Chapter 106: From the Alliance
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
Godric was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t expected Lin Xu to ask such a question right away. But he quickly composed himself, smiled, and said, “Rest assured, the mecha’s weapons systems are locked, and no extra ammunition is loaded. All paperwork has been properly filed according to Crescent District laws.”
Lin Xu turned his head to look at Godric, a deep suspicion and scrutiny in his eyes. Yet Godric remained smiling warmly, his attitude utterly sincere. Seeing Lin Xu’s hesitant expression, Godric thoughtfully took out a chip and handed it to him. “This is Bard’s ownership certificate. It also contains all the warranty details.”
“For me?” Lin Xu couldn’t help but voice his disbelief at this absurd “gift.”
“Yes, it’s yours.” Godric stepped forward and pressed the chip into Lin Xu’s hand.
“I don’t have a mecha pilot’s license; I can’t move her,” Lin Xu pragmatically reminded him.
“Don’t worry,” Godric said. “I’ve already taken care of that for you.”
Lin Xu blinked, confused. Within the Imperial, only Military Academy students could take the mecha pilot exam and earn a license. Private individuals had to endure a grueling series of training and tests to qualify. Now Godric claimed everything was arranged and Lin Xu only needed to step into the cockpit. No. He and Godric weren’t that close. Godric wouldn’t go to such lengths for him.
Lin Xu wanted to refuse, but Godric’s next sentence made him pause. “The Bard’s cockpit information is confidential. Let’s discuss those two books there.”
Lin Xu reluctantly accepted this slightly more reasonable proposal. As they headed downstairs toward Bard, a crowd had already gathered around the mecha. Godric instructed his aides to clear out unrelated onlookers and followed Lin Xu into the cockpit.
Bard was a single-pilot mecha with only one seat. Lin Xu took the lead and sat down first, lifting his chin coldly and distant, showing no joy over receiving this priceless treasure.
Godric showed no offense. He called the mecha’s AI, which produced a folding stool and sat beside Lin Xu.
Through the mecha’s front window, Lin Xu looked down over the museum’s surrounding trees and wildlands, pressing his lips into a cold line. What exactly did Godric want? To praise him? Pursue him? Ask for help?
None of those seemed worth such an expensive mecha. The paperwork for acquiring the mecha clearly involved powerful, shadowy connections. Lin Xu couldn’t think of anything of equal value in his possession to offer in exchange.
He didn’t want to play mind games with a stranger but needed information from Godric. A wave of irritation washed over him, and he spoke coolly, “Mr. Chapman, can we talk about the origins of those two ancient books now?”
“Of course, of course,” Godric said, but didn’t answer immediately. He carefully considered his words. “The original soul collector of those books died decades ago. I bought these two from him before he passed. At the time, I didn’t know much about ancient Earth languages, but his explanations sparked great interest in me.”
“Who was the original soul?”
Godric paused again. “I can tell you, but I hope you’ll keep it confidential.”
He had deliberately chosen the mecha cockpit for their talk due to privacy concerns.
“All right.”
“The original soul was from the Alliance,” Godric said. “These two ancient books were smuggled goods. If it got out, I’d be charged with treason and exiled to a black hole.”
From Godric’s words, it was clear the matter wasn’t just simple smuggling. He not only obtained items from the Alliance but had even communicated directly with Alliance people.
Compared to that, helping Lin Xu illegally get a mecha pilot license was a minor offense easily handled by White Bird Shipping’s legal team. But… could the anomalies in ancient Earth relics’ history be related to the division between the Alliance and the Imperial?
After all, it was the three-thousand-year-old relics that were the abnormal ones. Godric asked, “Dr. Lin, is there something wrong with these two books?”
“No.” Lin Xu lowered his eyelids and glanced sideways. “If you like them so much, why donate them to the museum?”
“I want more people to see them.”
“Do you agree with the theories in the books?”
