Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 132
On the Standard Calendar date of April 29th, the Empire Royal Navy’s main fleet departed from the Sword Bow star system, heading towards the Damoni star system, where the Winnet rebels were stationed. It had been less than a month since the main fleet arrived at Sword Bow for rest, yet they were hurriedly setting out again. Even many officers, who typically advocated for swift and decisive action, couldn’t help but feel concerned.
On the bridge of the Lady of the Night, Alveira sat surrounded by a holographic star map. The holographic image of Darius Bayes stood behind her.
“Alveira, isn’t this operation too hasty?”
“I also think it’s a bit rash. But I can’t wait any longer.” Alveira turned her head, her flaxen hair sliding off her shoulder with the motion. “If we calculate the time, Lagrange and the others should have almost reached Charon Station. If Winnet’s forces move ahead of them, they might still be on Old Earth. How can I continue to wait? Every second wasted increases the chance that the terrible creature might be unleashed. I am protecting the Empire that my brother left me, not a universe destroyed by a monster!”
“I understand, Alveira.” Darius longed to hold her hand, but he was far away on the Sword of the Queen and couldn’t touch her. “If even you lose your composure in your urgency, then who else can defeat Winnet?”
He thought of the intelligence he had received from Zorda a few days earlier, which weighed heavily on his heart like a lead block. If his suspicions were correct… “Alveira, how many relatives do you have left in the world?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“Her Majesty the Queen, His Highness the Prince, Winnet, Musaya, and me. We’re the only family you have left.”
Alveira snorted. “Did you forget about Father’s illegitimate children?” She looked up at the admiral—who was also her cousin—but found his expression strange.
“Alveira, if one day you discovered that the person closest to you had done many terrible things behind your back and indirectly or directly caused the death of some of your friends… What would you do?”
“Are you talking about Winnet?” Alveira asked irritably. “Even if he is my uncle, I can’t forgive the crimes he’s committed. Whether it’s by royal law or by handing him over to the court, he must pay with his life.”
She paused, then added, “Are you worried about Musaya? She didn’t participate in Winnet’s rebellion. I won’t do anything to her, at most stripping her of her title and lands—what’s wrong with you, Darius? You’re acting really strange today.”
Darius forced a bitter smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve just seen a lot of life and death recently, and it suddenly hit me.” He looked at the star map that filled the entire bridge. While alive, they could traverse the galaxy and roam the universe, but one day they would all return to dust, leaving this world and going into the boundless embrace of the Creator. Even the most iron-fisted dictators and the most powerful ambitious people couldn’t escape this fate. The universe was too vast, and time too long. Compared to them, humanity was as insignificant as dust.
Countless universes.
Infinite time.
Darius painfully closed his eyes. Alveira. He thought, even if my suspicions are correct, I won’t let you know. It’s too heavy a burden for you, so let me bear it all alone.
“Alveira, if one day I die, remember this: make sure to hold onto all the weapons in your grasp. In this world, you can trust no one but yourself.”
“Darius, why are you suddenly saying things like this?”
“Maybe I won’t survive the next battle. I’m just leaving my last words.”
“If anyone’s going to die, it might be me too.” Alveira gave a comforting smile. “If I die, you’re the next heir to the throne. You must replace me…”
“You won’t die.” Darius quickly interrupted her. “You have to live and inherit the throne. Do you remember the vows we exchanged? I am the sword of the Empire, sweeping away all traitors and villains. You are the shield of the Empire, protecting the throne left to you by our ancestors and brother, along with the nation and people beneath it. You must become the queen who reigns over the galaxy. So you absolutely cannot die here.”
“Then you can’t die either, Darius Bayes.” The princess said, “The Empire’s sword cannot be broken here. You are not allowed to die without my permission!”
Darius felt a shock in his chest, as if something had melted and solidified again within his heart.
“I…”
A sharp alarm suddenly pierced the air. Leonard appeared beside Darius, ruthlessly cutting him off. “Your Highness, a transport ship has appeared near the Sword Bow star system!”
“What!” Alveira slammed her hand on the armrest. “The enemy has jumped to our rear? How many troops?”
“Currently… it’s just one transport ship.” Leonard himself found it unbelievable. He pulled up a simulation map of the Sword Bow defense forces, where a glaring red dot was rapidly approaching the planet. “They’ve deployed a flight squadron heading towards Sword Bow A!”
At the same time, light-years away from the Lady of the Night, within the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy, Charon, a moon orbiting the dwarf planet Pluto, welcomed its first visitor in two thousand years.
The Northern Cross starship exited its warp jump and headed towards Charon Station, located at the Lagrange point between Charon and Pluto. The station was far from the light of any star, cold and lifeless as a tomb. In the glorious past, it had been a fortress defending the solar system and an outpost for colonial expansion. After Old Earth’s decline, it was gradually forgotten, and the First Galactic War destroyed most of the warp transit points connected to Charon Station, isolating it on the edge of the solar system and the universe. After sending off the last of Earth’s survivors, it was eventually sealed in the deepest recesses of history and memory.
Alois stared at the screen displaying Charon Station. It was spindle-shaped, with eight spokes extending from the center, perfectly maintaining its balance. In the dark expanse of space, the bronze-colored station looked like a lone boat drifting on the River Styx.
“After two thousand years, can it still function?” Alois asked.
“The station’s internal power is supplied by a fusion reactor, which can be started or stopped at any time via external command. Let’s hope Old Earth’s technology holds up.”
Joshua manipulated the computer with deep emotion, sending a command to Charon Station. After the first and second waves of Earth’s survivors left their home planet, Caster became the leader of those who remained, holding all the station’s passwords and codes. He had passed this knowledge on to his brother. Joshua even suspected that Caster had always known he would one day return to Earth, which was why he had instilled all this knowledge in him in advance.
The command was sent via radio waves, and after a few seconds, Charon Station responded that the fusion reactor had been activated. After another ten minutes, when power had reached every corner of the station, a synthesized computer voice echoed on the bridge of the Northern Cross.
“Identity verification passed, code correct. Permission to dock granted. Cerberus, Guardian of Hades, is at your service. Welcome back, Joshua Salaregia.”
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