Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 140

The sky, once a clear blue, quickly turned dark as clouds gathered ominously. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and flashes of lightning illuminated the oppressive sky.

Emma sniffed the damp air. “I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling, like something has happened to the Duke…”

Garn immediately scolded her, “Don’t talk nonsense! What could possibly happen to the Duke? Stop scaring yourself!”

A bolt of indigo lightning streaked across the sky, and raindrops began to fall.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Emma stopped looking at the sky and instead gazed at the distant white building, partially hidden by trees. “Is that the research facility?”

Garn checked the holographic map, carefully confirming the location. “It has to be. We need to hurry. The Duke is waiting for our victory report.”

Emma nodded in agreement and followed Garn toward the white building.

The entrance to the research facility was in ruins, as if it had been blown open a long time ago and then abandoned, allowing weeds and vines to grow over it. Garn crouched down, parting the grass to inspect the tracks in the dirt. “Someone got here before us.” He looked into the darkness beyond the broken door. “There were two people, a man and a woman, along with a tall robot.”

The ominous feeling in Emma’s heart, like the stormy clouds above, refused to dissipate. “Are they from the Federation?” she asked. “Or the Empire’s forces?”

“I don’t know.” Garn dusted off his hands. The rain was getting heavier, accompanied by the sound of thunder, signaling an impending downpour. “But one thing’s for sure—they’re our enemies. We need to move quickly.”

The two of them crossed the broken threshold and entered the facility.

The interior of the research facility was dark and gloomy, with windows obscured by overgrown plants, allowing no light to enter. Emma didn’t expect the ceiling lights to work, and in any case, she couldn’t find a switch. Behind the door was a large hall with words in Old Earth language written on the ceiling. Emma couldn’t read them but guessed they were some kind of tribute to science. At the end of the hall, there were two elevators. To her surprise, the elevators still worked, with a dusty display showing a faint red number indicating the current floor.

Garn shook his head. “We’ll take the stairs. Even if the elevators work, there’s no guarantee they won’t fail. They’re ancient relics from thousands of years ago.”

He followed the dirt tracks on the ground. “Looks like our opponents thought the same.”

He signaled to Emma, who immediately raised her laser rifle, finger on the trigger, ready to fire at any moment. Garn adjusted the position of his shoulder strap so he could quickly draw his pistol. Under the Duke’s orders, he had studied Old Earth language and programming techniques. The plan was clear: if they encountered any trouble, Emma would cover the rear while he quickly located the field generator, destroyed it, and released the Yasha. That would complete his mission. What happened afterward wasn’t his concern and wasn’t something he needed to know. But Garn had overheard some things from the Duke—the AI allied with the Duke would immediately take control of the Yasha after its release, using the Yasha as a weapon to conquer the universe. The AI’s condition was that the universe would be given to the Duke, while it and the Yasha would go to another dimension to become rulers there. The Duke, though ambitious, was only interested in this world, so he readily agreed to the AI’s proposal.

However, Garn had a nagging feeling that something was off. In this place, where even the faster-than-light network couldn’t reach, could that mysterious AI really control the Yasha? Did it have some special trick, or was it hiding something? Garn didn’t dare delve too deeply into these thoughts and hoped everything would go smoothly.

He and Emma descended the stairs. The emergency exit signs cast an eerie green glow, making the staircase feel like a sinister, haunted place. As they continued downward, the dirt tracks became fainter until they disappeared altogether. Garn estimated their position—they were now on an intermediate level, about two floors below ground.

“I wonder where the others are now…” Garn muttered to himself.

Suddenly, the wall behind him shattered under tremendous force, sending steel and debris raining down!

In a split second, Garn leaped forward, avoiding a fatal blow. At the same time, Emma raised her laser rifle and began firing at the attacker.

“Watch out, Garn! It’s a cyborg!” she shouted.

Garn rolled to the side, jumped up from the ground, and saw that the wall had been completely demolished. A towering cyborg, twice his height, stepped through the breach. Its body was a mass of steel and sinew, with claws glinting ominously in the dim light. But when Garn saw its face, he froze. Half of the “cyborg’s” head was metal, with electronic eyes embedded in it; the other half was a human face, twisted into a snarl, its eyes filled with a mix of malicious glee and insanity, perhaps driven by torment or excessive excitement.

“My God, it’s a bio-cyborg!” Garn pulled out a grenade, bit off the pin, and threw it at the bio-cyborg’s feet. Then he grabbed Emma and ran out of the stairwell.

Boom!

The massive explosion nearly burst Garn’s eardrums. He pushed Emma to the ground and quickly dropped down beside her. As the explosion subsided, he coughed, put on his spacesuit helmet, and searched the smoke for signs of the enemy.

“How… how can it be a bio-cyborg!” Emma followed suit. “I can’t believe someone is conducting such evil research!”

The bio-cyborg emerged from the smoke, its grotesque face visible in the infrared vision.

“Garn, you go find the field generator. I’ll handle this!”

It was the best plan. “Once you take it down, come find me immediately!”

“Understood!”

Emma fired a barrage of laser shots to keep the bio-cyborg at bay, giving Garn the chance to sprint back into the stairwell and race down to the lower levels.

Meanwhile, Musaya sat staring at the surface of the tea in her cup, her lips tightly pressed together. The dark liquid reflected her face—pale, haggard, with dark circles under her eyes, and her hair disheveled like a corpse that had crawled out of a grave. She hadn’t slept since receiving the news of her father’s death. She had been waiting for this day.

Across from her sat Darius Bayes, her cousin, but the admiral’s visit wasn’t a family reunion—it was to deliver some serious news.

“Your father’s remaining forces have surrendered. The Royal Fleet has entered the Damori system, and after reintegrating the surrendered troops, I will escort you back to the capital.” Darius dropped a sugar cube into his coffee. Musaya watched the sugar dissolve, much like life disappearing into the relentless current of fate.

“As for your father’s followers, they will receive a fair trial, and the military court will decide their punishment. There may be executions, but I can’t say for sure.” He paused. “But don’t worry—you didn’t participate in the war. You’re only the relative of a criminal. You will be stripped of your title and lands and lose your claim to the throne. However, some of your father’s assets haven’t been confiscated, and they will be transferred to you. The estate at Maple Pavilion still belongs to you, and as long as your servants weren’t involved in the Duke’s conspiracy, they can stay on to serve you.” He forced a smile. “Except for no longer being the Duke’s daughter, you can live as you did before.”

How can it be the same? Musaya thought. I’m not the Duke’s daughter, and I don’t have a father anymore.

