The Star Knight

Wearing a cloak of sandbat skin, Opal attracted attention as soon as he appeared in front of the gate of Horrance's headquarters.

"What's the matter?" The security guard's voice came from the communicator under the camera.

In the shot, Opal looked up at the camera and said, "I want to see Hollens."

The security guard said, "Give me your name, your ID card number, and explain why you are here."

Opal looked around, and the headquarters of the two companies, Hollens and Black Rock Mining, were facing each other. The gates over there were still closed. Opal said straight to the point: "I don't have a name, and I don't have an ID card. I'm an interstellar black worker. Tell the person in charge for me, and ask them if they have read the news about Star B-11 today? Please arrange a meeting as soon as possible, I have brought very important news."

There was no further answer. Opal waited at the door for a long time, and when he was about to leave, the small door on the side opened, and the communicator said, "Come in."

Opal walks into the middle floor of the building, which is the entrance and exit of the staff's private car. Once you walk in, you feel as if you have stepped into the boundless ocean, surrounded by fish swimming in the glass walls, with strange shapes, and many marine creatures that have never been seen or heard before.

A robot led the way and brought Opal into the central hall. It was already the evening off-duty time. He was wearing a black cloak, walking through the hall like a traveler from afar, and the passing staff looked at him with strange eyes.Opal didn't care, thinking about what to say next while walking.This is obviously what they need. Should we get straight to the point, or should we discuss the conditions first?

The robot took him into the elevator room in the central hall, switched on the button, and went straight to the [-]th floor. Opal was anxious in the center of the speeding elevator, followed the robot through an empty corridor, and entered an office.

The office is very large, and behind the desk is a middle-aged man in a black suit. Behind him is a huge circular screen, which is full of ore names and their prices per kilogram. It keeps changing with the passing of seconds.

The robot leading the way left, and the middle-aged man asked, "Are you from planet B-11? What's your name?"

Two more robots came over with trays and put drinks in front of Opal.

Opal said: "Let me introduce myself, my name is Opal."

The middle-aged man nodded politely, shook hands with him, and said, "Kadir Hollens."

Opal's heart shuddered, is this the person in charge of the Hollens Company?It doesn't look like it. He doesn't know where the problem is, and he doesn't know the level of the opponent. He came here with the courage of a newborn calf. The only bargaining chip is the chip in his hand.

"Have you read the news?" Opal glanced at the drink, but didn't drink it.

Kadir nodded and said: "Look, what happened this afternoon, you brought that girl to this planet? Where is your spaceship?"

Opal squinted his eyes and looked at him, always feeling a bit uncertain.

He wants to use mind reading, this is the first time for him to actively use it, maybe knowing the other person's thoughts will be of decisive help... Teacher, I will use it once, only this time.Opal said repeatedly in his heart.

He said: "I am not actually a resident of planet B11. My mother made an emergency landing on the planet 16 years ago..."

Opal suddenly noticed something, the other party was not looking at him directly.Kadir's eyes were fixed on something in front of the table. It was a sculpture of Pegasus. Why was it like this?Shouldn't he be looking at himself at this time?In order to judge whether he was lying, or for other purposes... Opal’s eyes also moved to the small sculpture, and both of them stared at the sculpture. Opal suddenly thought of something—he should not be Horens, There are other people listening to their conversation.

The other party didn't show the look they should have.Opal could only use that method, he said in his heart: Teacher, let me use it once, only this time.

Opal narrowed his eyes, gathered his mental strength, looked into the other's eyes, and said every word to him seriously: "Let me see Horens."

"What?" Kadir leaned slightly, frowned and said, "I am."

Opal repeated, saying: "You are not, let me see your boss, I have something to say to him."

Kadir stared at Opal with both eyes, his eyes were slightly distracted for a moment, as if he was a little shaken.

Opal pressed his hand in front of his body, repeated the third time, and said, "If you deceive me, I will leave now. Let me see Hollens, and remind you one last time."

Kadir murmured: "Okay, please wait a moment."

