Stars See Me [Interstellar] | Chapter 176 | The Golden Shackle | Novela.app

Over eighteen hundred days and nights had passed; the apple Lei Ting had personally disposed of had naturally long since rotted into dust. Just like the illusion of simple peace that had once existed between them. For a man who could personally purge over four thousand corrupt officials according to the law just to investigate a single matter, yet coolly and decisively set the issue aside when it bore no fruit… was it truly reasonable for such a person to maintain that overly gentle attitude back in the Ring World? Would he really overlook that hurt and betrayal? Overlook everything he had experienced and endured? Of course not—just as he would never ignore the suffering his fellow citizens endured. So now, the situation had finally revealed its most dangerous form. … Evenheiler’s elegantly lined Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. Amidst the dread brewing within his body, he felt that long-hidden desire for control once again after a long absence. Only this time, he didn't know if it would still be restrained. Lei Ting was aware of Evenheiler’s tension. From the very beginning, his psychic power had been wrapped around the other man, maintaining a precise distance without a single gap. After all, his psychic power was truly dangerous to others, and even having reached this point, he didn't particularly want Evenheiler to feel pain. “You’re afraid of me… Yven,” Lei Ting said softly. As he spoke, he pulled Evenheiler closer, savoring the instinctive tremors of the living body in his arms. “Why?” He asked, knowing full well the answer. “…” Evenheiler remained silent. Even though he knew that silence was likely unwise at a time like this. Lei Ting laughed again; this was probably the day he had smiled the most in recent years. “You’re wavering,” he said. “But not in your ideals—you’re wavering in your perception of me.” Evenheiler’s breathing grew shallow. “The world changes too fast. Sometimes, in just an instant, you find that the past and future in your eyes have both taken on a form you never anticipated.” Lei Ting sighed with emotion. He closed his eyes, earnestly enjoying this moment’s embrace, even though he was the only one truly embracing. At the same time, he squeezed the shimmering ‘golden apple’ in his hand, causing it to transform into a thin, open-ended neck ring. He then deliberately and slowly pressed it onto Evenheiler’s neck. “This apple…” He used one hand to suppress the other’s reflexive struggle, looking down at the skin where he had once left a kiss mark, now reflecting the brilliant gold. “…My dear Mr. Starstream, why didn't you notice its existence when you walked through the door? You shouldn't have missed it. Where is your professional discipline as a soldier in observing your environment? “Think about it. I placed this scar out in the open. Could it be that you don't recognize something you left behind yourself? Or is it that because its material and color have changed, you no longer acknowledge it?” “…Lei Ting!!!” Evenheiler roared, struggling as he tried to back away. For once, he finally showed his rage. His long, powerful fingers gripped the neck ring, attempting to crush it or dissolve it into starlight amidst a burst of astral dust. “A shackle, a ring, or a collar? You bastard, what do you take me for?!” If this were the past, Lei Ting would have listened to him and let go. But this time, the strength of his embrace only increased. “You are my lover.” Beyond that strength capable of shattering metal and stone, the towering figure softened his voice. “Don't be afraid, ‘Uncle.’ I won't hurt you.” Hearing this, Evenheiler let out a cold sneer—putting a collar on a free man? That in itself was already an injury! “I regret ever telling you so much,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “You’re very good at pretending… Lei Ting. Even I was fooled by you.” “Or perhaps I never truly ‘pretended.’ That word implies the creation of a total illusion.” And he had merely chosen to reveal only a part of himself selectively, Lei Ting thought. “You only make me worry when you’re like this, Yven,” he sighed. “Sometimes, you are driven by your precious sensibility to the point of being impulsive or losing your sharpness… You were like this back in the Ring World, too, failing to discover my light.” “…” All the energy Evenheiler radiated was neutralized by the ‘immovable’ golden light. His face flushed with anger, his azure eyes shimmering like turbulent waves. “Your heart always wavers because of me, Yven, but that isn't your fault… It’s simply because I am also the special one to you.” Lei Ting whispered softly, his large gloved hand stroking Evenheiler’s back through his clothes, feeling the rise and fall of his chest against his own. “Stay by my side, Yven… “You find it hard to forget me too, don't you? Stay here. You will become my glove and my shackle, and together, we will create a ‘better future’ for humanity…” Hearing those words, Evenheiler froze. His pupils dilated sharply, and his entire body stiffened. —The slogan of the Resistance was “For a Better