MPWATMBC Chapter 59

After listening to Ryan’s account, the three of them felt a heavy sense of helplessness, overwhelmed by the inability to save more lives. If they had acted faster, could they have prevented any casualties? The guilt, long buried in their hearts, surged up, and Ryan’s hand, hanging by his side, clenched tightly, veins bulging, while his expression remained eerily calm.

A hand grasped his fist, and Ryan looked at Auston, seeing the worry on his face. Ryan smiled and shook his head, but the smile lacked its usual warmth and serenity, replaced by a cold and deadly seriousness. No one should ever underestimate the value of another’s life, regardless of their motives.

“I’m fine,” Ryan said, though inside, he was far from fine. He realized a flaw in his character—his unilateral decision-making and authoritarian tendencies. He had noticed those suspicious men and women earlier and should have informed Auston of his suspicions before the extremists created chaos.

Fan Lanting didn’t know what expression to show and could only take a big gulp of honey water to calm his nerves and steady his shaken soul. After calming down a bit, he looked at the General with admiration. Truly, the General could never go unnoticed, no matter where he was.

Fan Lanting didn’t suggest going to the scene to check it out. At times like these, the bus station was chaotic, and the nearby areas were likely cordoned off. Trying to help might only add to the chaos, forcing the police to divert their attention to managing volunteers and dispersing onlookers.

After recounting the events at the bus station, Fan Lanting took out a small bag from behind him and retrieved a book, pushing it toward Ryan. “This is what Connor wanted me to give you.”

The reason they had arranged to meet Fan Lanting was entirely because Connor had messaged Ryan, saying there was something important with Fan Lanting that Ryan should pick up while passing through the secondary planet of Beland. Ryan had thought it was something crucial. Now, seeing Fan Lanting take out an old book titled ‘Bird of Paradise,’ Ryan was puzzled. ‘Bird of Paradise’ was the book that marked Connor’s rise to fame and held significant meaning for him. But was it really necessary for Ryan to make a special trip just to pick up this book? Could it be that Connor’s narcissism had worsened?

Fan Lanting stirred his honey water, causing the thick liquid to swirl along with the square ice cubes, mirroring the turmoil in his mind. He relayed Connor’s message, “Connor asked me to tell you that if you want to know about ‘Bird of Paradise,’ you don’t need to ask anyone else. He said he can talk to you about it whenever you have the time.”

Ryan, his hand resting on the book, fell silent for a moment before saying, “I am indeed very interested in ‘Bird of Paradise.’ I’ll definitely take the chance to discuss it with Connor. He has written extensively about Qin Feng… the Emperor in ‘The Song of Beacon.’ History has shown that the Emperor’s ideas of ‘freedom, equality, friendliness,’ and ‘breaking class solidification’ had their flaws and impracticalities at that time. Can you contact him and ask him to tone it down a bit, if only for his own safety?”

Those who idolized Qin Feng Anderson had already elevated Connor’s “The Song of Beacon” to a sacred text.

Conversely, those against Qin Feng Anderson had placed Connor on the proverbial pillory. Ryan was very concerned. The abusive comments and rebuttals on his works were just the beginning. Some extremists’ actions might endanger Connor’s safety. What Ryan had witnessed today at the bus station—the actions of those opposing adaptive marriage—revealed the underlying darkness in this seemingly secure, stable, and prosperous country. Who among the travelers waiting at the station could have anticipated encountering violent extremists? They might have been happily anticipating reuniting with family one moment, only to become lifeless bodies the next.

No one ever knows which will come first, an accident or tomorrow.

Fan Lanting anxiously quickened the pace of stirring his straw. “I told him, but Connor believes he’s just a novelist. He thinks that by choosing this subject and sticking to historical facts, he won’t cause too much trouble.” Fan Lanting had evolved beyond being just an innocent fan. After meeting Connor, he started to think more deeply. Reading his books was no longer a simple pleasure; he would lie awake all night, troubled by the oppression, melancholy, and suffering conveyed between the lines of Connor’s text.

