Chapter 1616: The project
Sector 101, the Middle—
"....."
Richard sat in silence beneath the shade of a small tree, his figure almost blending into the stillness of the warm summer day.
His posture was so steady, his breathing so calm, that even his eyelashes seemed frozen in place, as though he were carved from stone. He looked as if he had entered a state of meditation so deep that nothing in the world could disturb it.
But here, in the height of summer, stillness never lasts forever. The world itself seems determined to bring movement and life. Even if one sits quietly, sooner or later something will stir, drift close, and play its mischievous game.
Buzzzzz
From the air came a long-tailed insect, its body slender and its tail curved upward like the sting of a scorpion. It circled Richard’s head slowly, deliberately, its many-faceted eyes glittering as they fixed upon the tip of his nose. With a faint hum, it tilted downward, preparing to land upon his nose, ready to sting this big prey.
But suddenly—"Shoo! Shoo!!"—a girl rushed in from the side. With both of her delicate hands waving frantically, she chased the creature away. Her soft, slender palms swept through the air again and again until the insect finally relented, retreating into the summer heat.
When it was gone, The girl turned her attention back toward Richard. A gentle smile tugged at her lips as her gaze lingered upon his face, her expression full of quiet warmth.
"Hoooh~" Richard released a long exhale, as if returning from the depths of another world. His eyelids lifted, and his eyes opened slowly to discover before him the most breathtaking sight a man could ever hope to see.
It was her.
The girl.
Her beauty was so natural, so radiant, that it carried an innocence capable of disarming the hardest of hearts. To look at her was to feel unworthy, as if one’s very gaze might stain the purity she embodied. Her eyes were as clear and gentle as those of an infant, pools of untainted light that reflected nothing but honesty. Her small, rosy cheeks glowed like delicate petals touched by morning sun. In that moment, Richard felt that he could challenge the entire world itself if it meant defending her smile.
A pure and unguarded smile spread across Richard’s own lips. "Did I keep you waiting too long, Serene?"
"Mmhm," she replied with a slight furrow of her brows, her soft voice tinged with gentle reproach. "You’ve spent almost two hours in the Soul Society this time."
Richard nodded with a faint trace of guilt. "I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. A lot happened today. While I was preparing the yearly letter for my brother Theo, I discovered he was already online in Soul Society. Not only that, but he was in a meeting with Caesar—my eldest brother. Before I knew it, they had pulled me in to join them!"
Serene’s face lit up, her delight impossible to conceal. "You met Theo and Caesar together? That’s wonderful news! You’ve been dodging them for so long, avoiding their meetings just so they wouldn’t pressure you into returning. Hehe, looks like fate cornered you this time."
Richard let out a breath, half sigh, half laugh. "Perhaps I really was overthinking everything. They seemed genuinely happy to see me. They only wanted to share news about the Empire, nothing more. They didn’t even hint at me coming back." His tone shifted, excitement sparking in his eyes as he snapped his fingers. "And do you know? My brother Caesar now rules over an entire Centennial Empire!"
"Congratulations to him," Serene replied warmly, pulling a small woven basket from beside her. She began to arrange sandwiches with careful hands. "From the way you describe him, he truly sounds like a strong and admirable man."
"Yes," Richard said with a fond smile, "his presence can command anyone—anyone except our father. Caesar was like a father to me himself until I reached the age of ten. He’s the one who taught me discipline, how to stand tall, how to be a man. That’s why, when people call me the crown prince and dismiss him simply because he’s adopted, it stirs a quiet anger in me. It doesn’t feel right."
Serene let out a soft sigh. "The fact that he himself shows no anger... that alone is proof of how deeply he cares for you." Then she shook her head and added with a half-playful groan, "But please, no more of those details. I don’t want to drown in the complicated world of empires, politics, and courtly intrigues."
Richard chuckled, tilting his head at her. "Still worried my brothers will think you’re some kind of spy?" He reached out and pinched her cheek gently. "I honestly doubt I’m important enough to be spied on for centuries."
Serene’s cheeks puffed as she frowned. "Don’t ever say that! You’re kind, honorable, and filled with goodwill. That makes you important, whether you believe it or not!"
Richard’s laughter softened into warmth as he patted her head affectionately. "Alright, alright. I surrender. Now, tell me, what’s on the menu for lunch today?"
"Jam made from Spring Basil that’s been ripening for a thousand years," Serene replied with playful pride, handing him the first sandwich with a glowing smile. "It should give you more than enough strength for our next adventure!"
