The blue-eyed Major General sat quietly in his chair, legs crossed, hands resting on the armrests.
His dark hair fell over the sharp corners of his phoenix eyes, his expression cold and indifferent, as if the scene that had just unfolded did not affect him.
He remained seated calmly, ignoring the gazes coming at him from all directions.
The teenager standing behind him with his hands behind his back had slightly curved eyes and a faint smile, like an innocent child unaware of the world. His smile carried a hint of naivety as if he had just done something completely ordinary.
The audience hall was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Suddenly, the front of the hall lit up, and the heavy white curtain hanging in front slowly unfolded. A tall figure appeared before the crowd.
The appearance of Her Highness the Princess, with her sun-like golden hair, immediately drew everyone’s attention. Even dressed in a nobleman’s attire, it did nothing to diminish her radiant beauty—in fact, the outfit only further accentuated her tall, slender, and graceful figure.
Her flowing golden hair cascaded like a waterfall over her white gown. As she descended from the platform, her slightly upturned almond eyes looked down upon everyone, her expression filled with haughty pride, as if her arrogance radiated from her very core, making her presence even more dazzling and captivating.
Her beauty was not of an extravagant kind, but one of overwhelming majesty, blazing and radiant.
“My father is unwell, so I have come in his place.”
Princess Salome’s bright emerald eyes swept over the crowd as she spoke.
Several people exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward, bowing slightly before asking a question.
“May we inquire about His Majesty’s health? Would it be possible for us to visit him?”
“You need not worry, my father is not seriously ill.”
The princess replied calmly.
“Today’s audience has been postponed. Please rest for now, and my father will summon you all at a later date.”
“Understood… Your Highness, we will take our leave for now. We hope His Majesty makes a speedy recovery.”
With someone taking the lead, others gradually began to leave.
Of course, there were also quite a few people who remained standing, unmoving.
Princess Salome’s gaze swept across the room and landed on Major General Taylor, who had already risen to his feet.
Then, under the gaze of everyone present, she strode toward Major General Taylor without hesitation. The cold arrogance she once carried melted away the moment she saw the Major General. Her eyes blazed as she looked at him, unconcerned by the stares of others, and she greeted Major General Taylor with a radiant smile.
Her Royal Highness was infatuated with that handsome Major General.
Watching the princess practically ignore everyone as she rushed straight to Major General Taylor, many couldn’t help but sigh. Meanwhile, the young men who admired Princess Salome looked rather displeased.
The princess’s actions were an almost blatant declaration of her special feelings for the young Major General. They had all tried various ways to curry favor and flatter her, yet Her Highness barely acknowledged them. But that Major General didn’t have to do anything—just standing there was enough to earn her a beautiful smile.
This kind of preferential treatment should have been infuriating—but looking at the princess and the Major General standing there together, it was like a scene from a painting. One could almost see invisible roses blooming around them. The beauty of the moment was so picturesque that it made anyone feel that disrupting it would be unforgivable.
The young men suddenly felt a pang of frustration.
Damn, is being good-looking that impressive?
After dismissing the others, Princess Salome had only Major General Taylor remain behind.
Before leaving, Mier didn’t forget to present the antique Earth instrument to Princess Salome, who gladly accepted it. Though she hadn’t appeared earlier, the hall was filled with dust-like particle monitors, so the princess knew exactly what had happened. Naturally, she had also heard the beautiful music the instrument played.
However, despite happily accepting Mil’s gift, she didn’t give him any special attention. Mil, feeling disappointed, left with the others. Before leaving, he shot a resentful glance at Major General Taylor, who had been left alone with the princess.
No one cared about his displeasure. All they saw was their princess smiling radiantly at Major General Taylor.
The Major General’s expression remained calm and unreadable, showing no emotion. However, after the princess quietly said a few words to him, he began to walk, following Princess Salome as they left the room.
The two, as perfect as a painting, quickly disappeared from view. Naturally, Miao Te and Robin, who had accompanied them, couldn’t follow and were soon escorted out by the guards in the hall.
As soon as they left the audience hall, a servant came to escort them to their assigned accommodations.
When Princess Salome had approached earlier, Miao Te had instinctively smiled at her, wanting to greet her as an old acquaintance.
But the princess didn’t even glance in his direction, treating him as if he didn’t exist. Not only did she not speak to him, but she completely ignored him from start to finish.
Feeling awkward about the princess’s arrogant disregard, Miao Te quietly remained silent.
