Chapter 89: Once Again
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
The feeling of emptiness in the brain after ending always managed to calm people down, especially after exchanging and absorbing energy during the process. Lin Xu wasn’t the least bit tired. He lay on Heinrich’s shoulder, watching the metal box containing the moonstone reflect the dazzling starlight.
Compared to the Victoria and an entire star, everything seemed unusually tiny, and even in motion, time and space within the starship seemed to pause before the stars. He always felt that something was wrong. Heinrich’s fingers were brushing over the old scars at Lin Xu’s back, and the sunlight made his pale back almost pure white.
Stripping away the light veil of personal desire, thoughts in Lin Xu’s mind unfolded in a meticulous manner. A month ago, the lunar exploration team claimed to have found no human technological relics on the moon. However, Lin Xu distinctly remembered the existence of human space stations and outpost exploration bases on the moon.
At that time, several people speculated that they were likely destroyed by the diverted Ark Fleet. All members of the lunar exploration team came from the Imperial Institute of Research and followed the commands of the Imperial high command. Did the Imperial high command want to use this to cover up the Ark Fleet’s collision incident? The collision might not have been a purely accidental event.
Now Heinrich unexpectedly had a new clue — strong radiation residues were found on the moonstone. Simple cosmic radiation residues and explosion shockwaves didn’t meet interstellar human standards of strong radiation, indicating external forces acting on the shattered moonstone. What kind of high-energy radiation weapons could humans from three thousand years ago have? Besides nuclear bombs, Lin Xu couldn’t think of anything else.
If it was indeed a collision, it could still be called an accidental diversion. Nuclear bombs wouldn’t divert accidentally.
If the Ark Fleet had the motive to use nuclear bombs to destroy the lunar base before escaping Earth’s gravity, then it was likely their handiwork that the old base in the Eastern District and other human bases were destroyed by nuclear weapons. But… But once the Ark Fleet left, why would they launch a deadly attack on their compatriots remaining on Earth?
Heinrich noticed the tense muscles in Lin Xu’s shoulders as he pondered, “Lin Xu, what’s wrong?”
“I’m thinking about the lunar base… Can you get first-hand information from the lunar exploration team?” Heinrich’s palms were still wet and hadn’t been wiped clean. Now they were cold and sticky. He hadn’t expected Lin Xu to suddenly ask about the lunar exploration team at this moment. His voice was slightly hoarse with residual heat, “… The fleet and the exploration team aren’t affiliated. I can only try.”
“Okay.” Lin Xu closed his eyes and buried his face in Heinrich’s shoulder. The scent of vetiver and white chocolate filled his nose. Actually, he didn’t want to bring up these things at this moment. But his overly sensitive brain couldn’t stop automatically running, throwing out countless tormenting questions, demanding the rational master to find answers.
Heinrich was accustomed to Lin Xu’s scattered thoughts and was waiting for his subsequent analysis and explanations, but he was suddenly bitten on the neck. Lin Xu ground his teeth and said in a muffled voice, “Once again.”
That’s why he didn’t have the heart to think about it. Although it was different from what Heinrich had expected, he almost immediately prepared himself again when the words were spit out mixed with the hot air from Lin Xu’s lips and teeth.
Marshal Chu’s brows were still distinct and stern, but the suddenly growing dragon tail exposed his soaring adrenaline. The tip of the dragon tail was actually very clever and powerful…
—
During continuous jumps and faster-than-light travel, darkness and twisted light intertwined and humans’ sense of the passage of time became blurry. The crew on the Victoria had to rely on Ruth’s gentle reminders to maintain their biological clocks and calculate the dates.
As the fleet moved closer to the edge of the Abatis Galaxy and approached Imperial territory, the efficiency of the curvature engines was reduced, slowing down the overall speed of the starships. Finally, human eyes could see barren planets one by one.
The lunar exploration team politely declined Marshal Chu’s request to see their first-hand exploration data, citing protection of intellectual property rights and the interests of Imperial sponsors as reasons.
Lin Xu didn’t insist on obtaining lunar data to avoid arousing suspicion from the lunar exploration team, who answered directly to the nobles.
