Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Interlude 7 (Part One)

Darius Bayes sat in the command chair on the bridge, gazing out at the boundless stars. The Sword of the Queen was about to arrive at the Empire Capital, the Unfallen Star. Not long ago, he received a message from Alveira, informing him that Chancellor Greenwald had submitted his resignation and was preparing to retire. It was almost certain that Alveira would take up his scepter and become the regent of the Empire—assuming the Queen approved. However, she was unlikely to oppose it. The Queen neither agreed nor disagreed with her ministers’ suggestions. When asked for her opinion, she would only say, “Do as you see fit,” never offering her own views. Darius had heard from some older officials that the Queen wasn’t always like this. Ever since a car accident twenty years ago, she had seemed like a different person, no longer concerned with state affairs, spending her days secluded in the depths of the White Radiance Palace, with no one knowing what she was occupied with.

Twenty years ago…

The memory floated to the surface of Darius’s mind. It was the year 1396 of the Standard Calendar. He was still a child, accompanying his mother, Madonna, to the Unfallen Star to visit the Queen, who had been injured in the car accident. It was Darius’s first time setting foot on the capital’s soil. The scenery of the Empire Capital was vastly different from that of his hometown—York γ, a place filled with skyscrapers and space elevators. On the Unfallen Star, no building stood taller than the White Radiance Palace. Most transportation relied on ground vehicles, with lush trees and blooming flowers creating an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity. It was said that Emperor Nasir I had missed his homeland so much that he restored the ancient Earth’s landscape on the Unfallen Star.

Everything was so unfamiliar and new to Darius that he nearly forgot they were there to visit his aunt. It wasn’t until their ground car drove into the Empire Medical University Hospital that Darius remembered the purpose of their trip.

The area around the hospital’s surgical building was heavily guarded, given that the Queen was hospitalized there. Armed guards watched every exit, and the floor where the Queen was staying had guards stationed at every step to prevent any suspicious persons from approaching. Even the Queen’s cousin, Countess Bayes, the Marquess Madonna, had to undergo a search before being allowed through.

Madonna held young Darius’s hand as they followed two guards to the top floor via elevator. Someone was already waiting for them there. Darius saw a tall, handsome man surrounded by a group of attendants, but his expression was one of sorrow.

“Finally, you’re here, Lady Madonna.” The man approached, as if seeing a savior, and briefly embraced the Marquess.

“It’s been a long time, Sorey. You’ve been through a lot recently.”

The man shook his head despondently. “I couldn’t do anything to help. Noya is gravely injured. She won’t let anyone visit her, and she won’t allow the doctors to disclose her condition. She only said she wanted to see you.”

“Why did she summon me to the capital in such haste? What exactly happened?”

“I don’t know, Madonna. Since she was admitted, I haven’t even been able to see her. She… She won’t even let me visit her!”

The Marquess clutched her chest. “Oh, poor Noya, merciful Lord…”

“Go see her, Madonna. She needs you. She’s in so much pain… Please help her… There’s nothing I can do…” The man was on the verge of tears.

Madonna offered him a few words of comfort, and he seemed to regain some composure. Then he finally noticed Darius standing by her side.

“Is this your son?” The man crouched down and patted Darius’s head. “Your name is Darius, right?”

“Yes!” Darius nodded vigorously. “I know, you’re Prince Sorey.”

“Good boy.” Prince Sorey managed a strained smile. He called out to the other end of the hallway, “Annot, come over here and meet your cousin!”

A small figure came running down the corridor. Darius curiously observed the boy who appeared to be around his age. The boy had shiny blond hair and deep violet eyes, as beautiful as the auroras in York γ’s winter.

“Annot, this is your Aunt Madonna’s son, your cousin.”

The boy was slightly shorter than Darius and had to look up to meet his eyes. Darius suddenly felt an urge to pinch the boy’s cheeks, but with his mother and uncle watching, he resisted the impulse. “Hello, I’m Darius.”

“I’m Annot,” the boy replied. He turned and waved to a maid carrying a bundle, who came closer. “This is Alveira, my sister.”

The maid bent down so Darius could see the baby in the bundle. The baby was asleep, with hair that curled on her head, similar to her brother’s light brown locks. Her skin was soft and pink, with the unique sheen of a newborn.

“She’s so tiny…” Darius couldn’t help but marvel.

“She’s only five months old.”

Which meant that Annot had only been a big brother for five months, but he already had the demeanor of an older sibling. He held his head high and puffed out his chest, his face full of pride, as if he were a loyal knight protecting a little princess.

Suddenly, the baby opened her eyes. She let out a small cry, struggling to turn her head to look at the stranger in front of her, and reached out with her tiny hand. Darius noticed that her eyes were also violet. He couldn’t help but grasp the baby’s hand. Her fist is so small, Darius thought. I can cover it with one hand.

The maid patted the baby’s back, trying to soothe her cries. Prince Sorey said, “Felt, take the child to the lounge so she won’t disturb the patients.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the maid replied, and she carried the little princess back down the corridor. Prince Annot, seemingly having lost interest in his first meeting with his cousin, followed the maid, his mind entirely occupied with his little sister.

Madonna watched them leave with a gentle smile. “Well, Darius, let’s go see the Queen.”

Darius politely bid farewell to Prince Sorey, but the Prince seemed lost in his own thoughts, barely registering the boy’s words.

The Queen’s room was in the center of the floor. Strangely, there were no guards nearby. Darius guessed that this might be to maintain the room’s quietness, or perhaps the Queen had forbidden guards from approaching—after all, she didn’t even want to see her husband.

A doctor wearing glasses and a white coat approached them.

“I’ve been expecting you, Madam, Young Master,” he said, bowing slightly to Madonna and Darius. “I am George Shannon, Her Majesty’s attending physician.”

“Dr. Shannon, how is Noya?” Madonna asked, her concern evident.

Dr. Shannon looked troubled. “To be honest, Madam, Her Majesty is gravely injured. The explosion during the car accident nearly destroyed her entire body. Now, only the part above her chest is intact. We tried to save her heart, but we failed. She can only survive with life support machines now—without them, she wouldn’t…”

“Oh, Lord, poor Noya…” The Marquess looked like she was about to faint. “How could this happen… Why did it have to be this way…”

“Stay strong, Madam.” The doctor supported her trembling body. “Her Majesty specifically requested to see you. She needs your help, and only you can help her now.”

“I’ll do everything I can, of course, but what can I do? I’m not a doctor…”

“You just need to make a decision on Her Majesty’s behalf,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses and opening the door to the room. “Please, come in, Madam.”

Darius wanted to follow, but Dr. Shannon gently stopped him. “I’m sorry, young master, but only your mother can enter. Her Majesty asked to see her alone.”

“Wait here for a moment, Darius. I’m just going in to talk with your aunt,” Madonna said.