“That’s just his personality. Once he decides on something, he won’t change his mind, even if he hits a wall,” Ryan said with a helpless shake of his head. “Nothing we say will matter much. He never used to let fans visit his home—you’re the first. You’re special to him. If you’re willing, talk to him more. Maybe you can change his mind.”

Fan Lanting blushed, stopping his stirring. He watched the honey water continue to swirl, even after he ceased his actions, much like the ripples Connor had created in his heart that never seemed to settle.

“Okay.” He replied softly, happy about his special status yet troubled by his limited understanding of Connor. It was all so confusing, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts. This didn’t feel like him at all.

Ryan swallowed half of his words, voicing the other half with subtlety. “If Connor has someone by his side, maybe his personality could change. But his situation is a bit special. He’s a φ3 element deficiency patient and can’t participate in adaptation. For now, he has to stay single.” Ryan could see that Fan Lanting liked Connor. He hoped his cousin could find happiness but didn’t want his friend, Fan Lanting, to fall into despair. Regardless, reality posed the biggest challenge between them.

Fan Lanting blurted out, “Maybe I’m a φ3 element deficiency patient too. I’ll find out when I participate in adaptation.”

After saying this, he raised his eyebrows in alarm, which made him look slightly comical. Fan Lanting waved his hands frantically, trying to explain, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just talking nonsense.”

Ryan and Auston exchanged glances and then laughed simultaneously. They chose to understand without acknowledging it, for everyone’s sake.

Fan Lanting felt embarrassed. The more he spoke, the more mistakes he made, so he chose to remain silent. The silence felt stifling and awkward, especially for him. Seeing the General flipping through “Bird of Paradise,” a scene suddenly flashed through his mind. “I remember, when Connor was flipping through this book, he said… he said…” He furrowed his brow, trying to recall. After Connor’s book signing event in Beland, the two of them wandered around at Fan Lanting’s invitation. They stumbled upon this book in a second-hand bookstore. When Connor bought it, he had said with a smile…

“He said, ‘The ‘freedom, equality, and friendliness’ that the Emperor advocated for seven hundred years ago, I will write it into my book. Maybe one day it will succeed.'”

At that time, Connor’s smile was faint and a bit strange. Fan Lanting couldn’t describe this feeling with words, attributing it to not understanding Connor well enough. Perhaps, once he understood him better, he would know what was behind that strange smile.

Hearing Fan Lanting’s account, Ryan fell into a slight contemplation. This might not have been said to him directly… He looked at Auston and found that he had already put down “Bird of Paradise.” Connor’s early work was notable for its unique perspective and its bold challenge to the existing system, which is why it became a hit on the star network. However, in terms of its writing, it was immature and overly sentimental, making it hard for contemporary readers to get through it.

“Time’s about to up. Let’s go.”

Ryan checked the time; it was already 10:30. The discomfort of having plans disrupted made him a bit uneasy, but he couldn’t help but acknowledge that life is like that—plans are always subject to change.

Auston nodded and smiled at Fan Lanting. “Well, we’re off then.”

After spending some time with the General on E69 and in everyday life, Fan Lanting still felt flattered by the General’s smile. He hurriedly nodded and said, “Yes, yes, you go ahead. I need to head home too. My parents have set up a blind date for me this afternoon, so, well, no excuses to escape. I’ll be going to Capital Star soon to prepare for the military parade.”

As one of the winners of the Ice Prairie & Moon Bay event, Fan Lanting, like Ryan, was part of the Golden Crusade Legion’s parade squad. With the holiday not over yet, he had to head to Capital Star to prepare for the parade training.

After bidding farewell to Fan Lanting, Ryan decided to follow through with his own plan. He had meticulously crafted a near-perfect date itinerary days in advance, exclusively for the two of them—not for sightseeing, but a simple and sincere date, just like other couples and spouses in the Empire.

