"No, it's not like that," Joe insisted.

"I need to elaborate," Maggie was unconvinced.

"Okay, so. You know there used to be a place called London, right?"

"Definitely. It occupies a prominent place in your country's pre-space history. ”

"It's built on a river, a big river."

"Thames, yes."

"Naturally, they built several bridges on them."

"Of course," Maggie agreed.

"But only one of them ended up being London Bridge."

"Probably the most important one."

"That's right. It's so important that people have been pouring all sorts of money and science into it just to keep this ancient thing standing. They did this for a long time, even after we started colonizing space. ”

"This effort seems to be a huge waste of resources and manpower. Why don't they build a new one with modern materials and engineering?"

"You know, it's the Queen's favorite bridge. No one can tamper with it. In fact, when the great earthquake of 2167 finally destroyed it, she declared the Earth itself a terrorist organization and airlifted the entire country into space. Or, was this a space launch? You know what I mean. ”

Maggie could only shake her head. This stubborn futility and manic overreaction always amazed her. Admittedly, Joe is not the most reliable source of historical information, and his anecdotal knowledge certainly misses quite a few details. However, from her knowledge of the culture of the Third British Empire, Maggie estimates that there is a whopping 87% chance that the story is almost entirely true. Of course, it only takes a few seconds for her to verify the authenticity of this narrative with a virtual volume, but that would take the fun out of it. Not to mention that it would be rude for him to do so in front of Joe.

"So, yes," the man turned, returning to his original point of view. "Because of that, whenever you hear someone talking about the London Bridge collapse, they're politely suggesting that the government has clearly messed things up." Usually through overconsumption. ”

"I understand. But 'My fai

How does the phrase 'lady' fit into this idiom?"

This is exactly what you should answer to show that you understand and agree. It's like a social contract. ”

This is what I extrapolated based on context. I'm asking, why are these three words in such order?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Probably a euphemism for the Queen's name."

"Curious".

"Listen, I know you have a 'I want to look into this completely insignificant' look right now, but you're kind of hanging me out, so can we try again?"

"Good. I'll cooperate. ”

"And then."

Joe rubbed his shirt, coughed into his clenched fists, and repeated the phrase that had begun the whole conversation in a slightly dramatic way.

"Ahh This place is so luxurious, London Bridge is going to fall!"

"My beautiful lady," replied the girl cheerfully.

"No, no, it's not like that," the man complained. "You're slandering the government, Maggie. You should be more disappointed. Cynicism. Rolling my eyes a little. Let's try again, shall we?"

"I'm sorry, sir, ma'am."

An apparently synthetic male voice interrupted the impromptu cultural lesson, before it could actually begin. Its source is a half-humanoid robot just a few steps away from Joe and Maggie. Its upper body has a wide, indistinct V-shaped torso with two well-adjusted arms, and their mechanical interior is hidden by interlocking plates made of shiny white polymers. The same goes for the back half of the spherical head. Its front is as transparent as glass, and the robot's face can be seen as a giant camera with a soft blue halo around the lens. As for the lower body of the machine, it doesn't. The torso is like floating in one place, and the buzzing is barely audible. The robot also wears a sleek black tank top with a tie over an ironed off-white shirt. The outfit resembles the traditional formal wear of the British around the 20th century.

As you can see from its appearance, this hovering machine is somewhat of a butler. More specifically, a monitoring automaton model S3-T1 with the name "Jeeves". This was already the case when Maggie rang the doorbell of the luxurious suite where she and Joe were standing in front. The man glanced at the interior of the dwelling and uttered the "London Bridge" comment, and the robot has been silently hovering at the doorway ever since. However, its patient subroutine seems to have done its job, as it speaks somewhat insistently.

"Although I do not want to interrupt your conversation, I must beg you to come in. Confucius is a very busy person, and your appointment is imminent, so you should be as punctual as possible. ”

"Agreed," Maggie bowed politely.

"Great. Please go this way. ”

When Towns takes the couple inside, Joe discovers that he initially thought the place was too fancy, which was an understatement. Its rooms and hallways are incredibly spacious, the carpets are incredibly soft, and the furniture is as exaggerated as in the movies. The baroque walls are lined with exotic artworks inlaid in tasteful frames, and elegant mini-chandeliers hang from the high ceilings. When he walked into the living room, the extravagance of it all intensified. It has a real stone fireplace for maximum comfort and real windows that let in real sunlight.

