HSB Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ivan instantly understood the significance of the metal wall and also understood why little Bambi was able to go out looking for food yesterday and didn’t chance upon any zombies.

There was a Level 3—possibly even as high as Level 4—high-level zombie and this area was his territory, so any zombies coming over here would only be signing their death warrant.

The trio of zombies he and Miles encountered passing by was probably passing by and trying to escape from here. It just so happened they were driving by; the two sides met on a narrow road with no way to avoid each other, so Miles planned to use the zombies to sneak up on him and take the Level 3 crystal for himself.

Ivan’s beating heart slowly subsided. He squatted down so he was at eye level with Bambi. Gazing into Bambi’s eyes, he said very gently, “Bambi, your grandpa loves you very much.”

Ivan thought out what must have happened. Bambi’s grandpa was very strong, but unfortunately, he was infected. Afraid that once he turned into a zombie, he would hurt Bambi and afraid that without him, Bambi wouldn’t be safe living alone, her grandpa sealed the third floor and above, which not only prevented him from harming Bambi after mutating but also allowed him to let out his aura.

Once the aura belonging to a high-level zombie was released, unless there was a zombie of a higher level occupying the area, no zombie would enter his territory, and Bambi would be safe looking around for food.

This old man thought of everything for his granddaughter.

Bambi’s grandpa had Ivan’s deepest respect.

These words made the tears Bambi wiped away flow once again, and she hugged the teddy bear without speaking.

Ivan immediately regretted saying this, and quickly added, “Although your grandpa can’t live with you, he has always been by your side to protect you.”

“I know.” Bambi raised her teary-eyed little face. “Let’s go to the supermarket to get the tasty food. When the food is done cooking, we can bring some for Grandpa.”

Ivan: “Okay.”

Although it was very dangerous to give something to a high-level zombie, Ivan wasn’t willing to dampen Bambi’s mood. They’ll find a way.

Moreover, he suddenly realized a problem.

Zombies needed to eat; even high-level zombies were the same. If Bambi’s grandpa locked himself upstairs from the very start, doesn’t that mean he hadn’t eaten after he mutated?

He must be…very weak.

Looking at Bambi’s delicate and beautiful little face, Ivan didn’t want to tell her the cruel reality.

Though he knew that the high-level zombie upstairs was Bambi’s grandpa and was blocked by a metal wall, when he went downstairs, Ivan instinctively moved cautiously to avoid making any sound.

Bambi found it strange, and thoughtfully asked, “Mister Ivan, do your legs hurt?”

Ivan: “…”

Ivan rubbed his nose awkwardly. How was he to tell little Bambi that he was afraid of startling her grandpa with any sounds?

Without needing him to utter his thoughts, Bambi seemed to understand something and covered her mouth with her small hands, and her long eyelashes fluttered as if to say, “I know. I will be quiet.”

Seeing Bambi’s sensible and thoughtful gesture, Ivan thought to himself that if he was Bambi’s grandpa, after knowing he was infected, he would try to arrange the aftermath of his mutation for Bambi’s sake.

How could he bear to let something happen to such an angelic little girl?

~*~

Julius had to admit that having an adult with his baby girl made him feel uneasy and relieved at the same time.

After all, Bambi was still too young, and she still needed to be cared for by an adult.

As long as Ivan knew his place, it was a good thing for Bambi to improve her quality of life before Julius was able to spend money in-game to buy her everything.

Julius’ AI butler announced the Phoenix King’s arrival. Because the peacock was coming over for the matter concerning the charity work since Julius had already agreed to cooperate, it wouldn’t be polite to leave the person hanging outside, so Julius logged out of the game and went to handle his affairs for the time being.

Tristan changed out of his magnificent Phoenix King robes and dressed in a straight suit, appearing noble and elegant. He came to Julius for one purpose: to ask for money.

After some negotiation, Julius made it clear that he would only sponsor it and wouldn’t contribute anything else—he just didn’t want to meet Tristan more on the matter of charity. Julius was always unhappy whenever he saw this guy. Out of sight, out of mind, as the saying goes.

Tristan happily agreed, “After all, this matter was proposed by me. I have already bothered Your Highness to sponsor it, so how can I ask Your Highness to contribute even more? But with such a large sum of money, isn’t Your Highness afraid that I will use it for other purposes?”

Julius snorted. Though he detested Tristan, he still approved of certain aspects of Tristan’s character. “If there’s nothing else…”

Julius pointed towards the door; the meaning was obvious.

Tristan smiled and politely took his leave.

When Tristan left, the AI butler finally spoke up. “Your Highness, your attitude towards the Phoenix King is a little rude. As a member of the royal family, it is beneath you to act that way.”

“I can’t be bothered to pretend with him. All that gentlemanly behavior is an act of his. Who knows how fiercely he scolds me inside his head?” Julius squinted at his AI butler. “Thirteen, you’re my butler. Who taught you the program of helping an outsider instead of your master?”

His AI butler’s factory serial number was 013, so Julius simply named him Thirteen.

After a few seconds of silence, Thirteen cleverly changed the subject. “Prince Ethan is back and he has found out that you took his virtual reality projector.”

Julius: “When?”

Thirteen: “Just now.”