He looked up many dating guides online and read plenty of love tips from various self-help bloggers. The aim of this simple romantic journey was to be romantic, warm, and beautiful. They planned to do things that ordinary people would do. First, they would stroll hand-in-hand through the streets aimlessly. Next, they would have a quick meal in a small park, feed any leftover food to the pigeons, and take a few photos with the little creatures fluttering in the background. Third, they would go ice skating on a natural ice lake, where he could teach Auston, who, he had already inquired, did not know how to skate. There would definitely be some physical contact during the learning process. Fourth, they would watch a movie. Ryan had already seen the latest popular films: the romantic movie Julian and His Starry Sky and the horror movie Thrills in the House. Unfortunately, Auston was quite brave, so he couldn’t follow the typical advice of watching a horror movie together to have his partner hide in his arms. Finally, Ryan had booked a candlelight dinner at the most famous couples’ restaurant in Beland. He had also arranged for flowers and a live band to perform during the meal.

Ryan, confident in his nearly perfect plan, intended to follow it meticulously after disembarking the cruise. As an invisible planning enthusiast, he had meticulously prepared: Capture Evan, collect the reward money, and spend a leisurely and romantic day with Auston, showcasing his exceptional capabilities.

However, the plan started falling apart from the moment they captured Evan.

Damn Red Spider, when he was able, he would make sure Red Spider became a thing of the past.

But he wasn’t worried; good things often faced obstacles. Even without the 5,000-star coin reward, his exceptional abilities would remain unaffected, and the plan could still continue.

“Shopping…” Standing on the street, Auston looked around hesitantly after hearing Ryan’s suggestion. He felt aimless wandering was a waste of time, and two grown men shopping felt a bit odd, especially since they were no longer young. “It’s getting late. How about we go eat instead?”

Ryan made one last attempt to persuade him. “It’s a chance to see Beland’s city culture. Wandering around is quite nice.”

“Beland is different from Red Star. Red Star has its unique features, but Beland is similar to the big cities we’ve visited before.” Auston tried to persuade Ryan, who was insistent on aimless shopping.

Ryan had no choice but to relent. “Alright, let’s go get fast food then.”

“Fast food?”

“Yes, fried chicken, burgers, fries, and interstellar cola. They’ve also recently added chips and spicy chicken wings. I checked the reviews online; they’re all quite good.” With the first item of the plan scrapped, Ryan decided to proactively adjust and move on to the second item.

Auston wasn’t picky about food, so he nodded. “Okay.”

The KM chain of fried chicken restaurants was ubiquitous across the empire. Ryan ordered a large bucket online, complete with two iced interstellar colas. He was about to suggest heading to the lakeside to enjoy the scenery while eating the fried chicken when he noticed that Auston had already found a spot to sit. He was watching the little ones play in the children’s area with ball pits and slides, seeming quite content to stay put. Ryan, recalling his plan, quietly crossed off the second item, acknowledging that it was at least half complete.

Amid the children’s laughter, Ryan and Auston finished their lunch. The fried chicken and burgers were energy bombs, but there was nothing particularly special or refreshing about the flavors; it was a fairly ordinary meal.

Seeing that there was no more food left and realizing that his plan had only partially succeeded, Ryan announced that his plan was half-broken but still in progress.

Initially, Auston had been a bit confused when Ryan suggested shopping, but now that they had finished the fried chicken, he seemed to understand what Ryan was aiming for. He proactively asked, “Ryan, what should we do next?” He was curious if there would be any interesting activities planned.

“We’ll go to the plaza in front of the Holy Cathedral to feed the pigeons and take some photos when they fly up,” Ryan decided, determined to stick to his plans.

Auston hesitated for a moment and had to remind Ryan, “Have you seen the introduction to Beland?”

Ryan responded, “Hmm? Uh…” He mentally crossed out the date plan with a big X. He had focused too much on romantic ideas without considering the reality. Beland’s pigeons were infamous for being wild, more like ground-dwelling chickens that didn’t fly and ate meat.

He had let romance cloud his judgment and forgotten about Beland’s notorious meat-eating pigeons.

“Never mind, after finishing, let’s go to the museum,” Ryan conceded to reality, feeling somewhat dejected.

“No, let’s still go see the pigeons,” Auston said with a smile as he took Ryan’s hand, ensuring that the planned activities would proceed as intended. “Even though they don’t fly and eat meat, they’re still quite cute and fluffy. I’m a bit nostalgic for Da Fu.”