Future.” And that phrase… according to the combat records and the lists of disconnected spies between the Resistance and the Human Federation over the years, it shouldn't be known by the Federation’s high command at all! Lei Ting… this man was hiding far too much. Just how much did he actually know?! “I know more than you imagine… Yven,” Lei Ting said tenderly. Hooking an arm around his waist, he led him toward a side room as if they were taking a stroll. “But before we talk further, I need to rest… You might not know this, but I haven't slept in nearly three months.” … Meanwhile, in the distant reaches of deep space, the Resistance fleet was bypassing the outskirts of a star system. “‘Starstream’ passed through ‘Chang’an’ six hours ago.” A mechanical voice, a patchwork of male, female, young, and old, reported to Solo Morgan. “Theoretically, we would still need 2,192 years of deep flight to reach ‘Chang’an’ to exchange information with your ally.” “‘Wannian,’ are you certain all the stargates in this vicinity are closed?” The pale-faced Morgan frowned deeply, exchanging looks with his comrades around the conference table. “Not even a single induction field was left behind?” “Yes. Furthermore, twenty-two seconds ago, our induction field projection system sustained damage due to unknown causes. Its current damage level is 33.268%. If it is not repaired and its external shielding reinforced before the next solar storm, it will take twenty-six years just to fly out of this star system,” the AI known as ‘Wannian’ reminded them. “…” Wonderful. Troubles always seemed to come in clusters. Solo scratched his head in frustration. “How much time do we have before the next solar storm?” “It is estimated that the next solar storm will erupt in this system in twenty-one ‘Earth’ standard rotation cycles,” Wannian replied. “Twenty-one of our days… in Federation time, that’s 420 hours?” Solo couldn't hold it together anymore, quickly glancing at the others. “How can it be so short? When we remotely mapped the route earlier, didn't it say a storm had just erupted about 130 days ago?” One had to realize that even the sun of the Origin System—which had been personally written off by humanity—maintained its usual eleven-year cycle (Earth years, of course) even after enduring the tribulations of war and time! “Specific circumstances are unknown. The relevant regional detection systems are damaged,” Wannian answered. “I’ll go take a look,” said Tan He, the head of the technical department, who was currently busy detaching his own arm for fun. He casually poured a few… candy beans out of his mechanical arm bone. Morgan shook his head. “The stellar activity in this system is violent. If there’s a problem with your shielding, your internal systems might be disrupted by intense electromagnetic waves.” If it were just a limb being interfered with, that would be fine—it could be replaced. But during a solar storm, problems always erupted from the most precise and fragile components outward. For someone like Tan He, it could very likely lead to severe damage to his central nervous system, or even send him straight to his death. “But for that very reason, our automated repair technology is completely unusable.” Tan He shrugged, distributing the candy beans to several children of various sizes nearby. “Even if I were to operate by linking to a mechanical arm, it might cause even greater problems, and precision couldn't be guaranteed,” he said. “Don't worry, my ‘Wave Filtering and Correction’ system is running at full power outside the ship. Otherwise, at this distance, I shouldn't be able to say anything at all under the influence of that sun.” “…” Solo Morgan remained silent, hesitating. “‘Starstream’ has left us. The only person who could normally emerge unscathed from that storm is now deep within the Federation,” Tan He said, his mechanical eyes gazing calmly at Morgan, shining with a light quite different from his usual flippancy. “I believe you will protect me and provide the necessary support. Won't you?” “…Alright.” Morgan was swayed by his calmness, determination, and trust. “I’ll go with y—” “No, Solo.” Tan He shook his head. “The one who goes with me can be Tita, or it can be Ani, but it cannot be you.” “?” Beside Tan He, a young girl who was silently munching on candy beans washed down with machine-grade energy fluid looked up with a dazed expression, then flared up in anger: “It’s ‘Tita,’ not ‘Tick-tock,’ Teacher!!!” “Right, Tick-tock,” Tan He brushed her off with a serious face, then turned back to Morgan. “This is a war, our leader. As the one making the decisions, you must view each of us as a chess piece, and every piece has a different weight… “Don't interrupt, let me finish— “—You know that you are heavier than any of us. This isn't a sentimental thought. You are the only individual in all of humanity who can communicate directly with the ‘Lover.’ You carry the responsibility of awakening the hearts of humanity toward friendship and resistance. “I’ll say it again: this is a war. Compared to it, the desires of each of us as individuals are as tiny as dust, because this war leads to our common future.”