“Okay!” Darius obediently climbed onto the bench in the hallway. Madonna nodded approvingly before entering the room. The doctor followed her in and closed the door.

Darius had never been the type to wait patiently. He immediately jumped down from the bench and ran to the door, pressing his ear against it to listen in.

The room was silent at first, but soon, Darius heard his mother’s voice.

“Oh, Noya, how could this happen…” Madonna sounded like she was crying. “Lord, why would you do this to her? Why are you so cruel…”

Then another voice, weak and feminine, spoke. Darius guessed it was the Queen. “Madonna, you’ve finally come…”

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 149

Joshua opened his eyes and found himself lying naked in an incubator. The medical fluid had just drained away, leaving his hair wet and coated with the nutrient- and oxygen-rich liquid. He touched his chest, feeling no pain from his ribs anymore—his injuries had fully healed.

He looked around and noticed that the room appeared to be a medical facility, likely within a research institute. Several other cultivation tanks were lined up beside him, but they were empty, covered only in dust.

There was no one else in the medical room. Joshua vaguely remembered that after he was injured, Alois had brought him to this medical facility. The ancient, outdated medical equipment here had somehow miraculously worked. He had climbed into the incubator, let the medical fluid engulf him, and then fallen asleep. He had dreamt of nothing and slept deeply, but when he woke up again, Alois was no longer by his side.

A sudden jolt of fear surged through him, and he quickly jumped out of the tank, almost slipping as he landed. He felt as if he were in the middle of a terrible nightmare, dreaming of a world without Alois, or perhaps all the wonderful memories he had were just another dream. Waking up from that dream, he found himself alone, once again on an endless journey through darkness—the mere thought of such a possibility filled Joshua with indescribable terror.

“Alois!” he called out. His voice echoed briefly in the empty medical room.

The door to the medical room opened with a grating sound.

“What are you shouting for?” Alois walked in, carrying a set of clothes.

Joshua stared at him with an intense gaze that made Alois feel uncomfortable. “What’s with that look?” he asked. “Are you that unhappy to see me?”

“I… When I woke up…” Joshua’s throat felt dry, “and didn’t see you, so I…”

“I went to get you some clothes.” Alois lifted the clothes in his hand. “I figured you’d wake up around this time, though I might’ve been a few minutes early…”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before he was pulled into a warm embrace. Joshua held him tightly, almost as if he intended to squeeze the life out of him. “When I opened my eyes and didn’t see you, I thought…”

Alois freed one hand to pat Joshua’s back. “I’m right here. Now, let go of me—you’re still soaking wet!”

The door to the medical room opened again, and Casper rushed in with excitement. “Good news, Alois, the central computer has been acti—” He stopped mid-sentence, almost as if slamming on the brakes, and awkwardly turned around. “Uh… it seems I’ve come at a bad time. Please, carry on—I’ll go check on the computer… but, really, work is more important, so maybe you could delay the… um, affection…”

“The central computer is active?” Joshua immediately snapped back into work mode.

“The automatic decryption program unlocked the central system.”

Joshua remembered that before heading to the medical room, he had activated the automatic decryption program. It was slower than manual operation, but at least it wouldn’t waste too much time. Now that he was healed, the program had already completed its task.

“How long was I asleep?” the assassin asked.

“A little over five days,” Alois replied.

Too long, Joshua thought. He had originally planned to crack the central system within seventy-two hours and then spend a few more hours installing the AI. His unexpected injury had disrupted all his plans, and now, nearly twice the time had passed, with many tasks still unfinished. He had no desire to linger in this place, even though it was his homeland. He preferred to revisit the past through memories rather than face the decay of Old Earth a thousand years later.

“We need to get to the central control room immediately,” Joshua said.

“That would be ideal,” Casper’s voice echoed from a distance, “but could you put on some clothes first?”

The central control room was located in the center of the fifth underground level of the research institute, like a dragon coiled at the heart of the underground city, overseeing every corner of the facility. The space was far larger than Alois had imagined, with a spherical ceiling resembling a pitch-black night sky, illuminated by lights that looked like stars scattered across the heavens. Most of the central computer was buried underground, with only a part of it visible above ground, rising like a towering spire that connected with the ceiling.

“This is the central computer?” Alois was stunned. The scene before him was far beyond his imagination—people from two centuries ago had created such an astonishing machine that not only still functioned today but also operated faster than many modern computers. Anyone who saw it would not only be amazed but also deeply humbled.

“It’s nicknamed the ‘Tower of Babel’,” Joshua explained. “A tower from mythology, built by humanity before their languages were confused, reaching the heavens and the gods.”

Joshua walked slowly and reverently toward the central computer, like a devout pilgrim. He had only seen the “Tower of Babel” once, during a brief glimpse led by Kester. The memories from his childhood resurfaced, and he recalled how astonished he had been. He saw the greatest scientists of Old Earth gathered here, exploring the deepest mysteries of the universe beneath this tower leading to heaven. The Tower of Babel—the name given to this computer by those brilliant minds. What a glorious and mad era it must have been when they, on the eve of their downfall, finally stepped into the realm of the gods, creating life and worlds like the gods themselves, mastering time and space, only to fall at dusk, never to rise again.

“Where’s Leo’s chip?” Joshua asked, gazing dreamily at the towering structure of the “Tower of Babel”.

“Oh, I have it,” Alois replied, pulling out the thin chip from his inner pocket. A backup of Leo was sleeping inside it, soon to be awakened in the place of his creation, like a messenger of the gods finally returning to heaven—

A laser beam shot through his hand!

Alois cried out in pain, the chip and his blood scattering on the ground. At first, he thought that there might be more of the cyborg Faraday lurking in the central control room, ambushing him. But he quickly realized that the attack hadn’t come from an enemy—it had come from his own ally!

Casper Shannon stood with his gun raised, aiming at the chip on the ground. He pulled the trigger again.

Alois reacted in a fraction of a second, trying to kick the chip away, but it was too late! The beam struck the chip, and after sparking briefly, it shattered.

“Casper! Are you crazy?” Alois also drew his gun, the sudden turn of events leaving him no time to consider his chances of winning a shootout with Casper. Casper had always been a better shot than him—he had never won against him.

“I’m really sorry, Alois,” Casper said, his face glowing with the joy of victory. “If you want to live, don’t move. I don’t want to kill my friend.”

“Friend?!” Alois gritted his teeth. “You still remember you’re my friend!”

“I’ve always considered you my best friend, Alois.”

Casper pressed his free hand against his collar, where a button disguised as a button was hidden.

The floor shook violently. A rumbling explosion sounded from below—it seemed Casper’s button had triggered some explosive device.

“You…”

The central computer’s screen flashed with a dangerous red light, indicating that some part of the research facility had been completely destroyed. Joshua glanced at the screen and nearly had a heart attack. “The field generator has been destroyed!”

