The Inquisition, the Ecclesiarchy, the Astartes Chapter of the Holy Terra Alliance, the High Lord's Council, the Five Continents Federation—all these changes left Luo Ji feeling at a loss.
His understanding of 'humanity', 'society', and the 'world' was completely out of sync with this world. More importantly, he didn't understand why religion had penetrated every corner of this world!
What were the Ecclesiarchy and the Emperor?!
His heart was full of questions, but seeing the reverence in Zhuang Yan's eyes, he wisely chose not to ask and remained silent.
Luo Ji was never foolish.
On the contrary, his mind was quick. In a society that revered 'religion', asking the questions in his heart would only bring him more trouble!
So, he chose silence.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Yan beside him was still chattering about the 'Emperor' and the 'Ecclesiarchy', which also included the Mechanicus.
"The Mechanicus?"
Luo Ji frowned, instinctively disliking the term.
Machinery should symbolize human industry, not be associated with some 'divine cult'.
"That's right, do you see those huge circular orbits?" Zhuang Yan raised her hand, her fair and slender index finger pointing to the still bright, massive circular orbits encircling the entire night sky.
"These are the great creations of the Mechanicus, the miracles of the Machine God. It is thanks to the God of All Machines that humanity was able to overcome the Trisolarian's 'Sophon' blockade and create such magnificent structures!"
"You mean—these things were made by the Mechanicus?!" Luo Ji stared at the gigantic orbits, dumbfounded. He had thought these massive orbital facilities around the Earth were due to a technological explosion during his slumber, but now it seemed that was clearly not the case.
"Of course!"
At this point, Zhuang Yan seemed very proud.
"Not only here, with the development of the Mechanicus, humanity has not only successfully entered the space age, but has also established colonies on Mars, the Moon, and many other places, and perfected the solar system's defense system!"
"You—you mean, in just two hundred years while I was asleep, humanity has already colonized Mars?!" Luo Ji's eyes widened, looking incredulous.
"How did they do it?!"
Technological explosion?
No, no, no, even a technological explosion would have stages. This was no longer a technological explosion, but a damn technological leap!
He found it hard to imagine that in just two hundred years, humanity had evolved from a civilization that could only launch probes into space to one that colonized the entire solar system!
The Industrial Revolution wasn't this 'terrifying', was it?!
"Hmm—I saw on the news that it's something called an 'atmospheric environment modification system'? It can terraform worlds' atmospheres, and with arcologies, it can provide a habitable environment for humans," Zhuang Yan said.
"All this was done by the 'Mechanicus' you mentioned?" Luo Ji felt his throat dry, asking with difficulty.
"Yes~"
Zhuang Yan nodded.
"Not only the colonies on various worlds, the Mechanicus has also established the largest Forge world and factories on Mars, responsible for producing a series of mechanical creations, including the void warships of the Holy Terra Fleet, the power armor of the Astartes lord, the power systems of arcologies, and starship engines, etc."
"...What exactly is the origin of this Mechanicus?!" Luo Ji's mind was reeling from this barrage of information.
If it was truly as Zhuang Yan said, then this so-called 'Mechanicus' had single-handedly elevated the height of human civilization!
"That, I'm not too sure about—"
Zhuang Yan charmingly stuck out her tongue and said, "I only know that the Mechanicus, the Astartes Chapter, the Inquisition, and the Holy Terra Fleet were all advocated and established by the 'Seal Bearer' lord."
"Seal Bearer?" Luo Ji pinched his brow and asked, "I forgot to ask, who is this Seal Bearer you mentioned? Do you know his name?"
"I don't know—"
Zhuang Yan shook her head, helplessly saying, "Actually, after the Seal Bearer perfected and established the new order, he entered hibernation and hasn't woken up until now. The current Holy Terra Alliance has always been managed by the High Lords. As for the Seal Bearer's name—I'm not too sure either, it wasn't mentioned in books."