Joe couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and very uncomfortable. It was by far the most luxurious and luxurious residence he had ever seen. Even his virtual residence pales in comparison, let alone his little shoebox-like apartment. Indeed, the contrast between them is so stark that it's hard to believe that this place and that bland closet are on the same planet, but in fact in the same building. Admittedly, this is about 130 floors away from Joe's residence, but no matter how unbelievable it is, the two apartments must share a skyscraper.

Therefore, this person is forgiven for thinking that the owner of this place is an arrogant bastard. That unbearable bastard, wearing a mask just so that he doesn't have to breathe the same air as a civilian like him. So he was somewhat relieved when he found out that he was wrong, at least on the second point. Already waiting for him and Maggie in the living room was a round, amiable gentleman. He was dressed in a neat suit, with a solemn gray tinge in his black hair and a neat mustache on his lips, which was impressive. The fullness of this stranger means financial success, as it means that he can often buy a lot of real food, instead of relying on it

OT - Goop to make ends meet. The same goes for Karen, as he makes a lot of money from his hobby of avatar design.

"Master Millington, your three-o'clock appointment has arrived," Gieves announced.

"Oh! Incredible! The man said happily. "Please come in, please come in, you're welcome. I'm sorry that the décor is too extravagant, but in such a short period of time, I was able to rent this suite. Giffs, could you please bring some of your spiced tea to our guests?"

"Of course, sir."

Joe was both surprised and relieved by the warm welcome, and at the same time emboldened and decided to make the most of it.

"Good afternoon, sir." He reached out and stepped forward. "I'm Joe Mulligan."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Mulligan," Mr. Bearded said with a smile. "I'd like to shake your hand, but I'm afraid I'm not here right now."

He then reached for his arm in one of the armchairs, revealing that he was actually a highly complex hologram.

“Oh…”

Joe's enthusiasm quickly waned as he mentally reclassified the guy into the category of "pretentious bastard".

"Please don't take it to heart, Mr. Mulligan. This is a security measure. After all, it would be very irresponsible for someone of my stature to put himself within reach of a Level 3 entity. Ah, where is my politeness? My name is Oliver Millington, and I'm Her Majesty's Regional Director for Occult Expulsion in the sector. ”

"McGrathlack, the Observer, but you can call me Maggs or Miss O." The girl also introduced herself.

"I'm sure I'm hooked. Thanks to Major Archer's diligent report, I know a lot about you. This includes your technical prowess. Speaking of which, my technician told me that you guys are trying to trace the signal of this hologram back to its source. I advise you to cease doing so immediately, otherwise we will consider it hostile and will be forced to respond accordingly. ”

Joe looked at Maggie suspiciously, and he was just a little surprised to see her relax a little. Not eyes, not face, but hair. He noticed that the hair that was coiling around seemed to be proportional to the intensity of her mental effort, becoming more energetic. The fact that they calmed down a little meant that she had done what she was asked to do.

"I apologize to you," the girl said. "I have no intention of showing hostility."

"It's okay, dear. As far as I can tell, your curiosity has caused quite a few misunderstandings, but rules are rules. Ah, I'm sure your tea is here. ”

Graves quietly returned with a silver tray. It contained two cups of fragrant lemon balm tea, a pot of hot drinks, a plate of well-laid biscuits, a jug of fresh milk, and a small jug of honey. The robot servant quickly and gracefully placed the things on the small table in the center of the room, then bowed and took his leave. Oliver invites Maggie and Joe to sit down on the colorful couch, and they say yes. The government official sat in such a way that his hologram fits perfectly in the armchair opposite them.