“My father…” Musaya’s throat ached. Her strict etiquette teachers had taught her that she should sip tea to soothe her throat before speaking, to avoid displeasing her guests with a hoarse voice. But she didn’t care. She didn’t care whether Darius was pleased or not. “Is he really dead?”

“Yes, he is. I will escort his body back to the capital and bury him beside Lady Stella. Or do you want to see his body now? I advise against it. He…” Darius stopped, unable to continue, because Musaya had started crying. Before coming to the Duke’s estate, he had steeled himself, prepared to coldly deliver the news, no matter how much she cried or protested. But now, faced with his cousin’s tears, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. Oh, Duke Winnet, look at what you’ve done. You’ve made your daughter cry—this is your legacy as a father?

Darius reached into the pocket of his uniform and pulled out a silk handkerchief (luckily, Leibniz hadn’t put anything strange in his pocket this time) and offered it to his cousin.

Musaya didn’t take it. She spoke between sobs. “My father… was he really such a great criminal? He just… He just had ambitions greater than most… In other ways, he was just like any other person… He gave me birthday presents… He remembered what my favorite cartoons were… Why… Was he truly beyond redemption?”

Darius lowered his hand. “To you, he was a good father, but you didn’t see his other side. He caused the deaths of many fathers and destroyed countless families. Did you know your cousin Annot had a lover? The Duke wanted to arrange a marriage between you and Arnot, so he had that girl assassinated. He treated you well, but he was ruthless to others. So, Musaya, don’t bring this up again. I can understand, but others might not. To many, you’re the daughter of a traitor, as unforgivable as your father. If you want to live in peace, try to forget about the Duke.”

“How can you say such foolish things!” Musaya suddenly stood up, knocking over her teacup. Tea spilled across the table, soaking Darius’s sleeve, but he remained still, like a statue, staring at Musaya in shock.

“How could I possibly forget! No matter what he did wrong, he was still my father!”

Musaya turned and ran upstairs. Moments later, there was a loud slam as she shut her door. The maid standing nearby immediately stepped forward to clean up the mess, wiping Darius’s sleeve with a cloth. The admiral pushed her away and asked, “Where is the butler, Garn?”

The maid hesitated. “Mr. Garn… resigned. The head maid is temporarily filling in as the butler.”

“Make sure you watch over your lady and don’t let her do anything foolish. I’ll visit again in a few days.”

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 139

Alois stood at a distance, feeling uneasy as he watched Joshua busy at the computer. The assassin had split the screen in two—one side displayed the surveillance footage, while the other was used for writing complex code. He expertly typed out line after line of cryptic commands, sending them to the central computer to lift its restrictions.

Watching the assassin’s back, Alois couldn’t help but marvel at how he truly was the younger brother of the scientist. The power of genetics was clearly evident in both siblings. To be honest, Alois had been startled when he saw Kester in the video. He and Joshua looked like they were cut from the same mold, and looking at Kester was like seeing Joshua’s future self.

For the first time, Alois felt like an outsider. There seemed to be an invisible barrier around the two brothers, preventing anyone else from getting close or intervening. There was a part of Joshua’s life that no one could touch, not even Alois. It was like a branding iron—if you tried to touch it, you would only burn yourself. Joshua had buried it deep inside, letting it cool with time, but it would never disappear. It would always be there, like a tombstone for someone to mourn.

Alois had no right to comment on this. He didn’t even know how to comfort Joshua. Two thousand years was too heavy a burden, and he worried that Joshua might be crushed under its weight.

“Joshua?”

“Hmm?”

Alois turned away from the assassin, unable to bear it any longer. “You… I know you’re hurting inside. Don’t try to hold it all in on your own.”

The sound of typing paused for a moment, and Alois felt Joshua’s gaze, sharp as a knife, fixed on his back.

“How could you possibly understand…?” Joshua’s voice was filled with anger but also deep sorrow.

“You’re right, I don’t understand anything.” Alois stared at the wall, where his shadow was cast. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” He thought for a moment and added, “You’re not alone anymore, remember?”

There was a brief silence. Then he heard Joshua say, “I remember.”

He wanted to turn around, but Joshua quickly stopped him. “Don’t turn around!”

So he stayed still, obediently.

Another shadow appeared on the wall, overlapping with his. Joshua had come up behind him, wrapping his arms around Alois’s shoulders and burying his head in the crook of his neck. After a moment, hot tears began to fall onto Alois’s shoulder.

He said nothing. Neither of them spoke. All they needed at that moment was silence.

……

Duke Winnet sat solemnly in the command seat on the bridge. Aside from the navigator piloting the ship, there was no one else present. He remained calm, waiting for his guest to arrive. Soon, he heard footsteps approaching from the corridor.

The sound grew closer. The footsteps were sharp and clear, belonging to a young woman. Winnet didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“You came alone? Quite bold of you.”

The person stopped a few steps away from him. “My people surround us. What do I have to fear?”

“You weren’t always so aggressive, Alveira. How long has it been since we last parted, and you’ve changed so much I can hardly recognize you.”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve bringing up Leyting. If I hadn’t escaped quickly, I would’ve met the Lord long ago. You must be very disappointed, Uncle Winnet.”

“Indeed, I am.” Winnet smacked his lips as if tasting the bitterness of defeat. He had never experienced such a complete failure in his life, and now he found the sensation strangely intoxicating. “But disappointment doesn’t change anything. I’ve surrendered, Alveira. I surrender to you. Can I request the treatment of a prisoner of war? Will you treat me as you did the pilots I sent to Sword Bow A?”

“Why ask that? Has the fearless Uncle Winnet learned to be afraid?” Alveira taunted. She moved in front of Winnet, glaring at him like a predatory bird.

“I’m getting old, child. It’s natural to have fears.” The Duke met her gaze. “Do you intend to take my life right now? At least let me see Musaya one more time. You wouldn’t want her to be heartbroken, would you?”

“Don’t expect to sway me with Musaya. You might have better luck with Darius. Maybe he’ll give you a break because of all the chats he’s had with her online. But not me.” As she spoke, Alveira unfastened the gun from her belt. Winnet thought she was going to shoot him, but instead, she checked the energy cartridge and tossed the gun to him. It slid across the floor and came to a stop at his feet.

The Duke bent down to pick it up. “What’s the meaning of this?” He held the gun up to the light, inspecting it. “Do you want a duel?”