Luo Ji keenly noticed the illogicality of it.
Logically, since the Seal Bearer had made such great contributions, his name should have been recorded. However, according to Zhuang Yan, the name and identity of this so-called 'Seal Bearer' were not recorded at all, as if—they had been deliberately hidden!
But why hide the name?
His intuition told Luo Ji there was something wrong here.
But the answer to this question might only be revealed when he met Shi Qiang.
"May I ask when Shi Qiang will be back?" He suppressed the doubts in his heart and asked.
"The Deputy Executive Director went to Mars and should be back in about three days," Zhuang Yan said.
"Three days, huh—."
Luo Ji nodded, not overly anxious.
He had already waited two hundred years, so he didn't mind waiting a few more days.
"I'll take you to your residence."
Zhuang Yan said.
"Okay, thank you for the trouble."
Luo Ji nodded.
As a 'former Wallfacer', Luo Ji didn't have to worry about making money or finding a place to live after waking up. With the instructions of Shi Qiang, the Deputy Executive Director of the Administrative Council, he not only had people to take care of him but also a large Villa as his residence.
Similarly, at his request, Zhuang Yan was also arranged to live there, responsible for monitoring his mental health and other issues, to help him better adapt to human society two hundred years later.
Almost any request he made, as long as it didn't involve fundamental issues, could be met. His treatment seemed to be no different from the past; he was still the 'Wallfacer'.
But the more it was like this, the more Luo Ji felt something was wrong.
He was clearly no longer a 'Wallfacer'. Even if he had once held that identity, he had a very clear understanding of himself: he was just an ordinary university Professor, one who just scraped by, and he hadn't made any contributions to humanity in his 'Wallfacer' position. So why were these people still treating him with the same respect as before?
Three days passed in a flash.
These past few days, Luo Ji sampled the cuisine of two hundred years later, including some entertainment.
Fortunately, to his relief, even after two hundred years, the food from his hometown remained unchanged, still the familiar taste, which greatly reassured him.
That morning, Luo Ji dragged his hungover body downstairs, swaying, and came to the living room, took a gulp of water, and only then barely cleared his head. Looking at Zhuang Yan, who was already waiting, he couldn't help but smile, "Why are you here so early?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to see the Deputy Executive Director early?" Zhuang Yan brushed a strand of hair from her temple. In the Sunlight streaming through the doorway, her slender figure and bright, captivating face made Luo Ji momentarily lose himself.
"Mr. Luo Ji? Mr. Luo Ji?"
The girl called several times before Luo Ji woke up. He gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, I drank too much last night, my head's a bit fuzzy. Have you had breakfast? Come have some with me."
"I've already eaten, Mr. Luo Ji."
Zhuang Yan shook her head, declining his invitation, and asked curiously, "Aren't you in a hurry to see the Deputy Executive Director?"
"Yes, but sharpening the axe doesn't delay the chopping of wood, you know."
Luo Ji slowly heated a few slices of bread, poured himself a glass of milk, and smiled, "No matter when, you can't forget to eat. Besides, there's no rush for this little bit of pain."
With that, he sat down, slowly nibbling his bread, and at the same time, turned on the projection to watch today's news.
This was also one of his habits; to better integrate into this unfamiliar world two hundred years later, he needed to supplement his knowledge in many areas.
The news was reporting on humanity's current prosperity and how the Trisolarians were nothing to fear, blah blah blah.
Luo Ji frowned slightly.
"It seems no one is really worried about the Trisolarian civilization anymore?" he asked pointedly.
"Yes."
Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "The Trisolarian threat is a thing of two hundred years ago. Now we have a powerful fleet, why should we fear them?"
"Oh—."
Luo Ji lowered his head, saying no more.
But the look in his eyes, reflected in the milk, was filled with a deep worry. The entire human society was permeated with an atmosphere of 'arrogance', which made him feel very uneasy.
