Chapter 1690: Chapter 40: After My Death

On the second floor, Konghai ran into Professor Jin Kailun.

Right now Professor Jin Kailun was holding several hefty volumes in his hands… perhaps just as he’d said, he was looking for some reference books.

Konghai walked toward him, but gave a slight shake of his head.

Professor Jin Kailun’s face didn’t show much change, yet he suddenly spoke. “Oh… Lord Liuge, you’re here too.”

Konghai’s pupils tightened for an instant, then quickly returned to normal.

He calmly turned around, only to see that behind him, the empire’s Silver Moon Witch had somehow already followed quietly along.

At this moment, Girl Liuge had put on a smiling face. “Professor, shouldn’t you be lecturing Lei Yaz? Why did you leave him alone at a First Floor desk?”

Professor Jin Kailun raised the books in his hand and adjusted his glasses. “I’m searching for a few references… for teaching. There’s nothing I can do, the materials the public can access are really too limited.”

“Whatever references you want, just write up a list.” Girl Liuge said coolly. “I’ll have someone deliver them to you… of course, this is all only for the sake of lecturing Lei Yaz. Understand?”

Professor Jin Kailun couldn’t help showing a look of puzzlement, then his expression became cautious. He probed, “Lord Liuge, to be honest, I’m really curious about Lei Yaz’s identity. He not only lives in Tianchen Courtyard, he even has your personal instruction in addition to mine.”

Girl Liuge looked at Professor Jin Kailun with a half-smile. “I didn’t tell you? Oh, looks like I forgot.”

Only when both the professor and Konghai showed surprise did Girl Liuge smile and say, “Lei Yaz is currently the Undersea City’s first in line to the throne… the Emperor has already invested him as a Prince of the Undersea City.”

“What?!” In the end Professor Jin Kailun couldn’t hide the shock in his heart, and cried out in a loss of composure, “Lei Yaz is a Prince of the Undersea City?!”

—First in line to the throne!

Girl Liuge merely made a shushing gesture. “Professor, one must keep quiet in the archives room. As a scholar you should understand that even better than I do… so, quiet, all right?”

The girl turned and glided away.

Professor Jin Kailun, left behind, exchanged a glance with Konghai… Konghai’s gaze quickly grew calm again, but inside the professor’s heart, calm was out of reach.

“What is Louis XXXIX really plotting…” Professor Jin Kailun couldn’t help murmuring.

“I’ll keep looking around then.” Konghai left these words and continued into the forest-like rows of shelves.

…

“This is the true royal archives.” The Emperor’s voice slowly rang out. “The outer area at most counts as a public reading zone.”

There was only one floor here, but it was still built in a ring—what was different was that here there were no rows of shelves, only upright slabs of transparent rectangular crystal boxes, two meters tall.

Boss Luo walked up to the huge crystal box closest to him—he had barely come near when lines of text surfaced across its face.

They seemed to be records of medical knowledge… specifically, classifications of human genes.

“Medicine, communications, agriculture… even the military.” The Emperor slightly spread his hands, his face grave. “Here is recorded all the true Knowledge of the Limoria civilization in every field. At the same time, several major breakthroughs by the Undersea City are also archived here. Without question, to possess this is to possess a civilization.”

“I won’t deny that in the slightest, Your Majesty.” Boss Luo said in admiration. “This is truly a place full of surprises.”

If the astronomy treatise the Maid currently held to her chest emitted only the faint glow of a firefly, then this archives chamber was like a great sun, radiating dazzling brilliance.

The Inheritance of civilization… this is civilization’s fire, the crystallization of countless people’s time and Life, even their Will. It is something no single outstanding Light of Soul can compare to.

“The crystal box in front of you contains Knowledge of medicine.” The Emperor said with a smile. “My unfortunate late friend Charles once gave me some treatments for diseases in current human civilization… with the medical technology in this crystal box, every disease in the human mainland today can receive effective and rapid treatment. Do you understand its value?”

Boss Luo merely nodded. “I even see techniques for extending Life Span… if this Knowledge were to be spread, its value would be immeasurable.”

