"Fighting Star..." Rickett pondered for a while, and said, "It's a very complicated place. I can't characterize it. I believe that even the previous mercenary kings can't tell what meaning this planet represents."
Opal, with his hair disheveled and yawning, followed Rector through an alley. He had just woken up at two o'clock in the afternoon and was dazed when he came to see Rector.
This is the most crowded place on Dandelion Square, and Recht took him to have a simple lunch. The two squeezed through the crowd and finally left the noisy central area.
Rickett was wearing sunglasses, and today was wearing a suit that looked a bit like a technician's uniform, with a number plate "13" on his shoulders.
Opal said: "I think it has extraordinary meaning for me and for Cororin."
Rickett said: "The strong star is a big dye vat. There is no justice or evil on this planet. When Kyle Ray was in power, he was very crazy. When Azeroth came to the throne, the mercenary unions tended to be disordered and chaotic. Do you understand what the teacher said, Opal?"
Opal has known Lecter for so long, but from time to time he still finds his words a little puzzling, he said: "I can generally understand, you mean that what mercenaries do is not necessarily all good, not all bad. of."
Rekt nodded and said: "Chaos, it is the middle ground between light and darkness. The strong gain wealth and prestige, while the weak die silently and become bones. Have you ever thought about what makes countless people ignore it?" Life is in danger, go to Lie Xing one after another to pursue the value of their lives?"
Opal said: "I think it's blood, just like the mercenary charter says, live for battle, and die for battle, maybe."
Rickett nodded, took Opal into the hall, and said, "I didn't approve of Coroline going to Fierce Star at first, because the test of a person there is too difficult, just like a kind and righteous organization. , Everyone is in it and feels its warmth, and they will do their best to seek benefits for this organization spontaneously, and no one can tell whether what they are doing is right or wrong... It's here, it's here."
Opal followed up with a small bar, and Rector said, "This is my little apprentice Opal, Nini, and Opal's expenses are all charged to my account."
Opal greeted the people beside him, and when someone saw Rickett, they shouted loudly and said, "What did you do to him! Rickett! I didn't see that you were still interested in children!"
Opal's face became unpleasant, Rickett ignored them and took Opal into the basement. There were several people in front of the large virtual light-screen machine operating the ram, and a man said: "Rickett, again. Want to challenge?"
Rickett put on special gloves and said, "Open a new game, alternating magnetic fields, one portion of iron, one portion of uranium, and one portion of polonium."
A few people sat back to their seats, and some people came down to watch the game. Rickett said casually: "Just teaching my disciples, practice game."
"Rickett, do you want to take this kid to the arena as a partner?" the man sitting opposite laughed.
Rickett smiled, and seemed not to be agitated at all. He motioned for Opal to come over. Opal sat down with a drink and whispered, "He is not your opponent, right, teacher."
"Of course not." Rickett whispered: "As long as I want to win, the entire empire is not my opponent."
Opal lowered his voice excitedly: "Really? What about the Republic?"
Recht put on blue polarized monocular glasses, and put another lens on Opal, saying: "There may be a few unknown masters, see clearly, first of all we have to arrange the formation. "
Tens of thousands of light balls corresponding to atoms rolled out along with the music, and Opal said: "I will, I will! I have also played on the game console!"
Every time Opal plays the atomic pool in the game machine, the system automatically arranges the formation and sends it up. He didn't expect that this retro-style underground game actually requires players to line up by themselves. He noticed that there was a light screen next to the two of them. On the screen was a variety of formations. When he brought it over to read it, Recht said, "You don't need to read it, you can just look at the teacher's technique."
At the moment when Opal raised his head, Recht exuded the power of belief, which was directly connected with his thoughts. It was an extremely strange experience. Recht thought from the subconscious surface, and all actions were completely open to Opal. Their thoughts and memories are completely inter-contained at this moment, just like the moment when Rickett ignited the fire of his faith on the B11 star, their souls are completely candid.
He saw that there was a fog in the depths of Recht's consciousness, which was full of guilt, pain and remorse, and all kinds of negative emotions gathered in one place. He said something and told Rector that it really didn't matter, but before he could speak, he felt his consciousness turned into a light, dispelling the fog.