After a few bites, Luo Ji lost his appetite and said to Zhuang Yan, "I'm done eating, let's go."
"Okay."
Zhuang Yan subtly noticed that Luo Ji seemed to be in a bad mood, but she didn't ask further.
The two took a hovercar to the spaceport.
Soon, they arrived at the spaceport. After a thorough inspection by the bailiffs of the 'Department of Legal Affairs', they finally entered a reception room within the spaceport.
Pushing open the door, Luo Ji saw Shi Qiang.
An old man, stooped with age, his face covered in wrinkles and furrows, his eyes cloudy, almost completely devoid of any trace of his youth, as if he could step into the grave at any moment.
"You're finally here, little brother Luo Ji." Shi Qiang's voice was hoarse. He looked at the young man from his memory, a smile appearing on his face.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time. If you hadn't woken up, I probably wouldn't have seen these old bones of mine."
"Little brother Luo Ji"—this familiar address seemed to pull Luo Ji back two hundred years in an instant.
"Big—Big Shi." Luo Ji's mood was equally complex. From his perspective, Shi Qiang was still that vigorous, foul-mouthed, crude but cautious middle-aged man. He hadn't expected that in the blink of an eye—he would become an old man with one foot in the grave.
"You've gotten so old." After a long pause, he could only manage this one sentence.
The ruthlessness of time was fully manifested at this moment!
"Yes, time is merciless, after all."
Shi Qiang chuckled softly and patted the chair beside him.
"Sit down, I have a few words to tell you."
"Oh."
Luo Ji was a bit constrained, but he still walked to the chair next to Shi Qiang and sat down, his hands on his knees, his back straight, looking very much like a primary school student facing a teacher.
"Hahaha, don't be so nervous, little brother Luo Ji."
Shi Qiang chuckled, comforting him.
"I'm still that Shi Qiang, and you—are still that Luo Ji. All my old friends are mostly dead. It's rare to have someone from that era, and I don't want you to become so reserved and mundane."
"Haha, hahaha—"
Luo Ji took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The invisible pressure Shi Qiang gave him just now, a kind of superior's aura, was the real reason for his nervousness.
After all, the current Shi Qiang was the Deputy Executive Director of the Holy Terra Alliance's Administrative Council, with power far exceeding that of any head of state two hundred years ago!
"Cough, cough, cough—"
Shi Qiang suddenly coughed a few times, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.
"Do you want me to call medical personnel?" Luo Ji's expression changed slightly. He was genuinely afraid Big Shi would die here!
"It's nothing, minor issue." Shi Qiang took a deep breath, paused for a few seconds, and then said, "My body's problems can't be cured. This is what the old folks used to call reaching one's lifespan. I went to Mars this time for this very reason, but unfortunately, I was rejected, hahaha."
His smile held a hint of bitterness.
Luo Ji opened his mouth, but in the end, he just muttered, "There must be other ways—"
Suddenly, Shi Qiang turned his head, and a sharp glint appeared in his cloudy eyes.
"Do you think I'm reluctant to give up my power, which is why I went to Mars to seek an extension of life?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Luo Ji waved his hands in a panic.
"It's not that I'm reluctant to give up this bit of power, it's that I don't dare to die." As he said this, Luo Ji saw a deep sorrow in Shi Qiang's eyes.
"Humanity, alas, can never learn from history. It was the same before, and it is the same now."
Luo Ji's The Sixth Sense was warning him; he didn't want to know about these topics.
"Um, Big Shi, I—" "It was I who had you awakened."
Shi Qiang interrupted him directly, speaking to himself.
"My time is running out. There are some things—I must entrust to you while I'm still here."
"Um, Big Shi, these things have nothing to do with me—I don't want to know—"
Luo Ji was full of regret now. His intuition told him that if he listened to even half a word of what was coming next, he would fall into an abyss!
He didn't want to listen!
He just wanted to be an ordinary person!
"Do you think you can escape?"
