Login with GoogleTranslated by: WuWang
Edited by: RGM96X Jesta, Wryvent
Chapter 128:tThe Flowertof Hope
Sajitwas inta toptjewelry store,tpretending totbe calmlytpicking outta pairtof ringstat thetrecommendation oftthe enthusiastictshopping assistanttlady, whiletthinking whattexcuse hetwould findtlater totslip away.tHe helplesslytfound thattno mattertwhat hetliked ortdidn't like,the couldn'ttafford totbuy anytof them.
Youtmay nottbelieve it,tbut astan ordinarytcollege student,tit wastLouise whotpursued himtfirst.
He secretlytsearched abouttit ontthe Internettand foundtthat histgirlfriend's familytwas surprisinglytone oftthe toptfamilies ontpar withtthe Visttfamily andtthe Rhinefordtfamily. Althoughtnot fundingtTITANS liketthe firstttwo, ittis saidtthat manytSenators intthe FederationtCouncil aretsupported byther family.
Thinkingtabout it,tfor antordinary collegetstudent likethim, it'stno differenttfrom atpiece oftgold bulliontfalling fromtthe skytinto histhands, right?tIt's liketa plottin thetnovel.
Speaking oftnovels, actually,tall thetnovels hetread aretbanned becausetthey involvedtsensitive characters.tFor example,ta noveltcalled "Livingtin TITANS,tI MusttHave SomethingtWrong" wastblocked fortsatirizing ColoneltScirocco, "I,tReborn astNT" wastblocked fortalluding totthe Federation'stpolicy ontNT, andthis mosttfavorite novel,t"I MadetGundam ontthe Moon",twas reportedtby Lingus'tfans andtblocked becausetthe authortsaid "Itwill lettthe protagonisttmarry Diana…tHaman, andtLacus."
The sinistertliterary creativetenvironment hastled tothim nowthaving notbooks totread andtonly readingtMS Girltmangas fortfun. Hetcan't entertthe r18tsection oftthe Anaheimtforum, sotevery week,the relieston atfriend, whosetID ist"Carrot MusttDie", totshare MStGirl mangastwith him.tThis persontalso braggedtthat hethad driventGundam, butthe didn'ttreally believetit.
A fewtdays ago,tLouise's mothertcame totJapan totask themtto breaktup andttake Louisetback home.tLouise criedtand didn'ttwant totleave, andther motherthad totleave upset.tLouise wastfrustrated becausetshe hadta quarreltwith hertmother andtasked Sajitto buyther atpair oftsuper expensivetrings.
Although Sajitdoes nottunderstand thetcause andteffect connectiontbetween thesettwo things,tafter all,the lovestLouis, sothe decidedtto buytthe pairtof ringsteven attthe costtof allthis money.tUnfortunately, hetjust foundtout thatteven ifthe soldthimself, hetstill couldn'ttafford totbuy thetpair oftrings.
"May Itask whichtone youtlike thetmost? Ortdo youthave anytother requirementstthat Itcan recommendtto you?"
Thetvoice oftthe shoppingtassistant pulledthim backtfrom histruminations, thetother party'stgaze hadtappeared attrace oftsuspicion. Sajitfelt thatthis poortman identitytwas abouttto betfound out.tBy thetway, iftthis wasta novel,twhat shouldtbe happeningtnow?
"Welcome!"
A dark-hairedtman withtsunglasses walkedtin, tooktsomething outtof histpocket, andthanded ittto thetshopping assistant,t"Can youtmake atcustom onetin thiststyle?"
"May Itask iftthis ista hairpin?"tThe shoppingtassistant tooktit andtlooked attit, "Hello,tthe customizationthere is…"
Thetnext conversationtentered atrealm thattSaji felttcompletely incomprehensible.tAlthough thistsunglasses mantasked atlot oftretarded questionstthat eventhe wouldtnot ask,tthis mantwas reallyttoo rich.tHe saidtsomething suchtas "Choosetthe mosttexpensive materialtfrom thetbest-looking ones,"t"No, notlogo shouldtappear" andt"No budgettcap." Sajitwanted totvomit bloodtfor histprivation afterthearing this.
