Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 121

While Alois was warmly welcomed by his juniors, Joshua Planck was being “neglected.”

Joshua sat in a corner of the cabin silently, his arms crossed. Due to the needs of the landing operation, every cabin was packed with people; the captain wished he could turn all his subordinates into sardines. However, the cabin Joshua was in was clearly different. The evidence was that there wasn’t a single person within a three-meter radius around him, as if under a microscope observing penicillin placed in a petri dish—nothing was around it but the culture medium.

The crowd squeezed into the other end of the cabin, desperately keeping their distance from him while simultaneously casting mixed looks of fear and awe at him. Yet, whenever the assassin looked up and glanced back at them, people would immediately lower their heads, focusing intently on their crotches.

Joshua was feeling extremely awkward.

That bastard Darius Bayes had definitely put him here on purpose, nominally to command a regiment’s forces for the landing operation, but in reality, just to irritate him.

The soldiers here all feared Joshua. No one hadn’t heard of the terrifying legends about the assassin known as the Mourner. Those exaggerated rumors portrayed him as a cold-blooded and bloodthirsty God of Death (which was pretty much true), killing friend and foe alike as he pleased (which was nonsense), and the last time he was injured, he managed to escape from the heavily armed Sword of the Queen (he himself never wanted to recall that mess). What kind of monstrous power was that? And the assassin’s eyes, known as the “Abyssal Flame”, added a layer of eerie mystique to the rumors. Some even claimed that just a glance from Joshua could cause someone to faint. It wouldn’t be surprising if, soon enough, the legend would include, “He can kill with just a look.”

My eyes aren’t some kind of destructive death ray! Joshua thought bitterly. He glanced at the trembling crowd and punched the wall hard. “What are you huddling over there for? Get over here!”

The crowd didn’t move forward but instead retreated further. The population density at the other end of the cabin increased again.

“Come over and sit down!” Joshua raised his voice. “Are you planning to huddle up like this during battle, get packed together, and then get wiped out by a missile?”

This had some effect. A few of those at the outermost edge of the crowd were pushed forward by those behind them, reluctantly sitting down on a bench still at some distance from Joshua. Joshua coldly glanced at the one sitting closest to him, who shuddered as if having a seizure, trying to move back but was firmly held in place by the person next to him, who was using him as a human shield.

“What are you shaking for, Sergeant?” Joshua asked coldly.

“R…Reporting, sir… I… I have a habit of spasms…” The sergeant’s nose was covered in beads of sweat.

“Can you stop shaking? It’s making me dizzy.”

As soon as he said this, everyone gave a little shake. Joshua initially thought these guys were protesting against him with their actions, but after a moment, he realized it wasn’t the people shaking but the ship itself.

They hadn’t even entered the planet’s atmosphere yet, so they couldn’t have encountered high-altitude turbulence. It was also unlikely that a small drifting object in space had hit the ship. The transport ship had anti-vibration systems unless that “small” object was as big as an armed mecha. The only possibility was that they were under attack.

Joshua glanced again at the trembling sergeant—now everyone was trembling along with the ship—and said as nonchalantly as possible, “Calm down. It’s just war.”

“Reporting! Our fleet is under fire from the Sword Bow military satellite!”

“Defensive barriers deployed!”

“Change formation! Attack in a U-shape!”

The bridge was noisy, with various reports, commands, and chaotic footsteps hitting Darius Bayes like a hail of bullets. Although sitting in the command seat, the challenges he faced were no less than those of the warriors at the front.

“Deploy the flight squadron!” Darius ordered. “Cover the Almaty! The Scarlett and Jenny, disperse the enemy’s fire! Head straight for the Sword Bow capital!”

This order immediately turned into a stream of light racing through the cosmos, reaching each ship.

“Sword of the Queen, Madonna, Alois Lagrange, deploy!”

Alois pushed the control stick all the way forward, and the Bard was catapulted into space by the massive thrust from the launch pad behind him.

Simulated gravity disappeared from around him, and the sudden weightlessness and acceleration caused a brief moment of dizziness, but Alois quickly recovered, taking no more than 1.5 seconds. The battle had already begun, and the flickering optical screen told him how fierce the attack ahead was. Behind him, one fighter after another was launched from the Sword of the Queen’s launch slots, drawing arcs to follow him.

“All squadrons form a V-shaped formation!” Alois commanded. The Sword of the Queen didn’t have an AI as intelligent as Leo, so it couldn’t help them pre-plan their formations and routes. Alois had to rely on himself to organize the formation, make the plans, and issue the orders. “First squadron, follow me; second, third, and fourth squadrons, form a wedge formation centered on the first squad!”

“Yes!” Twenty-six voices responded in unison.

The governor stared at the real-time battle map sent by the satellite, his eyes wide. Every time the screen was obscured by the flash of an explosion, he would tremble slightly, making the chief of staff think there was an earthquake several times.

The Sword Bow military satellite’s positron cannon continuously fired at the enemy fleet. Even a slight graze could cause severe damage to a fully armed battleship. Fearing the satellite cannon’s power, the enemy fleet had been hovering at the edge of the firing range, which slightly reassured the governor.

“Your Excellency, it seems they want to enter the planet’s atmosphere,” the chief of staff said. “Sword Bow B and Sword Bow C are also under siege.”

“I’m not afraid of a siege,” the governor said impatiently, tapping his desk. “I’m just afraid the battle will drag on too long, cutting off the Sword Bow system’s supply lines. If they really want to do that, they’ll surely bomb our farms and food processing plants. Divert the ground-to-space forces to protect the agricultural and industrial areas.”

“But… what about the cities?” The chief of staff couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive.

“They wouldn’t dare bomb the cities. We’re civilized, modern people, not living on Old Earth. Involving civilians in warfare is not the way of soldiers. Isn’t Darius Bayes supposed to be the soldier among soldiers? He wouldn’t dare do such a thing.”

With that, the governor confidently nodded. The chief of staff had no choice but to pass on the order as instructed.

The governor’s confidence didn’t last long. The stalemate on the screen was completely broken when a green light shot out from the enemy fleet!

“Wha…what is that!” The governor jumped up.

The green light was like a deadly arrow shot by a god, piercing through the layers of fire, leaving a trail of smoke, heading straight for the military satellite! When the camera zoomed in, the governor saw that it wasn’t an arrow engulfed in green flames but a wedge-shaped flight formation! Leading the formation was a silver-white fighter, gleaming coldly like the sharpest tip of an arrow.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 120

On April 1, 1417 of the Standard Calendar, the governor of Sword Bow received an urgent report during his daily post-breakfast walk. The breathless communications officer informed him that a fleet had exited hyperspace just two light-years away from the Sword Bow system and was now heading toward them at full speed. The governor first seriously confirmed that this was not an April Fool’s joke—even though Old Earth had long perished, its old holidays were still passed down through generations. He then ordered the entire system’s military defense level to be raised to the highest level, which meant all residents would move into underground bunkers (though the three planets in the Sword Bow system had few residents, being primarily mechanized agricultural planets with few normal houses apart from large farms and food processing plants), all surface activities would cease, and the ground-to-space forces would prepare to deploy with their interstellar missiles.

In addition to the planet’s defenses, Duke Winnet had also left a space fleet patrolling the area and supply routes. Recently, the governor frequently received reports of enemy attacks on supply convoys, but these were small-scale, like flies buzzing around bloody meat. Having served in the military in his youth during the long wars between the Empire and the Federation, the governor found such small raids routine, almost a necessary ritual; the real surprise was when no attacks occurred. Therefore, the governor calmly issued his orders, then leisurely walked through the garden’s winding paths to the governor’s mansion’s unused command room, where the chief of staff and the ground defense force commander were waiting for him.

……

Alois held his helmet, his eyes wandering with the numbers changing on the elevator display. He had been living under enormous invisible pressure these days, and this pressure peaked the moment the elevator doors opened.

Ding—

“Good morning, Senior!” A loud chorus greeted him like an ion cannon blast. Alois staggered back a few steps, crashing into the giant poster of the Galactic Diva Camilla, which was posted in the elevator to boost morale. Under the eager gaze of twenty-six pairs of bird-like eyes, it was hard for Alois to calmly walk out of the elevator and wave like a leader inspecting a new project. “Good morning, everyone.” He could only pull on his helmet, disguising himself as an unrecognizable ostrich, and squeeze out before the elevator doors fully closed.

