Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 131

“Lieutenant Zorda, where is your squadron leader? How could he tolerate you turning your cabin into a garbage dump? It looks like I’ll have to remove him from his position! By the way, are you really a soldier? Anyone who graduated from a military academy wouldn’t have such sloppy hygiene habits!”

Admiral Darius Bayes suppressed a wave of nausea as he stepped into Lieutenant Zorda’s cabin, accidentally kicking an empty can. The can rolled a few times and landed at the feet of the lieutenant, who was intently staring at a screen filled with rapidly flashing data. The lieutenant was perched on a swivel chair like a monkey, his hands typing on the keyboard at an unbelievable speed.

“Let me correct you on two things, sir. First, I don’t recall being part of a ‘squadron’. Second, I indeed didn’t attend a military academy. I was directly drafted as a technical consultant.” Lieutenant Zorda didn’t even turn his head, let alone show proper respect to his superior.

The small cabin was filled with food wrappers, cigarette butts, discarded old chips, and mechanical parts of unknown purpose. Darius had no doubt that if the Sword of the Queen were to shut down the gravity grid and enter a zero-gravity state, this place would become a dangerous battlefield filled with hazards and traps.

“Alright, technical consultant, expert, master, whatever.” Darius kicked another can.

“Surely, your visit isn’t just to practice can-shooting accuracy.” Zorda’s typing slowed down just a fraction (really just a tiny bit), indicating he was sparing some attention for Darius.

“Actually, it’s nothing much.” The admiral gave up on the idea of walking over to the lieutenant for a private conversation. It would be more difficult than crossing a battlefield filled with flying lasers. So, he closed the door, leaned against it, and spoke to Zorda from a distance. “There’s something I’ve been trying to figure out. Lieutenant, I’ve heard that you’re quite accomplished in programming and AI studies, so I wanted to ask you.”

“Oh?” The lieutenant’s typing paused for a moment. “What could be so perplexing to you?”

“You’ve dealt with high-level AI, and in Milantu, you even managed to sever the connection between a high-level AI and a pirate base. So, tell me, who’s more powerful, humans or AI?”

“Well… if we’re comparing humans and AI as different species, I’d say humans are definitely more powerful because AI was created by humans, after all.” The lieutenant shrugged. “But on an individual level, AI is certainly superior, especially high-level AI. Its computational power far exceeds that of the average human brain, and across the entire universe, probably only a few mathematical geniuses could compare to it.”

Darius shifted uneasily. “Then what if… just hypothetically, what if a genius human were to connect their nervous system to the superluminal network? Wouldn’t they become something like an AI?”

“In theory, it’s possible, but in practice, it’s not feasible. In the past, there were figures like cyber hackers and neural surfers. When a human’s nervous system is connected to a computer, the brain becomes the network’s terminal, and all computations depend on this terminal. But if a human’s mind stays in the superluminal network for too long, their body would gradually deteriorate. Once the body dies, the terminal responsible for operation ceases to exist, and the mind—this human’s AI—would also perish. It’s extremely inhumane, so the Empire, the Federation, and the Free City-States have all long since legislated against connecting human nerves to computers.”

“What if this person transferred their mind elsewhere, like how AI backs up its personality and memories?”

“That’s also impossible. How could a human mind be transferred to a machine? It’s not a silicon-based lifeform! If it were a biological computer, it might be possible, but that hasn’t even been invented yet! AI can back up its personality because it was born on that kind of platform. Similarly, it’s impossible to put AI into a human body. AI can exist temporarily in a human brain, but as the information recorded in brain cells increases, the human body would inevitably develop a human personality, which would instinctively reject the AI. Over time, the body would either become schizophrenic or the brain cells would deteriorate. AI can remotely control a human through a controller, making them absolutely obey its commands, but it can never become human.”

After speaking, Lieutenant Zorda’s chair spun halfway around, facing Darius. “Sir, why the sudden interest in AI?”

Darius frowned deeply, as if he hadn’t heard the question. “But… let’s hypothesize another situation. If medical devices were used to sustain a person’s life and their nervous system was connected to the superluminal network, would that person become an immortal artificial… no, ‘human intelligence’?”

Zorda looked at Darius with slight surprise. “‘Human intelligence’… that’s a nice name. Where did you hear it?”

“I came up with it myself.” The admiral scratched his head. “Do you think it’s possible?”

“Well… if the brain could be kept alive, then yes, it’s possible. But it’s only a possibility. Do you know how much computational power a high-level AI has? Just the computer needed to run it would be the size of the Lady of the Night. The average human brain has only developed a small percentage of its capacity. If someone tried to do what a high-level AI does, the flood of information into the brain would drive an ordinary person insane. The cyber hackers and neural surfers of the past could only do slightly better than ordinary hackers. They were nowhere near the level of high-level AI.”

“What about an extreme case?” Darius asked urgently. “What if this person were a genius with an extraordinarily developed brain?”

“… According to current estimates, if a human brain develops beyond 70% of its capacity, it would have computational power equivalent to that of the Lady of the Night. If there were such a genius and, as you said, they were kept alive and connected to the superluminal network, they would certainly become a ‘human intelligence’ equal in power to, or even surpassing, high-level AI.”

Lieutenant Zorda stood on his chair, looking down at Admiral Darius Bayes. “But people would definitely prefer to keep such a genius in reality. Besides, this kind of thing is against the law throughout the galaxy and is extremely inhumane. It would require a person to give up their human body, identity, and dignity. Who would want to become something like that? Moreover, developing the human brain and making it compatible with computers also presents technical challenges. So it’s only theoretically feasible.”

Darius nodded stiffly, his face grim. “You’re right, Lieutenant.” He mechanically turned around and opened the door. Lieutenant Zorda, still standing on his chair, could clearly see beads of sweat on the back of his neck. The admiral, usually calm and composed, was oddly unsettled today.

“You haven’t answered my question, sir. Why are you suddenly interested in AI today?”

“Nothing. Just a random thought.” Darius held onto the doorframe as if he might collapse from exhaustion at any moment. “Lieutenant, what we just discussed—don’t let a third person know.”

Zorda sat back in his chair, refocusing on the rapidly moving data on the computer screen. “What did we just discuss? I don’t remember.”

Darius curled his lips into a smile. “Yeah, I don’t remember either.”

After taking two steps out, he came back and advised earnestly, “Lieutenant, even though you’re single, I still have to remind you: keep your cabin clean.”

“…Fuck off!”

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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 130

“Farewells are always sad, so let’s keep this one as brief as possible.”

After the pre-departure checks of the “Northern Cross” were completed, Leonard projected himself along with the ship’s various parameters onto the bridge. Alois, Joshua, and Casper stood in a row before the AI, like three students awaiting their teacher’s guidance.

“It’s hard to believe, Leo. Don’t most people feel a bit sentimental at times like this?” Alois remarked.

“You’re quite the comedian, but I’m not a person,” Leo replied, pushing a stream of data towards Alois.

Alois glanced at the floating green numbers and realized that the ship lacked a fully automated navigation system—meaning he’d have to manually correct the course every two hours. What a piece of junk!

“Although the navigation system leaves much to be desired,” Leo grinned like a merchant trying to sell overpriced goods, “the engine performance is excellent. Normally, a ship of this size wouldn’t have the engine and power capacity to get you all the way to ancient Earth, but I’ve modified the ‘Northern Cross’ to enable continuous jumps. This way, you only need to make three jumps, with two resupply stops in between.” With a wave, Leo brought up a star map. “I’ve already pinpointed your resupply locations.” On the star map, a space station and a colonial satellite were marked in green. “Your final jump will bring you to Charon Station, located at the outer edge of the solar system where Old Earth is. It was once an outpost for Earth’s early explorers. There’s still an old jump relay station there that will allow you to reach Earth’s moon directly. You’ll find suitable spacecraft in the abandoned lunar base. Park the ‘Northern Cross’ at the lunar base and then use a spacecraft to land on Earth.”

“Why go through all that trouble?” Alois asked, puzzled. “We could just jump straight into the solar system and land on Earth with the ‘Northern Cross’.”

Leo smirked. “Don’t forget, you’re not the only ones heading to Earth. The Duke’s forces are going there too. But they don’t know about Charon Station, nor do they have the password to enter the lunar base. They’ll land directly on Old Earth. They have advanced radar, maybe even weapons, and modern spacecraft won’t be able to hide from their radar. But the lunar base’s old spacecraft are different—they won’t be detected because they’re so ancient. It’s like trying to spot a caveman’s wooden club on radar.”

“What a shame,” Joshua said dryly. “I traveled to the colonies on a wooden club.”

“That’s not the same!” Leo exclaimed. “Yours was at least at the bronze age level!”

“It took me two thousand years to reach the colonies,” Joshua muttered, seemingly ignoring Leo’s words, “and now you’re telling me I can get back to Earth in two weeks…”

“Three weeks,” Leo corrected.

Joshua continued, “… I really feel defeated.”

Leo patted the assassin’s head with a sympathetic smile. “Although the glorious technology of Old Earth still hasn’t been fully recovered, the warp engine is truly a groundbreaking invention, surpassing even Old Earth. Back then, people still relied on animal power to pull carts. But look at us now.” He gestured into the distance. “Look ahead, Joshua. Technology is advancing. How can a great man remain stuck in the past?”

