MPWATMBC Chapter 61

“How could you be so careless!”

“Well, why didn’t you go get the medicine, huh?”

“Be quiet, let’s not argue. We have important matters to attend to. Did you finish the wrap-up?”

“Done. I had a stun baton with me. While Tyrell was unprepared, I gave him a shock.”

“That’s more like it. I’ll stay in the living room and keep watch. You go quickly to the study and administer the medicine. Be discreet and don’t get caught. Qin Feng is very cautious—don’t let him suspect anything. This medicine is hard to come by.”

“Why don’t you go?”

“Ha, what if both of us get caught inside?”

“You…”

The voices from the recording device were now very muffled, mixed with a static noise that made them barely recognizable. It was unclear who was speaking, but it was certain that Tyrell wasn’t one of them.

Auston’s deliberately heavy footsteps were heard. Ryan, who had been deep in thought, looked up with a smile. “I’ve discovered something that might be even more important than those diaries.”

What Ryan didn’t mention was that this diode was the very first one he had ever made. To solve the issue of mecha overheating and going into standby mode, he had pondered constantly. During that period, he lost a lot of hair; every morning, his pillow was covered with black strands. He even considered asking Denise for some hair growth potion. The continuous thinking and experimentation eventually paid off. He made bold hypotheses and carefully tested them until he finally conceived the idea of energy transfer, using diodes to dissipate the enormous heat generated during mecha activation.

The first diode was always imperfect, but after repeated adjustments and modifications, the diodes he made later were very close to their current form. Hundreds of years later, descendants have made only slight adjustments to the design, showing that Qin Feng Anderson had already perfected the diode technology at that time.

The significance of the first one is always unique. Over 700 years ago, Qin Feng modified and preserved it, placing it on desks, coffee tables, and other places as a recording device—used for listening to music and recording sudden bursts of inspiration.

The sofa beside Ryan sank as Auston sat down. The recording device inside the diode continued to emit sound, though more static and noise were present due to its age and lack of proper preservation. The fact that it still produced sound was already quite remarkable.

“Why are you moving so slowly? Hurry up, we’re running out of time.”

“Annoying… slow… coming… okay… I’m done.” The voice came from a distance, and in the recording device, it was weak and intermittent.

“Good, let’s go now.”

“Wait a moment.”

“Why are you wasting time?”

“Ha, where’s the Gustaf family’s composure? You’re so flustered over such a small matter. The Chief Justice isn’t someone who deals with big issues.”

“…You’re ruthless. How could you be so harsh with him?”

A name was likely mentioned at the beginning, but it was too unclear to make out. However, terms like “Gustaf” and “Chief Justice” were very distinct. Among those who administered the drug to Qin Feng Anderson, one was the Imperial Chief Justice, Bilbo Gustaf. Ryan had read in historical accounts that the Emperor would stroll along the Doran River at dusk, discussing daily political affairs with Chief Justice Gustaf, highlighting their close working relationship.

Hearing this now, isn’t it quite disgusting?

The recording device was still running. Clearly, their conversation in the Emperor’s room wasn’t over yet. They had managed to stay in the room for so long after administering the drug, indicating they had strong mental resilience.

“We’re in the same boat now; we’re collaborators. It’s pointless to disparage each other.”

“What do you want to do?”

“We’ve already poisoned him; there’s nothing we can’t do now. Gustaf, you should be bolder.” The sounds of moving around and inspecting things were mixed with the static noise. “Forgot to ask you—why did you insist on doing it yourself? Why choose this time? The Zerg army is right at Welden, and that big insect is about to lose control and lead its forces at any moment. We need Qin Feng now. How can we fight if he’s gone?”

“The fewer people know about the poisoning, the better. But now that we have Tyrell, we can make good use of him. The drug I had you administer has a long incubation period. I estimate it will take effect when Qin Feng is fighting the Zerg. Given his character, he won’t easily leave the battlefield.”

“Haha, understood. Boom! Bang! A huge explosion, and it was all reduced to dust.”

The footsteps faded away as the two people left.

After listening to the content, Ryan and Auston fell into a moment of silence. Ryan had some guesses forming in his mind but remained relatively calm. Auston, having learned part of the truth from 700 years ago, was astonished and somewhat confused. All the history books Auston had read depicted Chief Justice Gustaf as a sincere and just figure. He was a partner in Qin Feng Anderson’s career and a friend in his personal life. They had met when they first entered politics and had been through many trials together. Auston particularly remembered a documentary he had watched; at Qin Feng Anderson’s funeral, among all his friends who attended, besides the family, Gustaf was the one who cried the hardest. Everyone believed Gustaf had lost a friend who resonated with him on a spiritual level and was heartbroken.

Now, in the face of reality, those scenes seemed nothing more than pretense.

It was truly disgusting.

