Chapter 20: Departure, the City of Heaven's Gate (Editor not present, a small extra chapter (x

Star Alliance Calendar year 612, June 11th morning.

Weather: Clear.

Just outside the Lindun family's front door stood a young and an old person, whose relationship couldn't be told from looks, engaged in a question-and-answer.

"Did you bring the terminal?"

"I brought it."

"Phone? Keys?"

"On me."

"Did you pack your winter clothes in the suitcase? The temperature there is low, roughly at the autumn-winter transition."

"I brought them too! And as a vampire, I'm naturally cold-resistant—what's there to fear about the cold?"

"Vampires can also turn into old ice pops, don't underestimate the cold," Aomo, head lowered, gazing at the palm in his hand, was crossing off the essential items listed there with a charcoal pencil when he lifted his head, took another look at the rather impatient Molisen in front of him, and said, "Armory case—ah, this is the only thing I don't need to write down."

A henchman certainly needs his equipment, and moreover this fellow loves weapons as his life; his previous moonlighting financial issues arose exactly from his arms collection.

Aomo's gaze swept over the other's suitcase, he crossed off the last line on the paper, then folded the paper diagonally repeatedly until it was neat enough to satisfy a perfectionist, slipped it into his clothing pocket, and finally uttered the sentence Molisen had been waiting for:

"All right! Check's done, we can go."

Bang! Molisen slapped the door and made a move to leave.

"You should lock the door!" Aomo, somewhat helpless, tapped the card reader button by the door and softly said "Lock the door."

Then the indicator light next to the card reader turned from green to red, and at the same time a faint mechanical sound rang out.

Today was the first day after the college entrance exam ended, and also the day they set out for Heaven's Gate City.

One on a business trip, one on a tour; once the necessary preparations were checked off, it was time to depart.

As for the oddity of the checker and the checked being mismatched in age and seniority... with no outsiders around, there's no one to complain.

So accustomed to this interaction pattern were the two that they could naturally complain about the neighbors' gates they passed.

"Besides the first day we came here, does this neighbor keep his gate shut every morning?"

"There's nothing strange about a vampire not wanting to go out during the day; although his vampire background is complicated, his purity is beyond question."

"Looks like I still need to find a nighttime to apologize."

"Apologize?"

"I'm really sorry my useless uncle has caused you so much trouble."

"At least call me foster father, you brat!"

So you don't deny bringing trouble, huh......

Aomo, dragging his suitcase, let out a sigh in his heart.

【Border Gate District North District Rainfall Warning】

【Detected that you are on Gate Star Avenue; in the next hour your location will have light to moderate rain—please prepare an umbrella or seek shelter in advance】

The primary crystal in his mind capable of splitting off a bit of terminal function transmitted these words; Aomo, who had been lowering his gaze to the terminal screen, upon hearing it turned his head and looked out the car window at the overcast sky.

It really looked like rain, but he had prepared two umbrellas early, placing one in each person's bag, so what drew his gaze even more was the towering outline of the giant gate.

From the exam hall window in XC District, compared with the current sensation of being on the North District road heading toward that massive structure, the difference is naturally huge; he could now see more clearly the grandeur of that metal gate and the metal corners constantly turning on it.

Those corners sometimes merge with the surroundings, sometimes flip in the electromagnetic arc light; only when power reaches the threshold—when people can see a blue light rising into the sky as the formal activation—does the gate display a steady, sturdy door posture, truly astonishing.

It inherently possesses mechanical beauty, and moreover its surface is etched with source-energy shaping patterns, adding a touch of splendor and profundity.

Nowadays, large star gates produced are almost always the product of cooperation between mechanical engineering and source-energy engineering, seeking more stable operation and lower cost for mass production; whether planetary movement or interstellar travel, time is continually reduced, continually pulling the connections between people, between planets, closer together.

Even so, the places Aomo knows best are still this Border Gate District and the welfare institute covering 4,000 square meters located in the Demon Realm District.

The distance from the latter to the former is his first-ever long-distance journey in his life, stepping onto unfamiliar land he has never touched before.

There will be fear, but also curiosity, excitement, and delight.

But for a long time afterward, he was occupied with familiarizing himself with that entirely new area of activity, to the point of having no leisure to think about anything else.

Until today.

He now has leisure, able to take his own first step.

Unlike before, when he was swept along and taken by Molisen, this time it is his own choice.

In this situation, he actually shares considerable common ground with David,

but the biggest difference between them is that Aomo has had the intention to choose from the very start.

Therefore, after one day of formal contact with David, Aomo, with that aggressive posture, demanded that David make a decision.

Perhaps David previously lacked the space for no choice due to his environment, but at least in this world he has many options.

And Aomo plans to travel during the college entrance exam holiday.

Considering it would be hard to meet again in the short term, and because admonition is most effective when spoken face to face, he chose a rather risky path.

As for how to admonish, how to admonish, he had been calculating since accepting David's friendship declaration, and that night he took a moment to check the mercenary circles' dynamics to learn the situation of the Wasteland Star System. Ji Lie Ting.

Then he had it figured out.

With extremely strong executive power to do basic planning, and based on the personality model he derived from a few hours of observing contact, if the success rate exceeds half, there is reason to try.