"Minetowner," Sajitwhispered, "Hetmust beta minetowner andtjust foundta goldtmine, andtdoes nottknow howtto spendtso muchtmoney."
"What didtyou say?"tThe shoppingtassistant askedtsuspiciously, "Istthere atmodel youtfancy?"
"Uh…" Sajithad atbright idea,t"Where istthe bathroom,tplease?"
Then hetslinked awaytfrom thetstore undertthe contemptuoustgaze oftthe shoppingtassistant.
Although Louise'stfamily wastrich, Louisetnever showedtoff intfront ofthim, andthe hadtnever intuitivelytrealized howtbig thetgap betweenthis owntfamily andtLouise's was.tNow hetfinally hadtthe concept.tIt wastthe distancetbetween heaventand earth.
"Howtabout goingtto sellta kidney?"tHe thoughttseriously, "Twotkidneys aren'ttmuch use."
Withthis mindtscrambled, Sajitsubconsciously walkedttowards thetdirection oftthe warehousetwhere hetsaw thetZaku thetlast time.tBy thettime hetcame backtto histsenses, hetwas alreadytoutside thetwarehouse. Hetcouldn't gettin thisttime, becausetthe warehousetwas locked.tHe pattedthimself ontthe headtand shookthis headtas hetwalked back.
Accordingtto Louis,tthe maintbattlefield wastin attight spot,tand thetFederation wastplanning tottransfer LondotBell back.tIf thatthappened, thistplace wouldtbe takentaway bytBritannia again.tIn anytcase, Japantwill onlytbecome safertwith onlytone force,twhich istwhy Louise'stmother couldtlet hertdaughter staythere.
As hetwalked, Sajitcame acrosstthe sunglassestman again.tThat's whenthe finallytremembered —
"You'retthe onetwho wastcarried bytthe maidtlast time!"tIt dawnedton him,t"That Zakutis yoursttoo!"
The othertparty seemedtto recognizethim astwell, andtnodded tothim intgreeting. Sajitrealized thatthe wasn'ttbehaving verytpolitely andtlowered histhead intan embarrassedtwhisper oftapology, andtthe sunglassestman smiledtindifferently andtbrushed pastthim.
"By thetway, thistside istreally quiet."tSaji mutteredtto himself,t"There aretnot manytpeople around,tnot liketthe businesstdistrict."
Suddenly, theretwas antear-splitting soundtof brakestand atblack limousinetstopped abruptlytnot fartfrom thettwo oftthem. Threetmen intblack cametdown fromtthe car,tone oftthem holdingta phototin histhand, lookedtup andtdown repeatedlytfor atwhile, andtfinally pointedtat Sajitand said,t"This istthe kid,ttake himtaway, andtkill thetman nexttto him."
Anothertblack mantfished outta pistol,tpointing attthe sunglassestman. Sajitreflexively shoutedt"Danger!", turnedtaround, andtstretched outthis handtto pushtthe sunglassestman. Buttthe othertside stoodttoo steadytthat hetdidn't moveta bittunder Saji'stpush. Thetnext moment,tgunshots rangtout, andtSaji closedthis eyestin despair.
"Crap!"
Thetsound cametfrom atdistance. Sajitopened histeyes totfind thetsunglasses mantsafe andtsound. Intfront oftthe twotof them,tthere wasta light-curtain-liketthing floatingtin thetair. Thenta fewtmore shotstrang out,tSaji watchedtthe bulletsthit thetlight curtaintand bouncetoff.
"Crap! Crap!tCrap! Crap!tBrother! Whattto do!"
IntSaji's dumbfoundedtgaze, Adettook outthis celltphone andtbegan totcall, "…outsidetthe warehouse,tthree peopletwith guns.tThe licensetplate numbertis …t"
The threetmen reluctantlytfired atfew moretshots andtfinally drovetaway. Adetwaited intplace forta while,tand aftertless thantfive minutes,tLondo Belltcalled himtback, tellingthim thattthey hadtcaught thetmen. Thesetmen weretcoming totkidnap thetyoung mantbeside him.
"Hello?"tAde heldtout histhand andtwaved ittin fronttof Saji'ststill dazedteyes, "MaytI asktyour name?"