"Watch out, Opal." Recht's expression remained the same, as if nothing had happened. Opal regained his senses, and followed Recht's consciousness and began to arrange the atomic pool formation.
The rules of this game are not complicated. The two sides first arrange a formation in a virtual quasi-static state, and use the micro-connection mode to launch some of their atoms into the field platform.
These atoms are displayed as many photospheres in the arena, each photosphere corresponds to an atom, and the corresponding points can be obtained by hitting the scorer. However, the atoms are always in motion. They are slowed down under the influence of an energy device to the extent that the human eye can see them, but they still maintain the motion characteristics of collision with each other, bringing out unpredictable trajectories.
The game field will also add a magnetic field to it, adding more fun.
Opal's atomic pool game is just a virtual scene created by a computer chip. Now that I encounter this game using real atoms, I finally feel the reason why it is attractive.
"Ready?" Rector said. "Let's get started, put in..."
Opal held his breath, and Rick pulled the ram.
"...in the world of atomic pool."
When the voice fell, Recht let go of the rod, and with a clatter, all the atoms were freed! Just like the countless stars that burst out at the time of creation, they shot into the center of the field with flashes.
Opal couldn't help but exclaimed in admiration. Rickett raised his eyebrows and started to rotate the controller with a smile. Two large rotating rods drove hundreds of small magnetic gyroscopes to move. There were flashes of atomic light balls everywhere, leaving behind The marbles entered the grooves one after another, and were launched one after another. The scoreboard climbed rapidly. Opal was dazzled.
Every moment, the crashed marbles were cleared from the platform, and Rickett's score slowly climbed, but he had more marbles than his opponent, and the gap continued to widen.
The other party realized Recht's tactics, and changed from head-to-head scoring to evasion, and Recht suddenly released the last batch of marbles at hand.
This batch of marbles was overwhelming, completely suppressing the opponent on the field.
However, the other party has already formed an advantage in points. Rickett was far behind from the beginning. Time passed by every minute and second. Opal almost thought he was going to lose. After all, he was behind by more than 1.6 million points. The torrent of order seems to follow some kind of strange law, moving little by little along the established path, as if the previously dropped points are just preparatory, they gradually become orderly from disorder, until the last twelve seconds. , Rickett's points really surpassed!
The man on the other side looked at all of this as if in disbelief, and the system began to count down, three, two, one, a bright light flashed, illuminating the eyes of Recht and his opponent, and in the last moment, all the pool balls were all Standing still, the scoreboard was dinging, and the remaining marbles of both sides in the field were counted for additional points. Recht won the victory with an advantage of 800,000 points.
"So handsome!" Opal couldn't help shouting.
Rickett took a sip from the opal cup and said, "Do you understand now?"
Opal said: "Let me try it? I want to play this, it's too exciting! Teacher, let's fight."
The loser said: "Even if you beat me, you can't beat the master that Alex invited."
Rickett packed up his chips and murmured: "What can't win, don't you play this just to win? Rivado, what you lose is not your strength, but your realm."
Opal couldn't help laughing, and the loser got up and left when he was choked by Recht's words.
That afternoon, Lecter first turned on the constant magnetic field and taught Opal some of the most basic tactics. Opal learned quite quickly as soon as he got started, and spent an afternoon to figure out all the rules.
"Are you going to play, teacher?" Opal asked.
Rickett leaned against the edge of a table, drank his coffee thoughtfully, and nodded.
Opal asked, "Do you still need a partner?"
"It needs a partner, but I don't think it's you, Opal," said Rector.
Opal was like a deflated ball, and Recht smiled and patted his head, saying, "But you've learned very fast, so let's just say that the teacher is skilled because you have played atomic pool for thousands of years. If Learning with you may not necessarily be better than playing with you."
Opal sighed, and Rickett said, "Your entry is similar to Xiaoke's, and it took about three hours."
Opal said, "Who taught you this? Nolan too?"
