Conquest of a Certain Lord - Chapter 276：Griffin

They were now certain, the computer Orr chose was the Queen’s hiding place, he was not a mole, but the galaxy’s savior! In order to give timely feedback on the battlefield, just like brain controlled mech, manual mech had real-time monitoring equipment installed. Orr’s every action in the information center was recorded, and it was not only reported to the military, it was spread throughout the barracks. He didn’t hesitate to stop Kane, then he quickly ran out to find the right computer and implanted the chip, efficiently completing the task.

But this was nothing, the most shocking thing was the video of the two minute fight he had with Kane. He was clearly using a manual mecha, but his smooth moves could put a brain controlled mech to shame. With only one side kick, a heavy punch, and a sharp elbow jab, Kane’s mech was completely destroyed, then he pulled Kane out of the cockpit and nonchalantly tossed him aside, this move was unspeakably callous, yet so dashing.

The heavy and slow manual mech, under his control, was exceptionally flexible and agile, if he was using a brain controlled mech, it was not difficult to imagine how powerful his combat effectiveness would be. After watching the video, all of the soldiers were awed by General Orr’s superb combat level and combat awareness.

The military repeatedly analyzed the video, and finally concluded: Kane attacked Orr first, and his purpose was to destroy the chip already inserted into the computer. If Orr hadn’t stopped him, the salvation mission would’ve been a failure. Therefore, Orr wouldn’t bear any responsibility.

The survivors of this catastrophe were very satisfied with the results of this verdict, except Kane Celayan, who was furious, and sent complaints to the military court several times, but they were mercilessly dismissed. Kane almost put the chip into the wrong computer, almost causing the mission to fail, and he also spouted those foolish sentiments, which was enough to offset his previous honors.

“For those seven months Orr was in a coma, who was fighting on the front line? Who faced up against the robot army and pushed them back, again and again? It was me. But because of that computer chip, they ignore all my previous efforts and achievements, and praise Orr, this is so unfair.” Kane half sat up on his hospital bed, and said with a calmness he didn’t feel.

Nan Qing’s expression was awkward, he seemed to want to comfort his older brother, but he couldn’t find the right words. This was how the world worked, no one saw the sweat and labor other people put in, they could only see the flashy and gorgeous results of success. After considering for a few minutes, Nan Qing gently said, “Big Brother, I know it hurts, but you should look at it from another perspective. You should thank Orr, if he hadn’t stopped you in time, you would’ve become the Empire’s greatest sinner.”

“I still have to thank him?” Like he’d heard a big joke, Kane smiled coldly. He didn’t want to be grateful, since they were kids, Orr always outperformed him, and after finally receiving such a good opportunity, Orr destroyed it. Since Orr knew which computer the Queen was in, he should’ve just told him and let him perform the task, rather than abruptly snatching the chip away. When all was said and done, this was merely a fight over a military achievement.

Restraining his loathing, Kane nodded, “You’re right, I’ll let it go. The matter has already passed, it makes no sense to brood over it. Has Orr woken up?”

“He was still in a coma when I went to visit him yesterday. Wait a while, I’ll go check on him again.” Nan Qing couldn’t help but feel relieved seeing his brother give up on Orr. Orr was currently Asaph Galaxy’s Superhero, he would soon be promoted and honored. He was now a General, so he could be promoted to Admiral, a 27 year old Admiral was unprecedented in Asaph Galaxy. Plus, he had a special advantage, he still had at least 300 years left in his lifespan, whereas the other four Admirals, and even the Marshal, were already ancient, and might soon retire.

With the way things were headed, Orr stood a strong chance of becoming the supreme ruler of the Empire. Nan Qing sketched out a brilliant future with Orr in his mind, and his heart couldn’t help but race. He was going to start clinging to Orr, instead of keeping him hanging like before.

But first, he must find out the identity of the boy claiming to be Orr’s lover. The mocking remark he’d made to the Old Marshal over the com (Where did you find this idiot?), was currently already spreading throughout the Empire, and the label of “Idiot” was being forcibly placed on his big brother’s head, he was being ridiculed by people around the world. Because of this sentence, his brother’s career suffered an unprecedented blow. To shake off its influence, it’d take at least a few years, and he also needed to work harder than everyone else.

Nan Qing grew more indignant the more he thought about it, he stood up and rushed towards Orr’s ward.