Thinking about it, he realized he had been too presumptuous. Even the noble sons and decorated officers of the Empire didn’t have the right to speak to the princess, so wasn’t it natural that a lowly soldier like him, without even a rank, would be ignored?
Besides, she was half his savior, and he had deceived her once, so he deserved to be ignored.
With this realization, the teenager no longer felt disappointed. Given his thick-skinned nature, he didn’t dwell on it.
It was rare to come to the capital star of the Galactic Empire, reputed to be the most prosperous planet in the universe, so Miao Te felt he had to go out and explore.
After confirming with Robin that they were free to move about the capital without restriction, Miao Te couldn’t wait to go out and explore.
Robin thought for a moment and realized he was also bored. The Boss and that beautiful princess could be talking for quite a while, so going out to pass the time wasn’t a bad idea. After all, the Boss hadn’t ordered them to stay in the room and wait.
To be honest, ever since Miao Te arrived in the interstellar era, he hadn’t seen what a so-called prosperous interstellar city looked like.
When he first woke up, his grandfather was worried that he didn’t know anything, and might get into trouble, so he kept him at home and didn’t let him go out. Later, they left the planet immediately. On Major General’s Forna Star, he had stayed in the villa the whole time and never went out. So Miao Te still had high expectations for the most prosperous planet in human civilization.
He had thought that stepping outside would reveal a high-tech, three-dimensional, fantasy-like city—just like the sci-fi movies he used to watch on Earth.
But when he saw it for real, he was deeply disappointed.
There were no alloy skyscrapers or lightwave pathways in sight. There wasn’t a trace of futuristic sci-fi elements. Instead, the city was filled with ancient villas and small castles.
The palace, located in the center of the city, occupied nearly a third of the massive urban landscape, built upon a mountainside with imposing grandeur and majesty. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a platinum glow. Though vast and magnificent, it was intricately detailed, with graceful, curving lines that spread out like a giant piece of art—stunning to the extreme.
Anyone who saw it for the first time would be struck with awe and admiration.
The teenager, however, was indifferent.
In his era, Earth had long since restored all the ancient palaces destroyed by war, even recreating the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the sunken city of Atlantis exactly as they had once been, now open as free attractions to the world.
He had long been immune to such grand and majestic palaces in the ancient style.
What he wanted to see were towering metal skyscrapers, lightwave tracks crisscrossing the city like a web, various types of spacecraft, and sky trains filling the air with interstellar flair.
“Huh? What’s so great about that? Cities like that are everywhere,” Robin responded. “The royals and nobles wouldn’t live in such tasteless places.”
No, no, for me, that kind of style has true class!
Miao Te thought this expressionlessly.
“The sky above the royal capital is covered by a huge electromagnetic field. Any flying devices that enter will crash due to interference. Oh, and by the way, near the palace, even laser guns and similar weapons aren’t allowed,” Robin said casually, walking with his hands behind his head, and glancing around.
Something caught his eye, and his gaze lit up.
In the direction of his gaze, away from the bustling avenue, at the end of a winding, quiet path, stood a quaint wooden building. A bright red silk ribbon hung at the entrance, adding a seductive touch to the otherwise elegant wooden door.
“Uh… kid, I’ve got some private business to attend to. You can head back on your own,” Robin said, swallowing slightly.
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you say it was boring to walk around? Just head back.”
“I’ll walk around a little longer.”
It wasn’t often he could move around freely, so Miao Te didn’t want to go back too soon.
“Alright, try to head back as soon as you can. If the boss returns, send me a message right away.”
He let out a hearty laugh, casually waved his hand, then turned and walked toward the wooden building over there.
He wasn’t worried about Miao Te getting into trouble. After all, this was the imperial capital where the Emperor resided, and no weapons were allowed. Anyone causing trouble here would be challenging the Emperor’s authority, and no one was foolish enough to do that.
After parting with Robin, Miao Te continued wandering the streets alone. There were many soldiers in Imperial uniforms along the way, so he didn’t stand out. He walked leisurely, squinting his eyes and enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face.
Along the roadside were many small shops selling colorful fruits he had never seen before, translucent blue eggs, fragrant twigs and leaves, a drink that looked like a lump of charcoal but melted into a liquid with a light squeeze, and many other strange things he had never encountered. He stared at them curiously for a while, wondering if he should buy some to take back, only to suddenly remember that he didn’t have any money. Although he had become a soldier under Major General Taylor, there had been no mention of a salary.
If he’d known, he would’ve borrowed some money from Robin before they split up.