Rickett fell into deep thought and said, "It's been too long, I've forgotten what that person looks like, he's an old man, very old, very old, I met him on Yaketu at that time, and now even that The planet has changed too…”
Footsteps sounded upstairs, one person entered the private room directly, Opal said: "Raymond!"
Raymond said, "How's it going?"
Opal said, "How did you know we were here?"
Rector threw a can of coffee to Raymond, who said restrainedly, "Thank you."
Rickett said, "Don't be too polite, how are those ladies and gentlemen?"
Opal understands that Rickett and Baroque know each other, and they should know Raymond's work schedule.
Raymond smiled awkwardly, sat down in the corner, and said, "Nothing too embarrassing, Opal, have you eaten? Are you hungry?"
Opal went to sit next to Raymond, and Raymond put him in his arms, Opal said: "Let's have dinner together at night, do you still want to go to the banquet?"
Raymond nodded, looked at the time, and said, "I have to go to White Flower Manor before eight o'clock. Have you made any progress in your atomic pool?"
It's five o'clock, and Opal gets excited when he sees his opponent, and says, "Let's have a try? Here are all the real materials."
Raymond said: "I'm not really good at it, come on. Give us some pointers."
Lecter went to find someone to start, Opal and Raymond played a game of billiards, and after learning with Lecter for an afternoon, he easily threw away Raymond's score of more than 100,000. Raymond smiled wryly and shook his head.
"His technique is better than yours." Rickett said, "But he didn't form his own routine, Raymond, do you want to learn how to pass the official game?"
Seeing that this was an opportunity to promote familiarity between the two, Opal hurriedly urged: "Follow and learn, hurry up."
Raymond didn't bother, went to sit down, Rickett stood behind him and said, "Have you played before?"
Raymond nodded and said, "I played with Opal a few times."
Rickett said, "I mean, you have an innate memory of it."
Raymond thought for a while and said, "Yes, it's a very familiar feeling. You can play it when you get started, but you don't know how to play it well."
Opal put his arms around Raymond's waist behind his back, and put his head on his shoulder to watch him play. Rickett pointed beside them. Opal had already learned it once, and he was surprised to find that Raymond actually learned more than him. Faster!
what is this!
Opal was outraged, and he said, "Teacher! What you just said to comfort me is false!"
Raymond frowned, "What?"
[His genes carry Cororin's physical memory.]Richter said directly in Opal's mind: [Cololin's atomic pool is already a master level.] "Oh." Opal said.
Raymond: "?"
Opal said: "Then what level are you? Teacher?"
Raymond: "??"
Rector smiled and didn't answer him.
Raymond had played nearly ten games and wanted to play again, but Recht said, "Let's go to dinner and talk about Opal's commission by the way."
Opal remembered his hidden mission, and Raymond said: "Just right, I also have a few questions I want to ask you."
Rector took them out of the bistro and went to eat on the first floor of another restaurant, which was in a good environment, with Ledgerson's opera playing, and Opal sat down and began to prepare his message, and there was no one like Ray Curt is more suitable for inquiring about intelligence, and it is strange to say that since he met Lecter, he has eaten his food, used his food, and asked him to help. These trivial matters are not at all embarrassing.
On the contrary, Raymond was a little uncomfortable. At first, he would thank Rickett over and over again, but gradually, he let go.
The three ordered a meal, and Raymond said: "I want to first investigate the contradiction between the two princes of Kartus."
Rickett said: "It is nothing more than those contradictions. In the final analysis, people's contradictions are always inseparable from their interests. Everyone is pursuing their own interests, but in the process of pursuing this interest, more people are inevitably involved, such as the crown prince. The position is not like the common people, whoever wins will have a far-reaching impact on the empire, including the Republic, the fierce star, and even the meteorite empire, all forces are paying attention to this."
Opal said: "But the news hasn't spread, hasn't it?"
Rickett nodded slowly, and then said: "In fact, if you hadn't said so, I wouldn't have thought of this matter, after all, it's not the first time in the past few hundred years that Kartus has been rumored to have established a reserve. "
Opal wondered: "But none of them have been established?"
Raymond put away the Adventurer's Manual, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "If it's true, then we might buy fake news."
