CH 95

TL: Hua

Ever since he was caught and imprisoned in the palace’s prison, Grepa’s life has become extremely monotonous. In addition to getting his three meals a day at the door every day, he just listens to the clanging sound of shackles and chaotic footsteps in the corridor outside.

And these kinds of noisy footsteps were particularly frequent in the first few days.

At first, he was still wondering why there were so many people locked in here, even though there were not many rooms. It wasn’t until one day that this question was answered by a conversation outside.

First there was a sound of footsteps, and then there was the sound of the room next to him being opened. Just when Grepa thought that the single room next to him was about to be upgraded to a double room, the voices of the people inside struggling and questioning came through the iron door into his ears.

“Let me go! Where are you taking me?”

“Hey! Speak up! Are you planning to get rid of me like this without even asking me anything?!”

It lasted for about two or three minutes, during which the person who was about to be taken away was making various noises. Probably because he was in the enemy camp and his companions couldn’t report him even if they knew of his betrayal, that guy kept saying things like “I can leak the secret” and “I will explain everything” in a very submissive manner.

Probably annoyed by him, it didn’t take long for the guards to respond.

“Shut up. I’m just relocating you. There’s no place for you to stay in the palace, even if you want to.”

“Oh, oh, I’m still of some use; just don’t give up on me.”

The voice that was full of resistance at first answered very quickly.

“……” There were so many flaws that Grepa didn’t know where to begin. He just listened silently to the sound of the two footsteps going away and the sound of one coming not long after.

Then the newly captured person was put into the room next to him.

This situation lasted for about half a month; if Clarice didn’t deliberately have people deliver meals irregularly to interfere with his perception of time, after more than half a month, the number of times those patrol members sent new prisoners here decreased, sometimes only once every two to three days.

And a month later, this act of sending people in and out stopped completely.

It was at this time that Grepa realized that the Federation had probably given up on rushing to send information.

What will happen to him after that?

With his back against the cold wall and a thin quilt balled up casually on one side, Grepa lowered his head in thought.

After almost a month’s time, he had basically figured out the criteria for getting people in and out: those who could extract information stayed here, and those who were simply sent here to die were thrown outside and locked up.

So, is it time to start interrogating him now, or is there someone in this group of people who knows more information than he does, and he’s no longer useful and will be dealt with promptly?

If Clarice really comes, to what extent would he have to give a specific account?

Grepa has a very clear idea in his mind. Confession is absolutely necessary. He no longer has any value as bait now, and if he still insisted on keeping silent, the likelihood of being disposed of and replaced is 100%. If he loses his life, he loses everything.

The question now is… how much does he need to say?

He wasn’t left alone with his blind conjectures for too long. Not long after he finished today’s dinner, two more footsteps came from the corridor that had been quiet for several days.

Then it stopped in front of his door.

“Squeak——”

The iron door slowly opened, and the incandescent lamp outside illuminated a small open space in front of the door.

“Long time, no see.”

Ji Mingjiang walked in first, raised his hand to say hello, and then stared at Grepa in silence.

“?”

Just when Grepa began to wonder if this guy was thinking about how to tactfully inform him of his death date, he heard Ji Mingjiang on the opposite side slowly say, “We haven’t seen each other for a month; why are you so fat? Is our food that good?”

“…”

Are you sick?

Can he request another interrogator?

Grepa didn’t expect that after a month since he saw Ji Mingjiang, he would still be half-infuriated by his words when they met again.

After taking a deep breath, he tried his best to calm his mood. He shifted his gaze from Ji Mingjiang to Clarice, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved.

Grepa asked calmly, “What do you want to know?”

“So cooperative?” Ji Mingjiang had absolutely no self-consciousness that he was being disliked. Grepa could still feel the other party staring at him with a look that made him feel a little offended.

“You’re not planning to tell half of it and hide the other half, are you?”

“…” He raised his lips with a smile. “How could that be?”

“That’s good.” Ji Mingjiang nodded and said with a gentle expression, “Then you can start.”

……

More than an hour of tormenting each other finally passed. Watching Ji Mingjiang and Clarice leave here one after another again, Grepa exhaled a mouthful of cloudy air.

He closed his eyes a little tiredly.

***

“He doesn’t know the specific information about the experiment and the medicine…”

After returning to the study, Ji Mingjiang recalled the information given by Grepa and said it with a headache.

“None of the other people who were locked up knew.”

Leiden shook his head.

But this is normal. This kind of experiment that seriously violates human ethics is probably kept secret from the outside world, and key research and development personnel will definitely not receive such a suicidal mission.

“Now that we’ve obtained evidence that the federation has sent spies to the Empire and conducted other illegal and criminal activities, we can next put pressure on their government to decide whether it will be a threat of force or peaceful negotiation based on their reaction. It won’t be a big problem if we bring over the formula of this drug or ask for joint research.”

It’s safe to assume that Leiden knows Abbott Wilson well enough. There is at least a 70% chance that the other party will choose the latter solution between the two options of being directly bombed out of all assets and providing corresponding compensation and a laboratory.

As for whether they will directly expose the disgusting things done by the Federation after receiving the medicine…

Leiden’s hand didn’t even stop for a second as he handed out tasks to his subordinates.

As long as it’s not something the Empire’s people said, what does the internal strife among the Federation have to do with him?

……

With the issuance of orders one after another and the increasingly serious and tense atmosphere within the army, one month has passed since the day when Grepa was officially arrested. Ji Mingjiang ushered in his first New Year—in this world.

He didn’t know if it was the loss of ** during human migration or if something else happened; the day of the Chinese New Year was directly chosen as the special time of January 1st. Ji Mingjinag has had enough of being looked at as a minor with a bizarre mindset and decided to designate this day as his birthday in this life.

December 31st.