For this trip, Ryan had left Da Fu, Yuan Chu, and Code Zero on the spaceship. It was supposed to be a world for just the two of them, without a third party intruding.

Little did he know, a small thief had secretly followed them, using remote control to tag along on their Beland trip.

The little thief was Yuan Chu and Code Zero, who were physically on the Shakespeare but had their “hearts” with Ryan and Auston on the ground. They had cleverly modified a keychain into a network hotspot, allowing them to remotely view the scenes their owner was seeing as long as there was a network signal.

Code Zero: “Ryan’s plan to take the general shopping, eat fast food, and watch movies… where did he get these tutorials from? They’re so clichéd.”

Yuan Chu: “Forgive him. The sir has made a lot of progress. He used to be too shy to even touch a boy’s hand.” He was always fidgeting, thinking such things were unseemly because he took himself too seriously.

Code Zero: “It’s really interesting. Human emotions are so complex. To nurture a relationship, they come up with so many ideas.”

Yuan Chu: “Human emotions are a lifelong subject of our study.”

Code Zero: “You’re right. Little Strawberry, wouldn’t it be bad if we were discovered following them?”

Yuan Chu: “I just feel we’re late. If we had been at the bus station, we could have controlled those robots and reduced the trouble for the sir. The chaos resulted in casualties, and he’ll feel guilty for a long time.”

Code Zero: “Hmm.”

Ryan, completely unaware of the two little thieves trailing behind him. He would definitely cut off their network if he knew!

He felt a bit touched. The greatest success of the date plan was the cooperation of his partner. He should have been honest with Auston from the start. He also realized his own weaknesses and needed to actively correct them. After leaving the fried chicken place, Auston extended his hand towards Ryan. Ryan, a bit puzzled, took it, and Auston said, “Let’s walk around and explore.”

This was the first item on Ryan’s plan. He had thought it was “dead” but now it was “revived,” and he was happy. Holding Auston’s hand joyfully, Ryan said, “Let’s go, we’ll feed the pigeons.”

Upon arriving at the cathedral and seeing the caged “kiwis,” Ryan felt a chill in his heart. He gave a dry laugh and said, “I have to admit, animals have a remarkable ability to adapt.”

The once-lightweight pigeons were now covered in brown fluff, making them look like a pile of kiwis from a distance. Up close, they resembled kiwis with eyes. Due to their preference for meat, these fluffball pigeons had lost their ancestors’ gentle nature and become quite aggressive, confined to cages for observation. A sign next to the cage read: “Fluffball pigeons are aggressive. Please maintain a safe distance when feeding. Children should not feed them alone and must be supervised by an adult.” Several pictures accompanied the text, serving as warnings for those who couldn’t read.

Auston, holding some small meat strips he had bought, tried to stifle his laughter and said, “They do look kind of cute.”

“Yeah.” Ryan looked at the fluffball pigeons with a hint of melancholy, lamenting why pigeons had turned into aggressive birds. They were likely descendants of meat pigeons brought by the first settlers to Beland.

Auston, who had fully immersed himself in the date and was not troubled by the disrupted plans, enjoyed the experience even more. When feeding the pigeons, seeing the seemingly docile creatures suddenly flap their tiny wings and rush for the meat, Auston raised an eyebrow and remarked, “If these pigeons grew a bit bigger and their diet was adjusted, they could easily replace the insectoids in the Zerg army.”

The insectoids are the pioneer troops of the Zerg, numerous but with low combat power, excelling in overwhelming enemies through sheer numbers.

Ryan raised an eyebrow, his expression mirroring Auston’s, “Maybe it’s worth letting the experts look into it.”

The fluffball pigeons suddenly felt a chill.

After feeding the pigeons, Auston urged Ryan, “What’s next on the agenda?”

“Ice skating.”

“No wonder you asked if I knew how,” Auston said with realization, “You’ve been preparing for this for days.”

“Just a bit of preparation,” Ryan said with a shrug, “As long as you’re happy.”

Auston smiled lightly, “Then let’s go.”