“Why did you do this?” Alois shouted. “Are you a spy sent by the Duke? Didn’t you say you were loyal to the Empire and the Queen? Was everything you said a lie?”

“Those were my true feelings, my friend.” Casper closed his eyes as if basking in a divine light. “I am indeed loyal to Her Majesty the Queen.”

He then turned the gun on himself, aiming at his temple, and pulled the trigger.

……

Federation Capital. Council of Nine.

“Word from Epolyne: the doctor and his creation have failed. She has already dealt with them,” 1 announced.

The light for 4 turned red. “Our most elite forces couldn’t stand against the doctor’s cyborg, yet he was easily defeated by the Yasha.”

4’s words plunged the remaining seven members into silence. If their most terrifying weapon couldn’t defeat the Yasha, then what could possibly stand against that ancient monster? Were they doomed to never destroy Yasha?

“Perhaps…” 6 hesitated to speak. “9 was right… It’s a shame he’s gone now…”

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp noise filled the meeting room. Amidst the noise, a powerful voice roared, “Submit!”

“Submit!”

“Submit!”

“What’s happening!” 2 shouted. “Someone has breached our secure channel! What’s going on!”

Eight lights formed a circle, but one corner of the circle was missing. The light representing 9 had remained off.

Now, it lit up.

9’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears:

“Now, submit! I will spare your lives! Bow your heads, bend your knees, and offer your loyalty—to me, to the Yasha, to the ruler of time and space!”

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 148

Queen’s personal maid, Felt, stood at the main entrance of the White Radiance Palace, holding a black umbrella. The heavy rain poured down, and despite the umbrella, several parts of her clothes were soaked. A squad of guards stood diligently at their posts in front of the gate, undeterred by the rain that drenched them. Felt thought to herself that the guard captain would probably only allow them to rotate shifts once the rain stopped, so passersby wouldn’t see the Royal Guard looking like drenched rats.

A black ground car pulled up in front of the gate, splashing water nearly half a person high, like a speedboat cutting through the water. Felt stepped back just in time to avoid getting soaked by the splash. A guard stepped forward to open the car door, and Felt approached with the umbrella held high.

“Welcome home, Your Highness,” she said excitedly.

Princess Alveira jumped out of the car and under the umbrella. Felt took her by the hand with her free one, and they ran together to the shelter of the White Radiance Palace’s eaves. Once they were out of the rain, Felt closed the umbrella and handed it to a nearby guard.

“Look, you’re all wet,” Felt said with concern, even though only a small part of Alveira’s clothing was damp. Felt had served the Queen for thirty years, watching Alveira grow from a baby into a young woman, and loved her almost like a daughter (though Felt thought it might be a bit presumptuous to think so). Seeing her beloved Princess rush back from the battlefield, rain-soaked, made Felt’s heart ache like a mother hen’s. (Oh, Lord, the battlefield! Felt thought. That dreadful place should be left to the men! Her little princess should be in the palace, playing the piano, reading, arranging flowers, and dancing. How could she go to such a dangerous place! And getting wet in the rain! What if she falls ill! Oh, merciful Lord!)

“You’re wet too, Felt,” the Princess said, seemingly amused by her concern.

“You came back so suddenly, without any notice,” Felt said as she instructed a nearby maid to bring a dry towel and directed others to help the Princess dry her face. The Princess had returned victorious, and there should have been a grand welcome on a sunny day, with the people of Nami carrying flowers and flags to greet her, and a red carpet stretching from the White Radiance Palace all the way to the spaceport.

“Felt, where is my mother?”

“Her Majesty doesn’t know you’ve returned yet. She’s in the greenhouse. You know, she always goes there on rainy days.”

The Princess frowned. “I should’ve known. On sunny days, she stays in the garden. On rainy days, she moves to the greenhouse. She’s like a potted plant.”

“Oh, Your Highness, how can you say that…” Felt gasped (though she privately thought the Princess had a point).

Alveira took the towel from the maid and dried her face. “I’ll go see my mother. Winnet is dead, and I’ve finally avenged my brother. I want to tell her the good news personally.”

“Of course.” Felt thought, even though Duke Winnet was guilty of many crimes, he was still the Queen’s cousin. Would she really be happy about his death? When Felt first entered the palace, Duke Winnet hadn’t yet married and lived in the White Radiance Palace—a dashing young man, always troubled by his secret love for Miss Stella. Now, in the blink of an eye, he and his wife were both lying side by side in the graveyard. The thought made Felt feel a deep sadness.

She followed Alveira to the greenhouse where the Queen was. Along the way, every servant they passed respectfully greeted the Princess, and Felt felt honored just to be in her presence. Her little Princess had grown up. She was now the Young Mistress of the White Radiance Palace and would one day become the regent of the Empire, perhaps even the ruler of half the galaxy. Time flies, forcing everyone to grow up quickly.

Felt wanted to tell the Princess to slow down. She could no longer keep up with her pace.

As they walked through a corridor, they encountered someone they least expected to meet at that moment. Alveira abruptly stopped, and Felt, following closely behind, nearly bumped into her.

“…What are you doing here?” The Princess frowned, looking at the man in front of her as if he were a stranger who had intruded into her home.

“This is my home. If I’m not here, where should I be, Alveira?” The man smiled gently. He was over fifty years old, with gray hair at his temples and many wrinkles on his face, but he was still handsome and charming, maintaining the same elegance he had in his youth, which captivated many women much younger than him. His smile, which should have been warm and welcoming, instead felt like a dry wind fanning a small spark into a raging fire.

“Don’t call me by my name!” Alveira shouted.

Felt’s heart pounded with fear. She tugged at the Princess’s sleeve and whispered, “Your Highness, Your Highness, don’t get angry. Calm down, you’re about to deliver good news. How can you be angry now? Besides, he’s… Everyone’s watching. This isn’t the time…”

She hoped the Princess wouldn’t suddenly lose her temper and would instead ignore the man in front of her, treating him as air or an insignificant insect—anything would be better than starting a confrontation.

As she tried to calm the Princess, Felt also shot a pleading glance at the man, urging him to leave. But not only did he ignore Felt’s goodwill, he even stoked the flames further. “Felt is right, Alveira. Is this how you speak to your father?”

The man was none other than the Princess’s father, the Queen’s husband, and the other master of the White Radiance Palace—Prince Sorey. He and his wife hadn’t spoken to each other for a long time, and his relationship with his children was even worse. Prince Annot had at least maintained the basic respect expected of a son and a prince, but Alveira could not. Whenever she and Prince Sorey met, it was like sodium reacting with water, always leading to an explosion.

“Father?!” Alveira laughed bitterly. “Besides being my mother’s husband on paper and providing half of my genetic material, in what way have you ever acted like a father?”

