Of course, Orwell could sense the inexplicable hostility in Osbourne’s tone. Normally, he had a bad temper and never held anyone in high regard. Now, he found himself unexpectedly playing the role of this person’s substitute. He had never imagined such a thing could happen to him. Although he couldn’t vent his anger on Iger, it didn’t mean he wasn’t genuinely upset. Now, looking at this face standing in front of him, a surge of anger welled up within him.
“Even if General Osbourne doesn’t remember me, it doesn’t matter. However, I don’t think General Osbourne has no right to question me, right?”
Osbourne’s brows furrowed, sensing the unmistakable scent of the Alpha pheromones belonging to his Highness. His eyes, a vivid shade of ocean blue, ignited with a touch of anger. His handsome face became icy, especially as his gaze swept over the conspicuous red marks on his lips. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Get lost.”
Orwell was about to retort, but then he heard a chilly voice speaking indifferently, “Orwell is my guest. I wonder what General Osbourne came here for today?”
Osbourne’s attention was instantly captivated by this voice, and even the fury on his face froze. He stared at the person before him in a daze, saying, “Your Highness.”
He looked at Iger in a daze, his heart twisting with pain. He realized that, whether in the previous life or the current one, he had arrogantly made so many mistakes. Back then, he thought His Highness’s attempts to retain him were mere playful teasing. During that time, when His Highness was in great pain, what was he doing? He repeatedly used a cold and rational attitude to completely sever the last possibility between them.
Orwell also turned his head to look at Iger, but he noticed that, from start to finish, Iger’s gaze was never directed at him. Even if his expression was cold, it was always focused on General Osbourne. Iger had never shown such intense emotions toward him. It seemed that, when he was with Orwell, His Highness displayed only faint emotions, as if nothing could capture this person’s attention.
Feeling the fullness of his heart’s disappointment and bitterness, Orwell moved his lips but said nothing, leaving the room.
“Hehe, General Osbourne is truly leisurely. However, I still remember your previous words. Why is it that you seem to have broken your own promise first?”
—I hope that the next time I see you, you won’t do something that makes things difficult for everyone.
And now, Osbourne realized that, recalling his present situation, wasn’t he currently engaged in something that made His Highness uncomfortable? Thinking back, the words he had spoken back then had completely chilled His Highness’s heart. Did he want to make His Highness experience that kind of pain again?
Unfortunately, at that time, he didn’t understand. Now, looking back, besides feeling shocked, all that remained was an overwhelming sense of regret engulfing him.
Even though he knew he was so selfish, the thought of His Highness getting married and having children with someone else filled him with jealousy and heartache, almost driving him mad. If His Highness hated him and couldn’t forgive him, he would accept whatever His Highness did to him.
Osbourne’s eyes were filled with intense pain and struggle as he slowly uttered each word, “Your Highness… I know all the truths now.”
Iger paused for a moment, seemingly unwilling to see him in such a state. He turned away and said, “I don’t know what General Osbourne is talking about. You can leave; you’re not welcome here.”
Osbourne suppressed the bitterness in his throat and said, “Your Highness, I’m sorry…”
“My father has told me everything, including what you said to His Majesty. I know everything…”
Iger turned to look at him for a while. After a moment of silence, he seemed to understand and smiled mockingly, “You don’t owe me an apology, Osbourne. If you feel guilty about it, there’s no need. Our marriage was a mistake from the beginning. Since you let go of it back then, there’s no need to waver now. I will eventually let go of all of this.”
Osbourne had anticipated that Iger might hate him and might not forgive him before he came, but he never thought that Iger would appear so calm. This left him even more at a loss.
If His Highness no longer harbors any resentment towards him, what should he do?
Osbourne looked at Iger, suppressing the anxiety within him. “Your Highness, what if I say that I’ve tried but found that I can’t let go?” He had never truly let go, whether in the past or now. He was constantly tormented by this pain, and leaving hadn’t diminished it at all.