“…It’s not very convincing coming from you.”

Leo sullenly withdrew his hand. “Alright, that’s all I need to tell you. Onboard, Alois is in charge of piloting and course correction. Once you’re on Old Earth, follow Joshua’s lead. There’s a giant computer in Kester’s lab that can support my calculations. Did you bring the backup chip?” Alois nodded. “Once my backup is installed on the computer, I can assist you at any time—any other questions?”

“What do we do if we encounter other factions?” Joshua asked.

“Eliminate any obstacles. The mission is the top priority.” Leo made a throat-cutting gesture. “Any other questions?”

Alois and Joshua shook their heads in unison. Casper, meanwhile, was staring thoughtfully at the ceiling.

Leonard gave them an ancient salute. “Unlike humans, I have nearly infinite time, but I don’t want to spend it waiting and reminiscing. I wish you all a safe journey and good luck in battle.”

His image and the floating data vanished together.

The bridge fell into an uncomfortable silence. Alois quietly held Joshua’s hand. “Will we make it back?” he whispered.

“Even if it’s on a wooden club, we’ll come back,” the assassin replied, closing his eyes.

Casper suddenly moved, as if startled from a dream, and stared warily at Joshua.

“What was that about two thousand years?” he asked.

It took quite some time to explain Joshua’s identity to Casper. By the time he finally grasped it, the “Northern Cross” had already left the orbit of Sword Bow C and was heading out of the Sword Bow system, leaving the main fleet far behind.

Correcting the ship’s course wasn’t as troublesome as Alois had imagined. He only needed to adjust the navigation path according to the star map parameters. The rest of the time, however, seemed difficult to pass. If it had just been him and Joshua, they could have kept each other company all the way to Old Earth without getting bored. But the problem was, Casper was there. He acted like an eager schoolboy on his first trip to a nature class, constantly pestering “Professor” Joshua with questions, as if the word “encyclopedia” was written on Joshua’s face. Most of the time, Joshua could only offer brief explanations, and when he delved into more complex topics like Old Earth’s medical technology, Casper would listen intently, even if he didn’t understand a word. Alois couldn’t comprehend this fervent desire for knowledge.

When the Northern Cross was 1.7 light-years away from the Sword Bow system, it initiated its first warp. During the previous journey, Alois hadn’t had much rest due to the need to correct the course every two hours. Even when he managed to sleep, he’d be woken up to groggily head to the bridge and tap away at the keyboard (usually accompanied by the background music of Professor Joshua and student Casper’s cheerful academic exchanges). Now that they were in warp, he could finally get a good sleep, free from the endless course corrections and incomprehensible historical terms, enjoying the peace of his dreams.

Someone had to be on watch at the bridge to handle any unexpected situations. So, they took turns standing guard. Only when Casper was either stargazing alone on the bridge or had gone back to his room to sleep did Alois and Joshua have time to be close.

“I really want to kill that guy,” Joshua said darkly. “Just make it look like he died in the mission on Old Earth. Nobody would ever know…”From a rational standpoint, Alois managed to talk Joshua out of this brutal and cold-blooded plan, but emotionally, he had to agree with the assassin. Casper, my old classmate, my good friend, Alois thought as he tried to reason with Joshua, for the first time in my life, I wish I’d never met you, truly!

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

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Chapter 129

The conference room was pitch black, with only eight white lights glowing like specters. The eight lights formed a circle, but there was a gap—one light that never turned on. Everyone present knew that it probably never would again.

“9 has been absent for a long time.” 2’s light turned red, indicating that he was speaking. Since the last meeting, when the eight of them decided to send Dr. Frank Shelley to Old Earth to destroy the Yasha, 9’s light hadn’t illuminated again.

“I knew from the start that he wanted to monopolize the Yasha,” 6 said. “Although he claimed he wanted the Federation to acquire that powerful weapon of mass destruction, he’s been using us all along. He wants the Yasha for himself.”

“But now that we’ve rejected his proposal to release the Yasha,” 5 said worriedly, “I’m afraid he might never attend our meetings again. What could he be up to? With his power, he could do something detrimental to the Federation…”

“He’s definitely up to something. I’d bet on it,” 3 sneered. “Remember what he did before? To ensure that those who knew about the existence of the fourth advanced AI stayed silent, he took down an entire ship of people with him. And let’s not forget how he secretly used Council resources to hunt down anyone who might leak information about the Yasha. He’s done a lot behind the scenes, using the Council for his own purposes!”

“But where has 9 gone?” 1 sighed. “Could he be collaborating with someone else, working against us?” He then called on 7. “What are our adversaries currently up to?”

7’s light flickered for nearly a minute before it turned red. “The fleet from Neo Athens has recently been gathering. The internal war within the Empire is still ongoing, and it seems that the royal forces have the upper hand. Winnet’s troops are being pushed back to their stronghold.”

“Is Neo Athens becoming a problem too?” 1 said with a heavy tone. “Their newly appointed Archon, Titian, seems like a young man with great ambitions. If they ally with the Empire, they’ll surely become a significant threat to us.”

“Neo Athens is nothing to worry about,” 8 said. “They’ve always prided themselves as the noble descendants of Earth, disdainful of allying with any faction. They likely won’t support the Empire… at least not in the struggle between the Federation and the Empire. Neo Athens may hold lost technologies, but they’re just a bunch of scholars in their ivory tower…”

“Then why are they gathering their fleet?” 1 asked with a hint of displeasure.

“Who knows!” 8 said lazily, his processed voice still carrying a tone of world-weariness. “Maybe they’ve invented a new weapon and want to conduct a military exercise? Or perhaps they’re strengthening their defenses to prevent an attack on Neo Athens? After all, the world hasn’t been very peaceful lately…” He suddenly raised his voice. “Compared to Neo Athens, isn’t the Empire a much more dangerous enemy?”

“Right now, the Empire is tearing itself apart. We should watch from the sidelines and let them weaken each other,” 4 suggested.

“But what if raising a tiger leads to trouble?” 7 said. “If Winnet wins, it’s one thing—we’ve gathered plenty of intel on him over the years and understand his ways. But if that little princess wins, things will become much more complicated. She’s royalty, beloved by the people. After defeating Winnet, she’ll likely consolidate power, turning the fractured Empire into a unified force, and the advantages we’ve built over the years will vanish.”

“So… should we support Winnet?” 6 asked.

“Winnet is ambitious. He might turn on us in the end!” 3 shouted anxiously. “I think we should stay out of the Empire’s internal conflict and focus on the more urgent matter of the Yasha. We can decide on the Empire later.”

The lights in the room flashed rapidly before most of them turned green. “Agreed.” “I support that.” “Let’s proceed as you suggested.”

Of the eight lights, seven turned green, leaving only 1’s light still white.

“What’s the matter, 1? Do you have any objections?”

The others heard 1 sigh deeply. “Gentlemen,” he said, his light turning red. “Is there any possibility of negotiating peace with the Empire?”

3’s voice shrieked. “As long as the Federation and the Empire have armies to send to the battlefield, the war will never end!”

“If the day comes when there are no more armies to send, as you suggest,” 1 said, “it won’t be the dawn of peace—it will be the end of the galaxy.”

His light turned green.

…..

“What are you doing here?”

Alois was carrying his luggage, preparing to board the small spacecraft “Northern Cross” bound for Old Earth. Near the boarding ramp stood a familiar figure, quietly conversing with Leonard. Upon hearing Alois’s voice, the person turned around and smiled. “Hey, you’re here.”

Alois set down his luggage and excitedly shook Casper Shannon’s hand (the latter’s face twitched slightly). “Are you here to see me off? I’m so touched! You’re a real friend! Back when I was in Hecate, you were the only one who wrote to me every month! Even though this mission is extremely dangerous and might be a one-way trip, I’ll never forget you, my good brother!”

Casper withdrew his hand, his smile fading. “I’m the special envoy appointed by Her Highness the Princess. On this mission, we’re colleagues, Alois.”

“…” Alois carefully examined the paint job on the nearby spacecraft, confirming it was indeed the “Northern Cross” and not some similarly named vessel. Then he looked at Casper, ensuring it was truly his old classmate and not someone who just looked like him.

Finally, he asked Leo, “Is this guy in the right place?”

The AI quickly scanned all the berths. “He’s in the right place.”

“What’s he doing here!”

Casper cleared his throat and declared with righteous dignity, “I’m the special envoy appointed by Her Highness the Princess, and I’m going to Old Earth with you on this mission.”

“…Is there no room for negotiation?” Alois asked Leo.

“You can protest to the Princess,” Leonard replied. “But I won’t be submitting any protest on your behalf—you’ll have to do that yourself.”

“Oh, Lord.” Alois picked up his suitcase and walked briskly up the ramp.

After his figure disappeared through the hatch, Casper, still puzzled, asked Leonard, “Why does it seem like he doesn’t welcome me? He wasn’t like this before. Could two years in prison really change someone’s personality that much? Or did I say something wrong that upset him?”

“Everyone has sides you may not be aware of,” Leo advised gently.