“Darling~”

The deep, magnetic voice, despite the tearing static noise, still conveyed its inherent charm.

Ryan reached out to turn off the recording device, but his hand was stopped by Auston, who blinked in confusion and hesitantly asked, “Is that the Emperor’s voice?”

Ryan: “Heh heh.”

Auston: “Why are you laughing like that?”

Ryan, on the verge of tears: “I guess it’s complicated.”

“Hm?”

“You’ll understand later.”

“Does the Emperor have a lover?”

Ryan immediately replied: “Definitely not. He’s just an old bachelor.”

Auston: “……”

Ryan covered his face, feeling that he had overreacted.

Auston: “The content on the recording device is so shocking that we should keep it confidential for now. From 700 years ago… no wonder my great-great-grandfather left a note saying not to trust appearances or anyone. Did he find out something later? When we get back to the Capital Star, we should check it out. I’m sure he left something behind, but I was too busy with work and studies to look into it properly before.”

Ryan nodded vigorously, “Mm-hmm.”

“Darling~”

The old man’s voice echoed again. Ryan: “……” What was he doing at that time to keep making such disgusting noises?

He had forgotten; so much time had passed that many things in his memory were only fragmented and vague, making it impossible to piece together a complete storyline. Decisively turning off the recording device, and this time without Auston’s interference, Ryan breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away the non-existent sweat from his forehead.

Auston stifled a laugh, “I think the Emperor’s voice is quite pleasant. In many of the preserved audiovisual materials, his voice rarely appears, which is quite a pity.”

Ryan emphasized, “My voice is also quite nice.”

Auston: “Mm.” Naturally.

……

The next day, the Shakespeare was filled with passengers heading to the next destination. There were no changes aboard the ship; everything remained normal. The crew didn’t even discuss the absence of someone named Evan, nor did they care about the fact that there had once been a human trafficker among them. The leadership had issued a directive forbidding any discussion on the matter to minimize its impact on the Shakespeare.

Only a few parents whose children were missing might say something, but since it didn’t concern others directly, most people weren’t interested. Over time, the events that happened on Beland became something people left behind, as forgetfulness is a human habit.

The Shakespeare’s ten-day tour was an interstellar journey. After jumping out of the Storm Starfield, they entered the Life Starfield. This Starfield’s full name was “Life, Health, and Development Starfield,” but such a long name only appeared in government broadcasts. Everyone was used to calling it simply the Life Starfield.

Their final destination was a green-covered planet in the Life Starfield. The prairie at night was lit up by fireflies, creating a picturesque scene that mirrored the stars in the sky. Spending a night in an air-cushion hotel felt like sleeping under the stars—romantic and affectionate.

After this stop, Ryan and Auston detached their small starship and left the Shakespeare, heading to the nearest secondary planet. On that planet, they boarded a transport ship and traveled to the adjacent starfield. Ten days later, they arrived at the Eden Starfield within the Capital Starfield. Five days after that, they reached the Capital Star and contacted the space station to obtain entry permits. Following the traffic police’s instructions, they entered the Capital Star’s atmosphere and traveled directly to the capital city—Eve.

The Eden Starfield is the heart of the empire’s political and cultural core. The Capital Star is the core of the core, and Eve is the most dazzling city within this core.

The towering buildings reached into the clouds, with small starships, cars, and other vehicles speeding through the sky in a continuous flow. The multi-layered aerial traffic network, with its more than ten levels, could easily disorient first-time drivers. A slight mistake could lead to entering the wrong lane, and the consequences of a traffic accident were unimaginable. Therefore, aerial traffic control was very strict, with numerous traffic police visible from afar.

On the ground, a five-story-high transparent membrane covered almost the entire city, within which humans moved. This measure ensured fresh air and unobstructed street views, free from vehicle shadows. The surface environment of the Capital Star is similar to that of Earth, but not identical. The air here has lower oxygen levels, and surface plants grow poorly. Humans living here must continuously supplement their oxygen to survive. Despite living here for thousands of years, humans still struggle to adapt to the oxygen-deficient environment.

The city was filled with towering skyscrapers, some reaching heights of three to four hundred meters. Each building was akin to a small city in itself. Yuan Chu piloted the small starship through these high-rise structures. The matte-finished skyscrapers did not cast reflections that would hinder the pilot’s view or cause any light pollution. As they passed through the city and reached the East District of Eve, the buildings gradually became shorter. By the time they arrived, it was difficult to find a building taller than five stories. This area, known as the East District, was considered the affluent zone by many.

The East District was home to high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals. The houses here were low-rise but expansive, and traffic was restricted for vehicles.

The principle was simple: money allowed one to do as they pleased.

