A cloudy sky, two thundering hearts.

She gazed at him as if seeing through eternities; he gazed back as if seeing something impossible.

The usually cold and emotionless Moon was acting so worried and anxious for his sake, something he had never expected.

​Nevertheless, his burning curiosity needed to be answered.

​"What do you need to tell me, Moon? Why do you look so anxious?"

​Moon pursed her soft lips and replied, "I can’t tell you right now. I am sending you a location; meet me there as soon as possible."

​As she finished speaking, a map unfolded in his vision, showing a grand city built by slimes.

​"It’s the Great Nest of Red Slimes, situated far to the east. You’ll have to travel approximately 1,200 miles to get here. You should be able to arrive here within an hout if you find a spaceship. But if you cannot, just be careful on the way. Even though this city is a neutral zone between the Inner Dough and Outer Outer Dough, the outside is not."

​Neo nodded. "Got it. Also, I need to ask a few favors from you, Moon."

​Moon’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Is this about that machine girl, Elena? Have you found her? Answer me quickly!"

​Neo nodded, though his surprise remained. "Yes, I have found her. But how did you know she was an automata?"

​Moon’s face turned solemn as she said, "I know many things you can’t fathom, Neo. But for now, listen to my advice: try to clean out the parasite growing within her. She isn’t just a rebellious machine girl; she is also a deep spy."

​Neo glanced at the confused Elena, who seemed to have no idea what was happening.

​"A spy? For whom?" he asked, feeling the situation becoming even more complicated.

​"I can’t say that yet, My Emperor. For now, bring her to me before it is too late. Also, my other name is Julia Alastasia."

​With that, the line was cut off.

​Neo remained stunned. "She is that Julia Alastasia? The mysterious woman who forcefully transferred the Green Vine Villa to me?"

​He became deeply contemplative.

​"Just what is going on? Why is she suddenly calling me an Emperor? And how did she know I have decided to step onto that path of no return?"

He didn’t fully understand, but he could sense something big was happening beyond his grasp. He didn’t like that feeling at all.

​"Neo, who was she? What was that about me being a spy?" Elena asked, her voice shaking. "I swear on my power cells, I am not a spy!"

​She looked as if she were about to burst into tears.

​"Calm down, Elena. Maybe there is some kind of deep-seated parasite installed by your makers that you don’t know about yet. That being said, I’m not entirely sure either. But I do believe Moon; she wouldn’t lie to or betray me."

​Elena’s lips trembled, and she clutched her chest. "I don’t want this parasite inside me, Neo. Do something, please. I want to be me. I want to live."

​Feeling the existential crisis she was in, Neo immediately formulated a plan. As he looked at the undead creatures standing nearby, an idea formed in his mind.

​"Alright, stop crying, Elena. As my precious subordinate, how could I let you die?"

​"Really?" she asked, wiping her tears away. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

​"Yes. I have thought of a plan. We’re going to do a reset. Not just any regular reset. I am going to give you an upgraded vessel."

​The words were shocking. "That’s impossible. It will kill me."

​"No, you won’t die. Relax and leave everything to me. First, we need to find some precious metals for you, or perhaps I can also use magical gadgets will do."

​Elena’s eyes dropped to the guns lying on the ground. "Will these do, Neo?" she asked, picking them up.

​Neo touched them, feeling their ambient cosmic energy.

"Hmm, they are good. But we need something more powerful and something biological. If we could just get another automata like you, things would be much easier."

​"Another automata?" Hearing him, Elena’s eyes sparkled. "I know exactly the place, Neo. And it’s on the way to that Great City."

​Neo looked toward the eastern horizon. "That’s even better. Let’s move out once we are ready."

__

The journey toward the eastern horizon was grueling, but with the map provided by Moon and Elena’s familiarity with the terrain, they made rapid progress.

After a night, the dense canopy gave way to a massive, jagged silhouette that loomed over the trees like the ribcage of a dead god.

​It was the Titan-Class Cruiser, a ship that had fallen from the stars decades ago. Now, it was draped in bioluminescent moss and rusted orange by the humid jungle air.

This was the Ghost Market.

​As they approached the gaping hull of the ship, which served as the main entrance, Elena slowed her pace.

​"I found this place while I was fleeing from the Rothschilds. They were hunting me across the Outer Dough, and I needed a place where their scanners couldn’t penetrate. I met someone who made me invisible from long range surveillance system."

​Neo looked at the flickering neon signs hanging from rusted wires near the entrance.

" And the Rothschilds didn’t follow you inside?"

​"The Rothschilds have many enemies here," Elena explained. "This ship was part of a fleet they tried to dismantle during the Economic War. The survivors and outcasts who settled here turned it into a neutral ground. Even a powerful family like the Rothschilds hesitates to start a war inside the Ghost Market. The people here are desperate, and desperate people have nothing to lose."

"I see... Let’s meet your savior then."

​As they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.

The smell of fire, roasted meat, and cheap lubricant made the air heavy.

Alongside the corridors, multi-colored holographic stalls were installed in, selling everything from salvaged laser rifles to illicit biological enhancers.

Sticking close to Neo’s side, Elena continued:

​"There is a legend among the traders here. They say the ship’s main AI, the Ghost, still lives in the lower decks. It controls the internal security and the life support, keeping the market alive in exchange for ’tributes’ of data and energy."

"Ohhh??"

​Neo became greatly interested and scanned the crowd. Besides red slimes, he saw various races. Some were heavily augmented humans, others looking like mutated hybrids.

His [Heat-Signature Perception] erupted outward, picking up hundreds of signatures hidden in the shadows of the upper decks.

​"It’s the perfect place for a reset." he muttered. "But where is your savior by the way?"

"Ah, you mean Dr. Clark? Hm, he should be right somewhere in these store rooms, probably experimenting with his ugly pickles again. He looks kind of mad, but he is a really good man."

This made Neo more curious.

"This Dr. Clark might be able to give me what need for Synthesis." He thought inwardly.

​Suddenly, a group of hooded figures blocked their path. Their eyes glowed with cybernetic light, and they carried heavy-duty lightning batons.

​"Entry fee, travelers," the leader rasped through the visor. "The Ghost requires a tribute of technology. Give us something shiny, or turn back to the jungle."