Ten minutes later, Joshua Planck arrived with his luggage. Seeing Casper, he spoke almost the exact same words as Alois. “Colonel Shannon? What are you doing here? Are you here to see us off?”

Casper wearily repeated what he had said earlier, “I’m the special envoy appointed by Her Highness the Princess. I’m going to Old Earth with you on this mission…” By the end, even he felt his voice lacked confidence.

Joshua didn’t throw a tantrum like Alois. Instead, he leaned in close to Casper’s ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear, “I value my privacy, Colonel. If you happen to see something you shouldn’t during the journey, I wouldn’t mind resuming my old hobby of collecting eyeballs.” With that, he gave Casper an encouraging smile and patted him on the shoulder. To an outsider, it might have looked like they were having a friendly chat.

After the assassin had also entered the ship, Casper, even more perplexed, asked Leo, “He threatened me! Am I really that unwelcome? Or did I offend him before?”

“Maybe your wattage is too high,” Leo replied wisely.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 128

Half an hour later, the individuals summoned by Alveira had gathered on the bridge of the Lady of the Night. These were the people who had followed and pledged loyalty to her from the very beginning, and in the past several battles, they had proven their strength and loyalty through their actions.

The group lined up, standing under the shifting light of the holographic screens on the bridge, awaiting inspection. Alveira walked past each of them, observing their expressions: some were calm, some were puzzled, some were full of confidence, and others were visibly nervous.

“Everyone,” Alveira said as she slowly swept her gaze over them. “I’ve gathered you here today not for anything else, but to recruit a volunteer from among you for a special mission.”

The group remained silent but exchanged several suspicious glances.

“Let me be clear,” Alveira continued, “this mission is of great significance, but it is also extremely dangerous. It may cost you your life, and you might never return. But if you succeed, you will become a hero not only of the Empire but of the entire galaxy and possibly the whole universe.”

The expressions of those in front of her reflected a mix of excitement and deep concern.

“I promise you the highest honor, but I also remind you of the risks. If you accept this mission, you will face the most terrifying enemies in all of history, more fearsome than Winnet, Chancellor Greenwald, or the Federation Council. Therefore, I need a volunteer who is willing to take such risks in pursuit of glory.”

Having said that, Alveira turned and took a few steps, seating herself in the command chair on the bridge. The group began whispering among themselves, something that would normally be considered disrespectful in the presence of the Princess, but Alveira allowed it. They needed time to weigh the dangers and rewards, to decide if it was worth risking their lives.

After a while, Hauser, known for his bravery, spoke up loudly. “Your Highness, could you tell us more about the specifics of this mission?”

Alveira shook her head, her blonde hair swaying on her shoulders with the motion. “No, it must remain confidential. But I can reveal this much: The mission will take you away from the Empire to our human homeland—Old Earth.”

There were gasps and sharp intakes of breath. One person even stepped forward, kneeling on one knee with one hand over their chest in an ancient gesture of allegiance.

“Your Highness, please allow me to undertake this mission.”

—It was Casper Shannon.

“Casper, are you mad?” Lieutenant Colonel Radruta scolded his colleague in a low voice. He glanced nervously at Alveira, then blushed and looked down.

“Very brave of you, Colonel Casper. Truly admirable.” Alveira applauded. “But it does make me wonder—why are you so determined?”

Casper raised his head. “Because you mentioned Old Earth, Your Highness. Perhaps you don’t know, but I’ve always been fascinated by Old Earth. I’ve heard that the last civilization there was so brilliant that even we, thousands of years later, cannot surpass it. It’s said that advanced machinery and lost technologies remain there, which we can no longer replicate. When I was a student, I wrote several papers on Old Earth, but I could only gather information from old texts. It’s always been my regret that I’ve never been able to visit in person.” His eyes grew fervent. “Please, Your Highness, let me undertake this mission. I would willingly lay down my life on Old Earth.”

“…It sounds like you’re not sacrificing yourself for the greater good but just looking for a government-funded vacation.” Alveira couldn’t help but joke.

Lieutenant Colonel Hauser let out a snort of laughter, and Alveira shot him a look, causing him to quickly cover his mouth. His square face turned bright red from holding back laughter, and Alveira couldn’t help but worry that he might explode like a balloon… Dying of suppressed laughter in front of one’s commanding officer might be a once-in-a-lifetime honor, after all…

Alveira smacked her forehead. Damn it, where did my thoughts go? She waved her hand, signaling Casper to rise and dismissing the others. Once the bridge was left with just the two of them, Alveira said, “Casper, you’d better think this through—there’s a real chance you won’t come back.”

“I’m willing to sacrifice my life,” Casper replied resolutely. “And it’s not just for my personal wishes… As an Empire soldier, it’s my duty to serve the Empire and the Queen until my last breath.”

Alveira suddenly didn’t know what to say. She was used to hearing declarations of loyalty and never bothered to discern how much truth was in them—human beings were prone to lies and loved to break promises. But this time, she could feel that every word Casper said came from the heart. She had never heard such genuine words before.

“…Colonel Casper.” The Princess grasped his left hand, squeezing it so hard that Casper’s face turned pale. “Darius once told me that you’re very reliable, someone he can trust completely. I believe that’s true.”

“It is my great honor to have your trust, Your Highness…” But could you please let go of my hand! Casper hesitated to voice the second part of his thoughts. Before he could speak, the Princess called out loudly, “Leonard! Come out and explain the mission!”

The colonel resigned himself to the fact that the Princess wouldn’t release his hand until Leonard had finished explaining the mission.

……

Musaya walked down the stairs with a flashlight in hand. She tried to step lightly, but the old wooden stairs still creaked loudly. She immediately stopped, and the only sound she heard was the chirping of autumn insects from outside the window. Feeling relieved, she continued onward.

At the bottom of the stairs, she turned into a wide corridor that led to her father Duke Winnet’s study. For the past few days, the Duke had been working in the study, barely leaving it. Not only that, but men in military uniforms had been coming and going frequently. The entire household, from the servants to the young lady of the house, had been deeply uneasy because of this.

Father has started a war… Musaya thought. Online, everyone called him a traitor, a rebel, and a villain—a treacherous minister. Was he really so unforgivable?

She had heard that Alveira and Darius had personally led the army to “suppress the rebellion”. They had once been like siblings to Musaya, so why were they now facing each other on the battlefield? There were also rumors that her cousin Annot’s death was linked to her father… Was he truly so ruthless that he would harm his own nephew?

Musaya didn’t understand any of it. These complex political, military, and personal matters had always been handled by her father—she had been content to remain in her little world, living a happy life. Why did she have to get involved in all this? If her father had no ambition, and had lived a peaceful life like hers, wouldn’t that have been better?

Musaya hesitated in front of the study door, raising her hand several times to knock, only to lower it each time. These matters weren’t hers to deal with. She could have stayed in her room, never leaving, far away from all this trouble. But she couldn’t resist coming to the study. She wanted to know if the father, who had always been kind and loving, was truly the treacherous villain people claimed him to be.

Voices came from the study. It seemed her father was speaking with someone. Startled, Musaya quickly retreated to another corridor. She pressed herself against the wall, holding her breath, too afraid to look toward the study. It was strange—this was her home, yet she felt like a thief.

The study door creaked open.

“I’m counting on you for this mission. It must succeed,” her father’s voice said.

Two people walked out of the study and headed downstairs. Musaya peeked out from her hiding spot, quickly catching a glimpse. She recognized the backs of those two people: Emma and Garn. One was her maid, and the other was the butler, who had served her father for many years. Why were they here? Why were they having a secret meeting with her father so late at night? What mission had her father given them?

“Musaya, come out!”

The young lady jumped in fright, nearly screaming.

“What are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

Musaya tried to run, but Duke Winnet grabbed her.

“I… I was sleepwalking! I don’t know anything!” Musaya squatted on the floor, clutching her head.

“Sleepwalking, huh? And you remembered to bring this?” The Duke picked up the flashlight that had fallen to the ground, turning it on and shining it directly at Musaya, just like a police officer catching a fugitive in the night.

“I… I’m going back to bed…” Musaya whispered.

The Duke sighed and turned off the flashlight. Musaya, who had just adjusted to the light, was suddenly plunged back into darkness, unable to see anything.

“Tell me, daughter,” the Duke’s voice was full of resignation, “is there something you want to say to me?”

Musaya hugged her knees. “Dad, everyone’s saying you’re a traitor…”

“By their standards, I am indeed a traitor.”

“Why… Why are you doing this?” Musaya sniffled. “Isn’t Her Majesty the Queen your cousin? And Alveira, your niece? Why are you opposing them? I don’t understand!”

In the darkness, the Duke’s figure loomed like a tall statue. “A man’s ambitions are beyond your understanding, just as your mother never understood me.” He paused, then suddenly chuckled. “Well… let me put it this way: it’s like how you really want those figurines and dolls. Even though you wouldn’t die without them, and they can’t be eaten or drunk, you still want them. Everyone has something they deeply desire—something they live their whole life to pursue. And when they reach the end of that path, they realize there are no other roads to take, and they can’t turn back.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

The Duke bent down and ruffled Musaya’s hair. “Daughter, do you still have that pendant I gave you for your birthday?”

“Of course!” Musaya kept that pendant as a treasure, hiding it under her pillow.

