Distance to Gemini System: 25 days. December 24, 2319, 21:00.
Recorder: Transport Ship No. 3 · Security Platoon Leader.
December 16, 2319, 07:14:15
Karl von Reiss walked into the Military Prisoner Transport Ship No. 3 (Hades Formation) · Cell No. 7. He was in uniform, his footsteps heavy; perhaps something important was weighing on his mood. There was no record of his visit in today's patrol schedule for the cell block. Clearly, he did not want anyone to know he was here. What does he intend to do? Who is he meeting?
07:24:30
Yuri Volkov walked into Cell No. 7 wearing his uniform. His steps were light, his demeanor natural, revealing no abnormalities. Why would these two meet here? If it were official business, there are plenty of public venues available.
09:30
Von Reiss walked out of Cell No. 7 looking relaxed, his pace brisk. Perhaps the private matter he discussed with Volkov had been resolved. What they spent 2 hours and 16 minutes discussing is unknown. The surveillance equipment in Cell No. 7 had been removed.
10:01
Volkov walked out of Cell No. 7 with an expression of doubt and astonishment. The two left the cell one after the other. What conversation content troubled him so?
I entered Cell No. 7 but found nothing amiss. One bed, two stools, one table. Nowhere to place surveillance equipment. Micro-bugs are also unsuitable; Volkov is a combat engineer captain and is intimately familiar with such listening devices.
December 17, 2319, 07:30:27
Von Reiss entered Cell No. 7 again. Before entering, he habitually tapped his right leg with his right hand. Judging from observation, today's conversation topic is significant.
08:00
Volkov finally entered the cell. His pace was very slow. He seemed to be pondering a very important question. What are he and Von Reiss plotting?
10:07:42
Volkov walked out of Cell No. 7 with a complicated expression. His eyes seemed somewhat glazed. What did he see? What happened inside Cell No. 7 to confuse him so profoundly?
10:15:12
Von Reiss walked out of Cell No. 7 with a smile. He was holding a spinning top in his hand. It didn't look like anything special. What secret does this spinning top hide?
December 18, 2319, 08:11
Volkov stood at the door of Cell 7, his legs seemingly trapped by something. His body was trembling; he was hesitating, debating whether to enter.
What has happened between him and Von Reiss over these last two days? Von Reiss had already arrived at Cell No. 7 thirty minutes ago. I have checked many times; there is nothing in the cell.
Twenty minutes later, Volkov pressed the switch and walked in.
Three hours later. 11:14
11:30
Von Reiss came out. His face was also grave. The relaxed expression from yesterday was gone. The rhythm of his right hand tapping his right leg was slower. What was he thinking? After leaving the prison block, he went to the level 3 dining hall, sat alone, and began to eat. A standard medium-well steak set. Very fitting for his habits. He ate slowly, his eyes fixed only on the food in his tray. Even his movements while cutting the steak were standard and precise.
Von Reiss is like a precision machine. He isn't as dull as most people assume; he rarely reveals his thoughts, always following behind Admiral Heinrich Brenner like a shadow.
December 21, 2319, 07:02:27
Today, Volkov entered the cell first, waiting for Von Reiss's arrival. This is the fifth day he and Von Reiss have met alone here. It is the first time he has been this proactive. His expression seemed somewhat excited. Before entering the door, his hand touched the cross on his chest. He is a devout believer in God. This is a habit he has kept for years. Does this indicate that today he will discuss something related to God with Von Reiss?
07:10:19
Von Reiss walked into Cell No. 7 holding a stack of paper. What does he want to write? Is there something that requires paper to communicate?
After they left, I went in to check for any traces, but the two were extremely cautious and left nothing behind.
December 22, 2319, 09:12:15
Volkov walked out. His face was terrible, pale as a dead man. His legs didn't seem to belong to him, merely moving forward blindly and slowly. Wait, I saw something incredible. Volkov took the cross he had worn for years from his chest.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Impossible. This is a hallucination. Volkov is an extremely devout believer. No one could force him to remove the cross from his chest, except Death or the Devil.
What exactly happened in Cell No. 7? His conversation with Von Reiss must be critically important. Are they plotting to seize the warship? Impossible; the failure rate is as high as 90%. The Brenner family ranks among the top military dynasties within the Ashen Protectorate of Lethe.
No sergeant on these dozen warships would dare betray him; the probability of such an event is too small. Almost impossible.
On the 8th day, they did not appear in Cell No. 7. It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Today, Volkov arranged for personnel from the engineering department to conduct an inventory of existing weapons and equipment. 60% of the weapons were listed for replacement. Is this the prelude to a mutiny?
I checked the relevant file records; the weapon replacement plan was approved by Brenner. The paperwork came down a few days ago.
Is Brenner having Von Reiss secretly arrange some plan?
I cannot easily hand over these materials. All these years, I have been secretly recording everything about Von Reiss, just to find one real opportunity to bring him down. I only have one shot. Once I fail, Von Reiss won't let me live to take a second shot. Everyone here underestimates Von Reiss's camouflage.
A few days later, several transport ships carrying a batch of weapons left the Prisoner Transport formation. Action Officer: Yuri Volkov. Plan: Deliver the outdated weapons to the Ashen Protectorate of Lethe ahead of schedule.
After leaving the detection range of the Hades Formation, the transport ships changed course. Destination: Keres-7, a gray dead star.
Days earlier.
