Chapter 40: Roland Veit

Chapter 40: Roland Veit

The second star system.

Main star, Blue Phae Star.

This star, enveloped entirely in blue, resembles a softly glowing blue gem, suspended in the dark cosmos.

Surrounding the sapphire are smaller, twinkling asteroids, orbiting the largest Blue Phae Star like colorful pearls around a queen's neck.

These colorful pearls are the nearest residential planets to the Blue Phae Star within the second star system, with many more subordinate planets in the outer periphery.

Once, even the subordinate planets were bustling hubs, but now, desolation prevails, even on the smaller asteroids orbiting Blue Phae Star.

Yet, one place remains exceptionally lively.

On the asteroid "Orange-07," an Ita with pointed ears cautiously looks around before slipping down a set of underground stairs.

Unlike the first star system's Ita, who are serious, well-mannered, and particular about their appearance, these Ita are leaner and dress more casually.

The agitated man entering the underground market tapped the shopkeeper's counter, “Is it my turn yet? I've been in line for four years.”

The expressionless shopkeeper, cleaning a glass container, replied, “Almost, come back tomorrow. You'll surely get into Blue Phae Star’s atmosphere.”

Just entering the atmosphere, even without landing, could instantly induce dreaming, allowing them to seek all sorts of wonderful things without facing the harsh reality.

The man's eyes gleamed with longing as he urged the shopkeeper before quickly wrapping up and leaving.

The shopkeeper set down the glass and turned around, facing a large electronic screen showing a massive blue planet.

It was enveloped in a thick atmosphere, covering 80% of its ocean and 20% of its landmass.

The seas of Blue Phae Star were like precious blue jade. Before this dense atmosphere formed, they could see the main planet's enticing colors from the asteroids.

“The king's backyard…” the shopkeeper murmured, “but the king hasn’t visited for a long time.”

How long it had been, the Ita couldn’t recall, as the influence of Blue Phae Star often blurred the lines between reality and dreams for them.

The shopkeeper, in a daze, checked his cyber-brain, then saw another person rushing down the stairs.

……

Xie Yena is acutely aware of Gashu's capabilities. Gashu has served as the new Executive Officer for fifteen years, which isn't exceptionally long for an Ita, but for continuous psychic power release, it's excessively prolonged.

If their king hadn't descended among the aliens, Xie Yena would have already explained the situation of the second star system to Yun Huai. However, the new king seemed to need nurturing, and since he wasn’t born in the secure garden, Xie Yena suppressed all imperial affairs, striving not to burden the young king.

But he knew only the king could unravel Gashu's dream.

The abilities of the noble Executive Officers are closely matched, each excelling in different psychic realms. Xie Yena can resolve any urgent events on the main star, but he can’t solve the Blue Phae Star's decade-long 'Blue Dream' phenomenon.

Before Yun Huai's arrival, Xie Yena, Gashu, and Lailar maintained a delicate balance.

The main star clung to faith in despair, the second star system directly sought paradise in dreams, while the third star system declined the second's invitation, severing contact with the first and second star systems years ago.

Ideally, Xie Yena wanted to hand over a complete empire to his king, but reality often poses paradoxes; for a complete empire, the king's power is essential.

When he next met Yun Huai, Xie Yena was ready to request the king to save Gashu. Yiliade, perched on Yun Huai's shoulder, heard the dignified Executive Officer say, “The situation in the second star system is dire. Originally, I intended to bring more merfolk here for you, but I was just informed by Aier that we've lost contact with the second star system.”

Yun Huai set down his pen and looked up, “I know about the second star system. So, is losing contact a grave issue?”

Xie Yena nodded, “Yes, extremely serious. The empire originally consisted of three parts. Loss of contact signifies a third of it is out of control, a heavy split for Ita.”

Yiliade spun angrily, “We've said it's about unity! Unity is strength! Why is everyone now leaving home!”

Yun Huai continued Yiliade's words, “So, the already disconnected third star system is even more critical, right?”

Xie Yena paused, “King…”

“It’s okay. I'm not upset. This is the empire's current reality. I'm a king of just one star system, far from the glory of my predecessors,” Yun Huai lowered his head, marking a key memory symbol on a word in his book, “I've wanted to ask about these matters, but it seems you didn't want me to know.”

Xie Yena spoke hurriedly, “That's because I—”

Yun Huai raised his hand to stop the nobleman, “I'm not blaming you. I know you're protecting me, but you must understand that a king in the garden never grows up. Royalty isn't inherently superior; it’s the followers that grant them superiority. Their loss is the dynasty's disaster.”

He smiled slightly, “And my duty can’t be entirely shifted onto you. Your ability to return me to a complete star system is already commendable.”

Xie Yena’s gaze lingered on the young man, “Serving you is an honor for the Xie Yena family. You shelter every Ita who believes in you.”

Yun Huai nodded, "During my time at the military academy, I asked a pure-blood Ita named Gabriel. He mentioned that many in the second star system are trapped in a dream, is that true?"