“That’s not just a pendant—it contains a small transmitter. If one day—if—you find yourself in danger, and I can’t come to save you, break the pendant. The transmitter will immediately send out a signal, and someone will come to help you.”

Musaya’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Dad…”

“I hope that day never comes. After all, it’s a birthday gift, and it would be a shame to break it…” The Duke muttered to himself as he walked back to the study. Musaya heard his voice from the end of the corridor, like the wind whispering in a dream. “When I ascend the throne, you’ll be the Empire’s one and only Princess. Then, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you, even if it’s the entire galaxy—”

Musaya snatched the flashlight from the ground and, like a rabbit, leaped up and ran toward the study. But before she could reach the corridor, she heard the study door slam shut.

I don’t want to be a princess! She screamed in her mind, tears streaming down her face. I don’t want the galaxy! I just want to go back to Maple Pavilion! I just want you to be safe, Dad!

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 127

“Is the Yasha really that terrifying?” After hearing Nolin Titian’s explanation about the Yasha, Alveira couldn’t help but shiver. “It sounds like a monster straight out of a science fiction novel.”

“It is a monster. A real one.”

The Princess was at a loss for words. Everything she had just heard was beyond her comprehension. Could it be true that in the desolate frontier of the galaxy, the cradle of humanity, such a killing machine was imprisoned?

Darius placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, calming her slightly. “Lord Archon,” the admiral said, “if what you say is true, and the ‘field’ on Earth is containing the Yasha, preventing it from freely moving through all time and space, does that mean destroying the field would release the Yasha?”

Nolin Titian’s face had long since lost its smile. He looked as if he were facing life and death itself. “That’s correct.”

“It’s like a ticking time bomb… If a terrorist wanted revenge on society, Earth would be the perfect target,” Darius muttered. Then his expression turned serious as he looked suspiciously at the Archon. “But if Winnet truly intends to release the Yasha, wouldn’t that mean he’s willing to perish alongside us? What benefit does he gain from that? Why would he do such a thing?”

Nolin Titian offered a bitter smile. “You’re doubting me, Admiral Bayes. Your caution isn’t misplaced, but it’s ill-timed. I have no intention of deceiving you. The truth is, the Yasha can be controlled, but only by the most advanced artificial intelligence.” He glanced meaningfully at Leo. “There are three advanced AIs in the world, all belonging to Neo Athens, but none of them have the power to control a monster like the Yasha.”

“Then who can?” Alveira asked, her unease growing as she looked at the AI. Although she had long suspected Leo was extraordinary, she hadn’t realized just how advanced he was.

Leo bowed slightly. “I appreciate the compliment, but I’ve never tried… and I’m not entirely confident I could control it.”

Alveira raised a hand to stop him. “Leo would never betray us, right?” After receiving a firm confirmation, she turned back to Nolin Titian. “So, is Winnet truly mad enough to release the Yasha and destroy humanity? Or does he have an AI as advanced as Leo by his side?”

“That’s what we fear, Your Highness,” the ruler said. “We’ve always believed there were only four advanced AIs in the universe—Leo and the three guardians of Neo Athens. But we were wrong. Not long ago, we confirmed the existence of a fifth advanced AI. It’s elusive, hiding its presence, and incredibly difficult to track down. We only managed to find a few clues after considerable effort.”

Alveira and Darius exchanged shocked glances.

“Do either of you remember the Battle of Datia?”

Darius spoke up first. “Of course.” His father, the elder Count Bayes, had died in that battle.

“There was a particularly heinous ‘accident’ during the Battle of Datia. A warship’s computer malfunctioned and attacked friendly forces, resulting in hundreds of casualties. This information was later suppressed by the Empire, so few people know about it.”

Alveira shook her head, unaware of the incident, while Darius had some recollection—he remembered that Alois’s father had been one of the victims.

Nolin Titian continued, “Neo Athens didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but recently we received a request from Leonard”—he glanced at the purple-haired AI—“so we reopened the investigation. We discovered that the ship’s computer had been hacked, and only an advanced AI could have breached such a high-level defense system. From this, we concluded…” He deliberately paused.

Alveira finished the thought for him. “The fifth advanced AI truly exists.”

“And it’s right beside Winnet,” Nolin Titian added.

“What… What do you mean by this…” Alois’s voice was hoarse, and he looked as if he wanted to tear the AI in front of him apart. “Are you saying that my father… That he didn’t die by accident… That he was murdered? Someone hacked into that ship’s computer and deliberately caused the ‘accident’ just to…” His voice trembled. “Just to murder my father?”

“That’s correct.” Leo nodded.

Alois slumped against the wall, his mind in turmoil. He realized he was caught in a web of intrigue that had been quietly woven over millennia. Kester, the Old Earth scientist, had created the deadly weapon the Yasha and the AI Leonard capable of controlling it. The Yasha was imprisoned on Old Earth, while Leonard had accompanied the Earth’s remnants to the colonies. Two thousand years later, the legendary thief Figaro (his father) had stolen Leonard from Neo Athens under secret orders from the Federation Council, only to betray them. Leonard had wandered, eventually ending up in the hands of the space pirate Joanna, while Figaro had been secretly murdered. Eighteen years after that, Alois had met Kester’s brother Joshua in prison, boarded Joanna’s ship, and encountered Leonard…

—It was like a fateful reunion!

“Did Joshua… Did he know all of this?” Alois stared at the ground, his voice shaking.

“He knew everything,” Leo answered.

“Then why… didn’t he tell me…”

“Don’t blame him. I asked him not to. If there ever came a time when you needed to know the truth, I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

Alois slid down the wall, sitting on the cold floor, though he felt none of its chill. Leonard, like a shadow, moved closer to him. “I wanted to tell you myself, Alois. Your father was an honest and brave man—one of the best I’ve ever known. He took enormous risks, refusing to sell me to my buyers, preferring to live a life in hiding. In the end, he even sacrificed himself for it…” Leonard knelt before Alois, placing his hands on his shoulders. Although Alois shouldn’t have felt anything, it was as if an invisible force was flowing from where Leonard touched him, shaking his very soul. “I will forever be in his debt, Alois.”

“Why… are you telling me all of this…”

“Because there’s a task awaiting you, one that you cannot refuse. I didn’t want to keep anything from you, so I chose to tell you everything. We need you to carry out that task.”

Alois suddenly lifted his head and glared at Leo. “We?”

“Yes, we. I’m speaking to you now on behalf of Neo Athens, Alois. We need you to complete a mission. Your father once took me out of Neo Athens, and now I need you to take me back to Old Earth.”

“You want to go back… to control the Yasha?”

“It’s the best option. We can’t let Winnet and the fifth advanced AI get their hands on it, can we?”

Alois lowered his head again. “Why does it have to be me?”

“We’re only sending two people, and we chose you and Joshua.” Leo smiled slightly. “The last descendant of Earth’s survivors, returning to his homeland—you wouldn’t let him embark on that journey alone, would you?”

Alois shrank back. “Let me think about it.”

Leo stood up and patted the front of his robe. “Let me know when you’ve made up your mind.” With that, his figure disappeared from the room.

The door silently rose, and Joshua walked in. Seeing Alois sitting in the corner, he paused for a moment, then walked over and sat down beside him, pulling him into his arms.

Silent.

The faint scent of smoke clung to the assassin’s fingertips, like a sparse nebula scattered across the boundless sea of stars.

“So, Lord Archon, by revealing all of this, are you asking for our help?” Alveira asked.

“That’s correct. While our efforts in AI development over hundreds of years pale in comparison to the glory of Old Earth, we have made some breakthroughs in other areas.” Nolin Titian spread his hands. “Ever since the Neo Athens Academy was established, we’ve been searching for a way to counter the Yasha. We’ve created a new field generator that can encompass 99% of the galaxy, limiting the Yasha’s activity to the current galaxy. We call this field the ‘Galactic Field’. Once activated, the ‘Galactic Field’ will gradually shrink, restricting the Yasha’s movements until it’s confined to a very small area. Finally, we can create a singularity black hole to throw the Yasha into the end of time. Neo Athens has been working on this plan in secret for centuries, and now, just as the ‘Galactic Field’ generator is nearing completion, someone is trying to release Yasha.”

“That old fox Winnet…” Alveira gritted her teeth.

“That’s why we’ve devised a comprehensive strategy, and we need your help, Your Highness.” Nolin Titian’s tone became respectful at this point. “We need you to defeat Winnet’s forces as quickly as possible, locate the fifth advanced AI, and send agents to Old Earth with a data backup of Leonard to control the Yasha before it’s released. If successful, we can wait for the ‘Galactic Field’ to activate and eliminate the Yasha in one fell swoop!”

“That’s something I can agree to.” The Princess nodded. “It also aligns with my original strategy. How many agents do you need me to send? A squad?”

“Two people will suffice. Since Neo Athens is sending two agents, we hope you can send the same number. One of them, however, will have to be borrowed from you, Your Highness.”

“Who?” Alveira asked curiously.

“Alois Lagrange. The two people we’ve chosen are him and Joshua Planck.”

The Princess turned to Darius with a wry smile. “Why does everyone like to borrow Lagrange?”

“Those with ability are given more tasks,” the admiral replied with a straight face.