When they heard his sudden decision, the faces of everyone present went blank for a moment. Leiden was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses. He looked somewhat dumbfounded at the unperturbed Ji Mingjiang and asked, “No…even if you want to reach adulthood quickly, you can’t just change your birthday so casually, right?”

“Ah, but I don’t remember.” Ji Mingjiang faced the suspicious eyes of Clarice and others and told lies: “I’m a wild mermaid picked up by you guys. Of course, I don’t remember the specific date of my birthday. It just so happens that today is kind of festive, so there’s nothing inappropriate about it, right?”

The inappropriateness is huge, ok?

Kiro looked at the calm-faced Ji Mingjiang and Leiden, who were gradually showing a compromising attitude, in bewilderment, while screaming silently in his heart.

Why are you all so casual?!

Rowlett and Greni also expressed disapproval.

“Forget it; I’ll just give you a new official certificate.” At Ji Mingjiang’s insistence, Leiden finally pinched his nose and agreed to his idea.

“Kiro also needs one.” Leiden, who didn’t want to get entangled with Ji Mingjiang on this troublesome topic, quickly changed the topic and looked at the confused Kiro.

“I was negligent before. Now that you can change into human form and move around freely to the outside world, and you have your own jobs, it’s more convenient to apply for a human certificate.”

“For some considerations …… Greni, would it be okay to do it some time later?”

He asked Greni, who was in a wheelchair, for his opinion.

“Of course I don’t mind. Just do whatever is convenient for you.” Not expecting to also get one, Greni brightened up and agreed without much hesitation.

Leiden nodded. “The supporting laws also need to be updated. I will send the tasks to the relevant departments first. After a year, your certificates should be approved. Later, it can also be used as a sample for those drafting the laws to use as a reference.”

……

January 1st.

At seven o’clock in the morning, Ji Mingjiang was woken up by the chirping of birds outside the window. When he opened his eyes, it was snowing again.

The goose-feather-heavy snow was hitting the window of his room nonstop, and the land outside was once again dyed silvery white.

But something different from before is that in the snow-white world, there are occasionally a few places dotted with a hint of festive red.

“Good morning.”

After eating breakfast, Ji Mingjiang finally remembered the live broadcast that he had left aside for a long time on this particular day. He opened his live broadcast software somewhat sheepishly.

[Should I be happy that Jiang Jiang has not forgotten us? ]

[No matter what, Happy New Year, Jiang Jiang! I assume you started this live broadcast just to accompany me on New Year’s Eve! ]

[Wuhu—Is this the back garden of the imperial palace? It’s so beautiful. I even saw a stomping sika deer hahahahahaha. ]

​[? ? ? Damn it, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Why did your age suddenly change to 17 on your personal page? ]

After he started the live broadcast, the number of viewers in the upper right corner increased rapidly, and barrages of different topics flew past his eyes.

Ji Mingjiang, who chose not to answer because he couldn’t see clearly, said to himself, “I’ve been really busy recently, so why don’t I just do the live broadcast for the whole day? If there are some undisclosed scenes in between, I’ll black out the screen. I’ll keep it on at all other times. You can watch it anytime you want.”

Looking at the obviously excited barrage, Ji smiled and said, “Then it’s decided; the first stop… I’ll take you to see the sika deer.”

[Great! ! ! ]

After swaying around with the camera ball behind him, Ji Mingjiang returned to his room. On the way to look at the scenery, Ji Mingjiang forgot that he was still live streaming. He sat on the sofa, took out his light brain, and then began to play the game.

When the audience, who were originally full of expectations, saw this series of extremely smooth movements, their doubts almost spilled over the screen and hit Ji Mingjiang’s head.

​[? ? ? ]

[Jiang Jiang is playing a holographic game? ]

[If I remember correctly, although live broadcasting can also be done in holographic games, you have to cut off the external live broadcast and then start the in-game live broadcast, right? ]

[Heh, do you guess it’s more likely that Jiang Jiang doesn’t know that he needs to do this to live broadcast, or that he just forgot about us?]

[…I guess it’s the latter.]

[Forget it; let’s hang on for now. I have to clean up the house and help with the cooking. He can’t play games all day! ]

Ji Mingjiang, who had no memory that he seemed to have forgotten something important, logged into the game and as expected, saw Lin Nan and Zhuang Zhiye, who were online.

But……

“What expressions do you two have on your faces? Do I look weird today?”

Looking at the friend he hadn’t seen for a while, Ji Mingjiang lowered his head and glanced at himself. There was nothing wrong with the clothes given by the holographic system?

“No, our expressions are normal.”

“Are you thinking too much? Go go play the game. How long has it been since you’ve been online? Old Zhuang and I are dying of boredom.”

Zhuang Zhiye and Lin Nan exchanged a glance, and as soon as they saw Ji Mingjiang’s actions, they hastily shut down the live broadcast. One of the two people, with an innocent expression, denied Ji Mingjiang’s accusation just now, while the other directly hooked his neck and led the person towards the mecha hall.

“I finally caught you. If I don’t fight you for ten or eight games, you won’t be able to leave. I won’t go easy on you even if His Majesty is here.”

“really?”

“…… Let’s wait until His Majesty really comes.” Lin Nan quickly changed his tone.

“Ha, I knew it.” Ji Mingjiang sneered.

“Don’t use this sarcastic tone! You’re on good terms with His Majesty, and I’m not. Respect! Basic respect, understand?!”

“Yes, yes, Clarice’s fan, how about I give you his autograph as a New Year gift?”

“…”

Ji Mingjiang and Lin Nan entered the game while quarreling. Zhuang Zhiye looked helplessly at the two people who didn’t stop even within the game map.

Forget about Ji Mingjiang, who’s not yet an adult, but what’s wrong with Lin Nan!