Vera Costa stood before Marcus Drake.
"Costa, you are the person I trust most, and you are my family." Drake patted Costa's right shoulder. "This cargo transaction involves hundreds of millions in credits. I need you to go to Keres-7 personally to complete this deal." At the end of the corridor, Drake looked out the porthole at the pitch-black space. Days like this would end soon. He missed his lovely granddaughter.
"Yes, Godfather," Vera answered with her head bowed, her voice respectful and steady.
"Karl von Reiss will also send his people to receive this batch of goods. The condition he offered is to trade half the value using old weapons from the warship. The other half will be paid via credit chips. Although I watched him grow up, you need to be cautious."
"I understand. Please rest assured, Godfather. But after I leave, I am somewhat worried about your safety." Vera finished speaking and nodded slightly, her left hand naturally resting against her chest—hidden there was a tiny chip. It did not contain the cargo manifest, but a candid photo. The photo showed a girl with deep purple eyes: Annie von Reiss.
It was the only color she had seen in Drake's private terminal. In this black empire filled with greed, calculation, and bloodshed, that girl named Annie was like fragile porcelain, imprisoned in a cold hospital room. Vera had stroked that photo countless times in the darkness; it was the only "cleanliness" she felt in this hell.
She knew Karl had become Drake's running dog for his sister's sake. She also knew that if this deal succeeded, Karl would only continue to be blackmailed by Drake, and Annie would never gain true freedom.
For those purple eyes... Vera recited silently in her heart. I'm sorry, Godfather. But I must betray you this once.
"No need to worry, my child. I'm not so old that I can't walk. There are others here."
"Make preparations early. Irene Zhang has already sent word. The shipment of 'Echosium Echo' is ready and is being transported to Keres-7."
"Yes." Vera took one last look at Drake, turned, and left.
Commander's Office
"Sir, Volkov has taken the cargo to the designated location for the transaction. In half a month, he will return with the funds for the new weapons to report back," Karl reported, standing before Brenner's desk, his tone standard and cold.
Brenner stood up, walked over to him, and handed Karl a glass of red wine. After they both took a sip, Brenner said, "Karl, I know you will get this done. I have high hopes for you. After returning to the homeland this time, you will study at the military academy for a while, and then wait for the Ministry of War to notify you to take over the position of Colonel."
"Thank you, sir." Karl gave a standard military salute.
He concealed the cold light deep in his eyes. Volkov wasn't going to trade; he was going to harvest.
Location: Vicinity of Gemini. Coordinates: RA 06h45m+3h43m, Dec -16°42′+35°20′
Several small military transport ships piloted by Volkov waited quietly. In the dark space, only the ghostly blue light of the instrument panel illuminated his expressionless face.
Just then, the computer screen showed a signal source approaching.
"Sir, capturing
signal," the adjutant reported. "Dr. Irene Zhang's transport ship."
Volkov nodded slightly, his eyes fanatical yet calm. Irene Zhang had indeed given all the identification codes to Karl.
"Send the signal."
"Sir. Use Vera Costa's digital signature?"
"Correct. Tell them I am Costa's person, here to receive the cargo."
Inside the Echo Messenger Cabin.
"Received signal from Vera Costa," the operator confirmed. "Code match correct."
"Move closer to her. After this job is done, I'm going to the Darwin Nebula to have some fun." The captain relaxed his guard, never anticipating that the person sending the signal was not the loyal female assassin, but a madman who had just abandoned God.
One hour later.
The Echo Messenger was forcibly locked onto and boarded by several armed transport ships.
After brief gunfire, everything returned to a deathly silence.
"Sir, all personnel on the have been killed. The shipment of 'Echosium Echo' has been secured." Volkov looked at the corpses on the floor without any fluctuation in emotion.
He walked to the control console and looked at the still-flashing sender ID of "Vera Costa."
"Well done", Volkov whispered to himself. "The True God Vesper will guide us to the path of truth."
"Change into their flight suits and modify the ship's identification codes. We will disguise ourselves as Drake's men and continue to Keres-7. The real buyer is still waiting for us there."
Days earlier, Irene Zhang's Secret Lab.
Irene Zhang watched the data stream pulsing on the screen; it was the real-time course map of the Echo Messenger.
Her finger hovered over the Enter key, trembling slightly.
"This is the only chance," she whispered to herself.
A line of encrypted notification popped up on the screen: "Identification code sent. Karl von Reiss confirmed receipt."
This was the secret deal she had reached with Karl. To ensure her family, thousands of miles away, could escape Drake's control, she not only handed over the formula for "Echosium Echo" but also voluntarily provided the supreme identification code for the cargo's transport ship—the .
Karl von Reiss looked at the star map, his fingers tapping gently on the desk.
The piece has been played.
Crowley:
Humans believe that faith brings them strength.
In truth, those who receive a response,
They are simply those standing in the correct position.
On this timeline,
She took off the loyalty on her chest for that wisp of a deep purple phantom.
He threw away the cross in his hand to embrace the golden light of the void.
On another timeline,
She held a gun, guarding the oaths of old.
He knelt on the ground, begging for forgiveness that did not exist.
No one made the choice for them.
Choices simply happen simultaneously, on different paths.
Some roads lead to the core of power.
Some roads lead to the firelight of sacrifice.
Different lives,
Different experiences.
Ψ???thereby manifests more distinct realizations.
(End of Chapter 124)
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