Chapter 161: Journey to Haven
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
Bang—a ceramic coffee cup shattered at Neuman’s feet.
“What do you mean kidnapped? The police starship hasn’t even left Crescent District, and you couldn’t keep an eye on one person?”
Neuman controlled the urge to step back, trembling. He lowered his gaze and said, “Your Majesty, it was my failure. The First Legion received the police distress call and responded quickly, but we still couldn’t catch up in time.”
Alfred’s anger flared. He threw out a cold laugh. “Couldn’t catch up?”
“Your Majesty,” Neuman’s neck was slick with cold sweat, “the police were armed with offensive and defensive weapons, but they didn’t expect a massive starship to enter Crescent District.”
“Then why haven’t you investigated? Tomorrow that starship will dock at Capital Star!”
“Yes, yes. The First Legion will take over the investigation from the police,” Neuman said. “Your Majesty, there’s one more thing…”
“Speak,” Alfred said harshly.
“We found the dragon egg you requested.”
Alfred turned, his tone softening slightly. Norman breathed a reluctant sigh of relief.
“Where is it?”
“It’s still en route. It should arrive at Capital Star within three days.”
“Make sure it doesn’t get lost again,” Alfred said. “Find out which direction Lin Xu went.”
– –
The alpha crew member led Lin Xu to a vacant cabin and left without further conversation. Neither spoke more, and the crewman seemed unwilling to reveal his identity.
Lin Xu guessed these massive starships covertly patrolling Crescent District were a backdoor left by Capricciosa. She had been stationed on the Florence defensive line for years. If the Emperor suddenly decided to move against her, she still had forces to rely on within Crescent District.
Lin Xu washed his face and changed out of his prison uniform. He used a scarf given by a crew member to cover the psychic inhibitor strapped around his neck and waited quietly for the jump to begin.
As the alpha crewman had said, the ship performed seven rapid jumps. At first, Lin Xu barely endured the shifts, but the last two jolted his nerves violently.
When the starship completed all jumps and entered a smooth deceleration phase, Lin Xu’s stomach churned violently. He rushed to the bathroom and stayed there a while, calming the nausea.
The alpha crewman found Lin Xu again.
“Mr. Lin Xu, here is your new identity ID—named Ishius Luo—and an electronic disguise mask. We’re about to arrive at the Long Whale Region RCS artificial port. The starship will not dock; we’ve prepared a shuttle for you.
“There is a fund linked to the ID’s account. Once inside the port, please disappear as soon as possible, per your arrangement with Ms. Neuman.”
“Thank you.” Lin Xu accepted the terminal containing the new ID chip and the disguise mask. Outside the porthole beside them, the dazzling lights of the RCS artificial port glittered.
When the moment came, Lin Xu boarded the shuttle as planned and entered the port. The new identity the Crown Prince prepared was airtight. He passed the port inspection easily, then found a floating train carrying tourists, swiped his card, and boarded, heading to the White Bird Shipping Company inside the port. Chen Jinshan and Godric awaited him there.
The train departed. In this city of eternal night, neon lights flickered brightly, casting purple-red light pollution across the sky. Gigantic billboards shifted colors, assaulting the nerves of passersby.
The Long Whale Region was the Imperial’s strongest and most deeply rooted capital district. Here, the royal family held no more prestige than the tycoons. Political power from Capital Star clashed openly with economic forces.
The uncrowned kings built from piles of money hated orders from the special district residents, causing cracks in Imperial rule.
Half an hour later, Lin Xu arrived at the White Bird Shipping Company building but was stopped by a security robot at the entrance.
“I’m here to see White Bird to return home,” Lin Xu said.
It was the code Godric had arranged. The robot’s red forehead indicator turned green. It led Lin Xu inside and took him by elevator to the top floor. The elevator doors opened, and Godric awaited at the door, greeting Lin Xu warmly.
“Dr. Lin, you finally arrived. I’ve been worried the whole way.”
“Hmm.” Lin Xu responded with a nod, then looked toward Chen Jinshan, who stood in the large office holding Lin Xu’s rabbit-cat and a pile of documents. Lin Xu nodded to him as well.
“Mr. Chapman, when do we depart?”
“Now. We leave immediately,” Chen Jinshan said seriously, approaching Lin Xu. “My informant in the Imperial Guard told me the Emperor was furious yesterday. After learning you escaped, he dispatched many to find you. The RCS port is chaotic; we can’t stay long.”
“Right. Haven will be better. The Imperial political and military forces dare not blatantly enter Haven,” Godric added. “Dr. Lin, I arranged your lodgings in Haven. It’s very safe and reasonably secure.”
“Good, thank you.”
“No thanks needed. It’s my honor.”
Godric’s eagerness made Lin Xu hesitate, wanting to say something but ultimately choosing silence in such a tense moment.
