Well, Jiang Jianming didn’t dare to let the old teacher talk nonsense anymore, so he quickly gave him a cup of new coffee and sent him away.
He pondered alone for a moment, took out his small notebook and pen from his chest pocket, and began to write and draw habitually, sorting out the scattered information.
The known things were as follows: First, the Emperor Kaios and His Highness Ryann of that year both decided to go to the Crystal Nest to die.
Second, both the great emperor and Little Highness did not explain the reason to the public. Her Majesty the Emperor and the Chief, plus perhaps Old Marshal Chen, they should know the reason, but also chose to hide it.
From this, two inferences could be extended: First, the secret hidden in the Crystal Nest is likely to be a truth that will cause public unrest, and may directly concern the safety of the empire and even humans. This also corresponds to what the chief said to him, “It’s not good to come into contact with certain things too early.”
Second, either the time is not yet ripe, or they still have room for choice. In short, the policy of Silver Big Dipper can still be undecided, and the emperor can still eat sunflower seeds with the chief every day, which shows that things have not reached the point of urgency.
Jiang Jianming was meditating and tapping the corner of the table lightly.
No matter what, he was determined to go to the Crystal Nest. So what he hoped to confirm most now was the importance of the expedition to the Crystal Nest, in order to persuade the military department not to turn the strategy of Silver Big Dipper into contraction, and it was best to continue to send expedition fleets.
The wind chime rang again, and the customers in the coffee shop came and went. Jiang Jianming came back to his senses, it was not early, and the window was dyed with colorful clouds by the sunset at some point.
He knew that he was “recovering from a serious illness”, and that His Highness would be anxious if he wandered outside for too long. He quickly cleaned up, and sent a message to Diana with his wrist device, asking her to help pay attention to the Holy War period——
Especially during the fourth and fifth Holy Wars, whether there were any special changes in crystal particles or alien creatures.
After finishing the work, Jiang Jianming walked out of the coffee shop.
On the gray-white tiled street, there were not many pedestrians, and occasionally there were air vehicles rushing over their heads.
As he walked, he took out the face cover from his pocket, ready to hang back to the White Jade Palace.
Suddenly, a beautiful figure flashed in front of him. A young woman in a plaid skirt ran a few steps from behind and called out softly, “Wait, please stop.”
Jiang Jianming turned his head, “You are…”
“Excellency Jiang! You are Colonel Jiang Jianming, right?”
The young woman’s eyes were wide open, her simple ponytail was a bit messy, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
She said hurriedly, “I, I am a member of the Non Crystal Species Protection Association, and also a journalist, um, my name is Yang Xiaozhen…”
Jiang Jianming immediately remembered, he had seen this girl on TV before, she was active and bright in the interview, which was quite different from her current appearance.
He glanced at two men not far away holding mini cameras, their expressions also tense, and vaguely realized something, “Sorry, I don’t have time now…”
“Excellency Jiang!!” Yang Xiaozhen interrupted him hastily, her face showing a panicked expression, “We, we have heard some…rumors. Can you give us some time…”
Jiang Jianming was about to walk away, but upon hearing this, he sighed inwardly and stopped.
He looked at a secluded street corner, “Can we talk over there?”
Several people walked to a deserted place. As soon as they stood still, Yang Xiaozhen timidly asked.
“Are you really a chronic crystal disorder patient?”
A cold wind blew between the two of them, and the withered leaves on the road were blown away.
A cold, iron-like color appeared in Jiang Jianming’s eyes.
He had never publicized his chronic crystal disorder. Even close friends like Tang Zhen, Bei Man’er, Diana, and the reliable deputy Zheng Yue didn’t know about it. How did Yang Xiaozhen, a common citizen of the empire, find out?
Looking at her panicked reaction, she probably didn’t know when she was interviewed a few days ago, and only found out recently.
The military hospital would never leak patient information, so it must have been when he had an attack and was carried out by His Highness, it was probably one of the generals or followers at the military headquarters at the time. Who spread it…
…No. Jiang Jianming pursed his lips and thought, it doesn’t matter who it was. This is the truth, there are no walls that don’t leak in the world.
“Please answer me!!” Yang Xiaozhen raised her voice, but she was trembling.
Even though they deliberately went to the corner, it didn’t help much. With such a loud shout, people soon noticed this side.
People peered in, pointing and talking with various expressions.