“It’s for you to use on yourself,” Alveira said coldly. “There are countless people who want to see you executed. If you don’t want Musaya to witness your disgrace, do it yourself. I’ll make sure your body is sent to her, all cleaned up and ready for a proper funeral. You can rest forever beside your wife.”

“Should I weep in gratitude, fall to my knees, and thank you?” Winnet weighed the gun in his hand. “Or should I just shoot you first and send you to join your brother?”

Alveira showed no fear. Instead, she laughed mockingly. “Then soon you and Musaya can join us. Are we planning a family picnic in the underworld?”

The Duke leaned back comfortably in his chair, narrowing his eyes. Ah, Stella, he thought. Am I finally going to see you again?

“Seriously, Alveira,” he said. “You can kill me whenever you like. But at least let me see Musaya one last time. I know you hate me, but Musaya is innocent. You can’t—”

“I told you, don’t use her as a shield,” Alveira interrupted. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re planning? You’re stalling for time. You sent your people to Old Earth, hoping they’ll release the Yasha so you can become truly invincible.”

Winnet suddenly felt a chill down his spine. “How… How did you know?”

The Princess shrugged. “Why do you think I agreed to your foolish proposal and came to your stronghold to accept your surrender? I was afraid that if I accidentally killed you, I wouldn’t learn the identity of the fifth AI.”

“…I’m truly impressed. Was it Neo Athens that supported you?”

“Just like the fifth AI supported you. Tell me its identity and location, and I’ll give you the chance to see Musaya again.”

The Duke examined the gun in his hand as if it were a rare and priceless jewel. “You won’t harm her, will you?”

“As long as she doesn’t do anything reckless.”

“I have some final words. Will you deliver them to Musaya for me?”

“Of course. I’d be happy to.”

The Duke whispered a few words, so softly they were almost inaudible, like a breeze dispersing smoke. Alveira leaned forward, frowning. “What did you say?”

At that moment, the Duke suddenly sprang up, grabbed her by the neck, and pressed the gun to her head!

Four doors around the bridge swung open, and a flood of heavily armed soldiers rushed in from outside. At the same time, soldiers of the Royal Fleet stormed in through the main entrance. The two forces stood off, weapons drawn, with the Duke and the princess at the center.

“It’s all over, Alveira,” Winnet growled in her ear. He then raised his voice, shouting to the Royal Fleet soldiers, “Tell Darius Bayes to withdraw his forces immediately, or he can start preparing to bury his little princess!”

The Royal soldiers stirred uneasily. Their commander had been captured by the enemy. If this news got out, it would surely shake their morale.

“Pointing a gun at me is the same as risking your daughter’s life.”

“I promised… her the entire galaxy. I’m not a good father, but at least I intend to keep that promise.” The Duke unlocked the gun’s safety. He knew he was already defeated. Even if he held the Princess hostage and Darius Bayes withdrew his forces now, it wouldn’t change the outcome. His only hope rested on distant Old Earth. The people he had sent there were his most loyal followers. Emma and Garn had been with him for years. They wouldn’t disappoint him. If they could release the Yasha, then with that unparalleled power, the galaxy would be as he promised his daughter—as that AI had promised him—a gift for her.

“…Don’t do this, Uncle Winnet,” Alveira said calmly, even with a hint of resignation. “You have a better choice. Why insist on this path of destruction?”

The Duke laughed softly. “This is my only chance… to survive against all odds!”

“That’s quite an inspiring last statement.”

As she finished speaking, a searing beam of light shot through his back, exiting through his chest and then piercing Alveira’s shoulder.

The Duke turned around in disbelief, blood gushing from his mouth. He saw that the people standing behind him were not his guards, but strangers dressed in his guards’ uniforms.

Alveira pushed him to the ground, and the world flipped upside down. The lights on the bridge were blinding.

So that’s how it is, he thought, a sudden clarity coming over him. He had planned to fight to the death, to take Alveira hostage, and had even set a trap on the bridge. But he had miscalculated—while he was speaking with her, Alveira’s men had quietly eliminated his soldiers and replaced them with her own. She had traded a light injury for his life.

Why didn’t anyone warn him? How could the ship have been infiltrated without anyone noticing?

Ah, of course… Alveira has her own powerful AI too.

He thought of the mysterious AI that had made an alliance with him. It claimed to be omniscient, omnipresent, and had convinced him to go to Old Earth to release the Yasha, promising to share the universe with him. But at this final moment, it had failed to help him. Was it defeated by Alveira’s AI? Or did it simply stand by, waiting for him to die?

“I thought I was the player… with the universe as my chessboard…” His vision faded as the light overwhelmed him, but he kept his eyes wide open. “But I was… just a pawn…”

Alveira, clutching the wound on her shoulder that was bleeding profusely, knelt beside the Duke.

“Musaya… forgive…”

The Duke’s voice was labored, like a broken bellows.

“Stella… I’m finally… going to see…”

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and then fell silent forever.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 138

Know that among all the living people in this world, the one I love and miss the most is you, my brother. I hope you will always be happy and find joy in life.”

After saying these words, Kester disappeared from the screen. Then, another line of white text appeared: “This message has been deleted.”

Joshua clutched his chest in pain, trying to calm his racing heart. Kester, ever so cautious until the very end, had worried that information about the Yasha might be stolen and had deliberately set the entire video to delete itself, not even giving Joshua a chance to save it.

‘That’s so unfair, Kester,’ Joshua thought. ‘You’re still so self-centered, never considering anyone else’s feelings. You sent me off into space without telling me anything, and now, with just a final message, you expect me to forgive you? If there was ever a moment of utter despair in my life, it was because of you. Just when I decided to sever all ties with the past, you reappear before me. And your so-called request… you know I can’t refuse you.’

Why did you insist on going to your death? You could have survived, like Professor Giorgione, by using cryosleep! Let me see you just one more time. Let me call you brother just one more time!

Joshua gritted his teeth, forcing down the pain in his heart. This is not the time to mourn, he told himself. If I were going to cry over this, my tears would have dried up years ago! There are more important things to do now!

After taking several deep breaths, he turned to face Alois and Casper, both of whom looked puzzled and bewildered.

“Did you hear everything?”

Their expressions grew even more confused.

The three of them stood there in silence, staring at each other for a long time before Joshua finally realized why they were confused. It was the language. The language of Old Earth had been lost, and the common language of the colonies had evolved so much over the millennia that it was completely different from the language of ancient Earth. Joshua could understand his native tongue, but for Alois and Casper, who had never been exposed to it, the video they had just seen might as well have been gibberish.

Alois scratched his ear. “Uh… could you translate that? Was that a message from your brother?”