The twenty-six pilots, divided into four squads, stood in two lines like a double layer of bronze walls, blocking Alois’s path. The terrified senior was already sweating, and he suspected the temperature control system in his spacesuit was broken by the sonic shockwave… or so he thought.

The leader of the first squad stepped forward and gave a standard, but slightly exaggerated, salute. “Please give us a pep talk, Senior!”

“Uh…” Alois was glad he had put on his helmet. “Today is no different from yesterday. That’s all.” He had said the same thing yesterday and the day before had said, “Make sure to zip up your spacesuit.” Darius Bayes had assigned him as the squadron leader for the pilots, forcing him to give such pep talks daily, claiming it would boost morale and fighting spirit, though Alois thought it would have the opposite effect. However, reality often defied his expectations.

“Senior’s words are so profound!” Amazement.

“Senior, are you telling us to maintain a calm mind?” Moved.

“Senior’s daily talks are so philosophical!” Thumbs up.

Bathing in adoring gazes, Alois deeply felt his age at that moment—the generational gap was so vast… or perhaps their entire brain structures differed? Did they even come from the same universe?

With a profound sense of powerlessness, Alois walked to the deepest part of the hangar, where a silver-white machine stood, its flowing lines heartbreakingly beautiful. He had often admired its graceful form, marveling at the wonder of creation. Now, it was his to command. The day he boarded the Sword of the Queen, Darius had led him to the hangar and pointed to the silver machine, saying, “This is my gift to you, Senior. As a general, I only give it to the strongest pilot.” He had added, “Don’t disappoint me.”

The Bard. About a year ago, Alois first saw its silhouette between Neo Venice’s blue sky and sea. Even now, it remained the pinnacle of Neo Venice’s art and technology, the ultimate dream of every pilot soaring through the universe.

Alois slid into the cockpit, inserted the key, and retinal scan beams swept his eyes. With a matching “ding,” all the surrounding lights came on.

“Phantom of the Opera, the Bard, system activated.”

A year ago, Alois had piloted it once, escaping from Green Star Diamond Island with Joshua and Srosie. Now, he would ride it into battle again.

The Bard. Joanna had once piloted it. She had perished among the stars in that silver machine, like a falling meteor. They were going to avenge her.

Alois opened the public channel. “Listen up.” He lowered his voice, trying to sound calm and composed. “Today’s mission is to cover the transport ship Armart’s landing on Sword Bow Alpha. Protecting the Armart is the top priority. Don’t get entangled in fights.”

“Understood!” twenty-six voices responded in unison.

……

The governor felt a sharp pain in his stomach. His old problem flared up when he was anxious, and now his beard was almost on fire. The chief of staff had shown him the distribution of their military forces and estimated enemy numbers. Faced with overwhelming disadvantage, anyone would be worried.

“How did they get through our front line?” The governor lashed out at the chief of staff. “Are the frontline defenders idiots? The enemy is already behind us!”

The chief of staff was sweating profusely. “The fleet stationed in the Natya sector is rushing to reinforce Mist Port, which is under attack by the enemy’s main force.”

“What about Grisofin and Chast? Those two cowards don’t know how to protect their master?” The governor slammed the table, causing an ink bottle to jump, spill, and stain a large part of the desk. He quickly lifted his computer, fearing it might get damaged. A cleaning robot slid into the room and swiftly cleaned the desk.

“Damn it! Even the ink bottle is against me!” the governor thought angrily. He hadn’t joined Duke Winnet entirely willingly. He was discontent with a mundane life on a boring agricultural planet. He dreamed of excitement and adventure, like the ambitious Duke, but lacked the courage, relying on the Duke’s support to climb to the top. Although less thrilling, it was better than inspecting farms until death.

Now the real danger and excitement had arrived. He was on the front line, facing the Empire’s “Whip of Judgment” Admiral Darius Bayes. This was no routine raid. It was real war.

Seeing the governor silent, the chief of staff hurriedly said, “Don’t worry. In ten hours, the patrol fleet will reach Sword Bow Beta to support us. With their help, we might not lose.”

The governor stared at the military distribution map and sighed heavily. “Making a decision… does take a lot of courage…”

“You’re right!” Although confused, the chief of staff flattered.

“…Twenty years ago, when I became governor of the Sword Bow system, His Majesty told me the same thing.”

“……” The chief of staff decided not to speak too much in the future.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 119

When Alois walked into the cabin, Joshua was packing. There wasn’t much to pack: a few clothes, some personal items, and a few favored pistols and knives. Alois leaned against the wall, watching Joshua carefully put everything away, feeling as if they weren’t just moving to another ship, but starting an endless exile. Schrödinger, sitting on the floor, looked at its master in confusion, its tail flicking back and forth. After a while, it grew bored and leaped into Alois’s arms with a “meow”.

Joshua paused in his movements. “Did Bayes agree?”

“Of course.”

He turned around, still holding a shirt, and Alois saw a subtly complex expression on his face. “What’s wrong? You’re not happy?”

Joshua threw down the shirt and came over to hug him. To avoid being squished, Schrödinger quickly jumped to the floor and meowed a few times.

“I don’t like Bayes.” Joshua buried his head in Alois’s neck.

“I don’t like him either.” Who could like that little brat!

“But you two seem close.”

Alois wanted to howl at the sky. It was one thing for the Prince to say this, but now Joshua too! “That’s definitely… your illusion!” he gritted his teeth.

“He has an annoying subordinate who did that to you…”

Alois wrapped his arms around Joshua’s broad back. “I heard from the Princess that Colonel Gauss has been forcibly retired. You don’t need to worry about him.”

Schrödinger, feeling neglected, grumbled and scurried out the door.

“…Yeah.” The assassin muttered, “I’m really afraid you’ll get hurt again. That won’t happen again. I’ll protect you.” He tightened his embrace. “I don’t want to be separated from you again.”

Alois felt his bones almost melting from warmth. Joshua claimed he couldn’t say romantic things, but everything he said made Alois feel warm to his core.

He snuggled against Joshua, causing the assassin to ignite with a rush of heat. Joshua pushed him away, hurried back to his suitcase, and rummaged through it.

“We have to report to Bayes’s ship soon. If you can’t walk then, I definitely won’t help you.” He found his target at the bottom of the case—a bottle of lube. Turning back, Alois was already taking off his pants.

“I don’t want to be late on my first day under the new boss.” The young man pulled off his belt and slipped out of one pant leg. “Let’s be quick.”

Joshua sighed. “War times are tough.” He pressed Alois against the wall and kissed him fiercely. His tongue pried open his teeth, sweeping through every corner like a hurricane, as if trying to inject his entire essence into the person in front of him. While kissing, he squeezed some lube into his palm and reached behind Alois. His fingers entered the secret hole, stirring gently. The soft, hot walls immediately clung to him, greedily seeking more caresses. The small hole swallowed his fingers, and the lube that couldn’t get in flowed down his thigh, forming a lascivious trail.

Alois panted, holding onto Joshua to stay balanced. “Enough… enter me, quickly…”

Joshua withdrew his fingers, unzipped, and pulled out his already erect cock. He rubbed it against Alois’s belly, the fluid seeping from the tip wetting his abdomen and trickling into his pubic hair.

“Let’s be quick,” the assassin said.

He lifted the young man’s leg and slowly inserted his cock into the wet, hot hole. Alois moaned, nearly losing his balance. Pressed between a person and the wall, the strange suspended feeling added an extra touch of sensuality.

“Let’s be quick,” Joshua repeated, then started thrusting rapidly.

Alois bit his lip in frustration—why had he said that!

In the end, even though Joshua adhered to the “quick” principle, they were still unfortunately late when they reported to the Sword of the Queen.

……

Epolyne entered the new laboratory, walking past rows of test tubes containing dismembered limbs and bizarre bionic machinery without a glance. She proceeded through faint groans of pain and the stench of electrical equipment to the innermost room, where a giant cultivation tank connected to spider-web-like life support systems was placed. Every day, it delivered large amounts of nutrients and oxygen to the person—no, it could no longer be called a person—floating in the tank. Only the brain remained alive; the rest had been replaced with mechanical parts.

The tank, illuminated by a bluish light, glowed softly. The thing inside floated up and down, regularly releasing bubbles. If it looked a bit more beautiful, it might resemble a scene from an underwater world, Epolyne thought sarcastically.

