Rika Fujimaru silently dragged out a few cushions from the cabinet under the small coffee table in the lounge.

These are Japanese-style cushions left over from the past, which are used to cushion the knees of people who have to kneel on the floor when there are not enough seats around the coffee table. Of course, on the current Storm Border, the only one left on the current Storm Border is Rika Fujimaru.

She pinched around in front of the low cabinet, picked out a cushion that she thought was moderately soft and hard, spread it in front of the statue of "The Emperor Descended to Nostramo" carved by Conrad Coetze, and sat down on her knees.

After she sat down, she wondered if she should at least take a cup of tea and put it next to her. But before she could think about it and decide whether to put it into action, the sculpture in front of her was already lit up with a hazy golden light.

Ever since the statue was built, the emperor has been keeping a small bit of his psionic energy here – a "little bit" in the emperor's standard, of course. Not only can this "little bit" of psionic energy naturally protect and disinfect chaos across the entire Storm Frontier on a day-to-day basis, but it can also be called upon on the fly, when the Emperor deems it necessary, to perform delicate actions such as shaking the air with psionic energy and conversing with others present.

But this is generally required for Fujimaru Rika to first attract the emperor's attention in various ways in front of the statue. After all, he had the entire galaxy to look after, and even if the location of this "anchor" was important in every sense, he couldn't keep an eye on the Storm Boundary all the time. This time, however, Rika Fujimaru had just sat down in front of the statue, and the emperor indicated with this vision: he was watching.

…… Reasonable, it's kind of scary. Rika Fujimaru straightened her back nervously and looked up.

As soon as she looked up, she realized that her decision to kneel down in front of the statue on a whim was not very appropriate: at this height, even if she was sitting upright, she would have to look up to see the face of the emperor.

It always feels like the next step is to be trained. The little girl who felt that she hadn't done anything worthy of criticism lately scolded.

The actual plot doesn't develop that way. The sound made by the emperor shaking the air with his psionic energy was indeed majestic, and it sounded very different from the last time the "tired old father" sounded, but when facing Fujimaru Rika, his attitude was quite peaceful:

"I know your divination." The statue with ripples of golden light said, "But in this matter alone, you shouldn't go deeper." ”

Fujimaru Rika waited for two seconds, and found that the emperor really didn't mean to continue, so he spread his hands: "Again?" Is this the kind of 'I know something you shouldn't know, so I'm obedient'? ”

The golden light that had not yet dissipated showed that the emperor's will projection was still there, but he did not reply to the sentence. Obviously, this time it was a speech disorder personality of the emperor who was randomly identified by Fujimaru Rika.

Realizing this, the latter sighed in frustration:

"Okay. Anyway, I know very well that it doesn't matter what anyone says after you've made your decision - after all, this is your country, and the two missing Cursebinders are in a sense an extension of your will. It's up to you to do with them however you want, or whatever you want to do with them. However, both as a contractor and provider of Sigrudlingi data, and as a logistics officer who knew Acurdona and Garibo Santo well, I felt that I was qualified to ask for as much information as I could. ”

The emperor still didn't speak, which made Fujimaru Ritsuka a little angry:

"At least I need to know if they're still alive, right?"

"They're still alive." The Emperor replied very happily to this question, "But I can only say so much to you. ”

"What the hell is going on?" Fujimaru Rika finally got up from the mat, otherwise she felt that her momentum was too weak, "The news brought by San Girino is too brief, but it is natural that he is busy manifesting everywhere and does not know the specific course of events. But I even heard him say that he cursed the Emperor's son—"

"—Your main task is not to think about these." The Emperor said in a rather unapproachable manner, "Arrive in Baal as soon as possible, and select a site for the lighthouse is your first priority." In comparison, two Cursed Legionnaires—"

"—but they're 'people'!" Here, the underage girl took full advantage of the sharpness of her voice, easily letting her shout drown out the emperor's deep and majestic voice, "Every nation is made up of 'people'!" I can't accept that they're just gone! ”

"......'Sacrifice is the cornerstone of an empire'—"

"—At least it has to be a 'meaningful' sacrifice, right? 'Life is the emperor's currency, make good use of it'—I don't see any right place for this 'usage'. As a member of the board of directors who is working hard to build a 'human body', I think I am qualified to monitor the flow of important funds! ”

The two important company commanders, who were already very famous during the Great Expedition, were indeed eligible to be counted as "important funds" in the emperor's currency.

The emperor was silent for a moment, and sighed with his psionic energy: "You are my personally chosen spokesperson, don't act like a child-"

"—but is it possible that I am indeed a 'child'? At least in the eyes of people in this day and age. Without hesitation, Rika Fujimaru began to take advantage of her age, which was forever frozen in place, "All in all, I've already given a reason why I insist on knowing the truth, and if you're going to refuse me, you'd better come up with a similar reason." Even if you make one up for me, I'll make you interested in it—"

- The angry emperor used his psionic energy to forbid Rika Fujimaru to continue. As the impotent and furious little girl jumped at his statue, he sighed again:

"I can't tell you." The statue's face that should have been made of marble showed a look of exhaustion in an unexpectedly vivid way, "I didn't expect this to let you know in this form - this should have been something that only existed 'outside of fate.'" ”

Rika Fujimaru, who had broken free from the emperor's apparently not-so-serious psionic bondage, was not angry: "What are you doing again?" Do these two people who somehow became your 'test subjects' have the right to informed consent? Besides, if you try to drive them out of their destiny, isn't it a matter of course for me to be known to half of us who are also outside of destiny? ”

The Emperor paused for a moment and repeated again: "Your main task now is not to think about these. The Baal system is the next stop on your voyage. ”

This attitude, which obviously didn't want her to get involved, made Fujimaru Ritsuka angry for a while—but no matter how angry she was, she couldn't help it. Although she has always seemed to be fighting with the emperor on various occasions since she was still in the torch, it can be traced back to the root cause that it is just a matter of mentality: if the emperor makes any decision, there is nothing in the entire universe that can force him to change his mind.

The golden light on the statue quickly dispersed, and Fujimaru Rika took advantage of the last bit of time to shout to the emperor:

"But you should at least let those suspicious Emperor's sons know that you have a plan for their second company commander!" She wasn't sure if the other party could hear it, and this move might be closer to venting her anger, "And the Iron Hand!" Remember to tell them where the company commander went! And St. Giles—"

Never mind. Halfway through her speech, she was suddenly deflated. After all, the emperor and his son communicate with him every time...... It's hard to say "perfect".

Simply, I said it to St. Giles myself. Rika Fujimaru thought indignantly.

Miwoo (six o'clock)

(forgot to timed gaze whistle)

(End of chapter)