Just when he stood up, a secret door appeared on each of the two walls of the office, and six robot guards came out of the secret door respectively, and a voice sounded behind Opal, saying, "You can't be from planet B11." .”

Opal sat up straight, six robots surrounded his and Kadir's desk, and his method worked.A young man with red hair came out from the secret door on the left hand side. He was not handsome, but he was dressed very tastefully. He was wearing a light green shirt and fish-shaped blue metal slippers on his feet. The young man stepped aside immediately, and the real Kadir Hollens sat on the chair, looking at him warily with an expression on his face as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Please tell me, Star Knight." Kadir's voice was a little unsteady: "What is your purpose?"

Opal was only slightly taken aback before he understood what was going on.

"You know my identity?" Opal asked.

Kadir said: "I don't like being hypnotized. I promise to listen to your opinions carefully. Everything in the office is videotaped, and the company has industries in many galaxies. I am not afraid of you."

Opal said: "Look at this first."

He spread his palms, and the chip flew towards Kadir. Kadir's expression became more severe. His eyes were staring at Opal almost unblinkingly. He raised his hand to grab the chip, and the desk opened. A partition that pulls out the holographic projector.

"This is an old-style chip." Kadir said: "The Crimson Star has been eliminated. Where did you get it? Secretary, bring a signal converter."

The middle-aged man was sent out, and Kadir said again: "Let A3 be sent in, and you don't have to come back."

Opal never spoke again, and sat and waited quietly. Kadir said: "Please drink some ice crystal juice and relax. We don't want to be hostile to you, at least you haven't had any conflicts yet, have you?"

Opal was very surprised, Kadir also knew about Star Knight?Does he seem to be afraid of Rector?

Opal didn't ask any questions, but said calmly: "Okay."

He suddenly discovered one thing: once he left Rector's side and wanted to solve something alone, he would unconsciously imitate his tone, his actions and demeanor.

Rector's confident tone was deeply rooted in his heart, and Opal regarded him as an object of imitation.

"You know my teacher?" Opal asked suddenly.

Kadir immediately said alertly: "I don't know. I mean... I've heard of him. I don't know what I can do for him. Why did he come to us?"

Opal felt even more strange, Kadir was afraid of Rector?

"How did you recognize me?" he asked.

Kadir said, "I guess you're not an official star knight yet."

Opal nodded and said, "I'm still learning."

Kadir followed Opal's words and said: "I see, what kind of trial did that gentleman arrange for you? I think we might get to know each other through this incident. This is a rare opportunity."

Opal couldn't guess Kadir's thoughts at all, but he didn't plan to use mind reading. At this time, the signal converter was sent over, and the office robot connected it to Kadir's stereoscopic projection equipment, and the three-dimensional image appeared .

Kadir's eyes were full of shock, and the information kept scrolling upwards. He only briefly glanced at the mine accident and dumping and then stopped paying attention. Finally, he stopped on the record of a certain spaceship berthing port.

"Harley Folkert," Kadir said.

Opal recalled that Rickett also mentioned this person, and immediately said: "The interstellar pirates of the Magellanic Cloud."

The three-dimensional projection was put away, and Kadir turned his gaze from the information record to Opal.

Opal imitated Rector's tone, and said seriously: "I think these materials may be useful to you, so I brought them here, and now I ask for your help, Kadir Hollens."

Kadir seemed to have heard a big joke, and leaned back unnaturally, and said, "What are the terms of the deal?"

Opal said: "No, no, this is not a deal. Listen to me, can we talk?"

Kadir had a flattered expression, he was at a loss for a moment, Opal said again: "Make friends."

Kadir jerked back again, nearly knocking over his chair, and said, "Is this true? I mean... honored, very honored."

Opal was also a little dazed. He got up, stretched his hand across the desk, and shook hands with Kadir. Kadir nodded with lingering fear, his eyes were a little dull, and he murmured something.

"Wait a minute, please," Kadir said, "I think we're friends now."

Opal nodded, "Of course."

Kadir said, "Would you mind if I had a few top executives come over and hear your terms... no, mutual help?"

Opal thought for a while and said, "Yes, please."

