bChapter 612 /b

    bShermaine /bsaid, feigning bmystery/b, “You’ll find out if you try.”

    Shirley didn’t answerb, /bseeming to be deep in thought.

    bAt /bbthis /bmoment, Edison, standing behind her, heard their conversation. A shadow of gloom shed in his eyes. He bfelt /bupset that Shirley could talk about pursuing another man right bin /bfront of him. He decided to make her his alone, and quickly.

    Shirley didn’t chat with Shermaine for long. She had a lot on her te that day, and most importantly, she had to find out who was btrying /bto bgo /bagainst

    her.

    bThe /bpeople of Summerbank were worried about what had happened. Their internal strife had only ended two years bago/b, and they didn’t want a new

    round of it.

    bIt /bwas distressing, and this time it seemed worse. That filthy had sent an epic–tier mutant right off the bat to put down the noble queen.

    What they feared most was a new war spilling over to them. Mutants killed without discrimination. If those viins used mutants to attack Shirley, the whole Kingdom of Xyperia would be reduced to a wastnd.

    A car was parked by the exquisite, beautifulke at Faraday Academy. Martin was feeding the fish when a man in a hoodie appeared.

    “Didn’t I say not to meet in private unless it’s something important?” Rhys said unhappily. Two years had done much to shape a person’s demeanor; his personality had grown as dark and menacing as a deadly viper.

    “Mr. Hugh, don’t worry. I came alone. No one knows where I am. You’re amazing. To bring the ck vortex to Summerbank. Today’s celebration was perfectly ruined,” Martin said.

    Rhys asked, “How’s the space bridge I told you to building along?”

    Martin said, “It’s almost ready. We can start the space travel experiment soon.”

    When Judy was alive, she built a time machine, went to the so–called Earth, and brought Apocalypse back. But that time machine could only be used once, there and back, then it was done for.

    Building à time machine required a lot of aura stones, manpower, and consumed huge amounts of energy. After Judy died in battle, the data files for making the time machine were destroyed that night.

    Fortunately, with the Kingdom of Xyperia’s technology, as long as they invested enough manpower in research, they could recreate the time machine. Now it was almost time to see the results.

    “Hurry up,” Rhys said. Two years of study were up, and he was going back to Earth soon. That was Shermaine’s home turf. If he wanted revenge, it might take years. He couldn’t wait.

    But in Xyperia, he had a chance to stand up to Shermaine. And Martin, a city lord, was the perfect stepping stone.

    After returning to Earth, he still needed toe back here to continue the n he’d started two years ago. He couldn’t let it fall through halfway.

    Faye once said he was the smartest man she’d ever met on Earth, and he should have ambition. He would fulfill Faye’s wish, be king in this world.. So he needed great power and backing to stand against Shermaine.

    Rhys‘ first step in the n was to get rid of Shirley. She couldn’t stay in that positionb; /bher existence was getting in the way of his goals.

    a

    Sinceing to Xyperiab, /btheir every move had been under surveince. After Rhys said those words to Martin, he walked away, then turned off the radio waves from his watch that were jamming the monitors.

    Shortly after, Rhys received ba /bmessage from other students. They needed to bgo /bbto /bba /bhall. By thenb, /beveryone had arrived. Many were chatting warmly with Shermaine, and Shermaine was patiently talking with them, answering their questions.

    18:11 Mon, 28 Jul

    bChapter /bb612 /b

    bRhys/b‘ beyes /bfilled bwith /bvenom bwhen /bbhe /bsaw bher/bb, /bbut he bquickly /bmasked that bemotion/b.

    A schr askedb, /bb“/bShermaineb, /bbwhen /bbcan /bwe bgo /bback bto /bbEarth/bb?/bb” /b

    b“/bbIn /bbtwo /bbdays/bb,/bb” /bShermaine said:

    He basked /bagain, “Will we get ba /bchance toe here again?”

    Hearing bthat/bb, /bShermaine smiled. “Probably not.”

    bThey /bdidn’t feel sorry. They just thought the Kingdom of Xyperia’s civilization was too advanced, and they wanted to learn more of its technology.

    But luckily, they could take their Orthish with them. It already had a lot of study files saved, which would be enough.

    bThey /bwere more eager to return to their own country, take what they’d learned, and rapidly advance Earth’s technological civilization.

    It wasn’t until dark that Henry brought Gracie back. They went to the pce where Shirley lived to have dinner.

    Shirley looked a bit tired from her busy work.

    Henry nced at her, then focused on eating his meal.

    At this moment, the noble and majestic queen suddenly held out a gift to him. “This is a thank–you present.”

    It was a pair of beautiful purple gemstone cufflinks. The two gems were wless, surely worth a fortune.

    He didn’t expect Shirley to give him such an expensive gift, so he smiled and said, “Your Highness, this thank–you present is too valuable.”

