Epilogue

On December 22, 2037, the thunderous roar of a rocket launch jolted young Vito from his sleep. He climbed out of bed and, guided by the faint glow of the nightlight, hurried into Daphne’s room, only to find that his parents were nowhere to be seen.

Vito made his way to Michael’s studio, switched on the lights, and deftly donned the helmet connected to VESSEL. With a flick of the switch, he entered the dreamlike, surreal ocean of the subconscious.

It was as if an old film was being projected—Vito held Michael’s hand...

But no matter how loudly he shouted, he was powerless to stop it. He watched as his troops were slaughtered, routed like a receding tide. In his haste, he could only flee with a retinue of just over a hundred loyal followers.

“Is it for her?” Jade Wenrou glanced sideways, her gaze resting on Lin Zhixian, who was nervously watching the stage.

“You didn’t keep me here just to deal with the Supreme, did you?” Bald Wang ventured cautiously.

At present, all the salt in the Zhao Kingdom comes from two saltworks on the northeastern coast, which are managed by the Ministry of Commerce.

“The rest of you, wait here. Zhao Xu, come with me. Guo Kai, you and the brothers Sergeant Zhuo brought, gather them up—only these men are coming!” Ma Yong hefted his five-shot rifle, speaking without looking back.

Songzan Ganbu cast a grateful glance at Changsun Wuji, but Changsun Wuji seemed utterly indifferent.

“Openly swindling money is still considered within bounds?” Murong Feng asked, somewhat confused by Priest Yu’s answer.

Because Han Xin accepted humiliation under the crotch without resistance, Xiang Yu utterly despised him. Even with Zhongli Mei’s recommendation, he refused to employ such a “coward.”

Bai Yu immediately threw off the covers and jumped out of bed, but his sudden movement tugged at his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.

Feng Yan felt a chill run down his spine, and before he could turn his head, an invisible force lifted him into the air. With him rose seven or eight team captains at his side.

Ke Xinya trembled at these words, as if recalling something that filled her with fear. Yet An Datong, still brimming with excitement, neither noticed nor cared.

“Hey, hey, thank you, big brother. I’ll head back now. If I delay any longer, they’ll be upset with me again.” Feng Yong looked every inch the long-suffering underling.

Zhang Xiangling was secretly delighted to see Mi Xue ignore Dou Naifen, since the two were rivals. With Mi Xue choosing her, there would be fewer visits to Dou Naifen. Carefree Zhang Xiangling never thought deeper and remained oblivious to Mi Xue’s hidden grievances and anger.

“Ye Lingchen, Ouyang Zhuo...” Qian Yuluo recited the two names softly; both were deeply important to her. Ye Lingchen was the man she loved most, and Ouyang Zhuo was the friend she trusted above all.

On the ships at the rear, the catapults were being loaded under orders, and operators rolled barrels of burning oil onto the machines.

Qin Han generously booked a feast for twenty at Tiger White, leading a group of university students—most of whom usually subsisted on convenience store meals—to a hearty celebration.

No one knew why Aetius had come this time. Was it, as Aretian claimed, to escort Augustus eastward to inherit the throne? Who could tell how much truth lay in those words?

Qin Han had a distinct impression of the middle-aged man’s slicked-back hair—it was none other than Akita Hiroshi, producer at Toei Animation.

Upon learning news of his biological parents, Bian Bian would forget all other matters.

The system’s power was so vast that even the origin of this universe could not measure it—how could a mere token pose any threat? It could rest easy.

Su Yue rolled his eyes. A 2D animated film might not require the best projection quality, but for the soundtracks he’d crafted himself, the better the audio, the better the experience.

The more kindly she treated him, the more brazen and reckless he became. In the end, his father grew increasingly disgusted with him. Back then, he hadn’t understood what this meant. Later, when his master arrived, he learned it was called “killing with kindness.”