"Alright, oh miss. I have good news for you. "Oliver gets straight to the point." After careful consideration, my agency considers that the terms of the ceasefire agreement that you have proposed are quite reasonable. So we've got all the formalities ready on our side. All I have to do is flip the switch on my side and you're officially a citizen of the third largest British Empire. We will also provide you with your own P

P-chip, although we venture to assume that you will be able to install it yourself. ”

"You guessed it, Oliver Millington. However, if I understand your intentions accurately, you have not agreed to my conditions, only to say that they are acceptable. ”

"So. You see, this is the first time that our CIA has signed such an agreement. We know that this is theoretically possible, and have certain safeguards and protocols in place for this, but so far you are the first entity to really try to work with us. I know we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Mulligan. ”

Joe looked up from the cup, startled, and motionless, like a deer under the headlamp. His full attention was focused on the aromatic drink and the food that looked delicious in front of him. He was thinking about whether to add a drop or two of honey to his tea when he suddenly heard his name. As a result, he had no idea at all why someone called him, and he was afraid to say something stupid or embarrassing. He was especially careful because he knew how important it was to face his and Maggie's future this time. However, the girl had previously assured him that she could talk, and all Joe had to do was stay by her side. The man took that to mean that he didn't need to worry because his very capable girlfriend would handle everything, so he didn't bother to follow the conversation.

"Definitely. Joe's presence is the most precious to me. ”

Maggie smiled sweetly at him, and he suddenly felt that he didn't need honey in his tea.

"Well, isn't that cute?" Oliver said happily, and then became serious. "Coming back to the issue at hand, while my colleagues and I are certainly interested in this agreement, we also think that if we let it remain as it is, it will be a seriously missed opportunity. Are you willing to expand further on the basis of non-aggression?"

"Yes, as long as we can agree on mutually satisfactory terms."

"Okay! Now, first of all, I hope to have your help in lightening the workload of our agency. ”

"If you ask me to help you expel other cosmic entities, then I must refuse."

It's not that she cares about her kind in some way, but chaotic entities tend to hold grudges, and if she gives them a reason, they're sure to target her and Joe.

"It's not like that." Oliver assured her. "While I believe your in-person involvement is a good thing for our field agents, we have a very specific issue that we need your input on. In other words, we want to leverage your unique knowledge and expertise as a consultant. ”

"Curious," Maggie was curious. "Explain".

"You see, my agency is noticing a worrying trend. Breakthrough events—like those caused by your time travels—have steadily increased in frequency and severity over the past three hundred years or so. They are especially common in densely populated systems like this one. We're not quite sure why this is happening, so we'd like you to shed some light on the situation and maybe even help us reverse the trend before it gets out of hand. ”

"The reason is your wormhole generator." She immediately revealed.

“…… Really?" The man seemed genuinely surprised.

"The way your starship bends, shapes, and stretches the fabric of reality weakens it, making it easier for people like me to traverse it."

"Guys".

That's what Oliver could have thought of at the time. He didn't know the science behind the wormhole generation, but Miss Wu's words did make sense on the surface. This is tied to the data he has at his disposal, as humanity has been actively expanding interstellar ever since it mastered faster-than-light travel. Nowadays, wormholes are commonplace, and people don't think much about them. Even the CIA somehow ignores the rather obvious link between them and an increase in defaults. So far, they believe that this trend is caused by hitherto unknown psionic and psychic factors, but the idea that spatial interference is the culprit is definitely worth investigating.

The real problem is that if this is indeed the root cause, it's not the kind of thing that can be fixed quickly or easily. Wormhole generators are the standard for the entire galaxy, and some of the spacecraft have equipment that is more than a hundred years old. Stopping them is something that will not happen, because there are so many reasons why they are not even worth calculating. Ideally, this would not be the case, and the civilizations of the galaxy could find ways to change or upgrade technology so that this wear and tear of space does not occur. Even then, it would take decades for such a change to be implemented within the reach of influence, which is assuming that such a thing is possible.

Thankfully, Oliver's ears are full of intelligence, and his knowledge and computing power are like a quantum supercomputer on steroids.

"Is it possible to repair the damage, or prevent it from getting worse?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"How can you be so sure?" Do you know how wormhole generators work?"

"Not yet. However, from my personal experience, I know that the space regions belonging to the Transverse United Republic of America are much more stable than yours, although their interstellar traffic is just as severe. It's highly likely that their wormhole generator design has solved the problem I mentioned, whether intentionally or unintentionally. ”

"Damn Yankees!" Oliver gritted his teeth. "They may know all this, but keep silent!"

