Chapter 1685: Chapter 35: Lifespan
Chapter 1685: Chapter 35: Lifespan
Outside the imperial palace, all was peaceful; inside, everything was orderly.
Four people sat on two sofas facing each other, eating vanilla ice cream together.
“The ice cream technology was brought by a friend from the surface, whom I knew before,” Louis XXXIX put down his spoon, “Unfortunately, this friend passed away recently… it was only when his subordinates visited the Undersea City that I learned of this.”
Saying my condolences would be appropriate at this moment.
Boss Luo also paused his actions, admiringly said, “No wonder the ice cream cart always sells out so quickly, it seems not just because it’s a unique product; the taste is unforgettable.”
Even Ms. Ren rarely finished her portion, evidently showing high praise for the Emperor’s craftsmanship.
At this time, Ms. Ren brought a handkerchief for Boss Luo to wipe his mouth… across from him, Girl Liuge was doing the same.
“Let’s get down to business.” Louis XXXIX put down the handkerchief and straightforwardly said, “The modification of Reya’s [Flywheel], was it done with your help?”
“Yes.” Boss Luo nodded directly.
The Emperor further directly stated, “I’m very interested in this technology; I’m curious if you’re willing to transfer it to me.”
Boss Luo casually said, “I wonder if Your Majesty refers to an outright purchase, or merely learning the technique?”
After thinking, the Emperor said, “What’s the price to buy outright? What’s the price to just learn it?”
“If you sell me the White Tower, I can sell you this technology outright,” Boss Luo also pondered, “If you just want to learn it… exchanging the technology of the [Holy Armor] used by this young lady earlier will suffice.”
“Ha…” Girl Liuge smirked slightly upon hearing this, “You really are asking for the sky… are you truly a merchant?”
Boss Luo remained indifferent… the Emperor signaled Liuge to quiet down temporarily.
Louis XXXIX looked at Luo Qiu, slowly said, “I absolutely cannot give up the White Tower, as for the Holy Armor technology… it’s one of the highest secrets of the Undersea City, are you certain you can only offer your technology in exchange?”
“Gigan civilization, the ability of soul and mechanical symbiosis, was once the culmination of technological achievements from a civilization era.” Ms. Ren said calmly, “The Limoria civilization, Magical Energy Era, was similarly an era… at their prime, there wasn’t much difference between the two, why not exchange?”
“Gigan?” The Emperor frowned, contemplated, “I fear I am ignorant… I have not heard of such a civilization as Gigan.”
Boss Luo smiled, “Currently, various nations of the surface world only regard the Undersea City as a mere mythical legend.”
The Emperor shook his head yet again said, “Why outright purchase?”
Boss Luo said, “Before other customers offer a price lower than the White Tower, we will not sell this technology to a third party.”
Black-hearted—!
This was Girl Liuge’s whispered dissatisfaction, a murmuring sound.
Yet the Emperor bitterly smiled, “I have said, I absolutely can’t give up the White Tower… as for the [Holy Armor] creation technology, to be honest, I cannot disclose it. If possible, I hope you can choose another condition.”
Indeed, it cannot just be [Holy Armor] technology—if merely learning the Gigan civilization’s [Soul and Mechanical Symbiosis] technology, under the altar’s listing, there are many things the Undersea City can trade for.
For instance, directly exchanging souls… the Undersea City, after all, has a population of nine million.
This also inadvertently provided Luo Qiu free intelligence: This Undersea City fully belongs to Louis XXXIX… the nine million inhabitants of the Undersea City, their lives, even souls, are considered to be entirely the private property of Louis XXXIX.
This is the altar’s assessment.
“In that case…” Boss Luo said again, “If you can give me twenty of those black spheres from yesterday, that would also suffice.”
At that instant, Girl Liuge’s eyes narrowed… an intense murderous intent filled every corner of the room.
But in the next instant, a killing intent a hundred times more intense than that of the girl erupted like a volcanic eruption… the tidal wave instantly drowned the ripple within the lake.
Girl Liuge’s face turned pale.
Ms. Ren casually picked up the teacup, as if nothing had occurred.