Kadir pressed a button and said, "Mr. Opal, what do you like to drink? I'll get someone to prepare it right away."

Opal waved his hand and said, "No, I just ate a hot dog."

Kadir's expression was a little awkward. After a while, the door of the office opened, and six old men came in. Kadir introduced them one by one, whose name Opal couldn't remember, and nodded to them.

"This is Mr. Opal from star B11." Kadir introduced.

Opal glanced at everyone and said, "I got this information from B11's data center."

Then Opal began to talk about his reason for coming. He first gave a general description of the situation on B11, and then analyzed the status quo of rhododendron minerals. The audience did not interrupt him.

Opal cut off the conversation while talking, and noticed that the atmosphere seemed serious, so he took the initiative to smile and asked, "What do you think?"

Kadir finally understood his purpose and said, "We are very happy to cooperate with you, but I just don't know what specific step you want to achieve?"

Opal said: "I don't really understand this, it's up to you to decide."

Kadir glanced at several old people who were listening, and after thinking for a while, he said: "This incident is enough to cause Black Rock Mining to suffer a big fight. It is impossible for them to mine B11 star. According to the report this evening, the Galaxy Police Department has now Send a patrol boat to star B11 to investigate."

Opal thought, great!

Kadir said: "But Black Rock Mining also sent a spaceship at this time yesterday. At that time, we didn't know why they left suddenly. Now we finally understand."

Opal narrowed his eyes and said, "Are they going to destroy the evidence?"

Kadir hurriedly said: "It should be like this."

Opal also transcribed another chip, but I'm not afraid of them destroying the evidence, but I don't know how the miners have moved, and they have to go back immediately after the matter is done.Kadir added: "To be honest, our company originally intended to bid for the mining rights of B11. At the same time, the information on smuggling spar mines to pirates here can also play a big role when necessary. Thank you very much for this chip, May I help you with anything?"

Opal nodded and said: "Then I think...you still use the same method as Black Rock Mining when mining the red vein crystal ore?"

Kadir said: "Of course not, Hollens Company uses robots for underground operations."

Opal nodded and said, "Then the one hundred thousand miners, their home."

Kadir said: "Theoretically speaking, they are all free agents. Although they are interstellar black workers, they still have the citizenship of the Republic, but if Black Rock Mining wants to destroy the evidence, they may all...you know, just Like your teacher . . . uh."

Opal frowned and said, "What? I didn't understand."

Sweat dripped from Kadir's eyebrows, and he changed his words: "I mean, maybe they will be transferred to another planet to engage in new mineral mining operations... You want these 10 people? But the government already knows It's not easy to deal with this matter...Let me think about it."

Opal said: "No no, you misunderstood, what do I want these 10 people to do? I want them to find a new job, obtain citizenship of the republic, and have the right to choose independently, just like...on the crimson star Like most people."

For a moment, everyone's expressions were extremely strange, and Kadir even twitched a little at the corner of his mouth and said, "Sir, are you joking?"

Opal said: "Why should I be joking? It has always been my ideal to let everyone live and work in peace and contentment."

Kadir: "..."

Everyone: "..."

"Allow me to ask offensively." The oldest old man with a steady expression finally spoke.

Opal turned to look at him: "Please tell me."

The old man said: "Mr. Corolin asked you to solve the problem of the B-11 star? I don't quite understand his intentions, please tell us openly and honestly."

Opal frowned slightly, Corolin?Who is Coroline?He had never heard the name.They got the wrong person?Opal finally realized that they recognized him as another star knight's apprentice!

Opal said: "No." He decided not to mention the existence of Rector, but he didn't ask who Corolin was, but he knew that Rector must know this person, so he would ask him when he got back.

There was a silence in the office, and everyone showed strange expressions. No one could guess what Opal was thinking, but Opal vaguely touched the center of the problem. They really had the wrong person.

Another old man seemed to have figured something out, and said, "Mr. Opal, I saw on the news that a girl appeared outside Yager Hospital with an injured woman this afternoon..."

Opal said: "She is my good friend, her name is Anya."

In an instant, everyone suddenly realized, Kadir heaved a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "So that's how it is."