Shi Qiang shook his head and sighed.
"Luo Ji, you must bear your share of responsibility. I am old, Wade and Rey Diaz are dead. I am the last pillar, but I can't hold on much longer. You must step forward."
"I, I'm just an ordinary person!"
Luo Ji awkwardly excused himself.
"Besides, isn't humanity doing quite well now? There's no need to worry about the Trisolarians, right?"
"Do you truly believe that?"
Shi Qiang stared at him intently until Luo Ji looked down guiltily, then he said, "Luo Ji, the Trisolarian crisis has never ended, and the ETO has never disappeared. They are like a virus lurking within humanity, and with time—they have reached this era."
As he spoke, he took out a seemingly ordinary piece of iron, like rusted metal, from around his neck with great care and placed it in Luo Ji's hand, gripping Luo Ji's palm tightly and staring at him intently.
"Whether you are willing or not, you must save humanity, Luo Ji—he is willing to trust you, and I am willing to trust you. If anything happens to me, take this 'key' and awaken him. Only he can save humanity!"
"He?"
"Merlin Emrys!"
"Remember, Luo Ji!" Shi Qiang's pupils were streaked with terrifying blood vessels, and his voice was low.
"Even if you die, you cannot let the ETO get this 'key', otherwise humanity is finished!"
"Wait, you said you would die?"
Luo Ji was completely stunned, shocked and horrified.
"I've already caught the shadow of the ETO."
Shi Qiang sat back in his chair, gasping for breath, and sneered, "The deaths of Wade and Rey Diaz are still full of mysteries. I must find these rats in the gutter, and this is the last thing I can do for you."
Luo Ji was completely bewildered.
The speed at which events unfolded completely exceeded his expectations. Why would the ETO, which should have disappeared in the world two hundred years later, reappear?!
Even the deaths of Wade and Rey Diaz were connected to the ETO?
Damn it, what on Earth is going on!
"Remember, from now on, you cannot trust anyone, except—Zhuang Yan."
Shi Qiang gripped his hand and said these words.
"Zhuang Yan?"
Luo Ji was stunned.
However, in that moment of distraction, Shi Qiang, who was sitting in front of him, had his entire head explode with a bang, followed by... the delayed roar!
A bullet had shattered Shi Qiang's head!
Shi Qiang, dead?
White, red, mixed with a pungent, fishy smell, directly drilled into Luo Ji's nostrils. In an instant, he felt his stomach churn, instinctively retching.
How could this happen?!
Luo Ji stared blankly at the headless corpse still sitting upright in the chair, blood spurting from its neck. His mind was completely blank.
It happened too suddenly!
Just a few seconds ago, Shi Qiang was telling him that he had caught the ETO organization red-handed, and if he investigated further, something unexpected might happen.
The next second, he was really dead!
"Ugh, ugh, ugh—"
Luo Ji retched frantically, the fear in his heart reaching its peak at this moment. He fell from the chair to the floor, then scrambled on all fours towards the door, shouting, "Someone, help, help! There's an assassination!!!"
But his shouts received no response.
Luo Ji suddenly remembered that before they entered, Jane had mentioned that this conference room had a very high security level, built with special materials, and was absolutely soundproof inside and out. So the people guarding outside had no idea what was happening inside.
Bang!!!
Suddenly, there was another gunshot.
A scorching bullet narrowly grazed Luo Ji's scalp, slamming into the wall and blasting a crater.
Luo Ji, who had been paralyzed by fear and fallen to the ground, had, by a twist of fate, saved his life. He instinctively erupted with a surge of strength.
No, I can't stay here!
That person's goal was not just to assassinate Shi Qiang, but also him!
Luo Ji used all his limbs to run towards the door.
Only by opening the door could he to live!
Outside the door were the bailiffs of the Legal Department, and—that's right, and the 'Jane' that Shi Qiang mentioned before he died!
