Rebirth of the Interstellar Pope <Mecha>

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

【Anno: I once found a child's soul in the Milky Way. With his broken regrets, he shared his courage and hope for life with me. Unsure how to help, I lent him the Domino that Kai Gan Guwen had given me.

I kept his soul in black jade.

When the particle explosion occurred, I opened the Domino box and bestowed upon him my blessing, hoping he would have the chance to start anew.

But I never expected that he would be Rufeite.】

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This planet is a nameless private territory-an artificial star that remains stationary, forever held in the gravitational embrace of the Hades galaxy.

By day, the sun blazes bright, while at night, the planet appears split in two by the line of eternal daylight. On one side, light spreads abundantly, while the other is bathed in the silvery glow of a simulated moon created by the space station above.

The manor is modest compared to the grand estates of the wealthy elite in Hades. Ms. Alice's home is simple, featuring rough yards and a quaint two-story house.

Rufeite had arranged for Anno's room to have a view of the eternal daylight line, offering a unique perspective where sunlight and moonlight danced together.

Having changed his clothes, Anno stepped out to find Rufeite standing at the window, gazing into the distance.

Rufeite didn't turn around but leaned against the windowsill, his neck curving into an elegant arc. "Want to see the Eternal Dayline? It's my mother's masterpiece. She commissioned someone to build a space station and install a fake moon."

Anno remained where he was, studying Rufeite's profile. Reflecting on their recent experiences, he recalled how he had triggered the particle explosion not long ago-the moment when the Domino had been flung from Jerusalem by the force of his faith.

The child's soul had been cold and pure, quietly nurtured within the black jade, accompanying Anno for a full century. His last blessing to the child had been: May you no longer suffer after your rebirth.

Now, that child stood before him, a fiercely loyal believer of Anno.

It seemed everything had been arranged with precision.

Rufeite turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "Huh? What are you looking at? Because I'm handsome?"

Anno couldn't help but step closer, gently brushing his fingers against Rufeite's face. "You're quite shameless. Please, be more polite."

Rufeite smirked. "What does being handsome have to do with virtue? Let's go to the Eternal Dayline. Honestly, there's not much fun to be had in Alice's manor. The main reason I returned this time was to see her."

"Rufeite, did Alice ever mention a piece of black jade?" Anno asked, curiosity piqued.

Rufeite paused, his expression shifting. "Why would my mother bring that up to you? Hey, wait-what's with that look in your eyes? Why are you looking at me the same way she does?"

Anno smiled. "What's the big deal? I think of you as my own child."

Rufeite's cheeks flushed crimson. He pushed Anno's hand away, taking a small step back and gripping Anno's collar. "Forget about the father-son thing. I may lack boundaries, but my taste isn't that questionable."

Father... father and son?

Veins throbbed at Anno's temples. What on earth was this kid thinking?

Rufeite had come back only to see Alice and chat with her, with no intention of staying long.

The following afternoon, Anno and Rufeite accompanied Alice for tea before preparing to leave. Before they departed, Alice gifted Anno a small, flat, round metal box.

Once aboard the space shuttle, Rufeite said, "Open it and see what treasure my mother gave you."

Anno pressed the button on the metal box. With a soft click, the outer layer opened, revealing a transparent inner case containing a piece of jet-black jade nestled within.

Rufeite wiped his brow, a look of recognition washing over his face. "It looks so familiar!"

"That's the jade you were born with, isn't it? Don't you remember?" Anno asked.

Rufeite scratched his nose, feigning innocence. "It must be my mother who told you about that. I was born with a piece of jade in my mouth. I owe her my gratitude. No one would believe that if I told them. You wouldn't believe her either, would you?"

With a flick of his consciousness, Anno created a small opening in the transparent shell, prying it open with his hands to retrieve the black jade. "Wear it on your body. It'll come in handy sooner or later."

Rufeite took the black jade and tucked it into his pocket, brushing aside Anno's comment about its potential usefulness. He listened to Anno out of habit more than interest.

"Returning to Jerusalem?" Anno asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Of course. I've been a bit too idle lately. The elders in the Senate are starting to grumble about me simply collecting a paycheck without contributing," Rufeite replied. "By the way, I asked Garner to track down Kewei and Liu Yian."

Anno nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good suggestion. Garner may not have the qualifications to join a religion, but if we want to keep Yunxiu safe, this is our best option."

In the past, Anno had given Yunxiu a choice regarding his future. He could either escape with Garner to the small galaxy where he lived or find a refuge with Garner that would strengthen them both and provide protection against the Kane family's threats.

Yunxiu had chosen the latter without hesitation. Rufeite had then recommended Kewei to them, suggesting they enlist in the military.

Rufeite had a keen eye for potential. Despite Garner's past as a playboy, he possessed valuable skills and a quick mind. Joining the army was his only viable path, and following Kewei could lead to an extraordinary military career. However, Yunxiu was ill-suited for this life. With his small stature, it was unlikely Kewei would accept him into the ranks.

As Rufeite set the ship to autopilot, he leaned back, crossing his legs comfortably. "We're really in a precarious situation. With Garner in the army, Yunxiu will be left with nothing to do all day. There will surely be a lot of friction between them, especially with Garner's arrogant and domineering nature. I can just picture Yunxiu coming to me, crying and seeking comfort. It's so... Ahem, I didn't say anything."

"He chose this path for himself. I didn't hear anything," Anno replied, maintaining a composed demeanor.

"Oh really? You won't get pregnant even if you're occasionally jealous..." Rufeite teased, a smirk playing on his lips.