After resting for several days, everything had finally settled down. It was time to set out again.
Lin Yi stepped outside the Rainbowlight Ship with Zhuixing. At the docking port, Dongfang Qiqing was already waiting.
Zhuixing had actually warped over on her own a few days earlier. When Lin Yi presented her with his "gift" — herself — she hesitated briefly before accepting it.
After the incident, Argenti's ship, "The Rarest in the World," had gained enormous value. The IPC offered an astronomical price to buy it from him.
Lin Yi intercepted the deal.
Under the excuse of research, he borrowed the ship from Argenti. After the research was finished, it would be returned, and Argenti would receive the newest luxury Interstellar Premium-class battleship as a temporary replacement.
One that he wouldn't even need to return afterward.
Lin Yi was indeed curious about the ship, though not excessively so. The Rainbowlight Ship could be studied just as well. Borrowing it mainly helped Argenti avoid the pressure from the Company.
But the moment the ship arrived at Space City, Herta immediately borrowed it.
She even offered to erase the favor Lin Yi owed her for the Phase Spirit Fire.
Lin Yi had already explained the cause and outcome of the incident to several geniuses during his free time. Their desire to study it was only natural.
With things put that way, he had no choice but to let it go.
Since the journey was continuing anyway, it was better to enjoy it.
Of course, Lin Yi hadn't done absolutely nothing during those few days. He had conducted some preliminary research.
At the dock, Dongfang Qiqing was speaking with a refined middle-aged man.
They shared a slight resemblance.
"Qing'er, I know you don't like me," the man said gently. "But everything I've done was for your sake."
He paused.
"Let's not talk about unpleasant things."
"Now that you're under a Genius's protection, your path is far wider and safer than the one I arranged for you."
"This is a rare opportunity. Treasure it."
"Take care of yourself while you're away from home. If you need money, ask the family."
"And if you encounter difficulties, don't carry them alone. Your parents are still here."
He noticed Lin Yi approaching and quickly ended the conversation.
"Mr. Lin Yi," he said politely, removing his hat, "it is Qingqing's honor to be valued by you."
"Though she is young, she received elite family training. She has knowledge in many fields and is capable in most matters."
"If you need anything, feel free to use her abilities."
"I won't take up more of your time."
"Farewell."
The man left cleanly.
He didn't even leave his name.
Though as he walked away, he stopped several times, glancing back at his daughter.
Lin Yi watched quietly.
"Parents' love for their children is always sincere."
For a moment—
he thought of home again.
He shook away the unnecessary melancholy.
"Board the ship."
"Next stop: Kasbelinyat VIII."
He glanced at Qiqing.
"Or should I drop you at Space City first so you can get used to the work?"
"You can also come with us. This trip should be interesting."
Qiqing thought briefly.
"I'll follow you."
It seemed wiser to stay close to her future boss and learn more about this Genius.
The Rainbowlight Ship didn't warp directly to the destination.
Instead, it warped nearby and began traveling slowly.
To truly understand a place, you couldn't look only at the place itself.
Sometimes you can't see the mountain clearly because you're standing on it.
"This is Humboldt-σ, very close to the target area," Zhuixing said.
"It should meet your requirement of traveling slowly and observing."
"Oh, by the way — you once passed through here before and took someone with you."
"Do you remember?"
Lin Yi thought for a moment.
"Lancelot?"
"The idiot who tried to rob the Rainbowlight Ship and got beaten half to death by the automatic defense weapons?"
"Yes."
"What happened to him afterward?"
"He's now the captain of the third security squad in Space City."
"Uncle Igor thought he had potential and trained him with the guards."
"He's worked very hard and didn't waste his talent."
"I saw a psychological analysis report in the logistics department. He has a deep obsession."
Zhuixing sighed.
"Teacher, the people you bring back are never normal."
Lin Yi snorted.
"And you and Ranpo are normal?"
Then he suddenly froze.
"Wait."
"Make that expression again."
"Your emotions… they're normal now?"
Zhuixing smiled.
"Hehe. Yes, teacher."
"After becoming an Emanator of Elation, my emotions stabilized."
"But too much emotion actually interferes with research."
Lin Yi sighed.
"So it took all these years… and it still wasn't technically cured."
Zhuixing shook her head.
"That's not fair."
"If you and Sister Ruan Mei hadn't helped stabilize my genetic defects, I would've returned to my old condition."
"And with the power of Elation restoring emotions over and over again…"
"That would've been torture."
Lin Yi nodded.
"Still, it's good."
"For once, Aha actually did something decent."
"Now you finally act like someone your age."
He changed the topic.
"Speaking of Igor… he hasn't returned to Belobog since his rebirth, has he?"
"No."
"He says he isn't the real Igor."
"He shouldn't go there pretending to be someone else."
Lin Yi frowned.
"That's overthinking it."
"He has the same memories, the same thoughts, the same genes."
"Who dares say he isn't the same person?"
"Yes, Screwllum can't match Nous."
"Ruan Mei isn't Yaoshi."
"And the memories I 'borrowed' from the Garden of Recollection aren't personally granted by Fuli."
"But this kind of test is simple."
"Anyone who scores full marks is the same."
Except for the soul.
Lin Yi kept that thought to himself.
The Igor now was essentially a new life born from a corpse.
His memories and personality were identical.
But he still wasn't the original.
Even geniuses couldn't steal a soul.
Lin Yi's earlier words were mostly meant to comfort him indirectly.
Qiqing listened quietly.
Igor…
I feel like I've seen that name somewhere before.
Probably just coincidence.
Zhuixing noticed Qiqing's confusion and explained briefly.
"Igor was a person from Jarilo-VI seven hundred years ago."
"He died during a Legion invasion."
"A year ago, several geniuses revived him."
"Using a method inspired by Aha."
An imitation of Aha.
Lin Yi silently added in his mind.
"They tried recreating Aha's method."
"Choosing Igor was simply coincidence."
While chatting, Zhuixing suddenly noticed a passing merchant ship.
"Teacher, a merchant vessel is passing."
"Are we blending into the crowd again?"
Lin Yi nodded.
"Yes."
"Hide the Rainbowlight Ship in phase space."
"We'll disguise ourselves as stranded survivors and board it."
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right. I almost forgot about you."
He turned to Qiqing and handed her a small antique-style ring.
"Here."
"This is for you."
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