Opal said: "She's... probably already in the police station by now."

Kadir said: "I'll send someone to investigate right away. The only thing you need our help is the arrangement of these 10 people?"

Opal said, "Can you do it?"

Kadir said: "It's really difficult to solve everything at once, but there are also a lot of minerals in Hollens. I guarantee that they will no longer be used as slaves. The company plans to hire some people to check the amount of mines. Some of them work on Crimson Star, and they can take up the job after training. There are also some ground exploration work on new planets, this job pays quite well, and there is a shortage of miners with certain experience."

The old man who spoke first said: "After all, you think, the Crimson Star government already knows about this, and it will be the focus of all the media in the next month. As long as we take over, we will definitely be supervised by all walks of life. It has to be properly settled, don't you?"

Opal said: "That's right, that's all. I also want a personal ID. I don't know if you can help me. In the future, I will definitely..."

Before Opal could say "repay", Kadir said bluntly, "No problem, leave it to us. You need to enter pupil, fingerprint and genetic scan information."

Someone outside asked to come in, and said respectfully: "Miss Anya is waiting in the rescue center arranged by the police station. Another lady named Si Wugo's condition has improved and she is staying in Yager Hospital for observation. She should be discharged in ten days. "

Knowing that Kadir couldn't lie to him, Opal said happily, "That's great. It's not convenient for me to see her."

Kadir nodded again and again: "It's really inconvenient, I understand."

Opal got up and said: "Then this is settled, I have to go back to B11 right away, my friends are still waiting. I hope the galaxy police can get there as soon as possible."

Kadir said: "Miss Anya...do you need us to take care of you?"

Opal thought for a while, and said: "She has her brother. If everything goes well, Aman will come soon. He has been trying to find a lover for her... Uh, I have talked too much, so leave."

Everyone nodded sympathetically.

Kadir said: "Thank you very much for your help this time. If you need any help from us in the future, you just need to go to any branch in Hollens and let them notify me."

"Where are you talking?" Opal said goodbye to them, and Kadir personally took him off the elevator and sent him to the door of the central floor. Opal walked through the hall, saw the fish when he came, and said: "This floor is very beautifully arranged. .”

Kadir smiled and said, "I have liked fish since I was a child. By the way, how old are you this year?"

Opal replied: "16 years old."

Kadir was startled, then nodded and smiled, "You're so young."

Opal shook hands with him and said, "Let's send it here."

Kadir stopped and reached out to shake hands with him solemnly. Opal said, "You will definitely do it, right?"

Kadir said: "Sure, you can supervise me."

Opal said: "I will leave here after the matter is over."

Kadir nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Because of that girl?"

Opal hurriedly said: "No, you misunderstood, I just want to go to other galaxies by myself and look forward to meeting next time."

Kadir smiled knowingly: "I will send your ID card over then."

Opal made a new friend, and he knew it might be because they had misunderstood the person. The person named Corolin was extremely important. Who was he?More status than Rector?

Walking out of the building of the Hollens Group, it was completely dark, and the crimson star night was full of lights. Opal stood on the bridge and looked up at the sky, but he couldn't see any sparks.

He knew that Kadir didn't really want to make friends with him, and it was probably because of a star knight named Cororin.And Rector... By the way, where is Rector?

Opal looked around, but did not find the silver dragon ray.

He walked across the overpass on foot, and arrived at the door of a shop opposite. Rector was crossing his arms, leaning against the lamppost on the overpass, and asked, "How did you talk?"

There were not many pedestrians, only Opal and Rector on the overpass, surrounded by light red street lights, Opal hurriedly said: "Teacher!"

"Can the energy unit of B11 be used here?" Opal asked.

Rector said: "No, you need to go to the IAU Interstellar Bank to convert it into credit points. There will be opportunities in the future. What do you want to buy? Use my card, go."

Opal took a card and asked, "Where did you go just now?"

Reckert said, "Going to see an old friend."

Opal asked: "Do you know Corolin?"

Rector's expression changed immediately, and he said in a deep voice, "Where did you hear his name?"