Leaving the Solar System full of unknown threats, there was still some distance to the Imperial where the dark currents surged. He found himself in the chaotic Abatis Galaxy, with an extremely rare chance to relax his tense nerves.
But such days didn’t last long. Metz, Chief Counsel of the Legal Affairs Department, came looking for him.
Clearly, the previous time he was pulled away by the Lord Marshal to explain the legal provisions regarding the compulsory marking of alpha to Dr. Lin wasn’t Mr. Metz’s main business. Most of the time, he mediated conflicts between the Abyss Fleet members and other citizens under Imperial legal jurisdiction.
For example, now he had to bring up two small things and, according to the Universal Wisdom Biological Protection Act, demand Lin Xu take responsibility for them.
///
Metz said that Lin Xu would handle this matter alone and asked Marshal Chu not to intervene. The two small entities, approved by Heinrich, were brought aboard the Victoria. He knew the situation and bid Lin Xu farewell at the door, saying, “Don’t worry.” After a moment’s thought, he attempted to make his words more convincing, adding with a serious tone, “Once you’re inside, ask Ruth to pour you a hot beverage.”
Lin Xu entered the Victoria’s reception room with some hesitation. It was the first time he had known there was such a place on the ship. Previously, he only frequented Heinrich’s office and a few conference rooms.
The reception room was predominantly decorated in blue and white. Four white single sofas surrounded a blue low table in the center. The metal décor here was calmer than most rooms on the Victoria, yet still straightforward and lacking a bit of warmth and softness.
Having heard Heinrich’s earlier words, Ruth had already placed a cup of hot tea on the table, with wisps of white steam rising. Metz flashed a professional smile, gesturing for Lin Xu to take a seat. Directly across from Lin Xu was the subject of this incident. Lin Xu hesitated briefly upon seeing them, then resumed walking over and sitting down as directed by Metz.
“Mr. Lin, allow me to introduce you. These two are from Slime Star, Lu’a and Lu’la.”
Metz’s tongue stumbled slightly over the names, while across from Lin Xu, the Slime Star beings known as Lu’a and Lu’la were busy ingesting amber-colored hot syrup from porcelain plates. The sweet aroma of caramelized sugar filled the blue and white reception room.
The two slimes, named Lu’a and Lu’la, resembled resilient jellies, a tender yellow hue that wasn’t entirely transparent. They were no larger than two fists, with round, rolly-polly eyes like black pearls on each side. They also sported delicate yellow ear petals that fluttered gently in the air. However, the slimes lacked mouths and noses, absorbing energy directly through their skin.
“You have an employment relationship with them, under the Universal Wisdom Biological Protection Act and Imperial Legislation on Rights of Alien Workers…” Metz began.
“Wait… what?” Lin Xu suspected he misheard. He had been in the interstellar era for many years, but had only seen advertisements for Slime Star’s specialty seawater tobacco. He had never personally encountered slimes. When Lin Xu spoke up for the first time in the room, Lu’a and Lu’la blinked their shiny eyes curiously and innocently at him.
“Apologies, my wording may have been less precise,” Metz apologized. “It was the Perseus Group that had signed an employment contract with Lu’a and Lu’la. This matter should have been handled by the Legal and Human Resources Departments of Lime Group, but the Abyss Fleet is far from the headquarters of the Perseus Group in Capital Star. The only relevant person I could contact was you, Mr. Lin. Marshal informed me that you are currently one of the largest shareholders of the Perseus Group, so I had no choice but to disturb you.”
The Perseus Group was the legacy left to Lin Xu by Marianna. He and Marianna’s husband, Chen Jinshan, held equal shares, and one of them was supposed to serve as chairman, staying in Capital Star to manage relevant affairs.
However, Chen Jinshan had applied to transfer from the City Defense Force of Capital Star to the Michael Line, while Lin Xu boarded the Victoria to Earth. Eventually, only the professional management team hired by Marianna during her lifetime remained responsible for the daily operation of the group. Lin Xu had almost forgotten about this matter.
