opponent
“If that’s what you came here to say, then I understand what you’re trying to convey.”
Sooner or later, this day would come; it was destined to happen from the moment she decided to continue that pioneering research.
"No, no, no, I think you don't understand. What the Queen means is... she strongly supports your research and hopes you will continue. It would be even better if we could see that 'miracle' regularly. We would be very grateful."
Dr. Lowry's face turned ashen instantly, which was exactly the expression Duke Yule wanted to see.
He tapped his knees lightly with his fingers, as if he were about to play a whole sonata.
What do you think?
How would this darling of fate answer this question? His little eyes widened with curiosity, and his face took on a strange expression driven by his curiosity.
Dr. Lowry calmly resumed his composed demeanor and said softly, "It is my honor."
Is that all?
This unremarkable answer left the Duke slightly disappointed; he was more hoping for something more dramatic.
Nevertheless, he maintained a meaningless elegance.
“That’s great. I will pass on your reply to the Duke… In that case, I will apply for a pardon for you as soon as possible. There’s no time to lose; the research center is swamped without the doctor.”
Duke Yule's smile widened, and he walked out humming a melodious tune, then suddenly stopped.
"By the way, Doctor, I heard that you named this series Ella. Is there any story behind it?"
Dr. Lowry seemed to be judging his intentions, and said casually:
"The pronunciation is quite simple, even young children can easily pronounce it, right?"
Duke Yule squinted his eyes, and after a long while nodded with a hint of satisfaction, seemingly quite pleased with the answer.
——————
The black military boots trod on the embers where sparks still lingered.
Then came more footsteps.
"Major, it really was a trap."
The solemn-faced veteran gazed at the desolation before him.
"Yeah, that's one of their old tricks."
The red dot in the darkness revealed the location of the surveillance camera. He led the main force to infiltrate the blind spot and assigned a Hermes to open the door.
The most troublesome thing for him when a new model of android was sacrificed was writing a loss report that was more than ten pages long.
But compared to the almost total annihilation of the first army, the losses were much lighter.
He touched his right leg, which had become completely mechanized; the wound still ached after all these years.
The sergeant behind him raised his arm and shouted, "Continue the search!"
The young soldier jogged back to report.
"Sir, it's all ashes."
Someone shouted from not far away.
"We've made a discovery; it's a bionic chip, and they've already started researching it."
The evidence was returned to the major.
He simply glanced at it.
"This day was bound to come sooner or later. Are there any other discoveries?"
"Another discovery, sir!"
The soldier put a charcoal-black object in an insulated plastic bag.
"Sir, the [illegible] should be fixed here."
What's this……
The major took the metal part, which had been completely deformed by the explosion, and tried to restore it to its original shape.
If they've already begun researching android technology, what about the other technologies of the Federal Royal Family? Are they also among those they're working on restoring?
The major stared intently at the component in his hand, comparing each possibility in his mind.
A gasp interrupted his train of thought.
"There is a body here, sir."
A crowd gathered around: "A wounded person?"
"It definitely felt like someone was inside just now. Was it this person?"
"Left behind by the main force? How pitiful."
"They can't walk anymore, so they stay behind as human detonators... These demons..."
No one dared to speak loudly; the major's hearing was sharp, and these whispers did not escape his ears.
There was a strange sensation underfoot. The major looked down and a flash of silver light emerged from the embers.
He bent down and picked it up...
...
"ES9934, ES9934, please respond if you hear me."
The young soldier huddled in the shadows, trembling.
"ES9934, ES9934, damn it, is there a deserter in our team? Listen, kid, I know you're here. Wait until we get back, I'll personally send you to a military court!"
He covered his mouth, afraid that the other person would hear the sound of him sniffling.
“ES9934…”
"Alright, let's give up. The mission is more important. We'll talk about the rest when we get back," another voice interjected.
"Hmph, you've come, Lewis. He's lucky."
The sound from the other end of the communication device was a bit distant, but it wasn't cut off.
He held the equipment, unsure what to do. Should he really desert? If he went back, a military court... a place like that... it would mean certain death!
He gripped the communication device tightly, beads of sweat from his palms wiping the microphone, while the loudspeaker emitted a cacophony of static.
"What is it? Is it broken?"
He immediately turned off the microphone.
The soldier sat down, feeling dizzy. His military jacket was soaked with sweat. Frustrated, he took off the jacket and threw it aside, then pulled at the collar of his undershirt to let some air in.
He was already extremely sensitive; the slightest noise could trigger his breakdown, such as the rustling sound coming from the weeds behind him.
The soldier sprang up like a spring squeezed to its limit, trembling as he looked toward the source of the sound.
Two dusty-looking girls emerged from the weeds. The older girl protectively shielded the younger one, who clung to her shoulder and looked at him with curiosity.
The conversation continued on the communication device.
"Lu, I know you're worried about him, but don't worry, he won't be like your son..."
“Shut up, Lewis, you have no right to mention my son.”
Where are you going?
"Find ES9934. Even if he dies, he should die on the battlefield, not in the courtroom."
"I really can't do anything with you, let's go ahead."
The soldier and the two girls were locked in a stalemate.
Clearly, the two girls understood the conversation. Someone was coming for him, which meant they were about to be discovered.
The older girl turned her head, and he saw the small silver earring on her right earlobe, the only adornment she wore. The younger girl had an identical one on her left ear.
The young woman clumsily rummaged through the large bag trailing behind her until she pulled out a gun, at which point the soldier realized what was about to happen.
All he could do was flee in panic.
He was pathetic, pathetic, a coward—yes, he didn't care about these labels; he just wanted to live.
The older girl stood there with her gun raised, still protecting the little girl behind her in that same protective gesture, but they didn't fire.
He hadn't run far when he saw his superior officer coming to look for him. And a sharp explosion.
He lost his troops and his right leg. This was their first encounter.
The second time they met, another explosion occurred, and he finally connected the two girls with the bombing at their mission site.
But he did not report it.
The third time...
The fourth time...
Actually, starting from the fifth time, she couldn't get the better of him anymore. They went back and forth, but he was more tactically mature, perhaps because he lacked her anger. But that was what he longed for.
She couldn't remember when it started, but she became all alone. Something bad must have happened.
He tried to check the combat records, but given the number of casualties they suffered in their battles with the rebels, it was impossible to record everything in detail in the files.
How many times has this happened?
He thought she would be standing somewhere, watching him stand victorious amidst the ruins.
Then she will storm off, lying low and waiting for the next opportunity to turn the tide.
But she didn't. Now she lies at his feet.
"No, she is my rival."
The major spoke softly, taking off his deep red beret and silently holding it to his side.
Seeing their superiors remove their hats, the team members all followed suit.
The guards surrounded Shannon's body, offering a moment of silence as a farewell poem in this desolate landscape.
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