The Dalton family residence was located here, a ten-acre estate with a classic, elegant three-story building nestled among the trees, which served as the main house. As the small starship descended, a gap appeared in the transparent membrane. Yuan Chu continued to lower the starship, and as it entered the membrane, the starship accelerated quickly toward the main house. It stopped in front of the dense woods, the cabin door opened, and a small creature with white wings tumbled out. Da Fu stood up, shook its head, and looked around with curious amber eyes. Soon, it noticed a group of white, fluffy objects in the distance.

It looked down at itself, its small paws neatly tucked together, also white and fluffy.

Da Fu immediately squinted its eyes, noticing that the creatures were just like itself~

“Awwoo awooo~”

Da Fu barked excitedly. It had never seen its own kind before; it’s only contact with small animals had been during a brief stay on the E69 planting star. During its time traveling in space, running freely was a rare thing, let alone encountering other life forms.

Now that it had grown much larger, about the size of a Shiba Inu, Da Fu instinctively ran a few steps toward the group of fluffy creatures. Its flapping wings suddenly halted as it changed direction and flew to the small starship’s cabin door. There, it squatted and anxiously barked a few times, “Awo awo awo.”

“Da Fu, if you want to play, just run around everywhere. This place is also our home.” Auston’s voice came from inside without him appearing.

Da Fu yipped with joy, raising its chin and flapping its wings. The sound of the air moving with its wings was evident. Da Fu had mastered the basics of flying, though it still couldn’t fly very high or far at once. As a griffon beast that had seen much of the world, it surprisingly had a mild fear of heights!

Who would believe that?

In the distance, a group of fluffy creatures, resembling cotton balls, were grazing, looking at the sky, and drinking water. They lived very contentedly until one day, when a small winged monster fell among them. It was terrifying! The usually laid-back creatures were thoroughly disturbed, emitting pained bleats.

Under Da Fu’s small paws was a round, fluffy creature, without wings or four legs, and its eyes were hidden in its white fur. It was about Da Fu’s size but definitely not as majestic. Da Fu felt a bit disheartened; it turned out they weren’t of the same kind. After feeling a bit wronged and sad, Da Fu found a new fun: chasing the fluffy creatures seemed quite enjoyable.

Amidst the alternating bleats of the fluffy creatures was Da Fu’s excited yips of discovery.

Waiting beside the small starship, the old butler, Bowers, noticed a twitch in his eyelid. However, hearing the cheerful tone of his young master, his relentless pursuit of perfection eased. As long as the young master was happy, that was all that mattered. It had been a long time since he had heard such lightness and joy in his young master’s voice.

Soon, Ryan and Auston emerged, followed by a large and a small robot.

Upon seeing the old butler, Auston called out, “Uncle Bowers.”

Dressed in a tailcoat, resembling a traditional English butler from Ancient Earth, Bowers was a middle-aged gentleman with a rather stern smile. He nodded politely and said, “Good day, General. Welcome home.”

It was somewhat acceptable.

The initial impression that the old butler, Bowers, had of Ryan wasn’t very high. To gain the approval of Bowers, who was considered a family member by Auston, Ryan still had a way to go. Bowers was a gentleman known for his strict requirements, rigid standards, meticulousness, and uprightness.

In the Dalton family’s old residence, there were few inhabitants: the butler’s family, a couple of gardeners, a chef, and a group of robots. When Auston’s parents were alive, the household had more members. But as Auston took over, the number of people dwindled, leaving behind only the old family members.

Butler Bowers was utterly loyal to the Dalton family. His own family had served the Daltons for several generations. When he grew old and could no longer work, his son would take over, and after that, his grandson. The concept instilled in them was to dedicate everything to the family.

What Bowers worried most about was that Auston might never find a truly understanding partner. Now that Auston had a husband, he worried whether this person was worthy of his young master. He was like a father, concerned about everything, yet he remained reserved and adhered to his duties.

The main residence was quite large. Though it had only three floors, it covered a vast area. Its overall tone was somewhat dark, reflecting the style preferred by the Dalton family seven hundred years ago, a style that had been enforced through every generation. Ryan found it a bit unappealing, noting that there wasn’t a single bright or cheerful color. Living here alone, little Auston must have felt quite repressed.

“Bowers, are there any fresh flowers?”

The butler stood with his hands by his sides, “What kind of flowers does the sir require?”

Ryan replied, “Roses, perfume lilies, sunflowers, and baby’s breath. Also, could you arrange a plot of land next to the main residence for planting these flowers?”

Bowers glanced at Auston and, seeing that the young master had no objections, said, “The flowers will arrive soon, and the land will be prepared as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Ryan said politely. He was always courteous, not daring to truly order this elder around.

“Please let me know if there is anything else you need. It is my duty,” Bowers responded.

“Alright, thank you,” Ryan said, maintaining his polite demeanor.