Standing in front of the tank was a man in a white lab coat. He gazed up at the thing behind the glass, occasionally expressing admiration. To him, the deformed and terrifying monster was a rare work of art.

“Doctor.” Epolyne stopped five steps away from the man. Unless necessary, she never wanted to get too close to this madman.

“What is it?” Dr. Frank Shelley’s reverie was interrupted, and his voice carried a hint of annoyance.

Any other researcher would have been terrified and fled, but Epolyne was accustomed to the doctor’s volatile temper. “Doctor, the committee has just sent a message, issuing a significant directive.”

“Those old layabouts just sit at home enjoying themselves, leaving all the work to me.” The doctor sneered. “What’s the order this time? Budget cuts? Another project?”

“Neither.” Epolyne shrugged. “The committee requires you to take your new creation on a secret mission… a maiden mission, so to speak.”

“Don’t they have their own agents?” The doctor’s reflection in the glass wavered. “They trouble me with everything, those useless old men!”

“The committee stated that only you and your cyborg could execute this mission, and you would find it very interesting. Personally, I believe you will eagerly accept it.”

“…Oh?” The doctor was slightly intrigued. Scientists always had a keen sense of curiosity. “What if I’m not interested?”

“Then feel free to dismiss me,” Epolyne raised her voice.

“Not only will I dismiss you, but I’ll also make you Lester’s first victim.” The doctor turned, smiling, his glasses reflecting the blue light.

Epolyne wanted to laugh. “Doctor, the committee requires you to go to Old Earth.” She was satisfied to see the doctor’s eyes widen. “To eliminate the Yasha.”

This was indeed a mission that only Dr. Frank Shelley and his cyborg could accomplish. The Federal Military Committee and the Council of Nine had planned to seize the Yasha decades ago. When this plan failed, they turned to creating a substitute, and Dr. Frank had been supported since then. Although his cyborg couldn’t travel freely through time and space like the legendary Yasha, it had unparalleled destructive power. In today’s universe, who could be its match? A few days ago, the doctor’s new creation—picked up from Olympus—was declared complete. Upon hearing this, the Council of Nine immediately issued the order for the doctor to take it to Old Earth and eliminate the Yasha.

If they couldn’t have it, they would destroy it so no one else could.

Epolyne knew the doctor would certainly accept this mission. He was extremely arrogant and wouldn’t miss the chance to defeat the Yasha and prove his superiority. He had always dreamed of surpassing that unparalleled scientist from Old Earth.

“You’re lucky, Epolyne. You saved your life.” The doctor said softly, “I’m very interested.”

Epolyne smiled triumphantly.

Behind the doctor, the liquid in the giant cultivation tank swirled, and the reflected light trembled slightly.

The new cyborg opened its eyes.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 118

“Oh, oh.” Alveira turned her head and gave Alois and Joshua a look that was half amused, half exasperated. “Darius wants to borrow you two.”

“No.” Darius raised a finger and shook it. “Just him.” He fixed his sharp, hawk-like gaze on Alois, his amber eyes piercing.

Under the young officer’s stare, Alois felt a sudden tension all over his body, as if a weak current was running through his skin, making his hair stand on end. Even more terrifying, Joshua, standing next to him, met that knife-like gaze head-on and unflinchingly glared back. A silent confrontation unfolded quietly in the conference room.

Alois felt a splitting headache. “I… I’m not worthy…” he squeezed out a few words as if constipated.

“Senior, do you remember what I once said to you?”

“Not really…”

“I need an ace pilot.” Darius said each word deliberately, as if afraid Alois wouldn’t understand. “Do you remember now?”

Damn it. “I think I remember…” Alois’s voice seemed to come from a grave. “Speaking of which, I’d recommend Titia from the Lady of the Night. She’s far more capable…”

“But I,” Darius continued to slow his speech, “want that person to be you.”

Joshua took a step forward but was pulled back by Alveira. He glared angrily at the princess, then at Alois, as if urging him to reject this unreasonable request quickly.

Alois wanted to find a wall to bang his head against. Joshua! Joshua, you misunderstand! He’s not what you think! “Your request flatters me… Can I go with Joshua?”

Darius smiled, but there was no humor in his eyes. “Senior, do you think this is a school trip where you can bring a plus one?”

“But I remember you said if we defected together, you’d welcome us both.”

“Yes, I did say that.” Darius’s smile vanished. “But I think Mourner is more suited to stay by the Princess’s side. Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”

Alveira was startled, not knowing when the ball was kicked to her. “Well… I think a package deal is quite nice…” She thought to herself, ‘Merciful Lord, I’m just an innocent bystander. Why drag me into the grievances of the most troublesome men in the universe?!’

She desperately signaled to Darius, hinting that these two couldn’t be separated, but Darius ignored her gestures. After a moment of indecision, the Princess finally waved her hand. “You decide among yourselves. Report to me after you’ve reached a conclusion!” She then walked out of the conference room, feeling relieved.

The three men were left standing, staring each other down, none willing to budge. Alois was overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness. Combined, their ages could rival General Anderwell’s, yet they squabble like children over a toy. “Joshua,” Alois said, “please step outside. I need to talk to the Major General alone.”

“It’s Admiral,” Darius corrected.

“I don’t care what you are. Even if you become Marshal, you’ll always be my junior.” Alois turned to Joshua. “I just need to talk to him for a few minutes.”

“What if he tries something inappropriate?”

Darius almost laughed out loud. “What about Senior makes you think he could attract me?”

“So you’re questioning my taste?”

“Enough!” Alois pushed Joshua out of the conference room. The assassin reluctantly watched the metal door close in front of him. Nearby, the Princess cheerfully waved. “Hi, you came out too?”

Joshua glanced at the silver-gray door, then at the gloating princess (only at such times did she show any age-appropriate behavior), and whispered, “Do I seem so useless? Not even worth bringing along as family?”

“Alright.” Alois turned to face the stern-looking Admiral Darius Bayes. “So, what exactly do you want?”

“I have no ulterior motives,” Darius said, walking toward him. “The Sword of the Queen original pilot was killed. I need an experienced ace to lead those rookies who’ve never seen a battlefield.”

“I sincerely recommend Titia from the Lady of the Night. She’s much stronger than I am.”

“But she didn’t graduate from the Empire Military Academy, nor did she ace Empire History.” Darius stood right in front of him now. “Do you know how the pilots talk about you? They treat you like a campus legend. They say any pirate crew with you is the most terrifying in the galaxy. With you on board, our army’s morale would soar.”

“But Joshua is also excellent,” Alois argued. “He’s the assassin Mourner. Everyone has heard of him. No one isn’t afraid of him.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Darius suddenly grabbed Alois’s left hand and pulled up his sleeve. “What happened to your hand, Senior?”

Alois had answered this question countless times recently and was slightly annoyed. “I had some trouble. I was kidnapped on Olympus and lost a hand.”

“Did Winnet’s people do it?”

“…How do you know?”

“He’s the only one daring enough to do such a thing. Don’t forget, it wasn’t his first time.” Darius’s amber eyes flashed. “Nice prosthetic. It doesn’t affect your piloting, does it?”

Alois tried to pull his hand back, but Darius held it firmly. “Of course not.” He muttered, “You saw the last battle.”

“Yes, I saw.” The Admiral noticed Alois always wore gloves. While it was likely to hide the metal prosthetic, he pulled off the glove—revealing a ring on the senior’s ring finger, adorned with intricate patterns.

“Are you married?” Darius asked in surprise. “To whom? Mourner?”

As he expressed his astonishment, Alois quickly pulled his hand back. “We haven’t had a wedding yet.” He was a bit embarrassed. “And what’s it to you!”

“I need to think about whether to prepare a wedding gift.”

“Save it for yourself!” Alois said irritably.

Darius grunted. “Is that why you don’t want to be separated from Mourner?”

“So what if it is?”

“This is the military, the battlefield, not a playground. We can’t afford personal sentiments.”

Alois widened his eyes. “Do I need you to tell me that?” He poked Darius’s chest hard. “Besides, can you honestly say you’re not biased?”

Darius hesitated, then said, “You’re my senior. Whatever you say makes sense. I should have known ten years ago!” He angrily punched the door. “Fine, bring him along!”

The door shook and slowly opened. The Admiral stormed out, his boots making a loud noise as if he were trampling on rebels.

You’re still the same as ten years ago, just as annoying, damn brat! Alois shouted in his heart.

