Chapter 591: Chapter 58 Imperfect_2
Creyah was enchanted as she gazed intensely, until Aorus spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“I’ve heard that ladies love aquariums.”
“Not all ladies.” Creyah corrected subconsciously, “But I indeed like them… oh… sorry…”
Creyah lowered her gaze, feeling both delighted and confused. She truly didn’t understand any of this; she didn’t understand anything that had occurred tonight.
“It’s okay, Creyah. I was just thinking that I rarely get to go out with just you.” Aorus said, “Perhaps I could explain the habits of these animals to you?”
“Why not?” Creyah tightly grasped her lover’s hand.
So, she slowly walked through the aquarium’s corridors, listening as Aorus explained every animal they laid eyes on. Aorus was incredibly eloquent, turning tedious information into something utterly intriguing, almost as if he had worked at the aquarium for many years. They walked and talked, circling the empty aquarium, then sat down on a long bench in the main hall.
“Have I talked too much?” Aorus asked, “Forgive me; this will be the last time.”
“This won’t be the last time!”
Creyah snapped out of her excited mood and interrupted him eagerly.
“It won’t be the last! Aorus, don’t even think about driving me away from your side!”
Aorus seemed to have anticipated this; he responded helplessly, “Why? You know, the organization’s philosophy is outdated.”
“Aorus, I love you!” Creyah said impulsively, staring into her lover’s eyes with her beautiful green eyes, “Even if you don’t want to run the organization anymore, I still want to stay by your side.”
The young man with brown hair gradually let go of her hand.
He clasped his own hands together, lifting his head to gaze at the aquarium ceiling as though in prayer.
“Creyah, have I ever told you about my time when I first arrived at the City of the Sky?”
Creyah shook her head. Aorus had never mentioned his past to her. She only knew that Aorus was on that ship too, for he was one of the original Superpower Users.
“I was sitting in the restraint chair, proudly looking at my two cellmates. Gongsun Ce and Kardesia were both very flustered, while I remained calm. I knew more than they did, I knew more than most on that ship.”
“I had ample time to think. Examining the ship, observing my uneasy roommates, I assessed the situation from an outsider’s perspective. The anxious atmosphere was omnipresent, the staff members were filled with doubts, and the Superpower Users were almost driven to the point of collapse. I soon got my answer: the operation was bound to fail; someone among us would eventually lose control due to the harsh treatment, destroying everything.”
Aorus was wholly immersed in his memories; his tone gradually shifted, becoming as confident and stubborn as it had been three years ago.
“It was absurd! An international cooperative operation harbored so many flaws; the containment plan was as ludicrous as a joke! I was convinced of their stupidity and incompetence, believing I could do better than them—even though I was just a child then, I had no doubt about it.”
Aorus shifted his gaze, looking straight ahead.
“Later on, I changed my view, Creyah. I realized that those involved in decision-making, those at the pinnacle of power, even if they had ulterior motives, were not stupider than ordinary people. They were smarter than me, a child; they had more experience, had seen a broader world. Yet still, the powerful made mistakes.”
“Because they are not alone. Emperors, presidents, queens…they have to consider each other’s opinions, they must compromise in all respects, coming up with a solution that’s not perfect, but acceptable to all. When different intentions diverge, the contradictions emerge in the decisions, and errors are thus born. Our world operates on the basis of compromise, persisting forward amidst endless mistakes.
“From these mistakes arose the accidents with the flying ships, my foolish and shortsighted self, and so many tragedies at the dawn of the City of the Sky.”
Aorus lowered his gaze, looking down at his feet.
“So, I believe there must exist a ruler superior and more powerful than anyone. He must be immensely talented, able to keenly recognize the value in each person, positioning them appropriately without wasting anyone’s time or effort.
“He must elevate himself above all, thinking rationally without personal emotion, making correct and swift decisions with absolute power. Only in this way can we minimize the emergence of errors.”
Creyah was all too familiar with this doctrine; she spoke anxiously, “You are—”
Aorus stood up. Although he was smiling, to Creyah, he seemed profoundly sad.
“I am not perfect and never have been. I am complacent, arrogant, and care too much about my vanity. I always want to solve problems behind the scenes, but that is just deceitful and cowardly. This fear is because I do not trust that I possess absolute power; subconsciously, I know I am not strong enough.”
“But these are surmountable, that’s not the key issue. I can overcome being despicable, I can become stronger. The dilemma I find hard to navigate but must confront is: I still have my own feelings, personal likes, and dislikes.”