Auston’s room was located on the east side of the second floor. It covered over seventy square meters, spacious and bright, but it was meticulously arranged, resembling a showroom more than a personal space where someone had grown up. It lacked any personal touch or warmth. Ryan pulled out a few cloth-covered pillows from the suitcase, handmade by his grandmother and mother, adorned with floral prints, and threw them onto the bed and the sofa. The once cool-toned decor instantly became vibrant and lively.

Auston was taken aback. He hadn’t expected that just adding a few pillows could make such a difference. The air seemed to become more dynamic. Watching Ryan busying himself with arranging the room, a smile appeared on his face. It wasn’t the addition of items that made the difference; it was the presence of Ryan that made everything seem beautiful.

Ryan continued to work diligently, placing the ceramic ornaments and arranging the new decorations in their appropriate spots. The entire room instantly transformed. After admiring his work for a moment, Ryan turned to Auston and asked, “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.”

Ryan smiled, “Once the flowers are set up downstairs, it will be even better.”

Auston nodded seriously, “Absolutely.” When he was a child, the warmth of the home was created by his mother’s presence, which softened the old house’s gloom. Her departure had taken away the brightness from his life, and now Ryan had brought it back.

Stepping out of the bedroom, there was a three-meter-wide terrace facing a small but deep blue lake. A few black swans were gliding gracefully on the water, while Da Fu chased a group of sheep-like creatures, sending them into a frenzy of bleating and scattering.

The flock of creatures bleated wildly and fled in panic. Under Da Fu’s relentless pursuit, they had become unusually active, considering they normally only moved a meter a day.

The tranquility of the Dalton estate was disrupted. The old butler, Bowers, stood by the window in the first-floor living room, watching as Da Fu’s playful chase sent the sheep-like creatures running in all directions. Behind Bowers, his wife and robots were arranging vases and decorating the room. The once somber-toned living room was now brightened with vibrant reds, yellows, and whites, becoming lively and cheerful.

His wife, who was equally stern, now moved with a noticeably lighter step.

Beside Bowers, a large and a small robot sat on the leather sofa. As they moved their limbs, their metal shells rubbed against the leather, creating a faint scratching sound and leaving several marks.

Bowers’s brows twitched.

The two small robots were discussing how to break through the capital star’s network firewall…

Bowers’s brows twitched more vigorously. This was not what he had imagined. He had expected the master’s partner to be calm and gentle, but instead, just a day after arriving, the old house was in a state of chaos.

Bowers: “…”

“Bowers.”

It was the voice of Bowers’s wife, Laura.

Bowers, with his twitching eyebrows, was overwhelmed by the cacophony of sounds.

His wife approached and gently touched his brows. “Bowers, this is actually quite nice.”

Bowers nodded. “Yes, I understand.” He felt that the vitality had returned to the entire mansion.

……

The dinner was lavish, a warm welcome for the young master and his partner returning home. However, the grand dining table was set for only two. Before Ryan’s arrival, when Auston came home, the table was always set for just him. The sound of cutlery clinking against the plates seemed particularly loud in the empty dining room.

With Ryan around, things were different. And at their feet, there was the still-excited Da Fu, running around as if trying to burn off the frustration of being cooped up on the cruise ship for so long. Exhausted from playing, Da Fu curled up next to Auston’s feet, yawning widely and falling asleep before even touching his food.

The meal was delicious, a Western-style feast with no strict dining order, served in a casual, homestyle manner. Ryan and Auston chose not to sit at the ends of the long table; instead, they occupied a corner of it, sharing the tasty dishes. After dinner, they took a leisurely walk along the paths in the garden. Small ground lights illuminated the pathway, and the small stones embedded in it reflected the light, making it seem as though they were walking on scattered stars.

Seven hundred years later, Eve was no longer the Eve Ryan remembered. He couldn’t find anything familiar in it. Seven hundred years ago, there was no transparent membrane covering the ground, traffic control wasn’t as strict, and the Dalton family didn’t live here yet… Everything seemed so foreign, yet familiar because of its overlap with the present.

Can he still find the Qin family’s old residence?

“Ryan, what are you thinking about?”

“Hmm?” Ryan, lost in thought, didn’t hear Auston’s question.

Auston repeated his earlier question, “Do you like it here?”

“I do, and because you’re here, it gives me a sense of belonging.” Ryan spoke honestly. If it weren’t for Auston being in his life, he might never have set foot in Eve even by the time he was a hundred years old.

Ryan’s answer made Auston very happy. He took Ryan’s hand in his, gently swinging it back and forth.

After a moment, Ryan asked, “The Qin family, is the old residence still there?” He was afraid that everything might have turned to dust.

Auston pressed his lips together, his eyes showing a hint of pride. He had never been so happy about his family’s presence here before. “It’s right beneath your feet.”

Ryan: “?！！”