Kane stared at his younger brother’s impatiently leaving back, his eyes slightly squinted. He would never allow Orr to outshine him again, perhaps that plan they had prepared could now be implemented.

—————

Zhou Yun Sheng was lying on the hospital bed, lifting up Orr’s eyelids to check his pupils. He reviewed the video of the fight many times, he noticed details that ordinary people missed, like when Orr grabbed Kane’s wrist, his eyes had changed color, from light brown to pure black, a silver light emanating from them. Because he was standing in the shadows at that time, the change could only be seen in the side mirror, so those not looking carefully would find it hard to detect.

Zhou Yun Sheng confirmed it, that man was not Orr Assai, but his lover. So currently, he was holding onto a small flashlight, repeatedly examining Orr’s eyes, at this moment, Orr woke up, and asked dully, “Joe, what are you doing?” The teenager had flipped open his eyelids too many times, he was feeling an obvious stab of pain.

“I’m examining you. You’ve been unconscious for three days and three nights.” Zhou Yun Sheng flicked off his flashlight and lazily sat up. The person currently awake was Orr Assai, but strangely enough, he didn’t feel disappointed or depressed. Because now he had proof that his lover was already in this body, and could wake up at any moment. He could think of ways to wake him up while waiting, that was much better than the seemingly hopeless situation he was in before.

“I was really unconscious for three days and three nights?” Orr made a fist, his body felt like it was full of violent energy, there was none of the weakness of being unconscious for a long time. He even faintly felt like he could tear a mech to shreds with his bare hands.

“Do you remember what happened before you fell unconscious?” Zhou Yun Sheng flipped open his laptop, and as usual, wrote an observation diary.

“I followed Kane into the information center, we found the Queen, she was furious, but she couldn’t drive us out. Kane was about to insert the chip into the main processor … …” Here, Orr stopped, and started massaging his furiously aching temple, then hesitatingly said, “I can’t remember what happened after that. I fainted?”

“Yes, you fell into a coma, but before that, you stopped Kane and snatched the chip away.” Zhou Yun Sheng absentmindedly narrated while typing.

“I stole the chip?” Orr looked shocked.

“Yup, you took the chip and inserted it into the correct computer. Nobody knew, when I cut off the Queen’s connection to the outside world and tried to confine her in the terminal system, she broke free at the last second, and transferred to another computer. The magnetic field I’d set trapped her in the information center, but to find the right computer among hundreds of thousands in thirty minutes, the vanguard army was bound to fail. But congratulations, you completed the mission.”

Orr was astonished, he murmured, “But I don’t remember anything…”

Orr fell into a trance for one second, but quickly sobered up, he nodded while giving his thanks. He knew how overly suspicious those military people could be, if they found out about his abnormalities, he’d be subject to endless investigation and surveillance.

“Before they come to question you, you’d better watch this video a few times, remember every detail.” Zhou Yun Sheng tossed over a USB, then stood up and walked away.

“Thank you.” Orr felt touched, every time he woke up from a coma, the boy was always there to accompany him, and always solved all his troubles for him. Perhaps the Marshal was right, maybe the boy really did like him, but he just wasn’t very good at expressing it.

Orr had just enough time to watch the video before the officers came to repeatedly question him about why he was able to find the Queen’s real computer. He used “intuition” to explain his inexplicable behavior. Intuition was a very reliable motivation for people with extremely high level spiritual power, so it wasn’t difficult to win their trust. Many special people, by virtue of their intuition, escaped death numerous times, and performed many illustrious military feats. In the army, the soldiers preferred to call intuition the combat awareness.

The military investigators accepted his explanation, and departed after wishing him well.

Orr breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to pour a glass of water to wet his patched throat, when Nan Qing excitedly pushed open the door.

“Orr, you’re awake!” He rushed into the ward, then looked around and hesitantly asked, “Where’s Joe? Did he leave?”

“He was busy with something else, so he left early. Phoebe, come sit, do you want some fruit?” Orr handed over a red apple. After the AI rebellion, humanity started living like mice, driven underground by the Queen. Even food was a problem to get, not to mention fruit, this was a special treatment that only the Empire’s hero could enjoy.

Nan Qing glanced at Orr’s slightly flushed ears and felt very satisfied. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and peeled the apple while grumbling, “Orr, did you find a boyfriend behind my back? Didn’t we make a promise? No matter who finds their other half first, they must introduce them to the other person.”