“It’s Colonel Jiang.”
“It’s the inspector.”
After a few seconds of silence, someone said, “That’s Miss Yang from the Non Crystal Association, she… she must be asking…that thing.”
Obviously, more than one person knew about the chronic crystal disorder.
“…”
Jiang Jianming looked back at Yang Xiaozhen. This girl was pretty and should be about the same age as him, in her early twenties, in the prime of her youth where any passionate impulse was allowed.
The two men behind her, who looked to be in their twenties, were looking in his direction with an indescribable complex gaze.
“Yes.” Jiang Jianming nodded calmly, admitting it.
“I am indeed sick.”
In the twilight, the wind rose again. Yang Xiaozhen seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer on her head, showing a vacant expression.
A few seconds later, the woman said bitterly, “So, you were able to join the army because you had chronic crystal disorder, not because of the power of the non crystal race itself?”
Jiang Jianming’s eyebrows twitched, and the corners of his lips inadvertently revealed a bitter smile.
He actually guessed that the girl would react this way, but…this person really, can’t she pretend to care about the patient with terminal illness first?
Don’t young people nowadays know how terrible chronic crystal disorder is?
Jiang Jianming didn’t show much courtesy to her, and said in a flat tone, “You should also know that in terms of resisting crystal particle interference, the non crystal race does have a natural disadvantage.”
Yang Xiaozhen’s eyes widened again, and the word ‘disbelief’ was written in her pupils.
The two men behind her looked at each other, and then at Jiang Jianming…It’s as if he’d said red rain fell from the sky. (TL: something that is impossible to happen, describes something unexpected and rare, and by extension describes some abnormal situations)
Jiang Jianming took a deep look at the camera, and then moved his gaze away unintentionally.
“You may hope that I can say something inspiring,” he said slowly, “but you are wrong, I do not recommend that the non crystal race join the army…It is not friendly to let the non crystal race go to the battlefield casually, whether it is for himself or his comrades.”
A stone stirred up a thousand waves. Countless low and fragmented voices, unable to distinguish what they were saying, surged from the crowd not far away.
“You…” Yang Xiaozhen’s fingers were trembling, “How can you…say such a…”
“But,” Jiang Jianming continued, his calm tone did not change at all, “people are creatures with free will. If a non crystal race really desperately wants to go to the battlefield, he will naturally find a way to overcome his own disadvantages. At that time…”
Yang Xiaozhen’s eyes were red, and she shouted, “Is the method you’re talking about crystal disorder!? Do we have to fill our lives to fill this natural gap?”
Jiang Jianming didn’t speak, he raised his collar in the cold wind and cast his gaze somewhere in the void.
For a moment, he remembered the tactical training room of the military academy in his youth, and the red crosses symbolizing “failure” on the model.
How much does it take to cross this bright red gap? How deep is it, the further you go, the deeper it is?
But as long as you can keep going, he thought.
Just keep going…
But Yang Xiaozhen suddenly raised her face, she was panting, her face showed an expression of anger and pain, and deep sorrow.
“Why hide the disease.” She almost accused, “Why not let the public know! We always thought…”
…But no one has ever asked me, if you ask, won’t I say it? Jiang Jianming withdrew his gaze, thinking helplessly.
The man behind her persuaded her awkwardly, “Ah Yang, let it go.”
But Yang Xiaozhen’s emotions got out of control, she stubbornly blocked Jiang Jianming, “How did you get sick!? Crystal disorder is contagious, and privately holding real crystal ore is also illegal–”
Jiang Jianming: “Sorry, someone is waiting at home, I should go.”
“So,” Yang Xiaozhen’s eyes were red, she stared at Jiang Jianming and yelled, “You were able to get promoted so quickly because you got on the power of the nobles, is this rumor true as well!?”
Jiang Jianming thought about it and believed it was indeed the case.
He nodded, “I think so.”
Some voices came out from the crowd, as if a young man had cursed. Tears slid down Yang Xiaozhen’s cheeks at this moment.
She looked at Jiang Jianming with trembling shoulders and choked, “We once regarded you as a belief, as the light of hope for the non crystal race–but now, now…”
The girl wiped her face and sniffed, “Don’t you want to say something? To everyone?”
Jiang Jianming: “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t play dumb!” Yang Xiaozhen, with tears in her eyes, yelled sharply, “During this period, all non crystal race have regarded you as a hero, they worship you, admire you, and even believe in you!!”
