Guanliang cursed his superior in his heart.
He didn't even have time to think about where the other party found the Abundance fruit.
There was only one thought in Guanliang's mind.
'Just how is the Marshal's brain structured? His reaction was way too fast, right?! Is your plan as detailed as capillaries?!'
At this point… he could only find Hua.
Before Guanliang could open Hua's chat window, someone arrived uninvited and directly broke open the private room door.
Marty and Guanliang both looked toward the door.
The person who came was one of the Ten Kings of the Ten-Lords Commission.
By coincidence, Guanliang knew him.
The two had done a transaction before, and the content of that deal was the Marshal's clothes.
The visitor spoke gently and softly, introducing his identity to Marty.
Marty never expected that this time Guanliang would actually alarm a Ten King of the Ten-Lords Commission.
Even for notorious criminals in the star sea, it wouldn't require someone of the Ten Kings' level to appear, right?
Marty said weakly, "Guanliang was only suspended… it shouldn't require you to personally come here, right?"
The man smiled. It didn't feel like he was carrying out official business. It felt more like chatting casually with a friend.
"Relax. Suspended for one week, patrol currency still paid. It's not a big matter. This time my identity isn't as a Ten King, but as Guanliang's friend."
"This time, the main reason is the 'Galaxy Rangers'…"
"The Marshal didn't want anyone following him, so we had no choice but to withdraw the personnel arranged back to the Xianzhou."
Marty understood.
The Marshal left the Xianzhou alone. Could the generals feel at ease? Of course they would send Cloud Knights to protect him. Even if they didn't send Cloud Knights, they would still have the Galaxy Rangers follow him.
The higher-ups of the Xianzhou all knew this very well.
But this time, the Marshal wasn't willing.
In the end, Guanliang was simply taking the blame for the other generals. The others were also happy to owe him a favor.
The Ten King raised his hand to signal his subordinates. The others walked in, and one of them quickly took Guanliang's jade communicator.
The Ten King sighed, "Sorry, I'm also just carrying out orders."
"During this time, you must transfer all permissions, hand in your jade communicator, and stay at home."
Guanliang's expression stiffened. He probed carefully, "Before that, can I send a message to Hua?"
The Ten King shook his head.
"The Marshal said if you know your mistake and correct it, you can resume your position after one week. But you're still thinking of contacting the Crown Princess to plead for you, so it can only be delayed another week."
Guanliang, "..."
He closed his eyes, then asked again, "Then contacting Shanfeng should be fine, right?"
The Ten King looked at him with disappointment on his face.
"The Marshal reminded us that Shanfeng is the Crown Princess's teacher. Guanliang, you can only return to your position after three weeks."
Guanliang, "..."
'Marshal, is this your choice?'
Making it so he couldn't deploy troops, leaving him completely isolated.
Marty spoke up to persuade him.
"Relax, it's only three weeks. Just treat it as paid vacation."
Guanliang looked at Marty and felt that human joys and sorrows really did not connect.
'Paid vacation?'
'Wait until the Marshal sends you his blood for research. Then you'll understand.'
Guanliang took a deep breath and asked again, "If I don't send a message, can Marty pass along a message for me?"
He and the former Director had exhausted themselves trying to hide that matter.
If that person learned about his situation… he would probably start overthinking again.
"That person doesn't work in the Six Departments anymore. He's old now. If he finds out something happened to me… I'm afraid he won't be able to endure it."
The Ten King thought it over and agreed.
This person was the former Director.
Since he wasn't working in the Six Departments, he probably wouldn't cause trouble in front of the Marshal.
If he didn't agree and something happened to that elderly Xianzhou citizen, like falling into mara, he wouldn't be able to explain it.
Guanliang looked at Marty and said the name of a medical clinic.
"Please pass a message to the doctor who's on duty there. Just tell the doctor that I'm fine, there's absolutely no problem…"
He squeezed out a sentence through his teeth with difficulty.
"I just… just took the Marshal's clothes and got caught by the Marshal."
Before leaving, Guanliang seemed to think of something and added another sentence.
"And tell him not to worry. The Marshal won't ask for those things back."
Marty, "..."
For a moment, countless emotions filled him, and he froze on the spot until Guanliang and the others left the private room.
Only then did he react.
Marty subconsciously chased after them and ran into Akivili who had just arrived.
He didn't have the mind to greet the Aeon and said in disbelief to the group's departing backs, "No, Guanliang, you... you should have said it earlier?!"
Akivili waited for a moment until Marty regained his senses, then spoke at the right time.
"What exactly happened? I just tried to say something to Guanliang too, but they stopped me."
Marty had personally participated in the plan to modify the Astral Express, so he could be considered acquainted with Akivili.
He just didn't expect that after he finished modifying it and the Marshal boarded the train, the Artisanship Commission of the Xianzhou Zhuming would also step in right after.
