The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era - Chapter 720: [THE SHADOW WITHIN] SCRIPT READING (I)

Lancelot Haier came from a dynasty of politicians who had ruled with tyranny and oppression. Despite those origins, he despised his family and was willing to help the citizens who had long suffered under their rule.However—before he even had the chance to change his country, the people revolted. His entire family was executed, and he was killed along with them. In his final moments, he wished for a second life—one where he could redeem himself and carry the sins of his bloodline.Unexpectedly, that wish was granted.He was reincarnated into another world as the crown prince of the Kingdom of Aragon. But in this world, everything felt backward.The country was ruled by an absolute monarch. Feudalism was the norm. Technology resembled that of the late 1700s.Fortunately, in his past life, he had earned degrees in both mechanical engineering and political science—knowledge he once hoped to use to reform his homeland. Now, it seemed he would use them here instead.He would use his modern knowledge to transform the lives of his people, industrialize his territory, gain the upper hand in technology, and form alliances with foreign nations—all while navigating the treacherous waters of internal affairs and politics.P.SWhile Reincarnated as the Crown Prince draws inspiration from historical settings, political systems, and technologies of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this work is entirely fictional.All characters, governments, names, and events—although some may resemble real-world history—are products of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictionalized, altered form for narrative purposes.This novel is not a historical account. It should not be interpreted as a factual representation of any real monarch, nation, revolution, or political figure.Lancelot Haier, his backstory, and the alternate version of different kingdoms portrayed here are entirely original creations. The inclusion of familiar concepts like feudalism, industrialization, and political reform serves the plot and world-building, not historical documentation.Readers seeking accuracy in history are encouraged to consult verified academic sources. This story is a creative work meant for entertainment, character development, and speculative exploration of “what-if” scenarios rooted in alternate history.Thank you for reading, and I hope you will enjoy the journey.

“Hot Noodles request to add you as a friend.”An inexplicable friend request, a non-existent contact.Claiming to be a message from herself in the future, intimately knowledgeable about her past.Fang Xiaocao was utterly numb.Hot Noodles: Danger, do not go home tonight.“Is this some kind of joke?”Staring at the WeChat message, Fang Xiaocao rolled her eyes and opened the anti-theft door.Hot Noodles: At midnight, when the knocking starts, don't turn on the light if you don't want to die.In the early morning: 00:00:00Fang Xiaocao was woken by the knocking sound. She was just about to turn on the bedside lamp when she remembered that bizarre message.She pulled back her hand and stayed put until dawn, only to know her neighbor next door, a woman living alone just like her was murdered at midnight...Fang Xiaocao was suddenly covered in a cold sweat.Hot Noodles: To celebrate our narrow escape from death, go to the flea market before three in the afternoon, stall number 7, and buy the seventh inkstone on the left-hand side. The seller's bottom price is 80, but the inkstone is worth 8 million.After last night's ordeal, Fang Xiaocao inexplicably chose to believe.She successfully bought an inkstone for a hundred dollars, and later discover it was indeed a imperial inkstone from the Qing Qianlong era, worthing 8 million!Fang Xiaocao stood there, dumbfounded!Following the message's instructions, she bought a second-hand car.But little did she know, the guidance was linking her into a series of events that dragged out a murder case and a fortune worth two small goals.Who on earth sent her the messages?It's really her future self?Or it's some kind of bizarre game?

-- WSA 2025 Entry --“Five… Four… Three… Two… One…”As the countdown towards the new year went on to the last second, Miles looked up to the sky, just as everybody else did.In the middle of the crowded street, Miles for once felt like he belonged. Being a teenage gamer, living with his parents, and trying to build a life as a streamer, he did not feel like leaving his room every day.But there, in the middle of that crowded street, with everyone around him paying attention to the sky, the countdown on the digital billboard, and mostly anything else but him., Miles felt like a ghost.A welcomed ghost, but a ghost, after all.With a smile on his unseen face, he looked up as the countdown reached one, and everybody sang in unison.‘HAPPY NEW YEAR!”But Miles’ eyes widened as he watched in utter horror, and curiosity, even, hovering above him, a holographic screen with a few lines of text written in it.All around him, although he did not pay much attention to it, a few other people seemed to experience the same situation.[Updating home-world 39515’s version][Version 20.25 update brings a lot of fun and games with the new and improved survival mode][Do you want to convert your previous avatar to home-world 39515’s latest version?][Yes] [No]“Survival… Mode?” Miles’ lips quivered.Before he could think of anything else, though, the people around him began to scream…

Ye Bai was cryogenically frozen ten thousand years ago, and upon awakening, she found that Earth had entered the interstellar era.As an ancient human, merely surviving required exorbitant costs to filter out various viruses and radiation.At her wit’s end, she looked up and saw a massive game advertisement spanning half the sky—In her time, Ye Bai had been a renowned game developer.The ad displayed her unreleased game, *Boundless Realms*, which she had created before being frozen.Three years ago, *Boundless Realms* burst onto the scene, causing a massive stir across the universe.This was because the game could actually enhance players’ real-world mental and physical abilities, leading interstellar scholars to believe it might hold secrets of a higher civilization.However, the game was notoriously difficult. Despite investing immense effort, players couldn’t even complete their first class advancement.That is, until Ye Bai decided to enter the game to monetize her insider knowledge…Not long after, interstellar players received an unprecedented server-wide announcement, the first in the game’s three-year history:【Congratulations to the Milky Way Region’s Earth player ‘Baiye’ for becoming the first Lord in the game!】The entire universe was in an uproar!Who was this reclusive Earth-based expert? How did they unlock the method to become a Lord? After all, players had been wandering and adventuring for three years, only to be labeled as drifters by NPCs!Meanwhile, Ye Bai: “…Wait, was everyone in the universe playing on guest accounts before?!”