The spaceships damaged in the last ambush had been sent back to the shadow space one after another. They had undergone preliminary repairs in the military world at the border, and they had basically recovered their mobility and about fifty percent of their basic functions. Next, these spaceships had to be repaired in the capital's superior spaceport to fully recover. This could not be helped. In the last battle, the most seriously damaged spaceships were basically all modified warships. The spaceships of the Vengeance Army and the special warships under Sicarro could only be repaired in the capital.
The problem with the Vengeance Army's warships was the most troublesome. As everyone knew, the Vengeance Army was a special fleet. They were one with their spaceships … I mean, they were directly integrated with the warships. There were no ordinary soldiers in the Vengeance Army. Every spaceship, from the smallest assault ship to the largest Vengeance Angel-class T2 warship, had a soul of the Vengeance Army residing in it. These spaceships were half weapons, and the other half were living creatures. Their original models were the old autonomous spaceships of the Empire that we had captured in the battle of the Great Nebula. The core components of these autonomous spaceships were evolved by themselves. At present, it seemed that they could not be mass-produced. Therefore, there was no way to repair the Vengeance Army's spaceships using the existing industrial chain. The Ministry of Military Engineering and the Research Center had jointly established a special maintenance department to carry out special repairs on the Vengeance Army's warships. At the same time, they were also responsible for researching the latter's system, hoping to find a cheap way to mass-produce this high-precision T2 warship as soon as possible. At present, there seemed to be no progress. The Vengeance Army's warships still needed to be restored at a speed three times slower. This made the Warlord very angry. As Sandora's most loyal subordinate, he felt that his troops had become a burden at this time.
Compared to the loyal Warlord, the heartless flagship of the Vengeance Army was completely different. The crazy AI that occupied the Warsong's mainframe did not seem to have any sense of honor that the Imperial Army had. Her only sense of honor was focused on Visca. In the last ambush, due to the lack of compatibility with the Warsong's system, the crazy AI almost crashed. After the battle ended, she completely forgot about it. She even forgot to report to the spaceport. As soon as she returned to the shadow space, she went to rest. It was said that when the experts of the starship R&D team went to test her in person, she was lying near a desolate asteroid belt, running around collecting meteorites to create a ring for herself because she saw a picture of Saturn a while ago.
… It was hard for me to imagine a planetary battleship with a radius of seven thousand kilometers humming a tune as it scurried around the asteroid belt, picking up stones, and tying a belt around its waist. She was strolling in the galaxy like she was strolling in a wet market! After meeting the Dragon God, that Second Lunatic seemed to have become even crazier than before …
In the morning, I decided to take a stroll around the City of Shadows. However, after walking around, I realized that there wasn't much that I could help with. Even though I was terribly busy when I made the initial arrangements, it seemed like I didn't have to worry about anything after everything was arranged. On one hand, it was because Sandora and the think tanks of the headquarters had taken care of most of the details, and I did not have to intervene. On the other hand, and more importantly, it was because for the Shiring Apostles, war was a walk in the park. They could skillfully fight a super war that spanned across several universes, and after the war, they could quickly deal with all the aftermath and prepare for the next war. All of this was a process that had been repeated for hundreds of millions of years. For them, it was more difficult to learn how to get along with the local natives and deal with the trifles of life on Earth. For example … this place in front of me.
I looked up at the signboard in front of me: Gemini Flower Shop. It was a simple name. Those who did not know might sigh at the artistic conception of the name, but those who knew the inside story could only shake their heads and smile bitterly. I reckon that the two young store managers had not used their brains when they named the shop.
This was a flower shop owned by the sisters Asida and Asidora. The shop was not big, only slightly bigger than Silvia's shop, and there was no decoration. The fresh flowers behind the glass windows were perhaps the only eye-catching feature of this place. Originally, this shop had been opened in City K in the surface world. After one and a half years, no one came to visit. Then, the Asida sisters turned it into a haunted house. Later, considering that the sisters were living on social security, it did not matter where they opened the shop. I did not want them to compete with the people on Earth, who had expensive land. So, I asked the sisters to move the shop to the shadow city. Then, the flower shop opened for another two years, but it was still turned into a haunted house.
I looked around. It was empty and desolate. The sisters' and Sylvia's shops had one thing in common. They had chosen a unique location. Sylvia had opened her candy house on the side of the military cordon, while the Asida sisters had opened their flower shop on the back of the commercial street. I had no idea what the sisters had been thinking. If they had climbed over the wall, they would have reached the commercial street. However, the two of them had chosen such a good location. No wonder they were still living on social security.
"No one … They are still at the headquarters."