“Alveira, how can you say that!” Prince Sorey’s face darkened.

The Princess showed no sign of stopping. “Oh, I almost forgot, you’ve provided your genes to quite a few people. The number of people who could call you ‘Dad’ could form a whole battalion. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I just added a faint voice to the chorus, right, Fa—ther—” She deliberately emphasized the last two syllables.

The Prince’s expression turned grim. “Look at what your mother has turned you into!”

“Ah, well, I’m sorry about that. But who’s to blame for not giving me any fatherly guidance?”

“Then I’ll teach you proper manners right now!”

“The only good thing about ascending that lousy throne,” Alveira said, baring her teeth in a grin, “is that I’ll have the right to kick you out of here and never have to see that disgusting face of yours again! Just thinking about it keeps me so excited I can’t sleep!”

“You…!” The Prince was furious, but before he could vent his anger, Alveira coldly brushed past him, not even turning back as she headed toward the greenhouse. Felt awkwardly bowed to the Prince and hurried to catch up with the Princess. After walking some distance, she turned back and saw that the Prince was still standing at the end of the corridor, watching them. His figure, silhouetted against the curtain of rain, looked like that of a lonely sentinel.

After turning a corner, he was out of sight. Felt sighed and followed the Princess into the greenhouse.

The scene inside the greenhouse was entirely different from the storm raging outside. The ceiling was a display screen that could show different weather patterns. While it was storming outside, inside the greenhouse, it was a gentle drizzle, reminiscent of a delicate spring rain.

The greenhouse was filled with a variety of blooming flowers, genetically modified and carefully tended by gardeners to bloom year-round, creating a paradise of eternal spring.

The Princess paused by a cluster of crabapple blossoms. Felt noticed the Queen standing on the opposite side of the flower bed, with her back to them. As always, she was dressed in black, wearing a black hat with a long black veil hanging down. She held a pair of gardening shears, trimming the rose bushes with delicate care, shaping them into beautiful forms. Every few minutes, she would stop and remain still for a while, either admiring her work or pondering some deep thought.

Alveira stood still, watching her mother tend to the flowers. After a moment, she turned and left the greenhouse.

Felt, puzzled, hurried after her. “Your Highness, aren’t you going to report to Her Majesty?”

“Mother is busy working. It’s not the right time to disturb her,” the Princess said, her expression complex, a mix of disappointment and dejection. “I’ll tell her later.”

Her voice was soft, and Felt thought that the Queen hadn’t heard her, as she continued to focus on her gardening, seemingly unaware that her daughter had returned from a distant campaign and was now standing right behind her.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 147

While the Empire Royal Guard was still resting at Sword Bow, the Lady of the Night had already set off early, escorted by several battleships, heading back to the Empire Capital at the fastest speed. Leonard wasn’t interested in politics, but he knew that the Princess was hurrying back to the capital to deploy forces and prevent any opportunistic individuals with ulterior motives from causing trouble after the fall of the Duke.

This was a perfect opportunity to sweep away the hostile forces entrenched in the center of the Empire. Even someone like Leo, who had little interest in politics, knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The excitement and anticipation of the humans seemed to infect the AI as well; during routine checks, he couldn’t help but bounce around, drawing complaints from the crew.

“Enough, Leo,” Ibb said, putting down the wrench in his hand. “What’s gotten into you today? You’re acting like you’re wound up. I’ve never seen you work this enthusiastically before.”

Titia, who was standing nearby, cradled her face in her hands. “Must be in heat.”

Her two brothers chimed in agreement.

“You three! Watch out or I’ll cut off your heating tonight!” Leo fumed.

At that moment, the cook, Celia, approached, looking anxious and bewildered. “Oh, Leo,” she called out, “have you seen Schrödinger and Pavlov? I can’t find them anywhere.”

Leo searched the ship but found no trace of the cat and dog. As an AI, he was certain there were no blind spots on the Lady of the Night—he could see every corner. But he didn’t see the cat and dog, meaning they weren’t on the ship.

He quickly pulled up the surveillance footage and discovered that while the ship was docked at Sword Bow, the two animals had sneaked off the ship and never returned. At that time, he had been too busy talking to the galactic cross-dressing diva to notice!

“Oh, damn it.” Leo felt a wave of despair. “I’ve lost Joshua’s emergency rations. He’s definitely going to kill me!”

……

Sixty-year-old Empire Chancellor Greenwald pulled back the heavy velvet curtains, gazing out at the cloudy sky. Lightning occasionally flashed through the thick clouds, signaling an imminent thunderstorm.

“It’s the rainy season in the capital again,” the Chancellor muttered to himself. He let the curtains fall, plunging the room into darkness. He didn’t turn on the lights but instead sat by the window, deep in thought. This was part of his daily routine—he needed an undisturbed, quiet environment to reflect on the past, the future, his life, and the state of the nation.

The Chancellor was deeply troubled. The news of the Empire Royal Guard’s great victory had arrived from the front lines, and the entire nation was celebrating. By all rights, Greenwald should be happy as well, since another threat to the Emperor’s throne had been eliminated. Yet, the elderly Chancellor found no joy in this moment.

He would be next.

Greenwald had served as Chancellor for over a decade, previously holding the position of Minister of Finance. Ever since he embarked on his political career, he had never left the power center of the Empire. He was deeply grateful to the late Emperor, who had promoted him, and had vowed to dedicate his life to the Empire. Now, he realized how reckless and naive he had been in his youth.

Today’s Greenwald was no longer the man he once was. Years of navigating the political arena had made him shrewd, mature, and reserved—qualities that the younger generation might describe as “cunning and sly”. The late Emperor had long since passed away, and now his daughter, Queen Noya I, sat on the throne. In the future, her daughter would reside in the White Radiance Palace. At some point, Greenwald had quietly changed. He was no longer the idealistic young man of the past. He had tasted power, and it was so intoxicating that anyone could become addicted, unable to extricate themselves. Greenwald, like a drunkard who craves alcohol, was attached to power (he never denied this). As long as he lived, he not only wanted to secure his position but also wanted to ensure that his family would be entrenched in the Empire’s central power, flourishing and growing into a deeply rooted tree that would draw nourishment from the land while sheltering the nation.

Many families had achieved this in the past (like the Bayes family, which held significant influence in both military and political spheres and often intermarried with the royal family, so much so that every descendant in the family had royal blood and a claim to the throne). But they had all been loyal followers of Emperor Nasir I since he set foot on the land of the Unfallen Star. For someone like Greenwald, who had risen from a commoner to the ranks of the Empire’s nobility, such a feat was unheard of.