“Communications are over there!” The Emperor pointed. “They can even achieve Mind-to-mind communication… of course, it requires many conditions! And here is agriculture! You know, the Undersea City is only so big, and we have just one planting area. Yet we can supply the needs of the entire Undersea City, never suffering shortages, and can even recreate many species that have already gone extinct… and here, designs for all manner of advanced weapons.”

“What is it you wish to say, Your Majesty.” Boss Luo asked calmly.

The Emperor stepped forward, his tone solemn. “You can choose any technology you like from here… even all of it! This is the essence of a civilization! It is even the Root of the Limoria civilization; Magic Energy Technology is among it as well!”

“But the creation technology for Saint Armor isn’t here.” Boss Luo shook his head. “It’s true I included technological types among the conditions I proposed. But as things stand in the Undersea City… Your Majesty, what you can truly offer comes down to only two items: the White Tower, or the creation technology of the Saint Armor.”

“This is the Undersea City… even the Root of the Limoria civilization.” The Emperor let out a breath. “I hope you won’t push things too far.”

“If I could…” Boss Luo suddenly said softly, “I’d hope to give it to you unconditionally as well.”

“If you could?” Louis XXXIX couldn’t help furrowing his brow.

“It’s already impossible.” Boss Luo shook his head. “From the moment I got curious about what you could offer, and began to appraise it… it became impossible. I won’t stop on my own—unless Your Majesty chooses to give up of your own accord.”

Louis XXXIX unconsciously creased his brow. Vaguely he sensed the presence of some condition, yet he had no further information to infer exactly what that transactional condition was.

The Emperor fell silent.

Boss Luo did not continue his tour, nor did the Maid—even with her memory, just one look was enough for her to remember it all directly.

That was the rule… Knowledge, once recorded, already counts as obtained; unlike other goods, which can be examined and then returned.

“If.” The Emperor suddenly asked, “I speak hypothetically… could all the fire of civilization here be used to offset part of one of your conditions, in order to reduce the demand of that condition?”

“Which condition does Your Majesty intend to offset.” Boss Luo returned the question instead of answering.

“The fourth.” The Emperor said abruptly.

“Offset which aspect of it.” Boss Luo asked again.

“Offset…” The Emperor was just about to speak.

Boss Luo suddenly said, “I hope Your Majesty will think it through… what will be abandoned and what preserved behind such an offset. We genuinely hope that when our guests make every decision, they will not regret that choice in the future.”

Louis XXXIX opened his mouth several times… fine beads of sweat had appeared faintly on his forehead.

After a long time he slowly breathed out, and said rather wearily, “Since you don’t intend to continue the tour… let’s leave.”

“Very well.” Luo Qiu nodded, then added, “Consider it a return gift for that ice cream… a suggestion: in my view, technology is something created by people, and only something created by people.”

The Emperor shook his head and said coolly, “Please.”

…

…

When they returned to the First Floor of the royal library, to that huge desk placed in the center, Boss Luo saw Professor Jin Kailun, who was currently sitting beside Lei Yaz, seemingly discussing something.

“Y–Your Majesty!”

The professor heard footsteps and looked up, only to see Louis XXXIX himself arriving. He couldn’t help being slightly startled… and hurriedly stood up.

But how come these two audit students are coming back together with the Emperor… have they met before?

“Professor, it’s been some time.” The Emperor indicated that there was no need to be formal. “I’ll find a time later; I still need to consult you on a few questions.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Professor Jin Kailun said quickly, “It is my honor to dispel the King’s doubts.”

Louis XXXIX smiled. “It’d be best if you really can dispel them.”

That smile made Professor Jin Kailun’s throat move involuntarily.

“Sit, don’t stay standing.” The Emperor spoke in a seemingly casual tone. “I just came to see how the teaching is progressing… Lei Yaz, how have you been feeling these past few days? Tell me.”

“Terrible.” Lei Yaz shook his head. “Do you think I look like someone who’s doing well right now?”

He shook his arm… the bandages on it. In fact, at this moment, almost only half of Lei Yaz’s face was not covered.

“Liuge is just being strict.” The Emperor smiled. “Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be seeing you this time I came back.”