Outside the conference room, the Princess and Joshua were nowhere to be seen. Instead, Leo stood there with a mischievous smile. He rubbed his hands together and approached eagerly. “Did you reach an agreement?”

“Where are the Princess and Joshua?”

“Her Highness is extremely busy and is on the bridge now. She sent Joshua to pack his things.”

“…Pack what?”

“Luggage, of course. Aren’t you moving to Major Gen… Ah, no, Admiral Bayes’s flagship?” The eyes of the AI seemed to be shining. “Need me to feed your cat?”

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 117

“Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived!”

The metallic doors slowly opened to the loud voice of the herald, and Princess Alveira, dressed in a black military uniform, walked straight into the conference room without looking around. She was followed by two tall men who didn’t wear military uniforms, making them particularly conspicuous in the dimly lit room.

“Salute!”

Alveira didn’t glance at the people standing in textbook-perfect salutes and walked directly to the head seat at the conference table. The dark-haired man following her pulled out the chair for her, but she didn’t sit immediately. Instead, she scanned the room with her purple eyes before finally sitting down.

Shortly after the battle against Grisofin’s rebel forces concluded, Alveira ordered a meeting of all the commanders. Usually, such meetings could be conducted quickly using holographic projections, but she insisted everyone come to her flagship, Lady of the Night. This was undoubtedly a show of force, using this warship, once a space pirate vessel and now hers, to display her power and intimidate those with dissenting thoughts or insubordination.

“Please be seated.” Alveira clasped her hands together, resting her wrists on the table. The “bodyguards” behind her looked stern, like two gods of death. To her left sat Darius Bayes, an Admiral of the Empire of high rank, and to her right was a young man with purple hair. Everyone knew that this young man was the AI installed on the Lady of the Night, named Leonard. Many people secretly wondered why the Princess would allow an AI to attend such a confidential military meeting and thought how unusual her mind was.

“In the recent battle, everyone’s performance was commendable, and I have noted each of your contributions. Rewards will be given after this campaign is over… Lieutenant Colonel Hauser!”

“Yes!” The named lieutenant colonel stood up hurriedly.

“In battle, you were too aggressive, got surrounded by the enemy, and nearly caused a defeat.” The Princess leaned forward. “You are ordered to reflect on your actions in confinement for three days, and I hope you can make amends in the future.”

“…Yes!”

The Lieutenant Colonel breathed a sigh of relief and sat down quickly, hoping not to attract further attention from the Princess. Despite his tall and imposing stature, he felt incredibly small before the petite Princess.

“It has been nearly two months since the war with the rebels began. Previously, I left the Empire to seek allies, leaving many affairs for you to handle. I feel very sorry for this.” She paused to observe the reactions of those at the table. She was very pleased that most understood her implication: I was away before, leaving you to handle things, but now that I’m back, I should rightfully take charge again.

“I am but a woman, quite an amateur in military strategy, and I will need your guidance.”

Everyone nodded, murmuring, “Understood.”

Alveira smiled slightly. “I didn’t spend the past two months idly. Now, please allow me to introduce two friends.” She raised her left hand, and the black-haired young man on her left stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Alois Lagrange, one of the pilots of the Lady of the Night. Many of you may know him. He was framed by Winnet and imprisoned unjustly before joining the space pirates. However, now that the pirate remnants have been incorporated into my forces, they will become part of the Empire regular army. I hope everyone will get along well in the future.”

Then the Princess raised her right hand. “This is Joshua Plank. You may not know him, but you must have heard of his name—the Assassin Mourner.”

A small gasp went around the table. No one expected this handsome man to be the legendary, blood-soaked, ruthless Mourner. Joshua’s black-gold eyes glanced around; he neither bowed nor even nodded, as if the highest-ranking Empire officers before him were nothing but a pile of corpses—perhaps he would be more excited facing actual corpses.

“That’s enough introductions. Let’s get to the main topic.” The Princess leaned back in her chair. “Leo, please brief us on the current situation.”

“Yes.” The AI Leonard made a set of data appear above the table. “In the previous battle, we lost 52 warships, 449 were damaged, of which 105 were severely damaged; 1,370 people were killed, and more than 6,000 were wounded to varying degrees; we sank 142 enemy warships, damaged approximately 980, and the enemy casualties are unknown, estimated to be around 20,000.”

For a military commander, focusing on specific casualty numbers was meaningless; knowing that they paid a small price to deal a heavy blow to the enemy was sufficient.

The numbers above the table flickered and transformed into a vast star map, with red and blue colors marking enemy and friendly territories.

“After retreating, Grisofin’s fleet moved towards the Mist Port system in Cassiopeia, which is one of the rebel camps. The third army, led by Chast, is stationed there, with 1,287 warships and over 90,000 soldiers. Winnet’s first army is stationed 573 light-years away in the Demony system, with an estimated 1,800 warships and over 100,000 soldiers.”

Alveira gestured for the AI to reduce the star map, as the moving planets were almost obscuring the officers’ faces.

“What are your thoughts on the next strategic move?” The Princess kindly invited everyone to speak freely, but no one dared to open their mouths. They couldn’t grasp the Princess’s intentions and feared their suggestions might contradict her plans, causing embarrassment or angering her.

Seeing the silence, the Princess frowned, making the atmosphere in the room tense.

“Nobody has anything to say?” She tapped the table with her index finger. “Then I’ll speak. After Grisofin’s and Chast’s fleets unite, they will become a formidable barrier to our front line. A frontal assault would have a slim chance of success. However, the Mist Port system is resource-poor, and the rebels rely heavily on supplies from the Sword Bow star system and the Redstone system in Orion, which are less well-defended. We could feign attacks on Sword Bow or Redstone to disperse the Mist Port troops, then launch a real attack.”

“Your Highness,” said the elderly Admiral Anderwell, “I believe attacking now is unwise.”

“Oh?” The Princess shifted to a more comfortable position in her high-backed chair. “What is your opinion?” You wouldn’t speak earlier, but now you want to share your thoughts!

“Our forces are inferior to the enemy’s. If we engage directly, we will suffer heavy losses. I recommend a defensive strategy. Although Winnet commands a large force, he lacks legitimacy and will eventually lose public support. Moreover, the Sword Bow system and Redstone system can’t sustain the rebels’ supply lines indefinitely, whereas we control the entire Empire’s resources. If the stalemate continues, we will ultimately emerge victorious.” Finished, Anderwell smiled smugly.

The Princess said, “Before I left the capital, Chancellor Greenwood gave me the same advice.”

“The Chancellor’s counsel is undoubtedly wise.”

The Princess lazily looked at him. “Greenwood’s old advice isn’t worth listening to.”

The young officers couldn’t help but laugh. Anderwell’s eyes nearly popped out. “Your Highness, that was extremely disrespectful!”

“I don’t know why your thoughts are so in sync, but I guess Anderwell wants to preserve our forces, while the Chancellor’s goal… if we retreat, he has ample opportunities to manipulate and control the army. After eliminating Winnet, the Chancellor could overshadow my authority and become the Empire’s de facto ruler.” Alveira spread her hands. “But he’s dreaming. After I deal with Winnet, I’ll settle with him.”

She turned to Darius. “Admiral Darius Bayes, please lead your fleet to attack the Sword Bow system and the Redstone system. I will personally command the other forces.”

Darius bowed his head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Anderwell was about to burst with anger. “Your Highness, you are too capricious! Please heed my advice!”

“Enough!” Alveira snapped. “I know you have extensive experience from years on the battlefield. Use that experience to assist me! If you’re unwilling, you may retire, and I will approve it immediately!”

The old general’s beard quivered with rage. He clenched his fists, seemingly ready to jump on the table and punch Alveira, but he eventually unclenched his fists and said weakly, “Yes, I will follow your orders.”

The Princess nodded. “That’s settled then. The next directives will be sent to your bridges. Dismissed!”

The officers stood, saluted, and filed out of the conference room. After Anderwell, supported by his adjutant, also left, Darius whispered to Alveira, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll secretly inform the Chancellor?”

Alveira raised an eyebrow. “I’d love to return to the capital immediately to see the Chancellor’s reaction.”

“He might rebel like Winnet.”

“He wouldn’t dare, or he would have done it already. Besides, I have the army. What do I have to fear!”

Darius chuckled, ruffling Alveira’s hair. “You’ve grown up.” After saying this, he felt a pang of sadness. His little Alveira had grown up overnight, no longer the little sister hiding behind her brother making faces at him.