Greenwald wanted to continue this miracle. The first step was to place the young members of his family in various positions of power, and he had already done this. The next step was to arrange a marriage with the royal family. Unfortunately, the second step had failed. He hadn’t succeeded in making his granddaughter the queen. His flawless plan had been ruined by a murder on the eve of the wedding. Prince Annot had ended up in a coffin, and the next in line for the throne was his sister. Greenwald didn’t have a grandson to marry the princess (nor did he think his granddaughter’s looks could entice the Princess). But that didn’t matter. He had a distant nephew who was the right age, and perhaps that could work.

Greenwald needed to act quickly and make all the necessary arrangements before he retired from the center of power, ensuring that his family’s legacy was on the right path. If he didn’t succeed before the Queen abdicated and the Princess ascended the throne, all his efforts would be in vain. The Chancellor knew that the Princess despised him more than anyone else; the blood feud over Prince Annot stood between them, and the Princess’s loyal ally, the young Count Bayes, would be even less forgiving. Although the Chancellor was courageous, he wasn’t reckless enough to send assassins like Duke Winnet. The current first in line to the throne was Princess Alveira, followed by Darius Bayes (it should have been the Duke’s daughter, Musaya, but she had been disinherited and was reportedly taken away by the Duke’s remaining forces, with no trace of her since). The chances of both of them being killed together were slim. If the Chancellor couldn’t secure his position before the Princess ascended the throne, the bloodshed of a regime change would strip him of everything.

Boom—

Thunder shook the windows and the Chancellor’s eardrums. His head buzzed, and it was a while before he heard a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” he asked. “I gave orders not to be disturbed.”

The butler’s voice came from outside the door. “Sir, a guest has arrived.”

“There’s no meeting scheduled for today,” Greenwald said. “What distinguished guest would come uninvited?”

The butler hesitated. “This… is a very special guest. She insisted on seeing you…”

Greenwald glanced at the dark, cloud-filled sky outside. Had it come so soon?

“Let her in.”

The butler left, and shortly after, Greenwald heard footsteps coming up the stairs. The butler personally opened the door for the guest, and after she entered, he respectfully closed the door.

Now, there were only two people in the room: Greenwald and the guest. The Chancellor turned his head with difficulty, just as a flash of lightning lit up the sky, casting a bluish glow over the dim room. The guest’s appearance was outlined by the lightning before being swallowed by the darkness again.

Greenwald lowered his head. “Forgive this old minister, who is too weak to stand and greet you, Your Highness.”

“No need,” the guest said. “I’m just here to chat with the Chancellor, not to compare heights. Whether you stand or not makes no difference.”

“Your Highness’s visit fills this old minister with dread. I heard the Royal Guard wouldn’t reach the capital for another week. How is it that you’ve returned so soon?”

“I was eager to get back, so I hurried here without stopping. As soon as I got off the ship, I came straight to your residence.”

“Was there something urgent that required such haste, Your Highness?”

“There’s a gift I wish to present to the Chancellor, and I hope you will accept it.”

It was only then that Greenwald noticed the guest was holding a submachine gun. The sight almost made him jump out of his chair. How dare she! Greenwald thought. Even if she is the heir to the Empire, she would still be tried for murder if she kills someone! How dare she kill me!

Unexpectedly, the guest didn’t fire but walked over to the corner where the desk was and placed the gun on the table. “This is the gun that killed the rebel Winnet. It’s quite commemorative, and I plan to name it the ‘Outlaw Slayer’ and place it in the National Museum. What do you think?”

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Greenwald’s forehead, but he didn’t wipe it away—doing so would reveal his nervousness. The room was so dim that the guest couldn’t see his expression.

“As Your Highness wishes,” he replied.

“Since it’s the Outlaw Slayer, it’s naturally meant to exterminate traitors and wicked ministers. I hope the Chancellor will find it useful.” The guest paused and then added, “I have another gift as well.” With that, she picked up a pen from the desk, pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote a few words on it. “This gift is also very valuable, so I’m afraid I can’t give it to you alongside the gun. Perhaps you should choose one of the two.”

“This old minister is deeply grateful for Your Highness’s generosity.” She’s threatening me, Greenwald thought. But I won’t give her a direct answer.

The guest didn’t press the Chancellor to choose but instead shifted the conversation. “I heard you have a nephew around my age living in a remote area. How about summoning him to the capital? But the journey from the remote area to the capital is long, and if anything unfortunate were to happen on the way, it would be disastrous…”

Greenwald’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

The guest continued, “I recall you have some younger relatives working in the Ministry of Finance. Now that the civil strife is over, I intend to clean up the court, starting with a thorough review of the budget and addressing corruption among officials. I wonder if your younger relatives could be of any help?”

Greenwald wasn’t particularly interested in wealth, but that didn’t necessarily apply to the younger members of his family. Wealth and power often go hand in hand. Once people pursue one, they often find themselves coveting the other.

“The Chancellor has served the Empire for decades, and both my mother and I have always acknowledged your contributions and hard work. Now that you are advanced in age, perhaps it’s time to retire, enjoy your family, and live out your days in peace. If you feel it’s appropriate, you can always express your desire to step down. There’s no need to shoulder all the burdens yourself. I’m still young, with many more years ahead of me, and there are plenty of young people in the court who will surely live up to your expectations.”

Greenwald opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was like a fish stranded on the shore, gasping for breath but unable to speak.

The guest adjusted her clothing. “I hurried back and haven’t even gone to the White Radiance Palace to greet my mother. I’ll take my leave now.” She turned to the door, grasped the handle, then turned back to add, “The commander of the Empire Capital Guard personally escorted me here, and I wouldn’t want to keep him waiting. In a week, the Royal Guard will arrive in the capital, led by Darius.”

She turned the handle and walked out.

Greenwald quickly got up and stumbled to the desk. The absurdly named submachine gun lay on the table, with a piece of paper beneath it. Lightning flashed, and torrential rain began to pour down as the electric light illuminated the words on the paper, neatly written—“Resignation Letter”.

Throughout his life, the Chancellor had written countless official documents, but he had never written a resignation letter. He thought it might be time to practice writing one.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 146

When Leonard hacked into the communication lines of the Sword Bow Spaceport, he noticed that there were two unusual ships docked there. One was the Solon from Neo Athens. Although it was anchored at the port for resupply, not a single person disembarked to step foot on the land of Sword Bow. Leo greeted the AI on the Solon and learned that they were merely passing through Sword Bow, with their final destination being an empty region on the edge of the Redstone System.

Recently, a large number of ships from Neo Athens had been departing from the Academy, buzzing about like bees from a hive, shuttling between the Federation, the Empire, the Free City-States, and the lifeless, icy stars. Many planets had begun to feel anxious about Neo Athens’ activities, fearing that after centuries of dormancy, the scholars of New Neo had finally developed ambitions to conquer the universe. In response to their fear, Neo Athens offered no explanation. This aligned with the Academy’s usual style: they never wasted time or effort explaining things to those who didn’t need to know.

