"You've never... uh... visited Neptune?..." Actually this isn't the question Stairmount wants to ask. He just tries to change the topic from the pending question he was going to ask earlier. That is why his tone falters when he asks that question.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDLcbZRLBQ
"Never."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O91A3RrDt
"You want to go there?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYRpCb9jAX
"Of course I want. I want to travel to as many places as I can."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLt1aRqYXR
"I mean... perhaps you want to go to Neptune more than any other place, since Neptune is the land your ancestors came from?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZtcyfS8zN
"Hmm, I don't get that far..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWmCyYfdjD
"Really? I think you should have more willingness to visit the land where your ancestors came from?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj0GtmMHPk
"Hey, Sir, your words remind me of what Dad has ever said. When he was alive, he always complained that he really wanted to go to Neptune since Neptune is the land where our ancestors came from, but he never got that chance, because the central government always makes it harder for us to go there..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4XAfGTZ2Z
"Eh, why?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvwXn0UOqt
"Here, we Neptunian ethnic groups are closely monitored by the government. Because separatist leaders who want to liberate Sapphire are cooperating with Neptune, they suspect Neptunian Ethnic groups of collaborating with them."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3WtoW6LXQ
"And how about you?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpcqIThk25
"No, of course not!" Daphne shakes her head firmly.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKG8HNYusT
"You support the government?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIFr7CqSJX
"To be honest... I don't care. Indeed, my fellowmen often tell me to be more nationalist, and love my own clan and ethnicity... but even Dad, who is the most ethnocentric one in my family, doesn't have such spirit. We don't care about that. Dad always said, politics is complicated and dangerous, and the best choice is to stay away from it."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99R1kyakCe
"Your dad is a wise man. I agree with him."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5KjwrwLL4
"How about you, Mr. Rivers? Have you visited Saturn?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidNYuRoCTz
"Me?..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDZp2yU4KZ
"Yes. To the land of your ancestor."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnkZArTO3x
"Ah..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScn8Ei1JRQ
"Is that right, the land of your ancestor is Saturn?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rlXVkienV
"Yes, that's right..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VfDuWqKgX
"You have visited it?"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR5XjpR6xt
"... even your ancestors are not willing to see you!..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeIElMpz9F
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60pkoL9KXb
After a brief pause, Stairmount shakes his head. "Never..." When he answers, his voice is so low it is no more than a whisper.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhabLersxe0
"Then, we are the same, Sir. We are not the indigenous people in our country, but we never go back to the land of our ancestors."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eJASDPdzQ
Stairmount turns his head away, and looks out of the window. He does that on purpose since he does not wish his sudden gloomy face to be seen by a student he has just known for a few days.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zUbeDNKT2
"If I have a chance, I want to go to Saturn. By the way, Mr. Rivers, you can take a trip to Neptune. Hey, does it mean we are doing tour swaps for visiting the land of our ancestors, whereas we ourselves have never visited there!"
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHv4XYnvTm
If you get caught setting foot on either Neptune or Saturn, you'll die.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu7xt7UfoP
"Hmm, that's a great idea." When he replies, Stairmount's face beams in happiness, and he curves a wide smile. He stretches out his palm and places it on the table. "Come on, we promise to do that. And, to return to the lands of our respective ancestors."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO4tKyaSfq
"Promise? You mean?..." Daphne is confused as she stares at the palm that her lecturer is holding out.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y5tBXAMdj
"According to the Callistos, this is an augury to make a promise. One puts the palm of his hand and another puts his palm on the back of the hand of the previous one, those who make the promise are bound to implement it. Whoever makes the promise, they can't break it."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkLFB7lTdu
"Eh? What a hard promise! What if the central government still forbids me to go to Neptune?..."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB16xgpe7Q
"That's why we make this promise. My Callisto friend said, the energy of the agreement throughout this way is very powerful. After we make a promise, a powerful energy will rise, and nothing can stop it."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLvKwP5oPm
"Including the government."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0MMeOTElD
"Everything."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IdeQODe7X
The gleam of the morning sun enters the laboratory room, spreading a little warmth this winter. Daphne holds out her hand with hesitation. Knowing the girl still does not believe him, Stairmount nods reassuringly. With a jolt, Daphne suddenly gets the urge, and becomes absolutely sure. She puts her palm on the back of Stairmount's hand.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkqGVVoxPD
"I promise," Daphne said firmly.
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcswiUK1ty
Stairmount replies to Daphne's steady words. "Okay, we promise."
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5feNATrjy
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
244Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq46sCS48D
Please support me at:
https://ko-fi/boundlessuniverse
ns 15.158.61.48da2