When people are in extreme fear, there are two types of reactions. One type of person will become paralyzed and wait for death, while another type will burst out with strength and courage far exceeding their usual.
Clearly, Luo Ji was the second type of person.
It must be said that his choice was correct. Just as Luo Ji ran two steps, another bullet slammed into the spot where he had just been lying.
Boom!
The hard concrete floor was directly shattered by this shot, blasting a half-meter crater.
This was definitely not an ordinary bullet!
At least, in his understanding, an ordinary bullet, even a large-caliber sniper bullet from two hundred years ago, could not penetrate several meters of wall and still have undiminished power!
He thought of some information Jane had provided.
Certain special bullets were specifically provided for the Astartes, which are bolters. These bolter rounds are usually accelerated by rocket fuel, are extremely powerful, and have immense destructive force.
But the question arose, the one who assassinated Shi Qiang—could it be those so-called Astartes?!
Although Luo Ji was scared out of his wits, his rationality had not disappeared. After a simple analysis, he already understood the current situation.
No matter who assassinated Shi Qiang, there was only one thing he needed to do now: save his own life!
So, he took three steps in two, using all his might, finally reaching the door. He grabbed the doorframe and pulled, using the loudest voice he had ever had.
"Help—someone's assassinating, Shi Qiang—Shi Qiang has been killed!!!"
The Legal Department officers guarding outside, looking through the gap of the door Luo Ji had pushed open, saw the headless corpse still sitting in the chair, with only a spurting neck remaining. They instantly exploded into chaos!
Are you kidding me?!
They came to stand guard for the big shots above as usual, so how did something go wrong?!
Moreover, the one who was killed was the only Vice Executive Director of the Holy Terra Administrative Council who had survived from the Crisis Era until now!
It's over.
Not only their careers, but probably everyone here would not escape the Inquisition's scrutiny!
Thinking of this, the leader of the Legal Department was furious.
"Quick, catch that bastard!"
"Protect Professor Luo Ji!"
"Quickly seal off the scene!"
"Seal off the port, no one is allowed in or out!"
At the same time, a dozen Legal Department officers, carrying man-high riot shields, tightly protected Luo Ji.
Because Luo Ji was the only survivor of this assassination, his safety had to be guaranteed.
The entire port instantly descended into ran.
The Legal Department officers immediately sealed off an area of several hundred meters centered around Shi Qiang's assassination.
"Professor Luo Ji? Professor Luo Ji!"
Jane, in the crowd, nervously hugged Luo Ji, constantly checking his body for any injuries, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Professor Luo Ji, are you hurt?"
"I—I'm fine." After saying this, Luo Ji felt dizzy. Perhaps it was due to the intense concentration just now. Now that he saw he was safe, he relaxed completely and fainted.
When Luo Ji woke up, it was already evening. He was lying in a hospital bed.
"Professor Luo Ji, you're finally awake?"
Jane, who had been dozing at the foot of the bed, stirred awake. Seeing Luo Ji awake, she was overjoyed, wiping tears from her eyes and whimpering, "That's great, you're okay. I was so afraid, so afraid something had happened to you too."
"I—I'm fine."
Luo Ji wanted to comfort her a few more times, but when the words reached his lips, he thought of Shi Qiang again, leaving only bitterness.
"You say—am I a jinx? I was almost assassinated two hundred years ago, and two hundred years later, I dragged Shi Qiang into it. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have died."
He truly felt very unlucky and wronged.
He, merely a Tsinghua Professor, who usually enjoyed dating girls and discussing art, what kind of heinous crime did he commit to make the ETO fanatics want to assassinate him again two hundred years later?
"Whether the reason for Lord Shi Qiang's death is related to you is still uncertain. Professor Luo Ji, there's no need to blame yourself too much."
Just as Luo Ji was regretting, a blond, blue-eyed man entered the room. He looked refined, but his eyes were full of sinister coldness, and his pale complexion made him appear even more somber.
"You—who are you?"