The Emperor observed all this… yet he remained expressionless, his inner thoughts unbeknownst—he sighed slowly once more and shook his head saying, “Exchange another condition.”
“You give me two million population.” Boss Luo obscurely presented a third different condition, then directly a fourth condition: “Or perhaps…”
“Perhaps what?” The Emperor’s gaze tightened… that third condition had already caused a slight unnatural change in his calm expression, as for this fourth possible condition?
Boss Luo said nothing, merely glanced at the Emperor.
Instantly, Louis XXXIX’s expression subtly shifted once more… he looked deeply at the other party, then fell silent; a long while later, he slowly said, “It seems, our initial negotiations were not successful.”
“No problem.” Boss Luo casually said, “Business doesn’t always succeed on the first try… both sides have their own considerations.”
“Liuge.” The Emperor instructed at this time, “Give these two guests the treatment of state guests, take good care of them during this period, do not neglect.”
Perhaps because of moments ago a certain post-clash relationship, the silver-robed girl seemed much quieter at this time… silently nodded.
After this, Louis XXXIX left the conference room with Girl Liuge, while Boss Luo and Ms. Ren were arranged to live in a separate courtyard within the imperial palace.
Interestingly, Reya was similarly arranged to stay within this courtyard.
…
“What was the fourth condition?”
Within the Emperor’s study, Liuge frowned only now—on the way here, Louis XXXIX didn’t utter a word, a kind of silence Liuge seldom encountered.
The Emperor shook his head, “Compared to the first three conditions, it’s better not to mention the fourth one… However, I’m not clear on how much this so-called Gigan civilization technology can assist me. By the way, how is the analysis of [Asla White Kirin]?”
Girl Liuge shook her head, “We have completely disassembled it, but there is no one in the First Institute who can comprehend the contents… except for parts related to magic energy technology.”
“Not at all?” Louis XXXIX asked in surprise.
Liuge smiled bitterly and said, “They say this technology might be as simple as 1+1=2, but the reality is that no one ever instilled the concept of 1+1=2 in them.”
“The crystallization of a civilization era… Giant Energy Civilization.” Louis XXXIX leaned back in his chair, “Since Limoria sank into the sea, we have been observing the development of the mainland world through various methods.”
“So, there really is no Giant Energy Civilization,” the girl said straightforwardly.
“We don’t have it afterward,” the Emperor suddenly said, “Who knows before us.”
“Are you saying this Giant Energy Civilization might have existed before Limoria…” Girl Liuge exclaimed in shock, “Is this an assumption… or do you really think so?”
“Just treat it as a simple assumption.” The Emperor shook his head, “For the unknown, you need assumptions and must hold a necessary skepticism before the truth. This is the Royal Family’s training.”
Girl Liuge sneered, mocking, “It sounds nice, but from ancient times till now, there’s only you in the Royal Family.”
“That’s why Lei Yaz is so important,” the Emperor sighed, “Only he can assimilate my bloodline… After so many generations, finally, there’s another one.”
Girl Liuge said wistfully at this moment, “Unfortunately, it’s not me.”
“The task of teaching Lei Yaz is left to you,” the Emperor said softly, “Only you can do it… For the next few days, the Undersea City is entrusted to you.”
“Louis.” Girl Liuge suddenly said, “You felt it too, right? The power in the negotiation room earlier?”
“Very strong.” The Emperor nodded, “Perhaps it can fully match with the current Holy Armor.”
Girl Liuge whispered, “If we have two equal powers of Holy Armor, maybe we could…”
“You don’t know its horror.” The Emperor smiled bitterly, “It’s not a matter of how many forces equal the Holy Armor, but the inherent lack in the Holy Armor… Well, your next task is to teach Lei Yaz well, and put other matters aside for now.”
“I don’t teach people.” Girl Liuge said coldly, “I only kill.”
“You will.” Louis XXXIX gazed at her… She eventually couldn’t withstand the Emperor’s gaze, turned her head slightly, and whispered, “Come back soon…”
“I will.” Louis smiled and said.
…
…
In the Undersea City, in a dim room filled with various pipelines on the ceiling—The lighting here was made from an oil lamp prepared from deep-sea fish oil, and the light was yellowish.