Rickett said: "This time the rumors are mostly credible. After all, the interstellar situation has become more unstable after Li Wei's defeat. The republic is declining year by year, and the empire's national strength is becoming stronger and stronger. It is an indisputable fact. I I once thought that a system like the empire would not last long, but... Forget it, let's not mention this for a while, it is too complicated, and it involves the history of the empire itself, the location of the starry sky, resources and other conditions."
Raymond asked, "Who do you want to be crown prince?"
"I'm not involved in politics," Recht said.
Opal said: "Then let's change the way, teacher, who do you think will become the crown prince?"
"A lot of people think that Alex is more favored." Rector said: "But I think he lacks leadership skills, his artist temperament is too obvious, a painter, singer, creative industry genius can ignore others. But as an emperor, you can't do that. So I don't think Alex is fit to govern this planet, even in today's constitutional monarchy, where the prime minister helps to take care of everything..."
"What is the prime minister's mission?" Opal asked in confusion.
Recht said: "The emperor commands the army and formulates survival strategies, the prime minister is loyal to the people and exerts pressure on the royal family as the representative of the people, and the parliament strives for the interests of the commoners and the noble lords. This management method is very complicated. Not sure, go back and I'll give you the chip before you read it carefully."
Opal said: "That is to say, the emperor actually doesn't care."
"He's in charge, but some thankless things are left to the prime minister to manage," Recht said. "If anything threatens his regime, Karthus will definitely take action."
Raymond said, "I have to go to work, you guys keep talking."
Rickett said, "You haven't eaten yet."
Raymond said with a smile: "I don't have high requirements for food, as long as I have enough energy, Opal, eat more, see you in the evening."
"Come on." Opal took his hand, Raymond thought of something, turned back, bowed his head and kissed Opal's lips.
He was still a little embarrassed to do this in front of Recht, he didn't dare to look at him again, and left the restaurant directly.
Opal's face was also a little red, and he said, "Uh... Teacher, let's continue."
Rickett couldn't help but smile and said, "You are a happy child."
Opal nodded and said, "Raymond is very good. You don't have to eat anything, don't spend money, and have been working hard to make money."
Recht fell into a long meditation, and after a long, long time, he opened his mouth and said: "Kalts didn't make a statement, maybe he was testing his two sons. Ledgerson and Alex have a really good relationship. To say that he is inclined towards the Empire, it is better to say that he is inclined to his student. When Karthus admired him after listening to his opera, he had intended to hire Ledgerson as Alex's court teacher, and Ledgerson also I like Alex very much and had the idea of cultivating Alex as his student..."
"What kind of students?" Opal asked curiously, "Xinghu's students or singing students?"
Recht said: "Maybe both, but he doesn't have a strong desire to perform, so Ledgerson chose Molly, who also likes the stage. She is the daughter of a pirate and ran away from home because she was obsessed with his singing."
Opal suddenly found out that it was good to follow Lecter. At least there was a lot of gossip. Lecter always knew something he had never heard of. When he was thinking about this, Lecter immediately noticed it. , said: "Now it's my turn to ask you, you have to satisfy the teacher's curiosity occasionally, has Coroline commented on this matter in front of you?"
Opal thought about it for a while, shook his head, and said, "It doesn't seem like it, let me think about it..."
The robot waiter brought the food. Rek’s characteristics were all things that Opal had never eaten before, but it smelled very tender, like meat mixed with fish steak. Opal cut the steak with a knife and said: " He said that the Pope and the Emperor had a little problem of principle, and I think it might be about that... Wait, teacher."
Recht also realized that the two were relatively silent for a long time, and their thoughts were directly connected. Recht read the fragment in Opal's memory, and the knife and fork in his hand trembled slightly.
"According to the information he got." Opal said: "The Pope doesn't want Alex to be the crown prince. He has differences with the emperor and the Rotman family, is that so? So that means... "
Recht said solemnly: "According to your inference, it is true. No wonder I always feel that the Pope is watching out for Ledgerson, and that kid has been lying to me. So Drummon has already reached an agreement with Coroline. already."