“Are these two gentlemen or ladies…”
“Slimes are single-gendered and do not use honorifics. Just call them by their names,” Metz interjected.
Lin Xu nodded slowly, looking at the two orange-yellow little jellies. “Lu’a and Lu’la, what seems to be the issue?”
“Well,” Metz explained, “a fleet reconnaissance ship received a signal near a desolate star in the Abatis Galaxy. Upon landing, they found Lu’a and Lu’la. According to their statements, the Perseus Group had detected rare minerals on that desolate star, planned to mine them, and hired a group of slimes as miners.”
Lin Xu knew that, besides seawater tobacco, Slime Star was also famous for its residents who liked to work together in Imperial mines. Slimes were soft yet powerful, able to delve deep into the earth’s crust to excavate and transport certain rare minerals quicker and more cost-effectively than using intelligent machinery. And slimes were fond of high-calorie food made by humans and willing to accept star coins as payment. It was a win-win situation. Near the mining star, human planets often offered hot syrup specially made for slimes, with a variety of flavors.
However, there had been a few cases of trafficking and exploitation of slime labor years ago, prompting the Imperial to enact the Legislation on Rights of Alien Workers, aimed at safeguarding the legal rights of alien workers and promoting harmony and prosperity in the cosmos.
“According to Articles 13, 25, 341, and 7823 of the Legislation, the Perseus Group is liable for compensation totaling approximately three million star coins for the operational error. The final decision will be left to the Capital Star Court. Mr. Lin, your current task is to take over and protect the foreign employees. Here is the employment contract provided by Lu’a and Lu’la. Please take a look. If there are no issues, I’ve drafted an informed consent form that requires your signature.”
Metz turned the screen toward Lin Xu. After a brief scan of the content, Lin Xu scrolled to the bottom to confirm the validity of the employment contract.
“Now, are we able to access StarNet?”
“No, this was Lu’a and Lu’la’s contract that they carried with them,” a slime from underneath its body spat out an electronic chip, giving Lin Xu a glance. It was their identification and information storage card.
“Hmm.” Lin Xu nodded, scrolling through the content on the screen to the informed consent page, signing his name, and undergoing iris verification. Metz then recorded a copy of the consent form for the slimes.
After all the paperwork was completed, two pale yellow creatures suddenly extended corners from their jelly-like bodies, resembling arms. They embraced each other, dark eyes welling up with tears, coming together.
“Lu la la la, Lu la Lu Ala, Ah Lu Ha.”
“Lu Ha Ah.”
Metz handed a headset to the bewildered Lin Xu. “If you want to communicate with them, this is a translator.”
Lin Xu took it. “Do slimes… cry too?”
“No,” Metz replied. “They’re just mimicking human emotions. Oh, and they understand Imperial language, but Imperial humans generally use translators to communicate with them.”
With the translator on, the slimes’ words made them appear even more pitiful.
[Woo woo woo, I’m so thin from hunger, I thought I was going to die.]
[Don’t be afraid, we’ve survived!]
Lin Xu silently lifted a sugar pot and poured syrup into the bottom of their porcelain plate.
Lu’a and Lu’la cried and ate at the same time.
[Woo woo woo, I’m so scared, those mechas are so terrifying, so cold-blooded, they just left without counting enough people.]
[Woo woo woo woo woo, don’t say that, why isn’t it gentle Marianna who came?]
Because even when Marianna was alive, she didn’t spend her time on corporate operations within the group, her true interest was in ancient Earth literature, not in the desolate Abatis Galaxy. Wait. Lin Xu’s hand suddenly stopped. The amber syrup flowed brokenly, a few drops of viscous liquid splashed on the table. Why would Lu’a and Lu’la know Marianna?
The Perseus Group’s mining industry spread across major galaxies, owning thousands of mining stars. Besides mining, it also dabbled in various industries. Lu’a and Lu’la were just ordinary miners abandoned on a deserted mining star, even forgotten during the retreat. How could they have met Marianna, who was thousands of light years away? Moreover… why would they dispatch a large number of mechas that only the military could mobilize to transport slime miners?
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