Opal holds the card, like a child who has done something wrong.Every time he stood in front of Rickett, he was no longer himself, and no matter what he had done, whether he successfully settled a dispute or saved 10 lives, all achievements seemed insignificant.

"That's what they said." Opal intermittently explained the process to Recter once.

Rector listened quietly, and after Opal finished speaking, the two were silent for a long time.

Rector said: "Go and buy your things, and go back to B11 after shopping."

Opal bought three hot dogs in the past, and Rector's silver dragon ray was already waiting for him in the parking space on the side of the road, leading him to leave the crimson planet and fly to the vast space.

At the edge of the inner cabin of the silver dragon ray, Rector stood with his hands behind his back, standing in front of the front window, watching the dark universe and the huge fireball in the distance—the star of the Chiyan galaxy, the goddess of Chiyan.

"Teacher." Opal said, "I didn't listen to you...it was my mistake."

Rector said in a deep voice: "The teacher's words may not always be right. Today I will teach you the last lesson. You must learn to question, question all the things that are deeply rooted in your soul. What is belief? When you When even your beliefs start to be questioned, you are about to lose the beliefs you have always had, but new beliefs will be reborn from the ashes of the past, this process, the Star Knights call it Nirvana."

"Burn your own soul to ashes, or usher in a vast new life." Rector's eyes shine like morning stars, he turns around, and looks at Opal's eyes full of confusion: "This is the path of self-destruction and sublimation." The way to go."

Opal listened with a frown, and Rector said: "They thought you were an apprentice of Cologne, because you used hypnotism. I was surprised. I thought you wouldn't know this. You are much smarter than I thought. Opal."

He put a hand on Opal's shoulder.

Only then did Opal feel relieved, knowing that Rector did not blame him, he seemed to understand something, but felt even more confused.

"He often uses consciousness control?" Opal grasped the key point and asked: "But you said that Star Knight should not use consciousness to control the people around him, or read their hearts..."

Rector nodded and said: "He is a dark star knight who was expelled from the temple. His body and mind were corrupted by dark energy. He overindulged his desire for power, causing the remote galaxies of the Republic to fall apart, and the empire's jurisdiction. out of the control of the Leo Galaxy."

"300 years ago, he slaughtered the entire galaxy." Rector said: "Using a conflict between the Empire and the Republic, he destroyed a star, six planets, and the 800 billion intelligent life living on these six planets , more planets collapsed and disintegrated due to the imbalance of the gravitational field. This disaster involved tens of thousands of light-years of space."

"You think life on B11 is cruel? Compared with his rule, life on many asteroids is hell on earth."

"The human beings and intelligent life forms living on it are always under his slavery, without freedom or even the right to think. He will occasionally go to the asteroid and use his power of belief to read the thoughts of the residents. , as long as someone feels dissatisfied with the status quo, he will take extreme measures, slaughtering hundreds of thousands, millions of lives, as he pleases."

Opal was speechless for a while, the most terrifying thing was not thinking, when a person dare not even think, what's the point of living?

Rector said: "Opal, Horrence is not afraid of you, but the cruel and powerful shadow behind you. Hypnotism and mind reading have become his hallmarks. Not only should you not use them, but you should not use them." , otherwise the Republic will regard you as his accomplice, and the fate can be imagined."

Opal nodded slowly, finally understanding the seriousness of the matter, and asked again: "Why didn't you stop him?"

Rector said: "I can't do it."

It was the first time for Opal to hear Rector say these four words seriously.

Rector said: "I am not his opponent. Do you remember the day when my space capsule made an emergency landing on B11? I fought him in a nebula, and I lost completely. Finally, all the energy of Long Ray was activated, and the jump Then he fled to the Chiyan galaxy. I was almost destroyed by him, completely destroyed."

Opal said: "So your faith has been shaken."

Rector nodded slowly, Opal said: "If we are together, add me, you now have a student."

Rector laughed and shook his head helplessly. Opal said: "You said that the trick of the power of faith is that as long as you believe in yourself, it is enough to destroy the entire universe. Is that true? I have enough faith."