Darius stood up. “I’ll prepare for the surprise attack immediately. But before that, Your Highness, may I borrow someone from you?”

He looked at the person behind Alveira as he spoke.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 116

Darius Bayes stared intently at the holographic battle map before him. The blue dots representing his own forces and the red dots representing the enemy were rapidly approaching each other, with the vanguard units set to clash in a few minutes. Before battle, Darius felt both anxious and excited, much like a new recruit. No matter how many times he fought, this feeling never changed. He believed this was proof that he still retained his humanity. If he became numb to war, he would no longer be Darius Bayes, who fought by the Queen’s command to protect his country, but a ruthless war machine, which was something he didn’t desire.

Now, Darius was no longer a Major General. He had been promoted to Admiral, leading a fleet of three thousand warships against Duke Winnet’s force (which called themselves the “National Salvation Army”). The nominal commander of this rebellion suppression was Princess Alveira, but she had recently taken Casper to the pirate stronghold on the frontier, with no clear return date. Before leaving, she appointed Darius as acting commander-in-chief. Among the Empire’s officers, some welcomed this, while others were dissatisfied, the latter represented by Admiral Anderwell. He was the most esteemed of the Empire’s older generation of commanders and always looked down on Darius, believing that his rapid promotion was entirely due to family connections and nepotism. He frequently resisted Darius’s orders, often ignoring them altogether. Darius wished he could court-martial him but had to endure due to Anderwell’s influence. Anderwell suggested holding the defensive line and waiting for the Duke’s forces to exhaust their supplies and collapse on their own, while Darius insisted on an active offensive for a quick victory. They had clashed countless times over this in various meetings. Only a direct order from the Princess could probably shut him up.

The Empire forces and the rebels were now in a stalemate, and if the situation turned into a war of attrition, it would likely be very disadvantageous for them. Darius had no time to consider such long-term issues. He needed to focus on the current battle. The enemy commander was Grisofin, Winnet’s right-hand man, known for his steady use of troops and cunning tactics. Defeating him decisively would indeed be challenging.

On the battle map, the vanguards of both armies had already clashed. Darius couldn’t see the soaring flames of battle or hear the rumbling explosions of ships being hit. His earpiece was filled with reports from his subordinates and the bustling conversations of the bridge crew.

He had placed Lieutenant Colonel Hauser in command of the vanguard. The officer of the flagship “Black Lotus” seemed to have courage proportional to his size, though perhaps a bit excessively. Therefore, Darius assigned the calm and composed Major Radruta to command the right wing. Darius couldn’t help but regret that Captain Casper of the “Star Iron” wasn’t here. Among officers of his age, Casper was outstanding. It would have been great if he hadn’t gone to that distant planet with the Princess.

The blue vanguard forces pierced into the enemy’s belly like a spear. “Too reckless!” Darius slammed the armrest of his chair. “Hauser! Fall back!”

The consequence of being too aggressive was that the vanguard forces were completely surrounded by the enemy, with their retreat almost cut off. The right wing, led by Radruta, immediately advanced to try and push back the enemy. But realizing the right wing’s move, the enemy started attacking the left wing.

“Center advance!”

The enemy moved too quickly, and the battle map twisted into a bizarre spiral of blue and red areas. The red forces surged forward like a fierce tiger, tearing through the weak left wing. The center was now facing attacks from both the front and the left!

“What…what is that?”

Darius heard everyone exclaim simultaneously.

What is it?!

On the battle map, the rear of the red enemy forces suddenly collapsed, scattering westward like crumbling earth. An unidentified fleet (automatically marked in white) sliced through the enemy like a sharp scalpel. After penetrating the red center, the unknown fleet formed a diamond formation, advancing relentlessly, heedless of the surrounding enemies.

Darius’s heart was pounding in his throat. “Show me the optical image!”

The bridge crew, initially stunned by the unknown fleet’s advance, scrambled to display the optical radar images. When the image was magnified and projected above the bridge, everyone was dumbfounded—

A pitch-black, graceful battleship appeared like Death with black wings, followed by three slightly smaller warships and escorted by a dozen smaller ships. The optical radar clearly captured the embossed patterns on the black warship’s hull: Lady of the Night.

The Lady of the Night, the flagship of the space pirate Joanna Begrel, whose name was eternally linked to hers, was the most feared Lady Death in the galaxy.

“Impossible…Begrel is…is…” The commander of the Second Army of the National Salvation Army, Grisofin, sat uneasily in his command seat. “How could she appear here… Is it a ghost?!”

As if responding to his speculation, dozens of fighters, trailing bright green particles, were launched into space.

“Intercept them!” the commander shouted. “Launch fighters! Intercept them! All units, fire!”

Their own fighters swiftly launched, and the pilots, initially trembling against the enemy vanguard, received the order and immediately abandoned the current battle, turning to the rear.

The unknown fleet’s fighters advanced even faster than their motherships. The leading four craft moved like phantoms, brushing past the National Salvation Army’s fighters and leaving a trail of arcing explosions behind them.

“The rear will be overrun! What are you idiots waiting for? Intercept them!”

The green particles swept through, leaving devastation in their wake. The four fighters were unstoppable, breaking through another defensive line and charging into the formation of the Empire Army!

Then, like swallows turning, the green particles arced sharply and struck the left wing of the National Salvation Army!

“What!” The sudden turn of events left Grisofin at a loss.

The fighter group cleared a broad path, and the fleet led by the Lady of the Night advanced through the rear to the front.

The Empire vanguard commander Hauser’s eyes widened as he watched the unknown fleet sail boldly into his formation.

“Who are they?”

“Re-report!” a communications officer shouted. “The unknown fleet requests communication!”

“Patch them through!”

The holographic screen on the bridge flickered, then a young girl with flaxen hair appeared.

“Long time no see, Lieutenant Colonel Hauser.”

“Your… Your Highness!” The lieutenant colonel was stunned.

“Lieutenant Colonel, the situation is urgent, so I can’t explain much. Please immediately transfer the command of your forces to me!”

After all, the Princess was the supreme commander, so what need was there for command transfer? However, Hauser had no time to think and could only respond, “Yes, ma’am!”

On the holographic battle map, the flagship marker of Hauser’s fleet transferred to the Lady of the Night, and all information and communications flooded to the black ship. The lieutenant colonel initially worried whether the Princess could handle such complex communications, but he quickly saw precise and clear orders being sent to each warship like arrows hitting the bullseye.

“All units, follow me!”

The Lady of the Night led Hauser’s fleet of 247 warships, like migrating birds, moving towards the enemy’s left wing, spearheaded by the four ghostly fighters. The rebels’ recent massive attack on the Empire’s weak points had exposed their left wing’s vulnerabilities. The united 251 ships and countless escort fighters mercilessly struck the enemy’s weak spot, broke through the flimsy defenses, and joined with Darius Bayes’s central forces, then launched a full-scale attack on the rebels.

Thirty-two minutes later, the rebel commander Grisofin issued a retreat order.

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 115

Daylight came and went, and night fell again. Joshua stood at the viewing porthole at the stern of the Lady of the Night, gazing up at the sky dominated by the blood-red giant star and another bright star shining like a jewel on deep red silk.

Just now, Alois and Casper had just jointly persuaded Princess Alveira to rest, as she seemed intent on staying awake until departure day. The final result was the Princess reluctantly agreeing to rest but refusing to stay in Jonna’s cabin, despite Leo repeatedly stating that it was the only captain’s quarters on the ship.

“I don’t want to stay there,” the Princess stubbornly insisted. “There are ghosts of the past and painful memories lingering there.”

In the end, Leo compromised, allowing the princess to stay in the adjacent cabin. For the heir to half the galaxy, this was rather poor treatment, but the Princess was content, and who could argue with that?

Seeing her, Joshua was reminded of her ancestor, the great Nasir I. In Joshua’s memory, that man was also stubborn and neurotic, possessing the charisma of a leader and a frighteningly persuasive power. Even after so many years, it seemed the power of genes remained deeply rooted, playing an indispensable role in human destiny.

Joshua then thought of Major General Darius Bayes, who also carried the blood of Nasir Chabais. After two thousand years, he met the descendants of an old acquaintance and became enemies, only to soon become allies. The twists and turns of fate were truly wondrous and unfathomable. Alois had often complained that the God of Fate loved to play tricks on him. But now it seemed that fickle god enjoyed playing tricks on everyone.

