It was Ed's first state banquet in two lifetimes, but it wasn't quite the same as what he "used to" watch on TV. There is not a table of dishes, and there is no liquor, but a number of exquisite foods are placed in front of each person. He and the Queen and the Queen were alone at the dining table in the ballroom, and Harry stood vigilant in the corner of the room.
Everyone's attention was not on the food. Roland had been guiding the conversation, Diana occasionally echoed, and Ed just kept answering Roland's questions. The dialogue is purely about these doctors. They are really young talents. The moon is your forever home. This kind of content is not nutritious.
"Dr. Lingos, there is just one thing I want to ask for your opinion." Roland still seemed to be at home in an easy-going tone, "PLANT invites you to have a one-month technical exchange, what do you think?"
"Huh?" Ed was stunned for a moment, then pretended to be stupid by mistake, "Why?"
"Mr. Klein said that there are still many uncertain factors in the later stage of the nuclear power engine. I hope to have an expert like you to guide me. Of course, if you are really willing to do academic exchanges, the other party is very welcome." Roland seemed to see In response to Ed's concerns, he actually took the initiative to express his position, "I personally think it is a good opportunity. It is also necessary for scholars to broaden their knowledge. What do you think, Diana?"
"You don't want to have any psychological burden." Diana's voice was not emotionally inclined. "Your behavior and your choices only represent yourself."
"Did PLANT say when?" This sentence is sincere, "There are actually quite a lot of things at hand."
"February next year. It's almost the end of the year, but it's still a while."
"Is that so..." Eddard pretended to struggle for a while, "Then I'll be more respectful than obedient."
Another unnutritious conversation followed, without any substance until the end of the meal. The waiter had put away the cutlery, and Ed was about to give up the urban legend, when Diana suddenly said, "Dr. Lingos, thank you for your outstanding contribution to the moon. As usual, we will try our best to as a reward for fulfilling one of your requirements."
"Don't worry, you can think about it slowly." Roland smiled at Ed, "I'm also curious about the wishes of Dr. Lingos, the father of Gundam."
"The title of "Father of Gundam is really shameful." There is nothing to think about, I can fight for what I want for my own sake, and others can't give it if I can't get it, "Gundam is not my own behind closed doors. , out of nothing."
"Oh, how do you say it?" Roland was successfully aroused by curiosity, "I haven't heard of the doctor and his assistant. Could it be that someone else inspired you?"
"Actually, all the inspiration for Gundam's design..." The success or failure is all in one fell swoop. "It all came from TurnA of His Royal Highness Roland. So if I don't offend, I want to see the real body of TurnA."
The friendly atmosphere that had been in harmony a second ago at the dining table was instantly swept away. Diana was still indifferent, but Roland seemed to have completely changed. The image of the boy next door just now was like a dream bubble. His sharp eyes and vague murderous aura always reminded Ed that he was a real ruthless man who had slaughtered the fleet by himself and dyed countless dead souls with his hands. For a moment, he even thought of Jin Karam, no, it was more than that. This kind of mental tension was like a creature higher in the food chain.
"Then Doctor," Roland put his hands on the table and put his five fingers in front of him, "can you tell me the reason?"
The person in front of him is already a completely different creature from the Roland in his memory. This is the only thing Ed can be sure of now. He carefully savored the other party's attitude, extremely alert and cautious, but did not feel any hostility. Even if he failed, he was just rejected. This was his best chance. There are some words that only his identity is suitable to say. This is his unique advantage, and there is no reason not to use it.
"Out of curiosity." It's good to tell the truth at this time, "As a researcher, I can't help but want to know what kind of MS TurnA is, and what happened to the last glow of the Earth-Moon War, the so-called Moonlight Butterfly. What is it, and whether there is any trace of the legendary black technology."
"Is that all?"
"Isn't that enough?" This kind of setting of unknown origin makes people sleep uneasy, do you know how much effort I have put in to round this crazy worldview, "Curiosity and thirst for knowledge are the greatest things in human beings. power."
Roland closed his eyes and pondered for a while, then opened his eyes to meet Diana. Ed didn't see any expression on Diana's face, but Roland obviously had a different understanding from him. Roland shook his head imperceptibly at Diana, who hesitated for a while and then nodded.
Ed felt at a loss, either the two were new NTs, or he was a veteran bachelor.
"Dr. Lingos." Roland finally made eye contact with Diana, facing Ed, "Some people say that TurnA is the biggest trump card of the moon, and I don't deny that. Some people say that black technology is the biggest secret of the moon, but I have no idea about that. I can tell you. But I can tell you one thing, I don’t know the origin of black technology.”
So is it really a setting of unknown origin? This is probably the last answer you want to hear, and it's much better if you make up a reason.