The political climate between 3BE and the Americas has been volatile since before humans dispersed to other planets. Both space civilizations are part of the Federation of Union governments, so they are technically allies. However, their culture and core values are very different. For example, every Englishman likes to drink some tea, but the Americans insist that their heretical bean juice – also known as coffee – is superior. There are many other similar conflicts, but the biggest disagreement between them is their stance on artificial intelligence.

When 3BE outlawed and abused synthetic life forms, the United States embraced them. In fact, their leader is one of them. His name is President John Henry Rushmore, and he is very unique because he has a quad-core CPU. Each of his cores is programmed to think like a great leader, and he is named after a legendary monument. The result was a super-president, who did a great job, and he was ready to be re-elected later that year to begin his 69th consecutive term. He also has some personal rivalry with the Eternal God Queen Mecha Elizabeth II, although so far they have managed to avoid bombing each other.

The bottom line is that 3BE and the United States are reluctant acquaintances at best, so it's only natural that they won't share some potentially catastrophic secrets.

"So, can you figure out a way to fix our own wormhole engine?" Oliver asked bluntly.

"As long as there's enough time and data, that's fine." Maggie replied confidently.

"Great. Then we'll let you lead the project. Of course, our people will scrutinize your findings. ”

"In return, I ask your government to assist me in ensuring that no entity, whether yours, rogues, foreign or foreign, endangers me or Joe Mulligan."

"Done. Next, do you find any other similar vulnerabilities in our banking software?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

Maggie didn't know how to answer. Was he referring to the fragility of the accounting system? Or in general? Or is it just the information that has to do with the government and its operations? Moreover, wouldn't the ease of revealing this information hurt her position in this discussion? The secret is the bargaining chip, and she has screwed things up by divulging the secret of the wormhole generator for free. She did not take into account that what was obvious to her was not necessarily the case for the representatives of the IAEA. It was a mistake she didn't want to make again.

“…… Many. ”

The girl finally allowed her budding humanity to prevail and offered a vague, escaping, but technically true answer for the first time.

"I expected that." Oliver sighed. "Brains like yours may see our safest systems as a trivial obstacle."

"This statement is not entirely inaccurate."

"In any case, I'm going to put you in touch with our cybersecurity department so we can plug these holes as much as we can. This includes ghost money you've done a few times, but we're happy to offer you a generous stipend for your help. How about three thousand pounds a month?"

Joe had been quietly paying attention since Maggie had just mentioned his name, and he almost choked on the cookie when he heard the number. That's 60 times his usual pocket money – much more than he spends in a year, let alone a month.

"London Bridge is going to collapse, Oliver Millington."

Even Maggie seems to think this is ridiculous.

"Fall? The man was taken aback.

"Down," she confirmed.

"My beautiful lady!" Why do you say that?"

"I just finished cross-checking the financial records of 65 cybersecurity consulting firms. For a task of this size and severity, your offer appears to be 43% higher than the industry standard for a consulting position. ”

"Yes, that's good. You see, we want to be generous as a sign of sincerity. Not that the CIA's budget can't afford these expenses. ”

"It doesn't matter. I can't agree to the terms of the agreement unless they're balanced, even if they're in my favor. ”

"I see. You're noble, but that makes me a little embarrassed. You see, my colleagues all agree that the money is acceptable, so not giving it to you in full will make them think I'm asking you less money. Maybe you're willing to provide some extra services in exchange for an extra salary?"

"It's allowed."

"Incredible! In fact, I've been trying to address some of the issues in our advanced training program for psychological ops. As an expert in psionic powers, I believe your insight will be helpful in our endeavors. ”

What followed was a well-choreographed balancing act that dragged on until the end. Oliver would make a proposal, then Maggie would make a counteroffer, then Oliver would make a counteroffer, and so on. The complexity and scope of the conversation continued to grow, and Joe completely forgot what the conversation was about in just five minutes, and it seemed to continue for a long time. He didn't listen at all and just focused on relaxing. Sipping refreshing tea, eating delicious biscuits, sitting on the super soft sofa, listening to Maggie's pleasant voice, he found himself quickly falling asleep.

"Hi, Maggie?"

He intervened in the ongoing discussion with the grace and ingenuity of a freighter that crashed into a gas station. Oliver was naturally a little disgusted by the intrusion, though the girl didn't mind at all.