“What are you thinking about?” Leonard appeared beside him. “Alois is looking for you.”

“Isn’t he supposed to be with the Princess?”

“The Princess said she wanted to be alone and sent both of her loyal knights away,” Leonard replied, looking at Joshua. “Then Alois said he wanted to find you. I think he probably wants to mate with you again.”

Joshua’s face contorted. “Leo, can you be a little more subtle? Artistic? Poetic?”

“When I’m subtle, you want me to be straightforward. When I’m artistic, you want me to be scientific. When I’m poetic, you want me to be realistic. Asimov! Why are humans so hard to please!”

“…Don’t you think it’s you who’s strange?”

“Then tell me what I should do.”

“First, don’t use the word ‘mate’. It’s used to describe sexual animal behavior. Is there something wrong with your dictionary?”

“Is there a big difference between humans and animals to me?” Leo replied with a clear conscience.

Joshua felt unprecedented frustration. Kester, my dear brother, look at what you’ve created!

He decided to drop the topic. “Did you tell Alois I’m here?”

“I gave him a very long route,” Leo said. “Do you want me to make it even longer? You seem to want some time alone.”

The AI thought this gesture was very considerate, almost bringing him to tears of compassion for his own gentleness. But Joshua didn’t thank him. The assassin silently gazed at the crimson night sky, silver hair cascading over his shoulders, his eyes turning a gentle golden hue like twilight. Leo thought hazily that this posture was exactly how he used to look up at the stars as a child. Then, with a touch of sentiment and heartache, he realized it was also how Kester looked.

“Leo, there’s a question I’ve always wanted to ask but never dared,” Joshua said, holding onto the glass, seemingly afraid to look at Leonard’s face.

“What is it?”

“Do you…” The assassin clenched his fist against the glass, trembling as he spoke. “Do you like Kester?”

If Leo had a body, he would be struggling to breathe due to a spasm in his lungs. He had prepared to answer this question since reuniting with Joshua, but hearing it still caught him off guard.

He answered briskly, “No.” Ah, Joshua, you’re as perceptive as your brother, as if nothing could be hidden from your family’s golden eyes.

For an ordinary person, this would be the end of it. But Joshua liked to get to the bottom of things, a habit nurtured by Kester’s rigorous scientific attitude.

“Then, do you love him?”

Leo painfully turned his head. This question shattered his calm, courteous armor, exposing the bloody interior, tearing at his soul—if he had one—like a banshee’s claws.

An AI couldn’t lie. He could joke, remain silent, but he couldn’t lie, especially not in front of Joshua—his creator’s brother.

“I…” Leonard found his voice unusually hoarse. “I sometimes envy those low-end AIs. Without self-awareness, they can survive by following programs and commands. No need to think, no emotions, no love, and thus no sorrow.”

Joshua remained silent.

Leo mustered the courage to step forward, standing beside the assassin.

“Joshua, I have a request.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Joshua’s eyes widened in shock. The request was bizarre and excessive, but he nodded in agreement. He stood rigidly, watching Leonard’s hologram kiss his lips—feeling nothing.

Of course, there couldn’t be any feeling. Leo was just a simulated image, accurately superimposed on Joshua through complex calculations.

A real body and an invisible image. For Leonard, kissing Joshua was like kissing a past phantom, someone who haunted him for two thousand years. He remembered the moment he gained consciousness from the void, the first sight he saw was that person. That was his father, creator, god, bringing him joy, worry, madness, and hatred. Leonard loved that person deeply, thus learning to love humans. Now, he was genuinely grateful to the one who had introduced him to the most beautiful and profound human emotions.

The kiss was brief. Leo quickly pulled away from Joshua. Then he heard hurried footsteps in the corridor—Alois, delayed by the long route, finally arrived. Leo casually greeted him and disappeared, leaving the still-stunned Joshua and the bewildered Alois. They could mate as they pleased with the remaining time. Leo had other matters to attend to.

He checked the servers rented in the public super-light network, unsurprised to find a bunch of emails from Galactic Diva Camilla—over seventy in total. Some days, Camilla sent multiple emails, mostly casual chat like “Today’s breakfast was ham salad and apple juice. Rita told me to lose weight,” or “Just got questioned by the Empire police, so nervous.” Initially, Leo responded to each one (he was moved by his own kindness and attentiveness), but after the Dream of a Cold Night sank, he couldn’t handle the correspondence anymore.

In the later emails, Camilla repeatedly asked why he didn’t reply. “Answer me, damn AI!” Leonard could almost hear his angry roar on the other end of the network. “Tell me how Alois is! Is he hurt?… Oh, and I hope your computer is working.”

In the latest email, Camilla sent a newly composed song, a tribute to those who died in the war. It was a requiem, singing of the sun, moon, stars, light, and space, of eternal and ephemeral things, of love, courage, betrayal and sacrifice.

If Leo had a body, he would weep at this song. He played it publicly, letting the clear voice spread through the Lady of the Night and every corner of Milantu.

Cheer up, Leonard, the AI told himself. Let the dead rest in peace. There’s nothing you can do but hurt yourself further. But the living are different. Being alive means infinite possibilities. You can’t chase past phantoms because of the dead. You can only move forward for the sake of the living.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 114

Leonard always considered himself a diligent, loyal, hardworking, and extremely intelligent (this is not self-praise) artificial intelligence. Unlike most AIs, he possessed emotions almost identical to those of humans. Though he didn’t understand how a bunch of quantum generators could give birth to “emotions” (just as he didn’t understand how a combination of materials could become a human), he undoubtedly had them. This made his decisions more “humane”, but also brought unexpected troubles. Human emotions were wonderful—Leo admitted this—but they were also tricky. Humans could feel joy, worry, madness, and hatred. Humans could also love. Love, of all human emotions, was the most troublesome and difficult for Leo. Love could lead to joy, worry, madness, and hatred. Love could lead to everything. It was like a wildcard, capable of representing everything and destroying everything. Leo avoided using wildcards in his daily work unless absolutely necessary, just as many people never said the word “love”.

After reading the data on the chip, Leo regained his memories from the Dream of a Cold Night. Humans couldn’t step into the same river twice, but AIs could exist in two places simultaneously. The Leo on the Lady of the Night saw himself thousands of light years away, witnessing Joanna Begrel’s battles and fall, feeling a deep, searing pain. Joanna was twenty when he met her, while he had existed for two thousand years, both weary and full of anticipation. Ten years may seem long to humans but was fleeting to an AI. However, those ten years were the fullest Leo had ever lived, even happier than the day he emerged from nothingness and gained consciousness. And it was all because of love.

Leonard deeply loved humans, feeling joy from being with them and sorrow from their passing. Unlike fragile humans, AIs, especially high-end ones like Leo, could be resurrected as long as a small part remained in the super-light network. Leo had witnessed many deaths and thought he had become accustomed to the accompanying pain, but seeing Death take another cherished human still brought unbearable anguish. He should have known two thousand years ago that the living must endure death.

So when Leo saw another version of himself from a distant time and space analyze Alveira Chabais, he was shocked and reran several programs to recalculate. The results were identical. When the young princess of the Empire stepped onto the Lady of the Night’s bridge and approached the command chair, Leo repeatedly saw that dangerous emotion in her, along with the accompanying joy, worry, madness, and hatred. He felt deep fear but was also irresistibly drawn to her.

Alveira reached the command chair, extending her right hand to gently stroke its metal and soft velvet. “Did Joanna command her thousands of troops from here?”

Leo snapped out of his thoughts and respectfully replied, “Yes, ever since she obtained this ship from Neo Athens.”

“I saw her once,” Alveira said. “About seven or eight years ago, in the capital.”

“Do you mean the ship or Joanna?”

“Both.” The Princess couldn’t help but smile. “I remember it was because ‘General Begrel’ had defeated the Federation’s army and returned to the capital to receive the Queen’s reward. Many people in the palace took leave to see what the Empire’s female general looked like. Even my nanny neglected her duty and snuck out to watch. I was too young to attend the official ceremony, but my brother and Darius went. So I climbed to the highest bell tower in the White Radiance Palace, where I could see the Triumph Square from afar. That’s when I saw this ship. She passed through the wind and clouds, descending like a god. The red carpet from the spaceport to the square was strewn with seasonal flowers. The songs celebrating General Begrel’s triumph could be heard in the White Radiance Palace…I also saw Joanna. She was too far away, but I remember her red hair.”

