Chapter 122: 074 On the Throne
“Strange, why would 026 appear at Windsor’s friend’s place?”
At two in the afternoon, Yang Ming drove Windsor back to the finance minister’s residence. As he returned to the Imperial Palace alone, he couldn’t help but ponder this question.
A former economics professor living in low-rent housing.
This elderly lady was incredibly knowledgeable, with elegant manners and exceptional eloquence. Yang Ming, using a question he encountered during an assessment exam at Intelligent Mechanic Dusk, inquired of this old lady, and her response gave him great inspiration.
She was exactly like an old scholar from a second-level civilization.
Windsor brought Yang Ming along, actually intending for this wise ‘old’ friend to help him evaluate.
Just a little girl’s careful thought.
Yang Ming didn’t pay much attention to it.
Rather, 026 appearing by the side of that old professor made Yang Ming slightly concerned.
This young girl’s identity was too sensitive. – She had once been a secret weapon of the military, and even now was only partially free due to Yang Ming’s influence.
Taking advantage of Windsor and the old professor preparing a meal, 026 secretly explained to Yang Ming:
“Karmi arranged a new residence for me, right next door.
“I was fired by Karmi, from that kind of organization. Now I work at Karmi’s place, so my worth has just become that of an ordinary laborer. Many of Karmi’s subordinates live here, kind of like employee dormitories, so I was placed here. It feels pretty good, very free. I am even planning to save some money to see if I can get my parents and little brother to live here; the place they’re staying is too close to the rebels.”
Yang Ming looked at her pretty face and didn’t see a trace of deceit.
“Are you in love with this noble young lady?”
When 026 asked this, her big eyes were filled with light.
The light of someone chasing gossip.
Yang Ming secretly asked about 026’s recent medication situation. 026 happily told him that she had now extended her medication interval to fifty Galaxy Time, and the drug’s effect had also been changed to the lowest level.
“This is the most grueling test of my willpower. Now I just want to live a few more years, hoping to reach the average lifespan of the galaxy’s humans.”
026 said very earnestly.
Yang Ming shook his head, banishing the image of 026’s round face from his mind.
“Lyu,” Yang Ming suddenly said, “re-investigate Karmi.”
“Is there something wrong with this madam, boss?”
Lyu’s voice sounded in the hidden earphone:
“She’s just a shepherd dog under Gudun Mah… but since the boss has given the order, diligent Little Lyu will of course complete it efficiently! I’ll go investigate everyone around Karmi!”
Yang Ming smiled and said, “Thank you for the hard work.”
“Boss, just consider giving me a raise; there’s no need to express gratitude verbally every time, as it doesn’t have any practical meaning,” Lyu reminded him, “Or, install two more large processors on Feinan!”
Yang Ming smiled in silence, not daring to continue the conversation.
The main processors Lyu had his eye on, he really couldn’t afford at this stage.
Just thinking about the vast resources and money needed for developing the planet, the Subordinate Ancient God Life Form would always silently shed tears of poverty.
The monster hovercar slowly entered the checkpoint pipeline.
Yang Ming rolled down the car window, winked at the female soldiers guarding several scanners. The latter beamed with a warm smile, scrutinized Yang Ming’s credentials, and punched the card to let him pass.
Ahead, the dark, oval cave was the entrance to No. 4 Base.
Yang Ming turned on the headlights and followed a few hovercars, slowly moving into the interior of the mountain.
His expression gradually returned to seriousness.
The Firefly Project entered countdown mode.
The Emperor’s lifestyle was indeed luxurious.
As dusk approached on Ilando Star, near the gateway of Palace No. 15.
Yang Ming stood silently in the corridor beside the palace gates, examining the murals on the walls and ceiling, estimating the cost per square of this natural stone beneath his feet.
Twenty-minute countdown to the Firefly Project.
The Emperor was resting in his chamber.
This was the most fitting opportunity to act.
At this moment, Yang Ming led fifty impeccably dressed soldiers of the Guard Corps, stationed inside and outside the gates of Palace No. 15, which was also the regular guard duty time for the Guard Corps.
The only flaw in the Firefly Project was here.
Yang Ming’s shift time had been adjusted by Lyu infiltrating the system. No matter how carefully Lyu did it, this matter itself was liable to expose flaws.
“What should I do when I meet the Emperor?”
Yang Ming kept pondering.
His goal was to leave a profound impression before the Emperor, paving the way for his subsequent promotion.
In this feudal imperial political system, as long as the Emperor was willing, Yang Ming could become the governor of an Administrative Star tomorrow.
“Relax, it’s just a puppet Emperor of a puppet nation.”
Yang Ming muttered secretly.
Ahead appeared several female officials, chatting and laughing as they passed down the corridor. Two of the female officials even gave Yang Ming an extra glance.
Yang Ming nodded with a smile, continuing to stand vigilantly.
Just a little guard of the royal family.
Yang Ming made himself act as naturally as possible.
He thought of his first impression of Ilando Star.
It was in the promotional video in the starship cabin.
On the pale blue planet, sprawling cities filled the alluvial plains, with towering ‘slender’ skyscrapers reaching into the sky. The tops of the skyscrapers resembled golden square temples, complementing the palace complexes set on cliffs, with small spacecraft and hovercars floating everywhere inside the atmosphere.
He also thought of the third happiness, that crowded underground city area.
Schoolboys making merry on their way to school, children focused on playing with toys by the street side, hurried men, street dancers raising their hands to find sunlight…
Yang Ming suddenly understood Edwan’s torment.