Chapter 510

It’s just that, although I managed to escape a crisis by relying on my instincts and wasn’t kidnapped by that Leon, Phelia got captured by him. Even if her life isn’t in danger, it’s still troublesome…

After pondering for a while leaning back in the recliner, Prince Andre stood up again, walking to the bookshelf on his left, pulling out a metallic fragment connected with copper wires from a hidden compartment, sticking it onto the back of his head.

“Your Imperial Highness Andre!”

The moment the metal piece touched Andre’s skull, an urgent voice sounded beside his ear.

“How is your investigation going? Have you figured out the reason for Apheta 01’s abnormal calculations? Has the unusual situation been ruled out?”

“Don’t call her Apheta 01; she has a name. You should address her as Princess Phelia.”

After correcting the male voice’s terminology, Prince Andre slowly replied:

“The cause of the abnormal calculations is still unclear, but the unusual situation can be considered resolved. Your Zone 1 Research Area can lift the lockdown. There’s no need to worry about Phelia remotely accessing Apheta 01 for excessive computations anymore.”

“That’s good…”

Upon hearing Prince Andre’s notification, the male voice transmitted through the metal piece let out a relieved sigh before asking:

“Prince Andre, it’s almost two months since…Phelia has been separated from Apheta 01. When do you plan to extract her from that human body and have her return to Apheta 01?”

“Later~”

Hearing this, Prince Andre blinked and replied somewhat helplessly: “I would like her to go back immediately, but Phelia was kidnapped today, and somehow, the information chip in her head got removed. I can’t find her location now.”

“Wha…??!!”

What nonsense? That “storage” containing Apheta 01’s core program got kidnapped? After hearing Prince Andre’s words, the other end of the metal piece suddenly echoed with heavy breathing sounds.

After several seconds of awkward silence, the head of Zone 1 Research Area, clearly irritated, said: “Prince Andre! Do you realize what you’re saying? This is not something to joke about!”

“Am I the type who likes jokes?”

Pulling his recliner next to the bookshelf and lying down again, Prince Andre explained lazily with a comfortable expression:

“There were several delegations visiting these past few days. My mother assigned me the task of reception. Phelia took a strong interest in one of the delegates and pestered me for hours, taking over the reception duties.

But those delegates turned out to be two cleaners. For some reason, after seeing Phelia, they suddenly kidnapped her… In the face of such a low-probability event, what could I possibly do?”

“But this kind of thing could have been avoided!”

Apparently angered by Prince Andre’s evasive attitude, the head of Zone 1 Research Area breathed heavily and complained: “When that body was created, I repeatedly advised you. Apheta 01’s core program is too important. It’s best if it stays within Zone 1 Research Area. Giving it a body for movement was enough; don’t take it out recklessly!

And regarding this matter, you gave us your assurance! You said there was an information chip in the back of the head, carefully selected guards, and Cleaners from the Clearing Bureau for protection. Even if Apheta 01 left Zone 1 Research Area, there wouldn’t likely be any problems. Now…”

“Not really, you’re so annoying!”

Taking the private communication metal piece slightly away from his ear to lower the noise, Prince Andre looked displeased and said: “I said ‘not likely’ to have problems. Do you understand what ‘not likely’ means? Not likely means generally there won’t be problems, except under special circumstances. Got it? A prince coming from afar suddenly kidnapping Phelia—only someone with mental issues would do such a thing. Apheta 01 couldn’t calculate that, and how could I know? Also, stop calling her Apheta 01. It confuses me. The real Apheta 01 is the machine soaking in the lake at your Zone 1 Research Area. The one with flesh now is my nominal younger sister, Phelia. You must call her ‘Your Highness.'”

“…”

“Understood, Prince Andre. I’ll remember your request.”

After being scolded by Prince Andre, the tone in the metal piece became colder. The head of Zone 1 Research Area said solemnly: “If possible, may I ask you a question? Why do you care so much about how I refer to Apheta 01?”

Andre, lounging with his legs crossed, replied impatiently:

“People are people, machines are machines. Calling them differently makes things clearer, right?”

“You really should clarify things properly!”

The head of Zone 1 Research Area chuckled coldly and said mockingly:

“I must remind you again. The real Princess Phelia died more than ten years ago. This so-called Princess Phelia now is merely a flesh construct temporarily carrying Apheta 01’s core program.

All those actions resembling a living person and those responses similar to a human aren’t real. They’re all models we scholars calculated over the years.

It’s not your deceased sister. It’s just a soulless meat puppet we created!”

“…”

“I understand better than you.”

Silent for a while, Prince Andre sitting upright in the recliner, gripping the metal piece emotionlessly said: “Strictly speaking, I killed Phelia myself and buried her in the cemetery. I am very clear about this, so you don’t need to remind me!”

“Heh, then I hope you truly understand.”

Seeming unwilling to explain further to Prince Andre, the voice on the other side of the metal piece in Zone 1 Research Area chuckled coldly and continued:

“The importance of Apheta 01 to the kingdom, I believe you understand better than me. Losing its core program is absolutely unacceptable! Therefore, the process by which you lost Apheta 01 and these baseless speculations you deny, I will report everything truthfully to His Majesty. I hope your explanation satisfies His Majesty when the time comes!”

“Hmm.”

Facing the threat from the head of Zone 1 Research Area, Prince Andre’s eyelids flickered slightly as he responded lazily:

“Go ahead, complain all you want!”

“Hmph!”

Angry at the huff, the head of Zone 1 Research Area directly “cut off” the communication. Prince Andre sighed, reluctantly getting up from the recliner, searching through the secret compartment in the bookshelf, and pulled out another metal piece with a lever, sticking it to the back of his head.

A short while later, a familiar voice, clearly suppressing anger, once again rang in Prince Andre’s ears.

“Your Majesty!”

The head of Zone 1 Research Area reported through the “internal communication piece,” barely controlling his anger:

“Apheta 01’s core program has been hijacked, and Prince Andre’s attitude is ambiguous. I even suspect that this hijacking might have something to do with him!”

“Understood.”

Tweaking the lever on the metal piece, Prince Andre dragged the copper wire a few steps back, lying comfortably in his big recliner, and responded with a tone slightly older and more authoritative: “You focus on your own work first. As for other issues, I’ll have a proper conversation with Andre!”

(End of Chapter)