"This..."
He Xi hesitated for a moment.
Keisha asked curiously, "What is it, He Xi?"
"Queen, to be honest, Daelaam possesses a technology called the Invisibility Force Field. It can perfectly conceal the entire Aiur Star System. There is no way to locate it. Even I can only reach Aiur through the Protoss' Time-Space Navigation Route."
"The Time-Space Navigation Route differs greatly from the Great Wormhole Bridge. Without Daelaam's authorization, we cannot use it. However, there are many Protoss mining planets in the Koprulu Sector, each with Protoss garrison troops stationed there. We can obtain permission to use the Time-Space Navigation Route from them."
That was what He Xi said.
"Oh? That troublesome?"
Keisha gave He Xi a meaningful look, her expression impossible to read.
He Xi's heart instantly leaped into her throat. Naturally, she knew Aiur's location. Though she could not crack the Invisibility Force Field, she could still calculate its approximate coordinates. When the time came, she only needed to send Shen Jun a message and have him open the force field for her.
Her private communication device was still with Shen Jun. She was not afraid of being unable to find Aiur.
There was no need at all to take the Time-Space Navigation Route.
He Xi could only laugh bitterly to herself. She had actually concealed this from Keisha, yet for some reason, deep down, she simply did not want others going to Aiur so easily.
"Queen, a round trip like that would take at least a month. Liang Bing does not have much experience carrying out missions beyond the city, and I am more familiar with the situation around there. How about I go instead?"
He Xi stared straight ahead as she spoke, as though she were truly considering Liang Bing's welfare.
"Heh, He Xi!" The corner of Keisha's mouth rose, her tone uncertain. "If I remember correctly, didn't you sneak off to slack again today?"
"I've had you researching Stellar Drive Technology for so long. Shouldn't you be showing me some results by now?"
"You make it sound nice, but aren't you really just thinking of another chance to go out and have fun? Aren't you? Huh?"
Keisha glared furiously at He Xi. Seeing her flushed face, she immediately assumed she had guessed He Xi's thoughts correctly. She then waved a hand and made the final decision. "That settles it. The original plan remains unchanged. Liang Bing, the star system in the Koprulu Sector closest to the Angel Nebula is the Sien Star System. I heard it was not only the first mining planet developed by the Protoss, but also a Protoss vassal civilization. Go there and enter Aiur using the method He Xi described."
Knowing that Keisha's decision could not possibly be changed, He Xi could only agree.
However, Liang Bing was unwilling. She had been ignored from the very beginning, practically invisible throughout the whole conversation, and now they wanted her to do the hard work?
No chance!
"He Xi has Stellar Drive Technology to work on. I have my own important research too!"
Keisha immediately frowned, her tone turning unfriendly. "Carl again? How many times have I told you? People from the Super God Academy can cooperate with us, but they cannot be trusted so easily. Besides, that kind of shady research that cannot see the light of day is better left undone!"
Although Carl had not yet formally proposed the idea of Ultimate Fear, certain strange remarks in her daily words and actions had already made Keisha sense troubling signs. Thus, even though she did not know what Carl was researching, Keisha had no desire whatsoever to see her sister led down a path of no return by Carl.
It would have been one thing if that girl merely coveted her sister's beauty. After all, she was Kiran's prized disciple, one of the most outstanding geniuses among the survivors of the God River Civilization, exceptional in both intellect and appearance. She and Liang Bing were actually quite well matched.
Keisha had initially thought highly of the pair. She could tell that Carl genuinely liked Liang Bing, but Carl's way of thinking was simply wrong, often even brushing against Keisha's bottom line. How could that be allowed?
Keisha had deliberately intended to send Liang Bing away from Heavenly City for a while, then lay everything out with Carl. After all, Carl had not done anything to wrong the angels so far. On the contrary, she had helped the angels in many areas of technology. Keisha was not an unreasonable person. As long as Carl stopped harassing Liang Bing, everything could be discussed.
After all, at this point, Keisha had never considered expelling the Super God Academy.
"Liang Bing, don't you think you've spent too long in the laboratory? You never used to have this much patience. Take this trip as a chance to get some fresh air."
Keisha's tone suddenly softened. She hoped Liang Bing could understand her intentions.
"No need. I'm not Carl. I can't stand researching day and night without rest. I often wander around Merlo, so I've had more than enough fresh air already. Besides, didn't He Xi want to go? Then give the mission to her."
Well, that hit the sore spot. The moment she heard Carl's name, Keisha's fiery temper could no longer be contained.
"Liang Bing! This is an order!"
Liang Bing suddenly fell silent. Beside them, He Xi had no idea how to persuade the sisters.
"It's always like this..."
Liang Bing's voice drifted out slowly. She lowered her head, leaving Keisha unable to see her expression. "Ever since we were little, all you ever did was demand that others obey your arrangements. Back then, you were my sister. Now you're the Queen, a god, some kind of supreme wisdom... I just want to live freely. I want to study what interests me..."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure you'll say again that unrestricted freedom is degeneration, that it is evil..."
Liang Bing gave a self-mocking smile, then dropped to one knee expressionlessly. "Queen Keisha, I accept the order!"
Then she turned and walked out of the temple without the slightest hesitation. The entire process was incomparably smooth, and even her perfectly proper salute made He Xi feel ashamed.
Watching her sister's departing figure, Keisha's heart filled with bitterness.
"Liang Bing, you've misunderstood your sister..."
Only in front of He Xi would Keisha reveal even a trace of sorrow. Even before Liang Bing, she had to maintain the appearance of an elder sister who was also like a mother.
"Old Enchantress, tell me... was I really wrong?"
Keisha's eyes were somewhat lost. "For the justice I uphold, we spare no effort in helping lower civilizations. They do not understand us. They even think we want to control them. This often brings the angels into conflict with various civilizations. Sometimes, even our believers question our judgments. I don't know how many people have died in armed conflicts... Justice... it really is cruel..."
If Shen Jun had been here, he definitely would have scoffed at that. Wasn't that obvious? No civilization could possibly tolerate having some mighty god constantly watching over them from above.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
He Xi clicked her tongue in amazement, her face full of disbelief. "Damn, are you really the tomboy I know? Tell me, who are you really? What did you do to Keisha?"
He Xi's antics successfully made Keisha laugh. "You really are as mischievous as ever."
"Is justice right or wrong... Honestly, I don't know either. But we respect every life. Harming life is injustice; it is evil. At least on that point, practical or not, I firmly believe it is right!"
"Tomboy, Liang Bing has simply experienced too little herself. She will understand you."
Before you continue