“Yes. That was Kester.”

Joshua suddenly felt a bit relieved that Alois hadn’t understood. He summarized what Kester had said—only the part about the Yasha—and then looked at the two of them. “The monster we encountered earlier was undoubtedly the Yasha. It didn’t kill me, and that’s the reason.” He pointed to the wound on his cheek. “And it can apparently change its form, which is particularly frightening.” The thought of the Yasha transforming into Kester and his younger self sent a chill down Joshua’s spine. “However, it doesn’t speak, so it’s easy to identify.”

“But recognizing it doesn’t help much, does it?” Casper said, resting his hand on the grip of his gun. “The Yasha can appear and disappear at will, and it’s invulnerable. We don’t stand a chance against it.”

“Our enemy isn’t the Yasha,” Joshua said. “It’s the people trying to unleash the Yasha. They’re human like us, and they’ll be much easier to deal with.”

Casper tilted his head and gave Joshua a cryptic smile.

Under his gaze, Joshua coughed awkwardly. If it really came down to fighting the Yasha, then Casper and Alois would undoubtedly die, while he would be the only one to survive. Bringing them to Earth had been a mistake…

“Instead of standing here talking,” Alois crossed his arms and tapped his elbow with his fingers, “let’s find out where the enemy is.” He turned to Joshua. “Is there a surveillance system in this facility? Can you access the surveillance feeds?”

“There is.” Joshua tapped the screen to bring up a holographic keyboard. “But the auxiliary control room can only monitor part of the facility. Only the central control room has access to all the surveillance cameras.” He pulled up all the surveillance footage available from the auxiliary control room. The large screen was divided into several smaller sections, some displaying live footage while others were black. “The ones that aren’t displaying anything are probably damaged.” Joshua frowned. “After all, it’s been two thousand years, and the place has been breached before. Captain Yutz damaged quite a few things.”

Casper, still with his hand on his gun, shifted his stance. “How long will it take you to shut down the defense system and restart the central control room?”

“I’m not entirely sure. The fastest would be an hour.” And that was an optimistic estimate. Who knew if the ancient equipment in the facility would still function?

“We can’t just stand here waiting,” Casper said. “Is the field generator in the facility too? If the Duke’s men are trying to release the Yasha, they’ll definitely go after the generator.”

“According to the information provided by Neo Athens, the generator is in the lowest level of the facility,” Joshua said, displaying the building layout of the lowest level on the screen. “It’s roughly here.” He pointed to a spot on the map.

Casper marked that location on his 3D map. “Got it. I’ll go there and wait for them.”

Joshua was surprised. “You’re going alone? That’s too dangerous!”

Casper snorted. “If I can’t handle it alone, bringing more people won’t help. And if we’re unlucky enough to run into the Yasha—” He mimicked holding a gun. “No one will survive.”

“Wait, Casper. I’ll go with you.” Alois wanted to follow, but Casper stopped him.

“You stay here,” his old classmate said with unusual seriousness. “Joshua’s emotions are unstable right now, so you need to stay and keep an eye on him.”

Alois glanced at Joshua nervously. “He… He should be fine on his own… right?”

Casper sighed and closed his eyes. “Don’t be ungrateful. I’m giving you two a rare chance to be alone together, so show me some appreciation.”

Alois’s face turned red. “Th-this isn’t the time to be talking about that!”

Casper ignored him and turned to head for the exit on the other side of the control room. “Notify me if anything happens,” he said, raising the hand with the communication terminal. “And remember, even though you’re an all-around A+ student, I still scored higher in shooting and combat.”

Meanwhile, millions of light-years away at the edge of the Damoni star system, on the bridge of the Stella, Duke Winnet was facing a defeat unlike anything he had ever experienced. The Empire Royal Fleet was advancing like a relentless beast, tearing his fleet apart without mercy. The enemy flagship, the Lady of the Night, hovered above the Duke’s ship like the scythe of death, ready to claim his life at any moment.

“This… This can’t be happening…” the Duke muttered, his face ashen. “Grisofin! Chast! Where are my flight squadrons?! Where are they?!”

A brilliant green light flashed across the holographic screen, revealing a stealthy flight squadron that appeared like ghosts in every corner of the battlefield, a nightmare for all who faced them.

The Duke recognized them as the fighters from the Lady of the Night. “Joanna Begrel’s old unit?” He smiled bitterly. “I never imagined Alveira would even bring them under her wing… Does this mean I’ve lost?”

“Report!” The Duke’s adjutant ran up to him, nervously saluting. “Report, Your Grace, Lord Grisofin’s fleet… has completely surrendered!”

Winnet’s hand clenched into a fist on the armrest. “I see… even him…”

“In addition, there have been large-scale protests in the capital… They are protesting…” The adjutant hesitated.

“Protesting what?”

“…Protesting your use of antimatter missiles on Sword Bow A. It violated humanitarian principles…” The adjutant’s voice grew quieter and quieter, his gaze fixed on his shoes, too afraid to meet the Duke’s eyes. “And…”

“Say it all at once. I don’t have a weak heart. I’m not afraid of a little shock.”

The adjutant swallowed hard. “Princess Alveira has sent a message, saying that if you surrender voluntarily, she promises… promises you a dignified death.”

With that, the adjutant closed his eyes, bracing himself as if for execution. Surely, the Duke would be furious, he thought. But after a long pause, the expected outburst never came. Instead, he heard hysterical laughter.

“Is that so? Alveira has come to ask for my surrender?” The Duke laughed so hard that his whole body shook. “She’s offering me a dignified death, and yet she’s asking me to surrender?”

The adjutant trembled. “So… So you refuse…?”

“No. Tell her I accept.” The Duke’s eyes gleamed with malice. “But only if she comes aboard the Stella herself to accept my surrender. Otherwise, I’ll continue the fight until my last breath. That’s what you’ll tell her!”

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 137

“That was… the Yasha?” Casper muttered in disbelief.

Alois quickly stepped forward and grabbed Joshua’s wrist. “Did it hurt you?”

The wound on Joshua’s cheek had stopped bleeding, but the dark red scar and dried blood were still shockingly visible. “…I’m fine,” he said, dazed, his eyes fixated on the bloodstains on his hand, his intense gaze almost as if he could burn the deep crimson marks with his eyes alone. Then he looked away, turning his attention to the computer in the control room.

A large black screen was embedded in the wall, surrounded by complex cables and various circuit boards that an ordinary person could not comprehend. Joshua staggered over to the screen, looking both excited and disbelieving.