Facing this question, Marty's expression was extremely complicated.
"'Cloud-Roaming Arbiter,' long time no see. Guanliang… he took the Marshal's clothes and got caught by the Marshal."
Akivili, "..."
The Aeon was stunned.
No way. He really couldn't tell. Guanliang… he was actually this kind of person?
Marty muttered to himself, "So stealing the Marshal's clothes only results in three weeks suspension with pay?"
'Marshal, seriously, I'm crying.'
'Guanliang's behavior was so bad, yet he still gets paid?!'
Akivili, "..."
The Aeon felt a chill.
'Best friend! Why are your subordinates more abnormal than the last?!'
Marty quickly remembered Guanliang's instructions and said goodbye to Akivili.
The Aeon watched him leave and couldn't help doubting whether his decision was correct.
Should he really have gone to find Guanliang?
Maybe he should go find the Aeon of the Hunt, Lan?
Akivili doubted his entire divine existence while returning the same way.
As soon as he entered the train, Pom Pom came over, hesitating as he spoke, "Akivili… the potted plant can't be found…"
Akivili instantly felt something was wrong.
"It's alright, Pom Pom." Considering Pom Pom's feelings, he controlled his expression and asked calmly, "How is Eric?"
As soon as Eric was mentioned, Pom Pom immediately put his hands on his hips and started complaining about this Nameless passenger.
While talking, Akivili suddenly interrupted him.
The Aeon's tone was strange.
"Eric said the chair in my room is uncomfortable to sit on?"
Pom Pom nodded repeatedly and continued complaining about Eric.
"Yeah. Luckily Pom Pom cleaned his room for him, otherwise where would he, an injured person, even rest?"
Akivili stopped speaking.
Pom Pom sensed something was wrong and couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Akivili?"
He quickly remembered the potted plant he accidentally lost and his tone carried some apology.
"Sorry, Akivili. I couldn't find the potted plant."
Akivili shook his head.
"Pom Pom, don't worry about that green plant."
It's useless now. His best friend already knows.
The Aeon said goodbye to the conductor and slowly walked to his best friend's room door.
For a moment, he didn't know what kind of expression he should show.
Akivili stood there for a long time without knocking, taking several deep breaths before finally preparing himself mentally.
He raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door.
But that knock made the door produce a painful creaking sound.
The door opened by itself.
Akivili kept the knocking posture and stared face to face with his best friend, who was sitting on the sofa holding a jade communicator and talking through voice chat.
He forced a laugh.
"Best friend, why didn't you close the door?"
The other person closed his eyes briefly and said to the person on the communicator, "Wait a moment."
He hung up the voice call and reminded the Aeon in the gentlest tone possible.
"Akivili, did you forget? My door was kicked broken by you."
Akivili casually scanned the room and noticed the person kneeling in the corner.
He withdrew his gaze.
"…Oh, I'll fix it for you right now."
Akivili brought over a toolbox and started repairing the door lock.
He faced away from his best friend and could only hear the voice conversation continuing.
His best friend's tone sounded completely normal, like he was chatting casually with someone, even carrying a faint gentle smile.
But the words he spoke were rather merciless.
"You're asking for mercy for him?"
"Don't think I don't know what he did."
"I've already been merciful enough."
"Isn't suspension with pay already special treatment?"
Akivili immediately understood.
The person on the other side of the communicator was Hua. The two were discussing Guanliang.
The Aeon thought his best friend really had a good temper.
His clothes were taken by his subordinate, yet he could still forgive him.
His best friend even continued paying Guanliang's salary.
'What kind of punishment is that?!'
Akivili finished fixing the door lock, returned the toolbox, and went back into his best friend's room again.
The other person had already ended the call and placed the jade communicator on the tea table beside the sofa.
Akivili glanced at it and noticed that besides the equipment his best friend used for work, there were also two pieces of paper on the table with the numbers 140 and 110 written on them.
He casually picked one up and asked, "What's this?"
His best friend replied calmly, "IQ test results."
Akivili's mouth twitched.
"That's a bit much, isn't it? Best friend?"
Zero thought, 'How is it too much?'
Only today did he finally understand the real function of "mental illness" and "mara-struck."
The one who created the system, the original version of himself, could be called the first run version of himself.
When that first version of himself set the system rewards from the beginning, it wasn't meant to provide bonuses to the forces he commanded.
Zero carefully recalled. In the few times when he removed the debuff, he discovered details he had never noticed before, and truths that overturned his understanding.
The first time, he discovered that he himself was the "high-dimensional invader."
The second time, he discovered that he could kill Aeons.
The third time, which was this time.
He discovered that his flesh and blood could suppress the existence of a low-dimensional world.
The Emanator of Abundance, Shuhu, was a ready example.