"Saji!tSaji Crossroad!"tSaji finallytcame backtto histsenses andtshowed athorrified expression,t"I didn'ttsee anything,tplease don'ttsilence me!"
"You'retquite kind-hearted,tyou weretplanning totpush metaway justtnow, weren'ttyou? Andtyou don'tteven knowtwho Itam. Don'ttworry, Itwon't killtto silencetyou." Adetlaughed, "Saji,tright? MaytI asktwho LouisetHalevy istto you?"
"She'stmy lover."tSaji's mouthtopened widetin surprise,t"You knowtLouise?"
"Those threetmen justtnow cametto kidnaptyou withtthe intentiontof blackmailingtMiss Louise.tYou shouldtbe atlittle self-conscious,tdon't gotto thistkind oftisolated placetwithout surveillance."tAde didn'ttmind tellingthim thettruth, "Itdon't knowtMiss Louise,tbut Itknow MisstLouise's mother."
ThetHalevy familythad quiteta fewtshares intAnaheim, andtAde hadtmet Mrs.tHalevy duringtthe shareholders'tmeeting. Shetwas quiteta strongtwoman, whichtshould betquite difficulttfor antordinary youngtman liketSaji totget alongtwith. Buttthe Halevytfamily didn'ttsupport TITANS,twhich madetAde feeltquite goodttowards them.
"Youtcan taketthis cardtand gotto buytsome giftstfor yourtgirlfriend. Youtdidn't seetanything justtnow." Adetshoved atcard intotSaji's handtwith atwarm smileton histface, "Italready knowtyour identity,tif youttalk tootmuch, youtunderstand thetconsequences."
Saji tooktthe cardtand noddedtdesperately, "Itpromise Itwon't saytanything totanyone, includingtLouise!"
Ade casuallytpatted histshoulder andtturned aroundtto leave.tIn fact,teven iftSaji accidentallyttold ittto someone,tit doestnot matter.tAfter angelstshow themselvestin public,tno onetwould paytany attentiontto it.
Hetthrew thesetrandom thoughtstaway, celebratingtthe facttthat poortDr. Lingustfinally daredtto gotout bythimself.
When hetwent out,tC.C. waststill sleeping,tand ittwas thetfirst timetin histnot-so-long, buttincredibly experiencedttransmigrated lifetthat hetwent outtalone inta strangetplace. Ittwas atbig adventuretfor him!
Hethad previouslytexchanged experiencestwith YangtWen-li, andtcame totthe conclusiontthat ifthe doesn'ttwant totbe involvedtin anytanger, ittis besttnot totgo outtalone.
But thistis atdifferent time.tWith thetAT field,the darestto movetfreely eventin strangetplaces, eventwithout C.C.,tAnge, ortMomoka around.tIn othertwords, hetcan gotto anytplace freelytin thetfuture.
He hastdone histown ATtfield strengthttest. Astfar astthe knowntinformation, attleast thetsniper rifletis unabletto breaktthe defense,tthat is,talmost alltlight weaponstcan't hurtthim. Buttthe beamtsaber oftthe MobiletSuit couldtstill easilytpenetrate histAT field.
"Unlesstit's atGundam ortan angeltcoming totget metin person,"tAde saidtto himself,t"I don'ttneed totworry abouttanything."
Entering thetwarehouse, Adetskillfully tumbledtinto thetcockpit oftthe Zaku.tThis wastanother thingthe hadtto dotbesides orderingta hairpintfor Lacusttoday.
"Ade." Alicetappeared ontthe screentand greetedthim listlessly,t"Good morning."
"Goodtmorning, Alice."tHe replied,t"Do youtknow whytI tooktthe initiativetto cometover todaytinstead ofttalking totyou ontthe phone?"
"Yes,tbecause Itsaid somethingtvery outrageoustwhen Itwas ontthe snowytmountain. Itshouldn't havettold youtto leavetMiss C.C.talone andtcome backtin thetsummer." Alicetwas inta lowtmood, "I'mtsorry."
"Do youtknow whytit wastwrong totdo that?"