Miao Te thought this with a bit of regret.
As he was looking at those interesting things, someone suddenly stood in front of him.
Miao Te looked up and saw that it was the nobleman who had presented the piano to the princess in the audience hall earlier… Ah, yes, his name was Mil, if he recalled correctly.
Looking at the young man and the few burly Imperial soldiers following behind him, he felt a bit nervous.
He had embarrassed this noble in the hall earlier—was this guy here to confront him and teach him a lesson?
“Miao Te. Lord Uriel, greetings.”
Mier smiled warmly at him and extended a hand.
“…Hello.”
Mier’s attitude was completely different from what Miao Te had expected, and it took him a moment to respond before shaking the offered hand.
“I’ve come to apologize for my rude behavior earlier this morning.”
Mier’s attitude was exceedingly polite as if he were a completely different person from the morning.
“I hope you can forgive me.”
As the saying goes, “You don’t hit someone who’s smiling at you.” Even though Miao Te didn’t have a good impression of him, since Mier was being so humble and apologetic, he couldn’t say much. He just smiled and indicated that he didn’t mind.
“If you have some time now, I would like to speak with you.”
“No, I have something to attend to right now, I need to head back…”
“It’s about the instrument you played. I’d like to discuss it.”
“…”
“That Earth-originated instrument—after hearing the music you played this morning, I believe it only truly shines in your hands. Oh, by the way, we’ve made more than one replica.”
“…”
“Could I take up a bit of your time?”
Mier smiled as he spoke.
The teenager relented.
Miao Te had a pretty good guess as to why Mil’s attitude had taken such a sudden turn.
Mier had probably investigated his background and learned that Miao Te held an ‘SS-class badge and had the qualifications of an ‘SS-class’ professor. That was why he had suddenly become so polite.
His sudden shift from arrogance to politeness undoubtedly meant he wanted something from him.
The most likely reason is that they hope he can teach them the techniques and methods of playing the piano. Otherwise, holding a replica piano without knowing how to use it would be like standing at the entrance to a treasure without the key to open the door.
Only by understanding how to play the piano and producing truly beautiful music could they maximize the potential of this Earth-originated instrument. This would earn the piano the admiration of the aristocracy and even royalty, thereby increasing the influence of Mil’s family and their recognition among the public.
Miao Te thought that exchanging a piece of sheet music for a piano wasn’t a bad deal for him.
Since childhood, he had learned piano from his mother, a pianist, and under her influence, he had always believed that art knew no boundaries. Whatever Mier’s family’s motives were, their goal was ultimately to elevate the piano’s status and make people appreciate and value it.
Over time, he had come to understand that due to the frequent wars across the galaxy, humanity had focused heavily on the development of technology and weapons, leaving culture and the arts rather lacking. If managed properly, the piano could quickly gain popularity among the upper nobility.
After thinking it over, he accepted Mil’s invitation. However, he didn’t agree to go to Mil’s residence but instead chose a high-end restaurant on the street at random.
The two-person booth was very quiet. Since it faced the street, they could see the passersby through the bright glass, and naturally, the people outside could also see those inside the booth.
Mier, noticing that Miao Te had chosen this spot out of caution, didn’t seem to mind at all. He had no ill intentions anyway. He casually ordered two drinks and had the waiter leave the booth. The burly Imperial soldiers who had accompanied him remained stationed outside, ensuring no one approached.
In the quiet booth, Miao Te took a sip of the pale yellow drink in front of him. It was salty, with a hint of alcohol. The flavor was strange but surprisingly pleasant, so he took another sip.
“May I ask what position Lord Uriel currently holds?”
“…”
“Lord Uriel?”
“Uh… well.” Since he wasn’t used to being called by the surname Uriel, Miao Te didn’t respond at first. He swallowed his drink and then replied, “Just like I said earlier.”
He had declared in front of everyone that he was just an orderly, so he couldn’t change his story now.
“How can that be? For someone as knowledgeable as yourself, a mere orderly under Major General Taylor seems like a waste of talent.”
“Well… it’s fine…”
“This is an insult to your capabilities.”
Mier spoke firmly.
He looked at the now-silent Miao Te and said in a serious tone, “Lord Uriel, you’re too young, and I fear you’ve been misled by Major General Taylor, your talents wasted. You must understand that your knowledge deserves the best treatment, not to be squandered as a lowly soldier, subject to orders at anyone’s whim.”
As he spoke, his gaze toward Miao Te was filled with eagerness.