The princess walked a few steps like a sleepwalker. “Now that I think about it…was it something I saw or just a figment of my imagination?”

“Your Highness…”

“Leonard, what will happen to this ship and you after Joanna’s death?”

Strong currents surged through the AI’s circuits. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Would you follow me, Leo?” Alveira clutched the command chair, slowly and painfully turning to face the AI’s image. “Just as you once followed Joanna.”

If Leo had a body, he would be struggling to breathe and trembling now. “Do you have something worth following?”

The violet eyes stared at him, like a black hole capturing all celestial bodies and light. “Joanna’s legend began when she joined the Empire army. If she could do it, so can I.”

Leo felt dizzy. Theoretically, he shouldn’t have this sensation, but at that moment, all his sensors seemed to fail, only detecting chaotic glows and noise. The Lady of the Night belonged to Joanna, but the ship was Leo. He was the AI installed on the ship, and it couldn’t sail without him. He understood, as did everyone in Milantu, that if he insisted on leaving, no one could stop him. He could decide his fate. But he couldn’t abandon Milantu. He had considered the best path for the remaining people: allegiance to either the Empire or the Federation, a choice they would inevitably face…but he hadn’t expected the choice to come this way.

“If you…If you could…avenge Joanna’s death…” Leo stammered, “Then I…”

Alveira said, “That is my wish as well.”

Leo closed his eyes and bowed his head to her. “When I met Joanna, she was also twenty.”

“Thank you, Leonard.”

The Princess accepted his salute, then turned to Alois and Joshua, who had been quietly waiting beside her.

“And you two?”

Alois stepped forward. “I will serve you as I served your brother, Your Highness, as long as you vow to avenge Prince Annot and Joanna and allow me to avenge myself.”

“I swear, by my mother, the kings and queens of the Empire, and my honor.”

Alois knelt before her.

“I will not pledge allegiance to you, Your Highness.” Joshua Planck placed a hand over his heart, bowing to Alveira, “But I will help you to the best of my abilities.”

“Thank you, Mourner.”

Then Alveira walked to the front of the command chair, facing the changing screens. “Connect me to everyone, Leo.”

“What?”

“I want to speak to all of Milantu. Connect me.”

Five seconds later, everyone in Milantu was contacted by Leo. TVs and computers were forcibly switched to the channel, and all broadcasts connected to the Lady of the Night. A holographic image of Princess Alveira filled the spaceport square, the rain-cleared sky momentarily dominated by her face. At the same time, the bridge of the Lady of the Night displayed scenes of Milantu’s streets, showing people at home, at work, or stopping to watch on the streets.

“People of Milantu, I am Alveira Chabais, from the Unfallen Star, daughter of Queen Noya I, the first heir to the Empire. I came from the capital to Milantu for one reason—”

She raised her hand. “What will you do after the death of Captain Joanna Begrel?”

Everyone had pondered this question, but not everyone had decided. Leo saw shock, anger, and confusion on people’s faces, along with the sadness that mentioning the deceased brings.

“It is well known that Joanna was killed by the rebel Duke Winnet. The Duke’s army attacked the Dream of a Cold Night, and the captain heroically sacrificed herself to protect everyone…but you may not know that my brother, Prince Annot, also recently passed away. He was essentially driven to death by Duke Winnet, who had his lover killed, causing him years of unbearable pain. And you certainly don’t know…”

The Princess paused, leaving a few seconds of silence before continuing, “You certainly don’t know that the Duke also tried to kill me—he sent assassins to Leiting. That’s where and when I met Joanna. If it weren’t for her, I would be dead. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be standing here speaking to you. I am deeply…grateful to her. When we parted, I was thinking about how to thank her the next time we meet. But I never got the chance.”

No one got the chance, Leo thought. Except for those lucky ones who went before her.

“Now, many soldiers are fighting against Winnet’s forces on the front lines. I will soon join them. Joanna once fought under the Empire’s Red Eagle banner, and her legend began then. I don’t dare compare myself to her, but I want to try to walk the path she walked. I want to pick up her weapon and continue the fight. I want revenge for them.”

“And you—I invite you to join me, but I will not force you. If any of you have committed crimes, I pardon you in the name of the Queen. You can stay in Milantu or go elsewhere. As long as you don’t break Empire law, you will no longer be pursued by the Empire and will be treated and protected as citizens of the Empire. If you wish to follow me into battle, I promise you the treatment of Empire soldiers, as Joanna received during her service. For those who unfortunately fall, I will take care of their families. For those who survive, I promise a rich reward after our great revenge, allowing them to return home with honor.”

“If you are uncertain about the future, I offer a possibility, but you must decide. I know this decision is difficult, as I have also hesitated and wavered. I can wait, but not forever. Three days from now, the Lady of the Night will set sail on time.”

After Alveira finished her speech, she tilted her head slightly and then sat in the command chair.

For a moment, Leo thought he saw the red-haired pirate sitting in the chair, but he realized it was just an illusion.

Hadn’t Joanna said something similar? “Those willing to follow me, come with me! Those who entrust their fate to me are my brothers and sisters!” Leo thought Alveira wouldn’t say such words. Her brother was dead, and she wasn’t Joanna.

Even if the universe held infinite possibilities and the future was long, there would never be another Joanna Begrel.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 113

“I am Alveira from the Unfallen Star.”

With that, Alveira descended the gangway unhurriedly. Casper put away the umbrella, loyally following her. The princess scanned the crowd, finding familiar faces—Alois Lagrange, a former Royal Guard at the White Palace, and the legendary assassin, Mourner (Alveira keenly noticed he was Alois’s lover, surprising her but making sense). Surrounded by strangers on this unknown planet, they were the only ones she could trust.

“Are you Alveira Chabais?” a tall man asked loudly.

Alveira met his gaze, striving to sound fearless. “Yes.”

The crowd buzzed, like a breeze over a field. Alveira heard whispers about why the Princess of the Empire was on this pirate-infested frontier planet. She stood tall, displaying the poise of a princess of the Galactic Empire, though her right hand trembled. She hid it behind her back, trying to cover it with her skirt folds, then thought it foolish.

“Why has Your Royal Highness come to Milantu?” the man asked again.

Alveira looked at him briefly, then scanned the crowd. Her mother’s teaching echoed in her ears. “When facing many people, look at each one without seeing all. Make them feel observed and understood.” Back then, Queen Noya I wasn’t as reclusive, occasionally showing concern for her daughter’s studies and teaching her the necessary etiquette and skills of a princess.

So, Alveira “generally” looked at the crowd, answering, “I heard Milantu was Joanna Begrel’s territory. I wanted to see where she lived.”

On the other side of the square was the legendary ship, the Lady of the Night, the pinnacle of Neo Athens technology, Joanna Begrel’s flagship. It was huge, elegant, sophisticated, and magnificent, just like its owner. Alveira thought, But it won’t sink, won’t fall like a meteor among the stars. It will forever soar in space, in the world of the living and the legends of the dead.

“I also want to see the Lady of the Night.” Alveira’s eyes couldn’t leave the black hull. “Can I…go aboard?”

She turned to the crowd, especially the man who had questioned her, as if seeking their permission. But she knew she didn’t need it. The Lady of the Night belonged to Joanna, and no one could decide for her.

Seeing no response, Alveira remembered the AI often seen with Joanna, managing the ship’s affairs, and Milantu in her absence.

“Leonard? May I board?”

After a while, the AI’s hesitant voice responded, “Do you know me, Your Highness?”

Alveira looked puzzled at Alois Lagrange. She could only rely on him now.

Alois cleared his throat. “Uh…Leonard has some data stored on a chip. We need to upload it to the Lady of the Night’s database.” He pushed through the crowd. “Go home! Nothing to see here! Go home!”

A short girl next to him said, “You should understand our desire to see the Princess.”

“If you want, I’ll bring her to your place for dinner tonight?”

“Oh, thanks. My brother wants to marry a princess.”

“Titia!”

The girl turned and gestured to the crowd. “Hey, go home! It’s just a princess, nothing to see!” Some people lost interest, returning home, but more stayed, watching Alveira Chabais approach the Lady of the Night.

Alois fumbled around the bridge console to find the chip slot. “This thing is too well hidden,” he muttered, inserting the chip.

Leonard’s hologram appeared. “That’s a slot, not an asshole. Why would it be exposed?”