Iger’s initially calm expression changed completely after hearing this: “Enough, Osbourne. Do you think you’re being noble by asking for forgiveness on behalf of my father, or are you just pitying me?”
Upon hearing these words, Osbourne’s heart trembled. He hurriedly said, “Your Highness, how could you think that way?”
Iger sneered, “Isn’t it so? Now that you know everything, what difference does it make? I don’t need your apologies, and I certainly don’t need your self-righteous attempts at compensation. I’ve said it before; our mistake has ended. If General Osbourne insists on apologizing, then my greatest wish is that you never come looking for me again.”
*
After heartlessly sending Osbourne away, Iger glanced at the meal left by Orwell—a pathetically unimpressive sandwich and a rather dreadful glass of juice. Remembering Orwell’s earlier comment about his lack of culinary skills, he took a hesitant bite, finding it nearly unbearable.
[I suspect he’s retaliating against me. Such a scheming boy.]
[…]
Chu Yan could only lie back down and, feeling genuinely hungry, began to miss Osbourne’s culinary skills. Big crabs, large lobsters, massive pork ribs—he could make them all, and they tasted even better than those from a hotel.
Back in this world, he had always enjoyed the meals Osbourne prepared. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to taste them this time.
However, when he was nearly hallucinating from hunger, he couldn’t help but mentally praise Colonel Beaumont, as he turned out to be a very capable helper!
[Master, um, so do you still want to remarry?]
[??? Are you kidding me? 2333, I’m dedicating myself to science and the empire. My thoughts have transcended such trivial matters as love!]
[Master, please don’t add drama to yourself. We’re here to complete the mission. In the previous worlds, you kept changing the concept and adding drama to yourself. The judgment from above hasn’t come down yet. If you really fail, you might need to do it again!]
Chu Yan didn’t care at all: [This is not adding drama; it’s called refining the character setting.]
Struggling, 2333 said: [Are you really not remarrying? Can’t we just complete the mission honestly?]
Iger looked down from the large square floor-to-ceiling window. His gaze fell on a floating car. He restrained his desire to order food, feeling extremely depressed. Joking aside, could he eat anything now?
Iger thought for a moment and decided to go downstairs. The sky was already dark as evening approached. Although it was dim, Osbourne immediately spotted Iger. Without hesitation, he opened the car door and followed.
However, Iger seemed not to notice him. After walking a few steps, he heard Osbourne calling from behind, “Your Highness.”
Iger stopped and turned to look at him, saying coldly, “If General Osbourne likes waiting, then feel free to wait here.”
Osbourne, who had wanted to catch up, was nailed to the spot by this remark. The emotions of pain and helplessness poured out in his eyes in the dim night. He palely stared at the person who was deliberately avoiding his gaze. His heart ached, and his lips trembled uncontrollably, “Your Highness.”
*
After a few days, when Iger returned to the laboratory, he found everyone exceptionally excited. Only Orwell looked rather embarrassed, but his attitude remained friendly. However, it was undoubtedly quieter than the initial days.
Reid, however, was brimming with enthusiasm. “Your Highness, the algorithm you created is successful and feasible. Once we solve the remaining few details, our original project will be halfway to success.”
“Director Noah heard about our progress and was very pleased. He has already applied for the ‘Dawton Award’ from the Empire, especially praising the new algorithm you developed!”
Iger just smiled faintly and seemed indifferent, “Is that so?”
Seeing his lack of interest, Reid didn’t bother him further and turned to push Orwell, “Your Highness, what’s wrong with you? Why do you look so lost? And you, I’ve noticed something strange about you too.”
Orwell naturally understood what he meant. The thought of Iger’s desperate and agonized appearance that day made him feel uncomfortable.
In the laboratory, people exchanged a few words when Iger arrived but quickly returned to silence. The only sounds were the beeping noises generated by the large computing machines. As expected, with Iger’s help, many intricate and confusing data points were quickly resolved.
Moreover, this prince seemed not to need any rest. He remained focused, maintaining a high intensity of work throughout. In just one morning, he completed the amount of work that would typically take the entire laboratory a day. Finally, he asked, “Is there more?”