“On behalf of the Tami family, I invite you to join us. I can promise that we will provide you with the best treatment. You may ask for anything you desire, and we will do our utmost to fulfill it. If you join us, you will be treated with the utmost respect.”
It seemed the Tami family was both greedy and shrewd. They weren’t satisfied with just gaining a little knowledge from him—they wanted to poach him entirely.
The teenager sighed.
It seemed the idea of trading a single piece of sheet music for a piano was no longer an option.
He wanted a piano.
As he sighed, he stood up.
Since his goal was no longer attainable, there was no reason to continue the conversation.
“Lord Uriel?”
Seeing Miao Te stand, Mier’s expression darkened slightly, but he still asked politely.
“Well, let me think about it first.”
Noticing the change in Mil’s expression, Miao Te quickly spoke.
Alone and outmatched, he’s unable to confront this person directly. He would have to stall for time and figure things out later.
He put on a hesitant expression and said,” After all, it was Major General who saved me back then. If I just leave like this, it doesn’t feel right…”
“I understand how you feel, Lord Uriel, and I admire your sense of loyalty. But repaying a debt shouldn’t cost you your future. If you agree, we will provide Major General Taylor with sufficient compensation to repay your debt of gratitude. How about that?”
Seeing Miao Te’s hesitation, Mier believed he was tempted and quickly pressed his advantage.
“But… but… let me think about it.”
Miao Te continued to act indecisive, and this made Mier relax even more.
After all, dealing with an indecisive person was much easier than someone resolute and unyielding. So Mier softened his tone again and continued smiling as he spoke to Miao Te.
“Please don’t rush. I’m very sincere. I’m willing to wait as long as it takes, and whenever you decide, my promises to you will still stand.”
Miao Te nodded, then stood up and opened the door of the booth.
As soon as he opened the door, the men standing outside moved to block his way. Miao Te glanced back at Mier, who smiled and gestured for them to step aside.
The teenager was beginning to feel a little dizzy, likely due to the drink he had earlier. The alcohol had tasted mild, so he hadn’t expected it to affect him, but now the delayed effect was making his head swim.
He shook his head vigorously and slowly made his way toward the door.
Mier’s voice came from behind him.
“Lord Uriel? Are you alright? Do you need me to take you back?”
“No need…” Miao Te quickly replied, trying to clear his mind. “If you take me back and the Major General sees us, it’ll be bad.”
“Hmm, you’re right.”
Mier nodded and couldn’t resist bad-mouthing Taylor.
“After all, Major General Taylor has a terrible temper, is unbearably arrogant, and incredibly self-righteous. I’m sure he treats you poorly.”
Unfortunately for Mier, his attempt to bad-mouth Major General Taylor was wasted, as Miao Te was too dazed to hear any of it.
He stumbled out of the restaurant, and the breeze outside helped clear his head a little.
Miao Te oriented himself, then stepped down the stairs, planning to retrace his steps back.
Since Miao Te refused his offer to take him back, Mier didn’t want to follow him and risk upsetting him, so he simply stayed behind and finished his drink before doing anything else.
The nobleman sat in the booth, a satisfied smile on his face, calmly watching through the bright glass window as the young professor, whom he believed he had swayed, descended the restaurant’s steps.
Believing that the professor had already been persuaded and would eventually join his family, Mier wore a smile of certainty, thinking about the rewards he would receive for bringing this treasure back to his family.
But in the next moment, that smile froze on his lips.
Someone suddenly lunged at the teenager who had just stepped down from the stairs, raising their hand high.
The sharp blade of a dining knife arced through the sunlight, flashing coldly, and plunged deeply into the unsuspecting teenager’s body.
The bloodstained knife was violently pulled out.
The blood that sprayed from the teenager’s chest splattered across the attacker’s twisted face—
Like the red wine splashing across the floor as Mier leaped up in shock, knocking his glass to the ground—
“Hahahaha! It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault!”
The young man who had stabbed the teenager in the chest laughed maniacally, his face twisted into a horrifying expression.
“If it weren’t for you—if it weren’t for you! I would’ve been the most praised person in that exam! I would’ve been the genius everyone admired! I was destined to rise above everyone!”
“You ruined everything! You ruined it all—so just die! Die! When you’re dead, I’ll be the only genius!”
The young man with a ferocious expression seemed to be roaring with all his might, veins bulging on his forehead.
He raised the sharp dining knife high in his hand and once again stabbed fiercely at the teenager lying in the pool of blood at his feet.
***
Translated by NightOwll
***