A chill suddenly ran down Lei Yaz’s back, and he didn’t dare speak… He’d actually wanted to act a bit cheeky, but under this Emperor’s gaze, he found he simply couldn’t.

From the moment Louis XXXIX appeared, Lei Yaz’s heartbeat had inexplicably gone wild… Compared to the Emperor, Lei Yaz felt like he was just a child in elementary school.

Seeing Lei Yaz silent, the Emperor waved his hand. “Alright, I’ve seen what I came to see; I should head back. There are still many documents waiting for me… Lei Yaz, study hard with Professor Jin Kailun. He is the finest scholar in our Undersea City; you’ll learn a great deal from him.”

Lei Yaz silently nodded.

“Well then, until we meet again.” The Emperor looked at Boss Luo as he spoke.

“Until next time, Your Majesty.”

“Wait…” Lei Yaz suddenly called out to the Emperor, pressing both hands on the table as he stood up. “There’s something…”

“Speak.”

Lei Yaz gathered his courage. “Your Majesty, I haven’t gone home these past few days… I want to go back once. My mother still doesn’t know what’s happened to me, I’m afraid she’ll be worried!”

“I thought you weren’t planning to bring that up.” The Emperor smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ve already had someone find your mother and bring her here.”

“What!” Lei Yaz couldn’t help freezing for a moment, then burst into joy. “Really?!”

Professor Jin Kailun’s eyes flew open… his heart gave a sudden jolt.

“Come with me and you’ll see.” The Emperor smiled faintly, then added, “Let’s do this: today’s morning lesson will end here for now… Professor, what do you think?”

“Naturally, I’ll follow Your Majesty’s wishes.” Professor Jin Kailun quickly lowered his head, though his gaze couldn’t hide a flicker of panic. “Your Majesty, may I go along as well? I’d like to get to know Lei Yaz’s mother… I hope to learn more about this child; it will be helpful to my future teaching.”

“A teacher visiting a student’s home is indeed a very sound reason.” The Emperor nodded. “Then let’s all go.”

Just as they were about to leave through the library’s Gate, Konghai appeared.

He was holding a few books, walking slowly at the rear, and came up beside Professor Jin Kailun, speaking in a low voice, “Nothing found… Where are we going? The Emperor has returned?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” Professor Jin Kailun shook his head. “From now on, don’t say anything. Just record everything in your mind.”

At this moment, up ahead.

Lei Yaz was walking beside the Emperor and looked up to ask, “Your Majesty, how did you find my mother?”

The Emperor laughed. “Your mother is serving in the army. I am the Emperor of the Undersea City—do you think I’d be unable to locate a soldier who has sworn loyalty to the Undersea City?”

“That’s true…” Lei Yaz nodded instinctively, feeling that the question had been somewhat unnecessary.

But Louis XXXIX suddenly said, “Yet if it were someone else, it might not be so easy to find her… Do you know why?”

“Why?” Lei Yaz asked curiously.

“Because only I possess such Power.” The Emperor narrowed his eyes. “The Power of an Emperor… One day, you will have that Power as well.”

“Me?!” Lei Yaz froze on the spot.

Behind him, cold sweat was streaming down Professor Jin Kailun’s back as he listened… If the Silver Moon Witch’s words had already made his heart pound, then hearing similar words now from Louis XXXIX’s own mouth stirred up a raging storm in the professor’s heart!

Is Lei Yaz really going to become the next Emperor of the Undersea City?

“Yes, you.” The Emperor patted Lei Yaz’s shoulder. “But… you’ll have to wait until after I’m dead.”

Professor Jin Kailun felt another wave of dizziness.

…

At last, in the Tianchen Courtyard, Lei Yaz saw a woman in uniform—a female soldier whose posture was straight as ever, but whose expression now showed a trace of worry.

“Mother—!”

Lei Yaz cried out in delight from the doorway, then rushed straight into the woman’s arms.

“Lei Yaz! It really is you! People from the imperial palace came to find me, they said you…”

It seemed to be quite a touching reunion.

But Professor Jin Kailun’s heart sank at once… If Kaia was here, did that mean the Destiny Organization’s base had already been…?

When had it happened?

He had even contacted the base once more before leaving home this morning!

How could this be!

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PS: (36/82)