The Emperor frowned slightly.
The sensation reminded him of an intuition he had felt a very, very long time ago, when Earth was still in its primitive age, as he gazed up at the stars late one night-
Some higher-dimensional will existed in the universe, beyond his understanding.
And now, that intuition had returned.
Just then, Liu Zhipeng stood up.
He straightened his collar, picked up his briefcase, and prepared to leave. As he passed the counter, he paused briefly.
Then, under the Emperor's slightly puzzled gaze, Liu Zhipeng pulled an utterly ordinary data storage device from his pocket.
He spun the USB drive half a turn between his fingertips, then casually tossed it.
The motion was easy and unhurried, like tossing a coin.
The USB drive traced a perfect arc through the air. Light fell across its small metal casing, casting a fleeting glimmer.
The Emperor instinctively reached out and caught it.
The USB drive landed squarely in his palm. It was slightly cool and weighed very little.
He raised his head and met Liu Zhipeng's eyes.
Those black eyes were clear and calm, without awe, fear, or any hint of probing or provocation. There was only a quiet composure, as though he had seen through everything.
An easy smile curved Liu Zhipeng's lips. "Good coffee. Here's your tip."
His voice was quiet, his tone even, as though he were stating the most ordinary fact in the world.
Then he turned and pushed open the café's glass door.
The bell above the entrance rang out clearly.
Liu Zhipeng strode into the neon-lit, rainy night of the twenty-second century, his figure soon vanishing into the endless flow of people.
He left his deeds and his name unspoken.
At the counter, the Emperor still held the pose in which he had