“Will he agree?”

“He’ll agree,” Leo answered. He had already persuaded Alois beforehand and knew that Alois would certainly agree.

“In that case, I’ll only need to send one more person. Lagrange is half mine, after all.” The Princess listed several names to Leo. “Call them to the bridge. I need a volunteer.”

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 126

“What are your plans for the next step?”

After inspecting the production situation on Sword Bow A, Alveira returned to the Lady of the Night accompanied by Darius. On the bridge, the Princess dismissed all the guards and attendants to privately discuss the strategy with the admiral.

“Naturally, we will attack the Damoni system and engage Winnet in a decisive battle.”

Darius paced nervously. “If we continue the offensive, we’ll be left with no retreat. We’re deep in Winnet’s territory now, with our only connections to the rear being through the Sword Bow and Redstone systems. Until the next batch of reinforcements arrives, we’re practically isolated and unsupported.”

“If you want to talk about being isolated, Winnet is in the same situation,” the Princess replied. “I know you want to stabilize the situation first, but we can’t wait any longer. We have to take risks to achieve victory.”

Darius opened his mouth to say something, but then just sighed. “Very well, we’ll continue the offensive as you wish,” he said, his tone filled with resignation. “I just feel like everything has gone too smoothly, as if Winnet’s focus isn’t on the war at all, and he’s deliberately letting victory slip through his fingers. I’m afraid he might be up to something.”

“…You may be right. He’s been scheming to seize the throne, yet now he isn’t putting in his full effort… Could he be holding back his strength?” Alveira stared at the table, her gaze intense enough to burn a hole through the metal. Rather than holding back his strength, it seemed more like he wasn’t taking the war seriously at all. Winnet had stirred up the conflict, but now he was quietly waiting—waiting for someone else to bring it all to an end…

“Your Highness,” Leo suddenly appeared beside Alveira, startling her.

“How many times have I told you not to appear so suddenly!” The Princess almost choked on her breath.

Leo, showing no remorse, blinked and reappeared next to Darius. “There’s an urgent video communication. Should I put it through?”

“Who is it? What’s the situation? Has Winnet made contact?”

“It’s not as bad as you’re imagining,” Leo said.

“Or perhaps it’s a thousand times worse.” An unfamiliar male voice was suddenly patched into the Lady of the Night’s bridge.

A holographic screen unfolded before Alveira and Darius, revealing a man sitting cross-legged on a woven carpet, with rows of bookshelves filled with priceless paper books behind him.

The man had his hands tucked into his sleeves and slightly nodded toward Alveira. From his haughty demeanor, Alveira deduced that he was either naturally arrogant, unwilling to bow to others, or held a position so prestigious that he had no need to show deference.

“Are you from Neo Athens?” the Princess asked. The man’s attire was very similar to Leo’s—a dark scholar’s robe, but with silver embroidery on the cuffs and collar, adding an air of nobility.

The man smiled slightly. “Nolin Titian, current Archon of Neo Athens.”

Alveira almost gasped in shock. The Archon of Neo Athens? Was it really him? One of the most powerful figures in the galaxy—why was he reaching out to her? She looked to Leo, seeking confirmation, and the AI gave her a reassuring nod—this was indeed Nolin Titian, the Archon of New Athens.

“Why have you come to see me?” Once she was certain of his identity, Alveira regained her composure.

“As I mentioned, there is a matter a thousand times more serious than Winnet’s rebellion that I need to discuss with you,” Nolin Titian said, his voice low and calm, characteristic of a scholar’s measured speech.

“Is it really that serious?”

“It concerns the survival of the universe.” Nolin Titian spread his arms wide as if to encompass the world. “Our universe and all others. It also concerns the continuation of humanity—both the humans of today and those of the past and future.”

Alveira was unimpressed by his dramatic statements. “That sounds like something a charlatan would say to deceive the masses.”

“I am not deceiving you, Your Highness.” The Archon lowered his arms. “Nor am I exaggerating. This is the truth. Have you noticed that Duke Winnet seems distracted, as if he’s treating this war like a game and not taking it seriously?”

This question hit the mark, echoing Alveira’s own thoughts. “Do you know why?”

“Of course.” Nolin Titian smiled again, this time with even his silver eyes gleaming with mirth. “It may be hard for you to believe, but—this is the truth. Winnet is searching for a secret weapon that can defeat all his enemies. Many others are also searching for and fighting over this weapon. Whoever controls it will control all universes and all of humanity.” He paused to let Alveira absorb the shock of his words. “We in Neo Athens have been researching ways to counter this weapon for hundreds of years, and we’re close to succeeding. But Winnet is growing impatient. He has already sent people to unleash this weapon. If he succeeds, no army, past, present, or future, will be able to stand against him. That’s why he doesn’t care about the outcome of this war. He’s simply buying time and diverting attention from other contenders, so he can secure the weapon for himself as quickly as possible.”

Alveira looked at Leo again, silently asking him to verify Nolin Titian’s claims. Leo nodded heavily in confirmation.

“What exactly is this weapon?” she asked.

“It’s called the ‘Yasha’.”

……

“Ugh, Schrödinger aside, why is this dog following us?” Alois grumbled, holding a black cat in his arms while glaring at the large dog that had devoured all the snacks the cook had secretly given him. “Doesn’t Celia feed you? I thought she loved feeding you the most!”

Pavlov let out a mournful whine. Alois suddenly felt that the black cat in his arms was much heavier than before, probably because Celia had found a new target for her feeding, leaving her previous one neglected.

Joshua took the black cat from Alois, hefting it. “Any heavier and it’ll break your neck if you try to wear it as a scarf,” the assassin murmured, staring at the cat’s sleek, shiny fur. “It’s almost fat enough… Might as well go all the way…”

The black cat let out a terrified yowl, wriggled free from Joshua’s grasp, and bolted out the door, disappearing in an instant. Pavlov followed, making sure to snatch the last piece of cookie before leaving.

“Get lost! Don’t let me see you again!” Alois shouted in fury.

“Come on, it’s just a few cookies. Go find Celia. She’ll give you more.” Joshua lazily flopped onto the bed, yawning. After Princess Alveira’s arrival on Sword Bow A, their duties on Darius’s Sword of the Queen had come to a temporary halt, and they were now back on the Lady of the Night awaiting orders. This “awaiting orders” phase mostly involved lounging around, eating, and occasionally engaging in some “bedroom activities” that were good for both body and mind. As a result, they were either full of energy or completely exhausted every day.

Joshua rolled over, only to find himself face-to-face with Leonard’s large face.

“…Leo, why are you lying on my bed?”

The AI was reclining against the headboard in a relaxed pose. “Joshua, would you mind stepping out for a moment?” Leo said with the air of “I’m the master of this place”. “I have something to discuss privately with Alois.”

Joshua’s eyes flared with a golden light. “What can’t you say in front of me?”

“It’s not about undermining you. If you don’t want to leave, we can talk elsewhere.”

Reluctantly, Joshua got up, lit a cigarette, and walked out barefoot, clearly not planning to stay outside for long. Leo sat up, suddenly serious as he faced Alois. “Honestly, if I had my way, I’d prefer you never learn about this. Even if I had to tell you, I wouldn’t choose this moment. But the situation is urgent, so I have no choice but to tell you now.”

Alois was thoroughly confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you recognize the name ‘Yasha’?”

Alois thought for a moment. “It doesn’t ring a bell… but it also seems somewhat familiar…”

Leo sighed. “It seems Joshua really hasn’t told you anything. He’s protected you too well.”

The mention of Joshua suddenly jogged Alois’s memory. He did recall the term “Yasha”. He had heard it once, from Joshua, when they encountered a bioengineered human on an island in Neo Venice. Joshua had mentioned that name back then.

“What is Yasha? Is it related to that bioengineered human?”

“You know that Joshua has an older brother named Kester, right?”

Alois nodded vigorously. “Of course I know, he was a scientist from Old Earth. Joshua idolizes him.”

“Yasha is a weapon that Kester created—a weapon designed to annihilate humanity.”

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 125

“Your Excellency, the situation is critical. Please retreat to the underground bunker for now!” The chief of staff was constantly wiping the sweat from his forehead. Despite the cool weather, his military uniform was soaked with sweat. “You can still command the battle from there. Once Commodore Spencer’s fleet arrives, we can turn the tide!”

The governor sighed and waved his hand, closing the floating screen. “I suppose that’s the only option.” He got up wearily, as if he had aged ten years overnight, his back hunched. As he stepped outside, the guards immediately surrounded him with heightened alertness.

Leaving the soundproofed command room, the roar of cannons, sharp explosions, and the low hum of fighter jets flying overhead flooded the governor’s ears. He felt dizzy and had to lean on the captain of the guard’s hand to steady himself, allowing the tall young man to lead him forward.

On the west side of the governor’s mansion, there was an elevator reserved for the governor, which led directly to the underground shelter. It could only be operated by entering a password. The governor, too weak to input the password himself, recited a series of numbers for the guard captain to enter on his behalf. The captain approached the elevator, entered the governor’s password on the touch screen, and pressed the confirm button. The number above the elevator door lit up, displaying “1”.

