Chapter 130
This place is in the mountains outside the Yami Kingdom. Cyrus took the excuse of letting the wild beasts out for a walk and came out alone.
We are now deep in the mountains and forests, where the shadows of the trees sway.
There wasn't a soul in sight. The beasts scattered, leisurely exploring the unfamiliar territory, occasionally running off for a while before returning, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Cyrus told 098 that the gift could be passed on.
Despite having received many wonderfully surprising gifts.
But Cyrus couldn't help but look forward to this trip—and then, he froze the moment the stick figure handed over the gift.
The stick figure diligently dragged out a large bunch of bamboo seedlings from the system interface, explaining that these seedlings needed to be planted in a suitable place to serve as a food source for the cubs.
098 counted on his fingers. "[This cub mainly drinks milk now, but after weaning it will need to eat bamboo, bamboo shoots...]"
[By the way, this is currently the best app for reading aloud and listening to books. Install the latest version.]
[I have some stored here, but I need the host to plant a large bamboo forest as soon as possible.]
Cyrus was still staring blankly at the cub lying on the ground, whimpering incessantly.
His gaze lingered on the cub's unusually prominent dark circles under its eyes, and he finally spoke, "098... it seems you gave me a panda..."
[It's not just a guess, it's definitely true.]
098 tilted its round head in confusion: [Host, this panda cub comes from the same world as the White Wolf, white fox, and Husky...]
Cyrus glanced at the White Wolf Ice Cream, who was playing with two half-grown cubs, and thought to herself, "So it's someone from the same hometown."
Then, he squatted down and reached out his hand to the panda cub, stopping his hand in front of the cub's round head.
"Hmm~"
The panda cub lay on the ground, its soft limbs pawing at the green grass that was already sprouting around it, making soft, babyish sounds.
Seeing that the cub did not reject him, Cyrus went a step further—he gently stroked the panda cub's black and white fur.
It's soft and delicate, very comfortable.
"Hmm~"
The panda cub stretched out its two black paws to Cyrus, wanting a hug.
Cyrus: Ah, I'm dead!
He successfully picked up the panda cub.
When the cub's soft body nestled against his shoulder, an indescribable feeling of fullness and overwhelming happiness instantly filled his heart...
Although the panda cub was heavy.
After hugging for a while, Cyrus felt her arms and wrists ache.
So he found a tree to lean against, sat down, and placed the panda cub on his lap to nurse it.
This bottle of milk was retrieved by 098 from the system mailbox, specifically for storing breast milk.
Of course, after finishing this bottle of milk, Cyrus would have to find another source of milk.
Pandas primarily eat bamboo.
Bamboo has relatively high environmental requirements and prefers to grow in warm and humid places, such as in the south.
While breastfeeding, Cyrus was also planning the future food reserves for the precious cub on her lap.
Eggy, drawn by the smell of milk, ran over, curiously trying to get closer to the panda cub whose limbs were wrapped around the milk bottle, but was immediately pushed away by a black paw.
The panda cub grunted twice, showing how possessive it was of its food.
Cyrus picked up Eggy and held it beside her, stroking its little head as she continued reading the panda-related knowledge she had redeemed from the System Library.
--Aside from sleeping or engaging in short-distance activities, pandas spend up to fourteen hours a day feeding.
An adult giant panda eats between 15 and 38 kilograms of food every day.
The reason why giant pandas choose bamboo as their main food source is that this plant is widely distributed, grows rapidly, and has a very high starch content, which enables pandas to survive.
The panda cub had finished a whole bottle of milk, and its Rollie little body lay back on Cyrus's lap. The empty bottle was being held and shaken by its two dark front paws, as if it still wanted to drink more.
But the cub's belly was already swollen.
Cyrus went to get the baby bottle, intending to have 098 put it back in the system mailbox first.
But when he tried to move, he realized his legs were numb...
After a short while, he successfully snatched the milk bottle from a panda cub, had 098 fill it up, and then called the wild animals that were having fun back to their enclosure.
His beasts were so conspicuous that walking through the royal city was like "parading through the streets," drawing the gazes of countless people.
Fortunately, his beasts are also quite famous.
From the very first day they arrived in the Yami Kingdom, they had already been seen by the people of the royal city. Although most people were still afraid, they had become accustomed to it and would at most keep their distance.
Today, however, someone blocked Cyrus's way.
She was a bright and beautiful young woman; it was clear that she had been well protected during the pandemic.
Because her face didn't show much of the weariness of despair, although she was somewhat thin, she possessed a beauty that made people want to protect her.
The girl was clearly afraid of the huge and imposing beasts behind Cyrus, but she still mustered up her courage to stand in front of him and shyly handed him a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
This flower is pink and white, with a touch of pale yellow around the center, giving it a refreshing beauty. The clusters of flowers droop down, their fragrance wafting in the breeze.
This flower is Linobili Flower unique to the south, blooming only near spring and having a long flowering period, lasting until almost summer.
The flower's meaning is "Accept me, love me."
Because of the special meaning of flowers.
Therefore, in the Yami Kingdom, it is often picked by young men and women to express their love that they are too shy to express openly.
When someone gives you a bouquet of Linobili Flower, it means that person likes you and is expressing their feelings for you.
If you accept this bouquet of flowers, it means you've accepted the person's feelings, and you can try to develop the relationship further.