    Shirley said calmly, “Take it. It’s nothing to me.”

    31%

    She had wanted to give something more valuable as a thank–you, but her secretary said that would seem too intentional. To win Henry’s heart, Shirley

    decided to take it slow.

    Hearing her say that, Henry had to ept the gift. “Thank you for your generosity. No need to be so polite in the future.”

    Shirley nodded. She gave this gift not out of politeness, but to leave a good impression on him.

    Shermaine saw this and smirked. Shirley’s intention was funny, but Henry didn’t seem to have any feelings for Shirley.

    After dinner, Shirley kept working until the early hours of the morning. She took a shower, then put on her pajamas.

    Her secretary came in and asked, “Your Highness, do you want to do the physical assessment today?”

    Shirley thought for a moment and said, “No, I want to rest.”

    The secretary said, “Okayb, /bthen I’ll tell Edison to go back.”

    Shirley nodded.

    Edison had be her personal doctor a year ago. As queen, her health was important, so she had a health assessment almost every day.

    But the results were almost the same every time, She thought maybe she didn’t need to do it so often; once a month might be enough.

    As Shirley thought this, bshe /bsuddenly bfelt /bba /bstrange pain in her body. It was intense, so she said, “Call Edison in.”

    When Edison came in, he saw Shirley sitting on the bed, her face pale. It seemed that even the lofty queen, out of her uniform, was just a woman who needed care.

    “Your Highness, where do you feel unwellb?/bb” /bbhe /basked.

    b18:11 /bMonb, /bb28 /bJul O

    “bI /bsuddenly bfeel /bba /bsharp bpain/bb. /bbCheck /bbme /bbto /bbsee /bbif /bthere’s bsomething /bbwrong /bbwith /bbmy /bbodyb,” /bbShirley /bsaid, enduring the pain.

    31b% /b

    Edison obeyed bat /bonce. But after a detailed and bcareful /bexaminationb, /bhe found no abnormalities in her body. Seeing this resultb, /bbshe /bpressed her lips btogether /band bsaid /bnothingb. /b

    Edisonb, /bwith his usual gentle expression, thoughtfully advised her, “Your Highness, you’ve been overworkingtely. You need to rest moreb./bb” /b

    Hearing that, Shirley looked at the doctor she had always trusted. “Are you sure?”

    Edison said softly, “I’m sure, Your Highnessb./bb” /b

    Shirley frowned and said, “You can go out.”

    Edison said, “Sweet dreams, good night.”

    Shirleyy down, took a mtonin pill, and when no more abnormalities urred, she fell asleep with the pill’s help.

    At dawn, Jasmine and Damien brought Thomas to Summerbank.

    As soon as Thomas saw Gracie, he shouted, “I missed you so much.” Then he hugged her affectionately, but Gracie stayed expressionless.

    Thomas said, looking wronged, “Don’t you miss me?”

    Gracie said, “Not quite.”

    Jasmine had wanted to have another daughter, but after two years, it hadn’t happened. Strangely, there was nothing wrong with their health. It must mean the time wasn’t right.

    Jasmine said, “Shermaine, I want to take Thomas to Earth for a while.”

    That was possible. Shermaine said, “Would Damien let you go?”

    “He’sing with us,” Jasmine said with a smile. “We’ll have to ask others and Henry to handle the organization’s matters for a while.”

    Damien had never taken a vacation. Most of the time, he was busy with the organization’s great cause. She had even been angry that he didn’t have much time for her and Thomas.

    b436 /b

    H

    #

    After she lost her temper, Damien took a long vacation to cheer her up.

    Shermaine nodded. “I’ll go back the day after tomorrow.”

    *.

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    44

    “Yeah!” Jasmine was excited. The vacation she’d been looking forward to for so long was finally here. She finally got a chance to visit the world where Shermaine and Joshua now lived.

    Two days passed quickly. When Shermaine took the family of three backb, /bshe asked, “Henry, aren’t you going back?”

    Henry shook his head. “The Kingdom of Xyperia’s most lively festival ising soon. I can’t go back.”

    Shermaine said, “Alright, contact me if something happens.” Henry nodded.

    T

    R

    Over the past two years, the two worlds couldn’tmunicate because of the distance. But Dave had given him a bead. If he crushed it, Dave would sense the energy in the bead disappearing and inform Shermaine.

    Shirley didn’te to see them off. Another mutant had attacked a Grade B city. Now the empire was short of troops and needed reinforcements. And that city was one of the twelve crucial cities defending against mutant invasions.

    That bday/bb, /bshe had set off bfor /bNorham City with fifty thousand troops and supplies.

    After Shermaine left, Henry also left Summerbank. He nned bto /btravel around the Kingdom of Xyperia and wait for Halloween.

    b3/4 /b