243: Epilogue of Chapter 243

Li Ming stretched and struggled to reach out and turn off the alarm clock.

He didn't want to go to work, but since his parents had found this job for him, he had to drag himself out of bed.

After a quick wash, he patted his big belly.

Sigh, I'm getting fatter and fatter.

Putting his glasses back on, he checked the time on his phone, got dressed, put on his bag, and left the house.

Entering the subway, the station today was no different from any other day.

Day after day of work...

This kind of life might not be what he wanted, but it wasn't bad either, was it?

Work, work...

Before he knew it, it was time to get off work again; it felt like he had done nothing, yet also like he had done everything.

Leaving the company in a daze, he suddenly didn't feel like taking the subway home.

He wanted to walk along the roadside and take a look at the school entrance on the way.

A cold wind blew, though not as piercing as in the north, it still made him hunch his shoulders. Winter seemed to have come exceptionally early to the south this year, though he didn't know why.

The evening rush hour traffic was heavy. He put on his headphones to block out the noise, but when he looked up again, he saw a strange figure under the newly lit streetlamp.

He couldn't help but steal a few more glances, only to find that the person was also sizing him up.

It was a thin... version of himself?

For some reason, Li Ming subconsciously walked to the streetlamp and stood back-to-back with his other self, separated by the lamp post.

"How's life?" he asked.

"Not bad," Li Ming replied. "Going to work and coming home every day. Plenty of worries, but living isn't an issue."

"That's good," he said.

"Yeah, it's pretty good..." Li Ming shook his head. "It's just that I always feel like something is missing... It's very dull."

"No surprise there. How are Mom and Dad?"

"Very healthy. Mom's retired, and Dad's almost there... Haha, soon I'll be the only one in the family working."

"That's good..." He thought for a moment. "Do you remember? We said back then that after looking after our parents until the end, it would be about time to wrap things up."

"Yeah... actually, I think about that occasionally now, too."

"How about doing something you want to do?"

"Do what?" Li Ming shrugged. "I want to be a Commander."

"That seems truly impossible," he laughed. "But since I've appeared, let me, this butterfly, flap my wings one more time."

A card appeared in Li Ming's hand. He picked up the bank card with some surprise. "Are you sure I can handle this?"

"I am you, so I know your character," he laughed. "Go do what you want to do. Consider this a little benefit I've secured for you."

Li Ming was silent for a long time. "I'll decide. Password?"

"The usual, you know it."

"That's quite casual," Li Ming smiled.

"Take care of Mom and Dad, and also A-Wen and A-Han," he said. "You're the older brother; you have to take responsibility."

"Naturally."

"Then I'm off. I hope you find yourself."

He vanished, just as he had come.

Li Ming looked at the bank card in his hand and pondered for a long time before putting it away and walking quickly home.

"Captain Yang, the target has left," a man in a down jacket whispered from the shadows.

"Understood. I have rejoined the target. No need to watch this... ordinary citizen anymore."

"Copy that."

The next day, Li Ming checked the card; it contained one hundred million US dollars.

Li Ming thought for a long while and finally went to discuss the matter with his parents.

A few days later, the Academy of Sciences received an investment of exactly ninety million US dollars, with a note specifically stating to "invest this money into commercial nuclear fusion."

Six months later, in the Imperial Capital.

An excited academician stood before the desk of Number One.

"Yes, the technology is completely feasible!" the academician said. "The experiments are complete, and the current three hundred hours of continuous operation are absolutely no problem!"

Number One nodded, closing his eyes to recall the sudden appearance of that young man, and the things he mentioned... parallel dimensions, The Governing Body, and... a mutual aid proposal.

Opening his eyes again, "Package the source of the technology as an independent breakthrough. Continue to strengthen your research and strive to fully master these technologies."

Several more years passed.

Elsa, who had become a corporate drone, was suddenly summoned to the World Alliance located in Vienna... which should now be called the headquarters of the United Earth Government.

On TV, on phones, and all over the internet, news was being broadcast that the latest spacecraft had completed a commercial round trip between the Earth and the Moon.

The explosion of technology and high economic prosperity allowed human development to progress quite rapidly. The original conflict between the European Union and the Russian Federation also collapsed under the dual pressure of the reconstructed United States and China, as well as the pressure from China's technological breakthroughs.

At least... the world is at peace, isn't it?

She no longer had to worry about those things...

However, after she sat in the waiting room, the document handed to her by the official made her feel a bit strange and familiar.

Human Civilization Governing Body Cross-World Personnel Contract Agreement》

"What is this?" she asked.

"An old friend of yours named you," the officer said. "Whether you sign it or not is up to you."

Elsa was silent for a long time... "Can I see him again?"

"In theory, only your memories and consciousness will be copied; you yourself will still live in this world."

Elsa shook her head, but still picked up the pen, intending to sign.

"...But, we think it's possible to do so, as long as you are willing to give up everything in this world."

——————

On the other side, The Governing Body.

When Li Ming had just returned from Houston.

He raised his fist and swung it toward The Governing Body's human form, but stopped just before hitting her.

The Governing Body instinctively closed her eyes but did not move or resist.

Li Ming withdrew his fist and pointed at Lei and Dian. "Tell me, why did you bring them here?"

"Because they have indeed been trying to find you through certain high-dimensional means," The Governing Body replied. "This directly triggered my early warning system, Li Ming."

"But... why bring them here?"

"Originally, I had forcibly stripped them of their consciousness and imprisoned them..." She shook her head. "Logically, I should have disposed of them, but after thinking about it, I decided against it."

The Governing Body saw his expression darken further. "You know, this was to protect you."

"..." Li Ming closed his eyes and looked at Lei and Dian.

"I apologize for my actions and ask for your forgiveness, though I cannot change what happened. This was a necessary security measure." The Governing Body bowed slightly.

Lei and Dian nodded in understanding.

"Can I go back now?"

"No rush." The Governing Body narrowed her eyes. "In reality, you've only slept for about a day and a half; there's still plenty of time."

"What are you planning to do?"

Li Ming immediately took a step back, looking at her warily.

"As a reward for exceeding your training and challenges, and... as a small compensation for the accidental harm to your Ship Girls, I have prepared a new world for you."

"Can I not go?"

Li Ming had a look of refusal on his face.

"That won't do." The Governing Body finally showed a somewhat mischievous smile. "Everything is ready; you can't refuse."

"You..."

"Alright, let's go!"

The Governing Body snapped her fingers, and a portal immediately appeared beneath Li Ming.

Before he could even let out a yell, Li Ming fell through, and Lei and Dian hurriedly jumped in after him.

The Governing Body shook her head, showing a somewhat doting smile.

...

...