In this place where ventilation wasn’t very good, the smell of burning lamp oil wasn’t pleasant—but when using Magical Energy tools, it’s too easy to be detected.
A group of people gathered in this not-so-spacious space… Among them was an empty area where four corpses were laid, one of which was even only half a body.
“Silver Moon Witch! It’s her… She planned this action!”
“If it weren’t to rescue Longgang, we wouldn’t have lost so many companions… Sixty-nine people! A total of sixty-nine people, and only three returned alive… They only brought back the corpses of four companions!”
“Are you saying we shouldn’t have saved Longgang?”
“If we could rescue him, it would be worth it! But now he wasn’t rescued, and we lost so much, not worth it! This time it’s like this, then what about next time? If the Kingdom Government publicly executes someone again, do we rescue or not? Tell me!”
After a long silence, a voice said softly, “Unless we’re wiped out, even if only one remains, we still have to rescue… Otherwise, the Destiny Organization loses the fundamental reason to continue existing.”
Upon hearing this, everyone made way… From the cleared path, a one-eyed hunchbacked elderly man, supported by a young person and a woman in a black robe with a covered head, slowly walked forward.
The people in the dim basement lowered their heads and respectfully called out in unison, “Master Karen!”
The one-eyed old man walked slowly, paused slightly as he passed the place where the corpses were placed, then knelt on the ground, muttering words like a prayer.
After a while, the old man stood up, looked around at everyone here, and said in a deep voice, “The goal of creating Destiny was to liberate the people of the Undersea City from the Emperor’s box, to truly free those who have become slaves of the Undersea City people… This is the founding concept of the Destiny Organization. All of you knew the true history upon joining the organization and understood how difficult the road is in our confrontation with the Emperor! I asked you back then, no matter how difficult the path ahead is, no matter how many crises and despair you face, have you prepared yourself to face them head-on.”
Master Karen paused for a moment, then spoke loudly, “Now, tell me how you answered me back then!”
They instantly moved in unison, stood up straight, pressed their hands over their hearts, and replied loudly, “Mission accomplished!”
Master Karen nodded, “Remember what you said then and today… Now, who will tell me, after this operation, what exactly have we lost?”
A man stepped forward quickly, describing in detail how many members were lost in this rescue operation, how many hidden identities were destroyed, and the resources and strongholds that were lost.
The man spoke very meticulously, but the atmosphere on site grew heavier.
Finally, the reporting man suddenly shifted his tone, “Master Karen, although we lost so much manpower and resources to rescue Longgang this time… But fundamentally, the reason Longgang was captured by the Kingdom Government was completely to rescue Dr. Yoa Xiu from the underground mine!”
“What do you want to say?” Master Karen frowned.
“To rescue Dr. Yoa Xiu, we even sacrificed the layout in the underground mine we’ve been setting up for so many years… Master Karen, I respect each of your decisions! But abandoning the chance to rescue our companions trapped in the mine just for a Kingdom Government researcher… Is it worth it? I need a reason! A reason why you made such a decision! Otherwise, I’m not convinced!”
“Are you questioning me?” Master Karen said again in a deep voice.
The man said sadly, “My wife and children fell into the hands of the Kingdom Government because of my exposure. They are in the underground mine, their lives and deaths are unknown. I’m tormented every day… To open the underground mine to rescue them, I haven’t dared to let myself rest for these years! Every time I close my eyes, I seem to see the painful expressions of my wife and children being tortured, maybe they can’t hold on anymore, maybe even have… Master! I just want to know why! Please tell me!”
“It’s not yet time to make this matter public… Sorry, I ask for your understanding.” Master Karen shook his head, “This and everything is for our great cause.”
“Then let her tell me!”
The man said suddenly, then directly rushed forward, forcefully grabbed hold of the black-robed woman beside Master Karen, “You tell me! What is it for! Why did we pay such a heavy price to rescue Yoa Xiu! Just because he’s your husband? Speak! Kaia—!”
He forcefully tore the woman’s black robe, revealing Kaia.
############
PS: (34/82)
…
…
Read Novel Full