Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 159

“Aha, so you’re saying another version of me tried to control the Yasha, failed, and ended up getting both the AI and the ship destroyed?” Leo projected himself into the control room, maintaining his usual composed attitude as if the death of his other self had no impact on him. “Damn, I don’t remember any of that.”

“Of course you don’t,” Nolin Titian replied.

Leo, with one hand on his hip, tilted his head as he looked at the young Archon. “So, what do you want me to do now, Archon? Try to control the Yasha again? I already failed once. Do you think I’ll succeed the second time?”

The Archon raised two fingers. “Based on our analysis, the reason you failed was that you lost to the Fifth AI while trying to take control of the Yasha. It was indeed formidable, taking only ten seconds to completely overpower you.”

Leo opened his mouth to retort, but Titian didn’t give him the chance. “But thanks to the Lord’s mercy upon His people,” he drawled, “the Fifth AI’s physical form has been destroyed, according to reports from the Empire. The Yasha is now out of control and has gone into hiding somewhere. We need you to find it and then regain control.”

“That won’t be too difficult,” Leo said. “The question is, what happens after that?”

“Make it fly to a desolate area of space, where I’ll meet it with The Prometheus, and then—boom…” The Archon made an explosive gesture with his hand. “We’ll throw it into a black hole, mission accomplished.”

“And then we can pop open some champagne to celebrate.”

“And maybe enjoy a lavish dinner.”

The two of them bantered back and forth, discussing the bright future after the Yasha’s destruction, but Alois felt they were actually just arguing.

When they finally had enough, Nolin Titian adjusted his collar. “Alright, you can start working now, Leo. I’m going to find something to eat. This ship has a restaurant, right?” he asked Camilla.

“Of course.” Camilla immediately felt that his beloved ship was being disrespected. “Do you need me to show you the way?”

“Or I could light up some guide markers for you,” Leo offered enthusiastically.

“I can find it myself.”

“You made a huge mistake declining Miss Rita’s offer to bring you some snacks, Archon,” Leo quipped.

Titian exited the control room. “Less talk, more work.”

“Aren’t I already searching?” Leo shouted after him.

Once the Archon’s figure had completely disappeared through the door, Joshua turned to the AI. “Leo, come with me. I need to talk to you.”

“What can’t be said in front of everyone?” Leo asked, tucking his hands into his sleeves like a shifty merchant.

“It’s important. Come outside.” Joshua also headed toward the control room door.

“Asimov, are you about to confess to me…?”

The assassin turned back and glared at him. “I hate repeating myself more than three times.” Leo immediately shut his mouth and obediently followed him out.

The control room was left with only Alois and Camilla. Although Alois knew that Leo’s consciousness was running through the computer and that the AI’s invisible eyes were still watching them, he couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling of being alone with someone else.

His gaze wandered, first focusing on the ceiling, then finding infinite fascination in his own shoes. “Uh… Camilla, Srosie …” He wasn’t sure what to call him. “It’s been a while. I didn’t expect to run into you on Sword Bow…”

“I was invited here to give a charity concert,” Camilla replied, idly kicking the floor as if there were countless balls to play with.

“How did the concert go?”

“Very well.”

The conversation fell into an awkward silence again. Alois tried to speak several times, but each time, he swallowed his words before they could leave his mouth. Finally, he could only mumble softly, “I’m really glad to see you.”

The singer lowered his head. “…Me too.”

He bit his lip and, as if summoning all his courage, suddenly grabbed Alois’s left hand. “Alois, I…” His voice trailed off as he noticed something unusual in the hand he was holding. The hard, metallic feel was not what a human hand should have.

“Alois, your… your hand…”

“Oh, this…” Alois realized that Camilla didn’t know about his missing hand yet. Not long ago, he was constantly encountering people who, surprised or sympathetic, asked how he ended up with a prosthetic limb, but his trip to Old Earth felt like it had taken a lifetime, making those familiar questions seem like they belonged to another era.

“There was an accident,” he said with a reassuring smile, removing his glove to reveal the dark gold metal beneath. “So I got a prosthetic. It’s pretty flexible, not much different from before.”

Camilla gently cradled his left hand, noticing the rainbow obsidian ring on his finger that shimmered with vibrant colors. “This… This ring…” Camilla stammered. “Is it… from you and Joshua…?”

“Yes.”

“You two are married? I didn’t know…”

“We haven’t officially held the ceremony yet, but… but…”

He didn’t know how to explain it to Camilla. He was aware that Camilla had feelings for him, but it was an unrequited love that he could never return. He couldn’t keep leaving this matter unresolved, as if he were toying with someone’s emotions. But he also couldn’t bring himself to say something as direct as “You should give up.”

In the end, he could only whisper, “I love him very much.”

Camilla stared at him as if he had just delivered a death sentence.

Alois quickly added, “Don’t be sad. I’m your fan, after all. You’re so adorable, and so many people are crazy about you… One day, you’ll find someone who truly loves you.”

Camilla bit his lip, his large blue eyes turning crystalline. He sniffed and nodded. “I know. I’ve known for a long time.” He fought back his tears. “But can we… can we still be good friends?”

Alois ruffled his hair. “Of course we can.”

The singer batted his hand away, then stood on tiptoe to plant a light, fleeting kiss on his cheek—the kind of kiss that belongs to friends.

Just then, the small robot in Camilla’s arms suddenly lit up. “Wow, a kiss,” Leo said in a tone that was hard to decipher. “Care to give me one too?”

Camilla threw him across the room.

“That damn AI!” he fumed. “Won’t leave my ship. You’re driving me crazy! Once the Yasha is destroyed, can I delete him? Will Neo Athens take him back?”

Alois scratched his head. “Maybe they can build another ship to house Leo?”

Camilla huffed, walked over to the little robot that was now rolling on the floor, and crouched beside it. Alois could only see his back. Camilla remained still for a while, seemingly lost in thought, before finally muttering under his breath, “…Actually, it wouldn’t be so bad if this guy stayed.”

Joshua stepped out of the control room and found a quiet corner, lightly tapping the wall to change it into a vast starry sky. Leo stood beside him, gazing at the twinkling universe.

“What do you want to talk about?” Leo asked.

“I found the last message Kester left for me on Old Earth.”

At the mention of his creator, a crack appeared in Leonard’s usually composed expression. “He anticipated you’d return… Predicting the future so accurately, was he a prophet?”

“Kester asked me to relay a message to you.”

Joshua stared into the mirror-like wall, where their reflections floated as if they were drifting in the infinite cosmos. He saw Leo’s pupils contract sharply, a tiny reaction that revealed the intense emotions stirring within the AI.

“What… What did he say?”

“He said you’re free now.”

Leonard tilted his head back, his expression torn between joy and pain.

“He said he brought you into this world not to control you, but to save us. He’s gone now, but your life is still long. The dead have no right to bind the living…” Joshua recalled the last image Kester left behind in the world, feeling a faint ache in his heart. “He also said he hopes you can pursue happiness.”

After a moment of silence, Leo forced a sorrowful smile. “What a cruel and selfish creator.”

“It might be a bit early to ask, but what do you plan to do after this?” Joshua inquired. “I mean after we destroy the Yasha. Will you go back to Milantu? Or will Neo Athens build another ship for you?”

“I don’t know. I might stay on The Muse for a while, roam around, maybe attend some concerts…”

Leo gazed at the silver expanse of the starry sea, knowing that somewhere in its depths floated a blue planet.

“…Happiness?”

The AI muttered to himself as if no one else were there. “Could I… really…?”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>