“You silently enjoy these halos, use our expectations, and become the universally acclaimed Little Excellency!! But these are all fake, you are just a selfish–”
“Ah Yang!” The man who had just spoken to dissuade her scolded, “Don’t say too much… Ah Yang!”
He hastily apologized to Jiang Jianming, “Colonel Jiang, I’m sorry, our girl… You, you better go, there might be trouble when there are too many people…”
Jiang Jianming was silent, he met Yang Xiaozhen’s resentful and tearful gaze.
He certainly knew that this girl was expecting him to say something.
Some inspiring words, acknowledging the possibility of the non crystal race; and adding his own hard struggle and perseverance, expressing how much he cared about species equality.
He knew how to say those words, and he also had achievements that could prove himself.
As long as he spoke well, he was still the hero in everyone’s mind. And when this girl calmed down and thought about it, realizing the hardship of chronic crystal disorder patients joining the army, she would definitely feel sorry for him and further deify him.
Jiang Jianming thought about it for a moment, he walked towards another man holding a camera, and noticed that the man had a microphone in his hand.
It’s very small, made into a cufflink, actually more like a bug. He pointed to the cufflink and signaled the man to take it off for him. “Then let me say a few words.”
The man was momentarily intimidated by the officer’s demeanor, and hurriedly took it off for him.
Jiang Jianming tapped it lightly and tested the sound. Then he looked up and looked at the corner of the street in the backlight of the dusk. There were many people standing there, many people were looking at him.
“You.”
He lowered his eyes and spoke slowly, “Have you given me money?”
“…”
The echo echoed endlessly in the street corner.
“…?”
Yang Xiaozhen paused for two seconds before raising her head in astonishment.
“Huh?”
For a moment she thought her ears were broken, or her brain was broken, or she was daydreaming.
Maybe all the pain and confusion of these two days were a nightmare, and when she woke up, she was still the Yang Xiaozhen who could fight for her dreams. That would be great, but someone just wouldn’t let her go.
Jiang Jianming: “Do you know how much money I spent to go to the Far Star, and how much money I owe my friends?”
Jiang Jianming: “Do you know how much a tranquilizer costs, how much it costs to start a military treatment cabin, and how much a box of new crystal mechanical bullets costs?”
Jiang Jianming: “You haven’t donated a single coin to me, so what use is your worship, admiration, and faith to me?”
“People in the ancient Blue Star Era believed in gods and Buddhas and knew to donate some incense money. Now the crystal particle believers also raise money to repair churches and build statues. You regard me as a belief without my permission–”
The young officer raised his eyebrows coldly, word by word. “Have, you, given, me, money?”
****
“Have, you, given, me, money?”
In the picture, at the corner of the street in the twilight, the black-haired and pale young man’s eyebrows and eyes were cold, speaking with an extremely serious tone and compelling momentum, saying something without any image.
The chandelier of the White Jade Palace sprinkled light on the corner of the wrist device, and on the big bed in the bedroom.
Jiang Jianming had just come out after taking a shower, his body was half wet, he laughed and shook under the covers, playing with the wrist device over and over again.
“I didn’t join the army to improve the rights of the non crystal race, nor did I join the army to prove how heroic the non crystal race are.”
The young man in the picture stood still. “Everything I do is based on my selfish desires.”
“As for the rights of other non crystal races, I don’t have the energy to care about it, it depends on everyone.”
“I am not the savior you expect. For this, I feel…”
Normal people here would say “I’m sorry”.
But the officer calmly said: “very regretful.”
After speaking, the officer returned the microphone to the stunned man and turned and left.
The picture freezes, the video ends. The number of comments below was still increasing rapidly.
Jiang Jianming didn’t scroll down the comment area, he was happy for a long time, then looked up to the side. “…Your Highness, don’t make that fierce face, don’t you think it’s funny?”
As soon as the words fell, he heard a harsh “pop”.
His Highness the Crown Prince was originally facing away from him, leaning against the window blowing the cold wind, his hands were clenched tightly on the window sill, his veins bulging.
But as soon as Jiang Jianming spoke, the red gold crystal bone uncontrollably exploded from his wrist, shattering the alloy glass window of the palace.
“…How.”
Garcia gasped and turned around, his eyes murderous, and said hoarsely, “Can you be so indifferent to yourself.”