Luo Ji lay in the hospital bed, looking at the man, feeling a deep sense of unease. The hairs on his body stood on end, as if his life was threatened, instinctively repelling the other party.
"Let me introduce myself, I am Aikin Layton."
The blond man smiled gently and took out a medal from his collar.
"This, I presume Professor Luo Ji and lady Jane should recognize, right?"
The medal he took out was shaped like a '1', entirely golden, with a human skull surrounded by wheat ears in the center.
"Rosarium, you're from the Inquisition!"
Under Jane's days of popular science, Luo Ji also had a preliminary understanding of this era, and the most important of these were the various rumors about the Inquisition.
A ruthless "Special agency"!
Specifically responsible for internal surveillance, anyone they targeted, without exception—suffered extremely miserable fates. Moreover, the Inquisition often did not require conclusive evidence for arrests, and could be said to be above other administrative agencies, an organization with a special status!
"In—Inquisition?" Jane's face turned white, her voice trembling. She had clearly associated it with the terrifying rumors about the Inquisition, but even so, this delicate girl still mustered her courage and stood in front of Luo Ji.
"What do you want with Professor Luo Ji? What crime did he commit?!"
"lady Jane, please don't worry."
Aikin Layton smiled slightly, putting the 'rosarium' back into his embrace, and said calmly.
"I came to Professor Luo Ji merely to understand some things before and after Mr. Shi Qiang's death, to help us track down the murderer. After all—the person assassinated was the Executive Director of the Terra Administrative Council. This is undoubtedly a provocation from heretics against us!"
When he spoke the last sentence, a bloody storm seemed to be brewing in Aikin Layton's eyes. The terrifying killing intent and coldness made Luo Ji tremble.
How many people had he killed?!
Luo Ji forced a smile.
"Okay, I will cooperate with the Inquisition, I will tell everything I know, and hold nothing back, Inquisitor Layton."
"That's good."
Aikin Layton nodded slightly, then turned to Jane.
"lady Jane, the following conversation is confidential. May I ask you to leave?"
"Okay—"
Jane also knew that she was not supposed to be there, so she glanced at Luo Ji.
"Then, I'll go out first, Professor Luo Ji. If you need anything, just call me."
After Jane left the ward, Aikin Layton walked to the bedside and asked in a gentle tone.
"Professor Luo Ji, may I ask what you two talked about before Lord Shi Qiang was assassinated?"
"This—is it related to this matter?"
Luo Ji frowned.
"Of course it is," Aikin Layton said calmly. "If we know what you discussed, perhaps we can follow the clues and find the reason for Lord Shi Qiang's death."
"That's true—"
Luo Ji pondered for a few seconds and said, "Before Shi Qiang was assassinated, he mentioned something to me. I guess—this might be related to his death."
"Oh? Please tell."
Aikin Layton's eyes moved slightly.
"He said he was going to investigate the ETO organization and might be killed," Luo Ji said.
"ETO organization?"
Aikin Layton narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Wasn't this organization already destroyed by the 'Seal Bearer' two hundred years ago?"
"No, the ETO organization is still here, they have always been here!" Luo Ji shook his head and said in a deep voice.
"Shi Qiang said that the ETO was never destroyed, but has always been lurking among humans, waiting for an opportunity to overthrow human society. And he had already found some clues, including the deaths of Rey Diaz and Wade, which are also related to the ETO."
"So that's how it is."
Aikin Layton nodded thoughtfully.
"Then—Professor Luo Ji, did Lord Shi Qiang tell you what evidence he found before he died?"
"He didn't tell me that."
Luo Ji smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I don't know anything, he didn't tell me these things either."
"That's strange," Aikin Layton stroked his chin, curious. "According to the traces we found at the scene, the killer tried to kill you twice. If assassinating Lord Shi Qiang was to eliminate evidence, then assassinating you—what was that for?!"
"I—I don't know either."