"Yes, Joe? She turned to him with a smile.

"Can I take a nap?"

"Of course."

She patted her thigh gently, indicating that he could rest his head on her lap if he wanted to. Joe absolutely agreed, so he accepted her offer, and in the process, he lifted his foot onto the arm of the couch. Maggie gently stroked his head and lulled him into the best sleep of his life. It was an incredible comfort, and even Oliver's occasional shouting wasn't enough to wake him up. He slept for a long time, and by the time a dull thud woke him up, the meeting was over.

"Did you sleep well?" Maggie asked, seeing him awake.

"Very good, yes," he replied as he sat on her lap. "Still, do you mind if I stay like this a little longer?"

"Are you still tired?"

"Not at all. That's really refreshing. It's just that your thighs are so soft and comfortable and your skirt feels great against the back of my head. ”

"I'm glad I have agreed."

Joe took the opportunity to scan the room. It's still as luxurious as ever, albeit with two significant differences. The first thing was that Mr. Millington's hologram was missing, which was natural because his business was over. Another thing was that the golden light that came in through the windows had turned a noticeable orange, staining most of the room orange. Now, Joe rarely sees the sun in his hometown with his own eyes, but there are a lot of simulated sunlight in VR. So, although it took him a few seconds, he was able to successfully deduce the time of day. His gaze turned to the chic grandfather clock at the other end of the room, seeking confirmation.

"Wait, it's half past seven?!"

"Yes. Is this a problem?"

"No, no, it doesn't matter. It's just that it's very rude to sleep in a stranger's house for so long. ”

An hour-long nap for smart people to work out boring details? This is good. In Joe's opinion, this is very reasonable. But it was a bit too much to stay in the room all afternoon.

"Your consideration is admirable, but it's not necessary." Maggie said calmly. "Oliver Millington has no right to oppose our presence"

"That's right. I guess he doesn't actually live here, he's a hologram or something. ”

The girl tilted her head slightly and looked down at him, her eyes blinking rapidly. Joe recognized the gesture, which he had begun to call in his mind "thinking winks." "Whenever Maggie is quick to tackle something she should have thought about beforehand, she does it. This is one of those things that is "hindsight". Considering who she is and who she is, these delayed revelations are usually quite ridiculous, so the man tempers his normal feelings in anticipation of the impending truth bomb.

"I forgot to say that I have made a legal claim to this house."

Thankfully, he pulled himself together, because it was quite a heavy blow indeed.

"Ahh Yes, maybe it should have been said earlier. Much earlier. Like, 'Before you do it'. ”

"I sense hostility in your tone, Joe. Have I offended you?"

"A little." He got up from her lap. "So are you going to live here now?" Moved from my humble civilian dwelling to this splendid suite?"

"My intention is for both of us to live here."

"Hmm. You just made that decision for me, didn't you?"

"My conclusion is that it's more important to put you to sleep."

"Is a nap more important than a promise that could last a lifetime?!"

When Maggie realizes what Joe means, she starts to think cranky again.

“…… Yes. ”

The man sighed and shouted, rubbing his face in exasperation. While he was frustrated that his girlfriend had excluded him from such a big decision, he was even more angry at his own stupidity. He was well aware that Maggie had a bad habit of going too far whenever she threw herself into her "work", and Joe's job was to remind her to take a step back. She's made a lot of progress in controlling her impulses, so he thinks she has some certainty in negotiating. In retrospect, he underestimated the bearded bastard for his happy uncle behavior. He may have egged Maggie into agreeing to do something outrageous in exchange for this pointless luxury suite that she didn't really need.

"If you want us to stay in your apartment, then I'll promise you." The girl said.

"What, let this place be empty?" That would be a huge waste, and we all know you don't like that. ”

"It's ...... Really," she said, looking down at her knees. "However, due to my lack of consideration, which led to the current impasse, I have to make concessions."

"Listen, I'm not against moving here. I'm sad, not crazy. We just need to redecorate, get rid of all this luxury garbage, and find a way to dispose of all the rooms. Actually, what's the layout like here?"

"There is a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a living room, a study, a games room, a master bedroom, a guest room, and two bathrooms."

Joe's mouth opened wide and his fingers were raised, but he couldn't resist saying something inappropriate.