Although I did not know how I had unconsciously wandered to this place, I still wanted to visit the flower shop that I had not visited for a long time. However, a closed sign blocked my way. I thought that the sisters should be busy at the headquarters. After all, they were high-ranking military officers of the Empire. Currently, there were frequent military movements in the shadow city, and many military plans were being carried out. One of them involved the space assault troops under their command. The Asida sisters must have gone to report for duty.
However, just as I turned to leave, I suddenly noticed something out of the corner of my eye. The door of the flower shop was unlocked.
I was speechless.
Closed, no one was there, and the door was unlocked. It was fortunate that the sisters were born in a Schilling society. Did they spend all their time fooling around?
My doubts disappeared when I pushed the door open. The drawer of the cashier was also unlocked, and there were only two steel bars in it. There was an account book on the table, and the dust on it was thicker than paper. The most recent account record was from last year … In this place, there were no thieves in the shadow city. Even if there were thieves, they would go home crying. How stupid would they be to steal from these two poor sisters who made a total of 3.6 dollars a month to carry two pounds of carnations home to make tea? If I were a thief, I might have been soft-hearted and left my wallet behind. I might even leave a note with the words' Red Scarf 'on it …
"These two sisters …" I mumbled, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. I wandered around the flower shop. Although it was a bit inappropriate for me to barge in when the owner wasn't here, I figured the Asida sisters wouldn't mind. They probably hadn't seen customers in a year.
When he first came in, he had some doubts. That was, how did the twin sisters get their goods from the flower shop? As everyone knew, the twin sisters were even more talented in business than Sylvia. They spent more time looking at each other affectionately than sleeping. Usually, even if the flower shop was open, it was difficult to see the store manager. He really didn't understand how such a pair of clowns could have the concept of "purchasing goods". However, when I looked around the shop, all the flowers were fresh and full of vitality. Curious, I went closer to take a look. Then, I realized that every flower had a sign produced by the Goddess of Life, and it was written that they had a shelf life of ten years …
Fortunately, he knew Dingdang. Otherwise, Asida and Asidora would have no choice but to sell fertilizers.
At this moment, I suddenly felt the space nearby tremble slightly. In the blink of an eye, a pair of girls with almost identical appearances appeared in front of me. They were wearing Imperial Army uniforms and looked valiant. The sisters looked at me in surprise and said in unison, "Your Majesty?"
"Hey, Asida, Asidora." I still couldn't tell them apart, so I always called them by their names. "You've come back from the meeting?"
The Space Twins obviously didn't expect to see their emperor waiting for them in the shop when they came back. Even with their composure, they were a little flustered at this moment. After saluting, they said in unison, "Your Majesty, do you have any orders?"
"No." I waved my hand. "I just wandered around. I didn't know how I ended up here."
The two sisters naturally knew that their Emperor had the habit of wandering around and suddenly appearing at any place, so they immediately began to pack up their things. The two of them cooperated so well that it was as if they were one person. By the time they reacted, they had already been pressed by the two sisters to the table with a cup of tea in front of them. Even when they were making tea, they were so skillful. One of them put in half of the tea leaves and the other poured in half of the water. I estimated that when they poured the water, there was no deviation of more than one ten-thousandth. The twin sisters' synchronization rate was more than 99%. They really lived up to their reputation. Moreover, they had spoken to me in unison from the beginning until now. They were born with fat voices … Oh, no, echoes?
I looked at the teacup in front of me. En, the ration symbol, the tea box, the ration symbol, even the kettle next to it … was also a ration symbol. Everything had been requested from the logistics department. I could imagine their financial situation. They were indeed the poorest sisters in the City of Shadows. In this era where a large number of apostles had been led astray by Sicaros and were selling jade Buddhist beads and amulets everywhere, it was really refreshing to see two simple-minded people like the Asida sisters. Fortunately, they were in the military, so they didn't have to worry about their livelihood. Otherwise, they could only beg on the streets or sell their bodies …
"That … There's nothing good here …" Asida and Asidora said in unison, looking embarrassed. The poor sisters also knew their financial situation, so they were starting to feel embarrassed.
"It's okay. Running a shop is just a side job. I think the two of you are much more reliable than that old bastard Sicaros." I chuckled. "Speaking of which, you should know about the pair of space twins that appeared in the Fallen Apostle's side, right?"
That wasn't my purpose for coming here, but after seeing Asida and Asidora, I couldn't help but think of that matter, so I blurted it out. Seeing the sisters nod, I continued my train of thought, "I checked the relevant information yesterday and found that the space twins are a rather rare phenomenon. In the branch of the space raiders, there are only a few recorded pairs of space twins. Until the fall of the Old Empire, the number of space twins recorded … "
"Seventy-six people, that's thirty-eight pairs," Asida and Asidora said at the same time, their voices echoing.