Richard took the offering with eager hands, his curiosity piqued. "That sounds delicious..." He bit into it, savoring the strange yet delightful taste, his eyes widening as he chewed. "Mmm... impressive. And where, my dear Serene, will this next adventure take us?"
"Planet Adr’i-56," Serene murmured softly as she took a careful bite, covering her mouth politely while she chewed, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Reports say a new outbreak of the Black Plague has been detected there— I want to go and have a look."
"Heh~ I should’ve known," Richard laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Most of our so-called adventures end up circling around the Black Plague. It’s almost like we’re chasing its shadow from one world to another. Do you really think we’ll stumble upon the answer you’ve been searching for this time?"
"I can only hope," Serene said, her voice touched with both resolve and melancholy. She lifted her small shoulders in a delicate shrug, as if trying to lighten the weight of her own words. "You see, I once made a promise to a dear friend of mine, a very long time ago. I swore I would find her a cure for her soul domain, which was being corroded piece by piece. I’ve always believed the Black Plague is connected to the solution somehow... and each time I follow its traces, I feel as though I’m drawing closer." Her voice grew quieter, tinged with sorrow. "But I just hope she’s still alive. I haven’t seen her in so many years, and time can be cruel."
"Oh?" Richard arched his brows in mild surprise, curiosity lighting his eyes. "And what was her name?"
"..." Serene fell into silence. Her lips parted as though to speak, but no words came. Her expression betrayed the struggle inside—eyes tightening, forehead faintly creased—as though she were squeezing her mind with all its strength, desperately trying to remember.
"Heh~" Richard chuckled knowingly, nodding twice. "I knew it. You don’t even remember her name anymore, do you?" His smile softened as he studied her face. "It makes me wonder... when I’m finally summoned back and we’re separated, will there come a day when you forget my name as well? When you look at me as just another project from long ago, something you’ve already moved past? That thought... that would be more disappointing than I can put into words."
"...Richard," Serene’s voice was faint, yet steady. "I told you long ago what I do, and what fate awaits us. You’ve always known that day is inevitable."
She lifted her gaze and met the young man’s gray eyes with rare seriousness. "But from the way you’ve described your homeland, it sounds more likely that you’ll be the one to forget me once you return. You’ve painted it as a stormy, chaotic place—so full of conflict and upheaval that even memories themselves struggle to endure there."
"...Ha... haha, maybe you’re right~" Richard let out a small, awkward laugh as he turned his eyes away, his expression growing distant. "That place really never calms down, as my father’s ambition never knows a boundary. The storms are endless, and the quiet never lasts."
Then, deliberately, he shifted the topic, turning his gaze back to her. "Still, don’t you find it strange, Serene? I’ve been ready for centuries—prepared for the day I’d be summoned back. And yet, not once have I received even the slightest hint that the time is near. Not a whisper. Even though the world over there has reached a level of progress and conflict so intense, it’s hard to imagine my presence not being needed."
"All I can tell you," Serene replied, handing him another sandwich with gentle hands, "is that your father loves you far more than you realize. He carries guilt toward you, guilt that makes him hesitant. That’s why he doesn’t wish to burden you with direct commands. He doesn’t want his will to weigh on your shoulders."
"You really think so?" Richard fell quiet for a moment, chewing on her words. Then, almost under his breath, he muttered, "...Or maybe he’s simply forgotten me?" A faint, sad smile touched his lips. "It wouldn’t be the first time."
"If he forgot," Serene said firmly, leaning closer, "would your brothers also forget? The ones you constantly speak with, the ones who reach out to you again and again? No, Richard. It’s clear they’ve been instructed not to mention the burdens of the Empire to you—not to ask you to return, not to speak of problems. They share only the bright and pleasant things, the parts they know you’d notice anyway." She tapped his forehead lightly with her finger, almost scolding.
"....." Richard finally nodded after a long silence, his voice thoughtful. "So that’s it. He sees me as a rebellious son. He’d rather I come back by my own will than force me with his authority and risk me defying him. In his mind, that’s the better way."
"Isn’t that exactly the truth?" Serene tilted her head, her gaze soft but probing.
"...No," Richard whispered. "It’s not the truth. I would never defy him if he gave me a direct order." He let out a long sigh, then smiled faintly, as though releasing the weight of his frustration. "But since he’s given me this chance, this rare freedom, then perhaps I should make the most of it while I still can."
He set the half-eaten sandwich gently back into the small box beside them and straightened his back, resolve quietly forming in his eyes. "So then... when do we set out?"