The numbers changed slowly, taking a long time to reach “2”, then “3”, and finally, after what seemed like ages, it arrived at the current floor, “6”.

Ding—

The elevator doors slowly opened, but before the governor could breathe a sigh of relief, a gunshot rang out. The captain of the guard, standing in front of the doors, fell straight back, his eyes wide in shock, as if he had seen something unbelievable. A dark red stain slowly spread across his chest.

The guards raised their guns but hesitated to shoot, for standing in the elevator was a man holding a gun, with the barrel pointed directly at the governor.

“Who are you?” the vice-captain croaked.

The man pointed to the silver-embroidered eagle insignia on his chest. He was wearing an Empire military uniform, indicating he was an Empire soldier.

A chill ran down the vice-captain’s spine. Had the Empire forces already infiltrated the governor’s mansion? Why hadn’t any of his colleagues outside sent word? “How did you get in here?” he asked again.

“I saw an elevator and just came up.” The man nodded towards the ceiling. The vice-captain, fearing a trick, quickly glanced up—the elevator’s top had been completely removed, apparently how the man had entered.

“Which one of you is the governor?” the man asked.

The vice-captain stepped back a few paces, positioning himself in front of the governor, instinctively protecting him. But this movement inadvertently revealed the answer to the man’s question.

“You,” the man tilted his head slightly, “move aside.”

The vice-captain’s palms were slick with sweat, making it difficult to hold onto his gun. He tried to maintain a calm facade, sneering, “Don’t bother with tricks. My comrades just informed me that you’re the only one who infiltrated the governor’s mansion. Do you really think you can take on all of us alone?”

The man suddenly averted his gaze, and the vice-captain, thinking he was about to act, tensed up, ready for a fight. But the man remained motionless. After a moment, the vice-captain realized that the man was seriously considering the question.

The result of that consideration was that the man drew another gun. Now he held a gun in each hand, both aimed at the vice-captain’s head, and even past him, at the governor he was protecting.

“…What difference does an extra gun make!” the vice-captain blustered, though fear gnawed at him.

Behind him, the governor began coughing—probably an old ailment flaring up. He coughed as he pushed the vice-captain aside, exposing half of his face, and stared at the man emerging from the elevator. “Are you here to force me to surrender?”

“I’m glad you’re so perceptive.”

“What if I refuse?”

The man uttered a single word. “Die.”

The governor’s body swayed as if it might collapse. “Even if you kill me, Sword Bow’s resistance won’t stop.”

“I know,” the man replied nonchalantly. “If you die, command will pass to your deputy, and if he dies, it will pass to the next in line. We have a list, and I can go down the list, killing each one until I find someone willing to surrender.”

These words sent a chill through everyone present, especially the governor. He had betrayed Her Majesty the Queen and joined Duke Winnet’s faction for the promising future and the space to showcase his talents that the Duke had promised. That day had not yet come—how could he die now?

The man seemed to see through his weakness and smiled triumphantly. “Allow me to convey Admiral Darius Bayes’s message, which is also a decree from Her Highness the Princess: Anyone who surrenders will be forgiven for past actions, and after the war, merits will be rewarded.”

The governor’s heart pounded. Did this mean he still had a chance? He could try to use the dozens of guards here to block this murderous man and make his escape, but what were the odds of surviving? Would he live long enough to step onto the glorious path the Duke had promised? He didn’t dare take that risk. He didn’t have the courage to gamble everything and lose.

“I surrender,” the governor said. He shook his head and instructed the chief of staff who had always been by his side, “Surrender. Spread the word.” He also nodded to the guards, signaling them to lower their weapons.

The man lowered his guns as well. “Admiral Bayes has a plan that requires your assistance. You might want to get in touch with him.”

The governor, utterly defeated, replied, “I will.”

The gunfire and explosions outside ceased. After a few echoing blasts, everything fell silent—an eerie quiet that settled over the entire planet.

The man backed into the elevator. “Someone else will come to handle the formalities. I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait!” the governor called out. “Can I ask for your name?”

“Joshua Planck,” the man replied as the elevator doors closed.

Two hours later, Commodore Spencer’s fleet arrived in the Sword Bow system, only to be met by a combined assault from Bayes’s fleet and the forces of Sword Bow’s three planets. Defeated, they surrendered. Thus, the Battle of Sword Bow came to an end.

Shortly after the Sword Bow system’s surrender, the Redstone system also voluntarily surrendered, and Bayes’s fleet took control.

On April 7th, Princess Alveira led the main Royal Fleet to Sword Bow A, where Admiral Bayes and the governor of the Sword Bow system personally went to the spaceport to welcome them.

The Lady of the Night landed at the planetary spaceport, right next to the Sword of the Queen. As the hatch opened, the first to leap out were a cat and a dog. These two unusual guests immediately darted into the crowd of people lined up to greet the arrivals and disappeared. Only then did the princess, supported by guards, step out of the ship. Accompanying her were Empire military leaders, headed by Casper Shannon. In the previous battle in the Mist Harbor system, they had fought valiantly, successfully driving back the Grisofin and Chast fleets, dealing a heavy blow to the rebels.

Now, they set foot on the land of Sword Bow A, where they would temporarily rest and regroup their forces before heading to the Damoni system for a decisive battle with the rebel main fleet.

---

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

Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold

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

---

Chapter 124

For the capital city of the planet, it was now early morning. The golden sunlight bathed the idyllic town, dimming the crisscrossing laser beams in the sky while also illuminating the armed mechas that were being airdropped from the giant transport ship. The bronze-colored exteriors of the mechas reflected the morning light as they descended from the sky, reminding the governor of water droplets splashing when a fish leaped during his idle fishing moments.

The governor was utterly despondent, his spirit extinguished. “How many troops are attacking us?” he asked in despair.

The chief of staff, holding the communication terminal, checked the latest battle report. “Uh… one giant transport ship, fully loaded with two hundred armed mechas. A hundred and fifty mechas have now been airdropped into the capital. Additionally, there’s a flight squadron of twenty-seven fighter jets.”

“…That’s all?” The governor asked in disbelief, his tone like that of a student who had taken an exam without preparation and was shocked to see he had passed.

The chief of staff carefully double-checked and confirmed, “That’s all.”

“What about Bayes’s fleet? Isn’t he an Empire Admiral, known as the ‘Whip of Judgment’? Where is his army?”

“They’re currently besieging Sword Bow B and Sword Bow C, and some are patrolling the outskirts of the star system, probably defending against Commodore Spencer’s cruiser fleet.”

A glimmer of hope reignited in the governor’s eyes. “Good! We still have a chance! Gather the troops and launch a full counterattack!”

“But, Your Excellency, you recently dispatched most of the forces to defend the agricultural and light industrial zones…”

“Call them back! Immediately!”

“…Yes, sir.” The chief of staff’s voice was weak. The floating holographic screens around them were filled with images of the armed mechas. He saw a familiar street—a street he passed by every day after work—very close to the governor’s mansion… And now, an armed mecha was sprinting down that street at top speed, with machine guns mounted on its shoulders swiveling left and right, taking out combat robots blocking its path with nearly impossible precision. A squadron was following behind the mecha, like a razor slowly advancing toward the capital.

“…I’m afraid it’s too late, Your Excellency.”

Joshua didn’t need to aim carefully; he fired by instinct, and every shot hit its mark. Over the past decade, he had honed this skill from basic practice to mastery, from technical proficiency to artistic creation. Now, his shooting was like a painter’s brush on canvas—every stroke full of tension, capturing the entire world in the space of his gunfire.

Their assault mecha team had just landed safely under the cover of the flight squadron, which had bombarded the ground-based anti-space equipment, burying them in the planet’s morning light. They encountered little resistance—mostly self-defense robots, poorly performing with low AI, posing no real threat. Darius Bayes had gambled correctly: most of the planet’s armed forces had been deployed to the agricultural and light industrial zones, as those were Sword Bow A’s production areas and naturally required priority protection. The planetary army left in the capital was so sparse that Joshua had briefly thought they were holding back, trying to lure the enemy deeper.

“Sergeant Tyler,” the assassin said, flipping a military tank over with a laser strike, “where do you think the governor might be?”

The young sergeant, busy dodging incoming bombs and navigating the rough, bombed-out road, replied casually, “Probably in the governor’s mansion.”

“Then let’s head to the governor’s mansion.” Joshua pulled up the map of the capital city, where the governor’s mansion was located in the city center.

“Uh… wait, sir, I was just saying that off the top of my head. The governor has probably taken refuge somewhere by now! He might not be in the mansion…”

“No matter. We’ll search each place until we find him.”

If it weren’t for the hail of bullets and roaring explosions outside, Tyler would have thought Joshua was saying something like: “Not sure which dish is good today, so let’s try them all.”

The mecha unit advanced to the gate of the governor’s mansion, which was heavily guarded by ground troops and self-defense robots. The enemy had heavy artillery electromagnetic cannons and a large number of small robots acting as cannon fodder. These little things weren’t very aggressive but were numerous and as annoying as gum stuck to the sole of a shoe. They would climb up the mecha’s legs, block all external cameras, squeeze into every possible crevice, and destroy every component they could. Once they tangled up the enemy, the heavy electromagnetic cannons could blast both the little things and the big machines to pieces.