The White Bird Shipping Company building soared into the clouds, its rooftop terrace equipped with a landing platform for spacecraft. The three of them boarded a ship together, heading to the VIP port, where they would take White Bird’s high-speed passenger starship for a jump to Haven.
After several rapid jumps, Lin Xu struggled to suppress the nausea rising in his throat.
They were traveling on Godric’s private starship, seated comfortably in a spacious lounge. Seeing Lin Xu’s discomfort, Godric rose and fetched several anti-motion sickness potions.
“Thank you.” Lin Xu drank one in a single gulp, leaning back on the sofa as the medicine took effect.
As he tilted his head, the collar concealed beneath his scarf was exposed. Godric opened his mouth to speak but hesitated before finally asking, “Dr. Lin, what is that around your neck?”
He saw the black collar—part metal, part synthetic material—beneath which a large, blurred wound and purple bruising marred Lin Xu’s skin.
“…An electric restraint,” Lin Xu explained. “If the collar moves beyond a set distance from my neck, it delivers a strong electric shock.”
“Can’t you remove it?”
“There is a way,” Lin Xu lowered his lashes. Years ago, he had deliberately left a backdoor in this technology to prevent any malicious party from using it to impose total control over people with powers. He only viewed it as a safeguard.
“With a strong enough electromagnetic interference device, it can be temporarily disabled. Then, with some cutting tools, it can be removed.”
Godric sighed in relief. “When we reach Haven, we’ll find a suitable place to activate an electromagnetic jammer.”
They couldn’t use such a device on the starship—the power could disrupt the ship’s systems and cause chaos. Later, Lin Xu rested in a room. After inquiring about his dietary preferences, Godric had the kitchen’s intelligent robot prepare a meal and deliver it to Lin Xu’s room.
Along with the food came several sets of well-fitted, casual bespoke suits. The previous clothes given to Lin Xu by the crew were plain and ill-fitting—something he didn’t bother with during his escape. But well-fitted clothes always felt better.
Lin Xu slept through the jumps. When they neared Haven, the ship’s AI woke him ahead of schedule. Haven had been terraformed by humans into a habitable blue-green planet, visible even from space.
Lin Xu cleaned up, changed clothes, and put on his scarf before rejoining Godric and Chen Jinshan in the lounge. Godric noticed Lin Xu was still wearing the electronic disguise mask from two days prior.
“Dr. Lin, you don’t need to keep the mask on once we enter Haven.”
“Won’t the checkpoint check my identity?”
“No. We’re entering Haven through an anonymous guarantee channel—no need to stop at the checkpoint.”
“Anonymous guarantee?”
Godric explained, “Everything on Haven is free. Occasionally, certain places require information entry for safety, like the planetary checkpoints. But if a Haven citizen agrees to vouch for someone, that person can enter anonymously without inspection.”
“Is your guarantee alone enough for me?”
“No, it requires five people.”
“All Alliance members? Why are you… concerned about me?”
“Not just Alliance members,” Godric stared at Lin Xu. “I… can’t explain right now, Dr. Lin. You’ll understand in time.”
The starship drew closer to Haven, finally landing at White Bird Shipping Group’s private docking area. Just as they disembarked, a luxury craft arranged by Godric was waiting.
Godric arranged temporary housing for Lin Xu and Chen Jinshan, preparing for the right moment to break through Imperial military blockades to reach the Alliance. The craft weaved through the city.
Above, a three-dimensional projection displayed maps, municipal construction updates, and Haven administrators’ information.
Entry to Haven required heavy scrutiny, but within the planet, extreme freedom prevailed. The main governing body was the Haven Scientific Ethics Review Committee, rotating every four years, handling severe issues requiring public authority intervention.
They also handled citizen complaints, like a shortage of birds or an overabundance of flowers causing allergies. The projection showed committee members’ portraits and contact info. Lin Xu watched the portraits finish and took note of the city map.
Haven had not originally been habitable but had been transformed over centuries through human technology. The surface was covered with greenery and human buildings.
Climate control made all four seasons springlike, allowing visiting scientists to stroll outside in single-layer suits.
The population was small, so there were no towering skyscrapers. Technology-rich buildings nestled amid trees and flowers, like a sunlit garden.
The craft first passed over a residential area, then ascended, skimming over waves of tree canopies, entering the tech park. Ahead stood a white spired building at the edge of the park.
Surrounded by bizarrely shaped, ultra-modern labs and research institutes, this white spire, with its traditional structure, stood out like a sore thumb. Lin Xu realized their craft was approaching it. “Are we going there?” he asked Godric.
“Yes,” Godric smiled, “we’re almost there.”
Three minutes later, the craft landed before the white spired building. Lin Xu stood beneath it, a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.
It looked like a church.
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