupils.

“Where did they all go?”

“The wealthy?” asked Sarah.

Jim nodded.

“Well …” Sarah cleared her throat. “One of the graveyards outside our city hosts many local ones. There are hundreds of thousands scattered across the planet.”

“They’re all dead?” asked Jim.

“Yes, that’s correct. A seventh wave global pandemic of a highly contagious nature with a constantly mutating virus rapidly replicated in human fat cells killing millions.”

“So, is the prophecy true?” asked Jim.

“What prophecy, Jim?” Sarah raised an eyebrow.

“The meek shall inherit the Earth.”

Sarah nodded and smiled.

A second student raised her hand.

“Yes, Mary?”

“I read that an underground group of scientists designed the virus to attack the obese … Uh, I mean, wealthy.”

“Sorry, Mary, please refrain from mentioning conspiracy theories in my class.”