"Ten rooms? He screamed.

"If you count the corridors, there are 11."

"It's a bit a lot for two people, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

"At least there will be enough space for Azgold Caral to run around and play...... If only snakes would do that kind of thing. ”

"This residence is great for puppies," the girl notes hopefully.

"Maggie, please. One by one, okay?"

Then, his attention was drawn to a strange crash from somewhere in the hall, the one that had just woken him up.

"And what's going on with that voice?" This has been going on for some time. ”

"My general is settling in."

"Your- you mean the virtual reality pod?"

"Yes."

"Can it walk?"

"It's more like a small hatch, but, yes, it can."

"Did it come up on its own?"

Primary.

The man screamed in disbelief.

"I had to guide it to here remotely," the girl explained calmly.

"How can it get through this door?!"

"Difficult."

"It shattered the door frame, didn't it?"

"Yes, but the repair drone has repaired the damage."

"The sheriff will be furious when he hears this"

"She won't. The government has agreed to intercept and remove any automated reports involving anomalous activity in exchange for my silence on what they do that shouldn't be done. ”

Joe wasn't quite sure what "anomalous activity" meant, but a Pantry-sized Scogetter machine with holes in the wall might have fallen underneath it.

"Actually, about that. You signed a proper contract, right?"

"Indeed."

"Where is it?" I'm going to see what other crazy things you did while I was napping. ”

Maggie pointed to the worryingly thick pile of papers on a small table in the corner. Joe walked cautiously over and flipped through the dense protocol with a skeptical expression. At the very least, most of the text is exaggerated by details, clarifications and details, but there are at least 20 more clauses in that matter. Worst of all, it's all written in legal jargon, so simply browsing doesn't tell him much.

"Listen, let's be clear, there's nothing dirty, criminal, or immoral in there, right?"

"Of course. I do not agree with the terms that I am unable or unwilling to perform. ”

"I guess that's good. But I don't think you need any of that stuff at all. For example, an accounting course and a law degree that I can understand. Very respectable. But what about a Space Shuttle Pilot License? Really?!!"

"I think the idea of the two of us going to space together is very appealing."

"I mean, yes, it's kind of romantic, but if it's all the same for you, I'd rather not go into real space on a real shuttle, where I'm really going to die."

Joe suffers from a severe fear of space flight, also known as space phobia. It is a common disease among citizens living on the planet. As one might expect from an irrational fear, no official statement or scientific study can convince the man that space travel is statistically safer than walking. Maggie might be able to convince him to take a private shuttle, but he really didn't want to think about it.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wu?"

This uncomfortable topic was interrupted by the robot butler Jeffs, who had just wandered around the room.

"I beg your pardon for the interruption, but you have guests," he said politely. "Should I let her in?"

"Please do this," she nodded.

"As you wish."

"Oh, don't do that, Maggie!" As Gilvers left, Joe shouted. "Do you have that robot butler too?"

"The tea he made was wonderful."

"Yes, that makes sense."

Joe didn't see the need to check the contract anymore. Both Maggie and Mr. Millington have signed. And it's with blood. How he did it with holograms is a mystery, but ultimately irrelevant. The important thing is that the deal is made and the girl complies no matter what. Having Joe question the terms only exhausts him. Sure, there are occasional surprises, but there's nothing quite like his space witch girlfriend getting himself a luxury apartment.

Then, he quickly reconsidered the sentiment when he saw a heavily armed ginger-haired woman in military uniform walk into the room and salute both of them.

"Second Class Psionic Agent Sarah Johnson, report, sir."

Joe slowly turned to Maggie.

"Agent Johnson will be with us for the foreseeable future." She calmly answered the unspoken question.

"But...... But why?"

"I'm going to be experimenting with something that aims to make the most of her psionic potential."

The man looked at the woman quizzically. Their eyes met, and these two strangers, who had never spoken face-to-face, shared a deep understanding of the human condition. Unfortunately, they realize that they can't take control of their lives anywhere as much as they imagined. It's an epiphany that no matter how hard they try, there is always something they have to abide by and endure.

Something that has a lot of eyes, looks like a girl, and is horribly strange.

"I offer my condolences," he said.

"Me too," she replied.