“My knowledge of ancient Earth languages is shallow; I can only read them superficially. But they are very inspiring. What do you think, Dr. Lin?”
…
Lin Xu was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Meditations on First Philosophy was originally written in French. It’s a very beautiful language.”
“Really?” Godric perked up at anything Lin Xu said that wasn’t a challenge. “I’ve never seen any ancient Earth scholars reconstruct that language.”
“I’ve done some research. Nom de Dieu de putain de bordel.”
“Oh, that sounds smooth. What does it mean?”
“Fuck.”
Godric blinked. Lin Xu sat up straight, his voice low and steady as before, calm and unwavering. “Using that curse is like wiping your ass with silk — very smooth. What do you think, Mr. Chapman?”
“Uh…”
Godric was completely caught off guard. Lin Xu was surprised by the complete lack of offense on his face. “Maybe? Imperial, this artificial hybrid language, sounds stiff and complicated.”
Godric wasn’t sure if Lin Xu’s words were meant to hint at something or simply express that he was in a bad mood. He suspected the latter, because after saying the French phrase, Lin Xu fell silent. Godric stood and looked over. Lin Xu leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed but still wore a cold expression. Godric left nervously, thinking about Lin Xu’s words all the way out.
What did it mean? Was the Spiritual Monarch saying that humans are not just rational beings, not just thinking things — that feelings and desires should be valued too?
Godric suddenly recalled Ika telling him that on the Victoria, Ika had tried consciousness uploading technology, but the Spiritual Monarch told him to go back and not wander around. The Spiritual Monarch observed humanity but did not want more humans to join Him.
– –
Lin Xu wasn’t pretending to sleep. After Godric left, he leaned back in the pilot’s seat and almost dozed off, but a sudden shift in his body jolted him awake.
He had been feeling tired lately. He suspected it was because Heinrich had moved into his place and his bedtime had noticeably shifted later. He rubbed his cheeks hard and got up to check the cockpit for any listening devices Godric might have left behind.
Everything was normal. The cockpit was clean. Lin Xu returned to his seat, stretched his sore lower back, and dialed Chen Jinshan’s comm.
“Xiao Xu?” Chen Jinshan’s voice sounded surprised when the call connected.
“It’s me, Mr. Chen,” Lin Xu said. “I want to ask a favor.”
“Okay, what kind of problem are you facing?”
“Not exactly a problem. I want something — maybe you can help find it.”
“Tell me.”
“Can you find any ancient Earth relics from the Alliance? They should have preserved quite a few over there.”
“…!” Chen Jinshan’s voice trembled noticeably before he forced it back down. “Xiao Xu, why do you want something from the Alliance? That’s…”
“Illegal, I know.” Lin Xu answered calmly. “I think you’re stationed at the Michael Line, close to the Alliance star territory, so you have better access to their stuff. But if it jeopardizes your duty, forget it.”
The fact that these two ancient books only had six hundred years of history was likely connected to the Alliance. Lin Xu needed more samples for comparison. Besides, he had questions about Chen Jinshan himself.
When they parted at the Perser estate, Chen Jinshan said Lin Xu could come to him if he had any difficulties. That might be a sense of emotional responsibility—or Chen Jinshan might really believe he could solve Lin Xu’s problems.
But Chen Jinshan had resources Lin Xu already had access to. He could even reach people like Heinrich Chu, Zhou Pingbo, and Ika. What confidence did Chen Jinshan have to solve problems Lin Xu couldn’t? What secrets was he hiding that Lin Xu didn’t know?
“No, no, it’s fine…” Chen Jinshan said. “Are there specific requirements for the relics? Are you looking for certain types?”
Lin Xu blinked and said, “No type requirement. Smaller size is better, easier to transport.”
“When do you need them?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Hm, I know where to find these in Imperial territory. I can get them to you within a week,” Chen Jinshan said. “I’ll deliver them to your place. Please, keep them safe.”