The other ship wasn’t unfamiliar to Leo. He had seen it several times before. It was the Muse, the flagship of the Galactic Diva, Camilla, who traveled the universe spreading his songs. Not long ago, the rebel Winnet had been brought to justice, and the people of the Empire were celebrating across the galaxy. Sword Bow had been bombed and suffered severe damage, and the survivors were in desperate need of spiritual comfort. So, the governor of Sword Bow (whom Leo couldn’t help but marvel at for his sheer will to survive whenever he saw him) invited Camilla to perform a relief concert, with expenses naturally covered by the state.

Leo boldly hacked into the Muse’s system, collecting data as part of his routine. Camilla often relied on the Muse to project the stage lights and effects, so the ship was equipped with the latest technology. Leo found himself thoroughly enjoying the experience of navigating through it. He loved advanced equipment, which made his processing speed faster and his operations smoother, akin to the joy humans feel when buying a new car.

He took control of a cleaning robot, directing the round little machine to abandon its current task and slide over to Camilla’s resting room. In a few hours, Camilla would be on stage for the concert, likely preparing with makeup or vocal exercises. The Muse was bustling with people, all working to ensure the success of Camilla’s performance. He was, of course, the center of attention, whether on the ship or the stage—though perhaps not in matters of love, Leo thought maliciously.

The little robot deftly dodged people’s feet and successfully slipped into the resting room. Luckily, no one else was there, except for the cross-dressing diva seated at the mirror, checking his makeup. Leo looked through the robot’s eyes and saw Camilla—or rather, Srosie—reflected in the mirror. Today, he had applied blue eyeshadow, making him look like a siren emerging from the dark sea, luring sailors with his song.

The robot slid to his feet, looking up at him. Srosie’s hand, holding the lipstick, froze, and his expression in the mirror turned into one of shock, as if he had seen a ghost.

“Damn, damn, damn AI! How did you get on my ship!” He threw the lipstick with force. It bounced off the robot’s head. Then, a barrage of combs, makeup remover, and soft brushes followed like a storm. “You hacked into my ship’s computer and used my robot! This is a crime! You damn lawless AI. You deserve to go to hell—”

“Hi, Camilla,” Leo greeted cheerfully in a synthetic voice.

Srosie looked like he had been struck dumb, angrily kicking the robot. “Get lost!”

The robot got back up and stubbornly rolled back to his feet. “Is this how you greet me? You were much more polite in your letters…”

“I’d be well within my rights to shoot you in the head!”

“I just got back from the front lines, and you’re not even going to check on me…”

“I’d rather busk on the streets!”

“Do you have anything to say besides shouting at me?”

Srosie looked stunned again, but this time he didn’t fly into a rage. Instead, he awkwardly twisted his fingers. “Um… how is Alois?”

“How could I possibly know?”

Srosie kicked the robot away. “Get off my ship or I’ll call the police!”

The robot crashed into the wall with a loud thud, falling to the ground. Leo wondered if Srosie’s foot hurt from kicking so hard. The human body truly was a strange thing!

“Oh, you’re so violent.” The robot’s voice emitter seemed to malfunction, making the voice sound very odd. “I answer honestly and still get attacked. The world is getting scarier and scarier.”

“Aren’t you the AI from the Lady of the Night? How could you not know this?”

“Alois and Joshua are on a secret mission together, and since it’s a secret mission, I won’t tell you where they went.”

Srosie stood up from the chair and stormed toward the robot. He was wearing high heels, which looked like they could punch a hole in a steel plate. Leonard quickly directed the little robot to slide to the other side of the room. “I really don’t understand what’s so great about that kid. You all like him so much. He’s not better-looking than I am, and he’s not smarter than me. What exactly do you like about him?”

“You should ask that question to the assassin!”

“You should take the same attitude when facing Joshua. Maybe he’ll be so moved he’ll give you a fair shot at competition—” As if! Leonard thought. Joshua would probably just strangle him, uprooting the threat without giving him any chance to recover.

Srosie angrily returned to his chair and focused on his makeup, ignoring Leonard. The little robot circled behind him in an S-shape, trying to attract his attention, but the youth paid him no mind. Finally, the robot slid back to his feet and asked sincerely, “Are you angry?”

“Leave me alone.”

“As a faithful friend to mankind, the AI Leonard offers you this reasonable advice: there are plenty of good men and women in the world, and you’re still young. There’s no need to hang yourself on just one tree.”

“Are you saying I should hang myself on another tree?”

“If you want to interpret it that way, sure.”

“Then what kind of tree do you think I should hang myself on?”

“How about me—Gah!”

Srosie stomped on the robot, grinding it underfoot.

“I was joking! I was joking! Oh, Asimov, isn’t this robot from your ship? Why take it out on it!”

“It doesn’t matter. If it breaks, I’ll just buy another one.” Srosie puffed up his cheeks, clearly intent on smashing the robot to pieces.

Leo shouted, “Fine, do what you want. I have to rush back to the capital, so I’m out of time. Farewell!”

“Get lost already!”

The light on the robot’s head went out, indicating that the AI had left its body. Srosie nudged it with his toe, but it no longer responded. He might have really broken some part of it earlier.

Srosie pursed his lips, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He really liked Alois—so much that just hearing his name made him ecstatic.

But Alois liked someone else. They admired each other, while he was just an outsider, an extra, who could do nothing but disrupt their sweet relationship and make himself unhappy.

On stage, he was the all-powerful Galactic Diva. But offstage, he was just an ordinary person who couldn’t even manage to have a successful love life.

Srosie sniffled, and a tear fell on the back of his hand.

Suddenly, the light on the little robot’s head flickered back on. “Oh, I forgot to tell you something. Your ship is quite nice. I left a backup on it, so if you ever lose any data, I can—Gwah!”

The round body flew up and hit the ceiling, smashing a lamp and rendering both the robot and the lamp utterly useless.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 145

Dr. Frank Shelley stared in disbelief at the communication terminal in his hand. The light indicating the life status of the cyborg Leslie Faraday—his creation, his beloved—had permanently gone out. This only meant one thing: Leslie was dead, his brain destroyed, and he could never be restored.

The doctor momentarily forgot to breathe. “This… This is impossible…” He shook his head violently. “How could Leslie be defeated? How could a mere handful of humans possibly kill him!”

“Then he probably wasn’t killed by humans.” The doctor’s assistant, Epolyne, walked up behind him, looking at the doctor with pity, knowing he was on the verge of despair and madness. “You’ve probably guessed it by now, haven’t you? If there’s anything in this world that could kill Leslie, it would only be…” She deliberately left out the name “Yasha”.