Joshua ordered everyone to shoot from a distance, not letting the small robots get close. He had seen similar gadgets made by Leo—one was already a pain to deal with. Although the robots here weren’t as precise as Leo’s creations, their sheer numbers made them just as troublesome.

“This is driving me nuts…” Seeing the sea of small robots on the ground and the massive electromagnetic cannon platforms behind them, the assassin felt a surge of unspeakable irritation.

He hated it when the target was so close yet he couldn’t engage directly—an extreme form of torture, whether on the battlefield or in bed.

He dropped his gun, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stood up to reach for the hatch release button.

“What are you doing, sir!” Sergeant Tyler asked in horror.

“We’ll never get into the governor’s mansion if we keep dragging this out, so I’m going in alone. I’m smaller and more agile. You guys provide cover.” Joshua found the button.

“That’s too dangerous, sir!” Tyler also unbuckled his seatbelt, trying to stop his commander from doing something crazy, but before he could turn around, a gun was pressed against the back of his head.

“Don’t move. Do as I say.” The commander’s voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority. “I’m going to break through the defenses ahead, so you—” He deliberately pressed the gun against Tyler’s head again, making the poor young man start trembling, “—are going to throw me over there.”

“…Huh?”

The commander ignored his confusion. “I’m going to enter through a window on the third floor of the governor’s mansion. You can calculate the parabolic trajectory, right?”

Tyler nodded spasmodically.

“Good boy.” The gun withdrew from the back of his head, and the commander patted him. “If you miss…”

“That will never happen!” Tyler almost screamed.

Joshua chuckled as he opened the hatch and climbed out. He had two pistols strapped to his waist and a modified heavy shotgun slung over his back, capable of piercing fifty centimeters of steel.

He jumped onto the armed mecha’s arm in the morning breeze. The mecha released its grip on the machine gun, letting it fall to the ground.

Inside the cockpit, Tyler was nearly in tears. He calculated the parabolic trajectory based on the planet’s gravity, current wind speed, and the commander’s weight, ensuring he could throw Joshua through the window without fail. But this was just too absurd! What kind of battle tactic involved throwing the commander? Even if Joshua didn’t blame him, he would carry the shame of “throwing the boss” for the rest of his life.

Tyler operated the mechanical arm to grasp the commander’s body and aimed for the target. Unsurprisingly, the public channel erupted with his comrades’ shouts. “Tyler, what are you doing? This is treason! Treason!” “Calm down, Tyler! Think of your mother back home!” “We can talk this out! Don’t take it out on Commander Planck!” “Even if you’re upset with the commander, you can’t just throw him, Tyler! Wake up!”

—I don’t want to do this either! Tyler wept.

He sobbed as he shut off the public channel, gripped the control stick, and pushed it all the way forward!

“Ah! Wait, sir!” Only after executing the maneuver did Tyler realize the commander might have overlooked something crucial. “What if the window is bulletproof glass!” Was he supposed to watch as the commander crashed into the glass, blood splattering three feet high, then slowly slid down? If the enemy saw that, they’d die laughing! Ah, maybe this was the commander’s strategy—sacrificing himself to demoralize the enemy without a fight? Commander, you’re too…

In mid-air, Joshua pulled out the shotgun from his back!

He cocked it, fired, and without needing to aim, everything was done in one fluid motion. The alloy bullets shot out at high speed, smashing into the upper left corner of the window, blowing a hole in the wall!

Then came the second shot, hitting the upper right corner. A shower of shattered glass and debris rained down. The modified heavy shotgun had power comparable to a small metal cannon!

The third and fourth shots were fired almost simultaneously, striking the bottom of the window. The high-strength bulletproof glass was tough, but its weak point was along the edges where it was welded to the wall—that was its fatal flaw! Now the welding frame was teetering, needing just a light touch…

Joshua fired one last shot into the air, hitting nothing. Tyler suddenly realized he was adjusting his parabolic trajectory—the shotgun’s powerful recoil had knocked him off the original path, so he used the final shot to correct his position!

The assassin landed perfectly on the glass. With a loud crash, the entire expensive piece of bulletproof glass fell into the building, spreading spiderweb-like cracks across its surface. Joshua rolled as he landed, safely coming to a stop.

He removed the remaining bullets from the shotgun, tossed them out the window, and discarded the gun on the ground. The narrow confines of the governor’s mansion weren’t suitable for such a heavy weapon, so he drew the two pistols from his waist.

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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 123

“The fleet has exited warp. We are 2.5 light-years away from the planet Sword Bow C. Radar is beginning target monitoring. Monitoring successful. Data is being sent.”

The cold female voice guided Commadore Ors Spencer’s gaze toward the screen, where densely packed red dots indicated the presence of enemies. The number was slightly higher than expected, but it didn’t hinder his plan to annihilate the enemy forces.

“Are the three planets of Sword Bow still resisting?” Commadore Spencer asked.

“Yes,” the cold female voice responded. “Sword Bow B has already been captured, but Sword Bow C and Sword Bow A are still resisting.”

“Attack and assist the planetary defense forces in repelling the enemy!”

Following Spencer’s orders, the fleet changed formation and moved toward the Empire Royal Army surrounding the three planets of Sword Bow. According to the radar monitoring map, the enemy forces attacking Sword Bow A were the most numerous, which was expected since it was the capital of the star system. On the other hand, there were far fewer ships attacking Sword Bow C. Sword Bow C was located on the outskirts of the system, sparsely populated, and had little strategic value. If Spencer were in charge, he would also prioritize capturing the capital first.

His fleet surged into the beleaguered agricultural star system like a tidal wave. The ships besieging Sword Bow C immediately fled, almost collapsing entirely. The small fleet scattered and ran, with some merging into the main fleet, while others joined the fleet surrounding Sword Bow B.

The planetary defense forces of Sword Bow C sent a brief message of thanks. Commadore Spencer proudly said, “Reply to them: Don’t mention it. As colleagues, it’s just a small effort! Right now, we must work together to defeat Darius Bayes!”

Under his bold and enthusiastic orders, the fleet advanced deeper into the star system. The enemy forces around Sword Bow B also began to retreat, merging with the main fleet at the rear. The formation took the shape of a U, or rather, like two arms encircling Spencer’s fleet.

“What is Darius Bayes up to?” Spencer wondered. “Why is he retreating without any resistance?”

His question was answered by the sudden blaring of alarms on the bridge.

“Under attack, under attack,” the cold female voice announced calmly amidst the chaos, as it was merely a machine. “Sword Bow C has launched an attack. I repeat, Sword Bow C is attacking our forces.”

The fleet found itself caught in a situation of being attacked from both front and rear! “What!” Spencer was shocked. “Isn’t the Sword Bow system on our side? What the hell is going on?”

Three hours earlier.

Joshua Planck sat in the co-pilot seat of an armed mecha, mentally reviewing the plan laid out by Darius Bayes. According to the plan, they would land on Sword Bow A aboard the Almaty, with the entire fleet providing full support. The Almaty would break through the planetary army’s barrage and enter the atmosphere, crossing half the equator to reach the capital city before dropping all the armed mechas like bombs. The mechas had excellent shock-absorption capabilities, so those inside would only feel numb all over from the impact, but wouldn’t be harmed (those outside, however, might not be so lucky—these things could create an 800-meter-wide crater, and could be used as missiles if necessary). After landing, these airborne mechas would transform into warriors with a critical mission: capturing the capital of Sword Bow A.

“If I see a bunch of ground-to-space forces waiting for us when we land, I swear I’ll shove Darius Bayes’s head into a toilet when we get back,” Joshua silently vowed as he lit a cigarette.

His piloting skills for the armed mecha were limited (to be precise, he couldn’t pilot at all), so his superiors assigned him a pilot, the young man who had been trembling in fear on the spaceship earlier. His name was Tyler. The young man was still trembling, and if he operated in this state, the armed mecha would probably look like a clown with springs on its feet.

Joshua tucked the lighter back into the cigarette case and handed it to Tyler behind him. “Want one?”

The young man cautiously glanced at the brand, Soft South Star. “Is this… really not marijuana, sir?”

“Have you ever seen marijuana that looks like this?”

The young man hesitated before accepting the cigarette case, taking out a cigarette and putting it in his mouth. It took him several tries to light it. “It really isn’t,” he muttered.

He didn’t understand why the imposing assassin known as the Mourner would smoke something like this. Soft South Star had a very mild flavor, a cigarette that women tended to prefer.

“When the time comes, you focus on running, and I’ll handle eliminating the enemies.” Joshua brought up the shooting panel, and instantly, the surrounding hatches opened, revealing the stored shooting assistance equipment, from simulated firearms to various types of sights, all ready to use. Joshua selected two long-range and two short-range guns, along with his preferred sights. The gunner and the pilot sat back-to-back, coordinating without interfering with each other. Typically, the second seat wasn’t used, as the pilot could also serve as the gunner, but this time was different. The order Darius Bayes gave to Joshua was simple: “Kill the governor or force him to surrender.”