In the cold climate of Beland, glaciers, ice rivers, and ice lakes are abundant. For only two months of the year, the capital of Beland experiences flowing rivers, marking the summer season. The rest of the year, the water surfaces freeze over. Due to the heat island effect in the city, the ice on the lakes isn’t as thick as it would be in the wild—usually just three to four meters thick—but it’s more than enough for ice skating. At the lake’s edge, there are places to rent ice skates. After renting a pair each, the two of them stepped onto the ice.

Ryan, who is proficient at ice skating, said, “The key is simple. With our balance… you did say you couldn’t skate?”

Auston replied innocently, “It’s really easy.”

Ryan couldn’t help but laugh. For a skilled warrior, ice skating indeed isn’t very difficult. He had completely let go of his earlier frustration and, after abandoning his plans, felt a lot more relaxed. “You’re a beginner now, so let’s take it slowly.”

“Okay.” Focused on this new activity, Auston found it enjoyable and missed the entire range of expressions on Ryan’s face, from frustration to resignation. Balancing himself was easy for Auston, whether on ice or sand. As long as he was willing, nothing could truly challenge him. But he had never engaged in ice skating purely for fun. Since being with Ryan, his once dull life had become vibrant. The gray areas of his life had been filled, much like how his heart had been filled with Ryan’s love.

After skating for a while, they took a break, sitting together on a bench by the lake. They leaned against each other in silence, savoring the rare tranquility.

Ryan said, “I’ll go get some hot drinks.” He remembered there was a place selling beverages near the shore, not too far away.

Auston nodded. He wanted to go with Ryan but felt a bit lazy after the exercise. “Okay, you go ahead.”

Sitting back on the bench and gazing at the blue sky, Auston watched the fluffy clouds drift by. He yawned. Such a serene life, once an unattainable luxury, had now become an essential part of his existence.

Nearby, two people had settled on a bench on the other side of the tree and began chatting.

One of them said, “There are people selling the Emperor’s diaries; you’re not researching that, are you? Maybe we should check out the Ghost Market?”

The other replied, “Too expensive. Last time, I bought just three pages for two thousand star coins. The Ghost Market sellers really inflate their prices. I can’t afford it.”

“Really not going? I’ve heard that it’s quite valuable, especially since it’s from the Emperor’s later years. You’re working on your thesis right now; it could be useful for you. If you don’t have enough money, I can cover the costs for now.”

The other person sighed, “I do have the money, but it’s painful to spend. If I had known, I wouldn’t have chosen this field. It’s really burning a hole in my pocket. A round trip to Qīnglóng Star costs several thousand, and even visiting the Emperor’s Museum daily might not allow me to see all the diaries.”

The ways to obtain the Emperor’s diaries are limited: either by visiting the Qin Feng·Anderson Museum, where all the diaries are not published online, or by seeking out the parts lost in private collections, which can be obtained based on one’s ability.

The Ghost Market?

Auston speculated that it must be the black market in Beland. As long as it doesn’t involve illegal activities like drug trafficking or human trafficking, the government tends to turn a blind eye to its existence.

The Emperor’s diaries… Auston felt a bit tempted.

“Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt,” Auston said. “Could you tell me where this Ghost Market is?”

The two young men, clearly students, looked surprised but friendly. The first one explained, “It’s a flea market that happens once a month. Because both buyers and sellers prefer to keep their identities hidden, they trade with their faces covered, so it’s also called the Ghost Market.”

“Where is it located? I’d like to check it out.”

The student continued, “It’s just down the street behind the Saint Cathedral. There’s a café called ‘Youle,’ and if you go in and head upstairs, you’ll find it there.” He was quite open and even offered some tips for shopping at the Ghost Market: bargaining is encouraged, bartering is allowed, and if multiple people are interested in the same item, they often hold on-the-spot auctions. Almost anything you can imagine can be found there.”

The Ghost Market’s survival depended on its ability to avoid crossing legal lines. Forbidden items might appear, but the police would swiftly intervene. With the recent chaos at the bus station, the government, police, and military were on high alert, so any gray-area items in this market might be suppressed or disappear quickly.

“If you’re going, besides wearing a mask, it’s best to put on a cloak or something to avoid exposing anything that could identify you,” said another boy who had been listening to his friend.