The screen displayed two lines of white text. The first read, “You have a new message”, and the second, “From Kester”.

After Joshua had activated the research facility’s system, this message had automatically been sent to the auxiliary control room’s computer according to the settings made by the sender long ago. After lying dormant on a sealed server for two thousand years, it had finally reached its intended recipient.

Joshua hesitantly raised his hand to tap the confirmation key, then quickly pulled back as if shocked.

The two lines of text disappeared, and Kester appeared on the screen.

He was wearing his usual white lab coat, his silver hair neatly combed, and his black eyes still as gentle as ever. His face looked almost the same as Joshua remembered, though it was clearly more worn by time. The years had left their unforgiving marks on him.

He smiled at the camera, and the smile was exactly as Joshua remembered.

“Joshua, by the time you see this video, I will no longer be in this world.”

The familiar voice filled Joshua’s ears, stirring memories that had settled deep within him but had never truly been at peace. These memories surged like boiling lava, churning violently and disrupting Joshua’s long-sought tranquility, while also searing his heart with pain.

“If you’ve returned to Earth, to the research facility, this video would automatically be sent to the nearest computer.” A bitter smile formed on Kester’s lips. “Even now, I still have so much I want to say to you. You’re probably going to laugh at me for that. I was so cold when I sent you away, but now I desperately want you to come back and hear what I have to say. Go ahead and laugh if you want. Curse me, hate me—whatever you feel like doing. Given your personality, you probably want to kill me. But by the time you see this, your brother will already be dead, so you won’t get the chance to kill me again.”

“How are you doing now, Joshua? Although, even if you told me, I wouldn’t be able to hear you. If the technology in the colonies advanced smoothly, inventing a powerful warp engine, then returning to Earth might be a simple task. It took you two thousand years to reach the colonies, but it only took you a few days to return. Just thinking about it feels so ironic.”

“What do you look like now? Are you still young? Your brother has grown old. Not just in body—my mind has aged far faster than my body, and I now live only in regret and remorse, passing every long day and night with nothing but memories.”

“I want to apologize to you, Joshua. I want to ask for your forgiveness. I sent you into space with my own hands, and now I’m hoping you’ll come back. Even I think it’s despicable and undeserving of sympathy. But I still want to seek your forgiveness. I’m confessing to you, Joshua. I want to earn your pardon, to bring even the slightest comfort to my endlessly tormented soul. If anyone in this world can forgive me, it must be you.”

“I’ve done many wrongs in my life and failed many people. But the person I’ve wronged the most is you, my brother. It was my selfishness that sent you on the most hopeless journey in the world. I even tried to justify it with excuses like ‘I hope you live’ or ‘I hope you can witness the future for me.’ It’s truly unforgivable. I promised you a future, yet my actions might very well have destroyed it.”

“Joshua, did you know that I created a monster? You might have heard its name from Giorgione or Titian. It’s called the Yasha, and it was the product of an experiment gone wrong. I originally intended to create a powerful weapon to help our home planet, Earth, reclaim the colonies. But instead, I created a weapon capable of destroying humanity. I’ve tried many ways to reverse or destroy it, but all have failed without exception. I chose to stay on Earth to find a way to completely destroy it, but I know that I likely won’t achieve this goal in my lifetime. To be honest, when I sent Giorgione and everyone else to the colonies, including you, I was harboring the hope that someone in the future would be more capable than I am and would find a way to destroy the Yasha. This should have been my responsibility, but I passed it on to you. Now, my only hope rests on you. Please forgive my incompetence, Joshua. This is all I can do.”

“The central computer in the research facility contains all the records about the Yasha, but they probably won’t be of much use. The Yasha was an accidental creation, and such an accident is nearly impossible to replicate. What you need to know is that the Yasha’s destructive power is beyond your imagination, and none of the weapons I’ve found can harm it. Its sole purpose is to kill and destroy, and it knows nothing else. It is not bound by time or space and can move freely between them—this is what makes it truly terrifying. Fortunately, I’ve found a way to limit its movements. I created a field that confines it to a specific area. It cannot break through the field or destroy the field generators. This is all I could accomplish. The data on the field is stored in the central computer, and there’s a backup on the Dante as well, so Giorgione and the others can continue the research when they reach the colonies.”

“One more thing to note: The Yasha’s killing and destruction are not without patterns. First, it only kills humans and destroys man-made objects. It never harms animals, plants, or natural objects. Second, in the same time and space, it prioritizes destroying the things that pose the greatest threat to it. In your era, the warp engine, which has ‘transcending time and space’ capabilities similar to the Yasha’s, is likely to be its primary target. If a more powerful weapon emerges in the future, it too will likely be a priority for the Yasha to destroy.”

“And finally, the Yasha won’t harm me. I am its creator, and in its eyes, I am not ‘human’. If it harmed me, it would be acknowledging that its creator is human, making it a human creation, and thus it would be compelled to self-destruct. This is a paradox. Therefore, even if I stand before it unarmed, it has never harmed me. And you, Joshua, share my blood, so the Yasha won’t harm you either. This is your unique advantage. That’s why I ask you, if in the future, people find a way to destroy the Yasha, please carry out that task on my behalf. Consider it my last wish. Even if you hate me, please fulfill this one request.”

“…There’s one more thing. If you ever meet Leo in the future, tell him he’s free. I didn’t bring him into this world to control him. I hoped he could save us. An AI’s lifespan is long, and I am already dead. The dead have no reason to imprison the living. I couldn’t fulfill his expectations, and for that, I’m sorry. I hope he can bravely pursue whatever he desires. The pursuit of happiness is a right everyone is born with, and it’s the same for him.”

“That’s all I have to say. I’ve rambled on and on, and you probably think I’m being long-winded. But please, let me say just one last thing, Joshua. Know that among all the living people in this world, the one I love and miss the most is you, my brother. I hope you will always be happy and find joy in life.”

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Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 136

As Joshua descended the steep stairs underground, it felt as though he were walking down a path leading to the deepest recesses of his memory. The place was dark and deep, yet quiet and warm, like a mother’s womb. He recalled the first time he visited this grand research facility as a young, bewildered child. Kester had personally shown him every corner, both above and below ground. After the tour, Kester had held his hand as they walked up this very emergency passage. “Remember, Joshua, if you ever encounter danger in the underground lab, use this passage to escape.” Back then, Kester had been much taller, and Joshua had to stretch his arm as far as it would go to grasp his brother’s hand.

Now, he had returned, walking the same path but in the opposite direction.