The others, grappling with the data in their hands, hair almost pulled out by the vexing information, and unable to ignore the fact that this was the noble prince of the empire, whispered, “I think I might need some help.”
Especially when Reid heard this, he perked up like a rabbit with two long ears and shouted at Iger, “Your Highness!!!”
He was just short of kneeling in front of him.
Iger looked at his exaggerated worshipful expression, couldn’t help but smile slightly, and said to him, “Send it over.”
Reid instantly felt that this prince was like an angel surrounded by divine light. Even a slight smile made people dizzy and dazzled.
Orwell was not very pleased, gritting his teeth as he muttered, “You dare ask His Highness to help you with work? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Lazy to the point of death!”
Reid deeply stared at Orwell, rubbing his chin and saying, “You’ve changed. Why do I feel like you’re exceptionally protective of His Highness? I remember what you were like on the first day he came. It’s changed too quickly.”
Orwell’s face immediately became uncomfortable at his words. Before he could explain anything, Reid nodded and continued, “But I also think highly of His Highness.”
A flicker of emotion passed through Orwell’s heart, but the schemer in his mind wildly agreed, of course!
He calmly glanced at Reid.
Reid was already earnestly counting on his fingers, “First-class appearance, genius mecha designer, proficient in data algorithms. If General Hobark hadn’t gone mad and betrayed, and if His Highness didn’t have all those messy scandals, he would probably have become a legend in the empire by now.”
Unable to contain his disagreement, Orwell retorted, “Those Empire journalists and media are experts at making a mountain out of a molehill. If you believe them, you’re just plain stupid.”
Reid chuckled after hearing this, “Weren’t you just like me, fervently despising His Highness at first? Are you stupid?”
“…Get lost.”
*
In these few days, Iger rarely returns home. The research institute falls under the category of a nationally protected classified area, and without permission, no external personnel are allowed to enter. To avoid encounters with Osbourne, Iger chooses not to go home. Besides, the research institute provides accommodation with all the necessary facilities.
About half a month later, the Imperial Research Institute announced a piece of news. In essence, the data network proposed five years ago has been successfully established. It is expected to be launched in the market within the next month, and other supporting projects will be developed successively after the data network is put into use.
Upon hearing this news, the initial reaction of the entire Imperial populace was disbelief. When the plan was initially proposed, numerous people expressed skepticism about the entire project, deeming it unrealistic. After all, it seemed impossible to have such a vast and precise database that could handle various sectors like healthcare, public infrastructure, civilian goods, and communication logistics. While these supporting projects operating independently in the network posed no problem and had been implemented many years ago, they indeed marked the successful entry of the Imperial citizens into a new era. But this plan is different. It aims to connect countless aspects of the daily spiritual and material lives of Imperial citizens, constructing a colossal network. Within this network, the information of every Imperial citizen will permeate.
Take a simple example: suppose one night, a remote area experiences a car accident. Traditionally, a passerby would be the first to dial emergency services, and then the police would arrive to maintain traffic order at the scene. If fortunate, another passerby might report the incident. Unfortunately, the unlucky ones might not be discovered until the next day, and by then, the occupants of the vehicle would have already perished, with the police’s role being almost reduced to body retrieval.
However, in the future, this process will be different. The step of a passerby reporting the incident can be eliminated because, with the establishment of the data network for roads and vehicles, they can automatically send alerts. Moreover, they can send multiple alerts simultaneously: one to the hospital for emergency assistance, one to the police for case filing, and one to navigation systems to provide real-time traffic updates!
There is no information gap and no data delay!
Undoubtedly, the announcement of this news instantly set the entire Empire abuzz. Given the current scientific research capabilities of the Empire, this development is truly incredible.
— Amazing! The researchers at the Imperial Research Institute must be geniuses. Although this is just the first step, I believe Director Noah’s vision will surely be realized in the near future. I’m so excited that I want to go outside and shout!
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