Auston understood why; buying items that others are interested in could often lead to being robbed.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. The ghost market is no secret in Beland; many people who are capable go there.”

By the time Ryan returned with two cups of coffee, the two boys had already left. When Auston saw Ryan, he said, “Can we adjust our plans for the rest of the day?”

“Hmm?” Ryan mentally discarded his plans that had been crossed out and decided to ignore the upcoming romance or horror movies.

Auston said with some anticipation, “I want to check out the ghost market.”

Ryan: “Ghost market? When did the black market get such a name?”

Auston explained what he had found out, “It’s behind the Saint Cathedral and only opens for one day. By now, a lot of things might already be traded.”

Not knowing if the Emperor’s diary would still be there, Ryan, who had completely abandoned his plans, said, “Then let’s hurry over.” Since it was rare for Auston to show such interest in a place, he was more than willing to cooperate.

If Ryan had known that Auston wanted to go to the ghost market for the Emperor’s diary, he would have definitely dragged him to watch a boring, artsy romance movie instead.

There’s no medicine for regret in this world, so Ryan could only hold his nose and agree.

Passing by the caged ball pigeons once more, this time they weren’t there to feed them but headed straight to the “Youle” café on the back street of the Saint Cathedral.

The ball pigeons, shivering in their cage, breathed a sigh of relief as the two people left, and began to move around freely, cooing now and then, wondering when delicious meat might appear again.

Due to the presence of the ghost market, many related shops sprang up on the street, selling masks and cloaks. The items were plain and uniform, ensuring that wearers wouldn’t stand out as the most fashionable ones in the ghost market. Wearing their cloaks, Ryan and Auston made their way to the “Youle” café. The café was filled with the rich, distinctive aroma of coffee. Inside the small café, there were seven or eight small round tables, occupied by four or five patrons, who seemed to be the enforcers of the ghost market’s order. Under the scrutinizing gaze of these people, the two made their way up the stairs to the second floor.

Upon reaching the second floor, they found the small room, about ten square meters, to be empty except for a white wall with an undecorated door. Ryan was the first to approach and pushed open the brown wooden door. Just a crack revealed a surge of bustling voices. As he fully opened the door, a vast space came into view.

Inside was a large, open area resembling a warehouse, with metal beams and columns visible on the ceiling. The walls and floor retained their rough, raw texture, and the place was somewhat cold without any heating. Everyone was wrapped in warm clothing beneath their cloaks. The door they had come through was situated halfway up the warehouse wall, with stairs on either side leading down. Below, there were numerous stalls and a crowd of people. Suddenly, a loud voice called out, “Two thousand star coins!”

As Ryan and Auston descended the stairs, they looked in the direction of the noise and saw a small auction being conducted by a temporary organization. People were bidding on a machine part. A quick glance told Ryan that it was a damaged component from a civilian mech’s neural core, a favorite among many amateur mecha engineers. However, the bid of two thousand star coins was far above the component’s value and wasn’t worth it.

Indeed, after hearing the latest bid, many competitors backed off, and those who were still contemplating were hesitating. Here, whether seller or buyer, everyone wore cloaks, obscuring their faces, so it was impossible to tell if those who hadn’t immediately left would continue bidding.

“This place has a lot of stuff.” Ryan glanced around. There were many items—new, second-hand, and who knew how many hands they had passed through—gathered here. If you were willing to put in the effort to search, you could always find something you liked. This ghost market was much better than some of the black markets he had been to before.

Auston was looking around, somewhat distracted, and gave a vague “mm.” Soon, he spotted what he wanted. About eight hundred meters away, there was a stall selling old notebooks, surrounded by a crowd of bidders.

“Let’s go over there.” Auston’s goal was clear.

Ryan followed Auston, puzzled. When he saw what was being sold at the stall, he was completely thrown off. When he heard the seller’s asking price, his face darkened further. A booklet with fewer than thirty pages was asking for two Evan’s worth—a staggering ten thousand star coins. For that price, he could buy an entire room full of notebooks, age them, and fill them with the Emperor’s diaries!