Julius’ first reaction was to hide the virtual reality projector to prevent his brother from finding it. He instructed Thirteen, “Block the door and don’t allow him to come in.”

Thirteen obediently blocked the door, and after a while, Ethan came over, along with Ethan’s AI butler, a female robot.

Ethan and Julius were born from the same mother and father, so the brothers looked very little similar, but compared with Julius’s ageless baby face, Ethan’s profile was a lot more profound and possessed a stoic exterior.

Typically, he could kill with a frosty glare.

Ethan smiled at Thirteen but the smile didn’t reach his eyes as he ordered, “Open the door.”

Thirteen felt that he should attempt to resist weakly, and spouted nonsense without emotion, “Prince Ethan, His Highness is not at home. If you have something to ask him, I’ll let you know when he returns.”

Ethan turned to his AI butler and asked, “Lita, what do you think?”

The female robot named Lita and Thirteen shared a miserable look.

Two seconds later, Thirteen smiled and opened the door as quickly as he could. “Prince Ethan, please come in. His Highness is upstairs hiding your virtual reality projector.”

Ethan strode inside and headed straight for the second floor.

Lita and Thirteen held hands. “Let’s go and hide for a while.”

Thirteen agreed, “Let’s go.”

The two robots snuck out hand in hand— hiding Ethan’s home next door.

“I heard you partnered with Tristan for charity.”

Julius, who had been trying to hide the projector for a while yet still didn’t feel it was safe enough, was a little peeved. It may have looked like he was pretty flippant when he let Thirteen go next door to get the virtual reality projector, but Julius knew that this device was Ethan’s baby—this thing wasn’t easy to come by; otherwise, Julius would have bought a set for himself.

So, when he asked Thirteen to get the device, he was already prepared to negotiate with Ethan.

However, he also knew Ethan’s temperament and estimated that he had little chance of success.

Hence, he acted first and asked later. Anyways, Ethan stole a lot of his playthings since he was a child.

It was nothing that he just stole it one time.

To Julius’ surprise, Thirteen let Ethan in so quickly. Julius scolded Thirteen in his heart and quickly shoved the virtual reality projector that he hadn’t found a place to hide under the blankets.

“Tristan asked Father to help the refugees. Anyways, it’s doing charity so I agreed.” Saying this, Julius faced Ethan with his most innocent-looking expression. “Ethan, when did you come home?”

Unlike Julius, the Astra Empire’s third prince, Ethan Xander, joined the military; Ethan was a natural-born general in the military, becoming the youngest general of the Astra Empire within ten years of entering the army.

If Julius was an aristocratic prince who was raised on a silver spoon, then Ethan was a soldier who survived through a rain of bullets on the battlefield, not a prince.

Hence, Julius was a little afraid of this brother of his at some moments—only a little!

Ethan swept his gaze around, then grabbed Julius by the cuff of his neck like a little chick, pulled him off the bed, and lifted the covers.

Julius panicked and pounced on it. “Ethan, my dearest brother, you don’t come home often, so you don’t have time to use this equipment. Let me borrow and use it when you’re not here.”

Ethan frowned and said, “You can borrow everything else, except this one.”

“Why?” Julius thought—how could he play with his baby girl without it?

Ethan said, “It belongs to someone else. I have to give it back.”

“?” Julius realized he was serious. “Before I used it, you don’t say it belongs to someone else, but now that I use it, you say it belongs to someone else and you’re returning it to them. Do the soldiers under you know that you’re so stingy?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow and looked at Julius.

Julius: “…”

Julius took two steps back.

This wasn’t fear! It was a strategic retreat.

This virtual reality projector was originally left in his care by a friend; hence, he treated it with much care. In the eyes of outsiders, it became precious to him.

The function of this virtual reality projector was indeed very peculiar. Ethan didn’t know much about it. Now that the friend had returned, he should naturally return the device to him.

But to his surprise, when he returned home to look for it, his things were gone.

It didn’t take him long to realize who had taken it.

“If you want a projector, just buy another projector,” Ethan observed Julius’ expression thoughtfully.

“It’s different. “Only this virtual reality projector was able to project the game screen and allow him to control everything from within. Others didn’t have the same function.

Julius still felt that Ethan just didn’t want him to borrow it, hence he was using this as an excuse, so Julius went about it a different way. “If you don’t let me borrow, then I’ll buy it. How much is it?”

Ethan turned and left.

“…”

Is he leaving?

Julius was about to blow his top and hurried over to block Ethan’s path. “You really won’t let me borrow it?”

Ethan said casually, “I said that this belonged to someone else, and I want to return it to him.”

Now determining that Ethan wasn’t using it as an excuse to refuse to let him borrow, but it was the truth, Julius was speechless, and his attitude softened. “Who is its owner?”

He had to buy it no matter what—he would spare no expense!

Ethan smiled at him, the smile giving Julius goosebumps, and said, “You know this person too—Jellal Nox.”

Jellal Nox was the only nine-clawed azure dragon in the Dragon Clan.

Julius: “…”

How could the prince of the Terrans lower himself to negotiate with a dragon?

Baby, Daddy will only be able to interact with you through LUX in the future—Julius thought expressionlessly.