Alois rolled his eyes. “Where’s the Princess?”

“I’m showing her and her little follower around the ship. I don’t understand her interest.”

A pair of arms wrapped around Alois’s shoulders. “I bet she’s more interested in the command chair,” Joshua whispered.

“I noticed.”

“What are your thoughts?” Joshua turned him around.

“My thoughts?” Alois felt uncomfortable under the assassin’s gaze. “What do you mean?”

“The princess wants the Lady of the Night,” Joshua said. “And Milantu’s ships and people. She wants us to join her army, to fight her enemies.”

“Is that wrong?”

“We are pirates.”

Alois felt dry-mouthed. They were too close, discussing such serious matters.

“I heard,” he swallowed, avoiding Joshua’s face, “Joanna was a soldier before becoming a pirate.”

“And you?” Joshua asked. “You were a member of the Royal Guard, tasked with protecting Prince Annot. You knew the Princess before me. Now she’s the Empire’s first heir. If she calls, will you follow?”

“I will,” Alois answered firmly. He held Joshua’s arm with his prosthetic. “What about you? Will you come with me?”

Joshua embraced him. “I once thought of taking you away.” The assassin kissed Alois’s ear. “Far from the Empire, war, pirates, loyalty, and everything else, to a distant planet, a peaceful place, building a house, raising a cat and dog, and living quietly. I once thought so.” He sighed. “But I can’t forgive those who hurt you. They almost took you from me. Then I knew, I couldn’t leave you…”

He kissed Alois’s forehead. “And, I must kill those who hurt you.”

“Together?”

“As long as you don’t mind me.”

Alois’s heart raced, like a war drum in his chest. He traced Joshua’s body, from his chest, collarbone, finally resting on his jawline. The beautiful lines made him want to kiss it. As he was about to act, Leonard (damn him! Always him!) interrupted again.

“Reminder, the Princess will arrive at the bridge in 10 seconds.”

The two separated quickly as if they were electrocuted, pretending to study Leonard’s program nonchalantly and not about to embrace.

The bridge doors rose, and Leo led Alveira and Casper in. The AI gave a knowing look, ignored by Alois’s glare.

“This is the bridge, Your Highness.” Leo bowed gracefully to Alveira, ignoring the flying glares. “You stand at the Lady of the Night’s heart.”

The princess surveyed the six evenly distributed consoles and the changing holographic screens, finally resting her gaze on the command chair in the center.

“Or rather, her brain,” she said.

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Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 112

Titia tapped the wall of the command tower, turning it from white to transparent. Raindrops battered the tower, leaving streaks like tears. Since the remnants of the “Dream of a Cold Night” returned to Milantu with the sad news, the rain hadn’t stopped. Titia once suspected a malfunction in the weather control system, but Leo’s inspection reported everything normal. The system worked diligently, as it did before the First Galactic War, randomly producing weather, just coincidentally causing a prolonged rainy season.

Milantu, shrouded in gloom and rain, carried a melancholic atmosphere. People stayed indoors, avoiding social and recreational activities, and no longer ventured outside the Rylier star system for “hunting”. Time might heal wounds, but scars would remain forever.

Even without hunting, there was no loss. Few dared to pass through the nearby star system, unsure if the leaderless pirates would disband or intensify their attacks. No one acted rashly. Distant star wars would have been dismissed before, but not now. Joanna had gotten involved in that war and never returned.

Titia watched the rain wash over the vast spaceport. Ships traveling in space weren’t afraid of rain, still docked in their berths, but the spot for the Dream of a Cold Night remained empty—forever vacant. Next to her, the Lady of the Night ship, like a defeated black eagle, lay lifeless.

On the square below, a small black figure sat. Titia recognized it as the black cat Schrödinger. It sat motionless, like a black statue. Its usually glossy black fur was now soaked, looking more like a homeless stray than a carefully tended pet.

“Hey, that cat,” Titia said. “It sits in the square every day at this time. Someone should look after it.”

“Spider” Maxim spread his six hands helplessly. “I’ve tried. I swear, I can’t catch that cat with all six hands. It’s too agile, like a ghost.”

Titia turned back to the glass, the black cat’s lonely silhouette against the rain, like a melancholic watercolor painting. Then a golden figure darted into her view. Pavlov ran through the rain, reaching Schrödinger. It nudged the cat with its nose, barked a few times when the cat didn’t move, then sat beside it. The sight of the drenched cat and dog, their owners absent from Milantu, one never to return, was deeply saddening.

“Report!” a staff member shouted. “A ship requests entry to Milantu spaceport!”

“Who is it?” Titia was surprised. Who would cross the Sea of Death to reach the flaming Rylier system now? Unless…

“The applicant is…Alois Lagrange!”

Titia let out an involuntary sound, surprised by its oddity. She looked at Spider and her two brothers near the command platform. They nodded, silently confirming she hadn’t misheard. Their faces lit up with excitement and joy, the first since Joanna’s death.

Titia ran towards the spaceport, stepping over puddles on the ground. Errol followed, waving an umbrella. Above the port, a small transport ship descended slowly. Strong air currents surrounded it as the landing gear extended, and it landed smoothly, splashing the surrounding puddles into ripples.

Titia turned back, taking the umbrella from her brother. She was surprised to see many people following, as if everyone had rushed out of their homes to the spaceport.

The transport ship’s hatch opened, and a silver gangway extended. At the same time, Schrödinger shot out like an arrow, leaping onto the person exiting the hatch. The man yelped, pulling the cat off his face and handing it to the man behind him, who held it while it licked his face.

“Here, your cat!”

“What’s mine is yours,” Joshua Planck said, cradling the cat and scratching its chin. The cat purred contentedly, nuzzling his chest.

Alois Lagrange ignored him, descending the gangway to the welcoming crowd. Their faces were gray but joyful, making Alois feel sad. He remembered his first arrival in Milantu, with clear skies and laughter everywhere, Joanna Begrel introducing new friends from a high perch.

Alois blinked, the memory vivid as if it happened yesterday, but he knew everything had changed.

He saw Titia running to him with tears in her eyes. They embraced and kissed, and he ruffled her hair. She released him and looked at his left hand in disbelief. “What happened to your hand?”

“Uh…a bit of trouble…”

Titia lifted his sleeve, revealing a dark gold metal prosthetic. Her eyes widened. “God, no! Can you still pilot a fighter?”

“Of course!” Alois pinched her cheek. “We can have a match tomorrow. Prepare to lose!”

Then Titia turned to Joshua, checking him thoroughly to ensure he was intact.

“How did you get so battered?”

“Spider” Maxim hugged Alois, followed by Ibb Descartes, Errol, and Chef Celia. Pavlov was among them, rubbing against Alois’s ankle, soaking his pants with its wet fur.

Alois patted the dog’s head. “Hey, buddy, I’m back.”

Pavlov looked at him wistfully, then at Joshua. It circled the assassin, barking twice at Alois. Alois didn’t understand, thinking the dog was looking for something. He had no dog food.

“It’s looking for Joanna,” Titia said. “They’ve been waiting here every day for you.”

Alois felt a pang of emptiness and pain in his heart. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Others bowed their heads, trying to hide their grief. Pavlov, sensing the silence, seemed to understand its owner wouldn’t return. It whimpered, its tail drooping, looking pitiful in the rain.

Suddenly, it turned and barked at the transport ship. The barking drew everyone’s attention to see a man descending the gangway.

“Who is he?” Ibb Descartes asked.

Alois quickly explained, “He’s Casper, my friend.”

Casper, holding an umbrella, wasn’t shielding himself but covering someone else exiting the hatch.

Titia felt a strange, almost delusional hope: Could it be Joanna? Perhaps the captain wasn’t dead, hiding in the transport ship to surprise them…

A stranger appeared at the hatch, holding Casper’s arm, gracefully descending the gangway. She had flaxen hair, violet eyes, and wore a light gray dress, looking like a noble lady. She scanned the crowd expressionlessly, but her eyes didn’t linger on anyone.

Casper held the umbrella high to shield the girl from raindrops, but she pushed his hand away.

“No need, Casper.”

As she spoke, the rain abruptly ceased. The clouds over Milantu quietly dispersed, and sunlight broke through, spotlighting her like a stage actress.

“…Who is she?” someone whispered.

“She is…” Alois took a deep breath but was interrupted by the girl.

“I am Alveira from the Unfallen Star,” she declared.

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