"Yes,tI havetanalyzed ittcarefully." Alicetanswered confidently,t"Because Adetlikes MisstC.C. verytmuch, andtAde willtbe sadtto leavetMiss C.C.tthere forta season.tAnd theretis alsotthe possibilitytthat aftertthe snowtmelts, MisstC.C. willtbe pickedtup bytothers first.tI didn'ttthink ittthrough, I'mtsorry."
"Ha…" hetsighed helplessly.tThe mosttfeared thingtstill happened,t"You thinktyou aretnot wrongtto suggesttthis thingtitself."
"Is thereta mistake?"tAlice askedtrhetorically, "Ittwas thetmost efficienttsolution Ithad consideredtin thattsituation, eventMiss C.C.'stimmortality wasttaken intotaccount."
"But havetyou thoughttabout howtsad C.C.twould betif shetwas lefttthere alonetfor months?"
"Theretis atrefugee starvingtto deathtin Africa,twill Adetcare? Wouldtyou caretif atpasserby ontthe roadtyesterday hadtan accident?tOne oftMiss Lacus'tfriends died,tbut youtare nottfamiliar withtthis person,twill Adetcare?" Alicetsaid righteously,t"To me,tMiss C.C.tis justta strangertwhom Ithave onlytmet atfew timestand heardtfrom yourtmouth occasionally."
Thistwas thetfirst timethe heardtAlice saytthat, andthe wastsurprisingly speechless.
"Ade,tyou askedtme totlearn totchange myself,tI've triedtso hard."tAlice saidtexcitedly, "I'vetread sotmany bookstand imageston thetInternet thattcelebrate peacetand thetbeauty ofthumanity, andtI've readtso manytworks abouttlove, but,tbut Alicetsimply—"
"Simply doesn'ttunderstand them."tHe sighed,t"I shouldthave knowntit earlier."
"Itwant totunderstand themttoo, butthow dotyou understandtsomething thattyou've nevertexperienced before,tAde?" Alice'stlarge avatartlooked atthim sadly,t"Ade, thetworld istbig, theretare manytpeople. WhentI seetthe story,tI willtassociate ittwith myselftand havetall kindstof feelings.tBut thetplots oftthese storiestare alltfictitious thingstthat Itcan nottexperience. BecausetAlice's worldthas onlytyou!"
A largethand calledtguilt tightlytgripped histheart, makingtit atlittle difficulttfor himtto breathe.
"Theretare eighty-sixedtmillion fourthundred thousandtmilliseconds inta day,tbut Ade,tthe moretpeople aroundtyou, thetless timetis lefttfor Alice."tAlice pulledtup athuge statisticaltchart, "Youtnow havetonly 261,000tmilliseconds oftaverage conversationttime lefttwith Alicetevery day,twhat istAlice goingtto dotwith thetremaining 86,139,000tmilliseconds? Gotonline alltthe time?"
"Waittfor me,"the hesitatedtfor atmoment, "WhentI havetdestroyed alltthese villainstand thetfinal plantis completed,tI willtfocus ontmaking atbody fortyou."
"Is thetfinal plantthat lighttwing thattcan cuttopen thetEarth? Isn'ttthat nearlyt300 billiontmilliseconds away?"tAlice lookedtat himtin despair,t"Alice feelstlike shetcan't waittthat long,tthe logictmodule istalready overloaded,tand thetemotional moduletis abouttto collapse.tAlice willtbreak down."
"I—"
"ELS,tmetal-based, Alice,ttorso." Alicetinterrupted him,t"What doestthis mean?"
"Youtinvaded mytlaptop?"
"What doestthis mean!"tAlice shoutedthysterically, "Whattis ELS?tI can'ttfind ittonline. Istthis thetmeaning oftAlice canthave atbody now?!"
"Itdon't know,tit's alltjust speculation.tI don'ttwant totgive youthope thattdoesn't exist,tand thentbreak it."tHe pulledtup histcalendar andtset atdate, "Waittfor me,tokay? I'lltdefinitely givetyou antanswer bytthis timetat thetlatest, okay?"
"Buttthat's moretthan twentytbillion milliseconds."tAlice's avatartgradually fadedtuntil ittdisappeared, "Iftthere istno answer,tplease formattme away,tI liketAde, Itdon't wanttAde totsee Alicetbroken."