"The so-called black technology is a relic that I accidentally discovered when Diana and I were exploring on the moon. There are many incomprehensible advanced technologies in it, and some can't even find a way to operate it, and there is nothing left in the relic. Record. Diana and I encountered many dangers in that year, and there were many dangers." As if remembering something, Roland held Diana's hand and gave her a warm smile. Diana smiled the same.
Ed felt that he was not full just now, but now he is not only full, but also a little supportive.
"General Kim Karam surprised me and told me before the meal that you were an NT, but you were not the last time you met." Roland's suffocation gradually melted away, and slowly returned to his previous polite appearance, "More importantly, It is you who have no ill will towards the moon and us. I think for a human being, having no ill will is the greatest kindness."
Roland's words are a bit pessimistic, but Ed is not incomprehensible. It is precisely because the world is like this that the mutual understanding between NTs is more valuable, and it is easier for people to indulge in it and be unable to extricate themselves.
"Diana and I trust General Kinkalam as NT's judgement. A mediocrity like me just knows it and doesn't know why, but if it's a genius like Dr. Lingos, can it unlock TurnA's secrets? ?"
"His Royal Highness Roland?" Could it be that...
"TurnA only, you have a week to explore its secrets. After a week, whatever you find, please share with us."
…
"... So what?" CC boredly squeezed the newly purchased Harrow throw pillow, which was the same green color as the previous one, "You're going to be back late every day for the next week?"
"TurnA! Moonlight Butterfly! You don't understand the seriousness of the matter at all!" Ed waved his hands and tried to make the scientific blind in front of him understand, "This is simply one of the most inexplicable things in this world, and I will have it tomorrow. Chance to figure it out!"
"I don't think you can figure out such a big secret in a week. Don't overestimate your IQ by making a few robots." CC put on his usual indifferent face, "and what if you don't understand it? What? Can it still make you sleep restless?"
"Yeah." Ed nodded as a matter of course, "Since the day I seriously considered the origin of black technology, I haven't slept particularly peacefully every day."
"...Are you serious?" CC stopped tossing the pillow and looked at him suspiciously.
"Have you ever heard an idiom called 'worrying about the sky'?"
"You can speak Chinese?!" He spoke the last four words in Chinese, CC opened his mouth slightly in surprise, "When did you learn it?"
"Someone in Qiguo was worried that the sky would collapse and the earth would sink. He couldn't eat or swallow every day, and couldn't sleep well." Seeing that she understood, Ed couldn't help but speak directly in Chinese as a prank, "his friend comforted him and said, You see the sky, the earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars every day, so what's there to worry about? Qiren thought about it and thought it made sense, so you don't have to worry anymore."
CC didn't interrupt, looking like he didn't know what he was thinking.
"But the analysis of Qi Ren's friend is not justified. It is not even mathematical induction. It's just simple empiricism. From this, we can't draw the conclusion that the sky will not fall and the earth will not sink. We laugh at Qi Ren because We stand on the shoulders of giants and know what the sky and the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars are, and we can assert that the sky will not collapse and the earth will not sink."
"CC, what do you mean by so-called black technology?" Seeing that she had no interesting reaction, Ed gave up and continued to speak Chinese, "I worry about whether the sky will collapse when I wake up the next day before going to bed every day."
CC let out a long breath, threw the pillow aside, stood up from the sofa and stretched. The pajamas were a bit short, and the mere three seconds when the navel was exposed completely destroyed the atmosphere just created.
"… So what? You'll be back late every day for the next week?"
"I won't be back if it's too late. I'll bring a change of clothes." Ed turned his head and pretended not to see anything. "I'll call you when I don't come back."
"I'm going to PLANT in February next year, right?" CC sat back on the sofa and picked up the pillow again, and seemed a little happier than before. This person's emotions are difficult to judge, and it took Ed a long time to gradually figure out the pattern, "Just right, I'll go back to Earth."
"Why? Isn't it unsafe?"
"The limelight is almost over in February next year. And you should know," CC patted Haro's head, "Geass and NT are two completely incompatible systems, you can wake up NT This thing is completely It goes against scientific common sense."
I really want to spit out this scientific common sense...
"I originally thought it didn't matter. You have enough anomalies in your body, and you don't lack such a one. But after hearing what you said just now, I was a little unfounded. And let you go..." CC said as if he wanted to say something, Then he gave up, "... your Blue Eyes White Dragon is going, your own ship should be safe, and Asuka will be a free bodyguard."
"Just in case I'll ask more," I hope I didn't set up the flag indiscriminately, "Where can I find you if you lose contact?"
"This is the first time you've asked this question in so many years, right?" CC was obviously laughing, but he was a little embarrassed to laugh, "... Japan."