For a sparsely populated, mechanically dependent agricultural planet like Sword Bow A, the governor held considerable power, controlling all military and political authority on the planet. Capturing the governor was equivalent to capturing the entire planet. Darius’s judgment was correct, but carrying out the mission wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

“We’re starting to decelerate.” Joshua noticed the speed indicator on the ship’s main speedometer rapidly decreasing. The Almaty had to reduce its vertical speed to zero when it was 300 meters from the ground. Otherwise, the combined effects of deceleration and gravity would turn each mecha into a meteor crashing into the ground. That wouldn’t be fun at all.

“Sir, are we really going to land successfully?” Tyler asked in a low voice.

“Open the spherical screen.”

The young man followed the instruction and opened the spherical screen, instantly transforming their confined cockpit into an expansive sky. The cockpit was a sphere, with projection material on its surface displaying the scenery around them—of course, the images were captured by external cameras and processed before being shown.

They were falling from the sky, with the Almaty carrying two hundred armed mechas as it plunged into the atmosphere. The friction caused the surface of the ship to heat up rapidly, and the surrounding air expanded, refracting the light into a mirage-like scene, reminiscent of the shimmering heatwaves in a desert under a scorching sun.

Joshua pointed slightly upward. “See that?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Tyler caught a bright green light, or rather, a bright green flame. It looked like an indestructible sword, tearing through the sky with scorching air currents.

“That… That’s…” As the green light approached, Tyler realized it wasn’t a sword but a formation of aircraft emitting green particles. They circled around the Almaty like terns following a ship’s white sails across the ocean, meticulously and orderly, as if controlled by a precise program. Tyler recognized the silver craft leading the formation. Anyone who enjoyed reading military magazines knew the name of that craft, which had been extensively covered in articles praising it as a ghost traversing time and space, a white bird soaring between the stars, and a graceful lady dancing on the battlefield. Admiral Bayes had bought one out of his own pocket, naming it after his mother, the Marchioness Madonna, in hopes of bringing good luck to his fleet.

And now, there it was. “He’ll protect us,” Joshua said.

Tyler crossed himself, silently reciting the names of the Lord, Her Majesty the Queen, Her Highness the Princess, Admiral Bayes, and his mother, grateful to these great figures for protecting someone as insignificant as himself.

What he didn’t see was that behind him, his commanding officer clenched his fist in frustration.

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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 122

Was there really anything in the world that could break through the defenses of a military satellite?

The answer was right in front of the governor. Its name was the Sword of the Queen direct flight squadron.

When the satellite fired a scorching beam of light at that green arrow, the governor inwardly mocked the enemy for being reckless enough to attempt a head-on collision. But when the light faded and the screen returned to its normal brightness, the governor saw that the flight squadron was completely unharmed! The moment the positron cannon fired, the wedge-shaped formation immediately dispersed in four directions, dodging the fatal shot, and then reassembled, once again forming a terrifying sword.

The governor’s vision was still filled with afterimages, like a bloodstain imprinted in front of his eyes that wouldn’t go away. They shattered the moon reflected in the water, but when the water calmed, the moon was still the same.

“What are you standing around for? Attack them! Attack them!” the governor suddenly shouted.

The chief of staff was startled. “Please calm down, Your Excellency! It’s not appropriate to use the satellite cannon now!”

The governor slapped him. “The enemy is about to break into the atmosphere! Are we supposed to wait until they reach our doorstep before we fight back?”

The flight squadron flew past the military satellite as if mocking it, heading straight for Sword Bow. The satellite, tracking the target’s movements, retracted its cannon aimed at space back into its armored shell, mechanically and flexibly redirected it, and emerged from the other side, pointing its black muzzle at the squadron flying toward the planet. The cannon began accumulating ultra-high energy, and the muzzle emitted a faint white light.

At this point, even the governor realized something was wrong. “Wait, you stupid satellite!” he continued to shout, “Do you want to blast a hole right through the planet? Stop! Make it stop! Don’t attack, damn it! Do not attack!”

The chief of staff, enduring the stinging pain on his cheek, pressed the intercom clipped to his collar. “Order the military satellite to cease fire! Ground-to-space forces, assemble! As soon as the target enters firing range, shoot it down immediately!”

The energy was fully charged, waiting only for a command to unleash a positron cannon blast powerful enough to destroy a city. But that command never reached the satellite’s main computer. It was intercepted. Because if it missed its target, even by a few millimeters, it wouldn’t hit the enemy; it would strike Sword Bow’s surface, possibly even a city full of people. No one dared attack there, and no one wanted to. Not only did Darius Bayes and the governor of Sword Bow understand this, but Alois Lagrange was even more acutely aware.

The military satellite didn’t continue its attack, but the energy it had accumulated wasn’t released either, like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment. Except, it wouldn’t be him that it fell on.

“Now!”

The flight squadron dispersed again, with the three smaller teams flying in different directions, while the remaining six fighters of the first squadron advanced rapidly, breaking through the atmosphere and heading toward the surface as quickly as possible.

The Bard faced the main cannon of the satellite alone, like a lone warrior fighting against many. But it wasn’t truly alone. It held two divine weapons—two tactical anti-matter missiles, each capable of releasing energy equivalent to over twenty megatons of TNT upon detonation. Of all the existing models, only the Bard could still fly at normal speed while carrying them, the heavy warheads propelled by the powerful engines as if they were just two stones resting in its hands.

Alois brought up the crosshairs and aimed at the satellite cannon’s muzzle. This was much easier than chasing enemy fighters around in space. The diameter of the cannon’s muzzle and the high-energy red warning markers on the energy distribution map made aiming straightforward.

“Fire, baby.” Alois whistled, his voice broadcast over the public channel, and as he pressed the launch button, he heard several of his female subordinates shouting, “Pervert!” “Lewd!” “Senior, you’re awful!”

The missile hit its target!

For a moment, pure white light filled Alois’s vision. He immediately closed his eyes, pressed a button from memory, and shut off the optical screen. The brightness from the matter-antimatter annihilation could cause temporary blindness for several minutes, which he couldn’t afford.

For some reason, Alois recalled how his chemistry teacher had described the scene when matter and antimatter neutralized each other back in school. The teacher had vividly said, “What happens when a positive particle meets an antiparticle, class? They both turn into photons and fly away!”

The governor stared at the screen, now covered in white static, dumbfounded.

“What… What was that…” He could only keep repeating the same question.

“I think it was an anti-matter missile,” the chief of staff guessed.

“How dare they…” The governor pressed his thumb and index finger to his forehead. “How can they use such a weapon in war…”

“Your Excellency, you should order the ground-to-space forces to counterattack immediately. They’re preparing for a landing operation!”

The governor weakly waved his hand. “Do as you see fit…” Then he looked up blankly. “Where are the reinforcements? Why hasn’t the cruiser fleet arrived?”

“They’re almost here, Your Excellency!” the chief of staff replied. “If we can hold out for just three more hours, the cruiser fleet will arrive!”

While the battle known as the Battle of Sword Bow was raging, another war was breaking out in the Mist Harbor star system. The two sides were the Grisofin Fleet and the Chast Fleet, along with the Imperial Royal Army led by Princess Alveira. In terms of strength, the two sides were evenly matched, but with the arrival of reinforcements from various cruiser fleets, the rebels clearly held the advantage. However, when it came to support, Princess Alveira, with the backing of most of the Empire’s territories and people, had the upper hand. Both sides wanted to end the battle quickly. Winnet couldn’t withstand a prolonged war, and Alveira had many more enemies to deal with and didn’t want to waste too much time on the old fox.

Alveira needed a stepping stone, and with it, she could directly jump to the enemy’s rear, bypassing the two wolves, Grisofin and Chast, and strike at the rebels’ stronghold, the Damoni system. This steppingstone was Sword Bow and Redstone, which were supplying the rebels. She dispatched Darius to take these two systems, not only to open a path to the battlefield but also to cut off the rebels’ supply lines, forcing the old fox to come out and fight her in a final showdown.

“Your Highness, I’ve previously investigated the troop distribution in Sword Bow and Redstone. The number of planetary forces combined with the cruiser fleet is nearly 1.5 times that of Darius’s fleet. Can we really win?”

On the bridge of the Lady of the Night, Leo asked Alveira.

“Numbers aren’t the issue. If war were only about the number of soldiers and ships, then we could just compare the numbers at the start and determine the outcome. What would be the point of fighting?”

Leo imagined the scenario the Princess described. Two commanders initiated a video call. “I have ten thousand elite soldiers!” “What? I only have eight thousand!” “Haha, surrender!” “Damn it, we’ll settle this next time. See you later!”—Something seemed off about this.

“War is like a game, involving strength, wisdom, and luck. Strength is visible, while wisdom and luck are intangible. Wisdom is the mind of the commander. Darius is very smart. He knows how to achieve victory in the most efficient way. He also has luck, which forces his enemies to bow down to him.”

“I can understand wisdom, but what is luck?” Leo asked. Being a product of science, he was resistant to such metaphysical concepts. “Does something so vague really exist?”

“Luck means that even if I don’t know how to fight, as long as my flagship appears on the battlefield, everyone will be willing to follow me forward.”

With that, Alveira suddenly stood up, raising her right hand high like a warrior brandishing a sword, then brought it down heavily, as if this gesture opened a door to victory. “All units, attention! Break time is over. Immediately enter combat mode!”

Her voice was loud, and her momentum was unstoppable.

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