Then what about mara-struck?
His subordinates would never let him stay near someone with mara, and they certainly wouldn't let him get injured.
Therefore… for nearly five thousand years, he had been completely unaware of the special nature of his own flesh and blood.
Zero did not believe in fate, but at this moment he had no choice but to believe in it.
Fate had never favored him.
Only today did he finally have the chance to learn this truth.
He knew very well that he was too self-centered and arrogant.
If he needed to pay a price for that, fate could come collect from him.
But… why not come for him? Why was the price the lives of his subordinates?
Zero thought he was wrong.
Completely and utterly wrong.
He whispered almost inaudibly, "It seems… I'm not a qualified superior."
Akivili's expression was full of pity.
He knew very well that with the other person's personality, he would never allow himself to show embarrassment or weakness in front of others.
"Best friend…"
The Aeon removed the large hat from his head and placed it over Zero's pale face.
Hidden by the brim of the hat, Zero's expression instantly lost control.
He had done everything he could to help everyone he was able to help. He had worked tirelessly for the Xianzhou people, losing sleep in order to reach the most perfect ending.
But he was just an ordinary person.
Outsiders all saw Zero as an all-knowing, all-powerful god.
"With Marshal Zero here, what do we have to fear!"
"That's right, the Marshal is always correct!"
"We only need to follow the Marshal's orders!"
It was as if with him around, even the most difficult problems could be solved instantly.
He had his own emotions, but he couldn't allow himself to release them. He could only suppress them with everything he had, abandoning his humanity as much as possible in order to give the most correct and rational commands to the Xianzhou.
Zero took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions surging in his chest, emotions that were almost breaking him.
Rather than saying his original goal was to clear the game, it was more like an excuse he deliberately created.
An excuse to support himself.
The information in his inventory had already told him that the universe had gone through countless resets.
He had tried drawing the power of the Aeons, and also tried drawing the power of the Tree and the Sea, but none of it fulfilled his wish.
Could he go home? This time, could he fulfill his wish?
Zero was already used to separating himself from his emotions and looking at everything from an extremely rational perspective.
Of course he wouldn't easily decide whether something could succeed.
But as the Marshal of the Xianzhou, Zero had to remain rational enough. And once he stepped outside that identity…
He could allow himself to be reckless once, right?
Zero subconsciously avoided the worst possibility, strengthening his belief again and again, waiting for a suitable successor, waiting for the day when the Xianzhou people would no longer depend on him.
He waited for a successor, yet he still failed to see the day when the Xianzhou truly became independent.
Zero knew he could no longer endure.
He prepared early. While he could still control his emotions, he began leaving wills for his subordinates.
Zero carefully gave instructions and comforted them in his mind, afraid that once he left, his subordinates would follow him immediately.
He gathered enough talented researchers and waited until Hua grew up, so that he could pursue his wish without the identity of the Xianzhou Marshal.
But once separated from his rational perspective, Zero found it impossible to calmly accept all of this.
For Aeons, time was never a problem. They could repeat and adjust things again and again until reaching the most satisfying ending.
But he couldn't wait anymore.
Hidden beneath the hat, Zero stopped controlling his expression. He breathed heavily, allowing the emotions in his chest to surge freely.
Akivili silently watched his best friend.
This Marshal of the Xianzhou, who had saved countless people, reached the edge of collapse, yet there was no one who could save him.
Akivili was the god closest to humanity, but no matter how close, he could never truly share human emotions.
At the beginning, he had thought about using Feather Dust to let this human who shouldn't die continue living.
But when Akivili saw his friend's pale face after learning the truth, he completely gave up that idea.
When the heart dies, no matter how you try to save someone, it's useless.
As the Marshal of the Xianzhou, his friend could make the most correct and rational judgments. He possessed divinity, so he approached immortality.
But as time passed, his friend gained weaknesses, gained people and things he cared about, gradually gained humanity, transforming from a "god" into a "human."
The will of a god never disappears.
But humans?
Humans will always have a day when they become tired.
And the moment Zero gained humanity, this ending was already destined.
Akivili sighed silently in his heart.
For his best friend, and for this unsolvable dead end.
'My best friend...'
Release it all. Even crying in front of me is fine.
Akivili reached out and gently placed his hand on Zero's shoulder.
He quietly waited for him to calm down.
As for his best friend saying he wasn't qualified, that he wasn't suited to be a superior?
He pretended not to hear it.
Akivili knew very well that at a moment like this, he needed to shift his friend's attention, so he deliberately brought up something trivial.
"Best friend, it's fine. Even if Guanliang took your clothes, it's not a big deal!"
Zero, "..."
He slowly removed the hat covering his face.
Zero's expression was blank, as if he had just heard a problem completely beyond his understanding.
"…Huh?"