While Lin Xu was talking with Chen Jinshan, a communication request from Curator Zhao appeared on his terminal. Chen Jinshan told Lin Xu to get back to work, so Lin Xu ended the call and answered Curator Zhao instead.
Curator Zhao’s voice was full of confusion. He asked what the mecha parked outside the museum was all about. Almost everyone had come out to see Bard, but from the cockpit’s height, the crowd below looked like tiny cats and dogs, looking up at the massive machine with innocent fear. Lin Xu said it was brought by Godric.
Curator Zhao asked if Lin Xu could drive it away. Lin Xu said yes. Curator Zhao decided to let Lin Xu off work early to move the giant machine before it accidentally damaged the museum.
The crowd on the ground was cleared away. Lin Xu powered up the control system. Godric had already uploaded his access rights in advance. Without using mental energy to control the system, Lin Xu strapped in and pushed the joystick.
The thrusters unleashed a scorching blast of heat and swirling air, and through the warped atmosphere, Bard soared like a black eagle, disappearing instantly into the Battle of Marquee.
A moist breeze swept across the Cacamorra Plains, carrying the fresh scent of grass leaves. Layered, well-defined cumulus clouds rolled through the sky, pushed eastward by the long wind toward the clear blue afternoon.
Heinrich was in a remote video meeting with the engineering department of the Abyss Fleet, anchored outside the Crescent District, confirming the allocation of repair funds.
Just by looking at Marshal Chu’s background, the people on the other side of the call noticed something different about today’s setting. It wasn’t his usual military quarters, nor did it look like a hotel.
He sat upright on a wooden chair, the left side of his face bathed in pale blue sunlight. Behind him, embedded in the wall, was a dark rectangular hollow that only a few sharp-eyed viewers recognized as an ancient Earth human fireplace. A potted green plant sat atop the mantle, and from time to time, a rabbit-cat slinked past Heinrich’s back, adding a touch of life to the room.
But Marshal Chu’s expression remained cold and serious, carved like a jagged monolith. No one dared ask where he was. Suddenly, a rushing gust shook the air with a vibrating noise, rattling the glass windows with a loud clatter—audible even through the video.
“Meeting paused,” Heinrich said calmly, standing and stepping away from the camera. Looking through the glass window, there was nothing unusual at first. Heinrich grabbed a light energy gun from atop a tall cabinet and stepped outside. His gaze swept over the eaves, warily scanning the sky where thick clouds swirled into a white vortex.
Only a large-displacement military craft could cause such a strong atmospheric turbulence. Endymion was usually peaceful, with only a small security police force and a city defense troop stationed there. Heinrich knew they weren’t equipped with heavily offensive weapons.
His expression grew stern as he looked up to see a black dot rapidly approaching in the sky, trailing a vapor line. Its silhouette was unmistakable—a mecha.
The black mecha tore through the air like lightning, heading straight for Lin Xu’s white cottage. But it showed no signs of activating weapons for a remote attack.
When Bard landed in front of the house, the fierce wind tousled Heinrich’s silver hair. He raised his light energy gun, aiming steadily at the unexpected visitor.
Bard? Someone from the Paris family? Heinrich’s instincts whispered something was off. As a figure stepped out of the cockpit, Heinrich squeezed the trigger and fired a shot.
Bang—
The energy blast exploded at Lin Xu’s feet as he stepped down, nearly burning a hole in the steel plate but not harming him at all. It was a warning shot. Lin Xu paused, then waved at Heinrich from a short distance away. “Heinrich, it’s me.”
Author’s note:
The French phrase in the text is a reference to Hacker Imperial 2. Hacker Imperial, Phaedo, and Meditations on First Philosophy all touch on themes of soul, consciousness, and mind-body dualism. The Meditations were originally written in French. Lin Xu’s sudden mention of this old reference reflects his sour mood and blunt tone in that moment.