Xie Yena confirmed, "Yes."

Yun Huai contemplated before saying, "To engage with the second star system, we must first enter its territorial range. Your coming to me indicates urgency. I’ll leave the main star as soon as possible. You don’t need to accompany me. After I depart, I entrust you to oversee everything here."

Xie Yena, taken aback, hadn’t expected Yun Huai to go without him. He stepped forward, "But—"

"The king is revered not just for status or looks but because you believe in my strength," Yun Huai spoke gently, "You trust that the royal can protect everything you hold dear, that it can rule all of the empire. That's the essence of faith."

Xie Yena’s lips trembled, and he finally lowered his gaze, bowing, "I apologize, it’s not that I don’t believe in you." Pausing, the beautiful youth despairingly closed his eyes, "It’s just that I can’t control this urge to guard you. It’s hard to explain; it’s not only faith in you, but also..."

Also an unparalleled affection.

AG-0781 and Yiliade silently completed Xie Yena's unspoken words.

A powerful king with an endearing personality and appearance evokes not fear but a strange tenderness in the typically stoic Ita, upon seeing him.

Yun Huai brought new hope to the Ita, appearing so approachable that everyone who met him fell into a reality more captivating than the Blue Dream.

AG-0781 knew from the moment it emerged from the abyss that the new king wasn’t as formidable and aloof as the old one. His beauty and gentleness were such that even without his royal status, he inspired boundless affection.

His status merely adorned Yun Huai in a magnificent cloak, making it hard for any Ita to remain rational in his presence.

They boldly and presumptuously adored the king, fully aware that he was stronger than anyone else.

Iliad shook his cat head. No one could refuse a king's tender heart, and this generation's Xi Ye was particularly entrapped by the royal charm.

But Yun Huai was not a king who was always soft and compassionate. Sometimes, his heart could be harder than anyone else's.

This cold hardness was once experienced by Tang Sisi, Hu Lin, and Lu Rin'an, and now by Xi Ye.

He rarely lingered over anything and always maintained his clarity and quiet.

Yun Huai comforted the frustrated officer and unusually promised to return to the garden after handling everything.

After a while, Xi Ye said in a low voice, "The spacecraft designed especially for you has been delivered. Ga Xiu's psychic power is very sensitive; imperial starships are not suitable to appear there. Entering the Azure Dream quietly is the fastest breakthrough."

Yun Huai nodded in acknowledgment. Xi Ye bowed to the king in farewell and just as he was about to turn away, he suddenly noticed that a term in the imperial history book that Yun Huai often read had been marked back and forth three times by him.

"Blue Fei Star."

-

Xi Ye absolutely could not stay with Lu Rin'an. This was something Yun Huai was certain and sure of.

Lu Rin'an was unrestrained; he infiltrated the empire so boldly that he didn't even bother to change or disguise his appearance. If Xi Ye saw this alien creature, Yun Huai feared that by the time he returned, the Roland Weite Garden would be reduced to ruins again.

Therefore, Yun Huai had to take one of them with him. Xi Ye needed to stay on the main star to handle the affairs following the arrival of the new king, while Lu Rin'an, who was idle all day in the garden, became Yun Huai's sudden plan change after seeing him. He decided to take Lu Rin'an to Blue Fei Star.

Originally, he had planned to go alone.

But he hadn't told Lu Rin'an that the latter was already part of his plan; otherwise, Yun Huai could imagine just how high Lu Rin'an's tail would wag in excitement.

After all, this creature's aggressive courting genes were almost etched into his bones.

The spaceship had a preset automatic flight route. Yun Huai had learned not only literacy at the military academy but also the basics of spaceship piloting. He could now understand most of the interstellar scripts, and even without autopilot, he could pilot the spaceship himself.

The morning after Xi Ye left, Yun Huai, as usual, took a walk in the garden after breakfast. Iliad, worried about being left behind, flew beside Yun Huai, constantly QAQ-ing and pleading to be taken along.

Iliad hadn’t visited Blue Fei Star for a long time and missed that sapphire-like planet.

Yun Huai was very indulgent towards it. A cat ball wouldn’t cause trouble on the journey, but a fish might not be the same.

He had to negotiate first with that uncontrollably strong fish.

The young man stopped by the pond, and the next second, a large black tail flipped up from the water. Lu Rin'an leaned lazily at the edge, propping his chin and smiling at Yun Huai: "You're up early today, want an extra meal?"

Yun Huai shook his head: "No, thank you."

Lu Rin'an raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Yun Huai crouched down, his light breath brushing over the handsome contours of the man's face as he spoke.

His tone was no different from usual, so much so that it took a moment for Lu Rin'an to realize what he had said.

"Could you repeat that?"

Yun Huai, with utmost patience, said, "I asked, do you want to go out and have fun, big monster?"

The author remarks:

High EQ: "Would you like to go out and play together, big monster?"

Low EQ: "This B-class can't just be added by me alone" (Petulant Prince Puffs Up)