The darkness enveloped Joshua, and each step he took seemed to lead him further into the abyss of his memories. Every corner of this place bore Kester’s mark; the walls, the ceiling, and the stairs all silently recounted the past, so loud in their recollections that it nearly drove him mad.

A hand grabbed him from behind.

Joshua reflexively reached for his gun, but in the next instant, his hand was firmly held. The cold metal of the grip snapped him out of his memories and back to reality.

“…Alois?”

“You look really off.” Alois looked at him with concern. “What’s wrong? What are you afraid of?”

“…Just nervous, that’s all.” Joshua’s mouth felt dry. He holstered his gun. “Let’s go. The first auxiliary control room is just ahead. We can rest there for a bit. According to Captain Yutz’s records, he activated the defense system when he fled the lab, which completely shut down the central control room. It will take me some time to reopen it.” He patted Alois’s hand to assure him he was fine. For some reason, a few steps away, Casper was watching him with a look of intrigued amusement.

The emergency passage continued downward, ending at a steel gate. This gate was controlled by the central computer and would automatically open in the event of a crisis in the facility. It couldn’t be opened from the outside unless the facility’s owner issued a special command.

Now, the owner of the facility stood before the gate. Embedded in the center of the gate was a contact panel. Joshua removed his spacesuit glove and placed his right hand on the panel. Infrared light immediately scanned his fingerprints and retina. The scanned data was transmitted at the speed of light to the central computer, where it was compared with stored records. Out of the hundreds of billions of records, one matched the visitor’s data perfectly: Joshua Salaregia, younger brother of Kester Salaregia, the facility’s previous owner. Following Kester’s recorded death, according to Old Earth law, Joshua had become the new owner of the facility.

“Verification complete. Name: Joshua Salaregia. Status: Intern at Euclid Laboratory, highest authority holder of the Salaregia Research Facility.”

The gate opened in response.

Joshua turned and said, “All clear, let’s go.”

Alois clicked his tongue. “Highest authority holder, huh? Sounds impressive…” His words were cut off as he froze, staring in terror at something behind Joshua, unable to make a sound.

“What is it?” Joshua asked, puzzled, as he turned to look into the first auxiliary control room beyond the gate—then he too froze.

He saw himself.

Standing before the giant computer in the control room was Joshua as he had been at fourteen, staring back at him across the vast chasm of time. It was indeed the face from his memories, bearing the youthful awkwardness of adolescence, with hair meticulously tied back in imitation of his brother. The boy’s eyes shone like an eclipse, and in those clear eyes, Joshua saw his own reflection.

Alois and Casper were dumbstruck. They had been prepared to encounter a horde of robots, alien monsters, or even the Duke’s men when the door opened. But nothing could have prepared them for this—a younger version of Joshua standing behind the door. “Is this… a hologram? Or… a real person?”

The young Joshua solemnly began to walk toward them, his footsteps echoing through the control room, slow and deliberate, like a member of a funeral procession, carrying a deep sense of regret.

Joshua gripped his gun but didn’t know whether to draw it. What on earth was he seeing?

As he hesitated, the boy’s body turned into a mist that slowly rose and coalesced into another human shape. This figure was tall, dressed in a white lab coat, with silver hair cascading over his shoulders and eyes as dark as night—apart from that, he looked almost exactly like Joshua!

“Kes…Kester!”

Joshua’s voice was almost a groan. A choking pain seized his chest, as if an invisible hand had tightened around his heart. He realized he was crying, but when the tears ran down his cheeks, he couldn’t tell if they were tears of overwhelming joy or screams of terror.

Kester extended his hand toward him, as if inviting him closer, or perhaps to caress his cheek.

Everything was exactly as it was in his memories.

“No—!” Joshua screamed as he drew his gun, shoving Alois back as he fired. He couldn’t let Alois get hurt!

The laser beam passed through Kester’s body as though it were a stone dropped into a pond, rippling through him.

With all his strength, Joshua shouted, “Watch out! It’s the Yasha!”

The ripples on Kester’s form spread wider, and then his entire body turned back into mist. This time, the mist didn’t coalesce into a human figure but instead transformed into a nearly three-meter-tall monstrous humanoid. Its skeletal structure and muscles were made of steel, glinting silver-gray under the control room lights. Crimson veins crisscrossed its body, wrapping around its steel frame like a blood-red map. Transparent feathers covered its shoulders, extending from its ribs down to its ankles like icy wings. Its head was a multifaceted prism, each face smooth and gleaming, reflecting an imposing and inviolable light. On that head were two irregular holes—its eyes—burning with a fiery red glow, as if molten lava smoldered within.

The creature—Yasha—slowly walked toward them, as if it had traversed endless ages and epochs to finally arrive at this moment.

It stopped in front of Joshua, opening what could only be described as a mouth, and emitted a strange sound—a blend of sharp, clashing swords and grinding metal, yet with a distinct rhythm and melody.

It roared. It laughed. It howled. It sang. It screamed.

This was the Yasha, a being that transcended all time and space, the ultimate killing machine designed to annihilate humanity.

Confronted with its true form, Joshua found himself too paralyzed with fear to even pull the trigger. In the reflective surface of the Yasha’s head, he saw his own reflection—small and insignificant, less than an ant.

He saw his own end.

The Yasha reached out its arm, covered in spikes, its five fingers as sharp as blades, capable of slicing through metal with ease. Joshua expected those razor-sharp claws to pierce his heart, but to his surprise, the Yasha merely brushed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut. Blood seeped out and dripped onto its claws.

In the span of a single breath, the Yasha vanished.

The control room was empty, except for the three terrified humans. Even the strange sounds had stopped, leaving only the hum of the giant computer.

Joshua felt all his strength drain away, his gun slipping from his grasp and clattering to the floor, but he had no will to retrieve it.

Was that just… a hallucination?

His cheek still stung. When he touched it, his hand came away covered in blood.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 135

After all these years, Earth was no longer the place Joshua remembered. Two thousand years might be a blink of an eye for Earth, but for humanity, it was long enough to topple a hundred empires and establish a hundred new ones. With the receding seas, the shape of the land had changed significantly. What were once scattered archipelagos had now merged into continuous landmasses, and previously low hills were now covered in snow.

The craft flew westward along the equator, crossing vast oceans, and arrived over what seemed to be the largest island. Joshua still remembered when the island was covered with subtropical evergreen plants, but now it had transformed into temperate vegetation and alpine shrubs. The once visible roads and airports were overgrown with dense plants, the cities eroded into ruins, and the high-rise buildings were now dilapidated, mottled, and covered in moss and vines.