Admittedly, the time they have known each other is too short; suddenly bringing up future plans would seem hasty.

But by guiding with words, as if unintentionally stumbling onto the topic of 'mercenaries' and then introducing this world's mercenary situation and future prospects, this route is sufficiently gentle and natural; the process is like revealing the dagger after the cloth is exhausted, and this 'map' is of decent quality.

Of course, the most important thing is that he succeeded.

Although it was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea, it indeed allowed that friend, met in similar circumstances, to take that step.

For David, that was a life question-and-answer in which he had been bewildered for several days.

For Aomo, that was also the result of his having discerned the type of David's crux and then intervening with outstanding initiative.

He didn't even need to ask about the other's past in detail, because he wasn't planning to map out David's future; he merely wanted David to have the notion of 'choice'.

That is enough; as for what exactly to choose, David can think it over slowly, just like Bi Ze, who likewise lacks a goal.

Aomo quite looks forward to the saying 'future', and also believes in the concept called 'possibility'.

He also hopes that the people around him can possess both, and doesn't mind personally stuffing them into their hands when they don't notice.

Given David's still-confused state, and even more likely that he wouldn't notice Aomo's guidance, perhaps only after several days, when he suddenly recalls the past, would that youth notice some strangeness; or perhaps... the burly yet meticulous older brother beside him, and the girlfriend Lucy only mentioned in his words, and even the quirky Rebecca from his mouth... they could, based on their respective understandings of David, detect the mixed oddity in his changes, thereby noticing themselves.

But that doesn't matter; I suppose they truly care about David, so they wouldn't interfere with him, at most they might feel a bit displeased toward themselves.

After all, they didn't really intend to intervene, but Aomo came over and kicked him.

Too brutal, too self-centered.

By then, I might face a warning or a threat, or something else... what to do, we'll talk later; anyway, by then I'll be catching an interstellar long-distance trip at Heaven's Gate City.

Call charges are quite high, so it's best to keep it short.

While on the run, I naturally have the confidence to think whatever I want.

But since we're already preparing for the trip, we shouldn't think too much; Aomo even wasn't in a hurry to confirm his application choices—

—those are usually confirmed on the evening of the day the college entrance exam ends, because the scores come out then as well.

But for a confident person, that sort of thing not only doesn't need to be rushed, there's hardly any need to confirm it.

Once the score line is confirmed, the application is set; there's even no need to check, as the next day the admissions staff of the applied school will send an email notification of acceptance.

But it's not yet......

Aomo glanced at his email inbox with no new messages, then scanned the activity of several large chat groups, and then lifted his gaze to the window, where the Heaven's Gate Airport was already nearby.

"It's time to get off, Morrison."

He turned around to greet him, and meanwhile pulled off the blindfold he was wearing.

"Ah?!" Morrison, who had his blindfold suddenly removed, was first startled, but upon seeing his foster son he relaxed a bit, "Oh."

"Go get some more sleep on the aircraft," Aomo, who had pulled up to the side of the street, opened the car door first, "Are you going to work once you get there?"

Aomo was sure that Morrison, aside from work-related fatigue, had not stayed up late the previous day, and now hurrying to rest was obviously to gather energy for later.

"Yeah, and it seems to have become quite a big deal, an official matter, even signing a confidentiality agreement."

Having said that, Morrison stopped, but since we were already talking about official matters, Aomo, who understood his job scope and the official departments his position often cooperated with, naturally understood.

He was referring to the Safety Bureau, and moreover the Two Worlds Safety Bureau.

"Sounds like there's no opportunity for me to learn about it." Aomo, who was in the process of paying the driver, gave a helpless smile.

"I already said it's confidential."

Also, as a foster father who has watched him grow up, I quite understand that this foster son's interest in transmigrants is not limited to the flashy and splendid.

Otherwise he wouldn't have set his target on the Executive Department of the Two Worlds Safety Bureau.

But public and private must be kept separate, especially after signing an agreement, and one must uphold the spirit of the contract.

So he merely raised his hand, intending to ruffle the other's fluffy hair, but was dodged.

He didn't mind either, after all failure is somewhat habitual; he simply switched, without embarrassment, to a topic that could end the conversation:

"Go enjoy the trip you're looking forward to; when the acceptance email arrives, send it to me to have a look—I'll have time to glance at it."

"You're taking it to show off to others, right? Putting on the act of a proud good father."

"I think I've at least taught you something."

Such as grappling combat, sword usage, and some minor spell‑casting techniques......

"It's simply unrelated to grades." Aomo stated this fact in a calm tone.

"Or maybe it's somewhat related to the physical test."

Although the passersby were just ordinary people and didn't pay much attention to this father‑son conversation, Morrison still felt a bit embarrassed.

"But the physical test doesn't count toward the total score; rather, the emphasis shows up when choosing a major after admission."

"Ah?" Morrison blinked, seeming to indeed care about this topic, "Is it like that now?"

"At least in the Gate‑Zone area it's like that."

"Ah... good thing I don't have to be a student anymore."

"……

Seeming to have understood something, Aomo's gaze toward his foster father carried a hint of contempt.