B11 has already arrived, but the silver dragon ray does not enter the atmosphere. It seems to be quietly suspended not far from the planet in order not to interrupt their conversation. The light of the Chiyan star passes through the distant space and casts on the barren yellow land.

The rift in the red rock bed is like a huge scar on the planet, clearly visible from space.

"What is faith?" Rector said: "What is Star Knight? These days, I have repeatedly questioned myself, and you have taught me a lot. Thank you, apprentice."

Opal said: "Me?"

The silver dragon ray descended slowly, entered the atmosphere, and stopped on the crimson rock bed.

Opal has returned to his hometown again, everything has a sense of unreality like a dream, full of desolate mine stars, windy and sandy world, after a while, maybe three days, maybe five days, he is about to leave Here it is.

He and Rector stood on the edge of the canyon, the winter was gradually passing, the snow had melted, and the waves of sand were like soft silk.

Rector said: "Don't stop your pursuit of yourself, fight, fight, maybe one day, when you face the Dark Star Knight, you can defeat him with your faith. But not yet, even I No, I can't dismantle his fighting spirit, instead I was defeated in front of him."

Opal said, "Why did he kill so many people?"

Rector said: "What is the purpose of saving people? What is the purpose of your life? What is the purpose of doing these things? Why do you believe in yourself? Where does your belief come from?"

Opal couldn't answer, there were too many questions that couldn't be questioned, when everything returned to the original, he discovered that the principles of the universe were elusive.

Rector said: "Opal, forgive me, I have to go."

Opal was stunned for a moment.

"Are you going back?" Opal said in disbelief, he had already prepared for this day, but no matter what, when Rector said "I have to go", there was still a kind of pain that he didn't want to accept and loneliness.

"Now I want to give you a final warning, Opal." Rector said: "Everything the teacher taught you, including your power of faith, you must swear to me that you will not use it to violate the knight Rules thing."

Opal said: "Okay."

Rector said: "I swear, otherwise, after you fall into the darkness, one day, I will come back and finish you with my own hands to make up for the mistakes I made."

"I swear I'll control myself," Opal said.

Neither of them spoke. After a long time, Opal said, "Teacher, are you really leaving?"

Rector nodded and said: "Yes, there are many things that need to be dealt with. I can't escape any longer. I have to face them."

Opal said: "Can you wait for me? I want to go with you."

Rector didn't answer, and Opal realized that he asked a stupid question.

He was just a stranger who happened to take him out of the rescue cabin. Rector taught him so much and changed his fate, and he has already paid off his love.

Recter is like the vast sea, while Opal is just a small grain of sand. Recter is a star knight, so it is impossible to waste too much time on him.

"Teacher." Opal thought clearly: "I wish you..."

His eyes were red, and he tried his best to hold back tears: "I wish you... I wish you..."

Rector thought for a while and said, "Opal, in your future life, you will meet more people. The teacher is just a passer-by in your youth. If you want to remember me forever, just follow my advice. Yes, stick to your ideals."

Opal could no longer control his tears and sadness: "My... ideal... is, like you, to be... a star knight. But I can't do it, my life is too short..."

Rector put his left hand on his right shoulder, bowed slightly, saluted, and solemnly said: "Thank you for the help you have given me these days."

With tears in Opal's eyes, he imitated Rector's salute—this is the star knight's etiquette.

Rector touched his head and said softly:

"Remember, then, to always maintain your humility, honor, sacrifice, valor, mercy, honesty, justice, and conviction."

"When you pass countless tests, hundreds of billions of stars in the universe will guide you and let you come to the Temple of Stars."

"I look forward to that day and never give up."

Rector turned and walked up to the silver dragon ray. The silver dragon ray shone with eternal light and turned into a lightning bolt that traversed the sky and earth, rolling and disappearing into the sky.

Opal raised his head, took a deep breath, and shouted: "Teacher——! We will meet again! I will work hard!"

"Opal!" Oman's voice sounded in the canyon.

Opal turned and walked across the plain with red eyes, and Locke yelled, "You're back!"

Ugo ran out of the canyon, and several people rushed forward to hug Opal.