“No!” the doctor roared. “How could Leslie lose! How could he possibly lose to the Yasha! It must be some malfunction! Yes, that’s it. The transmitter must have malfunctioned! My Leslie is perfect… He is the strongest…” By the end, the doctor’s voice was choked with emotion.

Epolyne sighed softly, almost imperceptibly. “Face reality, Doctor. Success always comes with failure. Now that we can no longer complete the task of eliminating the Yasha, it’s better for us to leave Old Earth as soon as possible and return to the Federation…”

“No!” the doctor screamed, his voice hoarse. “What’s the point of going back? What good will it do!” He took a deep breath, his body swaying as if he might collapse at any moment. “My masterpiece… The culmination of my life’s research… my Leslie…”

Epolyne, worried that the doctor might not recover from this devastating blow, tried to comfort him. “Doctor, you’re still young, and you have a long life ahead of you. You can create something even better…”

She trailed off because she heard the doctor laughing. He was actually laughing! At first, the laughter was low, almost inaudible, but gradually, the doctor’s shoulders began to shake, and his laughter grew louder and louder. He laughed so hard that he was almost doubled over, as if he had gone mad.

No. Epolyne thought. He was always a madman.

“Hahahahahahahaha, is that it. So that’s how it is…” The doctor’s eyes were vacant, but his face was filled with an inexplicable joy. “I’ve tried so hard, yet I still can’t surpass him… So that’s how it is… How ridiculous! Hahahahaha, how utterly ridiculous I am…”

Epolyne took a step back, staying alert, unsure of what the doctor might do in his madness. Although he had always been eccentric, this was the first time his behavior had become so erratic.

The laughter abruptly stopped. The doctor looked at his assistant with a haunting gaze. “If even I can’t destroy the Yasha, who else in the world could?”

Epolyne swallowed hard and went along with him. “You’re right. No one else but you can destroy it.”

“But even I have failed, Epolyne.” The doctor lifted his head. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t… I can’t…” He suddenly shuddered. “Then I might as well release the Yasha! Don’t you think so, Epolyne? After all, humanity is doomed to die sooner or later. So why not let the destruction come sooner! If I can’t save humanity, then I’ll destroy it myself! I’ll release the Yasha, let it annihilate humanity, destroy this universe, and then move on to other dimensions and destroy them as well…” The doctor grinned, as delighted as a child with a new toy. “That’s it! Let’s do it, Epolyne. We can do it together…”

“Allow me to refuse, Doctor,” Epolyne said coldly.

The doctor’s smile vanished. “What do you mean?” he demanded sharply.

“If you want to die, you can go die by yourself. I still want to live a few more days.”

“You dare defy me!” The doctor lunged forward, grabbing Epolyne by the collar, his expression one of murderous intent. But Epolyne knew the doctor couldn’t kill her. Despite his intellect, he had spent too much time in the lab, lacking physical strength, and could no longer strangle even a woman. Epolyne pushed him away, causing him to stagger and nearly fall.

“Epolyne, do you also think I’m useless?” he asked, smiling sadly. “Then go ahead, take the ship back to the Federation and cling to life. But it won’t be long. Maybe by tomorrow, you’ll be on the path to death!” He turned and walked toward the control room door, clearly intending to destroy the field generator and release the Yasha.

“Doctor!” Epolyne called out. The doctor didn’t turn back.

“Doctor, I never thought you were useless.” Epolyne said. The doctor paused in his steps.

“I never thought you were of any use.”

A gunshot rang out, and a streak of red bloomed on the doctor’s back. He stumbled forward, took a few shaky steps, and then collapsed to the ground.

Epolyne, holding the gun, walked over to the doctor.

“Traitor…” the doctor said, his eyes wide in the pool of blood.

“Sorry, Doctor, but I never was loyal to you.” Epolyne shrugged. She had thought this secret would be kept until the very end, but it was revealed sooner than expected, and by her own hand no less. “I was sent by the Military Council from the beginning to monitor you. In fact, you never had the full trust of the Council, nor did the High Council ever fully believe in you. My mission was to watch your every move, and at the slightest sign of you betraying the Federation, I was to eliminate you. I didn’t expect you to not only intend to betray the Federation but also attempt to destroy all of humanity…”

The doctor’s blood-stained lips twisted into a malicious smile. “…Proud of yourself?” he rasped. “You won’t be for long… You… You never knew… the Federation’s… dark side…”

“Of course, I know,” Epolyne said dismissively.

“You don’t know…” In his final moments, the doctor’s eyes shone with a brilliant light. “You’re just… a pawn…”

“I never aspired to be a player.”

“You don’t… know…” The doctor’s breath weakened. “You are so… close to… death…”

“Doctor, you yourself said it—humans all die in the end. We’re all close to death.”

Epolyne thought the doctor had lost his mind, but he was still laughing, a laugh that sent chills down her spine. She quickly raised her gun. “Farewell, Doctor. May you and your beloved pet reunite in the afterlife.”

The doctor opened his mouth as if to say something, but Epolyne pulled the trigger first, hitting him squarely in the forehead, ending the young life of Dr. Frank Shelley. Even in death, he was still smiling, as if mocking Epolyne, mocking the entire world with his death.

“What a pity, Doctor. You could have achieved great things, but you chose a path of no return.” Epolyne holstered her gun. Though she didn’t feel any sympathy for the doctor, she had worked with him for so long that there was at least some camaraderie. She closed the dead man’s eyes, whispered a short prayer for him, then stood up and walked toward the control room door.

Her mission was complete. Whoever else was still on Earth, whatever they intended to do, it was no longer her concern. She didn’t want to care, and she couldn’t care even if she wanted to. Breaking free from the madness and arrogance of Dr. Frank Shelley felt like shedding a heavy shackle, making Epolyne feel light on her feet, so much so that she even wanted to hum a cheerful tune. She would leave this ancient research facility, find her ship, return to the Federation, and report everything she had seen and heard on Old Earth to the Military Council. The Council might then send a report to the Council of Nine (though, as far as Epolyne knew, there were only eight left now), but she didn’t care about that. It wasn’t her concern. She didn’t want to care, and she couldn’t care even if she did. She just felt she had never been so free in her entire life.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

Chapter 144

The Yasha pierced through the cyborg’s chest, holding a pulsating artificial heart in its silver palm. Then, it calmly crushed it, as easily as squeezing an orange, causing blood to gush out like running tap water, spilling onto the ground. The Yasha withdrew its hand and grabbed the cyborg’s head. The ferocious head in the killing machine’s palm seemed as fragile as a piece of fruit. Only then did the cyborg’s expression show fear, rasping out the word “Death, death, death,” like a broken tape recorder.

Then the Yasha crushed its skull, brain and all, into a pile of metallic debris and flesh. It did this with such casualness, as if it wasn’t destroying something but merely raising its hand in the wind. The cyborg’s broken body fell to the ground like a pile of nauseating garbage, with no trace left of its once formidable strength.