Cyrus didn't recognize the flower, and naturally, she didn't know the meaning of the Linobili Flower or its significance in the Yami Kingdom.
But this did not stop him from rejecting a young girl's affectionate offer of flowers.
Anyone with eyes can see what she means.
But after Cyrus refused, the girl did not leave. Her eyes were glistening with tears, and she bit her lip, on the verge of sobbing.
She held the bouquet firmly, hoping that Cyrus would accept it.
Just as Cyrus was feeling troubled, His Holiness the Pope appeared.
Segalot's face remained expressionless; a mere sidelong glance was enough to frighten the girl away.
Cyrus: "..."
He reached out and touched the Egg Yolk of a panda cub lying on his back, thinking to himself, "If you had come any later, I might have been scared off by the ferocious beasts."
The bouquet of flowers was accidentally dropped on the ground before the girl hurriedly ran away.
Segalot glanced at it indifferently. "Linobili Flower."
"Linobili?"
Cyrus also looked at the flower, then stepped forward and picked it up.
He brushed the dust off the petals and said, "It's a lovely name. I've never seen it before. It's probably a flower unique to the south. It's very beautiful."
The floral fragrance is also fresh and elegant.
If it hadn't been handed to him by a young girl, he might have considered placing such a bouquet on his bedside table.
His Holiness the Pope neither confirmed nor denied the statement.
He was expressionless, seemingly lost in thought.
He then asked, "Don't you recognize me?"
Cyrus nodded.
"Throw it away."
Cyrus subconsciously responded with an "oh".
But just leave it on the street? There are no trash cans in the Yami Kingdom.
He was hesitating about whether to be unhygienic for once when, unexpectedly, His Holiness the Pope grabbed his wrist, causing the bouquet to tremble and fall to the ground, where it once again became covered in dust.
Segalot: "You can't bear to throw it away?"
Cyrus: "No."
Segalot held his wrist, and after confirming the answer, turned to look to the side, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of animal is this?"
Cyrus gave a pre-prepared answer, "A bear, a panda, that I found in the mountains outside the city."
"A panda?" The Pope looked puzzled.
Cyrus understood that he was probably puzzled as to why a black and white bear would be called a panda.
But clearly, His Holiness the Pope had no intention of asking questions, his thoughts jumping directly to, "Let's go back."
Cyrus was pulled forward by him, and tried to break free of his wrist but failed. Instead, the Pope turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
A silent question: What's wrong?
His slender fingers moved naturally, sliding from his grasp on one wrist forward to take in the other, smaller, pale hand.
Cyrus fell silent.
Well, I don't feel uncomfortable at all, so I'll just let it be.
He was led into the residence of His Yami Kingdom the Pope without any qualms.
Afterwards, Cyrus had Judas take care of the new cubs, ordered people to find fresh milk sources and make some food that panda cubs could eat, and began to deal with the government affairs she had missed half a day.
That evening, Cyrus returned to her room to rest, but noticed a beautiful Linobili Flower next to her bed.
"Judas, where did this flower come from?"
Cyrus asked casually.
He had assumed the flowers were picked by a servant, but it turned out to be a coincidence that they were the same flowers he had met on the street earlier that day.
Judas replied, "My lord, His Holiness the Pope himself placed this bouquet here..."
"His Majesty said you would like this bouquet; as for the rest, just look at them."
He was somewhat puzzled, but His Holiness the Pope had already relayed what he was asked to say.
So Judas continued to make Cyrus's bed.
Cyrus was in a daze.
He gazed at the Linobili Flower, then touched its pink and white petals... He instinctively felt that something was amiss.
He pondered for a moment, and just as Judas was about to leave the room, he spoke, "Tomorrow..."
Judas stopped in his tracks. "Lord?"
Cyrus: "No, it's nothing."
"I just wanted to say, remember to have someone prepare Rollie's food in advance tomorrow, and also have someone build a wooden frame in the courtyard..."
"Yes, my lord." Judas took his leave.
Cyrus decided he would ask a question himself.
the next day.
He then sought out a male servant in the Yami Kingdom to inquire about the Linobili Flower.
After receiving the answer, Cyrus forced herself to maintain a calm expression and returned to her room.
He must be mistaken!
How could His Holiness the Pope possibly...?
Cyrus sat on the edge of the bed, tugging at the petals of the Linobili Flower and making guesses.
He thought—His Holiness the Pope probably didn't know the meaning of this flower in the Yami Kingdom.
Furthermore, the bouquet wasn't given to him in person; it was simply placed on his bedside table, which conveyed no real meaning whatsoever...
"Don't overthink it, the Pope... how could he possibly like... a man?"
Cyrus finally comforted herself and then put the matter out of her mind.
The Yami Kingdom needs to be rebuilt. The royal palace, which represented the king's power, was burned down by the frenzied and desperate people after the death of the eldest prince, Kuntat.
Cyrus has no intention of recovering.
He united the Yami Kingdom with the surrounding smaller kingdoms and territories, and selected capable personnel.
If there aren't enough people, we'll bring in people from within the Desinia Territory.
Marco Kess, the mayor of Kaies and father of diplomat Nat, was transferred to the Yami Kingdom by Cyrus.
Cyrus cannot stay here for long.
Moreover, on the sea map in the system interface, the little green dot representing Rice Ball is finally approaching the harbor of the Cogit Sea.