"Yes, that's the number." I nodded. "I was shocked when I saw so few of them. I thought that although the space twins were rare, the Empire was a colossus with tens of thousands of universes under its name. Even if the space twins couldn't be mass-produced, there should be at least one pair in each heaven zone. However, I didn't expect there to be only thirty-eight pairs before the fall of the Old Empire, including you two. In that case, the fifteen heaven zones back then were quite enviable."
Asida and Asidora lowered their heads slightly, seeming a little embarrassed. "The space twins are extremely special. Even the Old Empire couldn't find the pattern of the birth of the twins. We have always been thought to be an unanalyzable mutation caused by the disturbance of the void. The space twins are the only known raider that can completely ignore any restrictions, including most of the Protoss's technology. Hence … Mm, in short, we are very rare. "
I blinked — they'd all said it in unison after such a long speech.
"In that case, since there were only a few dozen pairs of space twins in the Old Empire, you two should know each other, right?" I tried to guess. As the absolute elites of the race, there was no reason for the space twins to be isolated from each other. They probably knew each other. The newly exposed space twins on the Fallen Apostle's side were undoubtedly a problem. We didn't know when they would have another pair, but we could be sure of one thing: With the special power of the space twins, they would be a sharp knife as soon as they appeared.
Just like this time, when the Fallen Apostle had snatched the EN-166 sample right under the eyes of the entire fleet, even right in front of Vega.
"I know a little, but not in detail." Asida and Asidora nodded at the same time. "The space twins usually don't like to interact with the outside world, even with the other space twins. We … live in our own spiritual world … "
I was stunned and nodded, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "I have a deep understanding of this."
"The space twins on the Fallen Apostle's side should be people we know." Asida and Asida smiled. "It doesn't matter even if we don't know each other well. The Gemini's power is the same, and only we can keep each other here. We have just received an order that the space assault troops will be listed as the Royal Fleet's standing guard. They will follow you every time you go out on an expedition. If the enemy's space twins appear again, we will do our best to capture them. "
I nodded. Then, I saw the Asida sisters look at each other and happily whisper to each other.
"This way, we can often go to the canteen to eat in the future …"
"Yes, yes. If we become the Royal Fleet's standing guard, we will get more rations …"
"I wonder if the monthly rations will be …"
"…" I couldn't hold back my tears as I listened to them. How much of a failure would these poor sisters have in their lives?! As high-ranking military officers, don't they have allowances?
On second thought, it seemed like there really wasn't … Everyone in the Schilling Army could apply for rations because their productivity was almost limitless. All their daily necessities could be met with rations. Plus, the people in the Imperial Army didn't pursue personal pleasures. Also, due to the special social structure, there was no such thing as allowances in the Imperial Army … Even high-ranking military officers like the Asida sisters could rely on rations to obtain daily necessities. But even so, why couldn't I hold back my tears when I heard the sisters whispering to each other?
Right at this moment, the melodious sound of a wind chime came from the direction of the shop, interrupting my train of thought. I was startled. "Oh my God, there are customers in this place?"
I looked up and saw that the Asida sisters were still busy chatting with their heads lowered. Occasionally, they would look at each other silently. They were so focused that they had completely ignored the noise coming from the door … They deserved to earn 3.6 dollars a month!
"Hey, I said, there are customers!"
I couldn't help but knock on the table. The sisters finally reacted. Then, I heard a familiar voice from behind the flower rack. "Huh? Is that master's voice? "
I looked up and saw a translucent head peeking out from behind the flower rack. Then, the other party passed through the rack and floated in front of everyone. She lifted her skirt and bowed. "Hello, master!"
"An … Veena?" I gawked at the 'customer' in front of me. I had never thought that the little ghost who never left her house would appear in front of me. "Why are you here?"
"The customer comes every year on this day …" The Asida sisters finally remembered something and said happily.
"…" So, the only transaction recorded in the account book last year was Anveena's?
The little ghost before him revealed an embarrassed expression. Her fingers twisted the little apron in front of the maid uniform. "Err … I'm here to buy flowers … Today is the anniversary of my death. I want to buy a few bunches of white roses to celebrate."
"… Pfft …"
Anveena became even more embarrassed. Her pale face seemed to blush. "Master … Master, please don't laugh. Even a ghost has a day to celebrate. After all, Anveena only died once in her life. Because she forgot her birthday, she had to celebrate the anniversary of her death …"
I was completely speechless as I stared at the specter maid in front of me. I felt like my brain wasn't enough to process everything. Then, for some reason, I blurted out, "Uh, do you want to buy some paper money or something?"
I thought that it was inappropriate. I thought that Anveena was going to get angry, but she explained seriously, "No … there's no need. The paper money for the Qingming Festival is enough. Hehe, actually, the place where I lived didn't have paper money. But after living in master's house for so many years, I seem to have gotten used to the customs here. "
"…"
Can someone help me end this strange topic?!
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