Joshua’s hand trembled violently on the instrument panel. He had mentally prepared himself for how his home planet might look but seeing it with his own eyes was still shocking—like a dream where his homeland had turned into a desolate grave, only to wake up and find himself still young.

Time had only passed for a few decades for Joshua, but on Old Earth, ages had gone by.

The craft skimmed over the tombstone-like buildings, heading towards the outskirts of the city, where Kester’s research facility was located. Joshua remembered that there had been a parking lot near the research center. He wondered if it still existed after all these years. He flew the craft low, and soon enough, he spotted a clearing in the forest. The asphalt ground was cracked, overgrown with thick weeds and numerous flowers Joshua couldn’t identify—likely new species that had evolved on Earth over the past two thousand years.

He landed the craft in a corner of the clearing, activated the optical camouflage, and then opened the canopy to jump to the ground.

“So heavy…” the assassin complained. The Earth’s gravity felt like an invisible hand dragging his body downward. Even the gravity grid on the ship hadn’t felt this heavy. Most ships only operated at three-quarters of a G. Having grown accustomed to that, the gravity of his home planet now felt unfamiliar.

Alois and Casper didn’t seem to have as much trouble adjusting as he did. Both had undergone rigorous military training and were well-practiced in switching between gravity and zero-gravity environments.

“Is this your homeland?” Alois asked, looking around. A grayish-brown finch chirped from a nearby tree branch, the breeze rustling through the leaves. Joshua remembered that it was spring in the northern hemisphere of Earth—a time of flourishing life, bright sunshine, and abundant vitality, far from the image of a desolate, abandoned planet.

“She’s changed a lot,” Joshua replied. “In the past, Earth’s sky was always shrouded in dust, the oceans filled with debris and corpses, and the land was heavily polluted. Only a few islands were fit for human habitation. By the colonists’ standards, she was no longer suitable for human life and was classified as ‘extinct’.”

“You can’t tell that now,” Alois said, whistling at the bird in the tree. It flapped its wings and flew away.

“Given enough time, she healed herself.”

That was fortunate, Joshua thought. In the past Galactic Wars, countless planets had been destroyed by nuclear bombs and antimatter missiles, with no life left on them.

“Where do we go now?” Casper asked as he checked his weapons—two pistols, two knives, plenty of energy packs, and a few high-energy timed explosives. He tapped his helmet, which displayed various environmental data and a small map.

“I’m sending you the map of Kester’s research facility.” Joshua fiddled with the communication terminal on his wrist. “It’s synthesized from the data recorded by Leo and Captain Yutz’s ‘Ancient Earth Expedition Log’. It should be accurate.”

Casper received the data transfer, and a 3D map of the facility appeared before his eyes. “Were there still people on Earth after you left?”

“Yes. Kester and his core research team stayed here, probably about a dozen people.”

When Joshua left, Kester was in his prime. Now, he was surely long dead, buried beneath the soil.

He would never see his brother again.

A hallucination seemed to flicker before Joshua’s eyes. In his youth, he had found an injured squirrel in the forest and had run all the way to the research facility with the poor creature in his arms. Kester, dressed in white, knelt in front of him, his golden eyes shining like sunlight.

You can heal him. His brother had said. Didn’t you study medical techniques for this very moment?

Kester is dead!

Joshua shook his head violently to dispel the ghostly illusion. “Let’s go,” he managed to say with difficulty.

Alois quickly caught up to him and took his hand. “What’s wrong, Joshua?” he asked, concerned. “You look pale.”

“It’s nothing.” The assassin forced a weak smile. “Just… overcome with emotion.”

They pushed through the undergrowth, heading towards the research facility. The white dome of the building emerged above the treetops, weathered and ancient after two thousand years of erosion, covered in moss and vines.

The above-ground part of the research facility was just a three-story domed structure. It looked more like a museum than a scientific laboratory. But in reality, it was only the tip of the iceberg. The true heart of the facility was hidden underground. A vast subterranean complex, it housed Kester’s most important research materials and achievements. There was a massive computer to support Leonard’s operations, equipment used to create the Yasha, and the machinery capable of generating the field that restricted Yasha’s movements.

Over a century ago, Captain Jacob Yutz had gone through great hardships to break into the underground facility, copying the Yasha’s data at the cost of nearly his entire crew. Now, the explorer’s journal served as Joshua’s vital guide on his journey home.

“We’re not the only ones with a map,” Joshua informed the other two. “Although Duke Winnet didn’t get the chip with the Yasha’s data, he does have Captain Yutz’s ‘Ancient Earth Expedition Log’. He also knows the layout of the facility.”

“So we don’t have the advantage of the terrain,” Casper said regretfully.

The three of them stood at the edge of the forest, facing the research facility hidden among the trees. The main entrance was gone, seemingly destroyed by an explosion that appeared to have happened many years ago. Vines and shrubs had invaded the entrance, growing freely inside, but there were signs that the vegetation had been recently trampled—someone had gotten there ahead of them.

“Not necessarily,” Joshua said with a smile, seeing the state of the main entrance. “Captain Yutz had blown open the main entrance to get into the facility, which triggered an attack by the security robots. Even after all these years, the facility’s self-defense systems are still intact, so the intruders who came before us must have encountered some trouble. But we can take another route. I know an emergency exit that leads directly underground.”

He gestured for the others to follow him. “And we won’t be attacked by the defense systems.”

The research facility was Kester’s legacy, and it naturally belonged to his rightful heir. Why would the defense systems attack their master?

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Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 134

In the thin nebula at the outskirts of the Damoni star system, two armies faced off. Princess Alveira led the Royal Fleet, while Duke Winnet commanded the National Salvation Army. Both were forces arrayed in battle formation, awaiting their commanders’ orders to fight to the death.

“Grisofin is on the left flank, Chast is on the right, and Winnet himself is on the front lines. It seems he’s not planning to leave any escape route for himself.”

On the bridge of the Lady of the Night, Alveira observed the battle simulation map in front of her. “Leo, can you connect me to Winnet before the battle begins?”

“You want to speak with him?” the AI asked. “Do you want to connect directly to him, or send a communication request to his flagship?”

“A communication request. I want to speak to him face to face.”

Leo formally sent an invitation to Duke Winnet’s flagship, “Stella”, to initiate a superluminal real-time communication. A few seconds later, the gray-haired Duke Winnet appeared on the screen on the bridge.

“On the brink of battle, you want to speak with me? Are you asking me to show mercy, my dear niece?”