Luo Ji smiled bitterly, holding his head.
"I really want to know who I offended. Two hundred years ago, I was almost shot dead by the ETO, and two hundred years later, I'm targeted by the ETO again!"
"Professor Luo Ji."
Aikin Layton's tone became heavier. He placed one hand on the hospital bed and the other on the bed, suddenly leaning close, pressing down above Luo Ji, with a hint of interrogation in his deep eyes.
"Think carefully again, are you sure you've said everything, and there's nothing you've left out?"
Being suddenly approached by Aikin like that, Luo Ji panicked for a few seconds, but fortunately, his psychological resilience was strong, and he quickly regained his composure, looking directly into Aikin's eyes without any retreat.
"I've really said everything, this is the whole truth, Inquisitor Layton, I swear I haven't hidden anything!"
Aikin Layton remained silent, staring at him for more than ten seconds, unable to find any trace of hidden panic in Luo Ji's eyes.
"Alright."
A moment later, Aikin Layton gave up, slowly straightened up, and smiled.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Professor Luo Ji. Regarding Lord Shi Qiang's assassination case, if there's anything else we need to learn from you later, please continue to cooperate. I'll take my leave now."
With that, Aikin Layton turned and left.
It wasn't until he walked out of the ward that Luo Ji suddenly let out a sigh of relief, cold sweat seeping from his forehead. His hand, hidden under the covers, tightly gripped that… key!
His intuition told him that this Inquisitor, 'Aikin Layton,' might have something wrong with him!
"Shi Qiang, oh Shi Qiang," Luo Ji, on the hospital bed, held the 'key' and smiled bitterly, softly muttering to himself, "You really know how to cause me trouble."
Outside the hospital.
Aikin Layton got into his hovercar.
Then, he took out a communication device from his embrace and dialed someone above. Soon, a miniature projection appeared before him.
"Sir, the 'item' wasn't found. I questioned Luo Ji, and it seems Shi Qiang didn't give him the 'item'. He doesn't know the details either. What should we do now?"
"Wait."
The miniature projection's voice was hoarse.
"Don't alert the enemy. That item will definitely be delivered to Luo Ji's hands. This time—I want to be foolproof. We must completely eradicate all the 'legacy' left behind."
"Yes, Sir."
Aikin Layton bowed his head in affirmation.
"You've done very well, continue to gain his trust."
The person in the projection sneered.
"Don't rush. We just need to keep a close eye on Luo Ji. The final victory will surely belong to us. Destroy the Terra tyranny, the world belongs to the Trisolarans!"
"Destroy the Terra tyranny, the world belongs to the Trisolarans!"
Aikin Layton's expression was agitated, his face filled with fanaticism, as he devoutly chanted the slogan.
The person in the miniature projection then disappeared.
Aikin Layton, sitting in the car, leaned back in his seat, looking at an image hanging inside the car. It was of the founder of the Holy Terra Alliance, also the 'Seal Bearer', but now only an abstract design remained. He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"Heh heh, what if you established Holy Terra? In the end, weren't we still in control? Humanity—will surely fail. You just watch with your own eyes as the Imperium you established plunges into the abyss!"
"No."
Suddenly, a ghostly voice came from behind Aikin Layton.
Someone?!
Aikin Layton trembled all over. Just as he was about to call for help, someone covered his mouth and choked his throat.
"Whether the Imperium he built will disappear, I don't know—"
The voice was very soft, reaching the terrified Aikin's ears.
"But I guarantee that you will fall into purgatory before the Imperium disappears."
"You, who are you?!"
Aikin asked in terror, barely speaking.
"I can give you wealth and honor, don't kill me!"
"Me?"
The person said softly.
"I am—the Emperor's daughter!"
Crack!
Aikin's neck was twisted.
The light in his eyes disappeared, and he slumped in the chair.
In the darkness, a slender figure, as if it had never appeared, merged with the night and quietly disappeared.