—In war, it wasn’t millions who died; it was one person dying, millions of times over.
The car halted before a magnificent building, once the administrative heart of Worldly Affairs City. Severely damaged during the Great War, it had since been restored by Xuanji Star—or, rather, largely rebuilt. The new architectural style diverged sharply from the original, now exuding a retro ‘Xuanji Star aesthetic.’
Yet, compared to the surrounding, dilapidated ‘Family of Five Building,’ this ‘Xuanji Star-style’ government edifice seemed rather underwhelming. It was truly odd that Xuanji Star, with their usual habits, hadn’t simply demolished these five structures.
Fletcher stood at the foot of the building’s steps, gazing up at the entrance. He often found himself perusing various magazines in his leisure time, and consequently, was frequently perplexed by Xuanji Star’s inscrutable architectural designs. For instance, why were the steps to the government building so excessively high?
However, this was not their ultimate destination, or at least not for today. The independent observation team’s work was slated to begin tomorrow, and moreover, among the numerous academy observers present, one of the Eastern Continent’s ‘three major academies’ was still absent.
Someone had already arranged for guides in the plaza, so the group was swiftly led to a hotel directly opposite the Worldly Affairs City government building. This establishment had once been a Vega Club in Worldly Affairs City, its nature no different from the one on 133 Bakunin Street, providing accommodation for Vega personnel traveling from various regions. Yet, this particular hotel, now brimming with Xuanji Star’s distinctive architectural flair, was certainly not built during the Vega era. During the war, it had been reduced to ruins, and the current structure was merely a reconstruction on the previous site, albeit one infused with Xuanji Star’s own unique style.
Everywhere along the way, Xuanji Star guards were visible, making Ke Yiyi feel quite uncomfortable. This was her first time participating in a meeting with members from other academies. Both the Xuanji Star member who guided their car and the one currently leading them to The Robin Club, despite their polite demeanor—utterly unlike the Xuanji Star that had invaded Vega during the Great War—made Ke Yiyi feel profoundly uneasy. ‘Was it my preconceived notions,’ she wondered, ‘labeling them ‘Xuanji Star’ before truly seeing them?’
The group was ushered into the hotel lobby, where the reception staff began outlining the designated accommodation areas for the different academy observers. Vega was situated in Section B on the second floor, flanked by Uranus-Neptune in Section A, Neutron Star in Section C, and Polaris in Section D.
Although the reception staff repeatedly apologized for the ‘modest conditions,’ ‘insufficient preparations,’ and ‘slight negligence,’ asking them to ‘please not mind,’ Ke Yiyi noticed that despite Worldly Affairs City’s general disrepair, the area surrounding the government building, including this hotel, had been remarkably well-reconstructed.
According to the reception staff, this place was originally intended as a temporary residence for Xuanji Star officials on business in Worldly Affairs City. Due to hasty preparations, it had been temporarily repurposed to host the independent observation team. Yet, the interior décor bore no resemblance to a mere temporary lodging; it was excessively luxurious, even when compared to Vega’s own array of clubs.
Once the reception staff departed, everyone gathered in Lan Xifang’s room. Fletcher meticulously inspected every corner of the room. After several thorough checks, he found no hidden surveillance devices installed by Xuanji Star.
“Actually, there’s no need to check,” Lan Xifang remarked, shaking her head at Fletcher’s actions. “Those residing here have no reason to be eavesdropped upon. No one would discuss anything important in this place.”
Lan Xifang then emphasized the observers’ code of conduct and discipline, particularly the critical importance of avoiding conflict with personnel from other academies.
—They were here to observe, not to fight.
As for weaponry, it was almost impossible to fully prohibit the observation team from carrying arms, a fact the World Alliance clearly understood. Therefore, Vega’s delegation only needed to ensure they avoided displaying their weapons in public.
Ke Yiyi had expected Lan Xifang to impart extensive instructions with their work imminent. To her surprise, Lan Xifang spoke only a few brief words before announcing their dismissal, allowing everyone to disperse and occupy themselves, provided they did not leave the hotel or venture into other academies’ accommodation zones.
Having nothing particular to do, Ke Yiyi decided to walk to the corridor window and gaze out over Worldly Affairs City.
From the window, she could faintly discern half of the ‘Library of the Spring of Knowledge,’ one of the ‘Family of Five Building.’ It wasn’t that her view was restricted to only half the library; rather, the library itself had been reduced to a mere half after enduring the ravages of war.
Ke Yiyi had once read an introduction to the ‘Library of the Spring of Knowledge’ in a magazine. As Vega’s second-largest library, it housed books, periodicals, documents, and even audio-visual charts collected by Vega from all over the world. Though it ranked second in size among Vega libraries, it was widely rumored that its collection quantity even surpassed that of the ‘Library of the Ladder of Progress,’ which held the top spot in terms of area.
She had always harbored a desire to visit it, but objective conditions had prevented her. Yet, now that she was finally here, a sense of loss washed over her.
The library was largely destroyed, no longer holding the splendor seen in past images. And how many of those who once bustled through its halls could have possibly survived the Great War?
She glanced sideways, observing Enfinietta leaning against another window, straining to peer towards the opposite side, a map in her hands, her eyes filled with doubt.
“Enfinietta?”
Ke Yiyi called out, but Enfinietta didn’t react.