Joshua had seen countless bloody scenes, and during his career as an assassin, he had created many similar ones himself. But seeing the Yasha kill a creature that was once human so easily and ruthlessly still sent chills down his spine.

Moreover, the Yasha was now walking toward him, its blood-stained claws slowly reaching out…

Joshua remembered Kester’s last words. He had the same blood as Kester, so the Yasha wouldn’t hurt him. But then, was it going to…

Without thinking, he turned and threw himself over Alois. They both fell to the ground, and Joshua’s ribs flared with sharp pain. But he ignored it. He covered Alois with his body, shielding all his vital points. If Yasha wanted to harm Alois, it would have to kill him too!

“Joshua…” Alois whispered.

The assassin propped himself up on one elbow, creating a space for Alois to breathe, while his other hand cradled the back of Alois’s head, pressing him tightly against himself. “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Alois’s hands reached around his armpits, gripping his shoulders tightly.

Joshua felt the Yasha’s distinctive cold and bloody aura getting closer and closer, its invincible claws like the embodiment of fear reaching for him. He held his breath, waiting for death to come. But he only felt those claws lightly touch his back, like a snowflake falling on him, melting instantly from his body heat. He dared to lift his head and saw the Yasha’s form undergoing a bizarre transformation, as if it had glimpsed the darkest depths of his soul. It turned into him, into Kester, into Master Giorgione, into Doctor Yulinta, into the assassin broker Sawyer, and then dissolved into floating dust, disappearing.

“It’s gone…” Joshua sighed in relief, trying to get up, but the broken ribs made him fail. He almost rolled off Alois and lay flat on the ground. Any slight movement brought excruciating pain to his chest.

“Joshua! You’re… you’re injured!” Alois moved beside him, his face filled with both lingering fear and deep concern. He carefully unbuttoned the assassin’s blood-stained clothes, revealing his skin, and gently pressed on his chest. Joshua winced in pain, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Oh God, your ribs are broken.” Alois dared not move him any further. He took off his own spacesuit, rolled it into a strip, and placed it under Joshua’s head, making him more comfortable. “I remember the research facility has an infirmary. There should be some medicine…”

“They’re probably long past their expiration date.” Joshua gave a weak smile.

“There are painkillers and antibiotics on the ship. I’ll go get them now.”

Joshua grabbed him. “It’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Who knows if there are more cyborgs outside… or what if you run into the Yasha?”

Alois glanced at the nearby wreckage, turning away in disgust. “I’ll run.”

“You saw it yourself. We are no match for it.” Joshua blinked. “And… do you want to leave me here alone?”

Alois looked like he was about to cry (for some reason, Joshua found this expression particularly endearing). “Then what should I do?”

“Stay with me. I’ll be fine after lying down for a while, really.” He knew Alois was genuinely distressed for him, so he added, “I’ve survived much worse injuries before.”

Alois knelt beside him, looking at him helplessly. “I’m sorry,” he said dejectedly. “I’m so useless.”

“It’s me who should apologize.” Joshua touched his cheek. “For not avenging you with my own hands.”

“That doesn’t matter! I just want… I just want you…” Alois gently brushed Joshua’s lips, still stained with dried blood, like a petal stuck to the edge of his mouth.

He couldn’t help but kiss him.

……

Casper Shannon removed his helmet, gazing up at the massive, strangely-shaped machine before him. It stood perfectly balanced in the underground space devoid of sunlight, like the relic of a god, receiving reverence and worship.

“This is the field generator created by the last scientists of Old Earth?” he marveled with awe. Compared to modern machines that emphasize function over form, the machinery of Old Earth not only had outstanding functionality but was also extraordinarily ornate, just like the planet itself, possessing the unique grandeur of things before their destruction.

“Compared to this, the delicacy of Neo Athens is like a crude clay sculpture, and the grandeur of Neo Venice is as simple as a cave painting.”

“I quite agree with your view.” A male voice came from the darkness.

Casper immediately drew his gun, aiming at the source of the voice. It was a middle-aged man, also holding a gun, but his slow, graceful steps, straight back, and serious expression made him look more like a steward than a warrior.

“Let me guess, your master is the Duke of Winnet, right?” Casper asked.

“Correct, but unfortunately, there’s no reward for it.” The man was quite sincere. “And you, sir? Are you a spy for the Federation or an agent of the Empire?”

“I am, of course, loyal to Her Majesty the Queen of the Galactic Empire.”

The man looked at him with a strange gaze. “What is your relationship with George Shannon?”

“He’s my father.”

“I’ve heard that George Shannon has long served the Empire Academy of Sciences, with significant research on brain disease and artificial limbs.” The man raised his gun. “The cyborg up there must be your work.”

Casper frowned. He understood the man’s first sentence, but the second left him puzzled. “What cyborg?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Casper looked up. “What’s behind you?”

The man sneered, “You think I’d fall for such a stupid trick?”

Then his sneer turned into a half-scream, the other half choked in his throat. A tall shadow appeared behind him, like a tangible nightmare, and with just a light touch, it took the man’s life. Casper had no time to mourn him as he fell into real fear.

The Yasha stepped over the man’s corpse, approaching him.

Casper retreated repeatedly, soon finding himself with no place to go. His back pressed against the massive instrument, its patterns and edges digging painfully into him. He looked at the gun in his hand and smiled bitterly before tossing it aside. A handgun couldn’t harm his enemy. In the face of the Yasha, humans had no way to fight back, only to wait like lambs for the butcher’s knife at their neck.

Is my life really going to end here? Casper thought. I still have a mission to complete. I can’t die here!

The Yasha stopped a step away from him. With the distance between them, a single move from the Yasha could have ended Casper’s life. But Yasha seemed blocked by something invisible, unable to take even a small step closer.

Casper shrank back further. He suddenly realized why Yasha didn’t continue forward. It was the field generator behind him that restrained Yasha. It couldn’t get close to this huge instrument. Otherwise, it would have destroyed it long ago in the past two thousand years and then swaggered away from Old Earth.

Who would have thought this thing would be my savior? Casper felt a wave of bitterness.

The Yasha stared at him with its lava-like eyes (if it indeed had vision), seemingly understanding that it couldn’t kill this human, and regretfully turned away.

Casper didn’t know where it went or whether it would return when he left the field generator. He had no time to think about that. More pressing matters awaited him.

An hour later, when he had completed part of his mission and was satisfied with his work, he received a communication from Alois.

“Casper? Are you okay?”

“Couldn’t be better. How about you?”

“Oh… it’s a bit bad. Joshua is injured, and I have to take him to find a medical room. Please protect the field generator, and we’ll contact you after we deal with the central computer.”

“Of course. No problem,” Casper responded cheerfully.

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