“Quite the opposite, my dear uncle. I’m issuing you a final ultimatum.” Alveira raised her voice. “And it’s directed at all of you: If you surrender to me now, I’ll spare your lives. Otherwise, you can expect the first executions in the Empire in 740 years!”

Winnet burst into laughter. “Alveira, my child, out of respect for your youth, I won’t kill you. How about I send you to the Maple Pavilion to keep Musaya company? That’s generous enough, isn’t it?”

“Musaya will likely be heartbroken,” Alveira replied without the slightest hint of anger. “Not only do I have no intention of joining her, but I’m also going to kill her dear father. She’s bound to hate me for it.”

Winnet’s expression darkened. “Then we’ll see how things turn out on the battlefield, where strength will speak.”

“I understand, Winnet. ‘Whoever holds power, holds the right to speak.'”

The communication ended. On the battle simulation map, the enemy formation began to stir and advance towards the Royal Fleet.

“Engage!” Alveira shouted, then lowered her voice but spoke with unwavering resolve. “With me!”

Leo broadcasted her every word throughout the entire fleet.

……

Titia climbed into her beloved craft, “Fran”, and gave a thumbs-up to Spider Maxim, who stood on the transport platform. Spider returned the gesture in kind.

“I’ve made some modifications to Fran, increasing its speed and agility,” Spider said through the communicator, “but it also reduced its ammo capacity. Be mindful.”

“No problem.” Titia pulled down her helmet visor. “Speed surpasses legions.” She waved her right hand over a row of illuminated keys, activating them all simultaneously. “Lady of the Night, Fran, launching!”

“Gunners, ready!”

“Adjusting coordinates!”

“Targeting calculations!”

Ibb Descartes sat amidst the swirling data streams, lightning-fast coordinates flashing before him. He easily adjusted each number, directing the ship’s cannons towards the enemy.

“Main cannon energy charging!”

“Hey, are you guys scared?”

Chef Celia had swapped her apron for a combat suit and sat in the waiting room with a submachine gun in hand. Next to her were Pavlov and Schrödinger, strapped to their seats. The cat and dog, sensing the impending battle, were howling in agitation.

“Don’t worry, we’ll win this,” Celia reassured them, whether they understood her or not. “All our comrades are here—Ibb, Spider, Titia, Errol, Udino…” She pressed a hand to her chest. “And the Captain.”

If only your masters were here too.

……

“So this is it…” Alois held his breath, gazing at the white lunar base before him. Tall pillars and graceful domes made the place look more like a palace than a space station. The Northern Cross slowly moved into the base’s dock, guided by indicator lights.

The silence here was overwhelming—not the oppressive darkness of Charon Station, but a solemn stillness, like that of a tomb.

Charon was the underworld, and the lunar base is a grave.

Alois shivered.

The crescent-shaped doors slid open to reveal the dock beyond. It too was vast and empty, with high arches and silver tracks on the ground, indicating it once housed several large ships. Compared to them, the Northern Cross was like a dinghy beside an ocean liner. In a corner, a few small crafts lay abandoned, capable of holding at most four people each.

“There used to be ships here that could travel between the stars,” Joshua said, looking at the empty space in the dock. “The first and second waves of Earth’s survivors left aboard them.”

Alois docked the Northern Cross at the center of the bay. “I bet there’s no air out there,” he muttered. “Do we need spacesuits?”

“Even on Earth, we’ll probably need them,” Casper said eagerly. “After two thousand years, Earth’s atmosphere might have changed.”

“…What’s there to be so excited about?” Alois shot him a look.

After donning their spacesuits, Alois shut off the engine as Leo had instructed, and the three men floated out of the ship through the auxiliary exit. The Moon’s gravity, only one-sixth of Earth’s, wasn’t full weightlessness, which frustrated Alois for a while. In the end, they jumped across the dock like clowns on springs toward the corner.

The craft parked there was so rudimentary that Alois was stunned. It was also silver-white, but compared to the Bard, it was like comparing a child’s clay model to a master’s sculpture.

“It’s not just a caveman’s club!” Alois said in despair. “It’s practically a paramecium!”

“If you don’t like it, don’t get in,” Joshua said as he opened the craft’s transparent canopy and agilely jumped in, taking the pilot’s seat. Casper gave Alois a helpless smile and also jumped into the back seat.

“You can’t be serious! Do you understand how I feel?” Alois shouted. “It’s like being a world-renowned assassin, like the Mourner, and someone paying you to kill a chicken! It’s an insult! Do you get that? An insult!”

Joshua started the engine.

“Hey! You jerk! Wait for me!” Alois hurriedly climbed into the craft, settling beside Casper.

His old school friend still wore that helpless smile. “Just think of it as a life experience.”

Alois slammed the canopy shut, scooting close to Casper and draping an arm around his shoulders. “We haven’t caught up in years, Casper. Remember when we stayed up all night on that field trip…”

A sudden wave of murderous intent surged from the front seat. Casper’s smile vanished immediately.

The craft slowly ascended, soon surpassing the Northern Cross’s height. “Diana,” Joshua called softly. “Diana, open the external passage.”

At the end of the silver tracks on the ground, a white door responded by sliding open, seamlessly blending into the dock’s wall until it moved.

“Who’s Diana?” Alois asked.

“The lunar base’s AI. In Old Earth mythology, she was also the goddess of the moon.”

Beyond the white door was a decompression chamber. As the craft passed through, the door closed silently behind them. With no air in the chamber, another door quickly opened.

Joshua’s heart pounded. He dared not fly too fast, fearing he might miss something, even though he knew there was nothing here. The craft had no display screens, and through the transparent canopy, he saw the black sky and the pale lunar surface ahead. As they rose higher, at the edge of the pale ground, a dark blue planet floated in the void.

Joshua remembered that when he left his home planet, most of its land was swallowed by the rising oceans, with cities turned into underwater ruins and mountains reduced to scattered islands. Now, the polar ice caps had reformed, lowering the sea level and revealing the submerged lands. It took Joshua a long time to recall the map of his homeland from the rugged contours of the continents.

“Do you still remember the way?” Alois asked absentmindedly, his eyes fixed on the blue planet, almost forgetting where he was.

“Of course,” Joshua’s voice was hoarse. “How could I forget?”

He piloted the craft towards Earth, leaving the white lunar base far behind. A faint whisper reached his ears. “Welcome home.”

Though he knew it was just the AI Diana’s pre-programmed response, Joshua was still moved to tears.

After two thousand years, the last survivors of Earth had finally returned home.

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