It wasn’t until Ke Yiyi approached her that she finally became aware, yet she merely looked at Ke Yiyi in silence, unsure what to say.
“What are you looking for?”
“Nothing. According to the map, the former ‘Atomic Pen Special Industry’ was in that direction. The Balzac Ð-Turgenev Σ Special Machine Tool was located there.”
“Oh…”
Ke Yiyi didn’t want to discourage Enfinietta, but Enfinietta would know sooner or later.
“It must have been dismantled and taken away! Xuanji Star wouldn’t leave it for us.”
“I know, I was just harboring a mere fantasy.”
Enfinietta folded her map. Although she knew little about Xuanji Star’s industry, she understood the immense value of the Balzac Ð-Turgenev Σ Special Machine Tool. There was no way Xuanji Star would leave it for Vega.
Yet, that was just how people were; they never judged everything purely by reason, always wishfully clinging to unrealistic fantasies, and even exceptional scientists from Vega were not immune to this human failing.
“If you’re looking for the Balzac Ð-Turgenev Σ Special Machine Tool, we have some too.”
Hearing the voice from the other side of the corridor, the two turned to see a young woman in a white uniform with blue trim bowing towards them. She lowered her head slightly, her right hand sweeping across her front, her five fingers pressed together and angled towards her left shoulder, as if poised to strike with a hand-chop.
The uniform’s collar and cuffs each bore two slanted golden-yellow stripes, paired with an extremely thin tricolor ribbon and badge on the right side of her chest. The identity of the newcomer was immediately apparent.
It was the military salute of the Uranus-Neptune Academy of Sciences… She was from the ‘Special Operations and Intelligence Security Committee.’
Ke Yiyi didn’t know much about the internal affairs of other academies, but the Uranus-Neptune Special Operations and Intelligence Security Committee was an exception. During the Great War, Uranus-Neptune’s aid to Vega was spearheaded by this very department.
“If you have a need, you can contact us. While it’s not available for purchase, leasing isn’t out of the question. Of course, my word isn’t final; it depends on official approval.”
Ke Yiyi returned the salute. Although she didn’t know if the other party’s words were genuine, since they had spoken, she couldn’t possibly offer no response.
“Are they all later models?”
Enfinietta looked at the young woman with a serious expression. She had once worked at the Technical Council and knew that Uranus-Neptune indeed possessed two Balzac Ð-Turgenev Σ Special Machine Tools, which Uranus and Neptune had separately purchased from Morning Star before the ‘Uranus-Neptune Convergence.’ Some documents she had seen at the Technical Council indicated that at least one of them might be a later model, but the specific details had never been confirmed.
Ke Yiyi was surprised by Enfinietta’s question. Even she could tell that the other party was likely just being polite, and it wasn’t even certain if they had any. Why was Enfinietta pressing the issue?
“Precisely. As expected of Miss Enfinietta.”
“You know me?”
“Director Yodel of the ‘Golden Apple’ Electromechanical Bureau once read some of your published papers and was deeply impressed by you. He also asked me to convey his regards.”
“Thank you, may I ask your name?”
“Observation Team member 45, Yuliga.”
As the two spoke, Ke Yiyi had been observing the other side. She noticed a young woman holding a longsword standing not far behind Yuliga, looking at the scenery outside the window. However, her vacant eyes subtly, almost unconsciously, used the glass’s reflection to glance their way, until she heard the name ‘Yuliga,’ at which point she involuntarily turned her head to look.
‘Yuliga? The Gardenia of Mount Ragnaros? So it was her.’
After the two pairs exchanged a few pleasantries across the staircase, a lazy voice drifted up from below.
“Stop chattering about nothing. Why don’t you sit down and have something to eat? We can chat while we snack.”
Ke Yiyi looked down the staircase. It was the person who had been in Lan Xifang’s car earlier, and who, for some unknown reason, had later jumped out. His accent, clearly from west of Guanshan Dao, was particularly distinct. In the Eastern Continent, nine times out of ten, people with such an accent were from Polaris.
Cui Wei was carrying two heavy plastic bags. From the parts exposed outside the bags, it appeared they contained vegetables and meat.
Ke Yiyi was utterly perplexed. The independent observation team’s temporary stay here should include catering provided by Xuanji Star. Why would he bring his own food?
However, nothing Polaris people did was particularly surprising. During winter mountain climbing training at Polzo Police Academy, Ke Yiyi had even heard of Polaris people cooking river clams directly with gasoline, and children’s winter entertainment involving jumping directly from rooftops into snowdrifts below.
“Buying things is truly difficult! These few items cost much more than at ‘Tong Sihai,'”
Cui Wei ambled up, swaying with each step, like a ruffian.
“What’s up, ladies? We’re planning to whip up a meal. Care to join us?”
The outcome was evident: no one accepted his invitation.
As for the reasons, there were many.
For instance, despite being part of the same observation team, they ultimately belonged to different academies, and there were concerns about not getting too close to each other.
Then there was the worry that Polaris’s bizarre and unappetizing ‘dark cuisine,’ with its strange colors, smells, and tastes, might cause some adverse reactions.
And the most crucial point:
One should always maintain vigilance against a dictatorial government keen on waging war and massacres. After all, they were nothing less than demons incarnate.